Comments on: My Personal Scorpion of Sin http://www.tomcottar.org/2005/07/06/my-personal-scorpion-of-sin/ ...conversation for the Journey... Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:54:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: martyduren http://www.tomcottar.org/2005/07/06/my-personal-scorpion-of-sin/comment-page-1/#comment-25 martyduren Mon, 11 Jul 2005 14:19:00 +0000 http://www.tomcottar.org/2005/07/06/my-personal-scorpion-of-sin/#comment-25 I also like the look of your blog ;^) I also like the look of your blog ;^)

]]> By: martyduren http://www.tomcottar.org/2005/07/06/my-personal-scorpion-of-sin/comment-page-1/#comment-24 martyduren Mon, 11 Jul 2005 14:18:00 +0000 http://www.tomcottar.org/2005/07/06/my-personal-scorpion-of-sin/#comment-24 Dude, Great post. It will probably find its way into a sermon soon. With appropriate footnoting of course... Dude,
Great post. It will probably find its way into a sermon soon. With appropriate footnoting of course…

]]> By: Scott M http://www.tomcottar.org/2005/07/06/my-personal-scorpion-of-sin/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Scott M Fri, 08 Jul 2005 03:03:00 +0000 http://www.tomcottar.org/2005/07/06/my-personal-scorpion-of-sin/#comment-23 I've been stung by own sin and the sin of others in so many ways, so many times. I should have sunk forever a long time ago. It makes no sense that my head is still above water. But I have a God who loves me. I reject him. And he loves me. I vent my anger at him. And he loves me. I fail, again and again. And he loves me. I finally acknowledge my failure and my continued failing. I know it probably makes him sick. Anyone would react that way. I can't even look at him. I hang my head in shame. Then a hand gently lifts my chin, brushes my hair back, and brings me eyes to his. And in his eyes I see that he aches for me, especially for the pain I cause myself. And he understands. How hard it is. How difficult. How I struggle. He's experienced it all. For me. Out of love. And because he could stand where I fall, he paid the price to ransom me. He could not bear the thought of losing me. I search and find no condemnation in those eyes. No revulsion. No frustration. No impatience. Just love. Boundless, endless love. And from that love I find strength to keep swimming, to keep my head above water one more day, one more moment. I'm helpless to respond any other way. Conquered by love. The quote I placed on the SBC emerging leader's blog in the book quote thread seems oddly appropriate here. <B>I consider myself as the most miserable of all human beings, covered with sores, foul, and guilty of all sorts of crimes committed against my King; moved by sincere remorse I confess all my sins to him. I ask him pardon and abandon myself into his hands so he can do with me as he pleases. Far from chastising me, this King, full of goodness and mercy, lovingly embraces me, seats me at his table, waits on me himself, gives me the keys to his treasures, and treats me in all things as his favorite; he converses with me and takes delight in me in countless ways, without ever speaking of forgiveness or taking away my previous faults. Although I beg him to fashion me according to his heart, I see myself still weaker and miserable, yet ever more caressed by God. This is what I see from time to time while in his holy presence.</B> The Practice of the Presence of God, Critical Edition, p.54, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (tr. by Salvatore Sciurba) I’ve been stung by own sin and the sin of others in so many ways, so many times. I should have sunk forever a long time ago. It makes no sense that my head is still above water.

But I have a God who loves me.

I reject him.

And he loves me.

I vent my anger at him.

And he loves me.

I fail, again and again.

And he loves me.

I finally acknowledge my failure and my continued failing. I know it probably makes him sick. Anyone would react that way. I can’t even look at him. I hang my head in shame.

Then a hand gently lifts my chin, brushes my hair back, and brings me eyes to his. And in his eyes I see that he aches for me, especially for the pain I cause myself. And he understands. How hard it is. How difficult. How I struggle. He’s experienced it all. For me. Out of love. And because he could stand where I fall, he paid the price to ransom me. He could not bear the thought of losing me.

I search and find no condemnation in those eyes. No revulsion. No frustration. No impatience. Just love. Boundless, endless love. And from that love I find strength to keep swimming, to keep my head above water one more day, one more moment. I’m helpless to respond any other way.

Conquered by love.

The quote I placed on the SBC emerging leader’s blog in the book quote thread seems oddly appropriate here.

I consider myself as the most miserable of all human beings, covered with sores, foul, and guilty of all sorts of crimes committed against my King; moved by sincere remorse I confess all my sins to him. I ask him pardon and abandon myself into his hands so he can do with me as he pleases. Far from chastising me, this King, full of goodness and mercy, lovingly embraces me, seats me at his table, waits on me himself, gives me the keys to his treasures, and treats me in all things as his favorite; he converses with me and takes delight in me in countless ways, without ever speaking of forgiveness or taking away my previous faults. Although I beg him to fashion me according to his heart, I see myself still weaker and miserable, yet ever more caressed by God. This is what I see from time to time while in his holy presence.

The Practice of the Presence of God, Critical Edition, p.54, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (tr. by Salvatore Sciurba)

]]>