Tag Archives: Jesus The Redeemer

A PRAYER FOR EASTER

April 4, 2021 9:38 pm , 2 Comments , Live Abundantly Now

Resurrection Sunday is a beautiful time to reflect on all that we have been given through the cross. Christ died so that we can spend eternity with Him. He paid the price in full for every sin.

We are called to live righteously in this world, but we are free to live in God’s amazing grace throughout our lives. In the midst of our struggles and battles, it is Christ alone that enables us to live a righteous life.

Because of the cross, we no longer need to feel shame or guilt when we mess up. We no longer need to fight a battle that’s already been won by Jesus. When we stumble, we can simply stand up and ask God to help us begin again. If righteousness could be gained in our own strength, then Christ died for nothing.

Galatians 2:20-21 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died needlessly.”

May you live every day with a keen awareness of Christ’s love for you and know that your REDEEMER lives.

LORD,

There are no sufficient words to thank You for Your gift to mankind. Your love is like no other love. You catch our tears when we’re sad. You heal our hearts when we’re broken. You fill us with an unfathomable peace and wipe away every single tear. You fill us with Your righteousness and graciously help us when we stumble. You fill us with confidence and courage to follow our dreams. You give us real joy and heavenly treasures. You make life beautiful with Your presence. Let us never stop proclaiming Your goodness to the world. We love You, our beloved Christ. Amen.

Posted in: Holidays, Prayers , Tagged: Christ's Resurrection, Easter, Jesus the Redeemer

Five Minute Friday: Mercy

September 13, 2013 4:19 pm , 6 Comments , Live Abundantly Now

On a hot summer day, a week after my thirteenth birthday, I walked into my kitchen and saw my mother weeping. Her Bible was laying open on the table next to her, and in her eyes, I saw brokenness. I could feel the weight in the room. The air was thick with pain. I knew something really bad was happening. Suddenly, it felt as though my world was turned upside down.

My father asked my brother and me to take a ride with him in his car. Within moments of our driving away from our home, Daddy told us, “I’m leaving. I don’t love your mother anymore.” I was in shock. It wasn’t long before the pain began to rise to the surface of my heart.

My mother, who was and still is deeply in love with Christ, displayed His mercy in a way I had never seen before. In the days, and weeks following our devastating news, I watched closely as my mom responded with love and kindness. She spoke loving words about my daddy, saying, “We need to forgive him and pray for him.” She not only forgave him immediately, but she continued to love him in a Christ-like, unconditional love. She promised me that the Lord would redeem everything.

As painful as it was for me to experience such a loss and heartbreak in my childhood, I am grateful for that season in my life. It was during those youthful years that I began learning about the grace and mercy of Christ in a real and tangible way.

Now, thirty-five years later, I thank the Lord daily for His mercy and grace. It’s because of His loving-kindness and never-ending mercy that I can freely live in His love. I can love those who use and mistreat me.

His mercy enables all of us, as His followers, to love purely. His mercy heals broken hearts and makes life incredibly beautiful.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36 (NIV)

I’m linking up for Five Minute Friday where Lisa Jo Baker and other awesome people write for five minutes flat with no self critiquing or no striving for perfection. This week’s prompt is: “Mercy.” Today, I had a hard time finding a good stopping point and wrote for about ten minutes.

The woman in the photo is my hero and amazing mother.

Five Minute Friday