Our King Jesus, on this (Good Friday) Gave His life on the Cross for you and me. What would you say to to Him if you had a chance to talk to Him face to face. What thoughts come to your mind when you imagine standing in front of the Man who sacrificed everything so that we could have abundant life. This morning as I pondered this in my heart I became overwhelmed in His presence. At that moment I fell to my knees. I thought that I was going to cry out and pray but I found myself speechless....... No words, No sounds..... I started thinking about what the gift of salvation means to us. So with the help of Charles Stanley here are the 5 things that flooded my heart and brought me to complete silence.......
Jesus' shed blood redeems believers (1 Peter 1:18-19) knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.. This means that we are purchased from a life of slavery to sin. Furthermore, we receive forgiveness—the wrongs of our past, present, and future are totally washed away (Eph. 1:7-8). In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace ….. which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight….. For the rest of eternity, God views His children through the "veil" of Christ's blood, which makes them pure and holy. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is declared no longer guilty (justified—Rom. 5:8-9) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. and brought into relationship with God (reconciled—Col. 1:19-22). For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— This unalterable change in status from sinner to saint happens the moment a person receives Christ as Savior.
The final word, sanctified, describes the life-long maturing process that begins when a person trusts in the Savior (Heb. 13:12) Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. . A saint is set apart from the rest of humanity for the purpose of making him Christ-like. Through discipleship, testing, and teaching, God "drains out" our old self and pumps the life of Jesus into our heart and life.

Today I'm just free styling. I should be writing this on my Honesty blog page, but it is only by God's grace and for His Glory that I'm able to share straight from the heart. For years I have called myself a believer. It wasn't until a few short years ago that I found intimacy with Christ. I have ran from God my entire life. In the process of running I have hurt countless people. I'm ashamed at the way I treated people in my past. People would say on the outside looking in "Not you man" but yes me. I had a chance to confront and sit down over a cup of coffee and ask someone that I wronged over 12 years ago to forgive me. To my amazement they had forgiven me years before and gave it all to God. We talked and cried for hours. I literally saw a picture of God's Grace so clear yesterday. It was as if God was saying this is what I did for the world. I forgave all the sins and wrongs that the world has ever done, is doing right now, and will do in the future. He loves us in spite of our imperfections. Oh How He Loves you and me....... I regained a friend for life yesterday that's for sure, but the key relationship that was restored was my relationship with Jesus. I know you are saying right now that Greg you talk about your relationship with God everyday. I do. I do, but relationships grow and mature. I'm on a amazing Journey with Jesus. I'm far from perfect. I make mistakes all the time. The road gets bumpy from time to time. As my friend said yesterday life happens. This week means everything to me. As I said in my blog yesterday I take this time every year to realign my life and pray that God works on my heart. To watch, see and feel Him at work yesterday was amazing. He literally rocked my world..........Passion week pulls everything together for me in my life. God is my Rock..... This week exhibits the greatest Love ever shown. God knew when He created us that this week of passion would happen. On this very day He broke bread and drank wine with the 12 disciples. Representing the blood of the New Covenant. I hope this week is significant to you. If not I plead with you to open your heart to Him. Let Him in. Behold He stands at the door and knock. Open up and let Him in. It doesn't matter what you have done. No sin is too great for God to forgive. In fact He has already forgiven you as my friend had forgiven me. You just have to accept it. Today is the day. Salvation is here. Passion week is so significant to me. Start asking God what your next steps are. It may be just to find a church this week. Go visit. I promise you it will start an amazing journey.
Today was me just being honest. Its not about me. Its all about Jesus. Just say yes to Him..........

As I look back on my life and I think of what this week means to me and to the life of a believer my heart is filled with so much gratitude. I'm forever thankful for the Cross. Passion week is what we have named it at Journey. I can't imagine what Jesus felt that night in the garden of Gethsemane. Our finite minds can't come close to imagining what He went through for us. My sins carried Jesus to the Cross. The way I try to live out my life apart from being Spirit-filled carried Him to the Cross. Man I'm so selfish, Yet His Grace, Love and Mercy reached down from heaven and extended the greatest gift (invitation) ever. He bore the sin wait of the world on His shoulders. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus marvelous is the name. Don't wait until the day of judgment to exalt Him. Exalt Him today. Today is the day. He is worthy. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for you and I.

Matthew 26:36-46

Jesus journeyed into the deepest pit of despair hours before His crucifixion. In the garden of Gethsemane, He repeatedly prayed that "the cup" would pass away (Matt. 26:39). Christ was staring into a chalice of wrath and judgment that must have made His soul recoil (Is. 51:17). Mankind had filled it with the most depraved and evil deeds and thoughts they could conceive. According to Scripture, Jesus Christ did not just die for our sins; He became our sin (2 Cor. 5:21). The holy, perfect Lamb took on Himself all that was vile and dark.

Furthermore, Jesus knew the consequences of accepting mankind's evil. God's holiness prevented Him from being in the presence of sin. Therefore, the Father would have to separate Himself from the Son. Jesus had always enjoyed perfect oneness and relationship with God. To contemplate a wrenching rejection and separation must have been terrifying.

There was no question that Jesus would do God's will. He would become sin and be separated from the Father, if that's what was required to save mankind. For a while in the garden, He pleaded for another route to our redemption. However, when it was clear that the Father's answer was "No, this is the only way," Jesus obediently sacrificed Himself.

Jesus Christ sacrificed more than His life. He exchanged perfection for wickedness and holy union for separation. The Savior did this so we could be transformed into righteous men and women with an eternal future. No wonder all of heaven exalts Him (Rev. 5:11-14). We must do the same.

So people always ask how do you keep intimacy with Christ. Many believers long to have intimacy with Christ and long to keep it when they have it. One way I have found to do that is to keep your heart at the foot of the cross. This is where it begins and ends. The cross was the plan from the beginning of man's creation. When God made us He knew that He would Suffer this tremendous pain. His love for us is so immeasurable. Daily I have to give myself a heart check. Time after time I have to re-evaluate my heart. My daily strength is not in myself or my will-power. As believers we must never forget the Cross. I usually take time out this week before Easter to focus on the cross. The gift of the Cross means everything to me. For the believer it keeps us close to God's Heart. This Easter take some time out to relish in the love of the Cross. What a wonderful Lord and Savior. (1 Cor. 1:18-31)
Consider how illogical Jesus' crucifixion looked to first-century observers. The Romans, who were concerned with power, probably wondered how a mighty God could allow enemies to kill Him. The Greeks valued wisdom and no doubt thought, There must surely have been a better way than the cross! And the Jews, who longed for victory over oppressors, probably felt bewildered to see Jesus humbly let Himself be brutally killed.

Yet, what seemed foolish was actually a brilliant plan. Through the cross, the Lord powerfully revealed His character. First, we see His unconditional love in dying for those who sinned against Him (John 3:16). Second, His righteousness is apparent—only the perfect sacrifice of His own blood could satisfy the penalty for sin. Third, He shows His faithfulness by redeeming us at so great a cost. And fourth, Jesus demonstrates power by conquering sin and death.

In addition to all this, the cross exposed and disarmed Satan (Col. 2:15), who no longer has authority over Christians. Though he can tempt and try followers of Christ, the Holy Spirit is there to strengthen and guide believers to victory.

One last benefit of God's remarkable plan is that we are eternally secure because of the price Jesus paid. That gives us hope and confidence about our future.

Though the cross seems absurd to those who don't understand, God's children know it is the Father's wise design. We have assurance for today and security for tomorrow only because of this amazing event that occurred over 2000 years ago. We have no need to fear, but every reason to hope. Charles Stanley