Life Update and Easter Thoughts

I've been thinking I haven't posted anything here in a while, so it was about time. Actually, I have a couple items to share.

First, an update on our financial situation. Tanya and I opened our mail Thursday to find that since Sam turned 18, I was no longer required to provide child support for him. Furthermore, we found a sizable refund check for the support I had paid since then. All we could do was sit there open-mouthed, looking at each other and saying "Thank you Lord!" God has proven Himself MORE than faithful in His blessing our finances. This the latest development we have had, on top of me actually not ONLY getting a full 40 hrs each week, but also pulling overtime at this early point in the year (something virtually unheard of even in the best of years). God is definitely opening the doors for us to flourish financially. Tanya and I have even enrolled in a financial conference written by Dave Ramsey so we can be the best stewards we can. Now I just can't wait 'til The Young moves to Sundays so I can flourish in my relations with the kids.

Secondly, I want to share a message that's on my heart at this time. Every year around Good Friday, I find myself thinking about Jesus when He was in the garden. A few years ago, I was meditating about this, when God impressed on my heart this question: why DID Jesus end up so stressed and broken that He sweat drops of blood?

Personally, I don't think it was out of fear. For one thing, the bible tells us that 1) God is love, and 2) perfect love casts out all fear. Secondly, just the fact He kept His mouth silent through the trial and flogging showed He wasn't really afraid of it.

So why was Jesus under so much emotional stress? For the same reason He did everything else...

Love.

Jesus knew, as was pointed out in Hebrews 9 & 10, that His sacrifice would once and for all pay the price for those who chose to follow Him. But Jesus, as He did with the disciples, took things one step further. He also knew that His death would also doom for all time those who did & would reject Him. This is why, sobbing, He cried out, "Father, if there be any other way, let this cup pass from me." Basically, He was in effect saying, "Dad, I can't bear this! I don't want to lose ANY of them, if there's any way at all!" But He also knew that if He DIDN'T go through with it, then NONE could be saved, hence His prayer, "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done."

No wonder God had to send the angel to minister to Him, with Him hurting at the possibility of losing even one soul.

So if you ever find yourself wondering if God REALLY loves you, just think of Jesus in the garden. Even if yours was the ONLY soul He could save, He would do it all over again. And let us pray each Good Friday that God give us Jesus' heart for others. And if you might be one of those whom His tears were for, it's not too late to turn those tears to the tears of joy the father of the prodigal son had when he saw his son walking up the road. God's richest blessings for all and a wonderful Easter to all. Until my next post...

Dane

Living in Good Friday

Imagine it for the past 3 years you have been giving everything to follow this guy who you believed was the very Son of God. You changed careers, have seen healings and miracles beyond belief, but here you are on a hill looking at his bleeding and battered body... wondering why. Why didn't he stop it. You believe He could have if he had wanted to... You had seen Him do SO Much more.  Or Maybe you could not even bared to see it. Maybe you went back to your original house and hid under blankets.. trying to block out the hurt, the red hot pain that now plagued your very soul. 
      Maybe this scenario is not too hard to imagine. Maybe today you find yourself in a similar situation. You once knew the deep and overwhelming companionship with Jesus.  He's healed part of your heart that you know no one but the Great Physician could. But Something happened, You were betrayed by someone you trusted, You were hurt, or maybe you prayed for something so hard only to find the answer was "No." Whatever the catalyst you now find yourself hurting SO BAD. The Pain like blisters on your very soul. You might even question God's love for you thinking "He's done so much before why couldn't he do this. Maybe He doesn't love me" And you cry yourself to sleep... wishing the tears could quench the fire that causes so much pain. 
    Oh Beloved. Their story doesn't end here, and thankfully neither does yours have to. On Sunday in the wee hours of the morning THE GREATEST MIRACLE was to come. Jesus, Himself would rise from the dead. And in that act he would open up the gates of eternal life for us all.  Eternal Abundant life that would start not only when we die but now when we live! Maybe your heart is hurting with shame that you walked away and how could he love you now? Or maybe your lost and can't find your way back. No worries, He knows where you are. With a simple cry He will be right next to you again.  
So this year my prayer for you is not that you stay in Good Friday but your life is transformed by Resurrection Sunday.


Love, Tanya