The Cross

Easter is just a few days away, but before Easter, there was a cross.  Before life there was death;  there was a debt to be paid.

It bothers me when I read of 'Artist's' who use The Cross of my Saviour profanely.  The Cross of my Saviour was never meant to be inverted and misshaped.  

It was never meant to be made into something vulgar or to be used as some sort of magic wand.

It was never meant to be made into a charm for us to rub and hold while we pray, or to even dangle from our keychain.

The Cross means something!

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God-1 Corinthians 1:18

So what do you think of when you see The Cross?

I see shame that should have been mine-

I see the cost of my sin that I could not pay for myself-

I see agony and a sacrifice made by the sinless Son of God-

I see an extended Grace that I cannot comprehend, but will gladly accept!

I see love.

    But that's just me!

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:  by whose stripes ye were healed- 1 Peter 2:24

"It was Christ who willingly went to the cross, and it was our sins that took Him there."  Franklin Graham

Cancelled!

Seems like everything can be removed or deleted.  If it is not 'Politically Correct,' based on some people's perspective, it can be blocked, terminated, or shut down.  Facebook and Twitter accounts can be held captive.  But even Dr. Seuss?  To quote the Host of a popular Sports Broadcast, 'C'mon Man!'

I will let you in on a little secret:  it won't stop there.

Let me tell you another little secret, just in case you might not know;  The Bible is Not Politically Correct.

So what should that tell us?

What we have taken for granted for so many generations could be on the Chopping Block.

Why?  Because sinful people love their sin, and The Bible exposes it.

This is nothing new.  From Satan twisting the Words of God in the Garden of Eden, to the destruction of Scripture and liturgical books across the Roman Empire by Diocletian in the year of 303, to the Medieval Ages, and even to the distorted versions of the Bible today, God's Word has been under attack.

"In Jesus Name" has been removed from Public Prayer, The Ten Commandments have been removed from the walls, hallways, and Public Parks, speaking out against sin is considered hate speech.  History tells us that the Bible has been blasphemed, banned, burned and banished from countries around the world, so why are we so surprised?

But take heart!  Man can never erase, remove, or delete God's Word!  No matter how hard they try, (and boy have they tried) God's Word is eternal.

Matthew 24:35, Jesus tells us, 'Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.'

1 Peter 1:25 a  'But the word of the Lord endureth forever'

Isaiah 40:8 'The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:  but the word of our God shall stand forever.

The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that's the book for me!  I stand alone on the Word of God, The B-I-B-L-E!

The BIBLE!

    But that's just me!

The Word of God is always most precious to the man who most lives upon it-Charles Spurgeon

We shall not adjust our Bible to the age; but before we have done with it, by God's Grace, we shall adjust the age to the Bible-Charles H. Spurgeon

Fully Covered

Psalm 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Do you remember that jingle, 'I'm gonna wash that gray right out of my hair!?'  Well, the other day I did just that.  I went and had my hair colored and highlighted at my favorite salon.  I was very happy with the results, until I went home and put my hair up into a pony-tail and saw a small section of gray hair.  My stylist missed a spot!  It's not a big deal, really, most people won't even notice, and in four more weeks it will be time to go and have it covered up again.

It made me think of sin.  It's funny what we do to try to 'cover' it up ourselves.  Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with  fig leaves and hide themselves.  (Genesis 3:7)  A temporary fix!

Sometimes we don't think anyone will notice;  our secret sins, our hidden sins.

But God does.

God knew our problem with sin could not be fixed on our own, so He sent His Son to do it for us.

Completely and Throughly.

Webster's Dictionary defines 'throughly' as:  In a thorough manner.  Meaning, "it's enough."

And when Jesus said, 'It is finished.' on the cross, it means just that.

When I accepted Jesus as my Saviour, His blood covered ALL my sin; past, present, and future. Permanently. 

There was nothing left uncovered-He didn't miss one spot or blemish.

Hebrews 10:10 says:  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Ephesians 1:7 says:  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

I'm thankful to be fully covered!  But that's just me!

What can wash away my sin?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Trade

For ye are bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 6:20

We traded our truck in yesterday for a brand new truck.  It was a good trade; we got a good price for our old truck to help lower the cost of the new one.  My husband drove home a happy man.

It made me think of other trades:

    My sin-filled heart for a new heart-Ezekiel 36:26

    A new life for old- 2 Corinthians 5:17

    Filthy rags for clothes of righteousness- Isiah 61:10

    Lusts of the flesh for fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22-23

    Sin for righteousness- 2 Corinthians 5:21

    Turmoil for peace- Philippians 4:7

    Guilt for forgiveness- 1 John 1:9

    Mourning for joy-Psalm 30:11

    Weakness for strength- 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

    Death for Life- John 5:24

I could go on and on.

Jesus died on the cross for me.  He paid a debt I could not pay.  

He traded places with me.

Suffering and shame for Grace and Mercy.

It was a good trade for me.

Was it a good trade for Christ?

We were bought with a price.  Did Jesus get what He paid for?

I am no longer my own.  I have been purchased by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ-

I want to glorify Him in all things-

    But that's just me!

    

    

Lord, Where are You?

Has there ever been a time in your life when everything seemed to go wrong?  Nothing seemed to go right?  You pray and it seems like your prayers go no further than the ceiling?  Struggles never seem to end.  Days, weeks, and months go by.  You have fallen into the Pit of Despair?  Down on your knees in desperation you finally cry out to God,  "Lord, where are you?"

That's a question that God has heard before.

Job asked that question-Job 23:3

King David asked that question-Psalm 42:3, 10

And many others in the Bible have probably thought that question.

But did you know that God asked that question?

Genesis 3:9 says, "And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, where art thou?"

God already knew where Adam was, so why do you think God asked that question?

Maybe it was so that Adam would realize he was in a place he was never meant to be.

And even though Adam was not where he should be, God still saw him....THERE.

Sometimes our trials and struggles come from our own making:  poor choices, sin in our lives, and we try to hide from God.

And yet, other times, God is allowing us to go through something in our lives to bring us closer to Him.

Regardless, of our circumstances and our feelings, when we ask God, "Lord, where are you?"

He always answers, "I'm Here."

Has God called you to do something for Him?  Is He calling you by name and asking, 'Where are You?"  Are you in the place God has called you to be in, doing what He has called you to do, or are you like Adam.....hiding?

Satan will cause us to doubt, and sometimes it may 'feel' as if we are all by ourselves in the battle, but take heart!  Remind yourself that God's Word is always true and God always keeps His promises-

I do, but that's just me!

Hebrews 13:5b for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Matthew 28:20b  And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. 

When you are going through a big trial and you can't hear God's voice, remember:  the Teacher is always quiet during a test.   -unknown

Insomnia

I've been looking forward to this all day; bedtime. 

Shower, maybe have a small snack, don my pajamas and climb into bed.  I lay back, put my head on my pillow, close my eyes and.....BOING!  Wide awake!

Oh, no!  I groan.  This can't be happening!  I'm exhausted, why doesn't sleep come?

Stress?  Worries?  Thoughts about all I have to do tomorrow?  Hormones?  One too many cups of coffee?

I start to say something to my husband, but I already hear sounds of smooth breathing and soft snores.

So much for late-night-conversation.

I sigh, look at the clock and reach for my Kindle.  I open the News App.  Bad idea.  I find a bookmark in the recent Novel I just downloaded, but know if I begin to read this story I won't be able to put the book down.  Maybe a few games will put me to sleep.  Every 15 minutes I look at the clock and begin to realize that this is going to turn out to be a very long night.

I decide to lay my Kindle aside.  I close my eyes, and begin to seek God.  "Ok, Lord.  Who do you want me to pray for?"  Names, faces and burdens begin to swarm my thoughts.  I lift each one before the Throne of God.  My prayers turn into counting my blessings.  I no longer look at the clock.  Slowly I begin to drift off into the peaceful sleep that God promises to each of his children.  I'm safe in the hands of the God who protects me during the night watches.  Thank you, Lord, for rest.

Next time, before I reach for my Kindle, I will seek my Saviour....but that's just me.

Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and they sleep shall be sweet.

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep,

I count my blessings instead of sheep,

And I fall asleep counting my blessings!"

 (Count your blessings instead of sheep.  Bing Crosby  White Christmas 1954)