HE IS RISE INDEED!!!

Every year, as I grow in my faith, Easter takes on new meaning.  With the growth God has brought my family in the past year…I find myself in awe of what Easter means.  Really.

Our powerful, awesome, miracle-working God gave his ONE and ONLY son.  For you.  For me.  I can't imagine a love like the love God has for us.  I love my family.  Like…I love them so much it hurts and brings me joy at the same time.  Yet HE LOVES ME MORE.  And He loves them more too.  Doesn't it just blow your mind?  That a love greater than any we know…is a love that is directed at us?

Then…our Jesus rose again!!!  He. Rose.  Again.  He triumphed over death.  An awful horrible death - for you and me.  He overcame it.  And because of it - I get eternity with HIM.  If you know Him…so do you.  And the people we love?  If they have a relationship with Him, then we get forever with them.  Forever without pain, fear, worry, doubt, sadness, poor health.  Perfect forever.  

So, shouldn't I give my ALL to my God?  The one who defies all boundaries of love, grace, and time?  Shouldn't I surrender fully to Him?  

I have given a lot to God in my relatively short number of years.  I gave Him my heart when I was a child.  My grief and joys as a teenager.  I gave Him my marriage as an adult.  This past few years…I have slowly loosened my grip and given Him my children.  My clinched fists are getting looser and looser.  And I want complete surrender.  I want to open them and hold them up high and give it ALL up!!!  

Why is that so hard?  Why do I even begin to think that I can do a better job at ANY part of this life than He can?  Hasn't He proven Himself worthy of my surrender?  The answer is easy…YES.  Yes, He has.  He is worthy of our everything! 

As we enter this season…join me in thinking of what we can surrender.  Really.  Is it that every day, redundant, moment by moment life that is full of fog and to dos?  Is it a situation?  A person?  A fear?  Doubt?  Just give it to Him…and don't look back.  It is easier said than done, but with His help…we can actually do it.  And lets help each other out too.  Because I'm pretty sure that we will need a bit of encouragement along the way.  Isn't it one of God's most precious blessings that we get to experience life with other women?  Most often other women very much like us?  

I am so thankful that I get to be a part of this blog and "do life" with so many other incredible women.  If you would like any help along the way, support, prayer, or if you want to know more about how to grow closer to Him, post a comment below.  And Happy Easter!!!

Hidden

An over scheduled weekend was behind us, and bedtime was fast approaching. With Marty at a business dinner, I was outnumbered 3 to 1, and in the middle of my best delivery of zone defense. Hoping to clean the kitchen and still maintain our regular bedtime routine, I sent the kids into the den to watch a little TV.

Moments later, I heard my middle daughter, Lily emerge with a perplexed look on her sweet face. Immediately, I stopped what I was doing, as tears began to fill her big brown eyes. As I listened to her heart, I realized bedtime was going to have to be briefly postponed. For a teachable moment was upon me, and the world would not wait.

Rather than the "innocent" programming I had anticipated on a children's network that we watch regularly, my children had come upon a show about the world's differing religious views. "How can they not know Jesus, Mommy? How do they not see?" Lily asked in pained bewilderment. As her words penetrated my heart, I was gently reminded that "your eye is the lamp of your body." (Luke 11:34) Lily's faith-filled eyes see her beautiful Savior so easily. How I wish it were so for us all. Sadly, that is not the case.

By now my two other gifts from Heaven had joined us, and all eyes were on me. I took my children into my arms, grateful that God chose me to be the one to lead them to the Cross. Each of them accepted Christ as their Savior at an early age. None of my precious children can recall a time when Jesus wasn't a trusted friend on whom they could call. His love has never been hidden from their lives.

Hoping to speak some perspective into my troubled child's heart, I spoke gently and prayed for wisdom. "Lily, sweetheart. This is a family who believes and truth is all around you. Scripture teaches us that Jesus is the only way to eternal life, and that the gift of grace is ours to receive freely." I continued, "Never forget that even when Jesus walked among us, there were few who could truly see their Savior in their midst. Sometimes life gets too dark for some to see."

For some, the truth is hidden. It was true then. It is still true today. The Bible teaches us "When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness." (Luke 11:35-36) Jesus Christ, alone, is the light that leads the way to salvation. Still, many do not see.

Today, our world is growing ever darker as all of creation groans in the fallout of sin. This world is broken. By poverty. Injustice. Greed. Pride. It is a world gripped by the consequences of sin. As Christ followers, we must have eyes to see the world as it is. But, then we must have courage to share the love of Christ with those whom the truth remains hidden. For "blessed are your eyes because they see." (Matthew 13:16)

Heavenly Father,
We praise You for the gift of eyes that see truth. Because of Christ alone, we are free to approach you boldly, as your adopted sons and daughters. Let us have compassion and patience with those who are blind to the Son. Give us courage to share the truth about who Christ is, so that others may see.
-Amen

Reflection: Is there someone in your midst from whom the truth is hidden?

Sunday's Coming

As we approach Easter weekend, I pray that each of you knows the One who is Truth, Jesus Christ. Some 2000 years ago, He willingly gave up his life by suffering a horrendous, painful death on a cross so that you and I might be set free. His death was not in vain--because it didn't end there. Jesus was resurrected on the third day, and because He conquered death, we have the victory.

Satan's "victory" (or what he perceived as such) came on Friday--ours came on Sunday. On that Friday, those watching had no idea what was coming. They saw Jesus die, and they thought that was the end. But God had something else in store. Jesus was not dead forever. He was coming back--and that Sunday forever changed the course of man. That Sunday, Jesus rose again; in doing so, He conquered death. And I can not stop giving thanks for the greatest gift ever given. Jesus has saved me from my sins, from the eternal punishment I deserve--and He desires the same for every one of us. Jesus lived a perfect life on this earth; He died for crimes He did not commit; He was raised to life on the third day, and He longs for you to know Him and be in relationship with Him.

Whether you know Him as your Lord and Savior or not, I urge you to watch this video (with footage from The Passion of the Christ). If you have questions about this Jesus and who He is, feel free to leave a comment below. And come Sunday, find yourself in church. We'd love to have you at ours, FBC McKinney. He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!

The Finish Line

A couple of weeks ago I ran my first 5K ever!  I decided a couple of years ago I wanted to be a runner but never followed through.  Back in December I think it was I thought this next year I am going to run a 5K and that is what I did.  I started training for it.  I have a friend that is a runner and she would give me tips along the way and answer my one million questions I would have.  Finally, the big day came.  There was lots of excitement the day of the race.  Several of my friends were running which made it nice to know someone there.  They finally called everyone for the 5K and I went to line up and then the race started. 

Along the way there were moments I got tired.  I think the beginning was one of the hardest parts of the race because we were going uphill.  My goal was to finish this race.  I knew I was not going to come in first place but that I would finish the race.  As I was approaching the finish line I could here my name....there were people cheering me on. It was actually Kim who writes for Stitches too and her husband - they had already finished and were standing at the finish line. 

Hebrews 12:1-3 says " (1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (2) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Just like I was running my 5K with the "Finish Line" as my goal we have to keep running in this life and keep our eyes on Christ.  Can you imagine the day that this race called life is over and Jesus is at the "Finish Line".

As I mentioned there were times the race was hard.  While I was training leading up to the race there were times I would wonder if I could really do this.  Just like in this life we go through hard times and trials.  I look at the second part of verse 1 in Hebrews chapter 12.  "and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us".  We all have a different race marked out for us and God is with us all the time, He is with us each time we pick our foot up to take that next step. 

Whatever you may be going through God is with you. Keep your eyes on Him through whatever your circumstances may be and just think of the day that you cross the Final Finish Line!

S.H.A.R.E.

SHARE!

S-hare H-ow A-nything R-eceived E-ncourages Several years ago, as I was driving, God gave me a dream. It was S.H.A.R.E. Unfortunately, I have not done as much with it over the years, as I thought I would then, but in my own little world, it has been a great tool and reminder for me. I love to give! Mercy is probably my biggest spiritul gift. I am the "fix it" person. SHARE to me means- Show how anything you receive from God can encourage someone else. That could be on a small or large level. Think about it. You might have a baby item in your house laying around that a new mom is struggling to afford. You might have gotten some free things with coupons, that you may not need. (for that matter, I have people tell me all the time. "I don't use that, so I don't keep that coupon.") I am the type of person that keeps "that" coupon, hoping to be able to give something away, or see someone in the isle at the store, and say, "Would you like a coupon for..." It is amazing how people respond, and the conversation starter that is. There are so many other things that we are given that we can share also. How God helped us through a struggle, how He loves us, but most of all, how He died for each of us. Imagine a world where no one shared those truths. It would be a pretty sad place. So SHARE! From the couponing side of SHARE, I really like the large organized websites lately, who can, buy in bulk and give to us at a discounted price. They SHARE with us, (now they make an income from it, but they share.) If you are going to do something anyway, you definetly should use a coupon. Be a good steward of the income that God has give you.

Here are some of those larger websites that I use for great deals. Enjoy!

http://www.livingsocial.com/

http://www.groupon.com/

http://www.adpages.com/

http://www.couponcravings.com/

Have a great day, and remember to : S.H. A. R. E., Show how anything received, encourages. You never know how you will be a blessing to someone else, or how you will be blessed!