My Childhood TreeHouse Remains!

The ole fort!

A few weeks ago I was given the honor of viewing the property and home of my childhood.  I was excited to see our old fort still perched up in the old oak tree.  Even that rope ladder that was so difficult to climb still hung as testament to the challenges of life and growing up! 

I suppose as I think and muse over my life, this photo of our fort that we built and created approx. 30 years ago, captures the beauty of life, even as it's ending.  Everything is given to rot, decay, disease, and old age.  But not everything will die. 

God has created within us, a living breathing soul that will live throughout an eternity.  Earth is just a passing phase and so brief at that.  As I stood looking at the old fort standing as witness to many a good fight so many years ago, I couldn't help but feel proud of my parents for raising us the way they did.  They certainly gave us a lot of freedom to roam but introduced to Jesus Christ.  They had recently come themselves and they taught us what they were learning.  It was discipleship at it's earliest stage.

As we all walk the road of life together, we've experienced brokenness on some level in some way.  We may be tired, we may be healing, we may be experiencing great victories or suffering defeat.  Life is made of ups and downs and we shouldn't expect anything other. 

Yet though it all, we are in reality victors.  Victors over sin, death, bitterness, and strife.  We may not look successful to the world but we are called His own beloved and precious, bought with His blood. 

We are filled with memories, laughter, love, mercy, kindness, and forgiveness.  We are filled to the brim with joy and peace that surpasses understanding.  We are at rest deep within our souls, knowing God hold's our future and that for an eternity with Him.

Though the outward man is wasting away, the inner man is being renewed day by day.  Press on Mama's and Daddy's everywhere.  You are building eternity in the hearts of your young as you introduce them to Jesus.  Every other pursuit in life will pale in comparison to the pursuit of your Savior.  I'm so glad my parents left their dreams in the dust and pursued their Master, Savior, Lord and King. 

Celebrate Life

Have you ever lost momentum....didn't blog for....oh I don't know, like 4 months?  That would be me.  So it's catch up time....what have we been doing?  Um....probably a lot of face book instead, which I have to admit can be good and bad.  It's a little distracting....OK a lot distracting.  I'm trying to get some momentum here, it's Good Friday, after all, which really is good in the long run, but not so good a few thousand years ago......

Our flowers out front, boldly defying gravity...

It was the smell of spikenard, wafting up to the nostrils of a dying man.  He hung gasping for his last few breaths.  His body ached.  He was numb, bruised and bleeding.  Perhaps he passed in and out of consciousness, somewhat aware of his surroundings in those last few moments.  All his friends and family had deserted Him.  Those who just days before rejoiced at his coming, now cowered in the shadows.  No one would claim Him. 

But the smell....the expensive oil must have still been clinging to the skin of his feet and the hair of his head.  Perhaps He found comfort in this.  It was the last recorded act of a woman giving her all to worship her Savior.  He spoke up on her behalf and said the work she did was good, not to be despised.  The disciples were indignant....what a waste in their opinion. 

What work, woman, this Easter do you give your all too?  Have you dared break your most precious vile of oil over the Master's feet? 

How many times, Lord, must I break, how much do you want of my heart and life?  All?  Every last drop?  Yes, it is finished, take it all, the work is done. 

I am alive!  Yes, so truly alive in a way I never knew existed.  Oh, but the joys of releasing all and gaining back what is really life.  Free to love, forgive and be everything you ever created me to be....walking in your precious grace day to day.  What victory, what gain, having lost it all, yielding my heart to your will, watching your plan unfold.

Having lost some momentum I've gained insight to your mighty power at work in the lives of those around me, I worship you this Easter just as I am, as you made me to be....whole, complete and forgiven.

Had you asked me years ago when I chose the name, team Gerhardt, for this blog, I never would've guessed that God had an actual gym in store for us years down the road.  What I thought was a random idea, seems prophetic in a way now, looking back...I suppose you could argue random chance or coincidence but I'd rather believe that there really is a God who loves, cares, and created you with a specific life purpose to live out for His glory.