As We Wait In Silence
Yesterday was Friday, but not just any ole Friday. Every year we remember the greatest sacrifice of all time made on the Good Friday before Easter. It is the day that Jesus was beaten and humiliated, completely disgraced and broken for all of our sins. It is the day that He carried His cross, the one that He would be nailed to where His suffering would continue until He died.
For us.
For you.
For me.
Jesus did this ALL for us!
We sat through The Passion of The Christ a few years ago. With tears streaming down our faces, we watched all of it unfold before our eyes on the screen. How we felt could never, ever come close to the way that Mary must have felt seeing her Son treated in this way and ultimately hanging on the cross in agony.
It’s hard, in a way, to understand the greatest sacrifice of all time. It’s hard to grasp how God could allow His son to be beaten and die a horrible death. I know it was to forgive us all from the sins we have committed and to provide a way for us to have eternal life. It is through Jesus that we all can have eternal life if we only believe in Him and ask Him into our hearts. We can be assured of eternal life in Heaven with Jesus, if we only believe!
I do believe. I hope you do, too.
On Friday he suffered and bled. He hung on the cross, crying out in pain. He later died and was placed in a tomb. The stone was placed over the entrance of where His body was placed in the tomb. Everything was silent. I imagine that tears continued to fall as His mother mourned the loss of her precious Son, Jesus.
There was such violence, such humiliation, such distress, and such pain and suffering on Friday.
Then, there was silence on Saturday.
Ah, but Sunday’s coming …
Praise God, Almighty. Sunday’s coming!
God’s Love Revealed In All Things
We have a very special guest on the blog today. Please make Nicole feel welcome as she shares her adventure with us all. Thank you, Nicole, for being a contributing writer for Light Love Hope!
Here is a little bit of information about Nicole:
Hi, I’m Nicole. I enjoy singing, and I enjoy helping people. My dream is to become a professional singer one day. I am a Junior in high school. My best friend’s name is Jackie, (who you heard from earlier in the week). I plan to attend college to major in a therapy program as it is my desire to help as many people as I possibly can in life.
Recently, my family and I took a trip to see some baby goats. I love the old country roads and the scenery along the way. It’s always fun to go on trips with my family.
When we went to the lady’s house to pick up our goats, it was amazing. All of these mama goats and their babies came up to me. They were all so cute.
When I saw my goat, which I named Tony, I knew he was going to be fun to play with. He was so soft and fluffy, kind of like a pillow. He cried when I first picked him up, but then he cuddled with me.
On the way home, Tony snuggled into me and fell asleep on my lap. It was a long ride home, but it wasn’t too bad with Tony by my side.
It took about two days for the goats to get used to their new home. Every morning we go out to see them and to play with them. They just walk up and sit on my lap now.
These baby goats really got me to thinking.
They love me no matter what I look like. They love me just the same no matter what mood I am in, also.
They reminded me of Jesus.
They remind me of how Jesus loves me no matter what I’ve done in the past or will do in the future. Jesus loves me no matter what I look like or how I feel that day.
Just as the baby goats crawl into my lap and snuggle into me, Jesus wants us to crawl into His lap and be surrounded by His unconditional love.
His love will never fail.
Isn’t it amazing how God’s love is revealed in all things … all we have to do is open ourselves to it.
As You Reach Your Destination
My family and I set out recently on a trip to look at a horse that was for sale. It was in another town that we hadn’t been to before, and so we quickly punched the address into our GPS so we could get on our way. The only problem is that my husband hates that thing with a passion. He will fuss and cuss at “her” (the voice of the GPS) the entire way to our destination. It is a constant struggle any time we go on a trip. It would easily zap the fun completely out of the trip if I allowed it to do so. However, I try to encourage my husband and ask him kindly not to say bad things! To me, it is an adventure! I like going where I’ve never gone before. I like looking at all the new things along the way. Why he can’t just enjoy the ride is beyond me, but I am reminded that we are two completely different individuals. He definitely likes to be in control, but the funny thing to me is that if he doesn’t know where he’s going, he is anything but “in control.”
As I have pondered this since our last trip, I couldn’t help but think of how God points us in the direction that He wants us to go. How many times do we ask for His help and His guidance? And how many times do we fight it the entire way when He lays the path before us that He wants us to take?
Are you like my husband? Do you fight every twist and turn? Do you mumble, grumble, fuss, and complain about every thing that God wants you to do? Remember now, you did seek Him first before you set out on your journey. You asked Him for direction, and He has given it to you.
It is definitely something to think about, now isn’t it?
For me, I enter the address into the GPS and trust that it will take me to my destination. No matter how many times it takes me places that I don’t understand, it does eventually get me there safe and sound. Until I reach my destination, though, I try to relax and enjoy the scenery along the way. Likewise, I trust God and cling to the following verse:
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,“ says the Lord, “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
I want to encourage you on your path. Your journey will look different than that of my own. God has plans for each of us. They may look like we’re setting out side by side initially, but God may send your life in a different direction than He sends mine. That is fine, as long as it is HIS plan.
I encourage you to pray and ask God what direction He wants you to take in your life. Where does He want you to go? What does He want you to do?
After you’ve prayed and have heard God speak, trust Him to get you safely to your destination. Surrender to Him and allow Him to guide you along your journey, your path, your walk of life. He will not lead you astray.
There may be times you’re walking in the deepest valley, and there may be other times that you’re on the highest mountain. Trust that He knows best. Have faith in His abilities to deliver you to your destination in life exactly when you’re supposed to arrive.
Trust Him as you reach your destination!
Join Holley Gerth and other writers like myself every Wednesday as we link up to spread encouragement all over the internet!
