When We Believe the World's Lies... Jesus Cries

When we believe the world's lies... Jesus cries. He mourns the Separation of us from His Love and His Peace.

When we realize the futility of life on the world's terms we have begun our journey Home. His ways are superior to anything this world can devise! His ways lead to Life (Light)... the world's ways to death (darkness).

The victory of life over death is ours for the taking! Embrace life by embracing Him!

❤Not Just A Blonde

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

~John 10:10-11

Why DID Jesus Have to Die?

Every intelligent, independent thinking, God-seeking Christian has had to ask this question, even if it's pondering was brief... "Why did Jesus have to die?" Actually, being God in human form it's not so hard to understand he was going to die at some point, but the question is why that way? Why then? Actually, if Jesus is God why at all ?

Didn't God himself write the rule book? Doesn't God Himself know the ending to all stories, the victories to all the battles past, present & future? With the rule book in hand and the outcome determined... couldn't there be an easier way? Perhaps, but God chose this way... and if there is something I've begun to learn... it is: God knows best.

God asked someone else to sacrifice his son. For those not terribly familiar with the Bible, I'm referring to the Old Testament's Abraham who was asked to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac at God's instruction. Thankfully for Abraham, an angel of God spoke at the last moment and called the whole thing off. Lesson learned. But what lesson was that? That God would always come through in the end? God (being God) knew what was gonna happen... but Abraham didn't. I believe God wanted to show Abraham something that mere words could not. God wanted Abraham to know that no matter what He would come through for us in our darkest hour... when everything felt all wrong in the end everything would be all right.

But what about those times in our lives when everything is falling apart, when we are in our darkest hour? What about the times when we've lost our way, perhaps lost our job, our home, or at life's most devastating hour we've lost a loved one to death? How are we to cope if that precious loved one is our child? What about those times when our pain is so great that death itself seems like the better way? These questions can consume us... and envelop us in despair!

I believe that God answered these questions for us just as he did for Abraham. In the moments of our questioning He wants us to remember He will pull us through! He encourages us to look towards Jesus for His Answer. The story of His death and return to life is the perfect example of His Love. He promises us that all is not lost forever... after a time ALL will be restored, recovered, resolved, repaired and returned to Love.

Jesus didn't have to die for God's sake... but for ours! I believe God knew it was the best way, perhaps the only way to show us the way towards Home. He gave to us this ultimate gift as a wake-up call to a sleeping world entranced in their nightmares of separation, sin, and pain. Jesus died a horrific undeserving death to show us... prove to us that in the end He will always be there for us to pull us through towards our happy ending in Heaven. A Heaven where we will be reunited with those we've loved... where our wildest dreams will come true... and all wounds healed, where all that is lost will be found. Jesus lived and died to show us He is the Answer to all our fears... and that Love will conquer all.

❤God is Love is God.

Coming Face to Face with Forgiveness...

So, I've chosen forgiveness...but when I come face to face with my transgressor or even if they come to mind I feel like I have to chose forgiveness All. Over. Again. Each time I'm hoping that this will be the last time I experience agitation or resentment when confronted with the past. Sometimes after weeks, or even years, the pain reappears and can suck me right back to those feelings of loss and betrayal that I experienced long ago. How could this be when I honestly thought I let it go?

Perhaps it's because forgiveness is not just a one time thing but also a process. Oh, if forgiveness were only a switch to be flipped...when flipped from GRUDGE to FORGIVE it would result in Peace eternal! If it were that easy many marriages would be saved from divorce, families would never be divided and friendships would last forever! For even the well intended forgiver can find that being around the person that wounded them is just too painful to bear! Faced with their inability to truly forgive it is just easier to let them go (or sometimes shove them) out of their lives forever and (try) to move on.

Knowing you should forgive, even telling yourself that you have forgiven doesn't always translate to a true healing or wholeness...but why? I believe it's because the true essence of forgiveness is misunderstood. Forgiveness is simple but it is much more than a "right decision" to be made, but a true ongoing change of the soul.

I've heard of some pretty amazing forgiveness stories in my time...and I continue to hear them, even today! A wife who has forgiven her husband for repeated adultery, parents who have lost children due to murder who have forgiven their killer, and grown children who have forgiven those who have violated their innocence. Their stories inspire me to search my heart and purge my spirit of my petty resentments & grudges, for if they can forgive their transgressors how can I justify withholding forgiveness from mine? I watch as they take the bold path of Forgiveness...choosing the only path that offers true healing & hope.

Forgiveness is a decision and a process...the choice to start to look within ourselves...and the process of learning to love as God would have us do on Earth as it is in Heaven. Forgiveness truly is a change of vision in how we SEE our fellow brother or sister. To forgive someone is to love them and not withhold this gift due to their wrongdoings. To forgive someone is to see Gods Creation and see that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made! For what could be wonderful in God's eyes that is not worthy of love in our lives?

In facing Forgiveness we are brought face to face with the willingness to truly love as Christ loves us. Facing forgiveness means taking the time to think about the transgressor as God would, as one of His children just like you & me. You remember we are all equal in His eyes...and we are loved no less nor more by our actions. We are saved & forgiven by Grace.

Facing forgiveness has been one of the best things I've done for myself. Sometimes forgiveness has been automatic, and other times it has taken (and is taking) time...but it is always worth it! My life is better after facing Forgiveness...and I assure you, yours will be too!

Can Jesus Really Be Your Friend?

Friendship is a wonderful thing! Don't get me wrong, friendships have their share of troubles, but for the most part the essence of friendship is pleasant, rewarding and good!

Friendship usually involves two people who have commonality and mutual positive regard. "Friends are the family you choose for yourself" can be found on everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs. There is also a Facebook Page devoted to the Friendship experience:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friendship/105625816137032?fref=ts# 

This page describes Friendship as "a relationship between two or more people who hold mutual affection for each other." 

And to quote my 10 year-old son "A friend is someone who likes you, who treats you well, who sticks with you think & thin, someone who is honest (hopefully), and someone is trustworthy and treats you with respect!" Children seem to keep the friendship concept pretty simple and straightforward, but with Jesus as a friend it seems anything but!

"Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus" is a well known hymn I have sang often as a child and young adult. How could he be a friend? It always seemed odd to me to be told that Jesus should be a friend of ours! Jesus? A friend? What a strange and marvelous concept! How can this be? I mean, really? Aside from the obvious...no physical contact, no audible voice, no shared hobbies or interests that you can engage in together & bond over, how about the fact that he is the King of Kings! All Powerful! Lord of ALL?! Hardly the typical friendship dynamic!

Jesus as traditionally understood is on a Spiritual pedestal...as God's Only Son above us mere mortal men. It's this inherent inequality that for me seems to undermine His ability to be a genuine friend as we are on such uneven ground. With this understanding He seems to me to be more of a mentor, a Father figure, someone to look up to and admire...and perhaps to worship, not a friend! Not to mention if He is All-Knowing, All powerful and Omnipotent why would Jesus even need friends?!

Its just got me thinking...can Jesus really be a friend? It seems either the definition of friendship must be altered and adjusted or my understanding of Jesus does. Perhaps I could be His friend if Jesus was a Spiritual brother...someone who could relate to my humanness and who is an equal to me in the eyes of God.

I'll just have to admit I'm not sure this true friendship thing is even possible...but I really love the idea! It would just be so absolutely cool & perfectly wonderful to have Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One as a friend! Maybe I'll just call on Him & invite Him to hang out & see what happens! ;)

Do you consider Jesus to be a friend of yours?