We Must Remember the Cross

Dear Abba,

Lord, I remember that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the reason I get to communicate with you, everyday, anytime I ask. It’s the reason all my sins are erased and that I am made a new creation in Christ Jesus. It’s the reason that in the hard times I must look at the joy set before me in my eternal home. Jesus is the reason I have life and I can think of nothing worse than living in separation from my Creator. I must remember the Cross. Every day I must remember the price that was paid on the Cross for my soul to spend eternity with my Creator. I am blessed to be your servant Lord. It is my honor and I am humbled by your mercy God. Nothing that you may ask of me to is too great in comparison to who You are and the price that Jesus paid on the Cross. Thank you Lord for my comforter, my helper, the Holy Spirit whom through your power never leaves me. God I pray that all those called to your Kingdom would come to a greater understanding of this great Love here on earth. I pray for all the martyr’s, who knew the truth of the Cross and held fast to it even until death. God may your Saints be strengthened daily in revelation of your great love. Thank you Lord for sharing your heart with us, Thank you for your incomprehensible Love that never fails.


Love your servant and your daughter,


Alicia Louisa

Romans 5:1-11

Peace with God Through Faith

1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, wea have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faithb into this grace in which we stand, and wec rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Amen

It’s those little moments…

It’s those little moments that make it all worth it.

I never thought I would live a life that I woke up each morning pinching myself, wondering if I was still alive or somehow got transported to another place. Once I realize I am in fact, still on earth my thoughts continue on to a deep wondering if I have completely lost my mind and I am filled with a strange fear, yet before that fear it can even take a grip on my heart, is pushed away by unexplainable yet lovely peace. Then I remember why these strange feelings arise with me in the morning, it all started with the choice I made, a choice, either to stay in safety and comfort, where everything is familiar and feels good, or to venture completely into the unknown. It is at this point that I remember I made the choice to venture into the unknown. I stumble out of bed trying to feel brave, but wanting to run to some sort of safety, wanting to take back my decision, but knowing that I did make the choice that leads to the narrow path, a choice that will echo in eternity, a choice that when I stand on judgement day, I will know that it was right.

Each day is taken a moment at time, when fear tries to grip my heart I can feel the love of my Heavenly Father overcome it. Sometimes He uses the spirit of peace, sometimes He uses Joy, sometimes He uses words from scripture and sometimes He uses people.

I must say, there is nothing that can warm the heart like a conversation with a beloved friend a million miles away. When we are at our weakest moments trying with all our might to be brave, silently whispering the name of Jesus under our breath to give us comfort, and the phone rings with the sweet sound of a familiar voice, it’s like heaven comes crashing down to earth. It’s those little words of encouragement that can break through every discouragement and give us the strength we need to go on.

It’s little moments like that, amist a whirlwind of chaos, that make it all worth it.

Dedicated to anyone who has taken a leap of Faith into the unknown.

Alicia

The Little White Dress with Dirt Stains and a Broken Zipper

I need to write, I sit here, on Christmas morning, so thankful that the Lord granted my prayer for our whole family to be together on Christmas, yet I can’t help but feel my aching heart.

There are memories that stand out to me from Haiti, so vivid, so emotional, that no matter how much I personally desire to stay home, I know I must return to Haiti. I remember, Christmas Eve last year, sitting in church beside this little girl. She had on a pretty white dress, it was covered in dirt stains and the zipper in the back didn’t work. She snuggled up close to me and looked at me with her big brown eyes, I could see the look on her face that showed how excited she was to be sitting beside me and how like every other girl she just wanted to look beautiful and be noticed and loved by someone. I had flashbacks of my youth, same feelings as a little girl but such different circumstances, a clean beautiful handmade dress, surrounded by family that loved and adored me. I struggled to hold back the tears as I sat through the church service and I prayed with all my heart “Lord, please let this little amount of love that I show her be enough to help her through the hardest and painful moment of her life. Please let her always remember this as a picture of the love of Jesus and that she may know He is always with her.”

After the service her sister, not much older than her, grabbed her arm and ripped her out of the pew dragging her home, she looked back at me with a huge smile on her face; my heart ripped in two and I knew I would never be the same again.

As tears flow down my face all I can do is sit here and stare at the wall. No matter the sacrifice I have to make, no matter the insults I have to endure, to show the love of Jesus, even to one little soul far surpasses every price that I will pay. Love will overcome every obstacle and I’m so full of gratitude that Jesus was born this Christmas day and chose to give His life for me that I may have eternal life. I am so thankful for the love that Jesus fills my spirit with and I am honored to go out to the poor and needy to share this love. When faith is centered on a love relationship with Jesus, it is no longer a sacrifice, just joy that comes with falling more in love with Jesus by sharing Him with the world.

This verse, a theme of my journey stands out yet again this morning. Every time I take a step of faith this verse becomes even more meaningful to me. The Lord’s love and grace is so deep and so in-comprehensive!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV

9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Picture: Girl in Haiti in a white dress.

Blessings of Joy to you this Christmas,

Alicia