The Power of the Cross

Music has always been a very big part of my life both in my family life and in my Christian life. I must admit to always having found it very difficult to tell others about my Christianity, not because I'm ashamed of it in any way, but simply because I find it very hard to find the right words that really express the emotion I feel about my faith.

It's probably these reasons that have meant that however I'm feeling I tend to turn to music to express my feelings. Yesterday I'd intended sharing with you one of my favourite Easter songs, but as you will be aware from my blog post yesterday, events at our morning service directed me to "talk" about Zimbabwe instead.

I came across this song a year or two ago, and so far I have found no other song that allows the listener to truly feel the emotion and the importance of the cross where our Lord was crucified - The song is entitled "The Power of the Cross".

So at the end of this Easter period, I'd like to invite you to watch the video of this song which is accompanied by a very powerful presentation. I am sure you'll be moved by the words, music and the pictures, just as I am every time I watch/listen to it.



The Power of the Cross (written by Keith Getty)

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

You can find further details about Keith & Kristyn Getty at there website: http://www.gettymusic.com/

Hallelujah!

"Christ the Lord is risen today,

Hallelujah!"

And so today we celebrate the future. It is because Jesus died on the cross and then rose again, that we are forgiven of all our sins, and can now allow the living Christ to change us into the person He wants us to be.

Today I did not go to my church (Bellshill Salvation Army), I stayed at home. That however has not mean I have not spent time reflecting on what today means to me as a christian.

So what does today mean to me as a christian - My answer...."EVERYTHING!"

Earlier today I watch "The Passion of the Christ" for what I think was the fifth time. This film portrays the last days of Jesus life on earth and despite me having seen this film several times, I am still incredibly moved and inspired by this film. To describe this film as simply moving and inspiring really doesn't do it justice, however I'm afraid I am unable to find the words to express the emotions I felt watching the film...and still feel.

I'm writing this post several hours after watching the film, and am still feeling very emotional. I am very priveliged to have grown up in a christian home and to have experienced te wondrous love of God in my life, but it is still to humbling to know that God loves me and forgives my many sins.


Wherever you have spent your Easter, I pray you have had a day full on many blessings.

Spring Cleaning

I've just spent most of today giving our house a spring clean. I'm tired and exhausted now but I am please with the results...but please don't ask me to do it all again until next Spring!

When I had a break this afternoon from all my cleaning, I got to wondering what the history of spring cleaning is. After all, we don't do a summer clean, autumn clean or winter clean, so why do we spring clean?

To be honest I'd no idea, it's just something my Mum always did when I was wee. It's just something that seems to be ingrained in me that I should spring clean the house.

So I did some investigation:-

In times past, when people kept their houses shut tight against the cold of winter, heated them with coal and oil and wood, and lighted them with candles, the coming of spring signaled a welcome opportunity to make a dingy habitation fresh again. On the first warm, dry day of the season, everybody in the family—that is, everyone in the family who had survived the ravages of the cold season—would pitch in to pull every stick of furniture and scrap of cloth outside. Then, armed with brooms and washrags, one squad of house cleaners would return to the house, sweeping and scrubbing every corner and washing down the walls, while another would air out linens, remove soot and ash from couches and chairs, dust books and paintings, and mend a few items on the run.

These days of course because we all have central heating or electrical or gas fires in our houses there's not the same dingy air inside as there was in past times. That said though, we still go through the winter months keeping our windows and doors closed to keep the heat in, so when spring comes, it's a chance to open up those windows/doors and let some fresh air in and give the house a clean...a spring clean.

Having discovered the roots of why we spring clean, I found myself realising how appropriate it was that we spring clean round about Easter time, as not only is this a great time for cleaning our homes, it also a great time to renew our relationship with God.

Whether you are reaffirming your relationship with God or are just starting on your christian journey, make this Spring the time to not only spring clean your home, but spring clean your relationship with God too!

Happy cleaning!

What Easter Means To Me

This will probably sound daft to non believers, but I've been feeling God has been telling me to start writing a blog, so I can share a bit of my life with the world. Before I alienate many of you, this blog will not just be me informing you of my Christian beliefs and experiences, but will simply be me writing about what I know...me - my thoughts, observations and experiences of life.


So having decides to start this blog, I faced what to me was a difficult decision, what to write about in this very first post! The decision was difficult for me until it came to today, Good Friday, one of the most important days in the christian calendar. This might sound odd, but while I know many say Christmas is the most important time of year to them, I have always found Easter to be more special to me.


"Why?" I hear you ask. Well Christmas is so commericially orientated that many simply know Christmas as a time when they spend days with family, get lots of presents and eat too much and don't ever spare a thought for what Christmas is really about. I realise Easter to is becoming far more commercial these days too, but not nearly to the same extent as Christmas.



For me Easter is all about sacrifice, the sacrifice that Jesus made for each one of us on the cross when he bled and died, just so we can all be forgiven of our sins. Wow, it's impossible to truly understand the pain/agony Jesus suffered when he was crusified. Can you imagine how God felt, giving up his one and only son, just so the world could be forgiven of every sin. I struggle to truely comprehend how this must have felt, but am forever in God's debt because He did allow Christ to die on the cross.


So here we are at another Easter, another time when I feel so inadeqate and so unworthly of God's love, and also so thankful that God's does love me unconditionally and is always by my side guiding me and supporting me through each minute of every day.


What does Easter mean to you? If all you've ever know is 2 days off school or work and Easter eggs, I hope this blog has given you food for thought this Easter.


Easter is all about "The Cross" and the sacrifice God gave for you and for me.