Matthew 10:38
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

    As you know, my home is filled with crosses.  I have old rugged crosses and crystal crosses.  I wear them around my neck and hang them from my Christmas tree.  They adorn every nook and cranny.  It is a symbol of the soul reason why I am able to live this wonderful life.  I found this song five years ago and it is my favorite song.  I am ever mindful that the essence of my salvation is not things, but a thing, the cross.  We are not even worthy of him, if we deny the taking of a cross.  When I have bad days or difficult days, I remind myself that it is in the list of crosses that I must bear and that Jesus had his too.  A song from my youth says, Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free. There is a cross for everyone and there is a cross for me.  I hope you like this song,  It always takes me in.

My prayer is ecumenical.  I have a concern that the world is preaching self help, or entitlement or prosperity and the message of the cross is denied.  Life has it's troubles and there are times when you just have to bear it.   All else pales to the cross, Nothing compares to the cross my grossest issue becomes a whisper when I survey........ 
When I survey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-mKnY2HMXg