CROSS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

"If God can bring blessing from the broken body of Jesus and glory from something that's as obscene as the cross, He can bring blessing from my problems and my pain… - Anne Graham Lotz

For some that may seem a little over dramatic and no, I am not equating my family’s “present” pain to the Cross, that would definitely be OVER the top.  However, I am taking solace today in that GOD can provide blessing in the pain.

Yours too.

I was out with my wife for a bite to eat late yesterday and she was exhausted.  Burying your best friend and your children’s beloved pet in the same week had even my steady warrior whipped.  

Not everyone knows that my wife deals with death EVERY day.  It is her job.  And no, she is not an undertaker; she deals with DEATH on the “LIFE” side of it.

As an expert and leader in the field of palliative care, Beth daily marshals and ushers families through pending death due to cancer and other challenges.  She is a comforter at heart.  She is a peace-giver and a hope broker. She is a gift to EVERY family and situation she intersects.  And she is able to DO all of that because of her innate and deeply SPIRITUAL ability to offer blessing in times of pain.

And that ability comes from the CROSS.  Period.

My wife opens and closes each day with her eyes on the CROSS.

The CROSS makes the difference for her.

We couldn’t imagine dealing with the pain of the last 6 weeks with our dear friend’s illness without the BLESSING and the DIFFERENCE made by the CROSS.

We couldn’t imagine the pain of loss without the BLESSING and DIFFERENCE made by the CROSS.

We couldn’t imagine NOT being able to go to a GOD who understands.

“Our tendency in the midst of suffering is to turn on God. To get angry and bitter and shake our fist at the sky and say, "God, you don't know what it's like! You don't understand! You have no idea what I'm going through. You don't have a clue how much this hurts."

The cross is God's way of taking away all of our accusations, excuses, and arguments. The cross is God taking on flesh and blood and saying, "Me too.” – Bell

So GOD does understand the pain of my wife.  He cries with my kids whose sobs were most certainly real yesterday when one they cared about left suddenly.  

GOD empathizes and that is powerful and promising!

Are you in pain today?  Trying to find the blessing in the blight, the HOPE in the HARDSHIP?

Go back to the CROSS.  

There is your hope.  

Go back to the CROSS and the curse of your present pain will be swallowed by the promise of blessing!

Galatians 3:13-14(MSG)

That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that…blessing is present and available…

The Lord came, not to remove our suffering, but to show us the way through it to the glory beyond. We can overcome our travails. That is the promise of the cross.” ― Lawhead

“And the old rugged cross made the difference. In a life bound for heartache and defeat; I will praise Him forever and ever. For the cross made the difference for me.” – Gaither

For BETH, us, and it will you as well…

Have a great WEEKEND!

I love you all!

Freedom Church