Debt Free

Finances-ugh. I've never been particularly interested in anything finance. Just ask my Finance class teacher (or Kristen haha) :P

But it seems like everyone is daily bombared with something regarding their finances. Credit card offers flood mailboxes, tips on how to save money are all over the place, and in this society a day doesn't go by where the dow jones isn't mentioned. Loans and consolidations. 401(K). Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Credits and debits. Debt to income ratio. Blah, blah, blah.

And then I choose to "torture" myself by clipping coupons. Don't get me wrong-I love being frugal and saving money as much as possible. But sometimes it does take time and effort.

Peter and I have focused on our finances for a long time, even before we were married we would discuss our "plan of action" for our finances. Since getting married, we have been striving to pay off our debt as quickly as possible.  Our goal is to be debt free (minus a mortgage-since that is a "normal" debt to have, but again within our means) at as early an age as possible (which at this point is well before we're 30). Part of this is because we'd like me to be able to be a stay at home mom, and having no debt would make that much more feasible with one income. Another part of the reason is to be a good steward of our money.

It has taken discipline and hard work to do what we've been doing. Sacrifices are made.  We continually revisit how much debt we still have to pay, if we can increase any of the amounts being paid, how much money is in our 401(K)s, if we should/can increase the amount we're saving for retirement, etc, etc etc. It takes time and energy to continually process all of this. But it's worth it. And we've been very blessed to be where we currently are and have what we currently have.

Two weeks ago we paid off our car and received the title in the mail. It was a milestone for us and so very exciting! We are now the proud owners of a car that is only a couple years old with low mileage, a warranty, and even a sunroof :P

While driving to my parent's house over Easter weekend (after having received the title in the mail that day), we had the sunroof open, our sunglasses on, and music blasting. We were thoroughly enjoying our car ride. The sun was setting, there was a chill in the air, and then I saw it.  On an old little church sign it said: Be debt free.  Jesus paid it all.

Many people are concerned with their financial debt.  Especially with all that's going on in the world today.  Foreclosures, lost jobs and other situations have forced families to reevaluate their quality of life.  To rethink buying a new car.  Circumstances have driven folks to deal with the debt they've been racking up and figure out a way to dig themselves out of the hole.

Are they equally driven to their knees because of their spiritual debt?  Are they focused on their sins condemning them to death?  

Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"  so we know no one is exempt. 

We also know that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).  

We are all sinners.  And all sin deserves death.  I don't remember much from geometry, but I do remember that if A=B and B=C then A=C.  Catch my drift?  We all deserve death.

There are major repercussions to my sins.  There's no way I could ever dig myself out of the hole of my spiritual debt.  An eternity wouldn't be long enough to even begin to try.  There's nothing I can do about it.  Left to my own accord, the hole would just get bigger and bigger.  The only one who pay off my spiritual debt is Jesus.  He paid the consequence for my sins.  He satisfied God's wrath because He loves me that much.  

It's such a humbling and awesome reminder to stumble across signs like the one at the church we passed on route 422.  Once and for all, Jesus paid it all.  His blood has washed me clean.  So often I think about how elated I will be when we pay off our financial debt.  This doesn't hold a candle to the emotion I feel because of Jesus paying off my spiritual debt.  Instead of being sentenced to death, I'm freely given the gift of eternal life.  Freely given.  I know lots of loan consolidation companies offer great deals, but none of them offer to forgive your debt, in total, for free.  But Jesus does.  And this is all you have to do. 

This is the best deal of your life.  The best deal of my life.

Good Friday

Good Friday doesn't get as much attention as Christmas, or even Black Friday for that matter. But to me, Good Friday is one of the most, if not the most, important day of the year. This is the died that Jesus died on the cross. This is the day that bridged the gap between men and God. Between me and God.

I'm currently reading a book called "A Walk With Christ to the Cross" which is all about the last 14 hours of Christ's earthly mission. It's a great book. I highly recommend it. It's an easy read with depth that makes you stop and think while in the middle of a sentence. This is a great book to be reading during Lent/Holy Week. Last night I read the chapter about the crucifixion. I never really stopped to think just how horrendous and torturous His death on the cross really was. I mean I knew it was bad. After watching the movie "The Passion of the Christ" I knew it was really bad. The visualization of it gave me chills. But while reading this chapter last night, it really got into the details of the cross. Scripture doesn't elaborate on this for whatever reason. Most gospels just acknowledge that He was crucified. They include being tortured, mocked, etc., but not what a crucifixion really entails. I guess if I wanted to know I could've always looked it up, but I never did. This book really shed some light on the subject for me, making me all the more appreciative of His sacrifice.

The following is an excerpt from Dawson McAllister's book "A Walk With Christ to the Cross"
pgs 122-124.

"If you've heard anything about crucifixion, you know it's not a pretty death. They took Christ and laid Him on two wooden posts that formed a "T," then drove large metal spkes through His wrists into the cross beam. We often see pictures of Christs with holes in His palms, but the Greek word for "hand" can also mean "wrist." The palm would have torn from the weight of His body, thus most scholars believe the spikes were driven between two small bones on the inner side of His lower arm. The soldiers were careful not to hit an artery, or He would have bled to death very quickly. Crucifixion was not about dying quickly--most victims suffered seventy-two hours or more before they perished.

After nailing His hands they placed a small block of wood under His back, pushed His knees toward His chest, and then drove a single spike through both feet. The soldiers were careful to keep Jesus' knees high toward the chest; this would allow Him to push up against the block, prolonging His life and, thus, the pain. The Romans had perfected the "art" of using this torture tool. They knew if a victim's arms and legs were outstretched, in a swan-dive position, the blood would begin to settle toward the bottom of the body. This would cause low blood pressure and a high pulse rate, allowing the victim to pass out. For this reason, they provided a small wooden block, or saddle, for the victim to sit on. This kept the blood circulating, and the victim would stay conscious in order to experience more pain.

Often a victim's pectoral muscles would freeze, or atrophy, and we can only imagine the level of discomfort that settled in the upper arms, neck, and shoulders. This meant air would come into the lungs, but not escapre, causing a person to choke to death. To avoid this the victim would often stand up, placing pressure on his feet in order to relieve pain in the arms and chest. Also, some believe the small saddle was sharply pointed; as the victim struggled and moved in order to find comfort, there was damage to the tailbone as well.

Once Jesus' hands and feet were nailed in place, the four soldiers lifted up the corss with Jesus on it and shoved it into a hole dug for the occasion. The jolt of the cross falling into the hole must have been a tremendous shock to Jesus' body. This may be conjecture, but I wonder if this is when Christ's bones popped out of joint. I don't know how anyone could stand up on a cross with a dislocated ankle, or knee, or elbow. Yet the Bible tells us when jesus hung on the cross all His bones were out of joint: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me" (Ps. 22:14 NIV)."

This doesn't even include the scourging He endured. The humiliation He endured. The beatings, verbal and physical abuse he endured. The mental anguish that occured within Him. This is just the actual act of being nailed to the cross.

I've said before how I feel as though I'm gaining a deeper connection with the cross and this has just been another way. Choosing this book at random, reading that chapter last night-it was no coincidence. Christ is drawing me to Him, helping me to understand just how much He loves me. Helping me to understand all that He went through to save me. Helping me to be ever thankful for His sacrifice.

Jesus could've saved Himself that day. He could have come down from the cross infront of his mockers and proven Himself to be Who He said He Was. But He chose to endure the suffering, shame, and torture of the cross for me. Though blameless and perfect, He chose to take on the sins of the world, my sins, in order to save us. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that day was for Him. He was so selfless to a selfish world. He paid the price for my sins so that we may have communion with a holy God.

And I think of Doug's sermon a couple weeks ago about God the Father in this situation. To have to tune out the cries of His only Son. To have to turn His back on Him. To have to let Him die in order that we might live. I can't say it any better than Doug did-so take a listen here. It's in the lower left corner titled "My God, My God, Why hast Thou Forsaken Me?"  

Jesus took on the sins of the world-past, present, and future.  He suffered the consequences for ours sins until the wrath of God was satisfied.  And it is finished.  Once and for all.  Dawson mentions this in his book on pages 156-158 as Tetelestoi.  

He writes, "Then He yelled out in victory "It...is...fnished!"  This English phrase is actually one word in the original language--Tetelestoi.  It was often used to describe the idea of being paid in full, or that of "perfect completion."  People would use this word to describe something so perfect that nothing could be added to it.  When an artist had a perfect drawing he would say, "Tetelestoi."  Or when a debt was paid in full, the one who loaned the money would say, "Tetelestoi."

How true this is.  The cross was a one time deal.  Jesus paid the price for our sins that we may have eternal life.  This Good Friday it's raining. It's supposed to be gloomy and raining all day. But I don't mind. I think it's so fitting for the occasion. For some reason it helps me to tune into the essence of Good Friday.

The Glory of it All

I've thought about making a post regarding this song for a few days now.  And when thinking of writing the post I came cross this great YouTube video that gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes.  The visual representation from the movie "The Passion of the Christ" with this song was amazing.  I've decided to just post the video and the lyrics are below.  This has been a song that in the past weeks I've played non-stop, over and over again.  I don't think I could get tired of it.  I hope I never get tired of it.  (Make sure you pause the music at the bottom so it doesn't conflict with the video.)

David Crowder Band - The Glory of it All

At the start
He was there
He was there
In the end
He’ll be there
He’ll be there
And after all
Our hands have wrought
He forgives

Oh, the glory of it all
Is He came here
For the rescue of us all
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

All is lost
Find Him there
Find Him there
After night
Dawn is there
Dawn is there
And after all
Falls apart
He repairs
He repairs

Oh, He is here
With redemption from the fall
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

After night
Comes a light
Dawn is here
Dawn is here
It’s a new day, a new day
Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same

We will never be the same

We will never be the same 

We will never be the same

Oh, the glory of it all
Is You are here
For the rescue of us all
That we may live
For the glory of it all

Oh, You are here

With redemption for us all

That we may live

For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

The glory of it all

The glory of it all

Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same

We will never be the same

We will never be the same

We will never be the same

We will never be the same

We will never be the same

Spring's Redemption

As I looked out the window this morning and saw one of our dogwood trees on the verge of blooming, I was momentarily captivated yet again by God's beautiful creation.  I love the changing of the seasons.  And they seem to come just at the right time for me.  I love each of the seasons.  But just when I'm getting tired of one, a new season is dawning.  Each season speaks to me in vastly different ways, but one consistent thought remains:  how great Thou art.

God's imagination in creating the earth astounds me.  Each sunrise that brings a new day.  Each cool breeze on a warm summer day.  The darkness that sets in after a beautiful sunset.  Fresh fallen snow that shimmers in the moonlight.  The magnificent colors of autumn.  All creation sings His praises.   

Spring is a season of renewal.  The dead, brown grass turns a lush green.  Trees that have been stick figures for months are once again bearing beautiful flowers.  Everywhere I look, I see the transformation of Spring.  Spring is God's physical reminder to me of spiritual redemption.  As I see creation coming to life after a cold, long winter, I'm reminded of the atonement I have received through Christ.  

I really love Christmas.  Who doesn't, right?  But I also really love Easter.  And not just for the Cadbury Mini Eggs.  (That's what I like to call a little bonus.)  There seems to be so much hype around Christmas.  With presents, decoration and the like.  Not that I mind any of that.  But it's much easier to focus on the cross at Easter time than it is to focus on His birth at Christmas.  Don't get me wrong.  There are more than a few distractions in everyday life, but do you get what I'm saying?

Each year I find myself getting a deeper connection to the cross at Easter.  I remember a few years ago when it really hit me.  I mean sure, I've known for a while that Jesus died on the cross for me.  But when I really knew it, it was an indescribable feeling.  An overwhelming feeling of gratitude coupled with deep regret for my sins.  An incredible feeling of being loved coupled with the shame of my sins keeping Him nailed to the cross.  

As beautiful as it is to see the revival of Spring, God's best redemption work is in the hearts of His people.  In my heart.  "For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross,"  Colossians 1:19-20.  It is only by the grace of God, only by His blood shed on the cross at Calvary, only by His son, Jesus Christ, that I am able to have such a sweet communion with my Heavenly Father.  The gap has been bridged.  My sins are paid for.  The punishment that brought me peace was upon Him...and by His wounds, I am healed.