Easter has passed. God’s heart for our heart is present. So a few more thoughts from the Easter narrative recorded in Luke.

“Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights.”
Proverbs 18:15, The Message (italics mine)

A suggestion:  Have you read Lent – Continuing the Journey?  

You might want to click back and read it first. This is chapter two of my story based on the words of Luke 22:39-46.

39. “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives,
and the disciples followed him. 40. And when he came to the place*, he said to them,
‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’
41. And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,
42. saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.
Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’
43. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
44. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly;
and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45. And he rose from prayer,
he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46. and he said to them,
‘Why are you sleeping?
Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.'”

LISTEN

As I listened to this passage, several things called for my attention.

Going to the Garden of *Gethsemane, was Jesus’ habit. Luke knew it was important that we noted, “as was his custom”. Possibly the place wasn’t the important thing, but that Jesus had a habit of prayer.

Jesus invited his friends, his disciples into a sacred space. He came to Gethsemane for time of prayer alone with his Father. A time alone, but a time with his disciples. Once they arrived, Jesus’ words were, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And then he moved a stone’s throw away to be alone. However, a stone’s throw is not far. Had the disciples stayed awake, they would have heard Jesus’ prayer.

Am I listening to Jesus’ words in my times of prayer?

“God speaks in the silence of the heart.
Listening is the beginning of prayer.”
Mother Teresa

ENGAGE

And so I ponder …

What was the temptation Jesus was warning the disciples of?
If Jesus moved only a stone’s throw away, why did he not just stay with the disciples?

NOTICE

Repetitions: Twice Jesus says “Pray that you may not enter into temptation”.
Repetitions signal importance. Was Jesus referring to the importance of staying awake? Was he referring to Peter’s future denial? Or …?

Nevertheless: A seemingly insignificant word. NO! Nevertheless is the bridge between Jesus’ request and his heart. He voluntarily and obediently submitted his will to God’s.

The character of God: “And there appeared to him an angel from heaven strengthening him”: Jesus’ prayer must have pleased God. God affirmed him. Jesus felt invited to pray even more earnestly.

TRUST

What temptation might Jesus want me to be aware of today?
What do I continually hear over and over again from God?
What is the “nevertheless” prayer Jesus is asking me to pray?
Am I experiencing the character of God as I bring my requests to Him?
What does God want me to trust Him with today?

These four principles often anchor my time with God. I wonder, what stands out to you as you listen, engage, notice, and trust God. You might want to spend some time listening to God, practicing these principles through whatever passage you are currently reading.

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2023

 

 

 

 

 

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“But on the first day of the week (the third day),
they went to the tomb …
they found the stone rolled away …
they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were perplexed …
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?
He is not here, but has risen.
Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee,
that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men
and be crucified
and on the third day rise.”
And they remembered his words,”
Luke 24:1-8 (italics and parentheses mine)

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The Third Day in my words

The Third Day
captured the tune of my heart.

The Third Day
focused my faith-stretching journey.

The Third Day
challenged, am I standing in truth?

The Third Day
humbled – the rugged cross for me?

The Third Day
opened my desiring heart.

The third day
perplexed – the stone rolled away.

The Third Day
invited to see the empty tomb.

The Third Day
settled – He is risen; he is risen indeed!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hillsong sings of the third day …

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May your third day celebration bless you in many ways! Happy Easter!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures,”
I Corinthians 15:3 and 4 (italics mine)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Being mesmerized by the third day started toward the beginning of the season of Lent while I was reading Exodus. To start at the beginning of my journey, click here …

Be Ready for the Third Day

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2023

 

One week ago today, a horrendous tragedy took place at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.

An armed former student broke into the school killing three nine year old students, the head of the school, a custodian, and a substitute teacher before she was killed by local law enforcement.

How do I even pray in the midst of this horror?
When will this madness end?
I feel so helpless, what can I do?

Questions proliferated. Tears and more tears. I listened to my friends. We sought to point each other to God, to truth. But still ANGER!

At first, I needed to borrow a prayer I found online unable to form my own. I shared it on Echoes of Grace last Thursday. Perhaps you might need its help too.

Once again, the protests, the cries for gun reform. But has that made a difference?

As the days went by, as I connected with family and friends, it became obvious. Gun reform is necessary, but it is not the answer.

Crumbling moral values are stampeding across our land.
Confusion, hurt, mental anguish and more abound.
This is the reality that must be addressed.

A time is coming, Jesus is coming again, and then, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21 4

But as we wait for that glorious day, what can we do?

1) Yes, connect with your senators and representatives. Let your voice be heard.

AND …

2) Keep praying. Jesus understands agony. “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup form me … And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22: 42 and 44 (underlines mine). In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus knowing the reality of his crucifixion was only hours away, the intensity of this moment drew him to desperate prayer.

Paul’s prayer for the Galatians, is another example of desperate prayer. “my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” Galatians 4:19 (underlines mine).

And we’re commanded, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16; and “pray without ceasing,” I Thessalonians 5:17.

3) Love your neighbor.  Six degrees of separation is a construct with the idea that all people are six or fewer social connections away from each other.

As I connected with my friends last week, as I read news articles and Facebook posts, I was amazed at how many people I know were in some way connected with the Covenant School tragedy. One knew the pastor of the church Covenant School is connected with; another had spoken at the church; one had led worship at the school; the music director used to be the music director of our home church; their children went to school right across the street; his friend was mentored by the head of the school; and more. And I was connected with all of them. Connections were rampant. Six degrees of separation.

“For the whole law (including the moral law) is fulfilled in one word,
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Galatians 5:14 (parentheses mine)

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

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other,
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
Romans 13:8

I was forced to ask …

Who are my one anothers?
Who are my neighbors?

There are neighborhood neighbors.
There are extended family neighbors.
There is a neighbor who gave me a manicure.
There are church neighbors.
There are neighbors at my favorite coffee shop.

“Indeed, I count everything as loss
because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Philippians 3:8

As I prayed, what do you want me to count as loss? The answer was immediate, count as loss my hesitancy to love my neighbor.

What does that look like to love our neighbors? Together, we can make a difference in the crumbling moral values of our nation. There is only six degrees of separation.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, April 2023

 

 

 

 

I share the hopes of the Psalmist.

I am brokenhearted over the horrific tragedy that happened Monday morning in Tennessee.

Four of our elementary and middle-school aged GRANDS attend a small Christian school, a very similar school to Covenant. I am a member of a PCA church. I taught third grade, my classroom full of nine year olds. Shouldn’t school be a safe place for children?

But this is not about me.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus also experienced agony, the agony of his soon to be crucifixion. “And being in agony he prayed more earnestly;” Luke 22:44

How in my agony can I pray more earnestly?

I adapted this prayer shared in byfaithonline on March 28, 2023. byFaith is a publication of the Presbyterian Church in America. It helped shape my prayers as I’ve poured out my heart in agony this week. Perhaps it will help you as well.

Oh God, be Merciful,

Our culture, our nation is in a downward spiral of moral decay. Moral values have disappeared from our nation. Lord have mercy. The apostle Paul instructs, “abhor what is evil.” Romans 12:9

‘You have fed us with the bread of tears and given us tears to drink in full measure.’

Our hearts are broken for the families of the six people whose lives were taken in an expression of evil at Covenant Presbyterian Church Academy. Abhor what is evil.

We ask that you will be merciful. Pour out grace we can’t comprehend on those who bear pain we can’t imagine. We have no words to do what only your Spirit can provide. God, be merciful.

For the families of the three children whose lives have been cut short, Lord be merciful.

For the families of the three adults whose lives were taken, Lord be merciful.

For those injured in the attack, Lord be merciful.

For the entire school, Covenant Presbyterian Academy, the students, the faculty, their chaplain, the administration, Father be merciful.

For the Covenant Presbyterian Church community, the members, the pastors, the staff, God be merciful.

For the area churches and pastors, for the professional counselors throughout Nashville, all who are reaching out in love, God be merciful.

For the family of the shooter, Lord be merciful.

For the life of the church in the world, for the hope of the world, God be merciful.

Though we live in the promise of what will one day be, when all sorrow, sadness, weeping and death will be no more, right now we are devastated. Lord be merciful. Amen.

“Weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:15

 

 

 

If you are familiar with the liturgical calendar, Lent is the third season, the six week period before Easter.

In some Christian traditions it is a time set aside to prepare for Easter, to celebrate the resurrection; for me, it is a time for spiritual renewal. I want to be ready for the third day.

The word Lent offers a helpful acrostic.

L – Listen

Matthew 17:1-8 is the narrative of the transfiguration when Jesus takes Peter, James, and John by themselves up the “high mountain”.  “And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah …” (verse 3)

Peter recognizing them, gets all excited and offers to build three tents: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

But a voice from heaven interrupts, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;” (verse 5). These words echoing the words spoken at Jesus’s baptism.

If you were unfamiliar with this passage and you read the words, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased, what do you think might be the next word, the word telling us how to respond?

Worship him?   Serve him?   Follow him?   Tell others about him?   Obey him?

All good things. But not what the voice of God says.

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
Matthew 17:5

Listen to him!

As a child, I was taught to stop, look, and listen before crossing a street or a railroad crossing. Listening was important because often the car or train coming my way was still invisible; looking was not adequate. But the sound warned. I find this helpful in my time in the scriptures now. I need to stop, to pause, to consider, not just read. What am I hearing?

When I open my Bible, I look at (read) the words, but am I listening for the voice of God?

E – Engage

When I’m wanting to develop friendship with another, I often invite them over for coffee. I ask questions. I engage them in conversation. I listen. We get to know each other. As they respond, a friendship blooms.

I love these words spoken about Moses. I want them to describe me too.

“Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses
face to face,
as a man speaks to his friend.”
Exodus 33:11

Engage: ask questions, ponder, journal.

N- Notice

Notice the small words. I’m discovering that God speaks with a loud voice through the small words.

“Do not be conformed to this world,
but
be transformed …”
Romans 12:2 (underline mine)

The small word but is very important in this verse. It’s directing my understanding to being transformed. From my Bible study, I’ve learned that be transformed is in the passive imperative verb tense meaning I need to allow myself to be transformed; I need to allow God to do something in me. The good news of the gospel is highlighted, as I spend time with God listening and engaging, He is doing something in me; He is transforming me. Noticing the small word, but, led to big understanding.

Click on the highlighted link for another illustration of the importance of small words.

Notice the repetitions. Repetition in the scriptures intensify the urgency of the message. In the first three verses of Isaiah 55, the word come appears five times! The concept of listening appears four times! Resulting in my soul being alive.

“Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;”
Isaiah 55:3

Notice responses.
Notice the word will. It often points to God’s promises.

T – Trust

When I practice listening, engaging, and noticing, it leads to trust. It leads to pleasing God.

“And without faith (trust) it is impossible to please God …”
Hebrews 11:6

I often pray, God, what would it look like to trust you today?

These four principles are anchoring my time with God and are leading me on a journey to spiritual renewal, of being ready for the third day.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2023

 

Three things converged in the last few weeks. Is God whispering something to me?

1. The prayer letter from our good friends and Navigator colleagues.
2. The student revival at Asbury University.
3. Bill and I went to see the movie, Jesus Revolution. Yes, we highly recommend it.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Our good friends were students in our ministry at the University of Illinois. We were surprised when their friendship turned into a dating relationship. They seemed so different. We were very skeptical.

And we were clueless!

Yet, over their 40 years of marriage and ministry, God has used them in significant ways on the college campus and beyond, including in my life. I so respect their walks with God. They are great communicators. They know how to relate to college students. They have deep friendships. They are wonderful affirmers. What a joy to see God’s work in their lives. I am honored to walk with them as Navigators and pray for them.

We were clueless!

On February 8th at Asbury University, a revival broke out among the students after their normal morning chapel service.

It’s interesting to note that the speaker at that service was discouraged at the end even calling his wife with these words, “That was a stinker. I’ll be home soon.”***

But he was clueless!

That service continued non-stop for about two weeks. The prevailing belief was it didn’t end; it was only the beginning of God moving among the college students around our nation.

God initiated this story for me personally over 50 years ago. Bill and I were not yet married. He was attending Asbury Seminary across the street from Asbury (then) College. And a very similar revival broke out among the students at the college.

Bill and some of the other seminarians crossed the street and stood in the back of Hughes Auditorium at Asbury College, observing, being drawn in, amazed. Something Bill never before experienced was happening. In his own words, the entire atmosphere was different. The air seemed thicker. The Holy Spirit was evident as they listened to the students pray, sing, and minister among themselves. There was a sense of expectancy. They left praying that the revival would cross the street to the seminary.

They were not clueless.

Watching the Jesus Revolution surfaced many memories for us. The true story is set in the early 1970s in the Hippie movement that broke out in California. The phrase Jesus Revolution was coined by a front page article in Time Magazine.*****

https://jesusrevolution.movie/

Bill and I were married in 1972 and leading the ministry at the University of Illinois, right in the midst of the Jesus movement referring to what started with the Hippies and was moving across the nation.

We were in our twenties. Evangelism was easy. Students were eagerly responding to the gospel. The churches were packed. The Holy Spirit was moving mightily across the campus. We were living in the midst of something that was far bigger than us. Was this a revival?

I was clueless.

Sitting in the theater was very emotional for us. The memories surfaced. The dots connected. We were humbled.

Revivals have been going on for years. In the early to mid 1700s, a revival known as The Great Awakening was happening in the American colonies. The Jesus movement, the Asbury revivals, what we experienced at the University of Illinois (not officially remembered as revival), are all illustrations of God moving mightily in the hearts of people.

Will you do it again, Lord?

That is our prayer.

At one point in Jesus Revolution, Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapels and one of the main characters in the story, is talking with Lonnie Frisbee, a Hippee, an evangelist, and the one who initially brought his friends to Chuck’s church.

Chuck asks something like, how can we bring revival to the church? Lonnie’s response, You have to be desperate. Are you desperate enough?

Am I desperate enough?

Or am I still clueless?

In the book of Acts, recounting revival in the early church thousands (Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4) were coming to know the Lord. “… the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47)

Peter’s response and admonition to the people, repent! (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19,20).

I don’t want to be clueless!

Repentance requires humility. Humility is fueled by desperation. God is whispering.

“Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?”
Psalm 85:6

*** “How an ‘itchy sweater’ sparked a new Christian revival at a Kentucky university”, New York Post, February 20, 2023.

*****Time Magazine cover article, June 21, 1971.

 

 

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“and be ready for the third day...” Exodus 19:11

“And he said to the people, ‘Be ready for the third day;”
Exodus 19:15 (italics in both verses, mine)

The Lord was speaking to Moses referencing when God would call him to Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. Something huge happened on Mount Sinai.

It’s the season of Lent and my mind wandered to another third day, referenced in the New Testament. In Luke 9:22, Jesus foretells his death and his resurrection on the third day,  “saying, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things … and be killed, and on the third day be raised.'” (italics mine)

And Luke 24:1-12 recounts the resurrection, the first Easter morning, including the timing. “He (Jesus) is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. And they remembered his words,” Luke 24:6-8. (parentheses and italics mine) Something huge happened on that hill in Golgotha on the third day.

Returning to Exodus, I pondered those six words, be ready for the third day. Questions proliferated …

Is this another place in the scriptures where the message of the Old Testament
continues in the New Testament?

It might be.

An article in The Gospel Coalition*** helped by pointing me to several third day incidences in the Old Testament including the Exodus passage about Moses and the Ten Commandments.

And a more personal question …

How was God specifically asking Moses help the Israelites be ready for the third day? And was God asking something similar of me?

Two general applications were given to Moses: “Go to the people and consecrate them …” Exodus 19:10.
“And you shall set limits for the people …” Exodus 19:12.

Consecrate them and set limits. God shared the specifics.

Although my specific applications differed from the Israelites, I knew what God was whispering to me.

I needed to listen.
I needed to align my heart with God’s heart.
I want to be ready for the third day.
I want to be ready to celebrate the resurrection.

And I’m hearing God whisper, Sue, be ready for the third day. Consecrate yourself; set some limits.
Or possibly, re-consecrate yourself; re-set some limits.

Growing up in the Protestant tradition, a spiritual practice of Lent was not a thing; but the cultural practice was. So among my friends, we talked about what we were giving up for Lent.

Often I pray …
“May the power of your resurrection be my testimony.”
“Help me live with expectancy; the expectancy of resurrection power.”

Exodus 19 is offering an answer to my prayer.

This Protestant girl is giving up exceptions for Lent to create space to be with God and enjoy times of sabbath.

I’ve been letting my practice slip. I’ve been crossing my own limits. It is time for me to once again re-consecrate myself, and re-set my limits, and be (get) ready for the third day!

*** The Gospel Coalition, “How the Old Testament Prepares Us for the Third Day”, April 20, 2019, Justin Dillehay.

Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2023

 

 

 

 

“He was still speaking when, behold,
a bright cloud overshadowed them,
and a voice from the cloud said,
‘This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased …'”
Matthew 17:5

The Bible records three more words in that verse. Do you know what they are?***

The context of this passage is known as the Transfiguration when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain. Jesus was transfigured before them. And then suddenly Moses and Elijah were also there.

My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased are the same words spoken at Jesus’s baptism by John.   Mark 1:9-11.

I often pose that question *** at the retreats where I speak. Do you know what the next words are?

How might you finish the sentence? This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased ___________________.

Worship him?   Serve him?   Follow him?   Honor him?   Obey him?

None of those really good things are what the Spirit of God highlights.

The very next words are listen to him!

Listening, the most important thing God highlights for those men and I believe for us. These men had been walking with Jesus. They knew him as a friend. And the Spirit of God reminds them to listen!

“Listening to God calling us his beloved is like
discovering a well in the desert.
Once you have touched wet ground,
you want to dig deeper.”
Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Life of the Beloved

“Nothing can replace meeting with
(listening to) Jesus.
Not even reading your Bible.”
Brother Lawrence

The BIG question: How do I develop the habit of listening?

For example, years ago … yes, years ago I memorized Romans 4:20 and 21.

“No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God,
but he grew strong in his faith
as he gave glory to God,
fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”
(bolding and underline mine)

Perhaps I really listened for the first time recently. Those little two letters that I bolded and underlined stopped my reading. AS. Small word; BIG impact. Sue, listen!

Abraham (who these words are referring to) grew his faith AS he gave glory to God.

It’s led me on a search. I want to grow strong in my faith too! So what does it look like for me to give glory to God?

I have some thoughts, but I’d love to learn from you.
What does it mean to give glory to God?

Put your thoughts in the comments. Let’s help each other.

Next Thursday — Some principles I’m learning that are helping me to listen well.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2023

 

 

 

Creation Picturing God’s Control

I sat in the beach chair. One of the few people that early morning.
Listening and Noticing …
to the sound of the ocean
wave after wave;
to the sound of the wind
tumbling seaweed across sand;
to the rhythm of the waves
being pulled by the invisible (to me) moon;
to the tiny crab scurrying just inches before me
bringing a smile to my face;
to the great variety of birds walking the shore
searching for breakfast;
to the leaves of the deciduous, the fronds of the palms, the cacti
all dancing with the breeze;
the white-caps, the breakers
as far as I can see;
the ocean crawls closer
tempting a dip.

Enjoying God’s gift of winter on the island.
Enjoying creation picturing God’s control.

It was January 31 so I opened my Bible to Psalm 31.

David is in a hard place. The scriptures don’t share the specifics which leaves us a broader ability to apply its truth to our hard places. Throughout David’s lament, he acknowledges God’s control.

Creation pictures God’s control. David’s story in Psalm 31 exemplifies God’s control — particularly in the midst of the hards of life.

So many things God highlighted for me. Let me share just three:

1. In the midst of his own hard, over and over David acknowledges God’s control.
2. In the midst of his own hard, three times David speaks of God’s steadfast love.
3. In the midst of his own hard, David boldly asks God to rescue him speedily.

“Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!”
Psalm 31:2

Speedily — David boldly asks God to rescue him from this hard place speedily!

I have not been that bold. Timing has always been a place of insecurity for me when I pray. After all God is sovereign; He is in control. And even David admits a few verses later, “My times are in your hand;” Verse 15.

But David’s prayer in verse 2 sets an example; I (we) too can ask God to respond speedily. My prayer life is changing.

“Let us then with confidence
draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help in time of need”.
Hebrews 4:16 (bolding mine)

Have you signed up to “follow” Echoes of Grace?
I hope so. To those who follow I also email a brief devotional note every few weeks. In this next one I’m sharing one of our Valentine stories that speaks of waiting on God — kind of the opposite of asking God to work speedily.

I’ll also be sharing more about reading through the Psalms with the calendar, a practice I’ve used off and on for many years.

So please sign up to follow Echoes. I don’t want you to miss out.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2023