Amazing Love

"Amazing Love, How can it be, that you my King would die for me?"

These words from one of my favorite hyms are what came to mind as I opened my eyes this morning. I just laid there for a moment and thought, oh what a glorious day! This is my Jesus's day!! The day the King of all Kings gave His life for me... did you read that?? ME! Teri Lynn Crutcher DeLucca. Deserving? No siree! It truly is amazing love, He didn't have to give His life for us, He wanted to. The Bible says He could have called 10,000 angels to come and take His place on that cross but yet He chose to suffer a brutal death (images from the movie the Passion of the Christ come to mind, brutal indeed) so that I could have an eternal life, a life with Him after my own death.

I have struggled this week with my swollen lip issue again. I know it is funny and provides a nice laguh for all who see how ridiculous I look, hey even the nurse at my phsyicians' office laghed at me- but in all seriousness, it is quite painful. They swell up so large that it hurts to eat, smile, talk, and laugh! All of my favorite activities! Its silly but the first time this happened I tried to stay in and didn't want to leave my house, I was so embarrassed of how I looked. In fact, while Kim and I were waiting in urgent care (thank you again to my amazing friend who sat hours with me so I wouldn't be alone) a mom told her daughter not to stare at me, you know b/c of my deformity. RUDE!!! This time though, I realized that it really doesn't matter all that much. So I look weird and have some pain in my mouth. Big freaking deal. I can still walk, work, play with Sammy, and continue on with my life (albeit kissing is still difficult, poor Sam) so I did just that. I went to my office hours and saw the students that came (yes they stared & one girl studdered) , I met with my ST student about her thesis, I even went to dinner with Sam and Kim! It was a good lesson in realizing my beauty is not outside, it is in. It made me so thankful for they way I usually look and made me fully appreciate that at any moment, it really all could change. Accidents and illnesses occur all the time and there are many people struggling with such on a daily basis. My heart was saddened for those we are praying for right now who are fighting for their lives.

I know it sounds dramatic of me, but God used my little lip issue to get me thinking and really appreciate life and death, and in turn prepared my heart for this amazing Good Friday. Our bodies really are just weak. We are so suceptible to illness, pain, death. It is just proof that they were not meant to live forever and that life goes by way to fast and then we each will die. I know I am being a touch morbid, but I really feel as if God used this last experience to speak to me about living my life with purpose. I only have this one shot at life and I want to live my life in a way that is honorable and pleasing to Him, and most imporatnly to help to change the lives of others. It is my deepest desire that when that glorious day comes when can finally run into my Savior's arms and meet Him face to face, I will hear him say "Well done my good and faithful servant". It all started with this day, many years ago when He gave His life for mine. Jesus lived His life with purpose, with God's plan for His life in mind, and in doing so changed my life. I am an entirely different person than I was without Him. Thus, I hope and pray that I will not get so caught up in the day to day trials of this life that I forget the big picture. I pray that I will keep my focus on Him and live my life according to His plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11-12) and in doing so may change the lives of others and introduce them to my sweet Jesus.

"He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed." Isaiah 53:5

"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8

" I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. " Philippians 3:10-12:10 I


I hope you have a happy Easter weekend!