Bearing Your Cross

By Pat

"Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull." (John 19:16, 17)

This is the time of year referred to by Christians as Holy Week. It is a reflection of the week leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus, a very somber time for Christians as we think about our Lord walking the loneliest walk He would ever have, and carrying his own cross to where He knew he would suffer a horrible death. I can't begin to imagine the terror and dread He must have felt. And yet, He continued on with dignity, courage and strength. He obeyed His Father. He knew that if He trusted in God, no matter what, God would not let Him down and would provide the necessary tools to bear the burden, and that He would be rewarded for His faith.

What cross are you carrying? Do you carry the weight of financial difficulties? Is your cross physical ailments? Perhaps you carry the cross of family discord or difficulties with children, or maybe you carry a combination of more than one of these things. Do you bear your cross with the obedience and faith of Jesus? Do you trust in God to walk your lonely paths with you?

No matter what you're carrying, you're not alone. Jesus has walked that road, carried His cross, and knows better than anyone what you're going through. He will help you carry your cross, and if you keep your eyes on Him, you will be victorious, whatever the outcome may be. This life is temporary, and we were not promised a trouble-free journey. The only thing that matters is maintaining your faith, following through, trusting God, giving Him the glory, and focusing on eternal life with Him, courtesy of the greatest gift we will ever receive-our crucified and risen Lord Jesus.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." (Mark 16:6)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Jellybeans With Purpose

By MAD21

He is risen!

We pray that everyone had a wonderful Easter! Our family had an amazing weekend celebrating one of our favorite holidays. We love the opportunity to come together as a community and remember what Christ sacrificed for us, and celebrate him defying all human understanding by rising from the darkness of death.

Our girls are old enough that they are now seeking to understand what this holiday means (as much as they can at six and almost four). They are beginning to realize that this day is about more than Easter dresses, egg hunts, and baskets full of goodies. We can still have fun with all of that, but now they are assigning meaning to things.

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Don't Season Your Hopes Yet!

By Pat

It was over. Jesus was crucified. Dead. It was witnessed by many, so it couldn't be denied. Their lord, their hope, was gone. What a sad day it was for those who loved Jesus. His body was removed from the cross on which it hung, and it was given to Joseph of Arimathea so that it could be put in it's final resting place. The tomb. And in accordance with Jewish custom, Joseph and Nicodemus proceeded to wrap, along with myrrh and aloe, with burial linens. This was a form of preparing the body for burial, a "seasoning" ritual. They then placed the body of their beloved Lord in the tomb, where he would stay forever. Or so they thought...

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