eternal life Archives - Page 2 of 2

Bear Our Cross

April 10, 2017 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

To bear our cross means to carry a burden.

Similar expressions include:

Carry our cross
Cross to bear
Cross to carry

All mean we live with difficulty. We often carry our burden alone.

Burdens or responsibilities may include:

Illness
Financial problems
Difficult relationships

We may sometimes joke about small burdens, such as:

Chores we don’t like (for example, cooking and cleaning)
Busybody neighbors
Active children

To bear our cross comes from the Bible.

Before Jesus was crucified, soldiers beat Him. Then Jesus had to carry His cross. When Jesus became too weak, soldiers forced another man to carry Jesus’ cross for Him.

Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. He loves us that much.

Yet, after three days, Jesus rose from the dead. He won the battle against sin and death. If we accept Jesus as Savior, He forgives our sins and promises us eternal life. He gives us a fresh start. That is the promise of Easter.

Jesus told His followers to count the cost and take up our cross.

That means we:

Choose Jesus above everything.
Give God control of our lives.
Follow God’s will wherever that leads and whatever the cost.

Taking up our cross for Jesus is not always easy. It is always worth it.

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Give of Ourselves

December 19, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 7 comments

Often the greatest gift we can give is ourselves.

To give of ourselves, we:

Give time
Show concern
Help others

During Christmas, we wrap gifts with paper and bows.

We buy:

Toys and games
Clothing
Books
Gift cards
Tools
Jewelry
Household items

We think we must:

Bake and make crafts
Shop until we drop
Attend parties and special events.

Yet, too often, we forget what matters most.

We get so busy giving things, we forget to give of ourselves. We

Neglect family
Have no time for friends
Do less than our best at work

What happened?

Isn’t the gift of self what Christmas is all about?

Jesus came as a baby to give Himself to the world. He died on the cross for the sins of the world. He offers the gift of eternal life to everyone. However, each person must choose to accept this greatest gift.

“I pray that as you share your faith with others it will grip their lives too, as they see the wealth of good things in you that come from Christ Jesus” (Philemon 6 TLB).

What is the greatest gift you ever received? Please comment.

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Thanks to Ashley Claunch and Megan Wollmann for the photo.

Pick Up the Pieces

March 21, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

Pick Up the Pieces-Judy Clark When we break a dish, we pick up the pieces. Occasionally we glue those pieces back together. The dish may not be as good as new, but it works.

Sometimes we must pick up the pieces of our lives. We return to normal or a new normal after a bad experience. We try to make a difficult situation okay. We may have:

Broken hearts
Broken bodies
Broken minds
A broken world

Yet, we decide to make the best of our trouble. We pick up the pieces, pull ourselves together, and move on. We may not be as good as new, but we still work.

Easter is all about picking up the pieces. However, we don’t have to pick up the pieces ourselves. Jesus did that for us when He:

Lived a sinless life to pay for our sins.
Died on the cross to give us eternal life.
Rose from the grave in victory over sin and death.

When we give Jesus control of our lives, we receive more than a return to normal. Jesus makes us new — better than ever. Like a potter forming a new creation, He gives us a fresh start.

We become God’s child.
God’s Spirit gives guidance and support.
We gain a home in heaven. There we never have to pick up the pieces again.

“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8 NIV).

Thanks to Judy Clark for the photo.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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Merry Christmas

December 23, 2014 Diana Derringer Comments 3 comments

Merry Christmas!

We often hear this greeting during the month of December. But what does it really mean?

Happy holiday?
Enjoy a good December?
Have fun?

We often mean all the above. However, for those who believe in Jesus, the Christ of Christmas, it means so much more.

The word Christmas comes from the Old English “Mass of Christ.”

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Christ.

Many people celebrate Christmas without knowing the Christmas story. They focus on decorated trees, Santa Claus, parties, and presents. They have no idea Jesus is the greatest gift.

Jesus came to give eternal life and a home in heaven.

He offers His presence and a life filled with:

Hope
Peace
Joy
Love

As with any gift, we can accept Jesus’ gift or reject it.

I pray that you accept Jesus’ life-changing gift this Christmas and share it with everyone you meet.

Merry Christmas! Joy to the world! The Lord has come.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Matthew 1:23 NIV).

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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