Love, True Love I - Sacrifice

Acrylic on linen installation, 2008

28" x 72"

$316-

(100% of sale to Wayside Christian Mission)

Love True Love – Sacrifice was inspired by the love and grace that God has shown us through the sacrifice of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.(John 15:13)

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

(John 10:11)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(John 3:16)

On January 19, 2008 I got to listen to a talk by Max Lucado. Here are some notes that spoke to my heart:

  No on can restrict God’s grace and love. He says that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. What does this mean to me? I can lose my sobriety, my mouth, my sanity but I cannot lose God’s love and grace that he has waiting for me.

  God accepts me HOWEVER he finds me. I don’t and can’t be perfect. He is not waiting for me to straighten out to be able to come to him. There is no cover charge or dress requirement for me to be in God’s love. Luke 16 verses 19-23 talk about us not having to be a certain status or certain health to receive his mercy. He accepts me whether rich or poor, healthy or unhealthy, etc.

  Luke 16:19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

  God will take me WHENEVER, I look up! There is only one expiration date and that is when my life is over. If you have a pulse and can say a prayer, he is still waiting on you! There is a parable of this grace that is waiting at all times of your life in Matthew 20 verses 1-16. God will take you whenever you decide to be his.

  WHEREVER he finds you, God will accept you. You are never too far to step out of God’s grace, and you are never so far that you cannot come home. He loves you and wants to be part of your life, no matter how good or bad it may be going. God is like the father in the prodigal son story in Luke 15 verses 11-32. When the son is at the end of his rope and finally decides to come home, the father has been waiting for him all along. Luke 15 verse 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." It gives me such hope and joy to know that all my years of being a prodigal, God had been looking for me and waiting for me to come home all along.

This is love, true love.