more quotes...second 1/2 of chapter 1 - pages 11 - 23 (only underlined goodness & snippets from 11 more chapters & 158 pages left to share)
uncompromising trust in the love of God inspires us to thank God for the spiritual darkness that envelopes us, for the loss of income, for the nagging arthritis that is so painful, and to pray from the heart, "Abba, into your hands i entrust my body, mind, and spirit and this entire day - morning, afternoon, evening, and night. Whatever you want of me, I want of me, falling into you and trusting in you in the midst of my life. into your heart i entrust my heart, feeble, distracted, insecure, uncertain. Abba, unto you i abandon myself in Jesus our Lord. Amen.
the reality of naked trust is the life of a pilgrim who leaves what is nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks into the unknown without any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future. why? because God has signaled the movement and offered it his presence and his promise.
preoccupation with our past sins, present weaknesses, and character defects gets our emotions churning in self-destructive ways, closes us within the mighty citadel of self, and preempts the presence of a compassionate God.
we must allow God to see us and love us precisely as we are.
...we are seen by God with a gaze of love.
God is loving us - you and me - this moment, just as we are and not as we should be. there is nothing any of us can do to increase his love for us and nothing we can do to diminish it.
our trust in God's love gives God immense pleasure.
...a willingness to risk a journey into the unknown and a readiness to trust God even in the darkness is required.
...only the disciple with an unflinching trust in God will dare to risk.
i know God's goodness goes beyond all pleasure and pain - it embraces them both.
faith combined with hope grows into trust.
