And of his fullness have we all received...John 1.16

To have fullness
where once there was painful emptiness
creates the perfect environment for heartsongs.

...singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord.
Giving thanks always.... Ephesisans 5.19,20

Instead of a cry of hunger , a song of praise.
Instead of a moan of pain, a melody of rejoicing.
Aaahh, this is good. O! God is good!!!

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7.38

There is a flow of fullness from within unto God.
Instead of a sucking vacuum as a foundation
of need and lust and a whoring heart-
we find an everlasting flow of grace and mercy
like a river of living waters.

There is a river, the streams whereof
shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psalm 46.4

Without your wounds where would you be?

The very angels themselves cannot persuade
the wretched and blundering children of earth
as can one human being broken in the wheels of living.

In loves service only the wounded soldiers can serve.

Thornton Wilder

But faithful are the wounds of a friend, saith the Lord.
In faithfulness I have afflicted thee.
Have not I power over the vessel to shape it as I will-
with what means I deem right?

But know this that it is I that wound, and it is I that heal.
And precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Have you indeed been baptized into death
and has not this which is esteemed by others as nothing
and that which is foolishness and to be despised-
has not this been the very avenue of the life
of the Son of Righteousness in you?

Yea, thus I lift you up-
thus are you healed-
and thus are you empowered through death
and the cross that you now are graced with newness of life.

Do you not know that those who do not choose
to suffer with my son and learn to reign in the life
that is thus manifested as through the Light of the World-
even these who choose to shun such pain-
that they will suffer greatly?

For in choosing the way of the cross
my children find a way wherein the burden is made light.
But those who refuse find themselves
in a way that is unutterably hard with thorns and snares
and fiery serpents multiplied.

But my son has indeed taken to himself great power
and reigns through the victory of the cross
that he might be the author of salvation to those who believe.

For he must reign with the power with which he is able
to subdue all things unto himself.
In his kingdom therefore he orders all things aright
and manifests all authority to make all things work together
to the good of them that love God and are called according to his purpose.

So fear not my little children as even your pains
both small and great are taken into account
as the hairs of the head;
even the tribulations which are appointed you.

And consider that, like my servant Job,
after you are tried you shall come for as gold-
even as jewels that are formed through great pressure
that the Son might be admired in all.

Only look not to the earth for witness
nor those thing that are without,
but only look to that heavenly witness within-
even the Holy Spirit of God which is given you
and bears witness to your spirit.

And now do all things as unto God and not as unto men-
for it is of God that you receive your reward.

And know this that it is not in your ability-
nor your understanding through which my power is perfected
in you life and being,
(for it is not by might and he that thinks
that he knows anything knows not yet as he ought to know),
no, it is not your power but your weakness
wherein my power and plan for you is perfected.

So lift up you heads this day my little ones-
my weak and afflicted ones-
my chosen ones-
for I Am!!!

What am I ?
I am your God and your are mine-
my jewels whom I form for myself.

God hath made many cutting instruments
and rough files for the polishing of his jewels;
and those He especially loves and means to make
most resplendent, He hath oftenest his tools upon.
Bishop Leighton