A Cross To Bear

Text:Luke 23:1-49
The city of Jerusalem was jammed. I turned to work my way out of the crowd and was suddenly face to face with an angry Roman Soldier. He grabbed me and shouted, "You carry the cross!" I was pushed in front of a man bearing up under a heavy cross of timber. I expected to see the face of a man so hardened and cruel but to my surprise, love shone through saddened eyes that seemed to look deep into my soul.

The soldier shoved me beneath the cross. When we arrived at Golgotha, the soldiers pushed me aside. I watched them nail this man to a cross. As I stood to the side, I heard him say, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Who was this man who could forgive them even through this kind of pain and suffering, knowing the worst was yet to come?

I found myself unable to leave. The sky darkened. Fear and tension gripped the crowd. What was happening? I fell to the ground. I then heard a centurion say, "Truly this was the Son of God." I will never forget the scene that night on the dark hillside! To think that I saw Him die. I had been the one chosen to bear His cross - the cross that brought death to God's own son!

A CROSS TO BEAR

This story of the crucifixion, as Simon of Cyrene may have told it, paints a picture of why Jesus left all the beauty and happiness and love in Heaven to come to earth to hang on the cross and suffer so terribly. He did it out of LOVE FOR US!

Only when His blood is applied to our hearts can we be set free from sin and eternal death. He loves us so much! We have all been chosen to bear the cross of Christ. But some of us are running from it out of fear. We have watched others who have taken up that cross, bearing it for Jesus, for the sake of sharing the Gospel with the world. We have seen suffering they have had to endure, and we want no part of it. But we cannot compare our calling with someone else's calling. Our journey most likely will be much different than theirs. No matter what it brings, trust in the Lord and know that all that we go through is to prepare and strengthen us with the ability to bear the cross for Him.

Allow the work of the cross to change you. Stop running and fighting to escape the "crowd" as Simon of Cyrene did. Don't let it take the brutal hands of an angry soldier to throw you at the feet of Jesus. But LET THE LOVE OF GOD COMPEL YOU TO BEAR THAT CROSS FOR CHRIST. After all...Christ bore the sufferings of the cross for you.

Do YOU remember YOUR day.....or maybe you have yet to TAKE UP THAT CROSS....and FOLLOW HIM????

And when He had called the people to Himself; with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whosoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34

Connie J. Schmoll

The Ark Was More Than Just A Boat

THE ARK WAS MORE THAN JUST A BOAT
(Dedicated To My Sister, Beth Buker)

Have you ever entered a place or someone's home where you just felt safe? This was how it was and still is at the home of my sister, Beth. I can remember clear back in my wild partying days when my life was not very stable. I knew that I always had a safe place to stay at her home. The door was always open to me and she did this even before she started living for the Lord so I know that God has always had a special plan for her.

Once she started living for God, I began seeing her home like Noah's Ark. She began and continues to build her future on high ground. She knows we are all in the 'same boat' and need salvation. Even though it's been hard at times, and during the times when it seems she was standing alone, she has never allowed the critics to keep her from doing what God wanted her to do. She put action to her faith no matter the persecution she had to endure from family and friends. Noah could have believed God yet still drowned if he had not been obedient and built the ark.

You see, “Noah's Ark” was more than just a boat. It was a place of safety for me and for many others when the storms of life hit and it was my sister, Beth who provided that place for us. This ark was the boat of opportunity that can be easily missed if we do not jump aboard in the time needed. Because we know that opportunity often knocks in times of trouble, as it did for Noah.

When times of trouble came for me, I knew I had an ark of safety that I could run to. To this day, I hold a special memory in my heart always for that place. If I could just leave some encouraging words for Beth and for others, those words would be:

1. Continue to live righteous, even if you are the only one. It will be noticed.

2. Always plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah began building the ark.

3. Don’t miss the boat! Never forget this underlying truth: that ultimately when all is said and done, we’re all in the same boat in need of salvation!

4. Noah's Ark teaches the value of making a plan and sticking to it, even through times of overwhelming odds.

5. Never underestimate the talents and gifts that God has given you. The ark was built by amateurs; the titanic by professionals.

6. When God gives you a plan to do something, He will always provide what is needed for you to complete the task.

7. No matter the persecution, continue the work of God until finished. You WILL be greatly rewarded.

8. Have patience. The ark wasn't built in a year and the flood wasn't finished in forty days and forty nights.

9. When you become stressed, just float awhile, because you are way too blessed to be stressed!

10. Never seek to go it alone. Always travel at least in pairs. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

11. Remain faithful and remember … No matter the storm, when you are with God, there is always sunshine after the rain and there is always a rainbow of peace waiting at the other side of the storm.

Connie J. Schmoll

Born To Win & Walking With A Stranger

Hello friends & family,
Some of you know my dad and his story and what he's been through and what God had done in his life. I wanted to share with you all a poem written by my dad in prison called "I'm Born To Win" and also Dad took a song called "Waltz Across Texas" and changed the words to it and wrote "Walking With A Stranger". It's really good! ENJOY! I LOVE YOU DAD!!











I'M BORN TO WIN!
By Ron Corder

Locked away and left to rot,
I blamed another for the time I got.
Mad at life I’d curse and cry.
“How could you GOD“? Why, oh why?

My days were marked by fits of rage,
As I fought and kicked against my cage.
My nights were marred by fitful dreams,
As I plotted future vengeful schemes.

Then finally one day I let GOD in,
When I found a book called “Born To Win”.
Unsure at first, I had my doubts.
Until I cracked the book to check it out.

I read each chapter one by one.
My walk with JESUS had begun.
He took my hand and lifted me
From the bowels of hell and set me free.

Now, his word I study every day.
And on my knees I kneel and pray.
And like the Bereans before me too,
I search to prove each word is true.

In my cell I sit upon my bed,
And thank the LORD for my daily bread.
For the blood that JESUS shed for me.
And for his work on Calvary.

And now that I’m hip to Satan’s lies,
I will my faith, not compromise.
I’m no longer bound to death or sin.
For now I know, “I’m Born To Win”.

Author, Ronald D. Corder
========================================







WALKING WITH A STRANGER
By Ron Corder

Oh I started my journey down a dark lonely road,

when along came this stranger, asking to come along
I said that I'm looking for a partner that will stay
He said, I'll always be here, keep your eyes upon me

As we continued our journey on down this road
He said, “My name is Jesus and we will make a great team.

I've known you for a long time and saved you just now
I picked you just special for this job I have in mind

Oh I started this journey alone in the dark
And now look who's with me providing the light,

He took me from the darkness and has now changed my life
And I'm walking this journey of life.

Now he said he's been watching and kept me from harm,

saving me for something special, that was planned just for me
I've been looking for something special all of my life.
For what, I wasn't sure
Here it was this stranger I'd been looking for all along

Just walking with Jesus, not worried about time,

We'll be fighting the devil, keeping God's Word alive
Just walking with Jesus, telling all that I see
Jesus is coming, just follow along with me.

Come join my team, I'm sure that you will see
How wonderful our defeat over the devil will be,

By joining the team Jesus left me to lead.

12-30-10 through 1-23-11