Love has a voice

Jesus Culture "Father of Lights". Too much joy to handle!!

Here it is!

The beauty of the Cross is that it's not the end of the story. I'm sure that line has been repeated throughout history, but that doesn't make it less true. Resurrection Sunday is the holiday for me. The only day worth celebrating. This day said, "Hey Death, you just lost! Sin, forget it! Your slaves have been freed!" It's like the Emancipation Proclamation times a billion. We none of us are slaves anymore! I don't know if you ever felt enslaved, but I have. When a sin becomes a constant patterns without end, that is slavery. Until you claim the Victory and Freedom that the Cross and the Empty Tomb offer, you will continue to be enslaved.

I have been set free because God is alive!

This is why this topic is the subject of so many songs. This is what people can't understand. We are dead in sin until we take Jesus at His Word, embrace His Promises and live in Freedom!

I count everything else as lost compared to the surpassing joy that comes from Christ Jesus. Why would I choose anything else? Why would I live in bondage and misery when I can choose freedom and joy? Too much emotion and not enough words. This post is rightly short...

Lord, in spite of myself, I pray that You would help me to live in the Freedom You've so freely given and help me to see Your Mighty Hand outstretched in Victory. I praise You for the Cross. I praise You that the tomb is still empty. Amen Amen Amen

Where is the Victory?

It seemed like Death had won. And Death had won. Jesus was dead. Not just thought to be dead but genuinely no longer a part of the living. There are so many perspectives and so many ways to view these days, my favorite days. The most holy of days if you ask me. There's Friday: the day when the most perfect thing to ever be on this Earth said "I am going to let you kill me because I love you. Your sin must be paid for. You cannot do it on your own. You will never know my Father if there is no sacrifice. I will be your sacrifice. Not because I'm guilty. Not because you earned it. No. Because I have been a part of the plan from the beginning. I am changing the parameters."

Friday redefined the world, but Sunday changed history.

But what about Saturday - the Sabbath. Having no choice but to sit around and feel defeated. Though Jesus left the disciples with the promise of resurrection, they didn't know what He was talking about. Maybe some did. I like to think John did, but in reality, they all had scattered and were only meeting to discuss how they could avoid getting captured and killed. Too bad nobody's interested in the disciple of a defeated savior.

Too bad He wasn't defeated.

Jesus meanwhile was in hell. Suffering still for us. Living the punishment. Away from the Father. Can you imagine? Knowing all the Good and all the Evil, He choose to subject Himself to the evil. How many angels could and would have taken His place? How many did? None. Jesus, Creator of everything, became a victim to all the evil this world has to offer. From my experience, that is a lot. I can't even imagine.

Praise the Lord!!

I don't want to make light of the resurrection by focusing on the Cross. Nor do I want to make light of the Cross by focusing on Sunday.

That's why I said: Friday redefined the world, but Sunday changed history.

Until Good Friday, nobody's god had ever been that loving and that good. That wasn't even imaginable. We can imagine it because we live on this side. But then, Islam didn't even exist really. Mythology was fun of vengeful gods out to play tricks. There was no such thing as a loving God. Even the Jews didn't fully grasp that God would, could or should die for them. This is how Jesus redefined the parameters.

Then on Sunday, the completely changed the world. He changed history. It went from battle to victory. No longer were we subject to sin but Love had won!!!

Hallelujah!

Lord, praise You for what You did on Friday. What I could never repay. Praise You that you fulfilled all the promises and didn't leave a single one undone. There is so much Hope in Your promises!!!


Amen Amen Amen

back in business?

I think I finally have a device that will let me continue my initial plan...it really makes me realize how munching needed a computer. It's sad really... Anyway...so much. has happened lately...I'm being pulled in so many directions, it's hard to know where to go...I guess it's a good time to be starting the Bible over...the early patriarchs made a lot of faith-based decisions and that's what I need to make... Lord, I really need you!

Ay

I wanted to do this everyday and look what has happened. I was doing so well and then my computer crashes. I hate doing this on my phone so what do I do. Stop all together. I've read so many good Words over the past week or 2 (how long has it been?)

I've been reading Acts. I love that book because the Holy Spirit is literally dripping off of every word. It's awesome. The Disciples seem like losers in the Gospels compared to the amount of faith and power they have in Acts. The just get it.

Acts it also a very convicting book. You may think you have it all together, but when you read Acts you realize that you don't do near as much as you could. I feel like God has called me to so much more - or at least He must have because how can I be following Him completely when my life seems so average. I don't know what it means to follow Christ, but part of me is beginning to believe that it involves a whole lot more going than anybody admits. I've always believe that missions didn't need to all be overseas, but I am not convinced that everybody shouldn't be living "on mission". And I think telling people that they can be missionaries at the office cheapens what it means to be a missionary and makes us lazy.

Being a missionary means you will be getting in trouble for your faith. I don't think it's about being afraid of being fired or shy about starting conversations. I think Jesus has called us to put ourselves out there in every part of our lives and acknowledge that if we get reject, He is still taking care of us. The Gospels are full of promises like that. God wants us to be rejected for His name.

Basically, I've got it all wrong...

Last words

The last Fe words of John's Gospel are just so powerful. It's one of the many reasons it's my favorite Gospel.
There arenlt enough books or authors to write down ever miraculous thing Jesus did. God can't be contained by the Bible and shame on anyone who tries to keep Him there. God is great! Praise the Lord.

At the end of this tough day I want my last thought to be how great you are, Lord!

Hallelujah!!

Great commission

Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to all creation.
Mark 16

I like Mark's version of the great commission better...it gets the point across. It's more than just proclaiming the Gospel to people but its about God restoring all of creation to himself. Thats a huge deal. But that's His plan. It started at the Cross and continued with the empty tomb.

What saddens me is I read about the redirection this morning - my all time favorite par of Scripture - and I felt so little. Usually I'm swelling when I read those verses but this time ....is there so much on my plate? Lord I still praise you foe the resurrection and for the victory I share.

I know someone which needs it more. Please send it her way...