Lenten Post 12: When I Survey...

                          When I survey                            


the wondrous cross





on which the

Prince of Glory died;





my richest gain

I count but loss,





and pour

contempt on all my pride.





Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,





save in the

death of Christ, my God;





all the vain

things that charm me most,





I sacrifice

them to his blood.





See, from his head, his hands, his feet,





sorrow and love

flow mingled down.





Did e'er such

love and sorrow meet,





or thorns

compose so rich a crown.





Were the whole realm of nature mine,





that were an

offering far too small;





love so

amazing, so divine,



demands my soul, my life, my all.

Lenten Post 11: Jesus Friend of Sinners...

A woman living in adultery met her Saviour at the well, never condemned only loved but commanded to live in sin no more; a tax collector, the chief of sinners, asked to provide a meal for the Saviour, never condemned only loved but commanded to live in sin no more. A rich young ruler, proud and strong, in need of salvation, never condemned only loved but commanded to give away all he had. A criminal on the cross, one last parting hope for salvation, never condemned only loved shown forgiveness in his dying moment. A murder on the road to Damascus saw the Light of the Son, never condemned only loved but commanded to live the life of killing no more. Jesus, friend of sinners, never condemned only loved, but never allowed one to stay in their sin, he commanded them to turn from their sin. It does not matter how many times a Father has told the son to not play in the street, it does not matter how many times He has told the son of the destruction and pain that could come from playing in the busy street, the son still will test the Father, yet the Father can not sit idly by and watch his son play in the street, he will join him in the street, pick him up and place him in safety. The Father can not let a child live a life of destruction, He will love her and convict her, there is NO condemnation for those who love the Lord, there is salvation, a freedom from bondage and sin. A man will not let his child befriend someone of darker skin, a woman picks up the phone to tell of another's misfortunes, a husband deletes a text in fear of his spouse reading it, a woman sits afraid in a room with her hand on her stomach and hears her name called by the nurse, a student glances on the paper next to them for an answer that has alluded them, a sister brings hurt to their sibling, a man is tempted to enter into acts with another man, a teenager gets behind the wheel of a car after a night of drinking and wakes up with a warrant for their arrest, a mother will not let go of hurt and brings bitterness to her family, a father left his family for another family and has caused pain, a word slips of the tongue of a friend and hits another like a dagger to the soul, a scale has determined the cause and the worth of a young woman instead of the truth of the Gospel, a young boy and young girl think they are in love and give themselves away, a thought in the mind that leads to another thought that leads to a feeling that leads to a wrong action against a friend....Jesus friend of sinners, never condemned only loved but never allowed one to stay in their sin. We love because He loved us, we care because He cared for us, we befriend because He befriended us. There is No condemnation for those who love the Lord only salvation. We are called to love, to befriend, to serve. However, we are called to live in truth and in Spirit. We are called to be a light, we are called to shine a light, through prayer and petition to the Father through the Son, into the darkness this world is living in. We are not called to become like the world, we are not called to become of the world, we are called to live IN the world. We are not called to separate completely from the world but to live IN the world, loving caring serving praying. We are not called to agree with the world to tolerate the world to allow the world to govern our hearts and minds, we must live lives that are different that are intolerant of falsehoods and lies that are governed by the truth of the Gospel. We can not be ashamed nor sit idly by. We must recognize we are all sinners all hypocrites all living lives that at times contradict the Truth but we are saved! We have a hope! We have a cross and a Saviour that is risen and that when we sin we are forgiven! We have been shown grace and mercy and salvation and that is what we are to show the world! Throughout this Holy Week, let us remember the cross, let us remember where we were, and where He has brought us. Let us remember we too are sinners in need of a Saviour. And let us remember, Jesus friend of sinners. May we not live a life of disobedience to the Gospel, may we not be ashamed of the Gospel, but may we also not live a life of condemnation but walk in the Spirit, living in the Spirit. Galatians 5 sums up the truth:

"13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."

Lenten Post 10: Dear Lindsay...

(Having written to each of my nieces, I have decided throughout this year I am going to dedicate a post to family and close friends on their birthdays...)

Dear Lindsay,
There are times in life where the Lord leads us, and we do not understand why. We are obedient and the blessings that come from obedience are abundant. I still to this day am amazed the Lord ordained a "meeting at the rehab pool" that has turned into a life-long friendship. When I went in to speak with you that day, I had no idea a friendship would be born. But what a blessing in knowing the Lord works in all circumstances, while I went in with the idea of you mentoring a young student, the Lord had other plans. Words can not express how grateful and thankful I am to the Lord for bringing you into my life. It is as if the Lord knew I needed another "sister." (And seeing how closely you and Christy resemble each other in your treatment of me, I often question His "thinking!"...this past weekend, both of you on the sofa asking for me to wait on you?!?) Christy had moved to Charleston and the times I had spent with her and her family were no longer as frequent, my grandfather had just passed away, I was about to move, and the Lord moved you into my life. In the eyes of the world, not the best of timing, but in the eyes of the Lord perfect timing. He ordained each step in the beginning of our friendship and He has continued to ordain each step along the way. There have been moments where it seemed our friendship may fail, there have been moments where it seemed we would give up and walk away, there have been moments where all we knew was frustration and disappointment, anger and hurt. But out of those moments of darkness, the light has shown and in the place of frustration disappointment anger and hurt has grown patience encouragement forgiveness and love. The Lord has molded our friendship like none other, the Lord is the center and will be the center of our lives. He has taken us together from the depths of hurt and placed us in the ocean of joy. I praise Him for He is faithful to answer the prayers of His children, He is faithful in restoring those He chooses to restore. I praise Him daily for our friendship, our true sisterhood for He is Who has made it great, He is who has sustained it. You are truly irreplaceable, uniquely you, no one else can serve the place in my life that you serve, for the Lord created you distinctly you. Lindsay, you are a beautiful and talented woman of faith. Your love for the Lord is contagious and passionate. Your desire to follow Him is so zealous that when you fail you are truly heartbroken and discouraged. However, do not see your failures as disappointments, do not hold on to the guilt and pain. You are forgiven you are loved; you have been shown mercy and grace. The Lord has spoken over you and claimed you, you are marked with a seal and can not be broken. Your battles have been won, your victory is there. You are greater than the world because He Who is living and moving inside of you has already overcome the world. The last chapter of your story is written, the last battle has already been fought, the outcome has already been decided! You will suffer, you will fall, you will hurt, you will be broken down battered and abused. For our time here on earth is short but we are to suffer as He suffered, we are surrounded by a world and a flesh that want to tear us down and keep us down, but take heart Sis, you are not of this world! You have been bought with a prize, you are a treasure, you are an heir, you are clothed with strength and with dignity! Through all my years of attempting to mentor young women (and young men), I have learned that I can not change them, I can not make them change how they feel how they act how they see what is around them, but I can pray. I can encourage. I can uplift. I can be. I look forward to the day with eager excitement and anticipation when your chains are gone, when the bondage is no more, when all your desires and passions are met, when you can dance with joy over the blessings the Lord has provided, when you see all you have prayed for come to fruition. I praise Him for all He has done and is doing in your life. I praise Him for the woman of faith you desire to be. I praise Him for the woman of passion and love you exemplify. You are loved and you are loved abundantly. May He do far more in your life than you can ever imagine.....Love you so much...Your Older Wiser Sister...

Lenten Post 9: Strength for Today...

I am finding this season of Lent to be extra difficult. I do not know about everyone else but there are seasons in life that never seem to end, this is one. I began this season of fasting with a desire to grow closer to the Lord, I have failed at my fast, I have tried to persevere, but it seems Resurrection Sunday will never come. How often do we stand at the crossroads of life, looking for a glimmer of hope, only to see the glimmer fade into darkness? How often do we feel we are caught in a vicious cycle of failures, discouragements, mistakes, tests, trials and as we find our way through, another one hits and then another?  How often do we desire to grow closer to the Lord, only to see our faith and hope dwindle? How often do we pray for Resurrection Sunday to come, only to experience another loss another trial? As believers, we know the truth, but it is hard to swallow the truth. We know that in order to grow we must also suffer as Christ suffered. We know that in order to experience eternal joy we will have temporary pain. We know that while we have a Father Who loves and does not hurt us, we live in a fallen world that will hate and hurt us. We know that we have a Father Who disciplines and corrects not punishes and condemns but in understanding the difference we can only see the worldly ones who punish and condemn and therefore we see our trials as punishments and our tests and condemnation. We know that in ALL things the Lord works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His will and purpose but we wonder where is the good. We know that we are forgiven of all our sins and our claimed as righteous through the blood of the Lamb and there is no shame nor guilt yet we see our hearts our filth our sins and we wonder how could anyone love us, how could the Father love us. We know that if we give all we have to the poor and we tithe to the church and we spend our money not on things for ourselves but on things for others and we are good stewards of what we have been given, we too will be blessed but we see the bills piling up, we see the debt continue to rise and we wonder where are the blessings. We know that the Father gave the ultimate sacrifice in the Son and that He experienced loss and that in order for us to experience joy and salvation there was a sacrifice yet we doubt the Father understands our loss and we question how He could allow things to happen. Believing the Lord is Sovereign and all things pass through His hand, believing the Lord is a Father who loves His own, believing the Lord is a Healer, a Miracle Worker, a Provider, a Warrior, a King, a Ruler, believing becomes difficult. We see the Lord as a Healer but not a Provider; we see the Lord as a Ruler but not a Father. We stand at yet another crossroad in life, in an unending season, and we realize we have a choice. We look behind us and we see while it may not have been easy, we have survived. While it may not have been pretty, we have found beauty in the midst. While we may not have what we want, we have always had what we needed. While we have had loss, we have been given. We look in front of us and we see nothing, blackness, we know we have been unfaithful at times, we know that we have doubted, but we see a glimmer in the distance. We look back, we remember. We look forward and we trust. We slowly move a step and we realize we have strength needed for that moment. We step again and we gain a little more strength. And as each day passes, we see we have strength for today, hope for tomorrow, He was faithful, and He is faithful. Strength for today...bright hope for tomorrow. Resurrection Sunday will come...but as for today, strength for today...hope for tomorrow.

Lenten Post 8: Trust...

Trust, small word hard concept. Trust God, small sentence hard concept. We have heard it many times and in many different ways, trust is one of the hardest things to earn yet one of the easiest to lose (and hardest to re-gain).  Why do we have such a hard time trusting? Why do we have such a hard time trusting the Lord? Quite simply, humans fail. As quickly as you learn to trust someone and become  open and vulnerable, something is said or something is done and the trust you believed was there is gone. Your best friend lies, your husband cheats, your children deceive, your co-worker competes, your character is attacked. You go through months of false accusations, miscommunication, and misunderstandings; you feel all blame is being placed on you, when in truth all you have done is love, listen, and care. You go through months of seeing others "happy" on behalf of your hurt and pain. Trust, so quickly broken, so slowly regained. It is no wonder that when it comes to trusting the Lord, we as humans constantly struggle. When all we know is how we feel, and how we feel is broken and used, and all we see are humans failing, how can we trust Someone we can not see to never fail us nor leave us broken? One of the greatest mistakes we as humans make is placing godly characteristics on humans (they will not fail us) and human characteristics on God (he will fail us). We expect humans to be more like God and God to be more like humans. We see the hurt and the pain that our friends and family have caused yet expect them to never hurt us never make us feel pain. We know the Lord is faithful and we can trust Him because He is the same yesterday today and forever, constant never changing, yet we expect Him to hurt us and make us feel pain because that is what here on earth we constantly battle. So how do we respond to broken trust, to hurt, to pain? How do we trust the Lord and others? We respond by forgiving, loving, and believing. Forgiveness is the first step towards learning to trust again. We must forgive others for the sins committed against us. We forgive because we have been forgiven. Will it be hard to trust again? Yes, it will be. Will there be times where we wonder and doubt? Yes, there will be. Will the relationship always be mended? No, it will not always. Will there be moments in mended and reconciled relationships where the one who has broken trust must understand the struggle of the other to trust again and be patient and forgiving and loving towards them? Yes, there will. But in order to move forward in trusting we must forgive. The Lord was denied three times before His death, yet He still uttered "Forgive them..." But it does not start and stop with forgiveness, we also must love others despite the sins committed against us, despite the broken promises deceits and hurts. We love because He first loved us. Will it be hard to love someone who has hurt? Yes, it will be. Will it be hard to love unconditionally and despite the pain? Yes, it will be. Will we always act out of love towards the other? No, we will not always. Will it take understanding by the other and their loving of us? Yes, if reconciliation of trust is to happen. But in order to trust again we must love. The Lord hung on a cross for us out of love, despite all we had done, despite all our sins, He still loved. And we believe, we believe that true reconciliation is possible. We believe that forgiveness and love can conquer a multitude of sins. We believe because even despite our faithlessness, He is still faithful. We as believers in Christ can see that despite the pain and hurt and trials of this life, He has never changed, always the same, His love has never failed, His forgiveness and mercies are new every morning. And we can believe that reconciliation and restoration is possible. Will every relationship be mended? No, it will not. Will every person who has caused feelings of hurt and pain seek forgiveness? No, they will not. But we have the power within us to forgive, to love, and to believe that with Him we can trust again, that even if we are hurt again, that even if our trust in someone is broken again, we can always Trust God because He is faithful even when those around us and even when we ourselves are faithless. During this Lenten season let us begin to truly grasp how deep and how wide is the forgiveness and love of the Lord and we let us truly believe we can Trust Him through every season. 

Lenten Post 7: Wounded...

This world is cruel. We are tempted and we are tried, we are knocked down and we are pushed flat on our faces. We fall to the traps the world has to offer and we seek contentment and pleasure in fleshly gains. We are wounded. We are battered and tattered and we are broken. When we read stories in the Bible, we often relate to the characters not because of the good they have done but the sins they have committed or the hurt they have felt. When we think of Eve, we see the snake that has tempted and fooled us. When we read the book of Job, we see the multiple losses we have sustained. When we hear of David, we see the immorality in our own life. When we read of Paul, we see the hatred and bitterness rooted deep in our heart. When Judas betrays, we remember our own betrayal. When Peter lies and denies, we too realize how many times we have lied and denied our faith. We are wounded. We are battered and tattered and we are broken. We forget that Eve was disciplined for her sin yet granted forgiveness and allowed to live. We forget that Job never once denied the Lord and stayed true to his faith even when his friends were tempting. We forget that David was the apple of the Lord's eye and was the one in whom He found great favor. We forget that Paul was blinded by the light and became one of the greatest teachers and preachers the world has ever known. We forget that Judas never repented and killed himself because of his betrayal. We forget that Peter was called the "rock on whom I will build my church." We are wounded. We are battered and tattered and we are broken. We find it hard to believe that we, we who love so deeply and desire Him so passionately can be swept away by one word, one action, one temptation, one person, one mistake into a spiral of sin. We find it hard to think that one phone call can push us to our knees. We find it hard to believe we have a propensity for sin, that we are totally deprived, that we are not inherently good. We find it hard to think that sufferings and trials are a part of this life. And then we remember we are living in a world, a fallen world, that we are surrounded by the flesh daily, that we are born into sin and are totally deprived, and that we too must share in the sufferings of Christ. And we remember that while we are wounded, battered, tattered, and broken, we are not defeated. We who are in Christ, we who are passionately seeking Him, we are forgiven. We are redeemed. We have been washed by the blood of the Son. We must repent, we must walk the road to the cross daily, we must gaze upon the cross daily. We must turn from our sin, daily. The cross and Resurrection are not a license to sin but a freedom to live. We who are in Christ must daily see our sin, daily take up our cross and daily follow Him. Lent, a season of repentance, a time where we fast from the world and its pleasures in order to rejoice in the Resurrection- we are wounded, we are battered and tattered and we are broken. But we are made whole in Him, we are found not guilty, we are redeemed, there is no shame, we are made new! And we are brought to life with His life and Resurrection! Rejoice for the day of Redemption is near!