Where Will This Journey Lead?

Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side
And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
By the power of Your love

Words. 

Ancient. 

New. 

Timely. 

Perfect. 

Words that penetrate the heart. 

Reaching deep into the aching hole. 

We can be refreshed and filled; even when we're hurting. 

I never knew I could know such peace. 

I never knew the intimacy I would feel with Christ when 
so much had been torn from me. 

I let the words wash over me as we sing. 
I hold this moment close.
I want to burn this message deep within. 
Hope. 
Beyond anything I could ever ask or imagine. 
When the world seems dark and empty. 
There is light. 
When I feel I can barely breathe another agonizing breath. 
There is hope. 

That at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and tongue confess. 
Jesus has brought me to this. 
He will bring me through it. 


There is strength in the name of the Lord
There is power in the name of the Lord
There is hope in the name of the Lord
Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord

Read more: Sandi Patty - In The Name Of The Lord Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

With each step, I feel the strength God is pouring forth. 
He takes our brokenness and creates beauty. 
He reaches in and smooths the harsh edges. 

I still don't know where God is leading. 
I sometimes feel abandoned and alone. 
Fearful of what the future holds 
Fearful of life without Elijah. 
Fearful the cancer has returned. 

When I stand up close to God and allow Him to wash over me.
Those fears flee. 
God is able to do the work He longs to do. 

We are headed to the cross today. 
A day of intense emotion. 
A week that began with elation and praise as Jesus entered Jerusalem. 

Now ends with humiliation, death and grief. 

But that is not the end of the story. 

God was still writing. 

He wasn't done yet. 

We have to stay in the game to see the ending. 

Just when you think it was over. 
Death had the victory. 
What seemed impossible came to pass. 

The real ending came. 
Death was overcome. 
The stone was rolled away!
Death could not hold the Savior of the world. 
He rose from the agony of death. 

HE DEFEATED THE ENEMY.  

This Jesus, who today is mocked and ridiculed. 
Believers beheaded, this day, because of their faith in this Jesus. 
This Jesus is coming back friends. 
He is coming to take you and me -
To heaven; forever. 
The promise; fulfilled. 
There will be no more tears, no more pain.
Our anguish and grief will be no more. 


I want to stay in the game. 
I long to see how the rough spots will be smoothed. 
How God will do His work. 

On this Good Friday. 
While we hang in the balance. 
Waiting.
I will look to the cross. 


I am ready.
I am waiting. 

The Hope In Good Friday

It is Good Friday. 

The day we remember. 

The life that was given. 

The day He gave all, so we may live. 

Ann Voskamp in her way says so much. 

Click on the link to read her words of hope. 

When You're Tired of Feeling Torn.  

Ann Voskamp

Last year we were remembering a dear saint in the faith. 

One whose home going I still wrestle with. 

A man of such unwavering faith. 

So giving. 

Such an encouragement to us in our raw grief. 

Such a help to my hurting heart. 

It's been a year of digging deep. 

Not finding even ground yet.

A year trying to understand. 

Today we lean into Jesus' walk to Glory. 

His purposeful steps to the Cross. 

One step in front of the other. . .

To eternity. 

For you and for me. 

Oh, what love. 

Such intensity, I can hardly bear. 

It was my sin that held him there. 

Until it was accomplished. 

His dying breath has brought me life. 

I know that it is finished. 

 -How Deep The Father's Love For Us

And so we wait. 

For Heaven to Proclaim the Glory. 

For the celebration. 

Because the tomb could NOT hold Him!

Selah

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond our measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away. . . 

As wounds that mar the chosen One

Bring Many Sons to Glory!

A Walk He Chose To Take

We celebrated his life. 

This man who was larger than life.
Who bent his knee to the Creator to be changed. 

Who took my broken heart into his hands and gently poured in grace. 

He taught me to receive. 

 His life; love in action. 

His sons talked of his faith. 

His love for words. 

And I know he loved coffee.
 He would show up at my door with his mug.
I loved that. 

He was a kindred spirit. 

As I sat in the back of the church I reflected on how almost 9 months ago
I sat in the front row remembering my son.
 Celebrating his brief life here on this earth.

 The life he was meant to live.
 No less. No more.
Part of the plan known only to King of Kings.

Today we will walk step by step towards the cross.

Each stop intentionally listening to the words spoken by Jesus. 

Our feeble attempt to "join" in his suffering. 

It is Good Friday.
The day on which all of creation hangs in balance.
Our Father turns his face from the filth of our beings.
He watched as his son bore the sin and shame meant for us.
Willingly Jesus moved to His death.
With each step He moved closer.
He at any time could have called 10,000 angels.
But He didn't.
He hung on the Cross over 2,000 years ago so that we might reign with him.
It is a debt I can never repay.
It is out of love and obedience that I serve Him.
Even when I don't understand Him.

As we wait and contemplate the cross.
I am reminded of a sermon.
It is one my boys repeated, over and over.
It is full of hope.
I encourage you to take some time to listen.
In the words of EV Hill.
It's Friday. . .And Sunday's comin'.

Are you ready? 
I can't wait.