It is Sunday morning.

10:14 EST.

I should be in church.

But instead, I am home with a sick boy.

Our little church has been in revival all week. We were blessed with an anointed evangelist who preached God’s word on my level, without all the thees and thous.

It was some good stuff and I was blessed.

•  Because God is love, there are several things He expects from us. God is love, but he despises when we sin.
• All sin was nailed to the cross. All sin is wrong. Big sin or little sin. All sin is the same to God.
• God wants to hear “I’m sorry” from His children.
• We need to get to the place in our relationship with God where we despise sin as much as He does.
• You could be sitting in these pews week after week and still be in a backsliding condition.
• You may be here this evening, refusing to listen to God’s conviction. When you are not listening to the Lord, you are not where you need to be.
• How do we commit idolatry? How many are guilty of crafting a God in their mind that overlooks the sin and fits the way we want to live.
• In semiaries across the US, people are being taught there is no hell. My friends, the Bible does not change. God does not change. Hell is just as hot today as it was years ago. In fact, Jesus spoke more on hell than he did Heaven.
• God is love. But His love is tough love. There are consequences for our sin.
• What we like to do as people is sow our wild oats and then pray for crop failure. The Bible is full of warnings about sin.
• Sin is attractive. That’s why Satan dangles it in front of our eyes.
• If the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart, you better listen.
• If you have a difficult time loving and forgiving, you need some rewiring.
• We as humans are conditional. In our giving, our relationships and even with the Lord. It’s time that we start loving WITHOUT conditions.
• God loves you! And why you would turn your back on that love I don’t know.
• There are some of you who sing in the choir and teach classes and are faithful to the business of the church, but you are disobedient to God’s will.
• Some choices are a matter of life and death.
• You should try to live closer to the cross than you did yesterday.
• Who we are tomorrow, depends on the choices we make today.
• It is time for us to observe the Ten Commandments and not just read them.
• If you harbor sin in your heart, you should know that God cannot and will not use a dirty vessel. Nor will he bless you.
• You walk talks, and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk.
• We should be laboring successfully. As God’s children, He expects us to work.
• If you are a lazy teacher, you’re going to be held accountable for that.
• You are as close to God as you want to be.
• Sometimes God says no when we ask for something. We need to understand that sometimes that because He is protecting us.
• There are things in our life the devil will use to get his foot in the door. He knows what your weaknesses are.
• If something seems like temptation, guess what? IT IS TEMPTATION!
• We sing “I Surrender All”, but really, we should sing “I Surrender Some” because that’s what a lot of us do.
• Many of you are saved, but you’ve lost your joy, and you walk around like you’re sucking on a sour apple.
• If you are unsaved, Satan has complete control of your life.
• Just about every sin we commit stems from I — I need, I want, I deserve.
• We like to go about our own business, but that kind of behavior has consequences. My friends, there are always consequences to evil choices.
• Satan wants to cripple your witness. He wants to disable us and make us ineffective.

Can I get an Amen?

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.  – Psalm 51:10-12

For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD Almighty is His name.

Isaiah 51:15

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Psalm 126:3

As we entered the doors to our church on Good Friday, the lights were dim and the sanctuary was silent. The was a sign on the door, that simply read, “Enter humbly, worship deeply.”

The Old Rugged Cross was softly playing through the speakers and as I listened, I thought about that fateful day.

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” Matthew 27:22

It was Good Friday and we were attending the annual Tenebrae Service.

The word ‘tenebrae’ is Latin for shadows, or darkness. The purpose of the Tenebrae service is to recreate the emotional aspects of the crucifixion. For that reason, this is a solemn service. The purpose of this service is to recreate the betrayal, abandonment, and agony of the events. In the end, it is left unfinished, because the story isn’t over until Easter Day.

While we wait for the service to begin, eight candles burn. Seven purple and one white. Music is playing softly through the speakers and the sanctuary is quiet.

As the service begins, the Tenebrae service is explained. Seven readers will recount different aspects of the crucifixion. At the conclusion of their reading, they will snuff out a candle. An opening prayer is offered.

And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. Mark 15:20

The readers, (many of whom are emotional) recounts scripture leading up to Jesus being brutally beaten and ultimately dying on the cross. The last reader - reading from Psalm 22 which Jesus quoted on the cross – snuffs out the white candle. 

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

The sanctuary is left in total darkness—and near total devastation.

There was no benediction.

There was no talking.

Our church family departed in silence with heavy hearts.

But, the story is far from over…..

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.  I Corinthians 15:4

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6

Without Easter, we would not have victory in the Christian life. A popular Easter hymn – “Because He lives” – reminds us that we can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, we have victory. Because He lives, we have eternal life through Jesus. 

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25

Because He lives, we have a hope and future.

Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 1:21

And most of all, eternal life.

Because He lives.

He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. Psalm 146:6

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:12

For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is his name.  Isaiah 51:15

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:5

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

II Timothy 4:8

Love.

It means a lot of things to a lot of people, but for me, it is more than just a word. Back in the day when I was an awkward mouthy teenager, I remember well writing Julie K. loves [insert boy's name here] all over notebooks and diaries. At that time, I thought I knew what love was and I tossed the word around with the wind. I have countless diaries with stories of love and betrayal. (Sounds kinda like a modern-day soap opera). I have fond memories of boys I thought I loved who I thought would be great for me. I spent many a wasted minute pining over boys who caught my eye but never seemed to capture my heart.

Then, I met the one.

The one who caught my eye. The one who captured my attention. And The One who then captured my heart.

Love took on a whole new meaning.

It meant saying “I’m sorry” even when I didn’t want to.

It meant compromise when I really wanted to stand my ground.

And it meant loving someone even when I did not agree with him.

I share that love with a man who would do anything for me.

Like saying “he’s sorry” even when he’s not sure he did anything ‘wrong’.

Like compromising when it isn’t always logical.

And loving me even when I’m not the least bit lovable.

I am blessed to have found the one..

The one who makes everything in my life better because simply because he is there.

The one who provides a soft place to land when I am crumbling.

The one who loves me in spite of my faults and failures (and believe me there are plenty).

The one who God created just for me.

I pray that I will be more compassionate and more gracious, and slower to anger.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalms 103:8

The One, The Only, McDaddy.

I love you, McDaddy!