I Took Your Place...

   One Sunday morning there was a vistitor at the local church. He pulled into a parking spot and got out of his car. Another car pulled up behind him and the church member behind the wheel spoke, " That's where I park. You took my place." This was disappointing to the guest, but he continued on inside. Upon entering the sanctuary, the guest found a spot near the front of the room and took a seat. A woman approached him a few minutes later, " That's where I sit. You took my place." The guest said not a word, but looked back to the front and awaited for the preacher. After the sermon, this guest stood and walked to the front of the congregation. He held his hands out away from his body and slowly wounds appeared in his hands and upon his sandaled feet. Someone asked, "What happened to you?". It was about this time that the hat he wore began to turn into a crown of thorns and finally the guest spoke, " I took your place.".

There is a light in the Darkness

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. -1Peter 2:9 NKJV

Have you ever seen a night so dark you thought you could sleep with your eyes open? While in a weekend retreat, a friend and I experienced such a night as we walked through the woods on our way to a bonfire. I was holding a feeble excuse for a flashlight. With almost every step along our path we were tripping over limbs and rocks and potholes! As a result, the limited light we had was bouncing uselessly off our path, into the trees and the total blackness surrounding us. Finally, at a turn in the path we stopped to try and compose ourselves. Suddenly, a great light illuminated the area around us. Other friends had caught up to us and their light source was like a truck's high beam!

There is a light greater than I can describe. The light of the Cross.

There, continually shining, Christ illuminates the limbs, rocks, and potholes as we walk with Him in a dark world.

- From "Because of the Cross" by Beverly Courrege

Thank you Lord for being the light in the darkness of this world. I pray, Father, that Your light would shine forth through me, that I may be like a lighthouse showing the way to You. I thank You that You illuminate the things in our lives that would trip us and knock us down. You are the Light of the World, holy and perfect. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Cherokee Indian Rite of Passage Legend

The youth's father takes him out to the forest, blindfolds him an leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him harm.

The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, Sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

Moral of the story: Just because you can't see God, Doesn't mean He is not there. "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

All my needs are met...

...Because of the Cross...

And it is he who will supply all your needs from His riches in glory, because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.

-Philippians 4:19 TLB

The Lord that watches over the sparrow is committed to watch over us as well. we all have basic physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Our world is filled with endless opportunities and material blessings that past generations could not have imagined. yet even today our faith can still be challenged to trust God for the most basic physical needs of shelter, food and clothing.

Because of the Cross God has promised to supplyeverything that I need.

Not only does He meet our physical needs, but He meets our spiritual and emotional needs as well. Christ died so we can have the riches of God's gifts of grace, joy, emotional well-being, and life. Christ paid the ultimate price on the Cross so that I would not have to... in Him all my needs are met.

From "Because of the Cross" by Beverly Courrege

Thank you, Lord, for Your great sacrifice. Help me to remember that when I try to take care of myself through worrying and such, that I am taking away your right to care for me. You died to give me life. Thank you can never be enough. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I Can Be Still....

...Because of the Cross...

You who still the noise of the seas, the noise of the their waves, and the tumult of the peoples.

-Psalm 65:7 NKJV

Being still is not surfing TV channels with a remote.

Being still is not mindless reading.

Being sill is not sitting at a red light.

Being still is not turning off the ringer of the phone.

Being still is not watching a sunset.

Being still is not lingering over lunch.

Being still is not sipping coffee.

Being still is not taking a nap.

Being still is not holding your beloved's hand.

Being still is not keeping your eye on the ball.

Being still is not sitting quietly in a church pew.

BEING STILL IS SITTING AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.

From "Because of the Cross" by Beverly Courrege

Father God,

I want to be still in Your Presence. Let me remember that though many of these things may be nice, and some relaxing, they do not equal my time with You. It is in those quiet, still times that we begin to truly know You. I want to know You and Your heart's desire. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Because of the cross....

Easter is Every Day!

Christ also suffered. He died once for the sins of all is guilty sinners, although he himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that he might bring us safely home to God. But though his body died, his spirit lived on.

- 1 Peter 3:18 TLB

The Same Christ who walked the earth 2000 years ago.

The Same Christ who performed miracles, healed the sick, and cast out demons.

The same Christ who loved the unlovable.

The same Christ who forgave the sinner.

The same Christ who taught His disciples.

The same Christ who was unjustly despised and convicted.

The same Christ who hung dying on a cross one dark and terrible Friday.

The same Christ who rose from the dead three days later.

This same Christ is in the world today.

BECAUSE OF THE VICTORY OF THE CROSS,

THE JOY OF EASTER IS EVERY DAY.

From "Because of the Cross" by Beverly Courrege

I read this today and it really struck a cord with me. The holidays are not usually a good time for me. Anything that generally means a time for families to gather is usually a time that the enemy uses against me and I become depressed and then I feel guilty because I did not set a very good example. Oh yes, satan tends to have a field day with me! I do not have much family around, my youngest child lives several hundred miles away with his father, my other two children tend to spend the day at their paternal grandparents and often, my husband works. So while I look around and see families gathering for a special breakfast and activities and later a beautiful dinner, I am usually alone. This Easter was no different for me. I spent the day lying around with just the cats & dogs to keep me company for most of the day. By the time others were around, I was in such a funk I just couldn't shake it. And then, of course, came the guilt. I didn't get my kids ( teenagers! ) an Easter basket, I didn't get up before the sun and cook a breakfast for my husband, I didn't have the energy to cook an elaborate dinner ( which would've given us way too many leftovers!), you name it, I felt guilty about it. Then it dawned on me - guilt and condemnation is not from God, my loving and caring Father, but instead it is from my enemy, satan. Ohhh I was so mad at satan when I finally had this epiphany! Then I read this passage. I can celebrate the fact that Jesus died, defeated satan and rose again for me any & every day! There's no need to wait for one special day! Oh how sweet my Jesus is! So even as I was wretched with guilt, God had a plan to show me otherwise. A quick trip to the store today will find me gathering candy for the kids ( at 1/2 price no doubt!) and the devil is under my feet once again!