What Does The Cross Mean To You?

Most of my thinking, my studies, and my prayers lately have been on healing, because I am in need of healing now. I will be having back surgery in a few days and I ask for your prayers.

I know without a doubt that Jesus is my healer! He has healed me many times in the past. But it wasn’t until I had a need for healing this time, that I started seriously searching the Bible for examples of divine healing and God’s promises.

I have been reading F.F. Bosworth’s book, “Christ The Healer” which was written in 1973. It is a compelling book filled with powerful evidence of Jesus as our healer, and many scriptures are given for study.

The highlight of the book for me personally was a reminder that it is God’s will for me to be well. I’m afraid our faith has been watered down somewhat when we always preface our prayers with, “If it be your will, Father.”

What was the purpose of the cross? Wasn’t it to restore to mankind all that Adam’s action had taken away from us?

Adam, by his fall, brought sin into our souls.
Adam, by his fall, brought disease into our bodies.
Sin and disease is therefore the work of the devil.

“Jesus went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil.”

On Calvary, Jesus bore our sins. He was made sin for us in His body on the tree. He was wounded for our transgressions and He was bruised for our iniquities.

On Calvary, Jesus bore our sicknesses and carried our suffering. And with His stripes we are healed.

“For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit.”

We know that Jesus bore our sins, so do you think it is God’s will to save only a select few who come to Him? No! He said, “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

We know that Jesus bore our sicknesses, so do you think it is God’s will to heal only a select few who come to Him? No! “He was moved with compassion and healed them all and all manner of diseases.”

The Atonement of the cross, Jesus as the pure sacrifice, restored to us all that had been taken away from us by sin and the fall of Adam. Jesus came to earth to do the will of the Father, which was to reconcile us to Him giving us eternal life and freedom from the curse of the law. The curse of the law included diseases. Jesus redeemed us from the curse through His Atonement. He died for our sicknesses, our pains, our transgressions, our iniquities, our peace and our healing.
Romans 5:6-21



It is hard to look at Jesus suffering on the cross, even though we know that He did not stay dead and we know that He is alive today. But perhaps we do need to look again to be reminded of His bountiful mercy and love. He left Heaven and came to earth as a baby to live as one of us because of this love and to do the will of the Father.

It IS the WILL of the Father for all to be saved; including every family member that you are praying for, and it IS His WILL for all of His children to be well.

Wow! What a glorious blessing, freedom from sin and disease. Let us sing praises to our Savior for giving us life! Let us give praises and glory to our Heavenly Father for loving us so much that He gave His only son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die in our place!

(Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:17, I Peter 2:24, Luke 4:40, I Corinthians 6:20, John 3:16)

Love and Prayers,
Carolyn

Quilt Full Of Holes

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us, laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again.

I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ.


Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!

“Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy."

"For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."

"So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."

"God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:2-4, 12 NLT

Love and Prayers,
Carolyn