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.