Cross

Crossroads, crossfire, crossways, crosswalk, crossword, cross my heart,cross to bear .... we use those phrases candidly and casually. But here we are at Easter and we not only see a cross on decorated bulletins, and retail announcements but we hear the word. But really, I have to say I have not sat down long enough to meditate solely on the cross. We had communion this past Sunday, and were asked when the elements were passed to bow down in prayer and reflection. I had only begun when time had run out. Why is it that when I am sitting in church, that is when my mind finally begins to unwind, and it is then that I am willing to sit still enough to really meditate. Oh I have my quiet times, for sure, but really taking time to thank Christ for his willingness to wholeheartedly sacrifice his life for my soul, I am remiss in my gratitude.

This is just a reminder to me as well as to you to take the time to reflect what this Easter season really is all about. Be still and make time to find a quiet place of meditation and let the whispers of Christ and his love for you really resonate into the depths of your heart. I have to wonder how I possible could have gotten over the hurdles that have been in my life without His support of power and of strength. How would I have made decisions that were on his target, or had the wisdom and courage to forge ahead when situations before me seemed so far out of my reach without the knowledge that Christ was always there to lead me, and give me the confidence and courage to prayerfully go forth.

Christ remains faithful but do I?
1) Do I faithfully submit requests and trust in his answers? Or do I ride the fence of thinking I can do life better and God does not really understand my needs or my pains? He gets it for sure, it is me who doesn't take time to realize his overwhelming, overseeing authority and purpose for all that he allows to happen in my life.
2) Am I faithful my obedience? You would think so, in obligation and appreciation for all he has already done for me, but my answer is sadly no. 3) Is my gratitude for Christ and who he is and what he has done ever present? Again, my answer is truthfully not even remotely significant in comparison.
It goes back to the cross and how much do I really embrace and reflect on its merit, on the impact it has had on my life and in this universe. My feeble attempts to thank him verbally are only acknowledged if I live it out physically.

The cross was used in Roman times to crucify people, now the replicas are seen in jewelry, on trademarks, in religious institutions etc, but don't you agree that when we see them, we seldom look at them or wear them in the true depth of recognition that Christ deserves. A cross is an intersecting of two lines, one greater than the other, but attached at midpoint.
Isn't that how Christ has called us to live our lives? Intersected with his, attached at our center. The crossbars are horizontal and vertical, the vertical playing the grandest part of the historical structured support. The horizontal is extended in the air with no basis of support other than the vertical bar that is grounded.

Just think a minute about the cross. You will see it, you may wear it, but you as Christians know the significance that it has in each of our lives. I will find quiet time to reflect this day, a time not measured by minutes only by depth and gratitude.... on what the cross that Christ was crucified on represents, the meaning of true sacrifice, the love that extends beyond my comprehension, and most of all forgiveness that was offered to God by Christ for my sins. I mean really, who takes the blame for something they had no involvement in, just to clear the way for a relationship that could not be without purity of heart and forgiveness of sin? Who else could and did literally carry the weight of the world of believers on his shoulders. But Jesus.

If you are at a crossroad, or crosswalk, or are crossways with someone else, consider the cross, the intersecting of the two ways of life and look at your center. The place where our human bar intersects with Christ's bar of support and undying love. Is Christ your enabling support?

He knew life wasn't going to be easy, so he did not just die for us but he came back to live within us through His Holy Spirit. His enemies tried to kill his spirit but in fact they gave him the opportunity to rejuvenate his spirit for eternity. The same thing happens to us each day. The enemy tries to kill our spirit through deceit and malicious intent, oh but we too can be conquerers through Christ and denounce the lies and live for Christ, with Christ and by Christ. That is the opportunity that he has given all who believe in his name and in the power of the cross.

2 Corinthians 5:15
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Cross your heart....with the truths that lie within you. The truth that Christ is real, he was crucified and rose again from the dead to grant us forgiveness, power, strength, and courage through our faith in his very name.

Happy Easter!



Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!


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