Death doesn't get to win

28 years ago, my parents lost their only son, my grandparents lost their first grandchild, and my sister and I lost our big brother.  His story is a tragedy.  Being young as I was at the time (under a year), it has been suggested that my heart would not feel so much pain over it.  I have spent 28 years living in a family with the hole that he left.  Trust me, I have been impacted but there is hope in tragedy.  Mostly, I seek to celebrate a life that was short but completely valuable and lovely.  Our lives are but vapors no matter how long, but we bring glory to our creator because He chose to form us in His image.

The significance that we are celebrating Jesus' resurrection this year on the very date 28 years ago that my brother passed away is not lost on me.  For Jesus Christ did not only die a tragic death which paid for my sins and yours.  He did the impossible; He rose to life.  This story has become commonplace and we treat coming back from the dead as if it is a normal and expected occurrence.  It is NOT.  Not only is it unusual for people to return from death's door, it is actually completely abhorrent that God would suffer at the hand of those He created and then turn around and offer us a gift that would be impossible for us to earn.

But, glory be to the King - for He did the impossible and loves doing the impossible all the time.  I'm so thankful that I have been given new life.  Life enough for today and life for the endless days ahead.  I'm thankful that I get to live today and tomorrow with the joy that when death comes to take me, I will but walk into life.  My faith will be sight and my hope completely satisfied in Him.  If you are reading this, my prayer for you is that you have that same joy.  As I get older, I don't look back but look forward to the untold adventures to come.  God is good, even in the darkest days and Jesus is proof.  Death doesn't get to win because God wins every time.

I admit this song is a bit unorthodox for celebrating Easter, but every time I hear it, I can't help but celebrate that we've been given life unending and that is all because of what happened over 2,000 years ago.  Enjoy and Happy Resurrection Sunday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfOaTbadP64

Reflections on this Good Friday

At the foot of the cross….

We find that our sins are taken care of and we have access and relationship to the one true God.  No more are we separated, we are brought near.  For He took our weight upon Himself.  

      

The station of who we are - rich, poor, slave, free, awkward, lonely, socialite, famed, and criminal matter not in the face of the righteousness which covers all who come and take of the free gift. 

 

It is not a matter of being the first, the smartest, wisest, or most cunning.  No, it is a gift completely separate from what you do.  It is a matter of grace.  No man can claim to have earned or surpassed another to procure it, for it is a free gift.  

And love, there is no further need to seek to be valued and loved by others who can fail and injure.  The God-Man, Jesus the Christ became the standard for love by sacrificing Himself for you and for me.  

 

While prized crude oil must be conserved and protected for the resource will end and then people will be without; the love of Christ which is offered to all is endless and the gift of grace He offers is for every man who will recognize his need, and accept with open hands and an open heart this gift.  

As a recipient of such a limitless gift, we are free to offer and share it with all!  Suddenly, we no longer judge people by their stations, abilities, or failings.  We see them as they truly are, people loved by God with great worth because He made it so.  

This is why we share, forgive others, love, sacrifice, care, celebrate, and scream of His goodness from the mountain tops.  He is the One we all long for, but we are often unable to see.  And one evening, he held his arms out of his own free will and in the greatest act known to mankind - He offered Himself.  

"But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heave, making peace by the blood of the cross". - Colossians 1:19

"To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." - Jude 24

Hymn

This blog moment brought to you by the years of piano lessons that has left me with an ability to understand simple music notations and by the people in my life that taught me hymns have a richness that is worthy of review and song.  

I ran across a hymn this evening, that I have never sung before.  When I cam across the lyrics, they simply came alive and I wanted to share them.  I will quote only verse 1 and 2 here.  But for further reading, simply search the title and author, and you will find it many places.  

I am His, and He is mine (Written by George Robinson)

Verse 1:  Loved with everlasting love, drawn by grace that love to know,

Spirit breathing from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!

O this full and precious peace from his presence all divine;

in a love that cannot cease, I am his and he is mine;

in a love that cannot cease, I am his and he is mine.

Verse 2: Heav'n above is deeper blue, earth around is sweeter green,

Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen.

Birds in song his glories show, flow'rs with richer beauties shine

since I know, as now I know, I am his and he is mine;

since I know, as now I know, I am his and he is mine.

For a rendition of the song sung, go to: http://www.newhopeconnection.com/page_to_print.cfm?id=213&content_id=319

When you know, that you know, that you know, that you are loved by God and love Him in return - there is a beauty that can scarcely be described.  I have no further words to add to such a beautiful hymn.  

A blogger always returns to her blog/Joy is Here

It has been some time since I bothered to share my thoughts with a blog post.  It has been so long, that it took me several minutes to remember the name of this website!  All things have seasons and I suppose I was in a non-blog writing season.  I am not troubled in the least by this.  I have had several concepts of late that I have desired to share with any blog readers out there.  So as suddenly as a rainstorm hits the dry wearied ground, I find myself writing again.  It is a welcomed friend.

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The anticipated second return of Christ and the gift of Christmas has been heavy on my mind.  After all, during Christmas we celebrate the coming of Jesus into this world as a small babe; proof once and for all that God cares immensely for humanity.  (I can appreciate ants...but I would seek to go to their level to save a single one; I prefer the joys of being human.)  Throughout the Christmas season, we sing songs of joy, the promised peace on earth, and of course many exchange gifts with one another.  We talk of joy and peace but it really doesn't take a long reading of the newspaper to realize we do NOT live in a peaceful world.  No, sadly even a cursory reading reveals not only the troubles of various nations but our own cities and towns: A child at age 6 passes away from a deadly disease, a body found recently by a dog walker in Madison, a young police officer is gunned down by her own husband...a victim himself of the terrors and monsters of war.  If we take the joyous songs at face value, I would be tempted to proclaim we do NOT live in a world of peace and joy and so these songs are lies.  After all, anyone who tells you that everything is sunshine and roses is selling something, run away!

I find myself trying to have conversations that are a bit deeper than the typical happenings of daily life with anyone who will journey there with me.  I find within others what I already know of myself- there lies within the heart of man fears about what is to come, who they are to be, the purpose of it all, and desperation to live life fully followed by the struggle and difficulty of doing so.  The failure to grasp at life leads us to settle for cheap satisfactions and entertaining distractions from things that truly matter.  Where is the peace and joy?  Is it simply a lie we tell our children so they can have a fun season?  By no means.

Christ's life was not understood by the majority of His day.  They were looking for a King to free them politically, when Christ came to proclaim the captives free of the spiritual bondage humanity was under.    His life and death ushered in a NEW reality, His Kingdom on earth.  His sacrifice made it possible for the impossible barrier between men and God - the sin that kept unholy men away from a Holy God - to be lifted.  Christ at the perfect time, in the perfect way, restored relationship of men to God by paying a debt no man could pay.  In Christ's kingdom, men's relationship with God is restored, a new people of promise were offered family relationships with all the rights and responsibilities that being a part of a family entails.  They called themselves the Church, Christ's bride, a people of God set a part to proclaim a New Kingdom.  A kingdom unlike any of man's kingdoms as this perfect kingdom offers peace and joy with Christ as King.  A kingdom that does not decay, change rulers, is worth more than all the riches of men, and can be found by the simplest of small children.  When Christ left, he promised to return and with his return will bring the Fullness of His Kingdom.  How this will look, I cannot say but the Bible is clear, He will return.  

What Christ began by entering our time and our world was an ushering of His new Kingdom.  When He left, He left us the most precious of all gifts - The Holy Spirit.  The people who trust Christ now who live post this glorious day are now kingdom people who are able to live out of this kingdom grace.  Kingdom people can have a close relationship with God and others (Joy), a steady heart and mind are given (Peace), and people are able to live with purpose as they pursue their part in the grand story that God is telling. The kingdom is here and it is still to come.

  Is a vow between two lovers any less true despite their love not yet withstanding years of struggle?  Not in the least, but a love that withstands the test of time is both sweeter and richer.  It is possible for two lovers to be more in love on their 60th anniversary as opposed to their first.  Do not be mistaken; His kingdom has come, though the fullness of His kingdom is not yet complete.  Love offered on a wedding day is not the end; it is only the beginning of two lives becoming more and more one.  The birth of Christ sparked joy in the shepherd's that day because they had waited centuries for the promised one to arrive.  We are able to have joy and peace now because His Kingdom is here and it is yet to come.  The Holy Spirit can confirm all these things in our hearts even when what we see is incredibly painful and dark.  It is possible to live in kingdom joy now.  

"So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him" - Hebrews 9:28

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23

"When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." Mark 12:34a

"Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36

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May the joy of the Lord and His glorious kingdom be your strength and heart's cry as you enter into 2013.  

What will you focus on?

Why is it in a world with such beauty, love, and joy, we find it so easy to focus on the negative?  

After all these years, I cannot say I have an answer yet.  However, it is not so hard to shift our focus.  Have you found yourself having a lousy day or lousy week?  Don't fret, just find one thing each day that was good and be grateful!  Soon, you might just find that you have multiple things to be thankful for!  If you are really cool, you may find things to be grateful for every hour!  

Personally, this has been a challenging week for me.  However, the amount of beauty in this week is enormous.  Here are a few of my favorite things from this week that as I ponder, I truly am grateful!  The fact that they happened during a difficult week proves all the more how good life is.  God has granted us such good gifts, if we'd only just open our eyes.  

A few of my favorite things from this past week:

~Biking past Lake Michigan for the first time (soo amazing!)

~Catching up with a few friends on the phone

~Receiving a message that made me smile

~A delightful sunset

~An unexpected gift

~Giggling with friends

~Listening to my favorite kid and her friend chat about their day

~Irish music in the park 

~Inspiration

~Tea

~Finally writing my World Vision kids

~Delicious lunch

~Cool breezes

~Being silly in between important conversations

~Singing to the radio in the car

It could go on!  Reviewing this list sure makes it hard to be crabby about a difficult week!  I encourage you to make your own lists and find the good in your weeks and days as well.  As you look, I bet you will find more than you expected!  

~~ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8) ~~

Relief or Relationship

Just a little Story

The little girl sat down on a tiny bench in her room.  She watched as the storms came closer.  Her own heart began to flutter and beat wildly.  Soon, all she wanted to do was scream but there was no one to hear and no way out of the room.  Instead, she said a simple prayer and trusted that her Father would hear her and protect her.  He drew near to her, but the storms continued on and her fears continued to get the best of her.  This went on for some time and occasionally she would feel Her Father's peace and rest in Him but soon her fears and anxieties would crop up again.  After battling them a while, she would look to her Father and seek His comfort.  Sometimes it came, sometimes she didn't feel it.  But she continued to sit on her little bench.  Throughout it all she trusted the Father though often she found herself in the place of crazy emotions as she watched the storms overtake her home.  Ultimately, the storms came and destroyed her home, killing the little girl.  She was barely aware of her death, because she found herself holding the hand of her Father as He walked her Home.  He whispered to her "I love you, well done my child, you battled the storms and trusted in me - Welcome Home."      

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Relief

Sometimes as I walk this life, my emotions get the best of me.  Lately, life has felt like nothing short of a roller coaster, and a wild one at that.  I believe I could walk in peace and trust in the Father completely but I stumble believing that I need to always FEEL these things.  Feelings are fickle but Trust is not dependent on situations or our feelings.  Lately what I've sought is relief from my fears, frustrations, sickness, and sadness but what I really need to do is seek Him.  Our God is Is soo much more than temporary relief.  He is Creator, Savior, Teacher, Comforter, All that is good, Love, Truth, True Peace, Life, Etc.  Whether relief comes or not, I can walk trusting in the One who can use all situations for good.  He offers us a relationship with the Living God.  For as often as we talk about it, I think we miss on the amazing gift that He offers in giving us the gift of relationship.  Truly, what do you most value in a friend..what they give you or the time spent with them?  Hands down it's time but so often we seek only the gifts of God.   A life journeying with God is surely a life well lived.  I can seek him in my misery as much as in my joy.  He is more than able to journey with us while we suffer as much as when we dance.  Seeking and receiving relief does not teach my heart to trust the Lord but teaches my whole being to seek comfort.  Seeking Him teaches my heart to trust and rest in my God no matter what circumstances happen.    

My prayer for myself and whomever may read this is that our lives could echo the voice of the psalmist in 131.  V2: "But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me."

Similariy, my prayer is to truly understand what Paul asserts to understand in the book of Philippians 4:11  "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

May you know the gift of walking with the Lord, who walked our same road and promised to Never leave us.  Cling to Him no matter what griefs come your way and no matter what in your life never seems to change no matter how much you pray about it.  Healing may or may not come, but His goodness does not change and He loves you like crazy.  Seek Him while He can still be found and know the joy of living a life with the Best friend a person could ever ask for.  

Sprinter, Marathoner, Reactionary

The way I see it there are three types of runners:

The Sprinter, The Marathoner, and The Reactionary.

The Sprinter prepares and gets what needs to be done in a very short amount of time.  In short, they give it ALL that they have in the few moments they have that they need to perform.  Sprinting is an important skill for many sports.    

The Marathoner prepares, runs, and not only works towards building speed but more importantly stamina and longevity.  The marathoner knows the race may be long so they run consistently and don't get as frustrated with off days because they have a longer goal in mind.  

The Reactionary runner is a term I made up.  When I think of this type of runner I picture all the individuals who tell me they'd only run if a lion was chasing them.  Yep, the Reactionary runner acts only when necessary for survival.  

Please forgive me for oversimplifying but when I consider life, I consider these three types of ways to live.

The Sprinter prepares for the bigger and key moments of life.  My bet is they'd be the ones pulling planned all nighters before a big exam or presentation at work or perhaps even a week in advance.

The Marathoner knows a key to success is consistency.  They would be the people studying throughout the semester or improving their skills at work consistently so that they can be ready for the big meetings or changes.  

The Reactionary of course never (or rarely) prepares but instead panic or act only when needed.  This is the individual though who despite knowing for months that their job would be having summer lay offs began looking for work a week after they were laid off and are now hungry.  

Practically speaking, a person can choose appropriate sleep habits, sleep in spurts through the week, or sleep only when physically exhausted and drained.  Spiritually, a person can pray to God when there is a crisis, seek God while preparing for a large event or situation (speaking engagement, helping out a group, wedding ceremony), or spend a lifetime searching and seeking His will.    

Well, guess what - I am a mix (as I'm sure we all are) of these.  I engage in life primarily by sprinting through what I need to get done and then returning to status quo or running around because the lion has been set loose upon me but as soon as I can stop my body collapses.  I actually believe all three types to be useful for various times in our lives, but when I look at the way a marathoner trains and or performs I feel that is the wisest way to live.  I don't know about you but I have had years of training in the art of sprinting and reacting, I want to focus now on how to run the race of life with endurance.  Foremost, I want to keep close to God, to know Him and His ways beyond big moments and crises.  Secondly, I suppose this means I should have regular sleeping habits and eat at least SOME nutritional foods (oh adulthood).  While I'm working on that, I might as well train for a 5K. :)  How about you, what is your primary mode of running?