So close

This wilderness path requires clinging to Jesus. Today I found out that trail runs right on the edge of my old rut. At least it does right now. I had a foot slip off the edge today, and I was almost all of the way back in that old grave, walking by habit rather than by faith.

I have gotten accustomed to clinging to Christ, and that makes all the difference. Thank you, Father. Help me to become entirely dependent on You.

I think I said something in the last day or two about turning toward Love being the answer. I have written and talked about this in the past. It seems like when I do, I can feel THE JUDGE in there looking down his nose about something. I figgered it out.

I have pride. I think I have it all worked out, as to what is the perfect way. So, anybody else's way it less than perfect...that would mean defective.

So sad. Forgive me.

Just right now it feels good to be intentionally turning away from fear. I have circumstances that make it easy to fear. I get news every day that make the fear choice seem right. Then I get this doctrine that says to turn away from fear is imperfect. The perfect way is to turn TO Christ, rather than turning away from something. Well, phooey. I am turning away from fear, and thankful that at the same time I have the Most Lovely to rest my whole being on. But first (I am declaring now) I am turning away from fear.

Yup. Both ways work. I trust you, Daddy. Thank you so much.

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I've got the wonderful love of my blessed redeemer way down in the depths of my heart.

If my faith is not irrational, if my faith does not appear crazy to those on a different path, what is the point? I would rather appear wrong on the right path than appear right on the wrong path.

The only thing that matters is that Spiritual Fruit abound. It is easy to look crazy. It is impossible to bear fruit apart from intimacy with the Spirit. Craziness will not bring me to the Spirit and produce fruit...but intimacy with the Spirit and bearing abundant Fruit will look crazy. People apart from this faith do not love like Jesus, are not joyous like Jesus, are not in peace like Jesus, are not patient like Jesus, are not consistently Good like Jesus, are not always able to be kind like Jesus, are not Gentle like Jesus. When the narrow way is observed from the broad way, there is no doubt that the one on the narrow way is just loonie. At the same time, the fruitfulness of the life of faith is visible too. Another contrast as well is that the life of religion bears something different from the life without religion, but what it produces is not Spirit Fruit.

Spirit Fruit, expressed out of me by the living sap of real life inside, is the indicator of the right path. But Gods love looks mad. Not when there is an occasional expression, but when the flow is generous and persistent.

Oh, to be thought mad by the loveless. Oh, to be thought a cornucopia by those who hunger and thirst. Amen.