Update 4/1/10 Day 143

Dear friends,

By the time you read this it will be Good Friday. Here's why it's good:

"...God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting men's sins against them. 2 Cor. 5:19

"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:21

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:14

And on, and on, and on.

The truth of it is, Jesus is the most compelling person I have ever met. And I am only acquainted with a drop in the vast ocean of His wonder. I have followed Him these past 24 years, and I have continually stumbled, fallen and made a fool of myself. I have wandered off the pilgrim road, wept a thousand tears of repentance and gone back and done the same wrong over again more times than I like to confess. I've wallowed in self pity, dabbled in darkness and coddled insecurities with the best (or is it worst?) of them. I continue to need a Savior every minute of my life. I have found Him to be merciful and longsuffering, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. I have seen Him triumph over evil and meet the brokenhearted with the tenderness of a compassionate Father. He has hoisted me up, pulled me out and carried me through countless follies and weaknesses. As the song so perfectly says:

"Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
Tis' grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home."

I would be lost without the Cross of Christ. But as it is, I am rescued by it. He is the lifeboat to take every person to the shores of God's mercy. All we have to do is get on board. Everyone is welcome. Heck, if He can keep me on the pilgrim road, He can keep anyone. It's not false modesty. If you lived in my head, you would know it's 100% true.

The past five months only confirm the power of the One and Only Living God. There is nothing: no trial, no sorrow, no tragedy, no darkness, that can separate us from the love of the Great One.

Have a good, Good Friday. Especially my friend Staten Island Eddie, who showed me the Savior's love first when he pitied me for having nothing but an orange for lunch. He was like no other Christian I had ever met! Authentic to the core, with his crazy accent, Mets cap and pure brotherly love.

Thank you all again for being my friends on this stretch of the highway.

Your stumbling friend on the blessed pilgrim road,

Loriann

P.S. Good Friday service at DFG tomorrow eve at 7:00!