The Nicene Creed

I believe…

in one God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, the only-begotten, born of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became man. He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. And He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the Prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I profess one baptism for the remission of sins. I expect the resurrection of the dead; and the life of the world to come. Amen.

**********

Quoting myself:

One thing I know…
In the end, the very end, Jesus wins.

He’s the Victor.

And His grip on me is way, way stronger and more sure than my grip on Him.

**********

I have to believe in the grand theme of Scripture: that the very One I rebelled against is a God of reconciliation and redemption. I believe it brings Him glory when He accomplishes those things in our lives. It is what Satan rages against in a battle he can never win. God snatches us out of the pit, washes us clean, tends our wounds, clothes us, and adopts us as sons and daughters. Those of us who are prone to wander He welcomes back home with celebration. He doesn’t just redeem us — He demonstrates His redemption power over and over again in our lives, giving us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness… He takes the most horrible, vile and ugly things that Satan used for evil in our lives, and He unbelievably, amazingly does the impossible by somehow using those things for good. It’s what He does. It’s Who He is.

I deeply wish that I would never again forget, for even the most fleeting of moments, the truly wonderful things that this incredibly amazing God has done and is doing for me. And, as if that’s not enough, there is this one thing so overwhelmingly unbelievable, so completely undeserved, so beyond my understanding, that I can barely bring myself to write the words.

He loves me. Me. Despite everything, God loves me.

********************