Miracle

"It's not just the most important miracle ever.  It's not just the most astounding event in the life of the Messiah.  It's not just an essential item in your theological outline.  It's not just the reason for the most important celebratory season of the church.  It's meant to be the window through which you view all of life." - Paul David Tripp

This week, a Dear Friend sent me this beautiful devotional from Paul David Tripp's New Morning Mercies.  Cheri McNeill just buried her husband, not even a week ago, and yet she sent me this encouraging word concerning resurrection and our forever life with Christ.  She did this because the Lord prompted her too, because He is ALIVE in her, even in death; because like her, part of my heart is already in Heaven, and she wanted to also encourage my heart this Easter week.  DEATH does NOT WIN! 

I was so breathtakingly moved by the level of wisdom Tripp used as he beautifully unfolded these Truths.  This devotional laid it out so clearly for me that I HAD to share with you.  The Body of Christ NEEDS to be reminded these things, and what better time than at Easter? I take no credit for the contents as the words are from David Tripp.  I have simply shared my heart with the words in blue.   

2 Corinthians 4:13-15, "(We know) that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence .  For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God."

"What does it look like to look at life through the window of the resurrection?", asks Tripp, "What about the resurrection must I remember?" . . .  What's important for me to know about Easter and the resurrection as a Believer?

1. The resurrection of Jesus guarantees your resurrection too.  Life is not constantly repeating the cycle of the same old same old.  No, under God's rule this world is marching toward a conclusion.  Your life is being carried to a glorious end.  There will be a moment when God will raise you out of the broken world, and sin and suffering will be no more! (exclamation mine)

2.  The resurrection tells you what Jesus is now doing, Jesus now reigns.  I Corinthians 15 says that he will continue to reign until the final enemy is under his feet.  You see, your world is not out of control but under the careful control of One who is still doing his sin-defeating work.  Even though my life feels out of control most days, I can rest in the fact that God is overseeing it.  He is allowing and controlling all things.  My world feels chaotic, but I choose to trust the promise of God who reigns over this broken world as well as over the maladies of my life.  

3.  The resurrection promises you all the grace you need between Jesus's resurrection and yours.  If your end has already been guaranteed, then all the grace you need along the way has been guaranteed as well, or you would never make it to your appointed end.  Future grace always carries with it the promise of present grace.  Grace: the disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency; unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification (Merriam Webster).  

4.  The resurrection of Jesus motivates you to do what is right, no matter what you are facing.  The resurrection tells you that God WILL WIN.  Sin WILL BE DEFEATED.  Righteousness WILL overcome evil.  This means that everything you do in God's name is worth it, no matter what the cost. Did you catch that, ya'll?  It is WORTH IT.  NO MATTER WHAT THE COST.    Believer, what you are facing, what you are struggling with . . . it is SO worth it! 

5.  The resurrection tells you that you always have a reason for thanks.  Quite apart from anything you have earned, you have been welcomed into the most exciting story ever and have been granted a future of JOY and PEACE FOREVER.  I will not only experience peace and love forever (believe me, I am longing for that just as you are); I will experience LIFE with Ellie Kate and Lucy FOREVER!  And it isn't because of anything I have done or haven't done (thank you, Lord!).  For this, I will live a life of thanksgiving - how could I not "go tell it on the mountain"? because of this great grace and redemption?! 
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Truthfully, I would not have chosen this exact life, these exact circumstances and illnesses for myself or for my precious family (especially for my children).  But, with all of my heart, I choose to trust Jesus, My Lord.  How can that be possible?  Oh Friend, let me tell you!

Every human born on this earth has a sinful heart, a sinful nature - we are pre-disposed to it.  The payment of all sin is death.  Plain and simple - you sin, you must pay the penalty of death. BUT, we have a Savior.  The Father God sent His one and only Son, Jesus to live on this earth just as you and me.  He experienced every single emotion and every single temptation, and yet He did not sin.  He never messed up, broke a promise, cursed God, lied to his earthly parents.  Jesus is the blameless, spotless sacrifice for our sin.  He CHOSE to be the payment for my sin and for yours.  He chose to pay the payment for sin, in your place, because of His great, unimaginable love for you.

When Jesus died on the cross, He thought of you and He thought of me.  On that day, on that cross, Jesus had the sin of every man for all time, on His shoulders.  Jesus lay in His tomb for three days before his miraculous resurrection.  Jesus rose from the grave, up from death; and on that day, Jesus conquered death.  For those who believe in Him, there will only be an earthly death of our body.  There will be NO DEATH of our spirit - our spirit will live forever with Jesus, perfected and whole!  Did you catch that?  For the Believer, there is no death.

Do you wonder if there is something more in life?  Do you feel lost or alone, afraid of what the future holds?  Do you long for a secure eternity and a life that does not end?  Come to Jesus.  Invite Him in.  No magic words, no perfect words, no right words.  Just start a conversation between you and the God of the universe.  Choose to trust Him as God.  Choose to trust Jesus, who gave His life for you.  Choose to believe in that Jesus rose from the dead.  Choose and receive your true freedom.  There is no freedom apart from Christ.  

And Believer, once you have given your life to Jesus, do not forget the incredible cost of the cross.  Remember the truths that David Tripp laid out so clearly.  Take these things with you.  Rejoice over them at every moment and realize the freedom and future that you have in Jesus.  

He Is Risen!
Ryan

What is Love?

Do you remember that song, "What is Love?"?  I think it went something like this, "What is love?  Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more."  

I know, I know.  By now you are busting out laughing or rolling your eyes; OR maybe you've just decided to delete this blog post.  Please, Friend - do stay with me, because I promise there is more to this blog than just reliving some silly 90's song.  

In my life, I have so gratefully been able to experience many types of love.  I have been blessed to see, first-hand, the most beautiful types of this intricate emotion - this verb and noun.  Up close, I have witnessed what love should be, what love is meant to be, and what love could be.  And unfortunately, I have seen love abused and manipulated; evil and selfishness masked as "love".  

Many times I have wondered why God has allowed us to be in the situations we are in as a family.  For me as a woman - what are all of the purposes of these trials and sufferings (I promise,  I know I am not the only one suffering or hurting)?  One of those purposes, I believe is to share Truth.  And today, I would like to share with you what God has laid upon my heart about love.  

You may or may not be a Believer.  You may or may not believe in the power of the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.  Friend, no matter what you believe, you really cannot discard the breathtakingly beautiful true definition of love in the Bible . . . 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 I Corinthians 13:4-7

For me, love is sacrifice.  Plain and simple.  True sacrifice.  If it doesn't cost you something then it is NOT LOVE.  And sacrifice means SERVICE. That's it for me, Friends.  Bottom line - LOVE IS SACRIFICE and SERVICE. What is love for you? What does it look like? As Easter approaches, the picture of ultimate sacrifice and service by Jesus on the cross, I encourage you to ask yourself some questions:

• What is your love/service costing you?
• Is it comfortable?
• Is it hard to do physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually? 
• Do you "love" and serve in order to get accolades?  
• Are you seeking attention by engaging in this act? 

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing". 

I Corinthians 13:1-3

As Believers, our lives should be reflections of Jesus; the true and ultimate guide, the most beautifully perfect picture Love.  We must strive to live a life of love.  And as humans, we need love to well.  We need to serve well.  We cannot get through life without human love because human love is the extension of Christ's love; the Kingdom of God on this earth.  

Love is NOT shouting out your good actions for the world to see so that you will get the recognition you are craving.  If that is what you are looking for, stop and seek your attention somewhere else.  

Love is NOT doing something out of convenience.  If it doesn't cost you something and if it isn't uncomfortable, then it isn't LOVE.  Jesus loved us in every action - he was constantly giving, serving, sacrificing His reputation and His life.  If you are doing something ONLY because it is convenient, then it isn't really LOVE.  Do more!  

Love is falling on your face and being humble.  It's living out the example of Christ - giving everything up for the sake of others.  

Being in ministry, I have seen mothers change the diapers of their teenagers.  LOVE. I have seen fathers wipe drool from their adult children.  LOVE.  I have seen adult men hold the arms of their elderly mothers as they walk down the stairs.  LOVE.  I have seen a mother hold their child so tight because of the child's need for sensory input.  LOVE.  I have seen precious mommas kiss the lips of their dead children, one last time.  LOVE.  I have seen strangers cleaning up after the sick, helping people who are lost; I've seen people give up their last dime so that others can eat.  Missionaries who give their lives to share the Gospel and their families who stay behind, faithfully keeping things going on the frontlines.  People making life and death decisions, people feeding the poor, those wrapping gifts for others at Christmas . . . the list could go on and on (isn't that breathtaking in and of itself?  Endless ways to love!).  Truly though, love can be so simple.  Reckless love does not have to be life or death.

Sacrifice can be simple - leaving a note for someone who has been having a hard time.  Picking up extra groceries for a family who is struggling.  Maybe you could secretly mow your friend's lawn or shoot an encouraging text.  For someone who has felt much pain and heartache, I can tell you that any act of love means more than you could ever know.  NOTHING IS TOO SMALL.  If you feel led to do something, even in the slightest, go and do it!  Do NOT miss the opportunity to bless others because you will end up being blessed as well.  

My hope is that you will re-evaluate the way you love your family, your spouse, your community, your world, your God.  My hope is that your soul will be awakened to the true meaning of love - God's meaning of love.  Sacrifice.  Service.  My prayer is that your love will change and that it will impact everyone around you, and when it does, it will change your heart and will change the way you view Jesus.  When you understand what true love is, what Jesus has done for you, what Jesus DOES for you on a continual basis, you will fall more in love with Him.  Over and over and over again, you will fall in love with Him as the unveiling of the magnitude of God's sacrifice is unfolded before you.  And do you know how that happens?  It starts with you loving others.  Loving others recklessly, in service and with sacrifice.    

What is love to you?  Go out and love your world today and be blessed by the precious ways God in turn shows His love to you, Sweet One!