Behold–a nail…

This afternoon I was sitting on a bench, praying, at Glen Eyrie (a Christian Conference Center) in Colorado Springs. If you've ever visited that place, you know what I mean when I say you can't help but be Spirit-filled to the brim as you take in all that peace and beauty. Anyway, with all the Fall Festivals, including Yom Kippur approaching, I felt a little self-conscious because I know I'm forever disappointing God, and so I was sitting there, telling Him how sorry I was, begging Him to make and mold me more than ever, because I desperately want to continue being used by Him in whatever way He chooses.

Feeling ashamed and unworthy, I let my gaze fall to the ground where - lo and behold! - there happened to be this huge, rusty nail lying at my feet! Curious, I picked it up to examine it, and realized it had obviously been used to mark something. My first thought - one that brought tears to my eyes - was that this nail was similar to the nails that were driven into Yeshua's hands and feet....

My next thought (and perhaps it was just wishful thinking) was that, "coincidence" or not, I felt that this was a sign from YHWH, to let me know that, whatever my shortcomings, I'm still His - warts and all! - and He's never letting go.

Deuteronomy 7:9 From this you can know that ADONAI your God is indeed God, the faithful God, who keeps his covenant and extends grace to those who love him and observe his mitzvot, to a thousand generations. (CJB)

Psalm 136: 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his grace continues forever. (CJB)

Zephaniah 3:17 ADONAI your God is right there with you, as a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you and be glad, he will be silent in his love, he will shout over you with joy." (CJB)

John 3:16. Thus, for Elohim loved the world so as he would give His Only-Begotten Son, that whoever would believe in him would not perish, but would have life that is eternal. 17. For Elohim did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to give life to the world through him. 18. He who does not believe in him is judged, and he who does not believe is already judged because he does not believe in his name, that of the Only-Begotten, the Son of Elohim. (AENT)