While I was in the States in February, Renate, a member of the Leuchthaus Church, was dealing with some problems in her life.  The burdens she had were just too heavy. On a Wednesday morning she woke up felling like she needed to do something to symbolize laying her problems at the cross.  She felt like the Lord was telling here to get a rock to symbolize her problems bring it to the church and lay it down before the cross.  She decided that others probably have burdens they needed to bring to the cross, so she brought a rock for them too. They had an awesome meeting taking their problems to the Lord, getting their freedom.
Yes, Christians do have problems and we make our problem an even bigger burden if we carry it around letting our hearts get heavy and in the end we get depressed. The Lord wants us to take our burdens to the cross and get freedom which only HE can give us.  When I came back there were 4 rocks at the cross and I was wondering what happened. I am so thankful; that the Lord is speaking to the people in the church and that they are obedient.
Shortly after I returned to Germany, we had our Good Friday Service.  It was a power full service! I spoke about the cross being an altar of exchange.  While preparing, the Lord spoke to me too. I had one thing in my life that I just could not get victory over.  I want to surrender everything to the Lord so He can use me to the fullest. I went to my brother’s house, got a rock, and brought it Friday before the service privately to the cross, my altar of exchange. As I stood at the altar, I had my rock in my hand using it as a symbol of my burden.  The power of the Lord was so strong, I felt His love, His forgiveness, and His freedom as I layed my burden at the cross.  I quickly made a phone call to my cousin to bring some rocks to the service.
I spoke about the altar of exchange in the service.  The work that Jesus accomplished at the cross was to exchange all our faults, disappointments, pains and burdens for His eternal riches of His kingdom.
If I am facing fear I exchange it for courage and faith.  Jesus had to obey His Father as He wrestled with His fear.  If I am facing betrayal that deeply wounds my heart, I exchange it for His faithfulness and unending love. If desertion is my pain, then I think of the night when all of His companions fled in fear when He needed them the most.  I trade my pain from desertion for the comfort of knowing He is always with me and nothing will separate me from His love.
Before we took the Lord Supper, I told the church, that if they needed to pick up a rock and place their burdens at the cross, to do that before they take the Lord supper. It was a cleansing freedom!  As they left, some told me that they are leaving totally free.  Hallelujah!
I want to encourage you.  Take your problems to the cross, leave it there, and walk in freedom with the joy of the Lord! You are a precious child of God whom He loves so much! Remember Jesus stretched out His arms on the Cross and died for you!