Latley I have been so discouraged, feeling like such a hypocrite. I desperatly want to follow Christ in every area of my life, but I am continuously giving into my flesh. I am so weak. I was encouraged by a very close friend in this area by the following verses. Thank the Lord for giving us relationships to build us up and encourage us in the Lord.

" But Peter Declared 'Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.' And all the other disciples said the same" - Matthew 26: 35

  
    

Peter and the other diciples also desperatly wanted to follow christ with everything, they too declared that they would follow jesus until the very death. Peter in particular says this, and all the others make a pledge to follow Christ together in the midst of anything that would ever happen to them. How many times have i made that Pedge? "i will walk with you to the very end of my days, God. i will never ever hurt you again, and I will make sure I wont commit that sin again, because i love you, God". I know that Peters heart was a lot like mine. I truley desire to yearn for Christ and be with him always. I desire to never casue him any pain and to follow him in every area.

" Then Peter remembered the the words Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times' and he went outside and wept bitterly" -Matthew 26:75

    talk about hypocosy! I feel like this so often. Peter reliezes the depths of his sin. He is broken when he relizes that he has denied Jesus in his greatest time of need. He had betrayed the one he loved. I can relate to this. The courage and strength you once had melts into hurt as you relieze that you are sining and ignoring God. It hurts when you relieze the heart problem behind your sins. That you are not in full relationship with God, and are searching for fufillment in other thins that will never satisfy. that you are letting the flesh win, even though you know it is wrong. It is so painful when you see your life is in comparrison to the cross.

"But go, tell his disciples and Peter 'he is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you'" --Mark 16:7

 How encouraging!! even after Peter denied Jesus and sinned increadably, Jesus mentions him specifcally! Jesus is almost saying "my precious precious Peter, you are so loved. I want you to know that I am going ahead of you, i love you so much, my friend, and I can't wait to be with you! How cool! even when I do the exact opposite of what I say I will do for Jesus Christ, he is always waiting for me, forgiving me, saying "tell my precious Jamie that i am going ahead of her. I can't wait to see her. I am still with her, and she can talk to me anytime that she needs. She is so beautiful to me, and I value her so much. I love her even more than she could ever imagine. I know she messed up, but I am still here for her. I will be waiting here for you, Jamie, just as I told her I would. I am always here for her, just as I told her I would be." 

  i am so thankful that god loves us even when we are hypocritical and go against everything we know to be true. Even when we mess up, he loves us.  he helps us learn from the mistakes we make, and blesses us regardless. i truley do not understand the love of Christ. i am amazed that he fogives us and heals us and looks past our sins to love us.