This...the Day...Good Friday

This the day…that we can hardly bear to think about…and yet…

“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2

For the joy...of bringing the Father’s wayward children home...

King Jesus…fully God…co-equal, co-divine, co-eternal, and co-existent…endured the cross, so many years ago…for us. And yet…

King Jesus was fully man…simply google the physical attributes of being crucified to somewhat realize what He went through…for us. And yet…

It was the separation from the Father…as Abba, Daddy had turn His gaze from the One so laden with our iniquity. That rending of the very fabric of Pure Love between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…that was the greatest torture of all that He experienced…for us. And yet…

He did it all for joy…the joy of bringing us back home.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”
John 1:12

So this day…take time to remember…take time to lower your head and bow your knees to the One and Only. Yes, remember what He did for us…And yet…

Raise your head…lift your hands…through the tears…smile. For Easter is coming…

For us.

photo: A Well Traveled Woman

Abba, Daddy...

A couple of years ago I had the privilege to share at women's retreat in Wisconsin. Many wonderful things took place at the retreat by God's gracious hand and power, but one sweet memory comes back to me today...

I met a lovely, sweetheart of a young woman, maybe nineteen years of age and she had a sad, but ultimately heartwarming story that she generously shared with me.

Long story, short...her parents had passed away into the Lord's presence; one parent at an early age, and another at around her age of seventeen. Though she was now past the age of eighteen, the Christian family she had been living with legally adopted her as her own, even though she was grown and they themselves still had growing children. This beautiful young adult positively glowed with happiness that she had been "chosen"... that...she belonged to someone...

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God"
Romans 8:15-16

I had just been reading these verses and felt led of the Lord to share them with her...she drank in the words slowly...her heart filling with His presence...as she realized how miraculous and marvelous the Lord Jesus is to have...also adopted...her...because of love alone.

Abba Daddy...

The sight of her opening her Bible, propping it up on her knees as she poured over these words in the then empty auditorium...moved my heart. She lingered in these beloved verses from Romans which proceed to proclaim that we are joint-heirs with Christ as we partake of His sufferings and His glory...

She understood the cost and the choice of adoption. She understood the sacrifice of the benevolent, love beyond reason decision to make us His own... and, that warms my heart in this moment, once again. I hope it does yours...

photo: Bret Cole Photography