It Has Never Been Clearer!

I have heard the story for years and years. I grew up in both a Catholic and Methodist church atmosphere as my parents were each from one of them.

I have heard about it, sang about it, and made yearly family visits to church with your holiday outfits.

You come home and celebrate the presents, baskets of eggs, etc.

I attended church at five o'clock on Saturday this week. It was a good service. The theme of the this year's series is "Simple Christmas". The service was very simple. The music was good. The setting was good but very tasteful and simple. The songs were traditional and simple to sing. Then it came time for the message. The message was very simple about how we should celebrate the birth of Jesus while also remembering the end of the story as it personally has something to do with each of us. Jesus was crucified so that our sins would be forgiven. I get that. I have "felt" that for a while now. I thought I had it all together until.............. Mark Beeson's one statement that changed it all.

Mark's one statement changed the vision and the meaning to Jesus being up there on that cross and for His suffering and journey of pain leading to that cross.

Mark said, "my sins were up on that cross."

It all of a sudden became extremely personal and that whatever I have done, said, thought, or acted on were up on that cross and Jesus shed his blood and lost his life in a most tragic, slow, and painful way JUST so that I could be forgiven. My sins and transgressions were right up there with his pain and suffering so that with my relationship with Jesus would allow the grace of forgiveness and He paid the price so I wouldn't have to.

This season has been one of self discovery for me. My little home is empty of little footsteps and the company of loved ones. I have found solitude however, in the silence that was spoken about in the service. I still have all my loved ones. I haven't lost anything but after the service, I realized how very much more I have gained.