Have You Taken Time For the Cross?

Thousands of children are anticipating a hunt for candy-filled eggs on Sunday. My boys, 8 and 5, shaking their heads in wonderment, that some people think it's all about the candy. We are privileged to know Who is the true Treasure of Easter.

He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Easter means more than decorating with budding white lilies and wearing pretty new clothes to a sunrise service. Easter is more than dutifully looking back at something that happened nearly 2,000 years ago. It is even more than just celebrating the resurrection. So much more.

Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

When Jesus hung on a cross near Jerusalem, He was alert.  He wasn't accusing those who tortured Him.  For you see, He climbed onto the cross by His own choice.  Yes, He had the power to come down and kill all those who afflicted Him.  Yet, He wanted them to nail Him there, more than His desire not to suffer.  And as He suffered, His excruciating pain didn't prevent Him from remembering why He was there. 

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

It wasn't the vast collective crowd of sinners (all people who will ever exist) in His mind.  He was thinking of individuals.  He was thinking of Sara.  Me.  He knew about my sins.  That I would reject Him.



Jesus knew that I would at times struggle with respecting my body, His temple, with the sin of gluttony.  He knew that sometimes I would hurt His cause with my words and actions. He took upon Himself the iniquities of worry and fear that would drain usefulness from my life, until I learned His lessons about trust.  Every sinful thought and attitude that has crossed my mind.  He knew about it then. 



And it added to His pain. 

All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He bore it all out of His incredible, matchless love for me.  Sara.  He loved me then, and He loves me now.  He yearns for me - a rebellious, doubting, fickle woman!  How then can I rejoice over His resurrection without first kneeling again before the cross, looking at His body battered beyond recognition because He loved me?

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

As I lay in my bed last night, confronted by the truth of the power of His gifts, asking God to forgive me for my worry and fear, I found another gift.



While He was dying, it wasn't just my name He was thinking of.  He was thinking also of all those whose sin has hurt me and those I love.  He agonized, grieved, and ached over these sins (much more than I ever could).  Jesus understands my pain!  And He kindly offers the solutions, the balm, the re-creation, and the complete forgiveness of all that is ugly in my life. 

He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities.

The pain I feel in this life, from my sins and sins committed against me, is personal.  (I feel guilty saying so ... after all, many people have suffered much more than I.)  Yet, the truth of the atonement Christ made on the cross, is also personal.  And it is the same gift offered to you!  Christ's death was PERSONAL for every person.

Because He poured out His soul unto death,

And He was numbered with the transgressors,

And He bore the sin of many,

And made intercession for the transgressors.

Sunday will be a time of great celebration and victory!  Because He lives, we too shall live! 



But, until Sunday, let's take time for the cross.

If you would like to learn more about what Jesus has done for you, click here.



Portions of Scripture are from Isaiah 53, NKJV.  Article updated 4/19/14

In Her Shoes - Missionary to South America

 

"Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11). What an amazing verse! I have a Bible study on Wednesday afternoons with two ladies from my neighborhood and this was one of the verses that we studied today as we studied about the importance of reading God's Word daily.

When we started this Bible study, both ladies were unsaved and very embraced in their Catholicism. Over the course of a year, slowly, ever so slowly, God's Word began to work in their hearts and eventually both of these dear ladies asked Jesus Christ to forgive them of their sins and become their Savior. Wow! Do I like being a missionary wife??? I LOVE being a missionary wife! I get to do this all the time!



My husband and I left the United States fourteen years ago to go to language school and frankly, I was scared to death. For my husband it was a breeze. He, being a missionary kid, was returning "home" for his dream come true of being a full time missionary. I, on the other hand, had dreamed of living next door to my parents and was only going to the mission field out of complete obedience to God because He had directly called me to serve Him in this way.



The first four years of serving as a missionary were very hard for me. In obedience to God I returned with my husband for our second four year term. This term was awesome! I saw God use me in small ways, and I saw God use my husband in HUGE ways! We returned to the States for a year break, and I began to beg God that he would "really" use my life and my children's lives to draw people to Jesus Christ. God was already using my husband in amazing ways. With a passion I wanted God to use my children and me to reach the unsaved.

When we cry out to God, He answers. February 2010 we started our third term. God moved us into a neighborhood where everyone knows each other. Being a runner, I quickly became known as the "Gringa" that runs every day. God placed on my husband's and my heart to start a church right in our neighborhood. He provided the building and now after a year and a half we have about ninety to one hundred people coming each Sunday. Many of these people are still not saved, but God is working in their hearts. There is so much to do. The needs are so overwhelming; but the awesome thing is that God is not just using my precious husband to reach the unsaved but He is using me also.

Just wait, that is not all ... God has so blessed my life because He is using my dear children also. On Sunday afternoons, my oldest son and I have a Bible study with two boys his age from our church. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to my Lord for this privilege. To watch my son speak so gracefully in Spanish and to listen to him answer their questions with such knowledge is a beautiful gift from my God.



On Sunday after our Bible study with these two young men, my son looked at me and said, "I do think that I would like to be a pastor." He then with a laugh said, "That is after I am a professional soccer player."

Soccer. Now there is a story. For years my husband and I prayed for a soccer ministry. We never dreamt that we would reach soccer players thru the life of our son. Our oldest son started playing competitive soccer at age four. Three years ago, he joined a very competitive team that plays all year and practices every day but Sunday.  In 2011, thru his testimony and our family's testimony ten of his soccer friends accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. Many of these boys would come to our house and stay the entire weekend. It was amazing. In that same year different teammates began living with us. This gave us amazing opportunities to disciple these boys. This continues to this day as one of his teammates still lives with us. This young man was saved a year ago and continues to grow while being a part of our family on a daily basis.

In January, our son had to train in a town about twenty-two hours away. As he and his teammates were loading the bus, a mom came running over to our son. With tears in her eyes she begged our son to tell her son about Jesus. She said, "He listens to you, please don't stop telling him about Jesus. He will listen to you." Two weeks after returning from his trip this young man came to our son at practice one day and said, "I finally asked Jesus to be my Savior and it was because of you and all you said to me." AMEN!!! 

　

Do I wish to live next door to my parents? Yes. Do I wish to have a Target down the road? Yes. Do I wish to be able to take my kids on fancy, fun vacations? Yes. Would I trade my life for all that. NO, not at all! I LOVE serving the Lord on the mission field and I will forever be thankful that God has given me this life!!!



(Update: "The Bible study on Sunday afternoon that I spoke of that I do with my oldest son ... the two boys in that study got saved on Sunday after the study.  It was awesome.")

 

 

Bragging On God

"Some trust in and boast of chariots and some of horses,

but we will trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God."

Psalm 20:7 (AMP)

We don't usually go around boasting about ourselves.  With a trusted friend we might share the sense of accomplishment we have in learning how to whip up a new recipe.  Or we may confide with a sister-in-Christ the excitement of (after disciplined eating and exercise) now being able to zip our size ___ jeans again (without feeling like we are trying to fit a tuba through a button hole).



But, how often do we boast about God?  This is one of the BEST ways to share Christ with people without seeming pushy!  For example ...

1. She brings up the weather ... "Yes! Didn't God give us a beautiful day?!"


2. She asks how you are doing ... "Things have been challenging lately. but through the yucky dark tunnel, God has been shining His light." (If there is time, "God has a way of bringing good out of bad. Do you mind if I share a couple of the amazing things God has been teaching me?")


3. She brings up a personal struggle ... After listening: "I am so sorry.  I can kindof understand what you're going through.  When I was in a difficult place, God brought some true encouragement my way.  I think it will help you, too. Do you have time for me to share a couple things with you?"


4. In the check-out line ... "How are you doing?  Thank you for taking good care of us today!" Smile ... you have a Bible verse on your check or on a pre-made card that you can hand to people who serve you in the the community - it can say, "Thank you!  We appreciate all you do!  ... then a favorite Bible verse."


5. You meet someone with a Bible name ... "Oh, I like your name!  It reminds me of Esther in the Bible." Then you may have a chance (based on their response) to continue talking about God and His Word.


6. At Thanksgiving you take your neighbors some goodies ... "We thank God that you are our neighbors!"

Approach each person and situation with prayer for God's guidance.  He will give you the discernment you need, to know today whether you should just smile or if this is an open door to brag on God. 



You might call this "teaching through the back door."  Some people, at certain times, are much more apt to listen to your personal experience than a sermon.  And the glow of joy as you share will speak volumes.  They just might be drawn to God in you like a magnet.



Use your imagination!  You can practice this as a family, in a ladies Bible study, or with a close friend.  Bring up a scenario and brainstorm. See  how many ways you can bring Him into the conversation - not in a pious sounding way (bringing attention to yourself), but bragging about Him and what He is doing in your life!



How do you brag about God?  Please leave a comment below - we'd love to hear how God is using you.  You might give us an idea we may be able to use while shopping or walking through our neighborhood today.