Wonderful Cross, Beautiful Savior

NI began this message early this morning in praise. My heart is not as free now. I just learned from Tony that our tenants moved out and stole the furniture that they had committed to buy, but never paid for. I had been preparing myself for this news (at least I thought I had), but the confirmation that what we feared might happen actually has...well, it took the wind out of my sails. I am reminding myself that these are only "things"--afterall, weren't we going to sell them? But I had imagined the house with them in it.... Here is how I am looking at it: I will not let my feelings decorate my heart and throw a humdinger of a pity party. There are much more important things in life. Pray for us...especially for Tony, as he is left alone to pick up the pieces at the house. He has many things he needs to do for our work here, so I do not want this to take up too much of his time, or energy. Now, with that said, I feel much freer and my heart is able to get back to what I had begun earlier today.

I was reading about the reality of communion (in Dennis Kinlaw's devotional). He talks about how Jesus gave His life so we would be able to lay ours down as well. A few months back, Tony shared with our home group that in Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit, the word we read as "witnesses" ("...and you shall be my witnesses") is the word "martyr." We talked about the necessity of the Holy Spirit's empowerment in dying to ourselves and to this world. Without Him, we are unable to do it. Again, we die to live. That got me thinking about the cross. It is such a seeming contradiction--the object that brought suffering and death to my Savior is a symbol of hope, help and life all over the world. The cross is a fountain of forgiveness and an altar of sacrifice. It is where we surrender all, and where we find victory. Kneeling at the cross, we die to an old life and rise to a new one. Oh, blessed cross of Jesus!With this being the "first Sunday" of the month, I know many churches will share communion. If you are invited to the Lord's table this Sunday, I pray that you will indeed know the reality of Communion--not just the symbols of the bread and juice/wine, but the life (and death) that you are embracing and proclaiming to be your own. Kinlaw writes, "We must let Christ's life possess us so that we can be the temple of Christ and not the temple of self-interest." Ouch. Death is not easy, or pretty, or comfortable, or glib. It does not "just happen." It is a choice. A life layed down. A will subdued and humbled. And there is the paradox. The life we receive is far more joyous than the one we give. The surrendered will knows a joy that a self-sufficient one cannot. Thank you for the cross, Lord...

Here are the words to a song that really ministers to me. It is called "In Christ Alone." The final verse encourages me so much. If you like, there is a great video featuring this song at this site: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8welVgKX8Qo Amen and amen.
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ev er pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Grace and peace to you in His wonderful Name!