calvary love

I was able to spend some time this am reading in James on "counting it all joy" and then through one of my favorite books, If, by Amy Carmichael. She has a collection of poems that start with "If".... and end with "I know nothing of Calvary love." Heavy stuff. Reminded of His path. Here's one poem that I particularly love:

If I ask to be delivered from trial rather than for deliverance out of it,

to the praise of His glory;

if I forget that

the way of the cross leads to the cross

and not to a bank of flowers;

if I regulate my life on these lines,

or even unconsciously my thinking,

so that I am surprised when the way is rough

and I think it strange, though the word is,

"Think it not strange...."

"Count it all joy......."

then I know nothing of Calvary love.

"No vision of the night can show, no word declare, with what longings of love Divine Love waits till the heart, all weary and sick of itself, turns to its Lord and says,

"take full possession."

There is no need to plead that the love of God shall fill our heart as though He were unwilling to fill us: He is willing as light is willing to flood a room that is opened to its brightness; willing as water is willing to flow into an emptied channel. Love is pressing around us on all sides like air." -Amy