Resurrection Day- "Christ is Risen"

"Christ is Risen" 

On this Glorious Day let us remember the strength and POWER of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Crucified on a Cross, nails through His hands and feet and a crown of thorns on His head and then buried in a tomb. But on the 3rd day He rose up from the grave and was resurrected to save us all.

Death? Where is YOUR sting? Hell? Where is your victory? Chris is Risen from the dead... Come Awake, Come awake Come and Rise up from the Grave.

This is a beautiful Praise and Worship song and the words are SO POWERFUL!
Christ has Risen from the Dead! What a Glorious Day!  

"Christ Is Risen"

Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely you bled, for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bow to none but heavens will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold you down
In strength you reign
Forever let your church proclaim

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
The glory of God has defeated the night!

Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
Our God is not dead, he's alive! he's alive!

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Rise up from the grave...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mXeA0G_xKc

Happy Easter and Resurrection Day 2014! 

God is Good... All the Time!

Easter Preparation #5- Written in Red

Good Friday, April 18, 2014 

"Written in Red" 


Throughout this week I have pondered and tried to relive the events that took place so long ago on a hill far away. The agony and pain that Jesus had to have felt as He was nailed to a cross and wore a crown of thorns on His head. Even in trying to imagine all of this... I am still amazed as to WHY he did all of this.

For me? For you? What have we done to deserve this? Sure He was beaten, bruised and bleeding but the message He was sending was a message of LOVE. I think of all the wonderful acts of love that my husband, Chris, has shown me through the 8 years of marriage and I cant help but get a smile on my face and a warm feeling inside me with the Love Chris has for me. But none of them even begin to compare to the act of Love Jesus showed me while dying on the cross. It truly is the GREATEST Love Story ever told; except it is NOT a story! It is REAL! And it is written in RED.

"Written in Red" 
In letters of crimson, God wrote His love
On the hillside so long, long ago;
For you and for me Jesus died, 
And love's greatest story was told.

I love you, I love you
That's what Calvary said;
I love you, I love you, 
I love you, Written in Red

Down through the ages, God wrote His love
With the same hands that suffered and bled;
Giving all that He had to give, 
A message so easily read.

I love you, I love you,
That's what Calvary said; 
I love you, I love you,
I love you.....

Oh, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood, 
The blood of Jesus.

I love you, I love you
That's what Calvary said;
I love you, I love you,
I love you, Written....In Red

Once again, All I can say is THANK YOU! 

I Love You, Jesus! 

It's Friday... But Sunday's Coming! 

God is Good... All the Time! 

Easter Preparation #6- Jesus Saves

Saturday, April 19, 2014 
"Jesus Saves" 
Christ traveled down the road to Calvary to be put to death on a Cross of wood. Beaten and scolded by His peers yet HE did all of this for you and me. To save us from our sins... To forgive us as far as the East is from the West.

He has given us this gift of salvation. All you have to do is accept it. Freedom's Calling... Chains are Falling... Hope is dawning bright and true!

Christ has paid the cost of redemption and the EMPTY tomb is declaring "Jesus Saves". This is one of my ALL-TIME favorite songs about the gift Jesus gave to us all. Open your heart and mind to accept this salvation, today! It will be the greatest decision you have EVER made!

"Jesus Saves"

Hear the heart of heaven beating
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
And the hush of mercy breathing
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
Hear the host of angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King"
And the sounding joy repeating
Jesus saves

See the humblest hearts adore Him
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
And the wisest bow before Him
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
See the sky alive with praise
Melting darkness in its blaze
There is light forevermore
Jesus saves

He will live, our sorrow sharing
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
He will die our burden bearing
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
"It is done!" will shout the cross
Christ has paid redemption's cost
While the empty tomb's declaring
Jesus saves

Freedom's calling
Chains are falling
Hope is dawning
Bright and true
Day is breaking
Night is quaking
God is making all things new
Jesus saves

Oh, to Christ, how great a debtor
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
Are the saints who shout together
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
Rising up so fast and strong
Lifting up salvation's song
The redeemed will sing forever
Jesus saves

It's Saturday... But Sunday's coming! 
Today is the 2nd day... But tomorrow is the 3rd Day!

God is good... All the time! 

Easter Preparation #4- Via Dolorosa

Thursday, April 17, 2014 

"Via Dolorosa"


With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion,who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”  Mark 15:37-39 

I have always wanted to visit Jerusalem and see the area where Jesus was born and where he eventually was laid to rest. I want to walk down the streets He walked and visit the places and Gardens He visited. I am a very visual learner and I would love to not only be able to SEE these places but experience these places.

I have always been a very musical person but when I was a teenager I was visiting my grandmother in Wichita, KS and I was able to hear my aunt Julie Garrett sing a song about Jesus and His death on the cross. Julie always did and still does have the voice of an angel but this particular song stuck with me and really helped me get a grasp on the situations that took place as Christ died for you and me. Thank you Julie for giving me this experience and singing these words so beautifully so many years ago!

"Via Dolorosa" by Sandi Patty

Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day

The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street

But the crowd pressed in to see

A Man condemned to die on Calvary

He was bleedingfrom a beating,
there were stripes upon His back

And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head

And He bore with every step

The scorn of those who cried out for His death

(chorus)

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering

Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King,

But He chose to walk that road out of His love

For you and me.
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary

The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men

Made its way to the heart of Jerusalem.

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering

Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King

But He chose to walk that road out of His love

For you and me

Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary

What Via Dolorosa looks like today...

I listen to this song and read these lyrics and all I can say is THANK YOU! 

Thank You, Jesus Christ for walking down Via Dolorosa on your way to Your Crucifixion. You walked this road with the weight of the cross and the entire World on Your shoulders! Thank you... Thank you. 

It's Thursday... But Sunday's Coming! 

God is Good... All the Time! 

Easter Preparation #3- The Old Rugged Cross

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 

"The Old Rugged Cross" 

An oldie but a goodie... This is one of the best hymns ever written and the words are ever true, even today. I'll cherish the Old Rugged Cross... til my trophies at last I'll lay down. This is what I cling to as I think about the upcoming days and Jesus' death and then resurrection. This is a constant reminder of what He did for you and me. 

He suffered and died to sanctify ME? He bore the guilt and the shame of the world and was buried but on the 3rd day was resurrected and brought back from the grave. How is this possible? I still am amazed at the beauty of the entire event!

The great book of Colossians reminds us of this sacrifice.  "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation"- Colossians 1:21-22

"The Old Rugged Cross" 

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.


Refrain:

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.




Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above

To bear it to dark Calvary.


In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

A wondrous beauty I see,

For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

To pardon and sanctify me.


To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,

Where His glory forever I’ll share.















I will Cling to The Old Rugged Cross... And exchange it someday for a crown! I cannot wait for that day! 







God is good... All the time! 

Easter Preparation #2- The Power of the Cross

April 14, 2014

"The Power of the Cross"

Easter is this Sunday... Prepare your heart and mind for this amazing day by taking time to spiritually awaken your soul for the amazing deed Christ did for all of us. 

As I prepare my heart of this Sunday and Easter, I cannot begin to fathom the amount pain and agony, Jesus went through as he walked down the road to Calvary to be nailed to The Cross. All of MY sins and all of YOUR sins bore on the weight of His shoulders as the crown of thorns was placed on his head. "It is finished" was His cry. 

The Cross is Powerful but sometimes we need the simple reminder of HOW powerful it really is. Christ became sin for us by being nailed to this Cross of wood. And because He did this for you and me... We stand FORGIVEN at the Cross! And the sins I have committed and commit on a daily basis; the nagging of my husband, the short tempered with my kids, the impatience on the roadway and at work; sins both BIG and small. We are forgiven of these sins because of what took place on the cross. What an amazing gift we have been given.

I saw a saying on social media last week that really helped me grasp this amazing gift and Power of the cross: "The Power of the cross is not found in what I do but in what has already been done for me" by Suzie Eller! What a thought to ponder and think about as we continue in this Holy Week. 

This beautiful song is a testimony of this event and the beautiful gift God has given us... But we have to accept this gift. 

"The Power of the Cross" 

Oh, to see the dawn

Of the darkest day:

Christ on the road to Calvary.

Tried by sinful men,

Torn and beaten, then

Nailed to a cross of wood. 

CHORUS:

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Christ became sin for us;

Took the blame, bore the wrath—

We stand forgiven at the cross. 

Oh, to see the pain

Written on Your face,

Bearing the awesome weight of sin.

Ev'ry bitter thought,

Ev'ry evil deed

Crowning Your bloodstained brow. 

Now the daylight flees;

Now the ground beneath

Quakes as its Maker bows His head.

Curtain torn in two,

Dead are raised to life;

"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name

Written in the wounds,

For through Your suffering I am free.

Death is crushed to death;

Life is mine to live,

Won through Your selfless love. 

FINAL CHORUS:

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Son of God—slain for us.

What a love! What a cost! 

We stand forgiven at the cross

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aowdjLeaCYs&feature=kp

Will you accept this gift? 

God is Good.. All the Time!

Easter Preparation #1

April 10, 2014 

"By the Way of the Cross" 

As I have gotten older in my years, Easter has become my favorite holiday. Not because of all the chocolate (I do not even like chocolate), the candies, the cute spring dresses and colors or the Easter Egg hunts with my kids but for the Biblical meaning behind this holiday. Each year as this holiday approaches I prepare myself for such an emotional holiday. This year I am going to write a series of blog concentrated not only on the events leading up to Jesus' death and his resurrection but the songs the speak to me about these events. 

I am humbled by what our Father has done for not just me but you too. Condemned to die on a cross and given a crown of thorns to wear on his head. For me? Really, For me? What have I done to deserve such love. Why me? 

I think of all the countless ways I sin on a daily basis and how I have nothing to offer but my battered and bruised self ...yet God sent his ONLY SON to die on a cross FOR ME! The sacrifice that must have been made I cannot even imagine. The weight of the cross as He carried it up the hill must have been unbearable. Then to be put to death by nails in His hands and feet and the crown of thorns on His head. Yet the words "You will be with me in paradise" came from his mouth to the thief who was also hanging on The Cross beside Him. 

The song "By the Way of The Cross" speaks these feelings so well. 

I HAVE NOTHING TO CLAIM BUT MY GUILT AND MY SHAME
HOPELESSLY LOST, I COULD NOT FIND MY WAY.
TILL HIS GLORIOUS LIGHT OF LOVE SHOWN DOWN ON ME.
HIS MERCY WASHED ALL MY SIN AWAY.

Despite the death of His only son, God showed us His love through this event. And Jesus died on The Cross for all of us as a sign of the unfailing undying love He has for us. I have nothing to give in return and lost and afraid. But His death and mercy have washed my sins away... as far as the East is from the West. What was once blood stain and battered, is now as white as snow.  

This is the love He showed for us all. You too can be washed as white as snow. Jesus' death was given for YOU. Accept this gift and you too will no longer be lost and hopeless.  

The words of this song sum it all up and this song speaks to my heart each and every time I hear it. Listen to the words of this song and watch the video if you want and you will see a better picture of this sacrifice. 

"By the Way of the Cross" 

CONDEMNED TO DIE ON A CROSS

FOR CRIMES HE HAD DONE.

THE THIEF WAS GUILTY, EVERYONE COULD SEE,

BUT HIS DESTINY WAS CHANGED

AS HE LOOKED AT CHRIST AND SAID,

“WHEN YOUR KINGDOM COMES REMEMBER ME."

IN PARADISE THAT DAY HE STOOD

JUST LIKE THE LORD HAD SAID HE WOULD

SURROUNDED BY THOSE WHO HAD GONE BEFORE.

ONE SAID "FRIEND HOW DID YOU COME?

WHAT ARE THE DEEDS YOU HAVE DONE?"

WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES, I CAN HEAR THE THIEF REPLY.

THERE ARE NO MERITS TO MY NAME

NO WORKS THAT I CAN CLAIM

HE WHO BROUGHT ME HERE TOLD ME TO SAY:

CHORUS

I HAVE COME BY THE WAY OF THE CROSS,

I HAVE COME BY THE WAY OF THE CROSS,

IT IS NOTHING I HAVE DONE.

IT'S THE SUFFERING OF GOD'S SON

I HAVE COME BY THE WAY OF THE CROSS

I HAVE NOTHING TO CLAIM BUT MY GUILT AND MY SHAME

HOPELESSLY LOST, I COULD NOT FIND MY WAY.

TILL HIS GLORIOUS LIGHT OF LOVE SHOWN DOWN ON ME.

HIS MERCY WASHED ALL MY SIN AWAY. 

AND WHAT HE DID FOR ME THAT DAY

WAS A PRICE I KNOW HE PAID

BY HIS GRACE I TOO CAN SAY, FOREVER SAY:

CHORUS

I HAVE COME BY THE WAY OF THE CROSS,
I HAVE COME BY THE WAY OF THE CROSS,
IT IS NOTHING I HAVE DONE.
IT'S THE SUFFERING OF GOD'S SON
I HAVE COME BY THE WAY OF THE CROSS

I, too, have come by the way of The Cross. What a moving testimony to the spiritual events of the upcoming week! Thank you, God for sending Your ONLY SON to die on The Cross for ME!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyZDhk4YfFU

God is Good... All the time!