Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole.     He was whipped so we could be healed.”
Isaiah 53: 5 (NLT)

“At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.”
Matthew 27: 51-52 (NLT)

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19: 30 (ESV)

It’s been one of those days these past few weeks.

Powerless.

With more like them seemingly on the way in the all too foreseeable future.

A hurricane rising up, growing, strengthening, and unleashing a wave of destruction beyond anyone’s expectations.

With other storms reportedly on the way. Some are caused by forces outside our control. Some caused by ourselves.

And in the midst of them, at best, uncertainty for the days ahead in our lives prevails.

All metaphorically painting a picture of our lives.   

Leaving us too often feeling powerless to do anything.

With a sense of wondering what’s next, overwhelming us. 

As emptiness sets in. And no answers appear on the horizon.

Lost, intimidated, and alone.

But isn’t that the way it always is.

We’ve either just gone through a storm, difficulty, something we never saw coming, we’re in one now, or we will be in the future.

Leaving us looking for, needing, hoping to find some power, some help and direction to guide us through, and back to shore, to solid ground. 

A power from something or someone reminding and embracing us that in the storms before, or those now, or which will come in the future, we will never be alone.

And that assurance comes from what Christ did for you, for me, for all of us on the Cross.

In the song, “Power of the Cross,” the words Stuart Townsend and Keith Getty shared paint the picture of that Good Friday when Christ was tried, beaten, nailed to a cross, suffered and died, for you, for me, and for all. The last verses effectively paint us all into that picture, for it is our name written in His wounds—

“Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day: Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then Nailed to a cross of wood.
This, the power of the cross: Christ became sin for us,
Took the blame, bore the wrath: We stand forgiven at the cross…
Now the daylight flees, now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life; ‘Finished!’ the victory cry.
Oh, to see my name written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death, Life is mine to live, won through Your selfless love.
This, the power of the cross: Son of God, slain for us.
What a love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross.”

What storms are you facing?

They are a stark reality of life—either coming from outside us, or rising up from within us. 

No matter what we face or go through—we can turn to Him. Remembering the love Christ demonstrated for you, for me, for all of us on the Cross. 

Embrace that power and love. Receive it. Accept it within. 

For now, and forever.

In His Name–Scott

Find a quiet moment to listen to and watch this video and Kristyn Getty singing “Power of the Cross.” You will be blessed.