Running

"Its so easy to run FROM God, but so hard to run TO God. I'm going to pray that God gives you that last bit of courage and passion to draw you right to the place where He wants you."

 I wrote these words to a friend tonight and God struck a cord in my heart.  "What are you running from child?  Why must you take the easy way when I've called you into the difficult?"

Talk about knock my breath away for a second!  I would never call my life easy, but what does God see that I don't?  Am I making decisions in life because they are easy or because they are what God wants me to do?  At the moment, I can't answer that question with a definitive answer.  

Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV)  says this...

⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. coming in the likeness of men.

This scripture was the first one I saw today and it was the one I needed.  Jesus was God in the flesh.  He knew all and was (and is) all powerful.   Jesus could have done anything He wanted while in the fleshly body.  Yet He chose to take the difficult path.  He chose to become a servant to man. And He chose to be obedient to the point of death on the cross.  It wasn't easy for Jesus to give up His will and lay it all down for us.  None of the suffering Jesus endured was easy or okay for him, yet He went through it anyway.

When I think of the suffering I've experienced, I should remember the suffering that Christ chose to go through for me.  It's honestly often hard for me to think that Jesus knew the kind of suffering I've experienced.  How did he know the emptiness of my arms?  How did he know what it's like to have a child die inside his body?  But when I really think about it, Jesus chose to live a life alone, without a helpmate, without a wife.  Jesus never knew the joy of holding his own flesh and blood in his arms.  I know the Bible doesn't mention his thoughts on this, but I do imagine that being human he felt the absence of that special family bond.  I know that He knew all our pains and I believe that He knows mine too.  When Jesus went to pray in the garden of Gethsemane, He prayed so hard that His sweat became as blood.  Can you imagine someone praying that hard for you?  To know that He was praying for the coming days and all of us is more than I can even comprehend.  It's no wonder that His whole body was affected.  While He was suffering being beaten, carrying that cross, and finally dying, I was on His mind.  All the pain and shame I've been through was on His mind.  My Jesus ran straight into the difficult and the impossible, not because He wanted to, but because He knew we needed Him to.  He not only became our salvation, but He showed the Way.

*taking a moment to let that sink in*

Lord,

  Examine my heart and mind.  Show me the Way....the way of Your plan, the way of my specific path.  Help me to run to You, God.  I'm much too weak and weary from this journey.  I feel my strength is almost gone. Be the strength and the courage I need.  Help me to put the easy way out of my mind. Give my heart the urgency I once had.  Return to me Lord the complete joy of my salvation.  I desire to see You vividly again. Forgive me for running in any direction other than You.  Thank you Lord for never leaving my side and awakening my spirit.  

In Jesus Name....AMEN

For anyone reading this, be blessed today and know that you have the power to choose which direction you'll run.  

~*Melody*~

Reflection and Praise

This Easter weekend means so much to us as Christians, yet we often forget to stop and truely thank Jesus for the sacrifices He made for us on the cross. I'm guilty of forgetting to stop and thank Him. But tonight I want to stop for a moment and give Him glory.

It's such an often occasion that I find myself lost in my thoughts about my life. I think of the sacrifices I've given. I think of the losses I've experienced. I think of the unanswered questions and the uncertainties that face me everyday. But how many times have I truely thought about the sacrifices or the losses that Jesus endured? How many times have I thanked Him for not calling every angel down from heaven to help Him off that cross? How often have I thought about what God went through having to turn His back on His Son that day?

In all fairness, I don't think the human mind can fully grasp everything that Jesus did for us that day. But I believe that God allows us to have enough understanding so that we may be thankful and forever grateful.

Abba, my heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus to this Earth to be my Perfect Lamb, the Perfect Sacrifice for my sins. You paid the ultimate price all because You loved me and wanted me to join You in heaven someday. I know that I have failed to recongnize Your sacrifices so many times. Please forgive me for only thinking of myself at times. Help me to lift my eyes up to the Maker of heaven and Earth.

Jesus, my Savior and Lord, thank you for allowing yourself to be nailed to a tree and suffer a horrible death all for my sake. Thank you for always being about Your Father's business. I ask that You help me to do the same. I can't imagine what You must have felt that day hanging on that cross, but I take time today to be thankful for Your personal sacrifices. You died at such a young age and I'm sure that was not only hard on your family but also You. Please help me to see that I can do great things for You in the limited time I have here on this Earth. Praise Your Name Jesus and I Bless Your Name ! I'm so thankful that You rose again on that third day and are alive forevermore. May You radiate through my life each and every day.

In Jesus Name I Pray,
AMEN

~*Melody*~