FROM FINISH TO START

I'm sitting here in the quiet early morning, listening to the birds outside joyfully greet a new day and it is well with my soul. The peace I feel this morning is entirely because of the hope I have; not just for myself but for all those that I know who have come to the cross and those that will. Is it wrong that I see beauty in the brutality that saved me? Like the beauty of Fall colors of a dying season I imagine a blood-stained cross on a hill with another cross to the left and one to the right. I think about Jesus there dying and how he thirsted and because of that I can drink living water. I think about Jesus in agony crying out to the Father to forgive and because of that I am shown mercy. I think about Jesus' cry to the Father "why have you forgotten me?" Out of that I am remembered and accepted. Most of what I'm feeling this morning is gratitude that I can walk in victory and I get to start at the finish line. All of the work has been accomplished; all the heavy lifting-done. When Jesus walked out of the tomb that couldn't contain Him the Spirit was set free to live within me, where too...He cannot be contained. I don't think there is any more I can say this morning. I'm overwhelmed.