how wide and long and deep.......

I pray right now, that you and I would BEGIN to grasp and understand (even though it is truly incomprehensible) how WIDE how LONG how DEEP is the LOVE of CHRIST. To know that His love surpasses all so that we can live FULL lives. (Yes, I just put the NIV and Message version together to show Ephesians 3) When I think about Him, it rocks my world to think that I am WORTH it. Really? Do I really grasp that? I think not. To think that I, Carrie, and you, whoever you are, are WORTH it! Man.....thank you Jesus. My mind cannot begin to comprehend His love, but gosh, I sure am going to try. You know, there are ups and downs in life. There are battles to be fought...sometimes I feel victorious, and honestly, sometimes I don't. Actually, often I feel like I failed but the Word says "we are MORE than conquerors" and "no weapon formed against us shall prosper" and "we fight NOT with weapons of this world, but with His weapons." Amen! So even in my failures, He is victorious. Praise the Lord! It isn't about me. It's all about Him. My strength is nothing compared to His weakness......read that again, because that is simply amazing ("amaze-balls" for those of you who like Giuliana Rancic!). This world is not it guys. If we were to get all we wanted here, there would be no desire for eternal life with Jesus. So praise the Lord for allowing us to go through trials that only remind us that this is not our home. A couple weeks ago, Erin and I got to go to New Mexico to visit with my best friend Mandy. She just had a little boy, sweet Michael, and I had the privelege of flying up there and staying for about a week. I absolutely loved the relaxation and time we spent together. Erin and I flew up there together but I flew home solo. Let me preface this next part with this: I am not a huge fan of flying. Comical, I know, since I love going to Africa every year but it is still not my most favorite part of the experience. So I'm on this plane all by myself coming back to Alabama and the Lord spoke to me in such an awesome way. I have absolutely NO control when I'm on that plane. That's how life should be with Jesus. We have NO control. He has it all. Once you decided to give it all over to Him, you take off. You begin your ascendance and sometimes you can see below you and above you, but you hit spots along the way where you can't see anything at all...the clouds are covering you, and you just have to trust that the captain, Jesus, knows what He is doing and where He is taking you. During those moments, whether they are days, months, or years, you have a choice...you can worry and fear the "what-ifs" or you can relax and rest in Him and His directions. On this flight home, I couldn't see anything for most of the flight. It was extremely overcast and I was not liking it. However, that is when I heard Him. That is when He said "Carrie, even though you can't see what I am doing, I am working. Trust me. I will get you to the destination I have for you." I love that He is in control. When I think about myself flying a plane (which is in direct correlation to me flying my life), I laugh and think about how ridiculous that is. I will never fly a plane. I should never control my life. This week He has reminded me of this. I commit to not flying the plane. I commit to not clinging to things that I am "certain" of. I commit my life to Him. I encourage you to do the same. A life with Jesus isn't about "rules." I think so often, people think of Christianity as a list of Dos and Don'ts. It is the opposite of that. Thank goodness He doesn't ask us to get our lives together before He will love us. He asks us to love Him and submit to Him, and THEN He will help us get our lives in order. Because I love Jesus, I don't desire to do the things that are the "don'ts." Yes, I still have a sinful nature that I have to fight daily, but I am covered by His blood. Covered and forgiven, and that means that He remembers my sins NO MORE. Ahh...that makes me SO happy! Today I pray that you are Joy-filled. That you know Jesus, and that you trust Him with everything. You are worth it because HE IS WORTH IT.