Christmas 2012 is over. The decorations cleaned and stored for next year, and the residue of the season swept into the vacuum, the trash or the washing machine. Table cloths, dish towels, and napkins, however need a deeper cleansing. A time and place for them to linger, in a sink filled with hot water and Oxi-Clean in order to remove the stains inflicted by holiday festivities.
If you’re like me, you’ve incurred a few stains and discolorations during the holidays too. The stain and depression of remembering those not with you at the table or around the tree. The stain of disappointments and failures. Unfulfilled expectations—relationships gone awry. The stain of guilt and fear of what has been and what’s to come.
So what’s next? Do we rush into the New Year, counting the days ‘til Valentine’s Day, worrying over the state of our nation, our family, our world? Or do we project clear to Easter—Resurrection Sunday and Spring, attempting to sweep the stains and discolorations under the carpet of life and just keep on keeping on?
The sun peeked through my window this morning and I found my mind skipping along the precipice of depression. A sadness burrowed deep in my soul. ‘Til I heard the Spirit speak to my heart, whispering words I have typed throughout the holidays. Born to Die.
Yes, we have just celebrated the miracle of the virgin birth of God’s Lamb in that manger in Bethlehem. But that baby, that Lamb was born to die. And the Spirit whispered again—linger here.
Linger at the Cross. Don’t rush to the empty tomb—linger at the foot of the Calvary.
But I don’t like to linger anywhere, much less at the Cross. I’m depressed already. It’s a hard place. It’s ugly. It’s uncomfortable. I see so much suffering on the tube and on the net every day. And I’ve grown tired and desensitized to blood and suffering. I am war weary—at home and across the world.
The Spirit said “all the more reason you must learn to linger at the Cross and contemplate the Lamb, born to die so that you might live with His joy, His peace, and His love.”
That old hymn played through the corridors of my mind … “There’s power, power, wonder working power. In the blood of the Lamb.” Then another melody stirred. “There is a fountain, filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains…”
I thought about those linens soaking in the sink. In the power of Oxi-Clean. All their stains and discolorations disappearing. A rapid cycle through the washing machine wouldn’t remove the smudges—they needed soaking. They needed to linger in the power of a stain remover.
The Spirit took my face and turned my eyes to the miraculous power of the blood of Jesus. The power that His blood has to remove all the stains sin has ground into the pages of my life. I needed to linger and soak in that fountain of my Lord’s powerful blood this morning. Every morning and remember the Cross.
The journey through life on earth is messy. The filth of rebellious choices, a prideful heart, and selfish actions and the what-ifs had clung to my blemished soul, seeped to the surface and needed a good soaking—a daily soaking in the deluge that still flows from the Cross.
I invite you to join me. Stop awhile and ponder the Cross, the power of the blood shed there, and the love of a Savior—born to die—for you and me. Linger there. Experience the depression and weariness vaporize in the power and sovereignty of the blood of the Lamb—our Savior, our Lord and soon coming King.
Behold the Lamb!
“And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came, and He took (the book) out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne…and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb…and they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy art Thou to take the book and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:10 NAS).
MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES 
DiAne, thank you. Thank you for reminding me of the quiet at the foot of the cross. I need that quiet in these first days of a year that’s supposed to be new but already feels old. Thanks for the reminder of the healing there, also–the forgiveness and healing and hope there. I need those also, already, again. Thank you for the reminder and the witness. May He bless you abundantly in the year ahead.
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Thank you, Kathleen. As the light of freedom and righteousness grow dim in this land we are totally dependent on the help, hope and love we find in Him. Those first century Christians also knew the power of His blood. May we be revived and latch onto that promised power as times grow darker before His glorious appearing.
DiAne
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Thank you so much DiAne for this most inspiring work! you are truly gifted by God, and I anxiously await each new post. Happy and A Blessed New Year!
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Judy, thank you for following and commenting on the blog post. I pray you all have a blessed and prosperous New Year.
DiAne
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DiAne you write from a place and with the power of someone who has “been there”, and that resonates with me. The reality is that the more deeply we seek God and the more dilligently we engage this world, the more we percieve that this reality has been fundamentally corrupted. The wealthy and powerful oppress the weak and the poor; the innocent suffer; and human beings-the image bearers of an eternal omnipotent God-die. Who does not weep from time to time, even if in the quiet of their souls, does not apprehend the totality of the world and what it lacks.
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Marcus, thanks for reading and responding to my blog. Yes, I’ve been there and am still there. The tendency for all within the church to lump our words and thoughts into large groups: the wealthy, the weak, the innocent,subverts our mission. It’s much easier to focus on others weaknesses, rather than my own. Much more disconnected to talk about their sufferings, rather than my own. And the sins of the masses, rather than my own.
The cross is personal–a one on one relationship. Just me and God. That’s the problem with the church today. We’ve lumped together and measure ourselves first by each other, then all those sinners out there. Outside the doors of “our” sanctuary. We talk the churchy speech instead of getting real. There is no difference between the two groups. We have the same flaws, the same hurts, and the same needs. The plumb line is the Lord Jesus Christ and I’m the one being measured and I miss the mark. Each one of us does. That’s why the cross. Jesus corrupted Himself for me. He became oppressed and weak for me. He died for me. I hope each one of us spends some time on our knees beneath the Cross of Jesus during these next few months so that we can in truth and fact celebrate the miracle of resurrection.
DiAne
DiAne
It’s taken most of my life to realize this and get real with myself, with the Lord Jesus Christ, and then let others see the real person inside this churchified soul.
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Diane, thank you so much for your truthful insight. I was off from work for the holidays and read a book that reminded of just the things you posted about. It was quite life-changing and more and more is being revealed to me about stains that I have had for years that need soaking at the cross. Slowly but surely, I am removing those stains and I want every one revealed to me so that I can soak them out by the blood of Jesus. I want them ALL revealed so that I may be cleansed and pure before God. I believe that with much soaking, we can find that joy that God wants us to have that sometimes seems so elusive. I am well acquainted with the “filth of rebellious choices, prideful heart, selfish actions and what-ifs”. I pray that our “depression and weariness vaporizes”. These are words that hit home. I follow your blog and enjoy it very much.
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Carla, thank you for being open and honest. Confessing where we were and what God has done is what Jesus commanded us to do. I know many others will hear what you have said and will follow your example to sit beneath the cross and listen and receive that cleansing that comes from the flow of His precious blood. I would suggest you read Ann Voskamp’s book, “One Thousand Blessings”. That’s another life changer. And perhaps begin your own list. I have, only on #73 but oh my goodness, I’m amazed at the goodness and love of our God. May He cover you with His blessings during this year so that you will shout praises to His name.
DiAne
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Thanks again DiAne for the reminder to stop the merry-go-round of life spinning at mega speed. Just simply go back to the ” FIRST LOVE” I’ve left, JESUS. All the way back to the “Old Rugged Cross”. Yes, as Rev.2:4-5 “Remember from which you’ve fallen, repent & do the first works.” So simple but scary to jump off into HIS STRONG ARMS”. May we all take the time to be holy, speak oft with the LORD. Thank the Lord for godly friends. God bless all. Deborah C.
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Deborah, thank you for your love and support. Happy New Year.
DiAne
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