Once again, I think about the cross where you died...I'm humbled by your mercy and I'm broken inside...once again I thank you, once again, I pour out my life...thank you for the cross, thank you for the cross.
It's only through the cross of Jesus that we have been reconciled to God. Through this act of incomparable love and mercy through Jesus' death and resurrection, we can stand before our God and worship Him, praising all that he has done for us.
We're in Midland Texas at the CrossPower Marriage Conference and each year, I am caught off guard and surprised by how it impacts me. The same each time. I get off the plane and am instantaneously overwhelmed with emotion. Quick...grab the sunglasses...!! Maybe it's the air!
We know the reason. We see men and women who have caught a glimpse of broken people seeking and fighting for their marriages, who are going counter cultural in their desire to walk in holiness. It truly is magnificent...though not easy. Marriage, isn't for the faint at heart and couple that with same sex attraction and many churches responses to that struggle, people can walk in great shame and hiddenness. So this weekend is often quite overwhelming to have countless men and women serve each of us that come.
In our walk we have experienced great friendship with others who walk similar paths with us, but we walk with those who don't and that is a great gift. A gift that shows that we all have 'stuff' to deal with, and we all have the same marital 'issues' to some degree or other. It's really not about the same gender stuff. It is about relationship with God first and foremost and my relationship with my wife. I am challenged like most men to initiate to know her heart, to seek it out and cherish it. To stay emotionally connected and to serve her, like Christ.
This weekend is a time of refreshment for our marriage, a time of strengthening and being poured into by others. It is by far one of the greatest gifts that we cherish, especially in today's cultural changes in and out of the body of Christ. We would often be classified as 'fools' as Mike said last night...but in reality, we're all fools. We all look a bit foolish to the world...and some of us, even in the Church we look foolish.
This year our previous pastors Gerry and Sharon are here (from Soul). They are here as mentors, as ones to be POURED into and we could not be more excited for them. God has rich things in store for them. I just have this feeling!
So excited of what God has in store for us this weekend. Last night was great...and today...? I'll try to post later.
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