Pursued

I would say, "oh my goodness," except it's, "Oh HIS goodness!"

Driving home this evening after 1 1/2 hours of an incredibly rich worship service...I realized (just a little bit) of how much Jesus pursues me! Do I respond to His love as I ought to? I know that I've been drawing nearer to Him through His Word and prayer - and I cannot get enough of Him! I'm literally waking up each morning with a different song running through my head, like He's giving me a playlist to launch my day off. (it is SO. COOL.)

Utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost!

Seeking all His fullness, whatever the cost;

Cutting all the moorings, launching in the deep

Of His mighty power – strong to save and keep.

Utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost!

Oh! The sinking, sinking, until self is lost!

Until the emptied vessel lies broken at His feet;

Waiting till His filling shall make the work complete.

Utterly abandoned to the will of God;

Seeking for no other path than my Master trod;

Leaving ease and pleasure, making Him my choice,

Waiting for His guidance, listening for His voice.

Utterly abandoned! No will of my own;

For time and for eternity, His, and His alone;

All my plans and purposes lost in His sweet will,

Having nothing, yet in Him all things possessing still.

Utterly abandoned! It’s so sweet to be

Captive in His bonds of love, yet wondrously free;

Free from sin’s entanglements, free from doubt and fear,

Free from every worry, burden, grief, or care.

Utterly abandoned! Oh, the rest is sweet,

As I tarry, waiting, at His blessed feet;

Waiting for the coming of the Guest divine,

Who my inmost being will perfectly refine.

Lo! He comes and fills me, Holy Spirit sweet!

I, in Him, am satisfied! I, in Him, complete!

And the light within my soul will nevermore grow dim

While I keep my covenant – abandoned unto Him!

~author unknown

With the Father pouring out so much (deep) truth to me lately, I'm thinking it's another 'fresh wineskin' season...

³⁶He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. ³⁷And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. ³⁸But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. (Luke 5)

*fresh: not previously known or used; new or different...recently created or experienced and not faded or impaired...recently made or obtained; not canned, frozen or otherwise preserved...full of energy and vigor...bright or healthy in appearance...etc.

Praise the Lord - fresh season coming up! Totally lines up with a verse one of my "little sisters" shared with me earlier this week ~

Isaiah 42:9 "See the FORMER things have taken place, and NEW things I declare; before they spring into being I ANNOUNCE them to YOU."

amen. =) Father, let me be utterly (completely, absolutely, entirely, perfectly, unconditionally) abandoned to YOUR plans for this life.