Jesus' Suffering...Our Redemption

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I'm studying through Matthew during my quiet time and, early last week, I read the chapters on Jesus' arrest, torture, and crucifixion. I sat in despair at the horror these chapters described.

I was drawn to Isaiah 53 - words written hundreds of years before Jesus' birth. Jesus knew the agony that faced Him and yet He came.

• Despised
• Rejected
• Esteemed not
• Stricken by God
• Afflicted
• Pierced
• Crushed
• Oppressed

God's judgement poured out on His Son; His forgiveness and grace poured out on us. 

I remembered the words Jesus spoke to Peter in the garden as He stood in front of the soldiers who came to arrest Him:

"Do you not think that I can call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more that twelve legions of angels?" Matthew 26:53

Jesus had deliverance within His grasp, but He refused to reach for it.

With a spoken word, He could escape the agony to come, but He remained silent.

He chose to walk the path to the cross. He willingly sacrificed His life for mine.

I can't describe the grief, amazement, and gratitude I felt. How can we stand in the face of such love? To fall to our faces is the only acceptable response.

Why? Why would Jesus suffer this way? Hebrews 12:2 says, "...for the joy set before him endured the cross..."

I'm sure Jesus was eager to experience the joy of returning to Heaven to become one with His Father once again. Did Jesus rejoice to know He would soon hear the praises of the angels instead of the scorn of the world around Him? His eyes were focused on the glory awaiting Him rather than the agony He experienced.

But I think there was an even greater joy that filled His heart: the joy of knowing you and me - all of us who love and believe in Him.

He died to cleanse us of the hopelessness and despair that tries to destroy us.
He rose to give us eternal life with Him.

What joy!

Beauty and Blessing

I spent this  week at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christians Writers Conference, lovingly called BRMCWC for short.  Ridgecrest Conference Center - what an amazing place.

In between the classes, there are the reunions with precious writer friends and the excitement of making new ones.

And then there is the beauty!

And, above all, the amazing presence of God! Peace, joy - this place is a sanctuary for me.

Is there a place that brings you close to God?

All in the Family

I haven’t been in Memphis in years. 

Way too long. 

I planned a visit several times but something always came up. Something that seemed more important at the time. 

Now, as I sit and look around at Aunt Jo Anne, Uncle John and a room full of cousins, I realize that those things weren't so important after all. 

Praise God for the love and joy I feel in this room. For the shared stories and the laughter. For the pictures from long ago. 

I pray that my priorities never get quite so messed up again!

What do you cherish about your time with family?

Satisfied?

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14

I always set goals at the beginning of a year. Or I should say, God and I set goals.

As I read Psalm 90 this morning, God brought my eyes to the word satisfy.


Satisfy us with your unfailing love. What would my life be like if being satisfied with God's love was my only goal?

• I'd love to be with Him.
• I'd hear His voice more clearly because my mind wouldn't be cluttered with all the things I think I need to be satisfied.
• I'd serve Him with excitement instead of looking around to see who's watching.

In the morning, no less! Not later in the day when I get around to it. Not when I have nothing better to do. But in the morning. First thing. Not in March when I give up on my own goals. But begin January with Him. Every day, every month, every year.

• First in my thoughts. 
• First in my plans.
• First in my heart.

The rest of the verse describes my life, if my goal is to be satisfied in God alone

I will sing with joy. No griping. No moping (I'm a big moper).No complaining. No pity parties. Just joy.

And my days? What would they be like?

Glad! When was the last time I was glad, happy, excited...

Satisfied?

When was the last time God was my all-in-all?

God's message to us is: Be satisfied in Me and all your other goals will be fulfilled.

Now that I think of it, that sounds familiar.

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:31

How can being satisfied in God bring you joy?

Photo credit: MGDboston, slowfoot

Bitterness to Joy

Although gardening isn’t my thing, I occasionally dig around in the flower beds, pulling weeds. A few days later, I notice that several of them have popped right up again. Frustrating!

I’ve learned an important lesson: the weeds aren’t truly gone unless you dig the root out. Any shred of remaining root and it will grow up again.

So it is with bitterness. We have to get to the root, the heart, of the matter to conquer it.


"Don't call me Naomi, " she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. Ruth 1:20

Life had been cruel to her and she felt abandoned by God.

She changed her name - from Naomi, meaning joy and pleasantness, to Mara, meaning bitterness and deep sorrow.

I can certainly identify with her feelings.

When I was laid off from my job in 2005, I was certain God had abandoned me and I was furious at God. I nursed the anger until it became bitterness.

He’d failed me, I was mad, end of story.

Ever felt that way? We all have!

What made it even worse was well-meaning people came along and said, “Sherry, God has a purpose.”

So what? Was that supposed to make me feel better?

“You’re not alone. God’s walking with you.”

Yeah, right! If He’d been walking with me, this wouldn’t have happened!

Something that tears our world apart – we get angry at God and allow anger to grow into bitterness.

Someone hurts us and we allow pain to turn into bitterness.

Someone disappoints us and we feel let down – frustration becomes bitterness.

Bitterness ruins relationships, with God and with others.

Even worse, it poisons us from the inside out.

So, how do we overcome it?

Hate to tell you this but we don’t; we can’t. Only the Holy Spirit within us has that power.

How do we find the strength to forgive?

How do we ask for help when our hearts are broken?

It all comes back to our relationship with God.

Do we have the freedom to scream and stomp our feet at God when we feel abandoned?

I say a resounding YES!

If you don’t believe me, read Psalm 13. David begins with accusations but, as God ministers to him, his faith returns.

Can we come to our Abba and pour out our pain?

YES! 

O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. Psalm 30:2

God never forsakes us.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

He never withdraws His love.

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else

in all creation, will be able to

 separate us from the love of God that is in

Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

He will turn bitterness to joy.

How has God brought you from bitterness to joy?

Excerpts from Storms of Life, Yellow: Joy

Ever notice that smiley faces are always yellow?

Sunny, bright, happy.

 JOY




We all know Joy goes deeper than happiness. Happiness is based on circumstances.

Joy is underlying sense of – what? How do we define joy in a spiritual sense? Abiding sense of happiness? Blend of faith, hope, and love?

I love this definition posted by Rick Warren on his blog DAILYHOPE (April 2, 2012):

Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.

Settled assurance...
                    Quiet confidence...
                               Determined choice to praise

Joy grows out of a conscious choice to praise.


Storms of Life Chapter 6, Day 4

"God inhabits praise! He’ll rise up within you when you praise Him. No matter how you feel, your soul will take baby steps toward joy and strength as words of praise tumble from your lips. I know, you won’t feel like it when you start, but with every word you’ll feel a little better. Praise lifts your heart and fills your soul with the certainty He’s with you to bring His light and love into your darkest moments.

When you praise the Lord, even as tears are wetting your cheeks with sorrow, not only does the light of joy begin to dawn in your soul, but the pain in your heart will lessen just a little. Praise softens your heart and allows your desire to be with Him to grow. You’ll hunger for His presence and thirst for His Word.

Praise turns you on to Jesus! You spiritual nerves wake up and you become aware of His presence. Your face lifts toward Heaven instead of studying the dirt on the floor. His Word ministers to you instead of lying dry in your heart. Tears will still fall, but they’ll be healing tears. God is always with you—praise enables you to be with Him."


Easy words, but how do we pull it off when the storm's raging?

The Holy Spirit within you will enable you. He'll bring words of praise songs to your mind,. He'll remind you of the small joyful things that have happened recently. 

He is a spring of living water, welling up inside you. He keeps flowing and replenishing. When fear, disappointment, or helplessness threaten, allow the Spring of Living Water to wash them away with Joy.

Listen to the beautiful song "Praise the Lord," written by Russ Taff and performed by the Imperials. 

"Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you serve only to remind you, that they drop powerless behind you when you praise Him."

Praise the Lord


How does the Holy Spirit fill you with a sense of joy during hard times?
If this post blesses you, please share.


Next post: Green - Growth

Does Your Face Shine?

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn Ps 37:6

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “Her face lit up!”

with excitement.

with the sight of a loved one

with good news

But we don’t think about our faces shining with righteousness.

When we walk through difficult days, those around us see our faces shining with a peace beyond understanding - even though we are unaware.

When we struggle with tight finances, others notice the faint glow of trust in God's provision - even though we feel as if our faith is stretched too tightly.

In the midst of sorrow, many see an underlying joy - a joy we don't feel.

When I worked at Johnson Space Center, my coworkers were of various faiths. When my Mom died and I returned from several days off, many of them approached me to ask about the peace they saw, even through my sorrow. I told them the support of my Christian friends and my faith in the resurrection gave me the assurance that I'd see her again.

Peace, trust, joy. Those around us marvel at the faith they see in us. The shine on our faces causes them to want what we have.

God uses our radiant faces to draw an unbelieving world to Him.


When have you felt God's peace or joy radiating through you?

Joy Comes in the Morning!

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5


I’ve spent many nights weeping in the last few years. Most were sadness due to the consequences of mistakes I’d made. 

This verse has lifted my heart during those times. 

My Father’s anger, His discipline, lasts only a moment. I might be sad at His correction, but I'm assured of His favor, from now into eternity. I don’t have to re-earn His love and salvation. I'm sealed and will never be set aside.

I might weep for a night but joy comes in the morning! 

The night often refers to a season of weeping – not a literal night. But joy will come. The season of grief will end and joy will come. 

Grief over loss will fade away and the joy of new beginnings will come.

Grief over sins will be cleansed and newness will come.

The grief of anger or bitterness will be healed, if we turn to God, and restoration will come.

Praise God, He never leaves or forsakes us. He never turns His back on us. His joy will come in the dawn of tomorrow.


When has God transformed your night of grief into the joy of morning?