Heart to Heart with Cheri

I hope you had a lovely Easter weekend and gained a fresh glimpse of the power of the cross as you celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. We were so thankful to have our whole family together: Justin and wife Tiffany and their kids, our daughter Ali and Hans, and their boys, and for the first time in five years our son Chris, Maggie and Josephine and baby Lucy (down from Wisconsin) joining us for Easter. Hooray! Our egg decorating night was lively and fun with 80-year-old grandma to 4 year old grandson and all ages in between doing creative and zany designs while our fingers became quite colorful too.

I was reading this week in Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest, that “Every human being can get through into the presence of God now because of what the Son of Man went through.” What did he mean?  That praying on the Easter side of the cross is an incredible gift and privilege.  You see, in Old Testament days, prayer was distant and people for the most part didn’t have direct access to God. They worshipped from afar through sacrifices, rituals and priests while standing outside the throne room of the temple, away from God’s presence and nearness. It was only one high priest who had the privilege of going into the Most Holy Place, and only once a year, to minister and pray for the people (Hebrews 9:7, NLT).

But everything changed at the cross when Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” and gave up his spirit (John 19:30).

At that moment, the windows of heaven opened and God tore the veil in the Holy of Holies from top to bottom.  As Alice Smith says, “God’s heart was forever exposed to all who would seek Him. His heart was open to all who would commune with Him. His throne room was now accessible to all who would enter.”

From then on, we are welcomed to relationship and friendship with the Lord, to draw near to the throne of grace for the mercy and grace we need (Hebrews 4:16). To talk to God up close, to know Him intimately. Think of it: we are given access to the God of the universe, He who hung the stars and moon in the sky and upholds the entire universe by His very word. We have the privilege of connection with our Heavenly Father through Christ every moment and day of our whole lives!

Let me encourage you to take some moments today to thank God for this marvelous 24/7 connection and gift of relational prayer provided through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ who made the perfect sacrifice of Himself, gave us His Spirit to live within us, and ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).

Copyright 2007, adapted from A Busy Woman’s Guide to Prayer: Forget the Guilt and Find the Gift by Cheri Fuller.

 

Quotes to Ponder

Prayer is like fastening of the cup to the wounded side of a pine tree to allow the resin to pour into it. You are now nestling up into the side of God—the wounded side, if you will—and you allow His grace to fill you up. You are taking in the very life of God.

                                                  --E. Stanley Jones

“What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are” (1 John 3:1, The Message).

God is the greatest person in the universe. He died for our sins and for us so we could be saved.

                                                  --Kendall, age 11

 

             

Parenting Tool Box

For this month's Parents Toolbox, view Cheri's article "Connecting With Your Kids at Dinnertime" by clicking here.

 

Movie Review  - “The Ultimate Gift”

Once in a while, a movie comes along that is truly worth taking your family, children, grandchildren, and especially teens—and don’t forget senior citizens you know, your high school or Sunday School students, and friends.

“The Ultimate Gift,” which my husband and I saw last weekend, is definitely in that league. It entertains, inspires, and communicates a powerful message about what is most important in life. So let me encourage you to go see it in your local theatre. Have you been concerned about what’s produced in Hollywood? With our feet and pocketbooks, whether it’s at the ticket booth or video store and we need to support movies that are outstanding by going to see them at the theatre or renting them. Here is one you can get behind.

The basic plot involves the story of a super-wealthy father and grandfather (James Garner) who dies. His family, and especially grandson, the major heir, expects a big inheritance. Instead of leaving him a million dollars, granddad has prepared a series of assignments with twelve tasks or “gifts” Jason is to receive along the way.

Based on Jim Stovall’s bestselling novel, “The Ultimate Gift” not only provides an evening of great entertainment but passes on life lessons worth discussing and sharing with others: issues like materialism, legacy, gratitude, family and forgiveness. The ensemble of talented actors includes Academy-award nominee Abigail Breslin (star of “Little Miss Sunshine”) who lights up the screen with a brilliant performance.

I agree with Forbes business magazine that says, “We can tell you authoritatively that you’ve never seen a picture like it. Take ‘It’s a Wonderful Life, add ‘The Heiress,’ put in a inch of ‘The Millionaire’ and you’re starting to get warm.”