When sin becomes bitter, Mercy becomes sweet

So, though ambiguous, it's pretty plain that I have not had the ease of the fairytale marriage right off the bat. I've had better than a fairy tale. In fairy tales, the women are always portrayed as lovely and the "damsel in distress" - when that is SO not the case in real life.
Women do not sleep in evening gowns, nor wake up smiling with sweet breath and perfect red lipstick on only to rush to the window to sing and have the birds come and sit by, just to listen to her voice that's like an angel.

If fairy tales were a reality series - it'd be more like.............
well, her name would be Sin-derella for starters......and she would probably have a princess complex and demand that the man who saves the day also do 1/2 the housework.....she may even want to kick a bird or a puppy every now and again. We are sinful women and men who are the bride of Christ. Self-seeking......arrogant, demanding and hate authority by nature.
And if the knight in shining armor was portrayed in truth - IE......our King of Kings and not some fruity prince who is befuddled by the vain external beauty of the damsel........what a picture!!
Some sinful wretch cast aside, not in an elegant tower, but in a prison, like on death row....she has committed treason against this King of Kings and served the master called SIN............this damsel who is broken and knows her worthlessness....knows that she deserves the death penalty for her crimes against heaven. She would be unable to find an attorney even.....the evidence is stacked against her that no loophole could be found for her escape. She has no plea, no appeal, no hope.........

Then.....

This Sovereign King who rules the world, and everything in it, whom all authority on heaven and earth has been given.........who rules the world in righteousness and loves justice........
Comes to this one damsel who is weeping.....not because she got caught....but because she knows that the King is a merciful man and she is overwhelmed with grief for her crimes.....but the penalty remains. This King would compromise his throne if he just let her go free.
He calls the guards and whispers in one of their ears......and filled with love and compassion and the desire to uphold his Reputation as the Just, He plans to pay her fine Himself.
He will pay what justice demands himself and continue to Reign from the electric chair. As he is led into the chambers he is mocked and scorned by the other criminals, human judges and the law enforcement in their self righteousness.
But this is one of the most beautiful pictures of love the world has ever seen. The innocent and upright, perfect in justice, love and humility, the ruler of the universe who could condemn and be RIGHT in his judgment, instead endures the scorn for this unworthy sinner who has lived in ways that would make you think she HATED him.......All so that she could be free, and thus become His wife.

She looks upon him, almost in disbelief that THIS is reality. This is the love of God in Christ Jesus.

MY NAME IS GRAVEN ON HIS HANDS, MY NAME IS WRITTEN ON HIS HEART
I KNOW THAT WHILE IN HEAVEN HE STANDS, NO TONGUE CAN BID ME THENCE DEPART.

The reality and foundation that is Christ and His church worked out in two sinners who both desperately want to honor their Savior and reflect the attribute of his glory - sanctified love.

Sanctified love is more precious than gold - to know Christ's love for us and to know it through your own heart towards other people will rock your soul and leave you blessed and without words. well, for awhile anyways. :) then you blog about it. heh.

My husband is the dearest man I know......seeing him in Christ and not as someone above sin, but forgiven just like me has made our marriage sweeter than honey.....through trials and whatever over the last couple months, Christ has faithfully kept us......

Better than I could have ever imagined. No eye has seen no ear has heard what God has prepared for those who love him - indeed.

This precious song is in my heart today.............
Hope that you get time to get alone before this King to remember

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How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow,
For I will be with thee, thy trials to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"

AMEN
jen2