It's all about the cross

Why do we teach Sunday School?  Why do we go to church?  Why do we live a life different than our neighbors?  Why am I taking my kids to Japan? Why am I starting over with nothing?   

Why?  It's all about the cross!!

It's not really what we want . . . .  It's what does God want from me. 
God wants our heart, our life, us.  God wants me.  God wants to use this sinner to accomplish great and mighty things for Him. 

Romans 3:10  As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. (KJV)

I am not perfect, but I am willing.  Willing to go, willing to give, and willing to love.  Are you?  Are you willing to go across the street to your neighbor? Down the hall even?  Are you willing to give of your time (prayer), your money or even your family?  Are you willing to love the unlovely? the unimportant?  the unwanted? the other people not like you?   
Remember, it's about the cross.

God didn't enjoy the cross - no he endured the cross.

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are  compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run the race with patience the race that is set before us.  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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (KJV)

He endured the cross for you,  your co-worker, your neighbor, your family, for me. 


Take up the cross and show the world you belong to Him.

Mark 8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. (KJV)

 It's not easy to pick up your cross everyday and follow Him. It's not always easy to be the one who stands out because of the way I dress, the way I talk, the way I act. 
It's says "take up his cross and follow me."  Are you following Him?  Don't walk too fast.  Don't get ahead of God.  Don't say, "I can do this all by myself." Don't rush God. But don't walk too slow, either.  Don't stay around in sin. Follow Him.  Follow His leading, His direction. 

It's about the cross . . .  it always has been about the cross.  From the manger to now. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyR0lwO-nXc

Enjoy

God bless America

On Monday, October 3, we had the chance to visit Washington DC. 

My kids made fun of me because I cried.  I grew up in a very patriotic home.  My Dad is a Vietnam Veteran.  My mom works for the Veterans Affairs Medical Clinic.  We have always been "Proud to be an American".  After September 11, 2001, I became more patriotic if possible.  It was at that time that I fully understood that freedom is not free.  As we rode the Metro into the heart of DC, I began to think about all the history I was about to see.  I began to think about all of the men and woman who gave up their family so I could be free.  I thought about the laws we have, both good and bad.  I thought about all the men who came across the ocean to start a new life here.  As I thought about this I began to pray . . .  Pray for our country, our leaders and our service men and woman and our President.  When we stepped off the Metro and headed up the stairs to the Mall, I was shocked at the beauty i saw and pride I felt.  I looked to my left and there was the Washington Monument and to my right was the Capital Building.  I wanted to burst out in song

"God bless America, land that I love. 

Stand beside her and guild her

with the light from above . . . ." 

The Capital Building

 The Washington Monument

Noah, Eli, Rachal, Jonah

(it was raining and cold, we were freezing)

 The White House

 Lincoln Memorial

 Looking at all the names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall

Jonah and Eli in front of the first airplane made by the Write Brothers.

Psalm 33:12

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord . . .