BF2013: Believe...

I believe in God: in His magnificance, omnipotence and omnipresence. In His genuine, unchanging and complete love for me.

I believe in Jesus as my Saviour: that He died for my sins and rose from the dead so that I can have eternal life.

I believe in the Holy Spirit: of the indwelling of the Spirit within me to guide me and keep my paths straight.

I believe in the Cross: that on the two slabs of wood on which my Saviour bled and died for me, my salvation was assured.

I believe in the Bible: the Living Word, the guide to steer me through life on this earth, the lessons learnt and the words of comfort received from within its pages.

"I believe there is more than believing. There is living what I believe." - Ann Voskamp

PS: Post inspired by receiving the "Believe" plaque in the photo above as a gift today, and by Ann Voskamp's "What I Believe" on her Holy Experience web-site.

Carrying the Cross...

Today I watched "The Cross: The Arthur Blessitt Story". I'd never heard of Arthur Blessitt or his incredible story until my mother shared it with me earlier this week after hearing about him at her church. She was moved ... deeply. She asked if I could buy the DVD for her, and also for my uncle who is celebrating his birthday next week.

I'm thankful now for being able to not only learn about Mr Blessitt's story but to also see part of his travels. If you can, please get hold of this DVD and watch it. Such a humble man with a powerful message -

JESUS!

While watching the DVD a few quotes from Mr Blessitt caught my ear that I thought I'd share:

"The most important thing God will ever tell you to do is the next thing. Just the next thing!"

"It's the weight of what I feel the cross is inside is heavier than the wood I bear."

"My unworthiness does not disqualify me from the call of God."

"The cross is good news!"

"If there is any glory it is [for] God, not me."

Mr Blessitt's journey and his message is a powerful one. Just imagine carrying a 12 foot across every - yes, EVERY - nation in the world sharing the message of Jesus. Nevermind the royal wedding reaching every nation for a few hours on TV last night, this is ONE MAN doing this for Jesus!

The DVD shows footage of Mr Blessitt's journey and also of Mr Blessitt in the current day talking about his experiences, lessons, and what Jesus taught him on the journey. His official web-site has a link where you can read and see Cross walk stories and photos.

It's an amazing story and Mr Blessitt is an amazing man. He gives a new meaning of carrying the cross.

"One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up." - Luke 18:1 NLT



PS - Pop over to A Scarlet Rope of Hope for a book review of an excellent resource for depression in women.

For Me...

I am feeling rather tired tonight. Actually, I've felt tired all week. From a beeping smoke detector battery in the middle of the night to a frightened child after a dream at 4am. I work full-time and then come home and run a house and take care of a 5 year old child. I do this day in and day out and it gets a bit tiresome.

But ...and this is a BIG BUT ... tonight as I was nearing the end of my chores, with pain shooting through both my legs and my head starting to ache, I was reminded that Jesus endured more.

He endured untold pain and suffering and death on a cross ... FOR ME.

Much more than working a full day to come home to deal with a child and household duties. I flinched after I had that thought tonight.

He was whipped, beaten, bashed, scourged, ridiculed and spat on ... FOR ME.

The worse that happens to me during the day might be a rude checkout clerk. Or another driver that won't let me in when in traffic.

He hung on a wooden cross with a crown of thorns sticking into His brow and with nails through His hands and feet ... FOR ME.

I watch "The Passion of the Christ" on a regular basis just to remind myself of the 'realness' of what Jesus went through. Some may call me crazy; I'm not. It's my 'wake up call' movie.

It reminds me of Jesus' humble nature, of the sacrifice that He made, of the culmination of God's ultimate plan to save, of what Jesus did ... FOR ME.

"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" - Philippians 2:8 (NIV)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to earth to be a living example of how we are to live our lives. I pray that I too can live a humbled and obedient existence, just as Jesus did ... FOR ME. In His Precious Name, Amen

Sunday's Coming...

On the eve of Good Friday here in Australia, I want to share this video that was sent in a Tangle email today. Over this Easter weekend folk will spend time with family, go away on holiday, enjoy sumptuous meals and even over-indulge in other areas; me however, I will delight in time spent with my Lord and Saviour, enjoy the gift of my daughter and eagerly anticipate growth as God's Girl. And why? Because of Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice for me and for us.

"The story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion is one of betrayal, brutality, despair, and pain. Yet we know even before His death that redemption was promised to be coming soon. We know that the story does not end at the cross. We know what many did not realize -- that Sunday's comin'." - Igniter Media Group