Met at the Cross

[Hope]

When we think of the Cross, two words we must never associate
with it are the words "tragic accident." Peter makes very clear
that two separate streams of power converged at the cross. Evil had
its way and brought the Son of God to the Cross. God had his plan
and he allowed the cross to happen to redeem us. The Cross was no
accident. What hell had intended as our ultimate defeat, God used
to bring us redemption and triumph. The best and worst of all
things collided. Of course the Cross wasn't the ultimate answer in
this battle; the empty tomb and the resurrected Lord are. We are
the victorious recipients of this grace, paid at such an agonizing
cost, administered in such a cruel manner by our greatest
adversary, and secured by Jesus' triumph over the grave.
-Phil Ware

[best]

Chuck Lawrence wrote the music and lyrics for 'He Grew The Tree' in 1982. Barbara Mandrell recorded it.

He Grew The Tree


HE MOLDED AND BUILT A SMALL LONELY HILL
THAT HE KNEW WOULD BE CALLED CALVARY.
THEN HE MADE THE SEED THAT WOULD GROW TO BE
THORNS THAT WOULD MAKE HIS SON BLEED.
THEN HE MADE A GREEN STEM
GAVE IT LEAVES AND THEN GAVE IT SUNSHINE AND RAIN AND
SHELTERED IT WITH MOSS.
HE GREW THE TREE HE KNEW WOULD BE
USED TO MAKE THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.

II
WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES GOD LOOKED DOWN THROUGH TIME
SAW HIM SPAT UPON REJECTED AND MOCKED.
STILL HE GREW THE TREE HE KNEW WOULD BE
USED TO MAKE THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.
CHORUS

NOTHING TOOK HIS LIFE WITH LOVE HE GAVE IT.
HE WAS CRUCIFIED ON A TREE THAT HE CREATED.
WITH GREAT LOVE FOR MAN
GOD GAVE WITH HIS PLAN.
HE GREW THE TREE SO THAT WE MIGHT GO FREE.

(ending)
STILL HE GREW THE TREE HE KNEW WOULD BE
USED TO MAKE THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.

[Lily]

Jesus was born to die and now he lives! Thank you JESUS! For dying for me and giving me life in you!