Somewhere in between...

I don't really know where I've been the last couple weeks. I mean, mostly I've been at school or home, but mentally I've been somewhere else. I wish I could tell you all about it, but like I said, I don't really know! I do know that I've been stuck somewhere in between being the person who God made me to be and being someone who God has to daily pull from the muck and mire. I'm so glad I never have to go it alone. I'm so glad that God chose to send his son to take my place. I'm so glad that He never leaves me.

One thing I've really enjoyed about having a blog is that it's a pretty good way to look back and see when certain things happened. It's like a combination scrapbook/journal/calendar thing. I just took a look back at last Easter and I read some things that I really needed to read. In fact, it's probably more relevant to my life tonight than it was over a year ago...

This past Summer (or maybe Fall) I was doing a Bible Study and I was drawn to a particular part of the story of Jesus' death that it seems I had never really paid much attention to before. We all know the basics-but this little piece brought a whole new depth for me. Once the soldiers had put Jesus on the cross and he was no doubt experiencing great pain, they mocked him. They said things like, "If you're really God, get yourself out of this mess." How easy it would have been for him to show how powerful he is and literally get himself off that cross. God was completely capable and powerful enough to end the agony for Jesus. End the mocking. End the pain. But he didn't. He didn't because if the story had stopped there, then someone else would have to die. Me.

The mocking soldiers kind of reminds me of myself at times. "God, you're big enough to get me out of this mess. Or, You can make this happen if you really want to." And just like watching His own son die, He doesn't intervene. He knows what's coming, He knows that whatever is happening is for my good and His glory.

So, this Easter, I'm seeing things from a little bit of a different perspective. But the truth is the same, He died for me. He took MY place. And the good news, He didn't stay dead! He is alive and active in my life. And that, my friends, is something to celebrate!
I pray that I never get tired of experiencing the power of Jesus' death and resurrection!