Focus toward Good Friday

As you have read from my last couple of blogs, thoughts of NEW have weighed heavy on my mind and in my spirit.  It is possible that you will continue to read more on this subject, because that's where The Lord has me right now.  I had the wonderful opportunity to speak this past weekend to our past Restore Retreat participants at a reunion that Kathy and I hosted.  My talk was entitled A New Day and with spring in the air, it seemed quite appropriate.  I will save the details of that evening for another time for I do not believe it is the right timing to share that in this blog.  God has a different plan.

I am sitting here, praying over what to convey to you.  I have struggled all week knowing that it is my turn to write.  I have promised the Lord that if He doesn't give me a word, that I will not write from the flesh.  

This is the week leading up to Good Friday and Resurrection Day!  I remember one of my Jewish piano students once asking me, "What's so good about Good Friday? Isn't that when Jesus died?"  What a wonderful opportunity The Lord gave me that day to share the good news of His resurrection and salvation plan!  

Jesus was creating something new...

He was creating freedom from the Law.  There was no more need to sacrifice animals to make atonement for our sin, for He was creating a new form of payment, with His own perfect blood.  He was creating a new open passage directly to the throne room of God as the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom.  He was creating a new life for those who believe and put their trust in Him.  
I'm sure the list could go on forever.  

During the writing of this blog, I received a text from a friend asking me if I was watching the Passion of Christ.  Sadly, I had to tell her no because I'm on a deadline.  Then my little brain began to do some wandering!  Hmmm...I wonder if there is a YouTube or something that I could add to my blog to help everyone focus on this special week leading up to Good Friday?  It was then that I found this video on my very first search!  It is considered the best scene in the movie, The Passion of the Christ.  I'm sure it has been rated the BEST because of the cinematography, but after watching this 2 minute and 15 second clip, I think it is the best because of the closing words of this scene.  If you have never seen this movie, I need to warn you that it is very graphic and quite difficult to watch; however, the producer did a fabulous job portraying only a fraction of what Christ actually went through!  If you are unable to view the video below, I have added a link.  You can click the link and it will take you directly to the YouTube video.

Click here to watch the video clip if the above doesn't work for you   https://youtu.be/ylO_Vp7aReQ
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"I make all things new."  

Do you believe that?  Perhaps we know it in our head, but does our heart really believe...that it is a personal promise?

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation! 2 Corinthians 5:17

I have been created anew the day I trusted Christ and turned my life over to Him.  It is my spiritual birthday month!  He continues to refine me.  I fail Him again and again, yet He continues to love me and pursue me.  He whispers in my ear, "It's a new day...my mercy is new every morning...I am faithful to complete in you what I began.  It is for you that I gave my life because I hold you dear to my heart.  Trust that I can and have washed away all your guilty stains and make you white as snow.  You are my beloved.

This week, I encourage you to focus your days on the cross.  Read the story again and again.  This is the greatest love of all.  And each day that you feel like you fall a little short, slide a little bit further, or get frustrated that you don't measure up, remember His sacrifice.  His love.  His agony.  His obedience to the Father.  Remember His power, that great resurrection power, available to us because we are joint heirs, His children, His beloved.  Let Him whisper in your ear, "Today is a new day...my mercy is new every morning...I am faithful to complete in you what I began!"

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