Cross

So Much More

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So Much More!

Much more was the grace
 That cried Father forgive
On that long ago dark afternoon
When with His last strength our Lord Jesus cried out
These people know not what they do

First was Judas who sold His Lord out
And there was Pilate who bowed to the crowd
And Herod who mocked Him and had him bound
And the High Priests who rejected His word

And the throng who were shouting “Crucify Him!”
Then the soldiers who nailed Him hard to the wood
And one thief who still refused to believe
And the one whose spear drew His last blood

These all were His enemies much more forgiven
But there is one more I finally found 
That guy was the man who ran from God’s love
Till His grace so much more tracked me down!

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Romans 5:10 ESV

So Much More by Peter Caligiuri copyright 2021 all rights reserved

On Monday Morning

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And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:38‭-‬39 ESV

And now it is Monday morning and the miracles, the drama with both the sorrows and joy of Holy week behind. What will we do with all that lies ahead?

What did the soldiers do who had guarded his tomb? Did Joseph of Arimathea open his shop, did Nicodemus go to the synagogue for morning prayer. And when His disciples and Mary, and Pontius Pilate woke to the same sunrise what thoughts passed through their minds?

Did they remember the earthquake and darkness? Did they speak of the tears, the gambling for the robe and the spear? Or will the shock, the amazement and the vision of angels on Sunday morning crowd out all other memories?

Or maybe some recalled His tenderness He touched one leper, stood in silent defense of the adulteress and raised a widow’s son to life? How often would they speak of loaves multiplied, waves stilled and blind eyes that could see? Or will we remember His words? Will their power still our seas, transform our ordinary moments and change forever the self seeking attitudes that govern our everyday lives? Will we be meek? Be listening? Wash feet? Give quietly to the poor? He died on Friday, rested on Saturday, rose on Easter Sunday and is now walking ahead of us on Monday. And more than all these, will we remember and take our own cross and follow Jesus Christ?

One Simple Miracle and Sunday Praise

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As we get closer to Easter we need to remember what our faith is really about. Christianity is not about big church buildings, Christian concerts with special effects or elaborate social programs. Instead all that we are and everything we do is based on one single morning at a tomb. The body of Jesus was supposed to be inside it. The priests were counting on it because they had sent a guard. Pilate was sure of it because it was shut with a Roman seal. Even the closest friends of Jesus believed He would be there because they went with spices to prepare the body. And the grave was shut. The tomb was silent. The death from crucifixion was final….Until it wasn’t!

“You seek Jesus who was crucified” the angel said. “He is not here for He has risen as He said!” Matthew 28:5-6a And in that moment all History turned on the hinge of one simple miracle, an empty tomb and a risen Lord!

I loved this new release from The Weaver family in Pennsylvania. It is both simple and powerful- like that very first Easter morning!