When a Family Carries a Cross

The first Good Friday I remember,  I was a little girl of six or seven. Swinging on my rope swing singing that sunny Good Friday morning, I remember having a moment with God. Drawn to a hilltop, I looked up and wept. Confused and crying, I pictured my Jesus dying  and I didn't understand why.

All I knew of Jesus was what I learned in my first song.

Jesus loves me.

This I know.

For the Bible tells me so.

My six year old mind couldn't understand 

Why did Jesus, 

the One Who loves me,

die?

Brutally?

Nailed to a cross?

I failed to comprehend the truth that 

Jesus died

 because He loved me. 

This I know

For the Bible tells me so.

"This is love: 

not that we loved God,

 but that He loved us 

and sent His Son

 as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

 1 John 4:9 (NIV)

Sixty years later my heart still breaks on Good Friday morn. 

Sin. 

Ugly, ugly sin.
My sin 

 I'm sorry for my sin, 

yet don't I keep on sinning 

and nailing my sinless Jesus
on that cross 

by my actions.

But God still loves me and never stops hoping for me and never gives up on me!

"Love 

. . . never stops hoping

 . . . never gives up." 

1 Corinthians 13:7

Twenty-one years ago today was Easter morning.

There was another little girl.

Carefree, 

Singing,

  Today was Easter.

 A day of hope.

Jelly Beans and Family.

Did she look up and cry for her Savior?

I know this. 

Jesus was with her.

Jesus did not forsake

Heidi Allen.

I don't understand.

But I know He wrapped His loving arms around her 

and while the brutal  took her away,

 Jesus comforted and gave her peace.

I believe this because 

Jesus loves Heidi Allen

This I know.

For the Bible tells me so. 

God knows what it is like to lose a child. 

 He sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ on the cross 

to take the penalty for the sins of the world.

And this evil world keeps on sinning.

Twenty-one years ago today a beautiful life was lost that Easter morning
 Heidi Allen was abducted
from the local convenience store where she worked. 

Her body never found,
one man convicted of her presumed murder serves his sentence. 

Yet, for Heidi and her family, their sentence seems to never end.
They carry a cross daily.

Where is Heidi?

God knows where Heidi is, but He, for reasons we do not know,
has not let Heidi be found.

Yet there is hope.

There is hope in Easter.

 God took an entombed lifeless body and brought Jesus to life again.

I pray He will do the same for 

Heidi Allen

 for

 With God nothing is impossible. 

 My prayer is that God will reveal the truth and bring Heidi home to her family.

Heidi is missing, 

Yet God knows exactly where she is.

Would you pray for the God Who resurrected our dead Jesus to life to resurrect sweet Heidi as well?

Thank you.

For more information, please read Heidi's sister's powerful  book Where's Heidi available at http://www.amazon.com/Wheres-Heidi-One-Sisters-Journey/dp/0615683606

Updates on Lisa's blog, www.LisaMBuske.com 

May your Easter be filled with hope!

BAM! I Nail His Hands to the Cross!

Good Friday is here! I don't understand. How did they sing praises to Jesus one day and crucify Him a few days later?

But isn't that what I do every day?

Waking up praising Him for the new day, I open His Book, speak to Him, listen to Him, sing praises to Him, smile, and enjoy the sweet peace of knowing Him.


Energized, I begin my day joyful. Without warning my Cheerios spill and I grumble that there are none left. Walking into my food pantry, I look at the bursting shelves and say There is nothing here to eat.

BAM! I NAIL HIS HANDS TO THE CROSS.

I walk into my packed clothes closet and think I don't have a thing to wear.

BAM! I NAIL HIS HANDS TO THE CROSS.

I think about my neighbor who is sick. Oh, I do need to bake her a casserole, but I have so much to do today.

BAM! I NAIL HIS HANDS TO THE CROSS.

The phone rings. Sigh. A telemarketer trying to make a living. No compassion here. Rudely, I interrupt and hang up the phone too hard.

BAM! I NAIL HIS HANDS TO THE CROSS.

My friend is sad and lonely. I must call her, but I never seem to find time. Although, there is time to watch that mindless TV show and allow actors I'd never invite into my house take a comfortable seat in the family room of my mind.


BAM! I NAIL HIS HANDS TO THE CROSS.

Why is that person driving so slowly? Come on get a move on, I don't have time for this slowness.

BAM! I NAIL HIS HANDS TO THE CROSS.

Looking in the mirror, I notice the gray and the nose too big and the body too fat. I wish I was prettier.

BAM! I NAIL HIS HANDS TO THE CROSS.

The politician I don't favor is giving a speech. I have my opinions! I don't agree with his political viewpoint. I think bad thoughts about him, but have I ever prayed for him as Jesus tells me to?

BAM! I NAIL HIS HANDS TO THE CROSS.

His blood is on my hands.

BAM! JESUS NAILED MY SIN ON THE CROSS! HALLELUJAH! GLORY TO THE KING OF KINGS!!!

Thank You Jesus for shedding your blood for the forgiveness of my sins. Forgive me when I sin and endure so little when you endured it all.

Do we want splashes of serenity in our lives?  May we stop nailing his hands to the cross and start living in obedience to Him.