Loosening The Grip

The afternoon started as Larry approached me about his need for reconciliation with Jesus and in a relationship as well.  As he shared, the tears welled up in his eyes.  He needed to receive deep, inner healing and he experienced it.  Earlier in his life he had found Jesus and today, he reaffirmed His faith as we took communion together.  It was a great moment for me to be there with him.  Normally, I would have been behind the sound board tweaking the music for the band but because Juan Carlos stepped up to be our sound guy, I was available at that very moment.  I love how God provides because it was only a few weeks ago that our core team was praying for someone to step into this position.

Ed Witvoet, on behalf of Love In Motion, blessed ‘Church at the Manor’ with  a cheque for over $4K supporting the ministry at the Manor.  Love In Motion is connected with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and unites cyclists and motorcyclists as well in raising funds for ministry projects across Canada.

http://www.loveinmotion.ca/

http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/ra-dickey/

Today we brought in R.A. Dickey to share his story of surrender… by video.  It felt very fitting seeing that he will be pitching on Tuesday night and because it’s a powerful reminder of the power of the cross and the transforming power of a life changed by Jesus.  We took time to celebrate communion and remember that Jesus is our bread of life and our forgiveness. 

Hebrews 7:26 He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. 27 Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. 28 The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.

Today we clenched our fists as a spiritual exercise to express to the LORD the things that we are hold on to, whether it was something that was done to us, abuse, neglect  or something that we have done, whether that was a sin that we have not forgiven ourselves for or something  or someone that we can’t let go.  In an act of surrender after time had passed for us to ponder where we were at, the challenge was to release it to God in an act of surrender. 

The challenge in an act like this is if we can say, ‘thank you Jesus that you are my permanent High Priest, You are pure, blameless, set apart and that you always live to intercede for me!  You have made a sacrifice once and for all and paid the ultimate price, Your life for me.

There is no limitations with Jesus, no sin He cannot bear, no burden He cannot bear when we come in our own human weakness to the cross, when we come in humility and bring the pain, the need for forgiveness, the need whatever it is, He can take it and He is there to take it.  Can you loosen your grip and open your hands to trust Him with your life?