Cross

The Heavenly Price Tag

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I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels. Psalm 22:14 KJV

As a teenager I always remembered the Christmas presents I got from my stepmother Amy, because when she bought me beautiful and expensive clothes, she always left the price tag on! Now, it was not that Amy was bothered by spending the money, but she wanted to be sure that I treated her gifts with special care! In some ways God is a lot like Amy because He loves lavishing us with His grace, but He also wants us to know its cost. When we are singing about our salvation, home in Heaven or the forgiveness of our sins we should humbly remember the price of those gifts.

When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said that His soul was sorrowful unto death, and He agonized in prayer in order to accept the suffering of the cross that lay ahead. He begged His Father asking if there were any other way and then sweat ran down His face like great drops of blood. Then just hours after Jesus had finished praying, His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. The Bible tells us that He was poured out like water. Finally, a long spear pierced His side and then the last drops of HIs blood flowed down the cross to the ground. So, today when we bow our heads to thank God for any of His blessings, we should also look again at the price tag that is still attached. Though Jesus gave Himself freely for our salvation, we will treat His gift with greater loving care, when we are reminded of the astronomically high price that He paid for us!

High as the Heavens Love

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 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him – But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. Psalm 103:11; 17 ESV

During Lent, many of us carefully consider what things we are willing to give up. But maybe we ought to think instead about what new thing we will dare to do for Jesus. While our love is defined by things like a ring, a promise of a gift of flowers, God’s love stretches far beyond our horizon. We often sing about how God loves us – no matter what we have done. But this love of His is also eternal and will extend after we are gone to our children, grandchildren, neighbors and even our enemies. God’s love is more than just passionate emotion; it is dynamic world changing power. God’s love stirs everything and everyone it touches into action. God’s love forms planets and feeds the hungry. The love of Jesus transforms water into wine and murderers of Christians, like the Apostle Paul into messengers and martyrs for the faith. So why not ask today how in some small way, can we reflect this “High as the Heavens are above the earth,” love of Jesus Christ? How can we show to others God’s everlasting love that was given at the cross and in the joy of Easter morning, when He rose from the dead?

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The Eye of the Artist

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“Don’t you like the window that we just installed?”
He asked when he saw that she wasn’t enthralled
“But Gramma the level was perfect” he said
But she was certain still shaking her head

“It’s the eye of the artist,” she replied with a grin
So he went to the window to check it again
Then sure as the sun sets each day in the West
His level confirmed it was low on the left

Now, twenty years later I recall with a smile
That the work that we did was still off by a mile
We just didn’t notice the sag of the sash
But the eye of the artist saw all in a flash

And the Artist of Heaven, left His throne room above
To come to my window and fix it with love
For the eye of the artist sees beyond who I am
Then He lifts me up by the blood of the Lamb

For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10 NLT

The Eye of the Artist
By Peter Caligiuri
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All rights reserved

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