In love [God] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to
be put into effect when the times will have reached their
fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under
one head, even Christ. — Eph 1:5-10 NIV

Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, [God] had us in mind, had
settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by
his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through
Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to
enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his
beloved Son.

Because
of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of
the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments
chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either.
Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we
could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in
making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in
which everything would be brought together and summed up in him,
everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. == Eph 1:5-10 The Message

There is a redeemer,
Jesus, God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One.
Jesus my redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
‘Til the work on Earth is done.

When I stand in Glory,
I will see His face,
And there I’ll serve my King forever,
In that Holy Place.

Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
‘Til the work on Earth is done.

There is a redeemer,
Jesus, God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One.

Thank you oh my Father
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit,
‘Til the work on Earth is done.
And leaving Your Spirit,
‘Till the work on Earth is done

There is A Redeemer — Keith Green

My heart is racing and my knees are weak
As I walk to the edge
I know there is no turning back
Once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush I hear a voice
That’s telling me it’s time
to take the leap of faith
So here I go
                  

I’m diving in, I’m going deep
In over my head, I want to be
Caught in the rush, lost in the flow,
in over my head, I want to go
The river’s deep, the river’s wide,
the river’s water is alive
So sink or swim, I’m diving in — Dive, Steven Curtis Chapman

I remember hearing Erwin tell the story of his childhood experience with the high dive; how he climbed the ladder excitedly but once he got to the top, stood on the diving board and looked down, he realized just how far he had to fall and wanted to take the ladder back down. However, this "big, mean" older boy refused to let him pass, saying, "you’re not coming back this way!" So thanks to his big brother Alex — the "big, mean" boy who wouldn’t let him pass 🙂 — Erwin jumped off the high dive. And lived. And jumped again and again because he loved the thrill so much. But that first step off the board was a killer. Erwin was practically frozen in fear and but for the force of his big brother he would never have taken it.

I’ve stepped off a high dive of my own. I came to a powerful realization over a month ago and started taking baby steps toward healing, recovery and wholeness. But that was just the last few steps up the ladder, and across the board to the edge. I realized I had to choose to jump or I would spend the rest of my life wandering back and forth across the board, staring at the Life I could have, staring at it but never living it. I paced that diving board and stood at the edge for several weeks, struggling with the decision before me and the consequences that would follow. Finally I made my decision and stepped off.

Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
Like today never happened

Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here — "Dare You To Move" by Switchfoot

This is a good thing, a very good thing, this step I’ve taken. Make no mistake about that. But it’s also the scariest thing I’ve ever done. It alters the way I live for the rest of my life. Every day that passes I realize more and more the wisdom of the motto, "One day at a time." It’s just too overwhelming to think about how I will find the strength to live this new way, except to take it in bite-sized pieces; one day at a time, one minute at a time, holding on to Jesus every step of the way.

I am so grateful for His constant presence! Our amazing unfathomable Three-In-One God has made His intimate, dwelling/abiding in me evident every moment of the day. I often awaken to His eyes intently gazing into mine, and at night He sits with me as I weep with the pain of grief, sorrow and fear. He comforts me, holds me and constantly encourages; saying things like, "you can do this," "I am here and we will do it together," "I will catch you when you fall," "one day at a time… one thing at a time." He has also put in my life people who have been so supportive, loving and gracious, and He’s placed me in a city where help for healing, recovery and wholeness is readily available. I look over the landscape of my life and see that He has been preparing me, preparing my life, for this stepping-off moment, this diving in from the high dive, for a very long time; longer I’m sure than what I can (or will ever) see.

I am afraid scared out of my mind and I don’t have any idea how I will accomplish all that is before me — and I know there will be times when I fall and must start again. But I also know I’m not alone in my fight. And that makes all the difference in the world (I don’t know
how people live without Jesus!).

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. — Eph 3:20-21