How to Embrace the Cross

Recently, I was asked, “What does it mean to embrace the cross?” What a power-packed question! Pondering that question, my heart was refreshed and ravished once again.

Embracing the cross only happens when I’m being rather than doing… being in the Presence of Jesus, God’s love sacrifice, the slain, bloody Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world. With arms flung wide open, He is calling, “Come as you are”. This love invitation overflows with kindness to needy people like you and me.

Embracing the cross, I see afresh the beauty and joy of all that Jesus is and has done. “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

“God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him [Jesus], we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

 Wouldn't you and I be fools to reject God’s love invitation offered so freely? It's the great exchange! We give Jesus our inadequacies and insecurities, our guilt and shame, our pride and self-righteousness, our doubts and fears, and tendencies to please and perform. Jesus gives us forgiveness and worth. He lavishes upon us a no strings attached love, hope, encouragement and comfort.

Embracing the cross, receiving the height and depth and width and length of Christ’s love, compels us to love with the same immeasurable love. (2 Corinthians 5:14) “Our sin” looks no greater or less than “someone else’s sin.”

The Magic of Giving Never Ends

The magic of giving… it all started around 2,000 years ago.  God gave.  Jesus came. He left the glories of heaven and plunged Himself into earth’s miseries and sorrows. He came as “The Light” to dispel darkness.

Darkness still surrounds. A sick boy lying in the hospital bed---doctors unable to make his pain go away.  A single mother hardly making it, working long hours, short on sleep. Thirsty, hungry souls, empty and unaware that Jesus satisfies. Loneliness casts dark shadows upon the young and old, the rich and poor. Darkness is everywhere.

Then Jesus arrives. Darkness cannot hide from “The Light” and the magic of giving tells its secret.

When we believe in Jesus, we receive “The Light” and become carriers of His supernatural power. The Light bends down to reach the discouraged, downtrodden, and despairing. The impossible happens. No longer do they have to live in darkness because faith, hope, and love rise up.  

It happened in an odd sort of way the Christmas our House Church adopted a needy family. At Gordmans, I loaded my arms with clothes that fit the needs and sizes of one woman and her children, and my phone rang. Tucked deep in my purse, I let it ring and ring and ring. Finally it stopped… then started again. I answered to an excited voice.

“Mom! Facebook says that if you go to the guest services counter by 2 o’clock and say, ‘Something unexpected’ and wink, you will get a $50 gift card.”

I debated, is this true? Will I make a fool of myself? My heart pounding, I took my place in line and risked it. 

My turn led me straight to a male cashier. “May I help you?”

“I was told to say, ‘something unexpected.’” and I winked at him.

“You’re the first winner!” he exclaimed and handed me a $50 gift card. And there was more! When I checked out all my purchases, I received an additional $10 reward.

That seemingly small gesture became unusually big because that’s what “The Light” does. The presence of Light shows up and a friendly smile generates hope, simple hospitality cheers a grumpy heart, and a few dollars multiply. Resistance foils in Light’s presence, making room for understanding and forgiveness to move in. “The Light” causes seemingly impossible things to happen.

Giving is nothing short of magical when “The Light” dwells within us and stirs.  And best of all, giving never seems complicated. “As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Matthew 7:12

And just when you think you’ve given all there is to give, the magic of giving returns…to the giver… because “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. (Matthew 5:7 The Message)

The magic of giving never ends!

No Reason to Give In or Give Up

About 92% of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital. Statistics prove that if more people knew CPR, (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), it can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival.

Christians are especially at high risk. Distractions, worries, fears, and doubts attack our faith-- always aiming to destroy our spiritual life. These deadly adversaries can be stopped!

Our Lord offers to rescue us with spiritual CPR: Courage, Power and Rest. With His spiritual CPR, nothing is too difficult to handle. Without it, we’ll struggle to make it past today’s first hurdle.

Courage/to trust God daily
It takes courage to trust God. Courage to stop trying to figure out everything on our own. Courage to stop peering into the future to plan for every possibility. Courage to listen to God’s voice in everything we do, everywhere we go. Courage to trust God to keep us on track. (Philippians 3:12-14 MSG)

God's Hand Holds You! (Part 2- A True Love Story)

God desires to fill us to overflowing with agape love. The apostle Paul declares it’s so wide and long and high and deep that it surpasses knowledge! (Ephesians 3:19) So, how can we be filled with this infinite, unfathomable love?

With prayer and a believing heart. Prayer is the means our heavenly Father designed so we can ask and receive His good and perfect gifts. Prayer unleashes divine revelations of agape love.

So let's continue with prayer!

The Name of the Lord Delivers!

Monday morning…bulging grey clouds and pounding rain. Dismal, just like me. I shuffle to my study. Sips of hot coffee help me formulate one, single thought. How will I get through this day?

On Mondays I usually rest after a week of working hard and serving hard. I enjoy a long, leisure quiet time in God’s sweet presence, delighting in His Word. Then my husband and I feed on more manna, together. We rejoice in God’s truths and pray. Our afternoon is reserved for nothing or no one, unscheduled and uncluttered.  

Except for that Monday. Tasks leftover from the weekend loomed and there was dinner company coming. Without energy and motivation to get up and get going, I felt like my pink hardy geranium, pelted flat to the ground by the rain.  

5 Words That Could Change Your Life

  “Look! The water’s rising above the street curb. I’ll call Skip and ask if this is normal.”  Our native California neighbor chuckled at my husband’s inquiry.

“The rainy season is here. Relax!”

Our four children, then ages 8, 6, 4, and 2, peered out our living room window, intrigued by nature’s water show. Within minutes, water covered the brick John had placed in the middle of our driveway.

With rain still pounding, John called again. “Skip, are you sure this is normal?”

Strong winds pushed waves of hungry water half way up our front yard. Skip’s car bobbled down the street like a water toy. Fear gripped us.

“Let’s move as much furniture upstairs as possible,” John ordered. Our feverish efforts paled compared to forceful, fast rising flood waters.

“Let’s pray,” I said. Prayer empowers me to keep fear from dominating.

Knees to the carpet, I suddenly didn’t know what to pray. That God save our lives? That our house is not destroyed? Booming thunder mocked my puny faith.