“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it emotionally. A higher paradox confounds the emotion as well as reason and there are long periods in the lives of all of us, when the truth as revealed by faith is hideous, emotionally disturbing, downright repulsive. Witness the dark night of the soul in individual saints . . .”
― Flannery O’Connor
(ball moss found in a tree in San Antonio, Texas / Julie Cook / 2014)
If I am a follower of the Christ
I am called to die.
For to follow Christ means death.
Death in the eyes of the world
A Christ follower must die unto self.
If therefore, I am dead to self, I am, in turn also, alive
For it is in death, and only in that death, that I might live
For if I am dead to self, I am now born again in the Spirit
If I am a follower of the Christ
I am therefore charged to love those whom I hate and those who hate me
If I am struck, I am to turn, allowing myself to be struck again
For I am not to return evil for evil
Being careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone
(Romans 12:14)
If someone takes what is mine, I am to give them more
If I have riches I am to give it all away. . .
only to become poor
For it is only the poor who inherit the Kingdom of Heaven
If I am a follower of the Christ
I am to forgive those who do me harm,
and forgive those who harm the ones I love
I am to forgive seventy times seven
As 490 was once believed to be a perfect continuum.
If I am a follower of the Christ
I am in the world, yet not of the world
I am a foreigner in my own country
As I become an enemy of the world
I am charged to offer only love to those who call me their enemy
If I am a follower of the Christ
I am a prisoner, yet, I will find myself free
I may be bound and persecuted in body, yet I will be free in Spirit
For if the Son sets you free, then free you are, indeed
(John 8:36)
If I am a follower of the Christ
I must give to Caesar what is Caesar’s
Yet I am to give my heart and soul to Christ alone.
For I can not serve two masters
If I am a follower of the Christ
I may be lost, yet, I am newly found
I may suffer, yet, I will also rejoice
I may cry, yet I will be filled with joy
I may die, yet I will live
For it is only in Christ that we are offered new life
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
(A thank you to Lynda for reminding me of the dichotomy of our faith)
cookiecrumbstoliveby 
Julie, this is so beautiful and thought-provoking. It was so kind of you to mention me but I think it was the Lord who spoke to you. Blessings.
Another excellent post missy! Hope you’ve had a good day. Hugs, hugs, and more hugs. Natalie 🙂
Beautiful 🙂
Thank you Claire– 🙂