Focus Friday: Let's Focus on the Blood

Today is Good Friday.

It's a day for Christians everywhere to remember the pain Jesus suffered and His death on that cruel cross.

(Image from the website of Leonardo Ramirez. He has a really neat letter to Jesus there. )

This morning my friend Kristen mentioned that she and most of her family had watched "The Passion" last night after our Maundy Thursday service at church. It was hard for her to watch. All of that pain. The suffering Jesus went through. 

I've seen "The Passion of the Christ," too. The scene that stays with me the most is where the Roman soldiers are flogging Jesus and someone is counting loudly in Italian as they beat Him. I think I winced with every blow of that instrument of torture and I cried to see Jesus broken and bleeding.

At our service last night, Gary asked me to sing a solo while people took communion. I played the keyboard and sang "Your Blood Covers It All" by Allie Lapointe. It's a beautiful song. (My rendition was not quite beautiful. I didn't practice enough to make it excellent. I need to go back and read last week's post. Do as I say, not as I do, friends.)

Anyway, the words are so meaningful:
     All my sins, all my shame, all my secrets, all my chains;
     Lamb of God, great is your love, your blood covers it all.

(You can listen to the whole song on YouTube here)

That's what we need to focus on today. Jesus' blood covers all of our sins and shortcomings and by it we are assured a place in heaven.

Be somber as you focus on that tonight and on Saturday, but then get ready to rejoice on Sunday as you celebrate His resurrection.

His blood covers it all!

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." (Ephesians 1:7 NIV)

Are there sins you are holding onto or regrets you can't get past? How can focusing on God help you to remember that Jesus' blood covers all of that and you can live a joyful, fulfilling life?

Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Christmas

It's almost Christmas. Are you ready?

You'll be happy to know that we finally decorated our tree last weekend:

I finally got online and ordered some presents for the kids, but they're not wrapped yet.

Our Christmas letters are not done (I can partly blame a broken printer for that). They'll wait until next week when we get a new printer.

My depression has flared up a bit over the last week or so, but I'm doing what I can to stay on top of it and not let it get worse. Part of the reason I'm feeling down, I think, is that my knees have been bothering me since our hiking trip in the Grand Canyon, so I haven't been exercising very much. It really makes a difference!

As you've probably figured out by now...my Focus Friday posts usually contain things that I'm thinking about or struggling with. I wish I could just write a cheerful entry about the joys of Christmas, but I have to acknowledge that it can be a stressful time of year and many people may struggle with emotional problems around the holidays.

If you are experiencing any of that, try to lower your expectations and focus on the real reason for this season: Jesus Christ. 

God came to earth as a tiny baby. It's almost too much for our human brains to comprehend, but if we stop and really think about what that means it can help us get our perspective back. 

Jesus lived and died here on earth for us. And it all started in that stable many years ago.

So, I have one more day to get ready for Christmas, but as I wrap presents and bake cookies and write my Christmas letter I'm going to think about that baby and how thankful I am for his birth, his life, and his death. He did all of that for me, and that gives me hope. 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

"She [Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21 NIV)

Do you get too stressed out around the holidays? How can focusing on God help you to feel more peace and remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas?

Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Trouble

I've been reminded this week that we never know exactly how life is going to go. We can be going happily along, busy with everything we have going on in our lives and things can change just like that.

Gary's sister Cheryl found that out the hard way last Saturday night. She was on her way home from helping her sister-in-law with funeral preparations for her husband and she got into a serious car accident. Stopping at a blinking red light, she didn't realize that the cross traffic didn't have to stop and she pulled out in front of a pickup. He tried to swerve but hit her mostly on the drivers side door and they both ended up side by side in a field. Cheryl is in intensive care and has many broken bones and lots of swelling. She has had a breathing tube in for most of the week and they don't want to take it out until more of the swelling goes down. She's in rough shape but we're all very hopeful that she will be able to recover completely, even though it may take some time.

Cheryl and LeRoy and their family have seen quite a bit of trouble in their lives. It's inspiring to see how they stick together and support each other through the good and the bad times. We'll keep praying for all of them as they make it through another very difficult time.

Two ladies from our church may be nearing the end of their lives very soon. We are all praying for them and their families as they go through this time of trouble.

I don't really have very profound thoughts this week. I just want to remind all of us that trouble does come. It shouldn't surprise us and it shouldn't discourage us completely. The Bible tells us it will happen:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)

Jesus said those words, and hopefully they can help us when times of trouble come. No matter what the situation, we can have peace and take heart because ultimately Jesus has overcome the world and its trouble.

Please pray for my sister-in-law Cheryl as she continues to recover. Pray for Helen and Darlene, the dear ladies who may be nearing the end of their days here on this earth. Pray for everyone who may be dealing with trouble right now. Do not dread trouble, but be ready to "take heart" when trouble comes. No matter what happens, Jesus will help us get through it.

Do you know someone who has trouble right now? Do you lose heart when trouble comes to you? Can you see how focusing on God can help you get through times of trouble?