A Good Friday reminder...

I took the dogs for a walk this morning. We have a new one in the pack. His name is Rocky. Back in January we lost our Australian Shepard, Jessie to cancer. Rocky is so like Jessie that it is uncanny. He is a big guy, twice Jessie's size but his traits are exactly like hers.

When I walked him on the leash this morning, I was reminded of what my life was like before I met Jesus. As we walked along, Rocky pulling and tugging and spinning in circles, trying to get loose, I thought of how out of control I was before I met the Lord. Unlike me, fighting to hold on to Rocky, God let me do my own thing and run - allowing me to make choices, many of which were wrong, hurtful to me and hurtful to others. I realize now that I was never really free back then. Real freedom came when I allowed God to take over. Freedom and forgiveness - that is what I experienced. He could have ended my life at any moment but He had plans for me and He never took his eye off me. I am so thankful that Jesus would die on the cross for me, so that I might live a life of peace - happy to walk with Him, letting Him direct my paths.

It is a beautiful morning. Everything outside is coming alive. And as the Lord often does, He has reminded me, this morning, that I have much to be thankful for.

Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. NKJV