The Son of Man was handed over to the Gentiles only to be mocked, spat upon, whipped and then nailed on a rugged cross to die for our sins. I doubt that any of us will ever face as much agony as He did... yet He loved us so much that He gave His life. We can only imagine the suffering He went through because of that love. Two years ago I attended an Easter service where the crucifixion was portrayed. I haven't looked at the cross in the same way since that day. To see a man hanging there, knowing that he wasn't really hanging there, but to realize the pain that Jesus bore for us saddens, yet makes me very thankful today as I reflect on that scene. I will never be able to repay that gift of love... even if I give up everything to follow Him.

He will rescue you when you call out to Him. He will keep you from the snares of evil and your enemies and they will fall away while you pass by safely. If we truly love, seek and praise Him, He will show us the way to do His will. He will be there for us...... comforting, redeeming, shepherding, bringing peace and joy, forever our friend, cheerleader, loving, faithful, patient (take it from one who knows,) full of grace, listening for our cries, dryer of our tears, facing our fears, waiting with open arms and a big lap. The line to Him is always open when we call on Him.... thank goodness we don't have to leave a message or get His voice mail saying that He's on another call or away from His desk!

We must stand fast in the freedom He has given us and not be held in bondage to our sins. If we are still being held by that sin, it is ourselves who hold the chains. When He forgave us... he broke those chains and freed us from that past. If it still haunts you, ask Him to show you His release and you will be FREE! You cannot earn deliverance, it comes through faith. You must trust that He has done a good work in you. PRAISE GOD!! We are no longer slaves to sin, but to righteousness and holiness. To me that's not slavery... it's a privilege to serve the One who died so that I might have eternal life.

With the forgiveness from sin, we are His offspring through Christ Jesus. Just as a newborn needs to be fed and nurtured, so it is with us, whether our salvation is one day or many years old. When a child learns to walk, we hold out our arms for them to walk to us... as does our Heavenly Father. If they look away, they stumble and fall... as we will when we take our eyes off Him. We must keep our focus on God and daily read His Word, talk with Him and wait for Him to speak to us. Satan is just waiting for the moment our eyes stray. We can't give him the slightest little crack to get into... before you know it you will be looking at an expanse as wide the Grand Canyon and God may be on the other side. There is good news though.... He will be there with open arms to take us back when we decide to get up from our fall.

His Word instructs us to go tell the good news of salvation and eternal life to others. When someone else comes to Him, there won't be less of Him for me. We can share in His forgiveness and goodness together. We know that one day soon, our Deliverer will return to take home His chosen ones. Let's be His faithful servants by sharing the gift of salvation with others so they too will be able to experience deliverance from sin to serve Him.

You have shown so much love, comfort, grace and mercy to me that I can't help but Praise Your name. In the last few months You have been my Deliverer, carried me, walked in front, beside and behind me every step of every day. Thank you for being there when I couldn't even ask you to be with me.
As we examine ourselves, please show us if we have been holding onto anything that has kept us from being the children that You want us to be. Open our eyes to see and our ears to hear from You and know that we have received deliverance to serve You.
I love you.......