Author: carriedinthecross

I am a young woman who grew up in British Columbia. In BC was all I ever wanted; I had my poodle (Max) and all my friends, Saturdays at the Vancouver Aquarium and Sunday afternoons at one of my favorite beaches it was paradise. But God had a different plan for my life and my dad's job landed us in Alberta and now where I remain, in small town Souris Manitoba. The transitions from paradise to prairie were difficult and I will admit that now 10 years later I still refer to home as Abbotsford BC. Through this crazy pathway trek across Canada I have had one true constant, God; and though none of it was easy, everything that has happened in my life has formed in me a true lasting friendship with the one I call Immanuel. Because no matter how far from home we are God is with us, and thanks to God I have found an almost completely over looked beauty in Manitoba. If you open your eyes you will see that God has planted wondrous things everywhere you go.

The reason

April 9, 2023April 9, 2023 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

The reason

I was too late. She didn’t know the truth, and now she was gone. The cancer won in the end. We didn’t think it would.
Six hours we had spent together. All the time in the world. Yet never once did I speak the truth. Now it’s too late. Now she’s gone, her soul lost forever. If only I could go back. Say anything that would make a difference. Anything at all.
The reason for the death and Resurrection was so that people would be able to come to Jesus and be free from hell. We get caught up in the ribbons and the bright colors added to this day and forget, today was the winning of a battle, not an Easter parade. It’s a happy day for those who know and love Jesus, it’s a hopeful day for those who find Him, but for those who don’t believe it’s just another Sunday to stay in bed. These souls are what we are supposed to fight for. We all fail daily to spread Jesus to the world, for those who aren’t missionaries, preachers or evenagelists, it’s really hard to find the words and the moment to show Jesus to people. Sometimes a lady you met once who you pray for for years will suddenly die from cancer and you never know, was it enough? Did she find Jesus in the end?
Souls of the lost and found are the reason for it all. My soul, your soul and the wandering souls out there are the reason for the empty tomb.
He gave us everything. We need to give Him all of us in return. Don’t be half a Christian following the easy path. Serve Him and be a jewel in His crown.

Christianity · encouragement · free · Jesus · lent · Love · power of God · searching · The Bible · True Joy

I can smell it, life is returning

April 8, 2023 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

I can smell it coming, life is returning.

Walking through the grove of blue spruce trees in our yard I took a deep breath. The past several months of winter, the air burned and smelled like snow; today my senses were filled with warm scent of pine. It was faint, but it was there. Little by little the trees were coming back to life. I know pine trees don’t go fully dormant during the winter like Birch or Poplar, so they are usually the first you notice a difference in during Spring. Yet that doesn’t change the joy of having the trees start to show sign of winter ending.
Yesterday Jesus was killed and buried. Today He was busy preparing for tomorrow. His body lie in a stone tomb, yet His Spirit was working on the Father’s plan. He wasn’t up and walking about yet today, but there was something stirring, life was returning. Lewis would speak of it as the other world or realm and that is how I will speak of it also. We couldn’t see or hear anything happening here on Earth during the middle day of Holy Week weekend, yet in the other world- the one our souls belong to- there was a great awakening of souls who had lied in death for many years awaiting their savior to come and take the keys from the devil and bring them home. Jesus’s death and resurrection was always planned, God didn’t suddenly go, ‘oh no! The world is really bad I need to send someone to save them!’ He knew all along what would happen and was ready for it. Today was a busy day for Jesus, and though his body lay dead in the tomb, life was preparing to return to it.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · free · Jesus · lent · Love · power of God · still fighting · The Bible · True Joy

Thank you for the nails, the lashes, the crown, the humiliation, the seperation, and the cross Lord Jesus. Thank you.

April 8, 2023 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Thank you for the Easter presents.

We always do Easter baskets in our family, (which originated in Old Catholicism for those wondering, no it did not begin with a bouncy rabbit no matter how cute he is.) The adults receive fancy chocolates, sometimes books, sometimes crafts, sometimes games- you get the picture. Afterwards we always thank each other for our Easter gifts.
But what about the big gift in the basket? The one that Easter is truly all about, do we thank the giver for this gift?
What does Easter mean to you?
In truth the date doesn’t matter, it doesn’t have to be in April for this day to be important. Too many get caught up in the chronology and forget about the event. If it happened in June or October instead, the day of Jesus’s death would still be the most important day in history. He gave us His purity. His honor. His grace. His blamelessness. He gave us a place in Heaven. So let me refrase the question: what does Jesus’s death mean to you? Do we remember to thank Him? He gave us the greatest gift we have, don’t let Easter go by, more importantly don’t let your life go by without stopping and thanking Jesus for His gift. He didn’t have to do it. He chose to.

Christianity · dreams do come true · encouragement · free · guidance · Jesus · lent · Love · power of God · Prayer · searching · still fighting · The Bible

With Him in the garden

April 7, 2023 carriedinthecross1 Comment

‘Today is my day to sorrow’, thought the tiny flower growing beside a rock. ‘Last night a great trouble came over me as a man, or something more than a man, sat by my side and wept. His tears were so great that when they splashed upon me I felt sick and my roots were weakened. I tried to reach out to the man, but I am just a flower and cannot draw attention to myself like a bird can with her song. He cried and screamed and begged and pleaded, but no peace came to this man. I hoped that He would look at me and I could make Him smile. He left and then returned, even sadder when He came back. All I could do was sit with Him. Then I sensed a resolve in His being and He went to stand once more. He stumbled and His hands landed near me. I tried to be radiant to bring Him comfort, finally He saw me, He smiled very gently, then He rose to His feet. “Thank you my radiant flower.” He said, then He left.
I feel that something great and tragic happened that night. Today I feel as though a friend is calling out for mercy. Today I feel sad. But being a flower, I know that tomorrow will bring new joy and hope.’

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · free · guidance · Jesus · lent · power of God · Prayer · searching · The Bible

Don’t miss it

April 7, 2023 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Don’t miss it

I remember hearing a Christian lady arguing with a scholar. She had asked a simple question but the scholar -not of Christian theology- had seen that she was a Christian and had decided to take her to the mat because of it. He used big words in several different languages and quoted the Bible back to her claiming his vast knowledge was proof that he could say that Jesus wasn’t God. When she tried to explain how he had misrepresented the scriptures he had chosen to quote, and what they truly meant within the context they are in, he had fought back by listing his degrees from some of the big name brand schools and claimed her lack of degree showed how she couldn’t understand scripture even of it were true. ( His expression. I fully know scripture is true). Finally she was so tired of him she simply shook her head and said, “You’ve missed the whole point.”
In this guys vast learning and studying he had claimed himself equal to Christ, he thought his knowledge of God placed him next to God on equal level with Jesus, because Jesus had come simply to prophesy about a new way to God, but wasn’t actually God Himself. He had missed the whole point. (We won’t go into how much of what he said was wrong and which chapters of the Bible prove how wrong this ‘learned man’ was, that would take too long.)
We can’t be Jesus. Jesus wasn’t a prophet or a scholar. If He had been than we would be in trouble because His death wouldn’t have meant a thing. We cannot sit equal to Jesus at God’s side. He was and is and always will be God’s only son. He is God. Jesus made it so we don’t need a priest, or a degree or a scholar to understand Him and be close to Him. The new covenant was an open relationship with God, not as little Christs oursleves, but as servants who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Before Jesus died, we couldn’t talk to God ourselves, we couldn’t ask for our own sins to be forgiven, and we always had to bring a sacrifice- now we can talk to God about everything, we don’t need a priest to ask for our sins to be forgiven, we can ask for it ourselves, and now we have a communion with the last sacrifice ever needed and through Him we are no longer slaves but friends. Study your Bible and learn as much about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit as humanly possible, but don’t feel your knowledge of God replaces a relationship with God. Don’t miss the point of the cross.

Christianity · encouragement · free · Jesus · lent · Love · power of God · The Bible

Silent Wednesday

April 6, 2023 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

In the waiting

Today is silent Wednesday, silent because there isn’t really and event that happened today, it was more like a day of waiting. Waiting for the final bell to toll in this part of the story. The waiting must have been terrible. Imagine knowing the horrors that await you and still going forward to face them. So many can’t take the life they are in, too many give up before they have the chance to see the turn around, and these people don’t even know what lies ahead of them. Jesus knew what was coming and had the power to stop it. But for the sake of love, for the sake of me, He went forward. He knew His Father’s plan was perfect even though it would cause Him so much grief, the suffering didn’t change who His Father was in His eyes. He could have called down Legions upon Legions of angels to come and save Him. He could have simply took those who already loved Him with Him to Heaven and left the rest of us and not suffered at all. Yet He died and rose again, because that’s how much He loves us. Today would have been so hard for Jesus. Don’t let Him wait alone, stop and spend some time with Him today❤️ thank you Jesus for dying for me, even though I wasn’t yet born. You chose me, and I am grateful.

Christianity · Devotional · Jesus · lent

Doing for others who won’t do for you

April 5, 2023 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Doing for others who don’t do for you.

Do unto others… yep, we’ve all heard that over and over and over again until it’s too much. Funny thing is, the only one who ever said to love your neighbor as yourself who I have actually seen do so Himself was Jesus. Usually I find the one shelling out the do unto others line is the person who wants something from you, but when the roles are reversed that same person can’t be bothered to consider you a neighbor. Sounds familiar huh?
But no matter how many times I read Jesus’s words I can’t find the loop hole that would fix this problem, the loop hole that I have often put in myself in my actions, the one that says to only treat your neighbor as yourself if that neighbor will do the same for you. That feels right, doesn’t it? Maybe Jesus intended to say that but forgot? I mean, who would make you treat well someone who is a leech?
Oh, right, the same one who says love your enemies, He’s the one who would make us be good to those who aren’t good in return. It’s really hard. People who want to take from you but you rarely give back are some of the hardest people to deal with. At least you feel a little good about yourself when you do something kind for an enemy, but when you’re giving out to a bad neighbor it just makes you feel like a door mat.
Jesus however, never gave a command He didn’t follow Himself. To the point of suffering and death He did unto others as He would have them do unto Him, exept He knew full well that most of them wouldn’t do the same for Him; many wouldn’t even stop hating Him. The martyrs did for Jesus what He did for them, but how many more gave in to the politics and force of the rulers around them to save their own lives? Jesus knew we wouldn’t do the same for Him, yet He still walked the road to the cross. So next time I have to give to those I know won’t give back without a fuss, I hope the Holy Spirit reminds me that Jesus gave His life for me, knowing I would fail Him everyday. It’s not about give and take, as much as it hurts sometimes, it’s really all about give and wait for your reward in Heaven, which you earned because of someone who gave for you.

Christianity · Devotional · Jesus · lent · power of God · searching · The Bible · True Joy

Beneath His feet

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If I were the sandals beneath His feet.

If I were the sandals beneath His feet, oh the places I would go. I would step into the Temple and hear Him teach the crowd. I would walk along the Jordan and see fish fill a boat. I would come too close for comfort to lepers and not fear their disease. I would see the lame man walk and watch the blind man see. Would I undstand His parables? Would I question who He was? Or would I know just be being near Him that He was God’s only son? I would stand upon a hill top and see the devil face to face. I would hear Jesus refuse to bow to sin. I would be stained by the sweat of donkeys. I would taste the sweet dew of morning on garden grass. I would be made wet by His tears. I would hear Him pray for all of us left. I would stand on a platform and watch a crooked trial. I would be hit by His blood, and strain to hear His defense. I would weep when He said nothing to free Himself. I would be gambled for at the foot of a cross. I would be shaken as the Vail was torn. I would break deep down as I realized He was gone. Then I would be far away from Him. I would be stuck on the feet of a Roman soldier. Then I would spend a long night outside a tomb and be terrified as the big stone rolled away. I would cry for joy as I watched the feet I knew so well and loved so dear walk past me in a glow I could not explain. I would hear from the soldiers later that He had been seen around, appearing before those He loved. Then I would see Him no longer. But I had heard Him say that He would return someday. I long for that day. The day when at His feet I might remain.
If only I were the sandals beneath His feet.

Christianity · holy spirit · Jesus · lent · power of God

Warrior who rides in on an animal of peace for the sake of the ones He loves.

April 2, 2023 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

“…Look, your king is coming to you…he is humble, riding on a donkey…” Zechariah 9:9

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ” They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mark 11:1‭-‬4‭.

Everything about Jesus coming and his ministry were preordained right to the Donkey. In a time when so many felt like what they needed was a warrior they ended up with a gentle and merciful King. Some days all you want is for Jesus to be the type of King who would come with through with his sword, beheading our enemies and setting us free. But that has never been Jesus’s character. Jesus doesn’t want to lose a single soul, so he comes riding on a donkey. For the sake of us, he would set aside his great power and die by human hands. In the final hour Jesus Will Come and he will destroy the enemy! Wielding a sword and killing all evil. But till that day comes we have to remain as occupiers, not taking up battle arms against people but against the devil who works through people. We don’t always want to go to the World on the back of a donkey, but until Jesus returns to Vanquish the enemy, we must ride out on animals of burden and peace, with our sword of the Spirit ready by our side. Jesus will come again, and when He does He will come as a warrior king with His army to defeat the true enemy- the devil will fall. But He wants to take back as many souls from the devil as possible before the final hour strikes, so he comes in peace because He chooses not to be our enemy even when we kill Him, because He loves us and wants us. What a sad and terrible day this must have been as Jesus saw people who should have loved Him, praising Him only while it was convinient. When He was no longer popular they shouted to crucify Him and to set the false Jesus free- they chose Barabas.
Still He comes in peace to a world full of lost and wandering souls who desperately need Him.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · free · guidance · Jesus · lent · Love · power of God

Modeling chocolate

April 2, 2023 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Have you ever tried to form clay? Or modeling chocolate? Or fondant?
Anything you try to form into a new shape has one common problem, it wants to do it’s own thing. You try to form it one way, it shifts to another. You try to make it round, it goes pointy; you want it flat, it develops bubles; you try to make a fower and you get an elephant. Clay is paitence building and time consuming.
We are told that we are clay and that God is the Potter. He knows what he intends us to look like in the end, so he molds us, and then he fixes our cracks, and then he shapes us again. Just like modeling chocolate, every time God tries to put us into the shape he intended us to be we try and mold ourselves into the shape we think we should be. Where God intended a beautiful flower we are becoming a cracked and crooked elephant. What a blessing it is that God is patient. If he got bored or annoyed he could crumple us up and throw us away and give up entirely, but he doesn’t. He keeps working with us, shift by shift, small movement by small movement, until we begin to take proper shape. God has a perfect and beautiful plan to create us into something wonderful, if only we would stop trying to form ourselves into what we think is perfect, if we let go and let the Potter do his job we will become something beautiful In the end.