Three weeks before Easter week, and we have snow on the ground. A few recent snowfalls have covered our dry, brown grass and yard again. And in just a few more weeks, signs of green and fresh buds will begin to appear.
In the midst of the busyness of life that always occupies our minds, I am making a conscious effort to prepare my heart for the deep meaning of Easter. Instead of a "giving up" for Lent, I have been trying to focus on a "putting on". Putting on a fresh focus of keeping my heart in tune with God's thoughts each day. Always a priority, but so often this heart of mine turns to tasks, and even to worry ... and I am wanting to focus more throughout the day on our Source of Love, our Strength-Giver, and Burden-Bearer.
This past week, I have come across these words ... so amazing. A perfect picture of what we celebrate at Easter time, and all throughout the year ...
"For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
and through Him God reconciled
everything to Himself.
He made peace with everything in
heaven and on earth
by means of Christ's blood
on the cross.
This includes you who were once far away from God.
You were His enemies,
separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions.
Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself
through the death of Christ in His physical body.
As a result, He has brought you
into His own presence,
and you are holy and blameless
as you stand before Him
without a single fault.
without a single fault.
(Colossians 1:19-22)
So much to think on ... and so incredible. And why we celebrate ... because of Jesus, God has made a way for us to come into His Presence, to have close, intimate connection with Him, our Creator. And we, with all our faults and our sin, can stand before Him holy and blameless, without a single fault.
He sees me as beautiful, holy, blameless, without a single fault. All this, so amazing ... from Love Himself ... why we celebrate. For this messed-up, perfection-seeking, sometimes listener to lies ... this is good news. Through Jesus, and because of Jesus ... I can come into God's Presence, holy and blameless, without fault.
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| Beautiful snowfall yesterday ... melted by the end of the day, and green grass is starting to appear this week! |
We are suppose to get a snow storm tomorrow night here in NY,
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing isn't it?
How amazing that we stand before God holy and blameless. Praise be to God for our Savior who made us right with God.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been adding this Lent season too – instead of giving up. Each way is a sacrifice. No? It is amazing isn’t it – we are all imperfect – maybe pretty good when we compare to other people – but when compared to God’s perfection – horrible. And he does see us – as you wrote, “beautiful, holy, blameless, without a single fault.” That – well that’s impossible – but with God…
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this. Thank you.
God Bless and keep you and your family