When I was 20 years old, I had the privilege of being a part of a gospel team that spent the summer traveling the east coast from New York to Maine.  We conducted meetings and church services in various Lutheran Churches.  We included a lot of music in these services and one of my favorites was “Near the Cross. “This is a great song to represent the Lenten season.  Every day of lent brings us closer to the cross.  One of the lines in this song is “ln the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, then my raptured soul shall find, peace beyond the river.” Let us all reflect the joy that awaits us at the Cross!  We are getting close to the day where we remember that cross, and the suffering that our Lord endured for us, but it doesn’t end there.  We celebrate his resurrection on Easter. That is how we find our rest beyond the river. Let’s look to the hope that awaits us!  Read John 19:17 -37.  Remember: God loves you unconditionally!

Originally posted in 2016 by our dear and departed friend, Terry