Where Is That Church's Cross?

I enjoy contemporary churches and modern-day worship. What I don't like is that so many church building designs have removed the symbol of the Cross of Christ. It's just a religious icon to many and we are also told in the Word to not embrace anything as an idol. A cross on a church building is special to me though.

Whether at the top of a steeple or on the façade of the church structure, a cross is regal and dignified. It lends an air of holiness to the property. Approaching a church and looking up at a pristine cross always leads me to think of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and all that he did for me at Calvary. Whether white, silver or colored, a cross is a lovely symbol of the righteousness that I now have through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

I have seen new-construction churches without a cross included in the outside design.

Many churches today are also housed in unusual structures like shopping centers and storefronts. Some church organizations acquire buildings that were not previously churches. Sometimes these churches erect a cross somewhere on the non-traditional structure or they include it in a renovation. They too value the comfort of the symbol of Christ's obedience to his Father. They want to see it whenever they enter their house of worship.

Some church designs have the cross included but in an inconspicuous way. You have to look closely to see it. What is the purpose of it if it is not obvious? The symbol of our Lord's sacrifice should not be hidden.

I can have a wonderful time of worship and be just as blessed in a church building without a cross on it but I would miss it. Think about the classic brick or wooden church building with the very tall, slender, white steeple piercing the blue sky. What is at the pinnacle of that steeple? A small, white, perfect cross, symbolizing the pure perfection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. So beautiful to behold! 

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All images in this post are from Google.

How Can You Forgive The Unforgivable?

There is no trespass, debt or transgression that we cannot choose to forgive through the power of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The operative word is choose. When forgiveness is difficult or next to impossible, we have to choose it. 

When we come to understand just a little of what Jesus did for us, we then get the power to forgive anything and everything. It takes a revelation of Christ's sacrifice. We will never understand, in this earthly life, just what He did for us. We can grow into a better understanding of this Perfect Gift. 

Our Holy Spirit-given knowledge of the obedience of The Lamb of God will begin to give us the Heart of God. Why is this important? Because God's love covers a multitude of sins. (I Peter 4:8) His love can't cover our sins and not the sins of those who have hurt and damaged us. His love given to us through the shed Blood and the broken Body of his precious Son covers all sins. 

Now, the Bible speaks of a sin against the Holy Spirit that cannot be forgiven but that is another issue. For our understanding of forgiveness towards others, Jesus paid it all. There is nothing that we cannot forgive because of His total sacrifice.

We can be proud and grateful of our ability to forgive through God's provision of his only Son, Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Ask God today for a revelation of what Jesus did for you so that you can soon start your new, holy journey of forgiveness.

One Of These Is You. Start Your New Journey Of Forgiveness Today. Ask Our Father To Give You A Revelation Of Christ's Sacrifice For You.

• There are some things that you feel you just can't forgive and never will be able to.
• You've told someone that you will never forgive them.
• You've said "I forgive you," but in your heart you are secretly unforgiving.
• Something so unfair, so devastating, so tragic happened to you and that is why all of these years, all of these decades you have not been able to forgive those involved.
• You want to forgive but you don't know how.
• You have forgiven but you still feel weighed down and you do not feel free.
• You can't forgive what the adult(s) who raised you did to you or did not do for you in your formative years.
• You know that you're weighed down with so many grudges but can't shake them.

Merry Christmas! God Bless!

 

Holiday Blessings 

To You And Your Family

From 

Draw Nigh To Hope

Jesus The Christ Arose And Is With Our Father

Happy Easter!

We celebrate Jesus Christ of Nazareth's obedience

to the Father and his love for us!

 

He was separated from his Father for a period in time,

all for our salvation.

We remember his selfless act and how he submitted,

because his Father asked him to.

For God so loved us that he sacrificed His Only Son,
so that whoever believes on Him should have everlasting life.

I hope your Easter is full of joy and peace

and a new commitment

to Christ Jesus.

Happy Good Friday In Jesus' Name!

 

 Jesus is Lord!

Honoring Jesus Christ On Good Friday

Honoring our Savior Jesus Christ's obedience as he went faithfully

to the cross. All done

for each one of us,

for the joy to come.

Jesus Christ Is Worthy To Be Praised
On Good Friday And Everyday

Thank You Dear Lord For Your Sacrifice On My Behalf.

Christian Poetry: I Call His Name (Jesus)

 

I Call His Name (Jesus)

When I am sad or in pain I call His name.

When I am lost and cannot find my way

I call His name.

When I am thankful and filled with joy,

I call His name.

Nothing would ever be the same if I couldn't call His name.

The Red Bird

A red bird comes to visit me,

He moves from tree to tree.

He looks for food on the ground,

I like it when he comes around.

The Clouds

The clouds look soft as they float by,

They are very far up in the sky.

The sun comes out and chases them away,

Buy they will be back another day.

Georgetta (Georgette) Hanna Johnson, my mother, wrote simple, serene poetry and short stories.

She loved painting beautiful acrylic, folk art landscapes on construction paper. Her favorite color was purple and she enjoyed various types of crafting.

She loved watching T. D. Jakes and Jimmy Swaggart and reading her Bible everyday. She was raised in the Church of God under Bishop Lula Mae Swanson. In her later years, Georgette grew closer to God.

She went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in January, 2021

Remembering Christ At All Meals

The food and drink that we consume daily are not the true life through which Christians survive, though we need them to keep our dying bodies alive for this short period on earth. When we allow any meal that we take to represent The Communion or The Eucharist, we are acknowledging that our daily, entire lives are found in Jesus Christ.

We are remembering that we live and have our nourishment through him whom God has appointed as the only Savior of mankind. As many times as we eat daily, it can be a sacred event where we take a moment to recognize Christ.

When we acknowledge Communion in this way, our daily meals become a representation of the eternal life of the soul, which each Believer has obtained through the shed blood of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It also gives us many more opportunities to remember God's beloved Son.

Choosing to remember Christ at all meals does not need to replace the formal ritual of taking Communion with our churches or ministries. It can be an additional, Holy way to submerge ourselves daily in Christ, to walk in the Spirit more often.

I believe that Jesus meant that whenever food and drink passes our lips, remember Him, until he comes back for us. How blessed it can be to remember Him that often!

I Corinthians 11:23 

Other names for The Communion or Eucharist are The Sacrament, The Lord's Supper, The Last Supper, Holy Communion, Blessed Sacrament and Sacrament of the Altar.

Proclaim The Lord's Death Till He Comes

Allowing each meal that we take to be a reminder to remember Christ Jesus, His sacrifice for us and that we live through Him.

How To Take Communion In Faith

Thoughts on the traditional, formal, infrequent taking of The Communion.

Christian Products: Jesus The Christ Printable

Jesus Christ Artwork, Romans Scripture On Salvation

Jesus The Christ Was Delivered Up Because Of Our Offenses And Raised Because Of Our Justification Romans 4:25

I read so many beautiful scriptures during my daily Bible reading. I jot down the ones that I want to use in designs. This one from Romans has such a lovely flow and the message is so very poignant and striking. I love being reminded of just what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has done for us!

You Will Receive 5 (five) PDFs In A Zip Folder, 300 Dpi Image Files For Crisp Printing. Contact me if you need another file type/size. I'll make a reserved listing or email free of charge.

Print as often as needed. Always PERSONAL AND COMMERCIAL when used in your crafting projects.

Most text and designs are interchangeable. Just ask!

Jesus Christ Artwork, Romans Scripture On Salvation

 

 

 

Please do not resale the files that you receive nor the prints that you make. These products are for use by the purchaser only. Please send anyone interested to Draw Nigh To Hope Shop.

Angel Policy

My products are always PERSONAL AND COMMERCIAL when used in your crafting projects like digital designs, scrap-booking, paper-crafting, altered-art, book arts, gift-wrapping and other crafts.

 

 

Thanks for visiting

Draw Nigh To Hope Shop

Fill your life with reminders of Jesus Christ. 

Spend your money on merchandise that glorifies God. 

Surround yourself with products that 

invite in The Holy Spirit everyday.

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  As a self-taught designer, crafter, writer and artist,

like Lydia in Acts 16, I design and make beautiful things.

 

My creative ability comes from God

and I worship the Lord

day in and day out. 

In order for God to bless us through our talents, skills and creativity,

we have to put our work out there.

 

 I want Christians, who may not otherwise know about them,

to have a chance to buy my products that lift up

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

and God, Our Father.

  
Proverbs 22:29 states:

 

Seest thou a man diligent in his business?

He shall stand before kings;

he shall not stand

before mean men.

 (KJV)

 
  Do you see a man who excels in his work?

He will stand before kings;

He will not stand before

unknown men.

 (NKJV)

 

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If you or anyone you know sells handmade products or designs merchandise that glorifies God, let me know so that I can take a look. I may do a feature here.

 

Proclaim The Lord's Death Till He Comes

 

The Apostle Paul wrote to the new church, that he had founded at Corinth, the message for all of us today, that we should proclaim the Lord's death till he comes. (I Corinthians 11:23) He is reminding us all of what took place in that upper room when Jesus had his last meal with his Disciples. 

Jesus was telling them that whenever they had a meal, to remember that though He died in the flesh He was coming back again. He was saying let your eating and drinking of sustenance be a reminder that I was resurrected and I am returning to resurrect those who have died and rapture (change) those who are still alive on the earth at that time.

What does proclaim mean? It can mean to claim and act as if. It can mean to affirm. When we choose to claim the belief that Christ is coming back, we act everyday as if we know that he is. By our actions of taking a moment to remember him when we eat and drink, we affirm that we believe Jesus is alive and coming back.

When we choose that every meal that we take will be a reminder and proclamation of Christ's resurrection and return, we then have more opportunities to remember Christ. What about the Eucharist? What about Communion?

There is nothing wrong with practicing these formal procedures and traditions. Churches, ministries and Christian groups do it differently. Some have group Communion once a week, some once a month, some occasionally, some at special events. Some use grape juice and I imagine that some use fermented or alcoholic drink because they feel that they are being true to ancient, middle-eastern tradition.

Some use crackers, some use bread. Some insist on unleavened bread and other types of baked goods. There is no perfect way that Jesus meant for us to remember him when we eat and drink. 

If we take it the way that Jesus meant it, we will find ourselves with daily opportunities to remember him. That will be many more chances than if we recognize only formal Communion services.

When we only embrace the Eucharist events, we have a tendency to forget about Christ until the next Eucharist. It's as if we are being told that this is the only valid time that we can formally honor the resurrection and return of Our Savior.

In the Upper Room, Jesus Christ was giving each person a way to remember him everyday, as often as they each ate, whether they were together or not. If they ate together, fine. If they ate alone, fine. If they ate with a group of Christians, fine. If they ate with their families, fine.

I take Communion by myself at home whenever I remember or am inspired to and with whatever I have. I don't feel that I have to have a certain bread, cracker or drink to make it valid. My heart is valid before God. 

I am also training myself to remember, whenever I sit down to eat a meal, that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was resurrected from his death, is at the right hand of my Father God and is returning for me one day soon, whether I have died or am alive.