We all come to the cross with some baggage. Bring it.

When it comes to God, I think we try to show up on our best behavior. Maybe for God. Or maybe for other people. But here’s the thing. He already knows. He knows your fears, your doubts, your memories, your experiences. You don’t have to push them down or avoid God all together because you have mixed feelings. Bring your mixed feelings! Bring your questions! God is not offended by you.

I have always loved writing and I’ve been pulled away from it as my business got busier and Team YES was growing. Some of you know, I’ve decided to close Team YES and focus less on business building and more on kingdom building. It has always been my passion to talk about Jesus and encourage people in their faith walk. So that’s where my focus will be moving forward! Here’s my latest.

We all come to the cross with baggage. 

Imagining God the Father, 
We visualize a Santa Claus god or maybe the old, bearded man in the clouds pointing his finger. Is he a puppeteer pulling the strings or a chess player making moves? We imagine Morgan Freeman or Charlton Heston, a booming voice bellowing to the people below. 

Maybe we wonder about the Old Testament God hardening Pharoah’s heart and unleashing plagues and find ourselves desperately try to reconcile him to “Our Father”? We know how much he loved us! So much He sent His son and yet, we hear His son asking, “Why have you forsaken me?”

We are certain in the mountains that He made them. And the oceans whisper to us, coming and going, like the sun.We seek Him out in nature, in church, in people. We long for Him but we hold back too. We are in awe. Reverent and frankly a little scared. “I hope i don’t screw this up”, we think, averting our eyes.Still jockeying for position and performing for gold stars. Hoping we make the cut.

 
But Jesus. Maybe we feel more comfortable looking at Him. But not with all that blood and pain. Maybe walking on the road or on water. He’s at the well or in a crowd. He’s in the upper room. He’s raising up Lazarus and calling out Peter, His friends.If we are lucky we see him as a friend. (I mean blessed of course because luck has no place here. Or does it?)

This friend felt betrayal and despair, He sat with outcasts and understood.He saw women and called out the best in them as they grabbed for His garment and washed His feet with oils and were caught in adultery.The one who, in his suffering, continued to bless and forgive.

Maybe we looked at bloody images when we were young. The crucifixion continually before us. Focused on suffering and sacrifice. Maybe it was scary. Mysterious. Confusing. Maybe you turned your face away. Turned to the world instead. This redemption story was too much for someone so young and sure and busy.But today, in this moment, He gently  lifts your face to see Him. The sun is behind him and he is whole, living, vibrant. He smiles at you. He searches your face and keeps smiling. There is a look of recognition and love and total acceptance that settles in your soul. He hugs you. And you walk together into your future. At peace. Unafraid.