Good Friday?

I've always been confused by the name "Good Friday" being given to the day we remember Jesus' crucifixion. It seems so strange to call the worst day in the history of humankind "good."

I received a fresh reminder at Church last night. What a profound time I had with the Lord remembering His sacrifice for me. Won't you remember with me today, as we approach Easter?

God humbled and displaced Himself when He left His heavenly throne (where He was praised non-stop...as He is worthy of). He willingly put on flesh and experienced life's temptations, frustrations, sorrows, limitations, disappointments. In the midst of his human existence, He remained connected to the Father. He did everything God told Him to do and nothing which would displease God. He did not sin in thought, action, or word. He relied on God to be His strength and His guide; through Jesus, God did amazing signs and wonders.

And yet, read this prophecy about the King of Kings, and think about how it was fullfilled in His death:

Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

WOW. I don't have words to describe the sorrow that brings my spirit. "Good" Friday? If Isaiah's prophecy and the story of Jesus ended there, "Good Friday" would make no sense. Yet, it does make sense, because our God is bigger than death and the grave! Our God is bigger than sin and pain.

Read the rest of Isaiah 53:

10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Praise Jesus for Easter Sunday. It is Jesus' resurrection which makes the day of His death "good." It is what He accomplished on that cross that makes it beautiful.

Check out this song that we sang with the Church last night and ponder the depth of the words and of God's great love for us.

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified

At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful, scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night

Follow Christ to the holy mountain
Sinner sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul I
n the fountain that flowed
For you and for me and for all

At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful, scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night

On the hillside, you will be delivered A
t the foot of the cross justified
And your spirit restored
By the river that poured
From our blessed Savior's side

March 2009 update

...Some recent pictures of Chad and me...
It has been quite awhile since I have updated this, and I have absolutely no excuse...I have a new job and a lot more free time! I will not promise anything, but would like to be more faithful in updating, because it is such a cool way to keep in touch.

So, a few weeks ago, I began caring for little Chloe, a precious one-and-a-half year-old. She has some neurological damage which has affected her ability to move normally. She has therapy every day, stretching and therapies at home, and a big battle to overcome at such a young age. But, I am praying for her full healing and believe she will walk, run, and maybe even DANCE someday. Chloe and I sing all the time, and her vocabulary is extensive for her age. It is hilarious when she repeats things that I say, especially big words like "choking hazard"...haha! She talks about "Chat" all the time and we always remember him in our songs..."We love you Chad, oh yes we do. We love you Chad, and we'll be true..." Hopefully he will get to meet her on Tuesday after her therapy.

My days spent with Chloe are confirming my belief that God has called me to be a wife and mommy in the future. It brings me so much joy to care for her and her family's house...I feel like it is preparation and practice for what I want to do someday. It is a blessing that Chad agrees that raising children is an important calling and that he wants me to be able to stay home to do so when that time comes.

Speaking of Chad, as days go by, I often find myself sitting back and thinking about how good and faithful God is, and how grateful I am that He brought Chad and me together. As I think back on years and years of praying for my future husband, it amazes me to see how Chad is the answer to all my prayer requests, and even things I didn't think to pray for. Not that he is perfect or that our relationship fulfills my every desire or need. (Only God can do that.) In fact, already, Chad and I have experienced our fair share of difficulties, both in our relationship and as individuals. But God is good, and I believe that slowly, surely, He will change us to look more like Jesus. I thank God that He has designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy. I pray that our marriage will make us both holy and happy. In the end, I kinda think it will. ;)

I just finished reading the book Boundaries by Dr's Cloud and Townsend and have learned some life-changing principles that I am trying to put into practice. After almost 23 years of being a compliant person, it is hard to take responsibility for my life, feelings, decisions, etc, and learn how to set boundaries, especially with controllers! But, as I am doing so, I already am experiencing feelings of freedom and empowerment. Hallelujah! Here's to a new challenge!

In my relationship with God, I'm getting back into Scripture memory. I have neglected this over the past couple years, but I know that having the Truth at the front of my mind is life-changing. Believing and speaking the Truth changes things. I'm learning to put my fears in God's hands and trust Him even more with my life. I want to be more faithful to pray as a first response to difficulties, disappointments...anything I face.

Well, I could go on and on, but I won't. I'll finish by saying that I am thankful to the Lord for this season in my life, all the things He is teaching me, and His nearness. I'm thankful for the people He has blessed me with, and the ways He is using me. Soli Deo Gloria! (Glory to God alone!)

For better or for worse...in sickness and in health...

Well, life is surprising sometimes...life throws you curves that you least expect. Take, for instance, my past year. This past year has been rough. Sometimes it is hard to believe that God is on His throne and in control no matter what. But, He is. He really, really is.
In John 14:18 Jesus promised “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” He also promised in Romans 8:28 “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
No matter what we face, He is with us and is working things out for His glory and for our good. We have to believe the truth of the Word no matter what, and “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) Sometimes, though, God does things in our lives that allow us to see His promises fulfilled in action. He did that for me this year in the midst of my struggles.
One huge way He did that was by giving me my sweet Chad. I have prayed for years and years for a man to love and do life with. I have waited for him for so long but only God knew the absolute perfect timing to bring him into my life. God has provided such support, comfort, and encouragement to me through Chad. Chad is such a Godly, strong, tender, and wise man. He is so full of life and love. He has brought such GOOD things into my life!
Yesterday marked one year since we met. Looking forward to the anniversary, we planned to have a really special date. I even got a new dress! And then, overnight Saturday, I got sick. I was sick pretty much all day yesterday. Instead of going out and celebrating big, I stayed home in my pajamas and Chad came over to my apartment (bringing Sprite, crackers, flowers, and Imodium)! We talked a lot about the past year, I slept a lot, and Chad did a lot of homework and cleaned the apartment. It was a great anniversary.
Chad and I are so blessed that God has given us the type of love that is not led by emotion. Sure, we have emotion for each other...lots of it. But, for love to last, there has to be more than just emotion in the equation. There has to be commitment and companionship and the ability to sacrifice your own wants and needs for the other person’s benefit.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
It is IMPOSSIBLE to have that kind of love without the power of God working inside. 1 John 4:19 says that “We love because He first loved us.” Truly, God IS love and He is the one who teaches us how to love by the way that He loves us...perfectly.
Lord, teach me to love more like you do: “for better or for worse.”