He Died For Me

I was walking up a hill early on Easter morning, with three of my friends for the annual sunrise service we attend. This year was the first out of three that it wasn't freezing and the clouds weren't hiding our view of the mountains. As the sun rose up in all it's glory, its rays touched my face and warmed my heart, tears flowed as we began to sing what has become my traditional Easter song, That Old Rugged Cross. I have always loved Easter but this year was a little different. I think I finally understand the greatness of God's precious gift to us all. The cross Jesus carried for us was more than just his own daily grind. He was good, faithful, generous, loving and humble, and he took the envy, adultery, evil, rudeness, pride and hate on his shoulders and bled it out in front of the whole world as he hung on that cross all alone. Jesus died so that we might be friends of God once again, His precious children, filled with His love, joy, hope and grace.

I am an athlete and I know the journey of rising in competition, daily strapping on the cross it takes to be the best. You eat, sleep, train, pray and compete trying to keep your mind and heart in the right place as a Christian athlete so you can give it all you've got out there, and be a light for your teammates. But as athletes, this cross is nothing to what Jesus carried, praise God! He made it easy for us. Daily, the cross we have to carry is the one as light as a feather filled with love, hope, joy and grace for ourselves, our teammates, our coaches and every person we run into. Don't be afraid to carry this cross, because it is the greatest honor, the mark of what Christ did and how much he loves us. He died and now "HE HAS RISEN."

God bless you today and every day!