*Re*-DEDICATED

Greetings and Holykisses,

I'm staring at this blank box today with fresh eyes! They're still the very same, blue, mid-life eyes gazing through bifocal-progressive lenses. But they're in clearer focus because of my massive heart attack over the weekend. Heavy chest pains, that began last Friday morning, from the moment I woke up, and increased throughout my day. I know most of us have heard about the crucifixion for years. But this year was just different for me. This year got really personal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Friday, through Sunday, every time, I thought of "MyJesus," I'd get a visual of His suffering for me. For the first time, it was as if the rest of the world just faded, and it was just Him and me. For me, He was beaten, spit on, whipped, scourged, crowned with thorns, ... and nailed to a cross. For me, He laid down His life, and took on every sin I've ever committed; and I've sinned alot.* For three days, my heart has ached with a newer gratitude than it has ~ever~ known.

I'm re-dedicating my life to Jesus Christ. I'm praying for God to perform an invasive procedure to correct not the hardening of my arteries, but the hardening of my whole heart. Those areas that won't yield and that sometimes refuse to listen to Him. Those deep crevices that hide my pride, my rebellion, and my selfishness. Places where my "will" tends to stick.

I've been on my knees this morning. As I prayed, I asked God to circumcise my heart, and when I did yall, I felt it!

The Word speaks alot about hardened hearts. I know I'm not the first, to have one; the bible speaks of many. I'm guessin I'll not be the last either. There's a verse that caught my attention this morning about it:

"The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live." Deuteronomy 30: 6

Jesus laid down His life for me, and today, I'm rededicating my life to Him.
Since the beginning of the year, my anchor verse has reminded me to love God passionately.

"Love God, your God, with your whole heart; Love Him with all that's in you, love Him with all you've got." Deuteronomy 6:5 I do love Him, and today.... I live.

God gave me a song this morning to go with my new heart.
May He touch your life and heart today as well.
God bless you, to all who reads this today. Whatever your need, I pray His will for your life.
Holykisses,
L

Crucified with Christ

As I look back on what I thought was living
I'm amazed at the price I chose to pay
And to think I ignored what really mattered
Cause I thought the sacrifice would be too great
But when I finally reached the point of giving in
I found the cross was calling even then
And even though it took dying to survive
I've never felt so much alive.

[chorus]
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live
Not I but Christ that lives within me
His Cross will never ask for more than I can give
For it's not my strength but His
There's no greater sacrifice
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I Live

As I hear the Savior call for daily dying
I will bow beneath the weight of Calvary
Let my hands surrender to His piercing purpose
That holds me to the cross and sets me free
I will glory in the power of the cross
The things I thought were gain I count as loss
And with His suffering I identify
And by His resurrection
power I am alive

[chorus]

And I will offer all I have
So that His cross is not in vain
For I found to Live is Christ
And to die is truly gain