Sweet Mercies

by Ken Walker

Title

Sweet Mercies

Artist

Ken Walker

Medium

Digital Art - Digital Painting

Description

Inspired by the David Ruiz song "Sweet Mercies" depicting the never-ending flow of God's mercy and grace - His Love - towards all who accept His free gift of Himself.

Sweet Mercies by David Ruiz

And It's our confession, Lord that we are weak
So very weak, but You are strong
And though we've nothing, Lord
To lay at Your feet
We come to Your feet
And say, "Help us along"

And a broken heart and a contrite spirit
You have yet to deny
Your heart of mercy
Beats with love's strong current
Let the river flow, God
By Your Spirit now, Lord we cry

"Let Your mercies fall from heaven
Sweet mercies flow from heaven
New mercies for today
Shower them down Lord, as we pray"

Let a sweet spring rain, let it fall like a sweet spring rain
Oh, let it come

Written by: David Ruis
CCLI#1761464 ©1995 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing (ASCAP)

Artist Note - "Our deepest sorrow is proportionate to the lack of understanding that God's heart is infinitely one of Love - shown through unending grace, and renewing mercies. Our natural proclivity is one of limitation and exclusions to the truth of God's nature of love. In truth, we often are more comfortable as seeing Christ as the benevolent son holding back the wrath of the Father, but once again, our own experiences on this Earth taint the wonderful wealth of HIs love waiting for us if we but receive it.

Out of intense misery, and if not the most dire of all books in the bible, Lamentations, the author spends several chapter doing just that, lamenting over the pain and suffering being poured out onto the people of God as they endure the outcome of their own waywardness. I have often struggled to even read this book, deeming it too depressing and just another example of God's wrath. Yet, several month ago, I found myself in the middle of the book and came across this wonderful text that challenge my prior understandings of God's heart:

I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there’s one other thing I remember,
and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:19-24)

And then later:

the Master won’t ever
walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
in throwing roadblocks in the way (Lamentations 3:31-33)

That last verse above was something I had never read before. Another translation words it "For He does not afflict willingly and from His heart" We do suffer, and sometimes by God's hands, but never "out of His Heart", in fact, more scriptures refer to God's mercy and compassion as being what naturally flows from His heart. The author here stops to reflect on that though He is suffering, "God's loyal love couldn't have run out, His (Sweet) merciful love couldn't have dried up. THEY ARE CREATED NEW EVER MORNING!"

I constantly limit God by my own feelings, my own experiences, my own limitation when it comes to love and compassion. While I find that I have a soft heart, my love and mercy are not resolute, they are most fragile and conditional - even more so in dealing with myself. YET, if I remove myself from the equation, and take GOD at His own words about Himself, then suddenly my perspective is forced to change. He is limitless in His LOVE thoughts about me ("higher than the heavens") - and His Love is without borders. His Sweet Mercies are refreshed every morning.

I find comfort in that - "

Uploaded

April 30th, 2022

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