She wasn’t wearing her glasses today. I didn’t even know she wore glasses until about six weeks ago when she lost her husband. I suppose she wears contacts but could not bear to have them in her eyes, knowing her eyes might constantly be full of tears.

She’s still got her two middle school students and a daughter in the second grade. They must be such a blessing right now and yet there must be an enormous weight on her heart about what lies ahead… without the love of her life and the father of her children to see her through.

She is not in despair. Though the pain must be unbearable at times, her husband left her in the care of a man who will perfectly provide for my friend and her children. She is in the arms of someone who will be there from now on, someone who will guide her with his presence, his love and his wisdom. He will love her and her children more than humanly possible. Her husband left her with Jesus.

If you know Him you have the joy of knowing what this means for this young family. No doubt in your heart there is a bit of rejoicing despite the sorrow you may identify with.

If you do not know Him you may be wondering how a statue in a church or a historical figure could be the man of a house where the husband has been taken at such a young age. Even if He was real and if He was God, how could He let this family suffer this way? More pressing, you may be wondering ‘how could He let me suffer this way?’

When I was in 9th grade I was really hurting. I was taking a bible course and remember reading claims that through Jesus there would be peace

Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

I got so mad, I remember writing ‘I hate you in my bible’. I was furious to read that he had come touting peace and I was hurting so much. It would be better to just hurt rather than listen to ‘God’ say that through Him there would be peace and yet feel so far away from it.

The difference was I didn’t know Him. I didn’t even know I could know Him.

Following is one way someone might get to know Jesus personally in order to experience peace:

You must get one on One with God. You have to mean it in your heart.

(You can do it right now, right here; you don’t necessarily have to be on your knees)

In doing so, you are acknowledging the existence of God, something you may never have sincerely done before. Even if you are religious or ‘spiritual’ you may never have gotten one on One with God in your heart.

This can be uncomfortable the first time. In approaching the throne of God, you may realize you have been disrespectful towards Him, denied Him, perhaps you have mocked Him, said His name in vain (regularly), ignored Him, rejected Him, denied His existence- or even blasphemed Him in your bible! Maybe you know the way you have lived your life has really been selfish, inconsiderate or possibly downright wrong.

Meeting with God the first time could be really scary.

Good News, and I mean Good News- after all isn’t that what the word gospel means?

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,…”
You have heard it before but it doesn’t really make since. How did God give His only son to die? What kind of a father are we talking about here?

OK, back to your visit with God. You might feel ashamed coming to Him after the way you have lived. You might feel unworthy. I know I am unworthy to go to the throne of God, but I go freely all day, every day.

I have sinned, against God, in more grotesque ways than I can even fathom. I flee from Him, I don’t listen to Him, follow His word, and worship Him in the way I wish I would. I doubt Him and question Him. That doesn’t even begin to include what I do towards other people. I am selfish and judgmental, I am impatient and unloving, the list goes on and on and on.

How is it that a wretch like me can continually and freely visit the throne of God whenever I want to, joyfully and full of enthusiasm?

It is because I understand Jesus. God sent Jesus from Heaven to earth to be our Messiah, our deliverer. He lived a sinless life. Though there have been some mighty good people, there is not one other person who has walked this earth in the history of the world who has lived absolutely sinless.

Though He had not done anything wrong (they crucified Him because they were angry at His claim to be God), He was nailed to a cross and hung up to die among the criminals. He didn’t deserve to die, he had not done one thing wrong, his whole life. I can’t go through a day without saying/thinking something unkind about another person.

He died as a punishment for sin, my sin. He was nailed to a cross so that I wouldn’t have to pay the consequences of what I do every day to offend God.

God loves me that much that He wants me to freely be able to visit His throne. He offered a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. My sin, and yours.

Today I have peace which literally passes all understanding, even when circumstances are painful. When I read the bible now I get it.

It could read:

16"For God so loved Charlotte (your name here) that he gave his one and only Son, that because Charlotte(your name here) believes in him Charlotte (your name here) shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn Charlotte (your name here), but to save Charlotte (your name here). 18 Charlotte (your name) believes in him (and) is not condemned… Another look at John 3:16-18 a.

That’s why I love Him with my life. He died for me. He died for you. Because His sinless body hung on that cross I am absolved of the consequences of my sin. I do not need to hide my sin; if God didn’t know about my sin, He never would have had to sacrifice Jesus for me. He knows we are sinners, He loves us anyway. He wants us to go to Him, but He wants us to do it through Jesus.

John 8: 31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father." 39"Abraham is our father," they answered.
"If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did. 40As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41You are doing the things your own father does."

Do you know Him? Do you know the One who has died for you? If your life were to crumble today as was the case for my friend and her three young children, would you be cared for despite the circumstances? Do you know Him? Do you know how much He loves you? He died for you, have you ever stopped to acknowledge such a magnificent gift?

(Will you pray with me)

Dear Lord,

I am so ashamed of the way I have lived my life. I have tried hard but You know where I have fallen short. I have not lived a life that is fully worthy of Your unconditional forgiveness, yet I am hearing it be said that You are willing to give it to me anyway. I do not understand it God, but I want it.

Lord I want to be free and at peace. I am tired of trying so hard, I do want to rest. I am willing to believe You love me just the way I am, I am willing to believe You are a Father who wants what is best for me.

I want to understand Jesus. I believe that Jesus is Your son, that You sent to die for my sin. I believe that His death on the cross was adequate for my redemption and I receive that gift of love from You.

Thank you God. Show me how to live a life that is glorifying to You. Help me to feel Your presence and to understand Your love and provision for me.

In the name of Your Son Jesus, Amen!

Cry Out To Jesus- 3rd Day