What's so "good" about Good Friday?

This morning I have been reading Colossians 1. This is a letter from Paul and Timothy to Christians in Colosse, but today I’ve been reading it as a letter from Paul and Timothy to me. I have also been reading it as a letter from me to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I would just like to encourage you to do the same. For if you are in Christ, this letter is to you… and it is also a great example of how we should be encouraging and praying for our fellow brothers and sisters.

However, I've been reading this passage today because of verses 19-22, which says: "For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault."

Each year when Good Friday rolls around, I find myself asking why they call it “good” when as Christians, it is a very sad day to think that Jesus Christ suffered and died a cruel death on the cross. Humanly speaking, it’s anything but “good”. But of course we know that “good” in this sense does not mean happy or cheerful, but it illustrates good in the sense of “holy”; it is observed as a holy day.

Yet in my sadness and reverence, I can’t help but look at Good Friday as a “good” day too, especially after reading Colossians 1:19-22! It is good because, while the fate of the entire world hung in the balance, the price for mankind’s redemption and reconciliation to a loving Father was being paid for by the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For this very reason we can have hope and a future… for this very reason we are considered holy and blameless as we stand before Him without a single fault… this is a very “good” thing!

Paul was very clear in this passage in that He was speaking to those who believed in Christ as their Savior. We can only have this hope if we confess our sins, and believe that Jesus is Lord. If you want to know more, please click here.

Have a GOOD Friday, and a blessed Easter!

Wedding update!

It's been quite a while since I've updated my blog with anything substantial. I don't know if this post will be deemed worthy of a "substantial post", but I thought I would just share an update on the wedding plans (each paragraph could be its own post of God's faithfulness and provision).

So, if you haven't heard... I'm getting married to Wesley Jeremiah Moses on Saturday, May 24, 2008!

I recently went to Florida for my dress fitting. For those who don't know, my Mom is making my dress (and all the bridemaid's dresses too!). The dress is beautiful... it was such a surreal feeling to put it on and imagine myself on the "big day". I would attach a picture of it, but what fun would that be?!! You'll have to come to the wedding to see the final product!

The invitations are just about ready to be sent... the assembling of the envelopes is all that is left (which by the way, assembling a formal envelope is quite stressful... even with the step by step guide, I still don't understand what order everything goes in... I'll never complain about sending Christmas cards again!!). Hopefully they will be sent tomorrow (in whatever order I feel like putting it in). Please know that each of you have been prayed for as your name has crossed our path... whether it be on our computer screen, through the printer, or as you come to mind.

In the midst of wedding plans, I am also packing up my house. Wes and I were able to find an apartment and he will be moving in it in April. This is a great story of how the Lord provided for us. I will be moving my things (furniture, etc.) sometime in April so that we don't have to worry about moving anything after the wedding. That's another neat story how the Lord provided a mover. Please pray with us that someone else will be moving west so that we can share the moving expenses and keep the cost down.

I recently had the opportunity to correspond with Wes' family and am blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family. I look forward to meeting them and knowing them better. Wes' Dad, and two brothers and their families will be able to attend and participate in the wedding for which we are thankful. Unfortunately, Wes' Mom and sister are unable to attend, but we (Wes, I and his Dad) will be flying to India the Tuesday after the wedding for a reception there. I am looking forward to meeting everyone! By the way, if any of you would like to go to the reception in India, you are invited! Let me know!!

Speaking of traveling to India... in order for Wes' Dad to come to the U.S., he will need a visa. Please pray for him as he will be meeting with the consulate soon. Please pray that everything goes smoothly and he is able to get his visa without any complications. Also pray for Wes' brother and family, who live in England, and will also be applying for their visas. Just as they need visas to come the U.S., I need a visa to go to India. My application is being reviewed by the consulate as I type this post. Please pray that I would receive my visa without any complications as well.

Finally, Wes and I have been busy planning the wedding ceremony and putting the program together. It is our prayer that the Lord be glorified and be the center of our wedding. We pray that each aspect of our ceremony will not merely be ritual or routine, but may your eyes be lifted to our Lord, Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. To God be the glory, GREAT THINGS He has done!

And this is my prayer for you this Easter weekend. Christmas is wonderful in that we celebrate our Lord's birth... but the whole reason He was sent is wrapped up in this weekend observance alone. As you meditate on the suffering that He went through on Friday, may you also rejoice in His resurrection on Sunday because it is YOU that He did it for.

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." --Romans 5:8