Pathways Press.com

Written by Mike Creavey, a contemporary evangelizer, teacher, and writer.

John of the Cross wrote that our transformation, our conversion and configuring to God could be likened to a piece of timber consumed by flames. Life, he wrote, is a long and often painful process by which our Lord purifies and sanctifies each one of us with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Just as a log thrust into a fireplace spends a great deal of time first being heated and dried out, so too does the fire of God’s love warm my soul and begin to dry it. As my damaged nature and my sins are dried up and purged by the steady presence of this divine flame, I begin to slowly transform into something altogether new. This never comes without pain, for no such transformation ever can. We usually fear such change. We fear moving away from a place in which we feel comfortable, terrible as it may be, into a process that will surely be characterized by suffering. But ironic as it may seem at first glance, suffering is not to be feared. It must be embraced and offered to God. When I make such an offering, I begin to experience something extraordinary. My cross begins to resemble his cross. In truth, it actually becomes his cross. My bruises, my cuts, my gashes, my sorrow – they all converge with his own and he takes them upon himself. As this drama unfolds, he returns everything to me. His blood becomes my own. His hands and feet become my own. Better said, I become a true member of his own Mystical Body!

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [Galatians 2:20]

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Written by Joel Stucki, a contemporary writer

[Jesus] offers life in abundance! How can we grasp how wonderful that is if we turn a blind eye to sin and death, and to the seemingly unbreakable grip in which the world is held? What good is it to say that the Lord of life entered death, that the sinless one bore our sin, if we refuse to look at sin and death for what they are? Yes, sorrow gives way to victory. But to grasp the victory, we must grieve the sorrow. A great work of art is not always enjoyable, but it is always challenging—it changes those who encounter it. We think beauty is something pleasing to the eye. It is not. Beauty has nail-holes in its hands and feet. Blood runs down the face of beauty, beaten beyond recognition. Beauty is not that which is pleasant and easy, but that which transforms.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [(Isaiah 53:3]

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Written by Allan Anderson of the Village Church

The birth of Jesus was the greatest gift the world has ever received! Thirty plus years later, his crucifixion and resurrection opened the portal to the promise of eternal life for all those with faith and belief in God. In our lives and especially within the immediate family, the promise and birth of a child is the hope for the future. In many cases, the loss of a child at a young age can be devastating and often profoundly challenges the future of entire families. Several years ago, our son and daughter-in-law lost their 10-year-old daughter to leukemia. Although the medical treatments were state of the art, the needed biological match never materialized and after 9 straight months of being hospitalized, our granddaughter received a heavenly welcome home. In retrospect, God’s grace and caring became more visible each and every day during her illness. Strength and support grew both through prayer and acts of physical caring for our son’s family and spread to other parents of the children with similar difficulties. In the hospital lounge on the children’s floor, groups gathered in prayer, new friendships were formed, and the definition of needed support was understood and realized. There were care portals on the Internet that contained international support and commentary. This led to the anticipated get together called “Wonderful Wednesdays” where trends and surprises were gathered and shared: a perfect example of people being the hands of God. When life came to an end, the caring continued. Out east, the ritual of calling hours at a funeral home brought over 250 visitors to offer expressions of love to our family. The next day, almost 600 people attended the Memorial service for our beautiful 10-year-old girl. Sadness had become personal strength! Once again, a child was born and through the strength of faith and understanding, countless lives found meaning and direction to assure others and build confidence for their futures.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. [Psalm 147:3]

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