Easter Prayer.

Jesus-

How you do it- how you did it- I don't know. You've shown me love even my overactive imagination couldn't have in a million years drempt up. You've taken my ugly, immature words, complacancy, distraction, actions and mind sets all in stride. You're not even mad and angry about things- just hurt and sad, yet steadfast. You are Faithful- You cannot be unfaithful....You don't know how...it defies everything that is true of you. You understand me. You don't cower or become disheartened by my chronic rejection and need for repentance. If anything it only adds fuel to your passion and drives your holy defiance against my sin and death. You see my rejection as a challenge...refuse to give up and determined to over come my evil with Good. And YOU are Good....so Good. 

And your Goodness won. You've Conquered! We celebrate You and Your Victory this weekend. You took on my shame that I may become clean. You took my death so I could live. Faced and killed my fears- all my fears- so that I can walk and live in courage. You've replaced my insecurity with confidence and assurance of love. You've taken every anxiety and offered your peace in its place. You've been wounded and sick for my health and wellness. You conquered all things that stomp out Abundant Life. You are awe inspiring.

But you didn't even stop there. You didn't just jump into mankind's doomed story and save the day. Which You did.  But you saved as well as dwelt. You're Emmanuel. You know. You've been rejected. You've been betrayed. You've been humiliated. You've been abandoned. You've been lied about. You've been misunderstood and misrepresented. You've been hated. You've been mocked. Experienced loss. Grief. 

You've been human. You got sick. Tired. You had limits. Ate food. Had to ask questions. Miscommunicated. Forgot things. Probably had pets. Did chores. Had family and friends. Spent about 9 months inside a womb. You laughed and cried from the core of your being. You've experienced humanity in all its rawness- the glory and horror. 

And You knew. Yet You still came. You refuse to give up and leave us hanging. You had an assignment, that You were determined to complete well. You saw the daunting task ahead and looked ahead at Your Church- your joy- and did whatever it took to give Your Father the most Glory. It would be selfish of us to think that saving humanity was the reason you came to this earth when the real reason was to give Your Father every single drop of Glory you had to offer. And those drops of Glory looked a lot like Your blood. 

And when I think, that God His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the Cross, my burden gladly baring, He bled and died. To take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee. How Great Thou art. How Great Thou art......