At the Cross

 

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While visiting Charlotte,  North Carolina we were so inspired as we visited  the Billy Graham Library where we toured his “Journey of Faith”.

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Visitors are continually reminded of the cornerstone of our faith by the many displays of the Cross from the moment you enter until you leave with an even greater appreciation of the cost of our salvation. The entrance is through the door placed in a huge glass Cross. Throughout the tour you are reminded of the unchanging message of Billy Graham’s life and sermons based on the Cross. As you exit you walk through and under an avenue of the Cross to face a large mural of the Cross painted by Thomas Kinkade.

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You will leave this library with the following scripture reverberating in your heart.

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Priceless!

The simple pleasure of a family get together under sunny blue skies over a nice wee cup of tea, chatting, reminiscing, laughing, and catching up on each others’ lives. Something money cannot buy!

John and I had driven 10 hours from Mount Bethel Pennsylvania and Patsy had driven 6 hours from Nashville Tennessee to spend the Easter weekend with Angela and Jeff in Charlotte North Carolina. Worth the travel? Absolutely!

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Laying Down Our Lives for Others

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Last week we spent the day at the Alamo, the most visited place in the State of Texas. So it was appropriate to bring it to remembrance on this day the 23rd.day of February, the day the thirteen day siege of the mission began back in 1836.

 

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Being an Ulster Scot, myself, it was of special interest to me to know of the Scotch-Irish blood that stained the walls of that mission in the cause of freedom.


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The above plaque reads:

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Many of those who fought and died for Texas’ independence were of Scottish (Scots-Irish) descent including some of our most beloved heroes, David Crockett, Jim Bowie, and Sam Houston.  Most of the leaders in that struggle for independence were of Scottish ancestry, including  Stephen F. Austin, Peter J. Bailey, Henry P. Brewster, J.A. Brooks, David Burnet, Mathew Caldwell, Capt. Ewen Cameron, S.P. Carson, Robert Cochran, just to name a few.

Piper John MacGregor stood on the adobe walls in the midst of the battle to pipe the men on in true Scottish tradition. MacGregor played his bagpipes along with David Crockett on his fiddle to entertain the men during their stressful days of siege.

These heros shed their blood for national freedom.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

But never forgetting the blood of the greatest hero that stained an old rugged cross for our spiritual freedom especially during this season of Lent.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

For special interest to my friends who live in Texas there is a predawn ceremony at the Alamo each year to commemorate the Battle on March 6th. Re-enactors led by piper Bill Jones of San Antonio!  In honor of National Tartan Day each April, the Scots of San Antonio present wreaths to commemorate those of Scottish ancestry who died fighting for Texas Independence.

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Who Will Win the Battle Today in Your Life? 

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As the Lenten season begins, we look forward to commemorate the victory of the greatest war ever fought through the glorious resurrection of our Lord, may we be reminded that we must die daily to self that He might be resurrected in us. We all want to see victory in the battle between the flesh and the spirit. But as with any war there are many battles and we only win one battle at a time. In order to have a victory either the flesh or the spirit will have to die. Who will be the victor in our daily battles today? The flesh or the spirit?

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:and these are contrary the one to the other.

For more study on this topic check out my latest blog “Preparing Our Hearts During Lent” on my website where you can register to receive my weekly blogs.

http://margaretmearnsbass.com/preparing-our-hearts-during-lent/

Your Heavenly Papa is Proud of You!

Happy birthday, Kathleen Elizabeth! You have graduated into a beautiful powerful woman of God! We are so proud to be called your Mum and Dad!

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Graduation is not only on the academical level in school and college where we grow up mentally and pass tests but also in the tests of life that God permits that spiritually we may mature.

As we graduate through these lessons of life how proud our heavenly Papa is of his children just as He was of Job “And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that God, and shuns evil?” Job 1:8

Kathleen, as your earthly parents we are also so proud of you as is your heavenly Papa through all the testings you have gone through and how you have graduated to be a great wife and awesome mother creating a home of peace, harmony and beauty.

And now as you graduate to another year of your life you have graduated to the Worship and Arts Pastor at LifeAustin. We know with God’s grace and anointing you will also excel in that area also as You walk with the King and continue to be a blessing