Wow, what was that thought I had this morning? It went something like this 'oh no, another Good Friday - boring...'. Woahhhhh! Hold on a minute there. Lord, I am SO sorry! As we reflect on the cross and what Jesus has done for us this year, let us not become bored and ritualistic - another hot cross bun, another church service, once more singing 'He has risen'. After so many years of being a Christian (and I am just being honest here) there can be the tendency to become dispondant and forget about the real reason for Easter!
Guys! This weekend let's remember Jesus' sacrifice, the tearing of the curtain, the direct access we now have to God, freedom from sin, forgiveness, hope, life, all of the rubbish and hurt and pain I have ever caused and also received being forgiven and taken away, being healed by His wounds... this is not light-hearted stuff!
Thank you Jesus!
To finish this blog I would like to share a poem I wrote in 2002 which reflects on Jesus' death and the apathy we sometimes have...
'Today I woke up Lord and I didn't want to make an effort, I didn't want to be a Christian today. I woke up and thought I'd just leave it all behind. I thought I'd just live this life and not think of You. Today I woke up Lord and I didn't want to pray. I turned my back and denied all knowledge of You. I didn't feel like praising You, despite what You have done for me. I didn't have that passion and I wasn;t really bothered. I woke up and I thought that there was no point trying. And today I thought I'd leave the sick, homeless and hungry. I'll watch the world disasters and societies decline. I couldn't be bothered today Lord.
Today I woke up Lord and You stood there watching me just as You had been all through the night, and the lifetime before. Today I woke up and I saw Your eyes filled with love for me. I saw tears trickle down Your cheek as I looked away. I felt Your arms hold me and saw You grip me tight. Lord I saw the excitement in Your face as You continued preparing my place in heaven; watched You polish my crown which had grown tarnished. I saw You as I see You every day working flat out drawing plans for my life accurately making everything come together. Today Lord I saw You give me what I had asked for, heard You sing a song of love You wrote for me. I sneaked a look at You; I watched You as You carefully wrapped hundreds of gifts each labelled with my name, gifts You long to give to me. I also saw You sweeping aside the junk I'd placed before You. You cleared it like it didn't matter; didn't bother You how much I'd hurt You. Yes, You turned a blind eye to that and continued to look at me in love. I know this morning Lord, You couldn't find me because I had run away. I tried to hide from You yet You looked and looked until Your feet were shredded and blistered from the many miles You'd run trying to find me. And today I witnessed this: You hung Your own Son on a tree instead of me to take my punishment. With nails piercing His hands and feet You stood back and watched. And I jeered and celebrated and spat in Your face. But I saw You sacrifice Your only one child so that I could walk freely across the bridge which led to You. You watched as I hammered nails into His perfect skin; skin that contained no wrong. I forgot that that cross had my name on. Today Lord You watched me as I turned my back and walked away.
I can't be bothered today Lord.'
Have a GOOD Good Friday! xxx
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