The Power of the Cross

We had our Easter drama, "The Risen Christ" on Sunday night. Let me tell you...the Holy Spirit was all kinds of present in that place! In fact, He showed up long before we did.

First of all, one of our actors had just gotten in from a mission trip to Mexico, and really had not had but 3 hours to practice his lines. He did phenomenal! No one in that church would have ever known he only learned his lines that day.

Also, when we all got there to practice that day, you could feel God's presence sitting in on us, watching us prepare for the night ahead. If you have ever sang in choir or church, you know that usually you just go with the flow in practice and then when the real thing comes, you really sometimes feel that overwhelming presence of the Lord. Well, at this practice, people were raising their hands in praise to Him, and just singing about His glory. It was quite an amazing feeling to just worship Him with my brothers and sisters in choir.

But little did we know that was only the beginning to an amazing night of God working in the lives of those around us. The play started and the actors began to retell the resurrection story. Once again, we could all feel the Holy Spirit as we did our best to reenact this beautiful event. The beautiful love story that God wrote just for us. As the service was concluding and the invitation was given, one of my very close friends took that long walk down the aisle and gave her life to Christ. Praise the Lord! She too felt the Spirit calling her to let Him into her heart and she finally welcomed Him in.

I went home feeling so overwhelmed at the love of God for us...sending His son to die a horrible, wretched death for us...all so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with Him. I know people ask all the time, "Would you die for anyone?" but I think the harder question is, "Would you lay down the life of your child, your own flesh and blood, for anyone? How about the whole world who, in return, mocks you and spits in your face for this sweet precious sacrifice that you made just for them?" I am not yet a mother, but I cannot even fathom the feeling of giving up my child for anyone or anything.

"This the power of the cross; Christ became sin for us. Took the blame, bore the wrath, we stand forgiven at the cross..."

A work in progress...

I have really come to realize lately that I am a work in progress. I have so many faults and God loves me in spite of those. Time and time again He pours His mercy over me without hesitation. Isn't it comforting to know that He does that for us? I think about my earthly relationships...my husband, mother, father, sisters, friends, etc. There are times that we do things and sometimes hurt one another and do not know how we will be able to forgive and forget. But with God...there is no doubt that He will not receive us back into His arms if only we ask. We hurt Him each and every day, most of the time without even acknowledging it. But when we do, and we ask for His forgiveness, He totally wipes out our sins as if they never even happened. What an example of love...

I often struggle with love. Love for those who I do not know or do not like. But God commands us to "Just as I have loved you, you are to love one another" (John 13:34). Wow...can you imagine if every one of us loved each other as He loves us? We would basically be living in a utopia. The word "love" is mentioned in the Bible somewhere around 442 times...God is love. And he wants us to love too...

I'm gonna end this post with a song I learned as a child, and still often think about...
"He's still workin' on me, to make me what I 'oughta be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be...He's still workin' on me."

Sometimes, a slap in the face feels good...

Yesterday our pastor preached on God's will. He touched on how to actually know you're in His will, and not yours. Ouch. This is a very tough subject for me, because I am human and selfish and want to do things the way I want to do them. Let me also mention that I struggle with patience...

Patient:
Main Entry: 1pa·tient
Pronunciation: \ˈpā-shənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English pacient, from Anglo-French, from Latin patient-, patiens, from present participle of pati to suffer; perhaps akin to Greek pēma suffering
1 : bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint

Calmly and without complaint...In order to be in God's will, patience is a must. So needless to say, I was slapped pretty hard yesterday as I sat and heard God speak through my humble pastor. He also said that in order to determine God's will we must go to our Bibles (we must listen to Him), our knees (we must talk to Him), and our friends/family/pastor/Godly council. It is also very important that we do it in this order. We should never seek Godly council until we have first went to God. Make sense?

Lastly, if after you have done all of these things and still have the desire for your decision, then do it! Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Not he may, or he probably will... It's a definite! All this time I have struggled with how to know if it's God telling me to, or my own selfish desires wanting to. And it's as simple as reading His word and letting Him speak to you, praying to Him, seeking wise council, and just doing it is His name!

I hope that you are as excited as I am about being in God's will...That was one slap that felt refreshing!

Oh the babies!

So yeah, I know it has been a while since I posted. And I also know this is only my 2nd post ever...I will try much harder to be more committed to this thing. But no promises...

I just got a phone call from a great friend letting me know that she and her hubby are expecting their first baby! How exciting?! I also have another very close friend who found out last month that she is expecting her third. Oh, did I mention that I have another close friend who should be delivering her sweet little baby in the next week or so?!

Oh the babies!!! And it only makes me that much more eager to become a Mommy... which will happen soon. Soon enough and in God's perfect timing. His timing is not my own, and I have to daily remind myself.

So to all the close friends who are expecting or are already Mommies...Congratulations on your precious little miracles! I will patiently await God's timing and know that He is faithful & true on His word: Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourselves in the Lord & He will give you the desires of your heart." :)