Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Got Cross?

When I open my eyes in the morning and look at the clock, I get real tired of seeing 2:35, real fast! It happened this morning, I couldn't go back to sleep, so I got up to spend time with God. It was good as it usually is. I looked at the clock and it was 4:45 so I thought I would try to sleep before the alarm went off, which I turned off. At 4:50 Preacher man's alarm went off and I remembered that he was heading to Joplin for another day of clean up. I needed to get up and make sure he ate something more than a Pop-Tart. 
I came across this and wanted to share it. Jesus said "If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him...take up his cross and follow me." (Matt 16:24) I find it interesting that he didn't say, "Go find a cross" or "Make a cross". We have our own cross to carry and we shouldn't have a hard time figuring that out. There is really no need to make one or to go searching for one. The real question is, are we ready to pick it up and carry it? Are we willing to accept it as our cross, even if it isn't pretty?
Maybe we don't do well in school, maybe we're handicapped, maybe we suffer from depression,  maybe we have conflict within our family, maybe we are victims of violence or abuse. We don't choose any of these things, but these things are our crosses. We can ignore them, hate them, refuse them or reject them. But we can also pick them up and follow Jesus.
I find as I start dragging my cross, which is so much heavier and larger than anyone else's cross, that I am inwardly focused on me and my cross. I also notice that when I do look out and start to search for Jesus, he is waiting for me to start the following process. My cross slowly get lighter or maybe it's more manageable as I continue following. It never disappears and I think that has to do with being a wounded healer with Jesus. We are able to help heal others that suffer from the same crosses we carry. Our crosses are what makes us, us. It's what allows Jesus to work through our lives to touch others.
Now I wish I could report that I hold onto my cross at all times and I accept it as mine. Alas, this is not the case. There are times that I throw the thing to the ground and jump up and down on it. I shake my fist at it and everyone that carries a cross! These are usually times in my life when I don't take time to just Be. 
So what does your cross look like? Have you thought about picking it up lately? Or are you in the jumping up and down phase? Jesus will wait. 

2 comments:

redheadbeck said...

Wow!! Reflections of my heart this week!!! The last 2 days I went back to jumping up and down on mine and trying to bury the darn thing-so deep it'd never find me and bother me again! Guess what? It wouldn't go! So I awoke at 4:50 this am and got into the word and guess what? I'm smiling-that nasty ole cross of mine is on my back, but it is lighter and the mud from the supposed burial is drying in his light and getting ever so lighter..... Love ya girl!

Unknown said...

Wow! I just found your blog and I needed this post. I have definately been in the jumping up and down phase!!!!I am thankkful today that Jesus is so patient and has been waiting. Thanks for a wonderful reminder.