Good Friday Reflections

Today is my 30th birthday...a day to celebrate but it's also a day to mourn because it's Good Friday.  The day we remember Jesus' crucifixion.  This quarantine has me spending a lot of time with myself...I'm sure many of you relate.  I've been *very* aware of my sin and today the heaviness of it.  Jesus has changed my life...all thirty years of it because even though I sin...He forgives me.  He took on my sin that day on the Cross, was forsaken by the Father, and died.  I mourn for the pain I caused but I rejoice and praise Him for taking on my punishment so that He can have a relationship with me.  That has changed my life because I am wanted, forgiven, redeemed, made new...not just the day when I accepted Him into my heart, but each day.   

Today is also a day of celebration because we know the whole story...Sunday is coming...Jesus rises from the dead and is ALIVE!  His resurrection is just as important as His death because that means He is victorious over death.  Death has no power, not then and not now even when it seems like it is winning.  That gives me hope, confidence, and reassurance in these uncertain times (believe me I have anxiety each and every day but I can be confident that my Lord is with me through it).  

Jesus is sooo life changing because I used to wallow in my sin and guilt.  I still sin (everyday) but He is transforming me inside and out to be the person He has made me to be.  I have never felt this more now during these times because I have the extra time to spend with Him and in reflection which is such a gift.  I cannot wait to celebrate Easter this year...even if it's a little different than normal, I think it's going to be powerful.

How are you preparing your heart for this Easter? 

In His Love,

A

Christmas Day: Savior King

 
image 

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, The Lord.  

Luke 2:11

Today is it.  We celebrate Jesus, the greatest gift every given to us.  Despite all the chaos and stress, Christmas comes and goes.  Sometimes it feels like just another day but it shouldn’t.  It's a time to stop and reflect.  The way I make the most of it is where I put my focus.  It could be on hosting dinner, finding the perfect gift, attending a record number of church services, or it could be on Jesus.  I will never give or receive any better and greater gift than that baby born to a virgin in a cave stable 2000+ years ago.  He is the True Reason for our celebration.  God has out-gifted us all.  

Jesus was born to die for us.  He is the Perfect Lamb of God to pay the price—death, for all of our sins.  He is the Messiah, the long awaited one.  He fulfilled many scripture prophecies that night He was born.  All of Heaven was waiting and rejoicing.  Angels were crowding in to see their Creator born on Earth.  What a sight that would've been to be a shepherd when the heavenly hosts were praising God.  We will see that one day :)

He is also King of Kings--seated on the throne in Heaven.  Just because He is a King doesn't mean that He is not approachable.  He can be King of your heart if you let Him in!  So this year when you look at that manger scene, will you see the babe as a King?  The One who holds the power to open the scroll of God (Revelation 5:5).  The One who had all the glory in Heaven, yet left it so that He could save you. 

So today as you look at the Baby in the manager, also look at the cross because that is what He was looking forward to for you. Is Jesus the One you have been waiting for in your life?  Is He your personal Savior?  Run to Him because He is waiting with open arms in love to receive you.  What words of worship will you offer Him on this Christmas Day?

Merry Christmas and Enjoy the Day with your family celebrating our Lord!!! 

In His Love,

A

Christmas Eve: Emmanuel

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel. 

Isaiah 7:14

Today is THE day before THE BIG DAY.  Tomorrow we celebrate Jesus' birth, but today is the last day to prepare our hearts and we really should be celebrating each and every day.  The second to last name for Jesus we will study is Emmanuel or Immanuel (Greek vs. Hebrew spelling).  This name is so wonderful because it means "God with us".  

Jesus came down from Heaven to dwell among, literally the Greek word for dwelling is ἐσκήνωσεν and means tabernacled among us!  The original reason that God had the Israelites build the Tabernacle (or temple) was so He could dwell among the people in that one place.  Then Jesus comes down to dwell among the people and teaches them.

However, Jesus didn't leave us alone when He ascended to Heaven after His resurrection.  He left His Spirit (well after Pentecost, see Acts) so He is always with us.  We are never alone in any circumstance.  Sometimes I feel as if I am alone when no other humans are around or can understand my situation.  Jesus is there for me and has gone through the same feelings and temptations that we face every day.  

Jesus fulfilled the original intent of the Tabernacle.  He came and dwelled with us in human flesh and then returned to Heaven.  The Holy Spirit was sent down so that we can have God in us, not just with us.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, closer than any relationship with God prior to Jesus!!!!

Our relationship with God is even more intimate than Moses and God because Jesus has fully cleansed us.  With this cleansing we can now come so close to God that He can live inside of us!! 

Does this change your view on the celebration tomorrow?  Will you take some time tomorrow to give thanks and just rest in the awe of God's amazing love?

With His Love,

A

23rd Day of Advent: Alpha and Omega

 

image

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." 

Revelation 1:8

Alpha and Omega.  They are the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet, so translated to English Jesus is A and Z.  He is the Beginning and the End.  The One who was at the beginning of your life will also be at the end.  He is waiting for us there, yet simultaneously right with us today.  That's the amazing infinite and eternal nature of Jesus!!  He was in the beginning as Creator and will be at the end of times as Judge.  He is part of and in everything.  

This is one of the many attributes that allowed Him to die for the sins of everyone in the world.  Since He is eternal and infinite, He is not bound by time.  He could pay the price of our sins, the price being death, 2000 years before we were even born.  It is awesome how God reveals His plan and how intricate it really was.  

What words of praise can you offer Him for revealing such completeness about Himself?  In this scripture, He also reveals His eternal nature, which intertwines with His infinite nature of beginning and end.  Does it comfort you that He is the beginning and the end?  How has your praise for Him increased this Advent season--Christmas is almost here!! 

In His Love,

A  

4th Sunday of Advent: Bridegroom

 

image

"The bride belongs to the bridegroom.  The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice.  That joy is mine, and it is now complete."

John 3:29

This year, this attribute of Jesus might be the most meaningful to me.  As I continue to watch the women around me wear those beautiful white dresses and I'm still just standing next to them on their wedding day, it's hard.  Lately though, the Holy Spirit just keeps reminding me: Jesus is better.  Not that marriage isn't important or biblical but I can't put my worth, happiness, or satisfaction in being a bride.  I want to be Jesus' bride before I can be any man's bride.  I want to see Him as the True Love of my life before anyone else.  I will worship Him only and not my spouse or the desire to be married or loved.  I'm not going to lie, I struggle hard with this.

I cannot wait for the possible day here on Earth where I will get to wear a white dress and walk down the aisle  toward a man who is ready to profess his love to me and we will be together forever.  However, that is just a shadow of the day where I will wear white robes signifying my righteousness and purity, walking towards the One who has loved me my whole life and I will spend eternity with Him.  Even if the first day never comes for me, I have the hope that the second one will come no matter what!

Each one of us is the bride of Jesus, but also collectively as a Church.  He has a personal relationship yet a communal one with believers at the same time.  Who do you worship or devote all your time to?  How can you allow the Holy Spirit guide you in worshiping the One who longs for your heart?  He is the ultimate Bridegroom, so let us wait for Him to come back and take us home with Him!! 

In His Love,

A