My soul ached with an emptiness I couldn't describe.

The ladies hurried in and started removing items one by one. The lights were dim in the room that brought a quiet solitude. Everyone was reverently sitting and watching. One by one the candles disappeared, the flowers were next, then the cross that was centered on the veiled stone altar. In only a few minutes, nothing was left but the stark reality of masonry. As the decorations were being stripped from their normal resting place, it was in that moment I realized I needed Jesus.

I grew up in a Christian home. In fact, my parents were Christians and did their best to raise me in the church. Every time the church doors were open, we were there. Not on the front row but our family definitely had a pew that was ours. I grew up knowing the stories and the wonders of Jesus and that he died for the sins of the world. I knew that. I had been to Sunday School and had heard many sermons on that subject. Yes, I was a Christian. So I thought. Once married I went with my husband to church membership classes. I knew our church religious practices very well.

After we had kids, I also knew the importance of training them up in the way they should go. It was important to me to have a Christian home, just like I was raised in. Little did I know, though, that I was running in the opposite direction, away from God. It looked like I had it all together and knew all the right answers, but that was not the case. In reality, I didn't have a personal relationship with Christ. I only knew of Him. I had studied Him and acknowledged His existence, but there was a huge chasm of difference between my head and my heart.

My soul ached with an emptiness I couldn't describe. I sat alone in the cold, dark reality of my solitude.  

In that quiet and holy moment, it seems that I was the only one in the pew. God bent down and touched my soul in a way that I knew I needed a Savior. Heaven opened up and grace came down.  I suddenly felt God chip away at that hardened surface as it if were a block of ice readied for a masterpiece. 

Whispers to my heart..."I sent my Son for you, He died for you. That's how much I love you. And yes, even if you were the only one on this entire planet. I did that ....just for you." 

There were no trumpets blaring, no special lyrics, no confetti, party horns, no balloons, no compelling preacher, just Jesus bending down. 

It was if my eyes were opened as they filled with tears. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I needed to change.  I confessed my wrong ways, bad habits and behaviors. As I was praying, I accepted Jesus' love and forgiveness in my heart. After that, I was different.

My experience was a turning point in my walk faith. I came away from that service different and filled with love and joy. I had made the decision to let Jesus be my Lord and Savior. Now if I die before I wake, I know that I will be at the feet of Jesus. 

I am that sure. 

I turned away and I removed all things that were getting in the way of me living a life of faith. Those bad habits stopped. I filled my mind and heart with the things of God. I now live to please God instead of myself desires.  That was 25 years ago and I can remember it was like yesterday. I thought I was a Christian, but I really wasn't. I was only riding on the shirt tales of my parent's faith. 

Find out for yourself what you believe and why. Right now, ask yourself, if you died tonight, do you know without a shadow of a doubt....that you would see Jesus? If not, stop reading right now, and ask Jesus into your heart. It's that important. 

Ephesians 2:8 - 9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast."

Admit you need forgiveness.

Confess the things you know are wrong.

Believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins.

Receive His all encompassing forgiveness.

God's grace is a gift. You can't earn it nor can you get it by osmosis. Even if you have been in church all your life, and think you are a good person, you have to actively accept Christ's death on the cross as payment for your sins. Your guilt has been taken care of...because of His Love for you. Yes you ....as if you were the only one on the face of the planet. This is grace, this is love, this is forgiveness, Jesus is the only way to God. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one gets to the Father except through Jesus.

You have to choose to accept Christ's death on the cross as payment for your sins. The Gospel changes everything.   It's grace, it's love, it's forgiveness, and grace changes lives. Jesus bridges the gaps between heads and hearts, sins and righteousness, life and death. 

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Don't let another Easter pass without experiencing the cross and receiving love and forgiveness that God has for you.

Sometimes your spirit feels like this...

Photo credit:  Kate Fugate

dry.

parched.

empty.

wrecked.

stirred.

bare.

barren.

wanting.

longing.

hollow.

voided.

I would guess this is the right time for my heart to go Africa.

Lord do your work in me.

I leave today for a couple of weeks to Africa and each time I set foot on foreign

soil, I go with God.

And God goes with me.

There's no other place I rather be than in His right place at His right time.  Every time and 

with every trip, I come back with more than I thought I could.  

To be honest, I am still processing thoughts from my Africa trip two years ago.  

So many poignant moments with God.  

Memories to cherish and memories that change me.  Moments that have impassioned my 

heart towards the tender things of God.

So when the opportunities come to be changed I want to be as empty as possible so that I 

can embrace the One who does the changing.

Let heart your feel like the picture above, let God inspire you.

Lord quicken your work in me.  

Some reasons to get out of bed today

If you are like me you are running on empty most days, and your to-do list just keeps growing and growing.  Most days are overwhelming with a cumulative list of tasks.

Ever get to the point of thinking twice about getting out of bed?  The doorway to depression is often calling your name, beckoning your heart to just succumb to the pressure of giving up.   

Do you see the usher of self-pity waving you in?  

At this point, it's tempting to just pull the covers over your head, and escape to sweet sleep.  That's really all you need is more rest, right?  More restful sleep?  More escape from your problems, more vacations from your thoughts?  More peace in your life?

I have found a good reason to pull back the covers of your heart, and let your feet hit the floor.  There are some good reasons to get out of bed today.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15  "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and there for all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer love for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

Are you a Christian and reading this right now?  Have you accepted Christ's love into your heart and know you are going to Heaven when you say goodbye?  Then YOU have every reason to get out of bed today.

Let your feet hit the floor shod with God's love.

Christ's love compels, controls.
Christ's love reconciles.
Christ's love forgives, tolerates.
Christ's love convinces and changes.
Christ's love moves and acts, infiltrates and penetrates.

His love draws us in and revives, brings.
His love makes right our hearts and sets us apart.
His love sanctifies and makes us clean.
His love gives and receives, remakes.
His love claims and keeps.

Christ's love secures and seals our hearts for eternity.
Christ's love grips and holds.
His love fastens and locks.
His love heals and abides.
His love convinces and argues.

Christ's love settles and summarizes.
Christ's love victors and champions.
His love has overcome my sin, and those battles that wage war within.
His love completes and finishes.
His love is unconditional and eternal.

His love is endless and measureless.
It's greater and most significant.
It's compelling and controlling.
His love moves my feet, moves my heart.
His love is all.

When I list Christ's love...so completely (and I just barely covered the surface) it gives me purpose.  It gives me a reason to get out of bed.

Don't you want to share this?  The One and Only True Love?   Christ died for you.  Christ died for your sharing.  Christ's love is worth sharing.

Let me tell you...you have to get out of bed to share it.  Love doesn't speak well all covered up.