From a recent unexpected turn of events I have learned two things: I have much to learn of Christ’s humility and He isn’t finished with me yet!

From a recent unexpected turn of events I have learned two things: I have much to learn of Christ’s humility and He isn’t finished with me yet!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
I love the word “Basta” which we use in Portuguese in this verse, which means, “Enough!” or “That’s enough!” God uses this word in reply to Paul in the way a father uses it at the dinner table when the children are all clamoring for attention, or squabbling with one another, “Basta!” In other words, “Settle down. We have more important things to do right now.” When I am sick or just plain exhausted, I often pray reminding God that I belong to Him and need His help to make it through. Though I rarely experience a miraculous answer, if I wait long enough, I always come away with a renewed sense of His grace and enough strength to keep going. In that dark moment I hear the loving voice of my Heavenly Father rising up above the clamor of my hardships, confusions and pain and He cries, “Basta! Be calm! My grace is more than enough for you!” Whatever you may face today as the sun peeks up above the horizon, if you turn your heart to the Lord He will answer. Our Jesus, who did all for us on the cross, till in agony, He cried out, “It is Finished!” “Basta!” It is enough Father; I have given all!” That grace is now so free and open to us today because Jesus gave His all, so that we might never be alone, never abandoned, never without hope. “Basta!” May His grace be more than enough and all you need for today my friends!
In the garden the serpent showed me the fruit
With a beauty and fragrance within
But I did not know that its razor-sharp seed
Lay hidden down under its skin
It glowed with desire and was sweet to the taste
With a promise of wisdom and powers
But its poison-tipped blade cut right to my heart
Leaving sin among withering flowers
Oh where is the healing, and where is the balm
For my heart and my soul and my mind?
A pathway to carry me all the way home
And the Father who I left behind
Then suddenly I saw I was there at the cross
And I wept at the wound in His side
And the nails and the crown and the noise of the crowd
And His blood that flowed down like the tide
I saw in His hand was the husk of that fruit
Filled with vinegar and bitter gall
That was pressed to the lips of my Savior that He
Would taste for the sins of us all
Would taste for the sins of us all
They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof,
he would not drink.” Matthew 27:34 KJV
"Would taste for the sins of us all"
by Peter Caligiuri
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