March 25, 2013 - Enduring the Cross

When I returned from Thailand, I was grieved by people being forced into sexual slavery with no hope of freedom and an inability to make decisions for themselves. The faces that I passed daily shouted hopelessness, as if they bore a sign upon their chest. Even though I smiled as I passed people - few returned the gesture. It has been difficult to deal with the emotions of not rescuing the masses. I had to lean upon the truth that God is the rescuer - He is the way maker - I cannot be consumed with anxiety that I have to solve this issue TODAY. No, No. I am the Lord's servant and am available as He needs me. I am asking for my next assignment and until then I fight in prayer. But still, those faces.........I have always loved to watch people's faces. To me our faces display what our souls are experiencing. Some days our freedom is easier to depict. However, there are days when masking our feelings seems appropriate and yet while we may smile, our eyes often tell a different tale. Don't they? I have been reading this morning about Jesus preparing for His final week upon the earth and while He was a man acquainted with sorrow, He was also a man who was filled with JOY in the core of His being. The Bible says, "for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross." Hebrews 12:2 Have we really considered what JOY that would be? I feel it's the JOY of knowing He came to purchase our freedom and His mission would soon be completed and would accomplish it's desired goal. I feel when Jesus thought of enduring this week, our names were in His core and when He saw us FREE, joy welled inside of him. His sacrifice would not be in vain. Kathy, Paulette, Shelly, Cheryl, Tina - the remaining 100 of us - FREE! That brings tears to my eyes. Sometimes being free is a double-sided coin though. While I am now free from the torment of 50 years of unhealthy living, I am NOT free to return to my past eating habits. RIGHT? While that brings me great joy deep in my core, sometimes when everyone else is eating as they wish and smacking food in my face, I wonder, "am I really free?" The answer - YES! Our healthy journey will always be challenged as Jesus challenged His mission even hours before enduring the cross. But His resolve to do the will of the Father and the JOY of seeing us free gave him the courage to endure. Look at your week, with a BIG Easter dinner close at hand, and realize your choices to eat healthy are based in freedom and those same freedom choices will give us a long and healthy journey. So while we may endure storms and trials that are difficult and challenging, we know that our healthy eating choices will give us the energy and courage to endure. And then remember, your sacrifice to eat healthy and continue on the healthy journey (even with its difficulties) could be giving your family and friends the hope and courage they need to fight for their health. Jesus endured for our freedom - let's endure to maintain our freedom and help others experience freedom. Plan well this week! Watch the chocolate Easter bunnies and jelly beans. Choose the food of the bunnies (carrots) and the beans minus the jelly. This is a great week to celebrate daily our freedom! This week's blogs will do just that. :) PK