Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Finishing Nails


I was reminded last night, as a doctor looked at some of my physical scars, about the emotional scars we also get through life. I dreamed a lot last night, and kept getting the recurring picture and idea of Finishing Nails. Often, God will give me a blog title through a dream. When I awoke I remembered the dreams and started listening to what God was trying to show me.

My father was an abusive man full of words and actions that stated, YOU CAN’T, YOU AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH, YOU SHOULD, YOU WON’T, not in ways of protection or training of a child, but the opposite. He was a condescending bully and not a safe man. I know some of the things of his own baggage that led him to such behavior and language. He is forgiven. If we start the judgment, where would we stop? We inevitably will end up back with Adam and Eve.
I remember the day my father told me, “Who do you think you are? You can’t go to college. Settle for …” . I can’t even remember what he told me to settle for, because all my heart heard was that I couldn’t or shouldn’t even aspire to go to college. Many of us have such scars from our earthly fathers, husbands, sisters, mothers, bosses, or somebody. Abuse is not gender specific by any means. However, neither were the FINISHING NAILS gender specific. Those nails and spiked lashes that Christ took were for ALL OF US.
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Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:28-30
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Jesus died victorious in what he came to do…fulfill the law for us…A FINISHED WORK. We can’t do anything to be worthy of it. He gave it freely, willfully, to all of us. He set us free. The shackles of ‘works’ prison are off. The burden of re-aligning ourselves with laws and performance has been taken away with the finishing nails of the cross. Our healing happened then. Jesus says, by his grace and mercy of finished work, YOU CAN, YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH THAT I CAME TO REDEEM YOU THROUGH MY DEATH. THE VEIL IS TORN AND YOU CAN GO BOLDLY TO THE THRONE. EVERY ONE OF YOU. None, not one, has to stop in the New Covenant, at any part of the temple.

He calls us ‘friend’ and promises that the Holy Spirit will make known to us what the Father made known to him. Our Helper, reminding us of the FINISHED WORK.

9 comments:

Kathleen said...

Always an inspiration!! You really nailed it, as always. Keep those dreams coming, the channels open, and the God-given visions--earthly creations and otherwise--open. God bless!!
I've read all your blogspots.:)
Love from Kathleen Higley

Connie said...

Kathleen,
GREAT to hear from you!!! I am tickled that you are reading my blogs. Blessings to you and your family!
Squeeze that husband of yours!
Love, Connie

Anonymous said...

Connie, just as the physical scars are still evident (even if they don't always continue to cause pain) so are the emotional scars. Jesus sees them and understands and ministers to us - sometimes in spite of the scars and sometimes through the scars. And because he has ministered to you so abundantly, and you have accepted his grace, you are now so wonderfully good at ministering to others - myself included. Don't ever stop your ministry. It is needed in this world we live in. Because of you, some of us are better able to see and feel the love of Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit - to feel their acceptance and encouragement. Thank you, dear one.
Gwen

Oak Creek Southern Baptist Church said...

I can certainly empathize with you in having had a father who had nothing good to say about his children. It's like we raised ourselves despite him. It took awhile, but I came to realize our Heavenly Father is the only one who can love us, protect us, guide and teach us without tearing us down and leaving us emotional wrecks! God bless you, Connie! You are an inspiration! I do up the blogspot for our church [as noted below] as well as my own spot!
Hugs ... Ms. Marcia

karen said...

Good Word, sister. I'm glad He speaks to you through dreams. I guess He does that because He has our complete attention!

Abuse like what your father inflicted is also carried out in the church by those who see themselves as a CEO instead of a servant. The importance of the torn curtain at Jesus' death was to remove that barrier between people and God...the holy priests were literally taken out of the mix...allowing us all to be there in the temple with Him--any time, any day, any ONE.
It is finished...for EVERYONE was set free.

Connie said...

YES, HE DIED FOR ALL OF US.
no exclusivity. In our brand name culture, 'exclusive' clubs, clothes, designers, etc. seem to have a great value. But the world's values are not God's. He is especially fond of each one of us, not a respecter of persons.

karen said...

I wonder what He thinks of
"exclusive?"

Connie said...

Root words fascinate me...I have studied several foreign languages. Root word of exclusive is 'exclude.'
He says he does not want NOT ONE to be lost. He will leave the 99 to get the ONE. Must think we are all worth saving. He's the maker of us all, and there is no junk pile.

Hey Ms. Marcia, have been praying for you. (c:

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Connie!! We all need the prayers!

Ms. Marcia