Friday, April 18, 2014

Lent: Day Forty-five ~ It Is Finished

Matt. 13: 53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

It is finished…

When I began the Lenten season I never really thought I’d make forty-seven straight posts but here I sit with you today, Good Friday, and you have before you forty-five posts. I’ll have my Quotation Saturday post and Poetry Sunday to finish off the season.

Today is the day Jesus carried the cross, the one He was to be hung on. I remember for many years it seemed Good Friday was always a bright sunny day but around dinnertime it would always darken and possibly a storm would hit. I’d say, “Well it IS Good Friday.” Everyone celebrates Easter with food, family, friends, maybe a church visit, and candy, lots of candy. They’re celebrating the Risen Christ, but what do they remember of this day, the day He DIED?

I normally fast during Lent but God didn’t want me to this time. He asked me to write for forty-five days and tell people of His Son. I thought it would be an easy task to take on because I’m a writer, but this has been much harder than I thought it would be. Then I thought, but I gain so much cleansing when I fast, what is writing going to do for me?

It hit me Wednesday as I was writing my Salt and Light post; clarity. For some reason things are becoming so much more clearer to me. I sense things in a strange fashion not the normal kind of sensing things I’m accustomed to; clarity. I have gained clarity in these writings.

Let me tell you when I began my postings I had a list of things I wanted to write. Well wouldn’t ya know it, God had different plans and each day I sat down to write, I’d ask Him what do I write today; and there it would be, a post that I wrote but read and wondered where some of the stuff came from. Not really wondered I was more amazed than anything.

Five days passed, then ten and suddenly I saw a shift. My stats went from maybe ten a day to a whopping 100 page views. WHAT? I thought for sure google was doing something wrong, and no I don’t track my own hits that I only do once a day or responding to a comment left.

My comments weren’t going anywhere but my page hits ARE! There were days I’d sit down to post and freaky things were happening. Either my internet wouldn’t work, I’d  have the post all ready to ‘publish’ and the screen would freeze, or the formatting would change. I know science would have an answer as to why these things were happening, they have an answer for everything, but I knew differently, satan was not and still IS NOT happy with me possibly turning people to Christ. Oh and to top it all off, I had another birthday, a huge tree fell in my yard killing four smaller trees a dea th in the family AND it snowed in April! Ha!

You might ask why I don’t capitalize the name satan, even though it has a red line under it to make me want to change it; I won’t give in! I won’t allow his name, even though I KNOW it’s a proper noun, to be capitalized. I guess it is my little way of fighting back.

I post my blog to facebook and I know of only one man who has been a faithful reader every day, thank you Steve! You’re a good, fine, Christian man. But others got bored with my posts along the way, I could almost hear all the negative comments under their breath (whether it was my lousy grammar, or tiring topic) but I’m okay with that, I’m reaching WHO I needed to reach and it isn’t all about the FB people; I’m reaching out there, to the world! I didn’t write these posts for the grammar, I wrote them to reach ONE single person that might need a positive uplifting word to guide them in the right direction.

And while I changed my ways on facebook, things are about to change again. With Good Friday here, I’ve kept my promise to God and it’s time for me to reflect on all I’ve written and accomplished. I leave people to be one with their thoughts and reflect on themselves. Hopefully this is the time they’ll do it if at any time at all.

As I carry a heavy burden, I must bear the cross. I must release and let go. I must bleed whether blood, sweat or tears. I need a break. I’m worn thin and I must gather all of my strength to prepare for my New Year, to begin anew. Today I am saddened, but Easter will shine in me a new Light and I’ll carry it throughout the year. A year of change is in store.

If you’re reading this and you’re not a Christian, please respect my love and compassion for someone who is much grander than me, more vast than the universe, willing to die for my sin, so I may have eternal life through Him. ETERNAL LIFE.

If you’re a Christian reading this, may you walk with God and feel the blessings enrich your life. May you have a blessed Easter and may God be with you always, my friend.

Remember these words:
Matt. 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Happy Easter


2 Tim. 4: 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:




4 comments:

benning said...

Well said, Ma'am! One commentator pointed out that the phrase translated as "It is finished" can also be translated "Paid in full." And indeed Jesus paid for ALL OF OUR sins by His amazing sacrifice! We can add nothing to His Grace, we can add nothing to His Salvation. But we can ALL be the recipients of the most amazing gift which has ever been given.

Forgiveness. Praise God!

Thank you, Joni! You've done very well! *HUGS!*

joni said...

I don't know about any commentator but I do know in my research I found that the Greek word translated “it is finished” is tetelestai, an accounting term that means “paid in full.” :D

Imagine that, I researched every post I made and it drew me closer to God DAILY. Something I never thought possible but He showed me, huh. :)

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed.

*HUGS*

Unknown said...

Thank you Joni. I have been reading all your post, sometimes late at night, sometimes to start my day. Regardless of when, your words and thoughts have always either made me smile, nod in agreement, learn something new, or see something in a new light.

I love seeing you use the talent God gave you to share His word and love. He has a reason for all things.

Have a great Easter.

joni said...

Thank you so much Deb!
God has shown me some great things these 45 days. One of them being, while not everyone comments they ARE reading, and THAT is all that matters.

I praise God every day and am humbled to do His work.

You have a blessed Easter!
<3 and *HUGS*