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Friday, April 10, 2009

Thankful for the Cross


I hope you have a blessed weekend of celebrating Jesus Christ.




The Cross means so much to so many.




Two pieces of wood held our Saviour in His place for hours.
The place He chose to be.

He was mocked, spit on and yelled at as he hung for me. For you. For us.


Why did He do it? Why did He endure such beatings when He knew who He was doing it for?




What made Him stay?




We don't think of The Cross when we say yes to having an affair or an abortion.




We don't think of The Cross when we sneak around and spend money we know shouldn't be spent.




We don't think of The Cross when we are single and just wanting to be loved so we give ourselves away.




But when we do come to our senses and think not only of The Cross, but Who hung on it, that is when we become so overwhelmed that He would want anything to do with someone like us. That is the moment that we then find ourselves at a state of wanting something different than what we have and we say yes to His invitation to come. That is the moment we kneel and find ourselves at the foot of the very cross we read about in the Gospels. His blood dripping down upon us and covering every sin we ever committed when we ask Him for His forgiveness.






At the foot of The Cross is where we find forgiveness, grace, love, acceptance, brokenness made whole, healing and new life. The only place we'll find it. For He is the only One who has ever even offered to save us from eternal death. He is the only One who not only offered us the gift of salvation, but He followed through with His Father's plan that included The Cross. The place He would meet death, but where we would meet life.


He died with purpose.


You.


Me.


Purpose worth every beating, every hateful word yelled at Him, the crown of thorns and each nail that pierced His flesh.






The Cross. The beginning of what was thought to be the end of this King of Kings.



But then...3 days later Mary Magdalene would find an empty tomb.




Rock rolled away. Empty grave clothes.




A tomb that did not hold a trace that a King's body was ever laid to rest in it.




A King once dead, but One that even death could not keep from taking His seat at the right hand of God.
He loves us so much He gave His life for us. His life. I wouldn't do that for you or you for me.
I'll pray for ya, I'll make you a meal if you're sick, but willingly take a beating for you? Wouldn't happen.
Get bloodied beyond recognition? Never.
Willingly lay down on 2 beams of wood knowing the nails were coming? I would have never stuck that part out.
But He did. And I'm so thankful for His life that He gave.
Thank You Jesus to think that we were worth all that you endured on our behalf.
He is Risen!


If you have something on your blog about Easter and what it means to you...please share under Mr. Linky, we'd love to come visit you.
Also...click here to read Rachel Olson's devotional, Satisfaction of the Cross on Proverbs 31 Ministries this week.



~Many Blessings~




13 comments:

Mel said...

Tremendous post as well as one that causes my eyes to leak.

Jill Beran said...

Great words Lelia! You always have a way of putting things - thank you so much for sharing! It has been quite a day of reflecting for me and that is a good thing. The more I seem to think about what Christ did, it seems the more amazed I become. And like you say, he did what he did because of me and for me all at the same time. Wow!! Blessings to you, Jill

Rachel said...

So beautifully said. I am so thankful that you are using the gift of words, the gift of teaching, the gift of encouragement that God has given you.

Those are words a hurting world needs to hear.

Thank you again - much gratefulness.

Sita said...

As a global community of believers, I am so grateful we share our gratitude for the Cross and for each other....have a Blessed Easter, Lelia,
Love, Sita

Leaon Mary said...

I'm so thankful Jesus took "my" place at the cross Lelia. I've known what happened, read about it year after year, but this year...my heart feels so grateful... so overwhelmed by His love for all of us.
When I think how He was tortured I can hardly bear even thinking about it. Then knowing He also felt all the guilt, shame, embarrassment; everything we feel emotionally by our sins... and he took ALL of that on Himself for us; taking our place... -- it overwhelms me.
I love Him with all my heart, and want to live the rest of my life for Him.
Our redeemer lives Lelia Chealey! He lives!

LisaShaw said...

Dearest Lelia,

This is beautiful. I am so blown away DAILY by what the LORD has done for us at the cross but this weekend is especially dear to our hearts.

I'm grateful that we can praise His name together and know that because HE LIVES we who believe in HIM live also.

Thank You Lord for the work You've done at the cross for us. We love you.

Bless you and your precious family and thank you for linking to me. I pray that God sends people to all of our blogs that need to HEAR OF HIM AND HIS SON AND ALL THAT WAS DONE FOR THEM AND MAY THEY BELIEVE AND RECEIVE IN JESUS NAME!

Love you.

Yolanda said...

Lelia,

Honestly, I don't think that I've ever felt for my Lord like I'm feeling this week. Even though our church has had no special services, not even for Palm Sunday. I have fed myself, and I've been fed as well by my awesome Sisters in Christ in the Blog world. Thank you!

Love,
Yolanda

PS: I wrote and posted mine yesterday morning, but I went ahead this evening and linked.

StitchinByTheLake said...

Happy Easter Lelia....may God continue to bless you with His love and His strength and His grace. blessings, marlene

Runner Mom said...

Lelia! This was such a powerful post! Thank you for the reminder to think of the cross before we act! Hope y'all had a beautful Easter!

Hugs,
Susan

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Hi Lelia,
I've gotten behind in my blog reading, and missed our last book study. I may just participate by reading the chapters and what others have to say, unless I feel moved to write something.

This was a good post. I am so thankful for what Jesus did for me. My Easter post is not about what Easter means to me, but about love, and it is an Easter greeting.

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

Beautiful my friend. Our pastors message this morning has on "hope" and it along with an outreach ministry our ladies group is praying about really made me think about how I would describe the signifiance of the cross to an unbeliever. It is so increible-could I do it justice? I cherish that cross.

I look forwards to reading everyone's post. Great idea!!

In His Graces~Pamela

Sharon said...

You are welcome to have anything off my site you would like my friend. That was really cool huh!

Celly B said...

Wonderful thoughts on Easter, Leila! I hope that your Easter was full of joy and hope.
Thanks for posting on Thirstin' for the Word Thursday!
Celeste