Shouldn't it be Black Friday instead of GOOD Friday?

You know the feelings...you, or someone you love is hurting so much, and no one else seems to understand your pain. Maybe your closest family member just passed away, and it seems everywhere you look people are just fine -- they're laughing, they're carefree, they're going on with their busy lives, and you think, "How could life be going on when I hurt so much?"

I've been there, and I know how life can go on. It's because of this day. This is Good Friday, day that should be commemorated with thanksgiving, celebrations, and everywhere we looked were crosses adorned with neon lights, and music and bands playing and choirs singing -- and we'd see people paying homage and offering tributes about what this day means.

Good Friday -- It seems like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? How can anything GOOD come from an innocent, kind, good and loving man to be killed by an angry mob on this day? How can anyone celebrate Jesus’ death on the cross today? We can, because Jesus could have called 10,000 angels to save Him, but He didn’t. This good, good Man was willing to endure the cross for the sake of our salvation -- to pay all the debts of sin we owed. He embraced this fate because He loved us so much!

On this day, the most scandalous betrayal of justice in human history took place. Jesus wasn’t guilty of any crime or sin. After the illegal trials, this loving, giving, compassionate, caring, innocent Man was stripped and tied to a post. He was whipped and beaten -- too horrible to even imagine. He was betrayed by His friends, and spit on by countless people. He was forced to carry a wooden cross to Calvary where nails were driven through his wrists and ankles and He was left to die. He could have called ten thousand angels to his side, but He refused. Instead, He died there for you and me. He loved so we could LIVE!

HALLELUJAH! We can, and should celebrate this day that SAVED our lives….literally! THIS IS THE DAY Christ bore every sin we've ever committed, He carried every sickness we have ever had, and will have. He gave His life so that WE WOULD LIVE FOREVER and EVER! How could we be so distracted and be so oblivious to this DAY OF ALL DAYS? Never again, do we wonder if we are loved. God thought our eternal life was worth the death of His only Son. Now that's TRUE LOVE! GOOD FRIDAY! Oh, happy day! Now, let's strike up the band and shoot off the fireworks. This DAY is worth the grandest celebration -- this day marks our FREE PASS to heaven.

Remember Him on the cross today...praise Him...thank Him.... worship Him...and give Him your life today, because He gave Himself so completely for you! Then, be a part of the ultimate victory celebration when He arises on "Resurrection Sunday"!!! Good Friday really is so so GOOD!

LOVE Forgives

Yesterday, my post was about apologizing, saying AND meaning those words, "I'm so sorry!" Today's is the reciprocating action.....being fast to forgive. How is that possible when we may have been hurt so deeply?

I've read many incredible stories about people who forgave in the most heart-wrenching situations, especially when forgiving would seem so unnecessary on a human level. The drunk driver whose thoughtless ways resulted in the death of a spouse or child, but the family member forgave the killer. Or the one who was betrayed by their spouse but in God's love, the other spouse forgave. And, today they have a dream-come-true marriage together.

On October 2, 2006, Charles Carl Roberts walked into an Amish school in rural Pennsylvania and shot ten young school girls, killing five of them. On the same day of the shooting, a grandfather of one of the girls who had died, told other relatives, "We must not think evil of this man." Another member of the community visited the shooter's family that day to comfort them and offer forgiveness. Dozens more attended his funeral and offered to give financial support to his widow. One member of the community later said, "I don't think there's anybody here that wants to do anything but forgive and not only reach out to those who have suffered a loss, but to reach out to the family of the man who committed these acts."

I heard it quoted: "Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." Unwillingness to forgive only eats away at our hearts and souls, while forgiveness frees us. No greater forgiver was Jesus Christ -- Who after the lies, the rejections, the beatings, the denials and the pain, said "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

When we have been hurt, we face the same challenge that those who we've hurt faced. Will we respond with kindness, compassion and forgiveness? And, will forgiving become a way of life for us? The Apostle Paul said, "Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ." Ephesians 4:32. Sure seems like a tall order, but one that comes with sweet rewards. We can move on with our life, have freedom from the pain of the past, enjoy greater happiness in the present and greater health and well-being. I'd say that's a good pay-back!