IN GOD, FAMILY, FAITH, FRIENDS… We Live, Love, and Hope
We live in a time of trouble, turmoil, disaster, despair. We need each other; family and friends. I often wonder, however, why a person would not want to add the faith and assurance of having God in the mix. In Him we find stronger arms, greater strength, mending broken hearts and minds…
Just over 2000 years ago a life proclaiming peace, love, and redemption both ended His life and then showed to over one hundred followers that He had conquered death, and the effects of mortal weakness, sin, loss, and temptation.
We celebrate Christmas and Easter, and many of us Passover, to honor this singular life; His meaning and victories.
I have no eloquence to share beyond what great men and women have already penned. I do pray, however, that my final words of life shall be these simple ones I freely offer now:
“I know my Redeemer lives. I know Jesus is the Christ, Messiah, Savior of all men and women.”
The Jewish carpenter’s son from Nazareth, who had used hammers to drive nails into beams to build useful things for others on so many occasions during his life, had his palms nailed to beams created by another carpenter in Jerusalem that awful day. Yet even in this, He was in the building business… When He breathed his last breath and said:
“It is finished!” he also meant, “It begins!”
You are Christ’s, and so am I, ransomed before we were even born by a willing builder of men and women. Is it such a hard thing to live for Him? To walk with Him?
I recommend to you a path less trodden. One often ridiculed by our world. In it you will find peace, faith, hope, love, and contentment; a knowledge that comes from deep within and tries to summon eloquence to describe it. But, in the end this knowledge can only be offered simply, and it is this:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
James Michael Pratt
www.jmpratt.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Easter blessings Jim.
My favorite song is My Redeemer Lives. I first heard it at a Promise Keepers event as part of an Iron Man competition video about Dick and Rick Hoyt. Rick Hoyt is the paraplegic son of Dick Hoyt. Rick wanted to help raise funds by entering a race for the cure. He couldn't run, but his father could; and so Dick entered himself and Rick in the competition and pushed his son in a wheelchair to the finish line. Rick was so proud when he crossed that line - even though his dad had done all the work.
The pair went on to enter triathalons, and Dick would swim 2.4 miles pulling Rick in a raft. When he'd get to the other side, Dick would lift Rick from the raft and place him in a seat on the front of a bicycle. They would pedal 112 miles. At the end of that leg, Dick would lift Rick and place him in a wheelchair and finish the race by running 26.2 miles. Rick always crosses the finish line before his father. What makes the story more remarkable is that Dick is 65 years old and Rick is 47. They've been competing for 20 years.
Imagine watching this father fulfill his sons dreams by doing everything himself. This is the image of our God giving us everything we need, including the sacrifice of His Son, so that we can spend time with Him.
Watch the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJMbk9dtpdY
Post a Comment