When find ourselves at the entrance to life’s tombs, we have not come to a place of death: we have instead arrived at the door that leads to everlasting life and hope. Jesus’ death on the cross is an invitation to die to all our unworthy expectations. His resurrection is an invitation to find hope that will never die.
Photo Credit: Sunrise – Free images on Pixabay
When night sets in and hope is lost
Remember
Upon a hill there was a cross
When you must stand but feel too weak
Remember
Upon that cross – the nail-pierced feet
When you must let go of all you have
Remember
Upon the cross – the wounded hands
When you are mocked, rejected, scorned
Remember
Upon His head – the crown of thorns
When you question how your suffering came to be
Remember the voice that cried
“Father why
Have You forsaken Me?”
When you walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death
Remember
His final breath was for you
And when all you’ve ever wanted
Is buried beneath ashes of regret
Do not forget!
That after the cross
Came an empty tomb
After the cross
All things – made new!
After the cross –
A Resurrection
Suffering became perfection
After the cross
A Saviour lives
After the cross
This Savior gives
Beauty for ashes, joy for pain
Eternal hope in His name
Come to the cross
Heaven’s only Door
Believe — He lives!
Thirst no more
i buried hope long ago
as the final leaf made its descent
to an earthen grave below
i watched the world
become entombed
in a sepulcher of snow
and wondered
if i would survive
this winter of my soul
the bitterness of life
became my shroud
the barrenness enveloped
like a cloud
while winter’s wind
fought fierce and strong
and proud
relentless in the force
it was endowed
through endless months
of emptiness and tears
i wrestled with
the darkness of my fears
forgetting every promise
once held dear
doubtful that new life
was drawing near
but suddenly
with unexpected power
the warmth tore through
the coldness of the hour
and rain fell
like a cleansing,
welcome shower
the earth unfolding
like a fragrant flower
songs of a new season
calling forth
the forgotten,
frozen soil
now gives birth
spring presents
its treasures of great worth
a breath of life
awakening the earth
Photo Credit: File:Mustard Flower in Morning.JPG – Wikimedia Commons
Imagine a culture that has been ravaged by a deadly, contagious disease. There is no hope for immediate survival or for the sustenance of future generations because the blood of the people has been irrevocably contaminated. There is one doctor who has the cure: his only son has not contracted the disease—and if he willingly sacrifices his blood for the dying, the entire race can be saved.
Such is the story of a humanity struck with the disease of hatred. Hatred consumes and contaminates, pervading the blood stream without mercy. All effort to purge the disease from the system is futile—it is destined to consume if not confronted. We have seen the devastating effects of hatred throughout the course of history, but there is a cure.
The Bible declares the truth of what love was meant to be: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (I Corinthians 13:4-8).
None can read such a prescription for love and find themselves without fault at some point, if not all. An honest, careful and thorough examination of the heart and mind from the beginning of life to the present will find traces of contamination within the bloodstream: “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The glory of God is unconditional, supernatural love. To fall short of this glorious love is sin—and all have sinned in this way.
The sickness of mankind is one of hate, and only love can overcome hate. But a person must first recognize he is sick before he acknowledges his need for a cure. This is where the Doctor comes in. God the Father sent His one and only Son to demonstrate the ultimate love, and to shed His own blood that ours might be purified of hatred. When Jesus died on the cross, He offered His blood to purify a hateful world. When He rose from the dead, He offered the gift of the Holy Spirit to enable His people to live the otherwise impossible life of love.
God has given men the opportunity to accept or to reject His cure. To accept is to receive the cleansing flow of His blood: a spiritual blood transfusion. His blood carries the DNA of love, and whoever receives His blood receives His DNA. Anyone not living in love is not living in God, and those who live in love live in God. Love overflows from gratitude for His miraculous cure. And love is the only cure for this world.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
Source: The Power of Love
Hatred will only perpetuate hatred. As a seed begets its corresponding fruit, so hatred results in destruction and death. The seeds of love bring forth healing and life.
Source: Two Fires
Photo Credit: Peace | Peace and sunset in the wind flickr.com by Moyan_Brenn
i enter through the iron gates
holding in my hands
the remnants of my former life
slowly descending
into the valley of shadows
until surrounded by an endless sea of death
my way is haunted
by a never-ending maze of gravestones
but only one bears my name
taking the shovel in my weary hands
i dig deep
burying all that must be left behind
surrendering my past
once and for all,
i bid farewell to the old me
and i do not shed a tear
this will be
my final goodbye
a funeral for myself
i leave my grave clothes behind
and put on
the garments of life
i am a new creation
dead to what used to be,
finally letting go…
alive at last
poetry by j.e. fernandez
photo credit: The Ghoul-Gate | One grave in every graveyard | Flickr
This Life & Beyond 
You must be logged in to post a comment.