Grace makes Beauty out of ugly things

As I contemplate this day from my deck, the gray hues of the sky meeting the horizon look so beautiful to me. It is truly a beautiful sight, much like the empty tomb was to those first visitors once their mind was able to comprehend what the heart silently hoped.

This day is about the reality of Ugly becoming Beautiful, it is about the glass slipper fitting, it is about the frog becoming the prince, it is about sin being forgiven, it is about Death losing it’s sting, it is about God being faithful with His Grace.

You see, the empty tomb is the ultimate sign of Trusting God, something only Jesus could really do from this side of life. The very reason Grace became a gift on that day. For all who dare to believe, Grace will take the worst and make good, Grace will bring peace in the midst fear, love in the face of anger, acceptance in the loneliness of rejection. Grace provides forgiveness for the darkest secretes in our heart.

Jesus redeemed our Human Condition with his bloody death, and God completed Jesus’ act of Grace by raising Him from the Dead. May we be about extending the kind act of Grace all through out our life, especially if we are believers in God’s act of Grace to bring Life from Death. May we bring beauty out of ugly things.

If you have the time watch this youtube video entitled Grace. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXEOEjRfDUs

The song is by U2 and is where I received the title for this blog.

Happy Resurrection Day.

Maundy Thursday, The Choice Jesus made for all people.

Choices!!! We are faced with choices every moment of everyday, and we do not always make the right choice. Some choices go unnoticed, while others choices change the direction of our life in significant ways.

Today, we can tell the world via Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Gowalla, etc.., about the moment by moment choices we make as we upload our mobile status. The Tabloids make millions of dollars a day by sharing with us intimate details concerning choices made by the “Rich & Famous”. It appears that Choices have become a billion dollar industry in our culture .

Today while on the deck, The Master allowed me to reflect on Choices. No, not on all of my stupid choices, but on The Choice Jesus made in the garden some 2,000 years ago as He spent His final moments in prayer. It was there, in the coolness of the evening, and with great agony that Jesus chose the Father's will. "Father, Not My will, but Your will be done."

The Choice Jesus made in the garden, lead him to being betrayed with a kiss, beaten, mocked, nailed to the cross, and to uttering the final words, “Father Forgive them... It is Finnished.”

Today, I invite you to reflect upon The Choice Jesus made that evening in the garden. I invite you to the thought that The Choice Jesus made was for all people. I invite you to contemplate that Jesus understands the challenge of making the correct choice, and His understanding of our Human Condition is the very reason He chose The Father’s will.

It was in the privacy of the garden that Jesus Chose The Father’s will so He could make a way for us all.

Happy Maundy Thursday.

The Choice He made for all people.