Boasting in Weakness: Appropriating the Cross of Christ for Life is a blog that is dedicated to posting articles and media that can help the 21st-century American woman practically apply the cross of Christ in her daily life. In Mark 8: 34-38 we read, “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” The Lord was clear: would-be followers of Christ must deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Jesus in a life of self-denial and cross-bearing or there will be no opportunity given for salvation on the day that He comes to gather His elect.

The question, then, is how does a 21st-century American woman take up her cross and follow Jesus? How does a woman that has been bottle fed comfort, ease, and the American Dream embrace a bloody, Roman cross in a life of self-denial, service, and humility? As I have thought about this question, one answer has come to my mind again and again: she embraces her divinely appointed weaknesses, afflictions, hardships, and trials; as her personal God-ordained opportunities to answer Christ’s call to the cross. By embracing the providentially ordained difficulties in her life (instead of running from them) she can answer the Lord’s call to the cross, and thus begin to receive that which is truly life indeed.

Every affliction in the life of the Believer is an opportunity to fellowship with Christ on the cross. Therefore, every affliction in the life of the Believer is an opportunity to fellowship with Christ in His resurrection life. As we die to ourselves and rest in the awesome power of God to grant us new life, we are sure to experience the fullness of joy that Christ died to give His own. Christ calls us to the cross because He loves us. He calls us to forsake the lying pleasures of the American Dream so that we can experience the real pleasures of the Celestial Reality- life in Christ forevermore.

Whether we are burdened by the afflictions of loneliness or busyness; physical weaknesses or emotional weaknesses; friendlessness or fleeting popularity; poverty or wealth; singleness or a difficult marriage; childlessness or wayward children; the content of this site is intended to encourage the 21st century American woman to take up her cross and follow Jesus. Everything here is posted with the hope that, together, we will be strengthened to embrace our providentially-ordained crosses. And, this to the end that we will experience the resurrecting grace of God in our lives; and thus, be set free to walk in the awesome wonder of newness of life in Christ. May God grant us His sanctifying, sustaining, and persevering grace; and may each one of us treasure the gracious privilege of Boasting in Weakness: Appropriating the Cross of Christ for Life.