My mom had extensive surgery done on Tuesday. She was expected to go home by Friday, but her iron level plummeted and she stayed until Saturday. The pain is much, much worse than she ever anticipated, and she started bleeding early this morning.

My whole family is under a ton of stress right now, and I have two performances this week. She was under a lot of pressure yesterday and she hopes that she didn't cause the bleeding- and that nothing was damaged.

On the darkest day in the history of the world, an innocent man died for the guilty. After hours of interrogation, He was beaten with leather straps, which at the ends had slivers of metal and bone. His skin ripped away and His body in excruciating pain, Jesus carried a wooden cross up the hill to Golgotha. There the Roman soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and forced it upon His head. As He was nailed to the cross, He suffered pain doctors have described as similar to “lightening bolts traversing the arm into the spinal cord.” He was then placed between two murderers, as if the “King of the Jews” was no more than a tool of Satan. In order to continue breathing, He used what little energy remained to push Himself upward- placing His full weight upon the nail in His feet. At the 9th hour, He cried out with a loud voice, “It is finished!” He had fulfilled the work of redemption that was needed to save YOU.

So why aren’t we following His commandments? Why don’t we care enough about someone who died for us, to live our lives in a way that pleases Him? Being a Christian is much more than saying a prayer at VBS or with your parents’ help. Being a Christian means you are making a conscious effort to become more like Christ. You will still make mistakes, but you will grow from them. If you say you’re a Christian, and yet you don’t make an effort to obey God’s commands, have you truly accepted Jesus Christ? This is not about going to church, winning Bible drill, or being able to quote the Bible to everyone in their time of need. This is about having Christ dwell within you, and daily growing and strengthening that relationship with Him.

Why as Christians do so many of us think that once we’ve said “the saving prayer” our work is done? How can you say you’re a Christian and yet not pray and read your Bible for a month? How can you say that you’re a Christian and yet listen to music full of obscenities, or watch movies full of immorality, or cuss, or laugh at the world’s jokes? We’re supposed to be living like Christians.

It’s time to get real. It’s time to stop what you’re doing, and really evaluate your life. If you claim to be a Christian, are you doing anything about it? Don’t claim to be a Christian and yet completely disregard prayer, studying the Bible, and going to church. As Christians, we’re certainly not perfect, but we’re living our lives in an effort to please God. Think of when you became a Christian. Don’t think of what people told you about that day- think of the prayer you prayed. Can you remember it? Did you even pray a prayer? Did you mean it? Or are you simply pretending to be a Christian to fit in, or to make yourself feel better? If you’re simply pretending, do you realize that Jesus died for YOUR sins? Do you realize that without Jesus, we would all go to hell? We’re not meant to go through life pretending. You need to make up your mind. Are you going to go through life pretending? Please, pray today and accept God’s gift of eternal life! There is no way to describe that joy without actually experiencing it. Please, if you would like to stop living a lie, pray today.

"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to purchase a place in Heaven for me. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life."

How was everyone's Easter? Mine was definitely a time of renewal and repentance. For me, it seems, spring is when I shake off the darkness of winter and really remember the joy of my salvation, and the things I'm supposed to be doing as a Christian.

Easter really speaks for itself. There's nothing I can really say.

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only son, to make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turned His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen one, bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life; I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything: no gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom

How Deep the Father's Love For Us  © Stuart Townend