Distracted and Late

All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. Revelation 1:5b (NLT)

18 people. There were 18 people coming to lunch after church. Normally, my husband and I pull these off without a hitch but he wasn't going to be around this day. No problem, I thought. I pulled off huge parties by myself before we were married. I can still do this.

I had a plan. First, I planned the menu and made sure that it wasn't too complicated. I had a busy week so I made sure to buy the groceries early in the week. I took Good Friday off and made a couple of the big dishes. The morning of, I knew what I was supposed to do and when I had to do it.

Did I mention I had company for the weekend? Some of my family was staying with us. And, did I mention that my grandson also spent the night? No worries! I had it all figured out. The morning of the lunch came and I was still doing OK. I knew when I had to put the turkey in the oven so it would cook while we were at church for Bible Study and the Service.

Then, my grandson got really tired super early, an hour and a half before his normal nap time. Well, I thought, I'll let him take his nap and we'll skip Bible Study and just go to service. He went right to sleep. Then, as I was prepping food, I got into a great conversation with my nephew. After a little bit, I looked at the clock and OH NO! I forgot to put the turkey in. I was a full hour late!

I popped it in and prayed that it would cook fast and off we all went to church. When we got home, the turkey wasn't done and 18 people were waiting around for it to finish. Of course, everyone was hungry and I felt terrible. My family was super gracious and very understanding but I was pretty hard on myself. I'd pulled this off so many times before - what happened? I had a plan!

As we bowed our heads to thank God for the meal, I realized that this is what Easter is all about. In spite of our best efforts, all the planning, the prepping and the good intentions, we still make mistakes. We still mess up. And God says "It's OK. Your worth is not defined by your performance; it's defined by your love for me. Relax and enjoy."

Thank you, Jesus. It's good to be able to take a deep breath and enjoy the life you have given me. And it’s good to know that it’s not all about me. Amen.

The Gift Is Not Just Yours

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. John 11:25-26 (NLT) emphasis added

It's been a strange kind of week. I believe that every day this week I've had a conversation with someone that had brought me back to Jesus' death and resurrection and who he actually died for. Let me explain.

There were two conversations where two separate young women didn't want to introduce their boyfriends to their families because when they showed them a picture of them the family made derogatory comments indicating the person might be bad.

There were a few conversations where people struggled to forgive someone for something they had done recently and/or in the distant past.

Each time as I thought through these, I kept hearing the word Resurrection. And then again when I was reading about poverty and the negative impact it has on folks, the word Resurrection kept popping into my mind.

I wish I could sit here and say I don't ever judge people by their outward appearance. I can't say that. I wish I could say I don't judge people by their actions. I can't say that. I wish I did more to help those in need. I am praying about all these things. But, here is what I do know.

When Jesus said ANYONE, he meant ANYONE. It doesn't matter what you look like, what you do for a living, whether you are rich or poor, what specific religion you are, your stellar or checkered past or if you are a Democrat or a Republican (a little humor for the Americans). None of it matters because Jesus died for all of us. Every. Single. Last. One.

As we celebrate what the Resurrection truly means, let's remember he died for everyone, even if we don't think they measure up.

Father God, teach our hearts to see everyone as you see them. Remove our blinders and open our minds. Let us feel the unconditional love you felt that day on the cross. In Jesus Name, Amen

Your Personality Type Doesn't Matter

Do not be unbelieving, but believing. John 20:27 (NKJV)

Thomas was a pessimist. Most of the few recorded comments from him demonstrate this. But, he loved Jesus. He was even willing to die with him. When Jesus announced in John 11 that he wanted to head back toward Jerusalem, the disciples were trying to talk him out of it. "They want to stone you. Why go there?" Thomas' comment was "Let's go. We may as well all die together." In other words, if he was going to die, he might as well do it with Jesus.

When the disciples told him they had seen Jesus, he didn't believe them. And true to form he said "I won't believe you until I touch his wounds." Interestingly, Jesus takes him up on the challenge. He shows up, focuses on Thomas and says "Go ahead. Touch away."

It blows me away that here is this pessimistic, doubting person and Jesus makes sure he's on board. He had already talked to the other 10, why spend the time to convince this one? Most of us would look at someone like that and assume he's not going to amount to much so we should move on. Jesus was listening to Thomas. Thomas' comment about not believing wasn't said in a prayer. He didn't ask God to prove anything; he was simply talking to his friends. Thomas received individualized, crafted just for him, attention from Jesus. We all do.

After Jesus addressed Thomas' concerns he said "Do not be unbelieving, but believing." In other words "OK. I addressed your concerns. What is your excuse?" Whether you are an extrovert or introvert, a pessimist, optimist or realist, Jesus is showing up each and every day talking to you in just the way you need to hear him. Why? Because, it is important to him that each and every one of us believes in who he is.

What is your “Thomas” excuse? Jesus is listening.

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 (NKJV)

Free....Indeed!!

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 (NIV)

The dark cloud called gloom seemed to be following her around. It was hung so close to the top of her head that if she reached her arm up her hand would pierce the cold damp feeling that she carried in her heart. It had been there for weeks. And she was unable to shake it.

It started a while ago. Life was good. She was involved in a new church plant and God was moving. Her relationship with him had taken off. As she looked for him, he spoke. The entire church was having this fantastic God experience and they were growing. There was unity among the members and God was truly moving.

But then, temptation came knocking. Not just at her door but, this is her story not theirs. Temptation knocked and she threw open the door and invited him in. Somewhere, somehow, she lost sight of the special bond she was growing with God and decided that this….this would be more fulfilling than what God wanted.

And then, the Elders came knocking. She wasn't so happy to throw those doors open and after the conversation was finished, she was devastated. Not so much because they asked her to step down from serving but because this wake-up call made her realize she’d turned her back on her friend.

In the weeks that followed, the only prayer that she could utter was "Help me." She felt lost and ashamed. She had turned her back on God and had chosen a path that would temporarily make her feel better. What a hard way to learn that making oneself feel better with temporary pleasures is a fleeting experience. When the dust settled, she couldn't hear God's voice and the relationship seemed to be gone.

With a broken heart she moved through the motions of life always asking "Are you there? I'm sorry. Please help me."  Weeks went by. As she waited she realized that she had risked the best thing in her life. The closeness she felt with God over those months was like no other experience and she could not bear to lose it.

One day, as she was driving home from work she looked out the window and said it again "Please help me." For the first time in weeks a Bible verse popped into her head "If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed." As she processed this, she remembered. She remembered that Jesus’ gift to her, to everyone, when he died on the cross was forgiveness. That sin and death didn't hold her. They couldn't hold her if she claimed that gift and clung to its truth. The truth was that she was forgiven and with time she would be able to hear God's voice again. She would be able to seek him, mend the relationship and mend her heart.

Jesus died so we wouldn't be “dead men walking” but a people walking, skipping, dancing and laughing. He died so that when we mess up (and we always will) we can know that he is still there. He loved us then and he loves us still.

We are free......indeed!

Right In Front of Your Nose

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” John 20:15 (NIV)

Mary approached the tomb. Something was off. It was still dark but through the gray she could see the stone wasn't where it should be. It had been rolled away. With all the chaos and trauma surrounding Jesus' death, thoughts were racing through her head. Had the religious leaders done this? Who would want to steal his body? Who would even touch a dead body? That would make them unclean. Maybe they paid someone. If they took him, where did they take him?

As these thoughts raced through her head, she turned to leave and almost ran into the man standing there. He asked why she was crying and then followed up by asking who she was looking for. She didn't even recognize him. The very person she went to find in the first place was speaking to her and she was missing it.

My husband says I do this. He'll ask me a question and my mind is somewhere else. I wait many seconds, what most would call a pregnant pause, and then answer. It's been so long he thinks I'm not even going to respond. Suddenly, my brain catches up with my hearing and I recognize that I missed something.

Ever been there? You have a problem and you have been staring at it so long you forget to come up for air. You forget to look around and see what may be right in front of your face. Sometimes we have to snap ourselves out of that place. The place where we're down in the rabbit hole and stuck. How? Refocus. Refocus on something else God has placed in your path. Could be him. Could be another relationship, a Bible text, a song or even a beautiful spring day. Take a moment, breathe deep and refocus. 

As Jesus said her name, Mary refocused and knew who it was who was trying to get her attention. It was the very person she was seeking. As it dawned on her that the answer to her problem had already been provided, she ran off exclaiming "I've seen him! I've seen him!"

We will do the same. God's surprises and answers come in many different shapes and sizes - and sometimes, they come in the person of Jesus talking to us. One thing is for sure. When we hear him, we too will run around exclaiming "I've seen him!" because when you do, you can't hold it in.

It's Subtle, But Huge

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:13 (NIV)

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the crowd went wild. Here was their King! He was going to save them. He was going to change their world. They shouted "Hosanna!" which means save us." And Jesus was planning to do just that. But, not the way they expected.

There was a subtle detail to Jesus entrance into Jerusalem that they overlooked. Jesus was on a donkey. Historically, if a King was coming as a conqueror (which is what the Jews wanted) he rode into the town on a horse - probably a war horse. Jesus rode in on a donkey. When a king rode in on a donkey, he came in peace.

How often do we expect Jesus to show up and with a sweep of his mighty hand remove all of our troubles. We want him to crush our enemies! We want him to squash our problems and give us the peace we deserve as his followers! We almost expect it. We forget. We forget that the most important thing to God is our hearts.

Jesus doesn't want to charge in and take over. He wants to enter in and grow a relationship. Sure, he wants to be our King - not a king who will conquer us - but a King that will bring peace to our world. He wants to deliver a peace that will transcend all the enemies and the problems; a peace that is beyond understanding.

Do we, like the Israelites, miss the donkey? Do we miss the message Jesus is sending each day as he communicates with us? Do we want something so badly for ourselves that we lose sight of the bigger picture?  How about you? As you look at Jesus, what are you expecting?

Looking for Life

Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? Luke 24:5 (NLT)

The Bible is great at asking questions that are hard to answer or that make you think. So let me ask you, do you ever look for life by staring at death? We don't usually do that. We look for life among the living. When Jesus came the Bible says he came so we could live life abundantly. How often do we choose instead to live life boxed in?

When we choose to stare at our troubles and stay focused on our feelings of hopelessness, Jesus is not there. He told us we'd have troubles. He also told us he had already overcome those. He's alive!

When we focus on the past and not the future, when we decide that we cannot do anything worthwhile because of mistakes we made, Jesus is not there. He didn't die and rise again so we could walk through life on our own merit. He died and rose again so we can know we are forever forgiven and that in him all things are possible.

Most importantly, readjusting our thinking so we look at living our lives the very best we can because we've been given an opportunity greater than anyone could imagine, that is choosing life. And that is worship. We can bow down, praise and worship in the here and now because Jesus is not among the dead. He is alive!

Trusting Hard

And a sword will pierce your very soul. Luke 2:35 (NLT)

When God revealed to Mary that she would be Jesus' mother, her world was turned upside down. She faced judgement and ridicule. Life took on many more complications than it would have if she had not been chosen by God.

Even Jesus, as he faced the cross said "Can you take this cup from me? Can we not do this?" What he was facing was the kind of hard that is crippling. It was beyond what the human mind could wrap itself around. But, God did not change his path.

Mary went on to face each challenge and in the end do the hardest thing she would ever do. She'd stand at the foot of the cross and watch her son be crucified. When Simeon said that a sword would pierce her soul, I pause. As a mother I know what that piercing must have felt like. The pain is incomprehensible.

Are you walking through something hard? Does it feel like you are not going to make it? Can you not get your mind around what is happening or what is to come? Do you feel like you can't breathe?

Do what Jesus and Mary and so many others did. Look to God. Grasp hold of the truth that he loves you and no matter how hard it is, he is walking with you through it. When God told Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus, she said "I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Jesus after asking if God could take the cup from him said "Not my will but yours." Both bravely faced 'hard'. Both chose to stay on the path, not deviate from the plan, even though it was the hardest thing they ever did.

In the end, the difference their "Yes" made in every single life before and after is immeasurable. Keep walking. Trust in God's plan and know that you are not alone.