Good Friday...something to ponder.

Easter on the Africa Mercy is a special time.  Our hope is that Easter everywhere would be a special time!  Honestly, our hope is that every day would be a special time - we are loved by the Most High God and have the freedom to walk in forgiveness and perfect love!!  

....but you know what we're saying.  

Easter is certainly celebrated on the Africa Mercy.  All week there have been special events that have helped focus our minds on the beauty and power and gift of Easter.  

We wanted to share the following with you - it was part of the Good Friday service here this morning.  We're not sure who wrote it - so we can't give credit where credit is due (just don't give us credit, we don't deserve it).  It's certainly something to ponder...

The crucifixion of the Messiah was a day of incredible loss for his disciples.  They had lost their friend, but they also mourned the loss of their hopes and dreams that Jesus was who He proclaimed Himself to be: The Messiah, the King.  They had dreamed of their place in His earthly Kingdom, free from their oppressors, a place of ruling and reigning alongside Jesus the King.  Their hope was being nailed to a cross and their hearts were broken.  Their dreams and their King were dead.

Many of us have trusted and followed Jesus.  But we still carry unfulfilled hopes and dreams.  Maybe some of us have lost hope for those dreams.  It feels like Friday, but we've forgotten that Sunday is coming.

Jesus demonstrated His power on Friday.  He proved Himself to be a Mighty King.  But it was not the King His disciples were looking for.  Maybe God is fulfilling our hopes and dreams in a way that we do not see or understand.


It is Friday and your hopes and dreams appear to be crushed and destroyed.


Do you still trust Him?
Do you still believe in Sunday?
Do you still believe that God knows what He is doing?
Do you still trust Him to be your King?
 

We need to bring our hopes and dreams to the cross, because it is a place where God can be trusted.  God can only change our lives to the degree that we submit our lives to Him.

Do you still trust Him with your hopes and dreams…whether He chooses to fulfill these hopes and dreams, OR NOT.

Hopes and dreams:
- for a future marriage or family
- for a broken relationship to be reconciled
- for a ministry or calling to blossom
- for healing of mind / body or spirit that has yet to come
- for the healing or salvation of a loved one or friend
 

Jesus had to fully trust God on Friday.  What is God asking you to trust Him with?  

Surely there will be more to come.