"Lord, Can I prune my Cross"?

It’s Lenten. Time out for worldly musings and absurd rantings :D.

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Meet Joe

As you pauses and behave with me this quiet week, I have something cute (and heavenly) for each & everyone to ponder. Just pardon my made-up script for this one ha, - and spare as well the freaking character “Joe” in the starring role. At the end, you’ll gather: the parable is not the poor guy’s prophetic yarn alone, - It could be ours. ….. or that of our neighbors and love ones’. And as the time of spiritual reflection prompt us to be Good and Holy, and had this timely piece touches your heart, then feel free to forward the message -
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No Cross No Crown, No Pain No Glory,

Mortals are said to be created in the image and likeness of God. And like Jesus-Christ, we too walk this fallen world with a wooden CROSS that stood by stubbornly in our shoulder. And whilst the thing looked short and lighter for some, it looked tall and heavier for the rest..

“Joe” think his is heavy so he thought of bargaining with the Lord...
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To which the Almighty Father replied, “you were given a free-will son, PRUNE it as you like”.

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Exactly what the clever joe did. After the shedding and trimming, he continue walking the race.
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that with a lightened one, he could overtake his uncomplaining but equally hardened fellow by a long shot - who managed to maintain their drive and balance against all odds.

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Yet again, tormented by his pickle and contradictory nature, Joe who seemed to master the guts of an open conversation halted in the middle, and re-bargain shamelessly with the Lord...
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"As you will my dear son", thus saith the Lord once more. So whilst his peer struggle to stay afloat, he made himself busy in pausing & cross-pruning.

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indeed, his love for prunning fulfilled his heart's delight..."for this is only what my body could hold, and what my spirit could take, he murmurs"...

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.brimming with confidence and pride, he pressed on with a newfound strength -

True enough, w/ a shorter and lighter cross, he is now stone-throw away to the Finish Line. As per the King's rule however, Joe has to pass a "deep-dark hole" dividing the Heaven from the Earth. He should intersect safely that burning, daunting corner down under using his cross that chaperone him throughout the long, and tiring journey.

"Welcome Loyal, and Faithful Servants...Come and Take your Crown" (the Lord calls)

Yet, he had seemed to over-prune the same that it couldnt bridge him to the other side.

.Now he had sensed the purpose of a big, fat wood God appointed to buddy him. He supposed to keep its size and tolerate its weight for a serious purpose.

Joe learnt his lesson - too late though. The Gate of Heaven had closed. And he missed his crown.

He ended up a loser. Apologetic and repentant. I ain't sure of his 2nd chance to re-start the race. In as much as I believe, he had already reaches the margin of life and death.

Shame & Creepy, we seemed to mirror ourselves in Joe. Christians who disdain life's battles. Sons & Daughters of the Father who disobeyed His will and disciples who lose Faith. Human who chose to remain in comfort zones & in fleeting carnal pleasures over what's righteous, peaceful and eternal..

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Christ and the Cross

The story of Jesus is far more interesting. To His Cross, He was nailed. His pain more fiercing, more dreadful even. He became a Man who had to march in agony on the way to crucifixion and death there in Calvary. And we were acquainted to the fact that He died to save you and me - for us who are good at sinning and in complaining.

He was wounded, mocked, bruised, savagely whipped and robbed. And as the cruel scourge came down upon His frail back, He moaned in torment yet did not whine. He did not resist arrrest even He knew the reason of His afflictions and would-be murder, the very purpose why he had to carry such a terrible cross; why He had to stretch his arms, bleed and die in hunger and in thirst. Our Redeemer and Saviour has taught us a shining example. And until this very moment help us carry the larger part of our own freaking cross. What a loving friend, a wonderful mentor, a Marverlous God!

An excerpt from one of my fave' worship song says:

“Thank you for the Cross, the Mighty Cross
That God Himself would die for such as Us
And everyday were changed
into your image more and more
Yes by the Cross, we’ve truly been transformed”


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credit: whoever own the graphics, tx too. god bles u. :D