or, A Story of a Website Fenced by God’s Love

Begging and Praying

The last day of August, the final day at our Sanctuary dawned beautiful Colorado blue … again. I didn’t want to leave and was ready to return home all at the same time.

My adrenaline was surging. Echoes of Grace was celebrating its sixth birthday by moving to a new home, its very own website. September 1, less than 24 hours away, all my friends would be invited in.

I’d been begging praying, asking God to bring many to the new home of Echoes of Grace and to  minister deeply to those who stopped by. Lord, I’ve done what I can do advertising Echoes on FB this week. And I’m feeling a bit emotional today. Thank you for the reminder of Psalm 138:8 that in Your Love You will fulfill your purpose for me and for Echoes. I lean into that today! Father, please bring my desires in line with Yours. Amen (my journal 8/31/16)

I sent weekly reminders to all Echoes of Grace followers on its original site the entire month of August. I created a daily countdown to the new Echoes the last week of August. I shared the good news in other social media places.

God did something very special that day too. A guest post I submitted to the PCA website, enCourage was also going live that day. I spread the news.

Bribing

Those FB reminders included bait. Stop by and sign up for the Echoes of Grace community (subscribe) and I’ll send you a note when a new post is live AND a very special gift at the end of the year. (This is still true.)

I did what I knew to do to spread my good news.

Believing

Early the next morning the rooster crowed (I wasn’t sleeping anyway). I rolled over to grab my phone and check FB. WOW, the first two entries – my brand spanking new website and next the announcement from the PCA site that my words were live. My breath caught.

My believing encouraged by truths from Song of Solomon 7:10 and Romans 8:31 waivered a bit. So quickly I sent a reminder email with both links. You know, just to make sure I’d done all I could do.

The text arrived a few hours later, Sue, do you know you put an incorrect link to the PCA website? NO, I’m sure she’s wrong! I checked; she was right. OUCH!

The air wooshed out of my proverbial balloon.

And at the same time, God’s love enveloped me.

“The LORD will work out his plans for my life – for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” Psalm 138:8, NLT

I heard His whisper. He heard my prayers. God was at work fulfilling His plans for me wrapped in His faithful love. Echoes of Grace is God’s responsibility. My adrenaline returned to normal. It was good.

David makes two bold statements in the first sentence, God works out his plans for us and they are wrapped in his love. And then adds the last sentence, for you made me. Don’t abandon me reminded me of the father’s cry in Mark 9, I believe, help my unbelief.

” … that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special … Something happened in you … Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word … you’re the message!” I Thessalonians 5, chapter 1, The Message

How have you experienced God’s love in the midst of disappointments? What scriptures speak to your heart?

If this post has encouraged you, please share it with your friends. They just might thank you.

This week’s post is a continuation of last week. Scroll down to start at the beginning.

God IS Love

” … God is love … ” These three words nestled in the middle of I John 4:16 communicate huge truth – Love is the character of God; love is who God is. God’s love is never challenged or changed by my love. David Benner says in his book Surrender To Love, “What a small god we would have if divine character was dependent on our behavior (or how I love).” parentheses mine

– Hards, Hurricaines, and Horrifics – God is there; his love active. Truly this is hard to trust; it doesn’t make sense to my finite mind. Those why questions come easily; my perspective severely limited. Biblical illustrations come to mind; personal illustrations simmer below the surface; the experiences of my friends hurt too. Recently I was challenged to replace why questions with how or what questions. What might trusting God’s love look like in this situation? How can I trust God now?
I’m trying to remember this.

God’s Love for me is the same love He has for Jesus

” … so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you love me.”       John 17:23.

AMAZING! AMAZINGLY TRUE! These words from Jesus’ final prayer (known as his high priestly prayer) paint a picture of the depth of God’s love. This prayer for us whispered before we were even born speaks Jesus’ desire; to add the exclamation point, he repeats it three verses later. As thankful as I am, I can’t grasp it. Once again I pray, what would it look like to trust your love today, Lord? The thought comes to mind, Jesus knows how to deeply minister to others. Today I have lunch with a friend. That’s where today’s trust lies. I pray, Father will you help me to share your love with my friend. Amen.

God’s Love is my guideline for relating to others

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you …”  John 13:34

I remember our wedding day. We declared our love; we took vows. As I look back, I wonder, did I even understand love on that day? No. In my insecurity as a newly wed, I didn’t get Bill’s love. It looked different than what I had grown up with. We came from very different families of origin. But as I’ve learned to trust God’s love, I’ve come to accept appreciate and enjoy Bill’s love. Love for others needs to be anchored in God’s love.

God’s Love casts out fear

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” I John 4:18

Another wedding story … We were going to pick out our rings. Bill’s quizzing me on my plan for his inscription was frustrated by my desire for surprise. As we parked, I changed my mind – too late, Bill now into the surprise mode. An engaged couples argument ensued.

I’m not sure why my fear;  but it was fear that kept me silent. In retrospect, I know. I desperately needed to trust God’s perfect love for me and then I would be able to trust Bill’s love even though our human love is far from God’s perfect love.

God’s Love is always and forever

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases …” Lamentations 3:22                                                         ” … your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever…” Psalm 138:8

This principle threads throughout the scriptures with words like steadfast and endures. And it is never dependent on me.

Having young GRANDS, Robert Munsch’s now classic children’s book, Love You Forever, came to mind. His words woven throughout the story illustrate God’s love. Perhaps I would switch the last line to My child (of God) you will be. It aptly teaches that our behavior – like unrolling all the toilet paper – doesn’t affect his love, and his love carries from childhood to old age. Interesting, the refrain came to him as a result of two of his children being stillborn. God’s love endures even through our hards.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Which of these 10 principles most communicate to your heart? What stories come to mind? How do you experience God’s love?

 

 

 

I love orange this time of year, and dark red, and the yellow Aspens. The trees showing off their true colors.

Two questions …

Did you come by on Monday to see the newly decorated room? If not, click over to Monday Quotes, a new feature of Echoes of Grace. Words that have spoken to my heart, and I hope will speak to you as well. Please share what you’re hearing? Let’s start a conversation.

And, if you haven’t signed up for the Echoes of Grace community glance over to the right and you’ll see the place. It will help us stay in touch with each other.

For the past 16 years, I’ve been absorbed by God’s love. Almost daily I pray scriptures that speak it to my heart; and with the passing of time, I’m learning to mine its depths. Focusing on His love this month is the subject of Echoes of Grace. This week and next, some of the principles I’m learning about His love.

Principles of God’s love, my first five …

God’s love for me and you has been in the works from eternity past.  

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;” Jeremiah 1:5

When I started my freshman year at Hope College, I received this advice … Now don’t get too religious. What did the advice-giver see in me that prompted those words? What were they supposed to mean? At that time my religion was demonstrated by that piece of my life that determined my Sunday morning activity – church.

You know, I don’t like that word religious at least when it refers to my child of God status. Christianity is much more than my religion, it references my relationship with God.

This scripture has become more and more meaningful to me. I love that God knew His plans for me even before I was conceived. (I guess that advice was in vain.)

God’s love for me and you is not fickle.

            “For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.”
Psalm 26:3

It is HIS steadfast love; it is HIS faithfulness that characterizes His love for me.

Do you ever second guess yourself and your reactions to something? I did it just this morning. Should I have said that? I’m still pondering, but this I know … God loves me. Paul reaffirms David’s words in Romans 8:38, 39 this way. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else (NOT EVEN MY SIN) in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (parentheses added)

God’s love gives us our identities.

“What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it – we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.” I John 3:1, The Message

My identity is not up for grabs. It is not dependent on my circumstances. God gave me a new name – child of God – that name defines me. My heart’s desire is to live as a result of this verdict so I often pray, God, what would it look like to trust the truth of my creation as your child today? Sometimes I say amen and I have no idea how God will answer that prayer; other times I know the answer before the prayer has left my lips.

God’s love is His plan for our growth as His children.

“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.”                                                                Ephesians 1:4, The Message

My friend, Bill Thrall says, “God doesn’t want you to change; He already has changed you. Now He wants you to mature out of the change He has already made in you.”

The DNA of godliness has been planted in me, the seed is there. Now it needs God-designed water and fertilizer to sprout to continue to mature me in holiness.

Sometimes that looks like joining a Bible study; sometimes memorizing a certain passage; most recently for me it meant signing up for a course entitled, High Trust Leadership.

“How do I grow in holiness? I live out of my new life, my new nature. I live out of who God says I now am.” Lay It Down, Bill Tell (yup, my husband)

This truth has freed me from any anxiety of how God might design my personal growth program. It is designed by His love.

God’s love is the springboard for our purposes.

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;  your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” Psalm 138:8

I’d memorized and prayed over the first 8 words of this verse not considering the last 15 words. It encouraged me that God had a purpose for me. But it wasn’t until recently that the rest of the truth of David’s words grabbed my heart. His purposes for me rest in His love which endures forever. It endures. That gives me so much confidence. Even when I blow it, His love is enduring (it is not fickle).

And then the last sentence, “Do not forsake …” It reminds me of “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24. David made two bold true statements, and then finishes with the plea, “Do not forsake the work of your hands”. He is so human.

(My October 20th post is sharing a personal story springing from this truth.)

“God not only loves you very much, but also has put his hand on your for something special … Something happened in you … Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word,” from
I Thessalonians 1:2-7, The Message

“My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or fair, whether I’m sick or in good health, whether I’m in a state of grace or disgrace. He comes to me where I live and loves me as I am.” ~ Brennan Manning

Next week, five more principles that are gripping my heart about God’s love.

What communicates God’s love to you?

 

 

I’m thrilled to be bringing you these words this week. They first appeared in the Mommy Missionaries website for the Navigators. Although written from a different perspective, the story that birthed them is the same.

Then on September 1, the National Women’s Ministry of the Presbyterian Church (PCA) published them on their women’s blog, enCourage. Click over to read it here.

And now, for you, Echoes of Grace readers, Desperation. I trust that it will encourage you to come into the light with your hards.

My friend emailed her story, begging for help. She was desperate. A story of jealousy; jealousy of her husband’s ministry. She, stuck at home with their littles, feeling unable to join in the work and the joys of ministry, was jealous! Did God not want to use her willing clay pot?

Jealousy – a hard word; harder than comparison, one of the acceptable sins among Christian women. But in her story … and in many of our comparison stories … jealousy is an accurate descriptor. It makes us desperate and it hurts.

• Hurt enough to cry for help.
• Hurt enough to come into the light.
• Hurt enough to invite God to work.

I’m reminded of the story of the woman with the unceasing flow of blood. (Luke 8:43-48) How embarrassing; how not normal; and I wonder, was she jealous? I don’t know. But I do know, she too was desperate and hurt enough to cry for help, to come in to the light, and to invite God to work.

“But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”” Luke 8:46-48 NLT

“Someone deliberately touched me”

Someone had a plan; someone acted with intention; someone was desperate and clung to a sliver of hope. Hope that was outside of herself. Hope placed in Jesus. Both my friend who cast her jealousy and hurt into cyber space and this lady with her physical hurt casting herself at the feet of Jesus, needed help. They were desperate.

“she could not stay hidden”

Jesus knew she was there; knew her desperation; and in His great love healed her. He not only healed her physical ailment, he gave her ministry. Perhaps that was more than the woman was asking when she deliberately touched the hem of Jesus’ robe. But I wonder, if underneath many of our requests lives a silent desire, to encourage, to love, to minister to others. For my friend, it was her spoken desire.

“she began to tremble”

Trembling akin to fear. Skimming through Luke, several narratives tell similar stories of desperation. The response – fear or in some translations, awe, awe that makes you tremble. Always this fear leads to greater things. The woman got to share her story with the whole crowd. Zechariah and the widowed mother of the dead son were desperate. Jesus’ love compelled him to heal. In both, the people stood in awe. In both, God’s plan was greater than the healings. The news of Jesus spread; God was glorified. Trembling, fear leading to the spread of the good news of Jesus and to glorify God.

“and she fell to her knees”

Falling to her knees signifying humility, submission, a reverential posture before God. (Philippians 2:10; Ephesians 3:14) The appropriate place in the presence of Jesus. My emailing friend, not literally on her knees, demonstrated great humility and a bowed heart like the woman with the flow of blood.

“the whole crowd heard her explain”

The woman told the truth to everyone. I bet her trembling produced tears. I imagine she kept her gaze on the grass in front of her. But she told the truth.

“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.””

In one sentence Jesus summarizes the gospel in two significant ways. He calls her daughter. They are related, members of the same family. He affirms her adoption.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are …” I John 3:1

He affirms her again by putting her healing in the right context. It is her faith that fueled her desperation and she came to Jesus, the great physician. Jesus saw her desperation, he saw her heart and because he loved her first, he stopped the bleeding; he healed her.

My friend’s struggle did not revolve around something physical. but her jealousy also requires the healing of our great physician. Her desperation, her shred of hope, and her coming into the light, opens the door for her to experience the gospel, to experience the love God already has for her.

“… For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Have you joined the Echoes of Grace community yet? If not, before you move on, go to the top right and sign up. Not only will you be kept in the know concerning all things Echoes of Grace, but also a special holiday gift will be coming your way.

And, in just 3 days … Monday, October 3 … mark your calendar and check in with Echoes of Grace. A new room is waiting for you to explore.

 

Two BIG, IMPORTANT family events … the same weekend.

1. A Family Reunion, my side, in the works for the last 9 months. A first for the Fraser clan.

2. A Family Funeral, the other side. Although expected, in the works for 1 week.

On both sides, hopes, hurts, hards, expectations, motives all knotting up in a confusing web.

Although the airline tickets for the reunion sat on my desk, I knew the right decision, for us the funeral was priority. Disappointed, yes; at peace, yes.

But many related decisions swirled around, bumping into each other with potential for bruises or worse. If I don’t come to the reunion, who will get Mom there? (One of the easiers.) I wanted perfect weekends … neither were perfect. All the knots could not be untied.

And there is a bit of peace-maker in me – which leads to the middle of the muddle.

The situations and the options were many. Should I call, perhaps an email … or nothing?

The answers came slowly … in one case, yes write – after the fact; in another, call. Allow others to live with their right decisions (even when I think their right is wrong). 

Most importantly, step out of the muddled middle. Trust, not trust the others, trust God with all the knots, all the relationships … even the bruises, all my desires and all my concerns.

Interesting, the image at the top often proves true. The muddle is in the middle. God is in the midst of the muddle too. The muddle didn’t start muddled and God is able to smooth the out the muddle in the end when I trust.

As I write, the muddle is still muddly. And my expectations rest with God.

“… The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” Philippians 4:5b, 6, 7, NIV

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20, NIV

Anticipating grace.

What about you? How do you trust in the midst of your own muddled middles?

Welcome to week 3 in the new home of Echoes of Grace. I’m thrilled you are stopping in!

Remember to sign up at the right for the Echoes community. I’m excited to be sending this special group of friends a copy of my new eBook later this year.

And will you help me pass the word about Echoes? Share it on your Facebook page or email the link to your friends. If you have been encouraged by the message of Echoes, I bet your friends will be too.

And, btw, Echoes of Grace is expanding.  I’m getting a new room painted and ready to invite you in on Monday, October 3. Stay tuned.

This week Bill and I are attending a family funeral. So I’m blessing you with the words of one of my new friends … her message appropriate to meeting new friends.

Some of my Best-ies …

Her email and the blog post collided. Their encouragement put new wind in my sails.

Interesting, three years ago I would have never been blessed by either; I hadn’t yet met Nancy or Mickey or Sara. They are all new friends, our paths intersecting because of need. Yup, need brought us together.

Mickey (bless her) introduced me to Sara who penned the blog that touched my heart and added fuel to the fire that I’ve been tending lately. (Really, Sara is a new on-line friend. Can I call her ‘friend’? She doesn’t even know I’ve read the words she published.)

YES, she is a friend; friends encourage; and she encouraged me.

Friendship can be messy and hard to create. I remember going into our new church in the city we had recently moved to. I initiated toward a lady I recognized from the previous week, it felt like I bumped into a closed circle. Ouch!

But the welcome was totally different in two other cities – thank you Trisha and Marion. Their circle was broken and they allowed it to expand.

Last spring one of the leaders in our Sunday school community invited me to be a shepherd for the class. As he explained, I responded I think you’re asking me to be a friend. Yes. I can do that except I kind-a didn’t want to be a friend with everyone. I liked my circle the way it was. I had to do some business with God on that response.

Sara’s blog entitled, Keep Your circle Broken exhorted me to always make room to welcome new friends. I hope you’ll enjoy reading her words  here.

                      “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”                                                       Proverbs 17:17

 

 

As a reminder … please sign up … to become part of the Echoes of Grace community. Not only will you receive regular reminders of new posts, also I’ll be sending you a thank you gift later this year.

Mana’s Writing Room, my writing room is sacred space.

• A re-purposed bedroom.
• A piece of our home that shapes me more than any other room.
• My belovedness is affirmed there.
• My purpose is re-energized there.
• God’s truth meets me there.
• Ministry springs from there.

I come in the morning hungry, needy, wanting. I leave full, able, giving.

Mana’s Writing Room is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, my writing happens here. But my writing follows my sitting, my staring, my wonderings. My comfy chair facing the triple window precedes my computer chair facing the screen. Just as the natural precedes the supernatural, small moments precede big stories. Remembering precedes ministry. The comfy chair precedes the computer chair.

“Our lives are stories built of small moments.” Roots and Sky, p.18

The other rooms in our home also call – no – clamor for my attention.

• Clean laundry needs to appear from that closet off the back hall (my husband is preparing for a trip).
• Our guest room needs attention before our friends arrive.
• Our dining room needs to transform into a tea room for a grieving friend.
• The kitchen summons me to marinate our favorite recipe for guests.

Each room affirming the opportunity for love. Each a sacred place, a springboard for ministry.

“Something significant happened to our world because Jesus walked here … while God had always met with people in sacred places – like mountaintops or the temple – Jesus cracked open the familiar mold. Since Jesus, every place has the potential to be sacred.” Roots and Sky, p.58

And if these rooms could talk, oh, the stories they would tell.

• We’d rejoice again.
• We’d wipe the tears again.
• We’d pray together again.
• We’d plan and scheme again.

When we gathered in our living room around the husband, his tears flowed freely as he choked out the story of their prodigal son. Gently, we laid our hands on his shoulder and prayed. On another evening at the dining room table, he asked for wisdom as he struggled to launch a new ministry venture. We prayed with him again. Giddy is the best verb to describe the evening when, this time in yet another living room, he shared about the upcoming marriage of their second daughter. We joined him in prayers of rejoicing.

Splendid Friends … as we call ourselves, from 2009

Home – a sacred space. Each of these stories began as three small moments in the life of one of our friends, in one of our homes. Each of these stories has new chapters. Each shared in a home among five couples committed to each other and committed to hospitality.

“The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” Luke 8:38 and 39, ESV

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Romans 12:13, ESV

Welcome to the new home of Echoes of Grace!

I’m glad you stopped by.

Do make sure and read my bolded note at the bottom of this post.

GRAND, Ashlyn under the beautiful fall tree.

It started with school days, then teaching days coinciding with collegiate ministry, followed by church ministry. That’s a lot of years of September beginnings. My calendar, a 9-month, 3-month schedule kicks off (pun intended) every September. Old habits die hard.

Leading Bible studies and other small groups often kick off in September too. Beginning in my college years, it continues today. I bet many of you are also blessed to lead small groups.

As this September new year rolls around again, it’s good for me to remember … and I’ll share with you … my top 10 lessons of small group leading. Perhaps these will help you too.

1) Don’t go to my closet and pull out my leader hat. Be who I am. Share vulnerably. Everyone is growing.

2) Keep peeling the layers of the onion in my life. No matter how many times I’ve been through the material, approach it as if it’s the first time.

3) Partner in leading. Invite your friend to lead with you; take advantage of her strengths. Affirm her often.

4) Communicate regularly. Invite the people in your group to meet for coffee or come for lunch. Call, text, email – let them know you want to be a friend.

5) Share other resources you happen upon freely. Learning doesn’t always initiate with me. Blogs, magazine articles, you-tube videos. The resources never end.

6) The value is in the group! Listen and learn from the others. If I don’t, I miss out big time. Give them the pedestal.

7) A leader, no. God gave me this group to help facilitate what we are all learning. We’re in this together.

8) Pray, pray, and pray again. For yourself, for your friends in the group. For wisdom, for ears to hear, for the Word to truly be living and active for each group member.

9) Set up anticipation. I’ll share how I heard from God next week. Or something similar.

10) Know when to take a semester off to re-charge your spiritual batteries.

 

I’m designing a gift (a brand spanking-new eBook) for you
as a THANK YOU for signing up for the new Echoes of Grace.

So, before you leave the site today, do sign up to be part of our Echoes of Grace community. That way I’ll have the address to send your gift to you.

Blessings, sue

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Emotional Suicide

 

Physical suicide never considered.

Spiritual suicide never entered my mind.

Emotional suicide—reality.

As Lent draws to a close, the scattered pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. The beauty of the picture becomes apparent. Emotional suicide, coming to the end of myself, brokenness redeemed.

I am a broken woman. Broken exposing need; broken so my insides leaked, desires known; broken to be part of community; broken so his light shines. Brokenness seemed to be a theme these past 40 days.

Praying Psalm 139:23 and 24 daily.                                                                                                      Planning an evening of honoring special friends around II Corinthians 4:7.                                      Reading the book below.                                                                                                                      Once again writing about that time in 1997 when I gave up and pulled my mask on tight.                    Reading Holey, Wholly, Holy by Kris Camealy.

These words of Charles Martin from his novel, Unwritten, capture for me part of God’s purpose in
brokenness…

“I used to think that a story was something special. That it was the one key that could unlock the broken places in us. What you hold in your had is the story of a broken writer who attempted to kill himself and failed who meets a broken actress who attempted to kill herself and failed and somewhere in that intersection of cracked hearts and shattered souls, they find that maybe broken is not the end of things, but the beginning. Maybe broken is what happens before you become unbroken. What’s more, maybe our broken pieces don’t fit us. Maybe all of us are standing around with a bag of the stuff that used to be us and we’re wondering what to do with it and until we meet somebody else whose bag is full and heart empty we can’t figure out what to do with our pieces. And standing there, face to face, my bag of me over my shoulder, and your bag of you over your shoulder, we figure out that maybe my pieces are the very pieces needed to mend you and your pieces are the very pieces needed to mend me but until we’ve been broken we don’t have the pieces to mend each other. Maybe in the offering we discover the meaning and value of being broken.” (Italics mine) I love that last sentence.

“There is no shame in brokenness. We are all shattered pieces of the body just trying to heal up and close the holes that sin leaves behind. replacing the darkness with light. Hope lives. Resurrection awaits.” Holey, Wholly, Holy page 28.

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given to you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” Luke 22:19 (bold, mine)

Easter is coming!

Responding to Easter: Zero Faith

Two messages converged into one; they rattled my faith and clarified my desire—I want to live like I know the resurrection is true. (Thank you to recording artist, Michael Card and my pastor, Mark Bates.)

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away … they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, … He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, … And they remembered his words …” Luke 24:1-8

The women forgot—I identify.

They were perplexed—I understand.

They remembered when they were reminded—I get that too.

During Michael Card’s concerts, he often shares the thoughts from scripture that birthed his songs. That night he spoke of the women who went to the tomb early on Sunday morning. When they found it empty, their immediate response was that someone had taken the body of Jesus. They totally forgot Jesus telling about the resurrection. Michael Card named their forgetfulness Zero Faith. He reminded us of several other scenarios of Jesus’ friends who after the resurrection also forgot the many times Jesus prepared them with words before his resurrection.

My mind wandered back to our pastor’s sermon on David and Goliath. David was an unlikely candidate to represent the Philistines before Goliath. David, a youth, paled compared to the seasoned warrior Goliath. But David’s faith did not rest in his size, or his armor (or lack thereof), or the size of his enemy; his faith rested in his God. He knew God’s faithfulness from personal experience. Unlike Jesus’ friends, David remembered.

Forged in David’s normal everyday activity while living with and caring for sheep, his faith grew in the solitude and silence of those hills over Bethlehem; the reality of God’s provision and protection happened regularly for him. “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine.” I Samuel 17:37.

Solitude and silence—two of the keys for David that locked God’s character in his mind and heart; that prepared him for Goliath. Those same keys help lock the character of God in my mind and heart; that help me prepare for my goliaths; that help me believe the reality of the resurrection.

Another Mark comes to mind, our Sunday school teacher from the years when our sons were in elementary school. Mark and his wife have 7 children; their youngest, Paul, is the same age as our oldest, David. Mark had the gift of story-telling and we sat in rapt attention knowing the lessons from his family may well be the encouragement we needed in our family. One Sunday he introduced himself as “doubting Mark” because he identified with doubting Thomas and his need to see in order to believe. John 20:24, 25. He suggested that perhaps we are too hard on Thomas; that we too have a hard time believing. His arrow hit the intended target in my heart.