I can say with all honesty that Easter has always been one of my favorite times of year. Some years it actually falls on my birthday as it does this year. As a child Easter was a time of celebration not celebrating the risen Lord but a celebration of spring. Spring, the Easter bunny, dyeing eggs, my birthday, ham dinner, hot cross buns, new dress, new shoes & socks, new purse were all things I looked forward at Easter time when I was growing up. Easter was the one Sunday out of the year that I was taken to church by my Grandmother. So Easter was a special time of year for me.
It was not until I became a Christian that Easter took on a whole new meaning to me. For the first time I began to realize the significance of Easter. What Jesus' death, burial & resurrection means to us as Christians. As the years began to unfold, each year we would study more and more about this Holy week and all that went along with it. I was an open vessel and soaked up all I could. This year I was challenged to really study and think about each day of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. So began Holy Week
April 2012.
I have blogged previously this week about some of the rest of Holy Week but today find my thoughts on Holy Saturday the day between - The Space Between. The silence of God. A time to pause, to breathe. It is a day of silence,emptiness and loneliness. A difficult day, an uncomfortable day but a very necessary day.
The disciples hiding, alone, their minds filled with images of the previous day. The trial, the beating, crown of thorns, the pain inflicted, the half dead man forced to carry his cross, the long trek to Calvary with the screaming throngs. Some had watched as they nailed Jesus to the cross, put the nails in his hands & feet. Watch as his torn body is thrust erect and the cross is placed in the ground. Images of Jesus dying, the day being as night, the earth's moaning, the sights & sounds they will never forget. Jesus as he says 'It is Finished' and then breathed his last earthly breath. Removing Jesus from the cross, the tomb, the sealing of the tomb by the Roman soldiers the disciples were reeling with images and emotions, emotions and images.
Emptiness and quiet replace the screaming throngs, the pain, the noise the confusion of Friday. All is silent - silent while they - silent while we - have time to breathe - time to absorb. The living God has been with them and now the living God is silent. Uncomfortable - uneasy the shock of death - the questions 'What next?' -'Where do we go from here?' Silence, quiet we wait, we prepare ourselves with prayer. Void, darkness, doubt, uncertainty and fear, all this must be felt before we can see the light and love of the 'Risen Lord'.
I know that I have spent many Easter seasons rushing headlong to the resurrection not stopping to understand, to experience, the place between. The space between the starkness of Friday and the reality of Saturday. We must know the weight of loss and the promise of new life, and as dawn approaches we must let it enter into the 'space' carved out by loss. After the events of yesterday, it is hard to believe we will know joy again.
In our life's journey we all those times of -"The Space Between", the void between. I am learning to embrace the "Space Between", as it prepares me for the time of "Resurrection". Blessings to you today and tomorrow as you celebrate our "Risen Lord". May you ponder and remember the "Space Between".
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Maundy Thursday
We all have those ‘days’, those ‘days’ we mark as significant. As we think back on this Thursday of Holy Week, we can see that this was a day of significance in the life of the disciples. Thursday of Holy Week or Maundy Thursday is one of those days.
The previous Sunday, we saw Jesus enter Jerusalem as a king riding on a donkey as the people waved palm branches and shouted ‘Hosanna’ – ‘Hosanna in the Highest!’ This was fulfilling an ancient prophecy from Zec 9:9. and Psalm 118:25-26. On Monday Jesus cleared the temple of the money changers and overturned tables and drove them from the temple, Tuesday Jesus taught parables and warned the people against the Pharisees. Wednesday was a day of rest.
On Thursday in the upper room Jesus prepares himself and his disciples for his death. As they were reclining at the table the Lord rose and took off his outer clothes and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet. Then returning to his place, he asked, “Do you understand what I have done for you? Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. What an example of humility and service to one another?”
During the Passover meal Jesus gives further instructions to his disciples, he breaks the bread and tells them that “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me”. And in the same way he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant, in my blood, which is poured out for you, drink. This began what we as Christians call – Communion.
Finally during that ‘Last Supper’ he also gave the disciples an new commandment – “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
Nothing Jesus ever did was without meaning or significance for those whom lived during that time or for us as Jesus’ followers today. Remember the price Jesus paid for our sins. Remember His instructions to us as believers on how we should live. Highly blessed and favored are we.
Scriptures from: Matthew 26:17-30 Mark 14:12-26
Luke 22:7-23 John 13:1-30
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Our God Sings Over Us!!!!!
“The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing”. Zephaniah 3:17
Being blessed recently to spend time with my grand-daughters, I took great delight in them, when they were sad I wanted to quiet them with my love and all the while rejoicing over them. This time spent with them reminded me of our relationship with God.
Do you know that you are that special to God??
Do you know that He is mighty to save?
That He takes great delight in you?
That He will quiet you with His love?
That He rejoices over you with singing?
The God of the universe, the maker of everything loves you and loves you passionately. He truly is mighty to save and you are His delight and He will quiet you with His love.
He rejoices over YOU! with singing.
No one loves you like God loves you. Can you catch a glimpse of Him?
Do you know Him better today than you did yesterday?
Get to know the God who delights in you.
It will change you forever.
Our God Sings Over Us!!!!!
“The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing”. Zephaniah 3:17
Being blessed recently to spend time with my grand-daughters, I took great delight in them, when they were sad I wanted to quiet them with my love and all the while rejoicing over them. This time spent with them reminded me of our relationship with God.
Do you know that you are that special to God??
Do you know that He is mighty to save?
That He takes great delight in you?
That He will quiet you with His love?
That He rejoices over you with singing?
The God of the universe, the maker of everything loves you and loves you passionately. He truly is mighty to save and you are His delight and He will quiet you with His love.
He rejoices over YOU! with singing.
No one loves you like God loves you. Can you catch a glimpse of Him?
Do you know Him better today than you did yesterday?
Get to know the God who delights in you.
It will change you forever
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
As I ponder on the events of Holy Week in my mind's eye
I keep seeing the cross.
The cross, rugged, ugly, rough, heavy, torturous, mean –
And yet as Christians it is beautiful to us.
For it was on that old cross Jesus suffered and died –
for you
for me
for the whole world.
Thank you Jesus for loving me that much.
Have you thanked Him? If not thank Him today
and remember what He gave for us.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Holy Week - Focusing on the Cross
- I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but this;
I shall ne’er get sight of the Gates of Light,
If the way of the cross I miss.- Refrain:
The way of the cross leads home,
The way of the cross leads home;
It is sweet to know, as I onward go,
The way of the cross leads home.
- Refrain:
- I must needs go on in the blood-sprinkled way,
The path that the Savior trod,
If I ever climb to the heights sublime,
Where the soul is at home with God. - Then I bid farewell to the way of the world,
To walk in it nevermore;
For my Lord says, “Come,” and I seek my home,
Where He waits at the open door.
The way of the cross for me leads home. Leads home to where my heart is. Leads home to Jesus. Leads home to Heaven. Leads home to loved ones I long to see again. Leads home to joy - love - peace - contentment - ............ Does the cross lead you home? I pray so.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Palm Sunday
My April resolution is to add something to “My Heart to Yours” daily. It is an attempt in obedience that I feel God is speaking to me about.
So with that said: Sunday April 1st. Today is “Palm Sunday” a day we as Christians celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the beginning of “Holy Week”. In the sermon this morning we had visual slides to help us picture what that day might have been like. We viewed Jerusalem, from the Mount of Olives, viewed the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem, and were able to see the steepness of the terrain. We read the scriptures from Luke 19:28-40. Two questions were asked of us – How much of God’s plan do we misunderstand? - What kind of praise to we bring to Jesus?
Both questions spoke to my heart. I am very good at misunderstanding God’s work in my life, mainly because I want “His” work to be tailored made “by me”. Not allowing the Holy Spirit to have full access to all the dark closets of my heart, not wanting to be exposed for the sinner that I am. Misunderstanding events and circumstances that God allows in my life, knowing that everything He allows to have access to me is for my good, for my growth. Instead I am guilty of sulking, whining, pouting and outright disrespect for my Saviors work in my life. Forgive me Father.
The second question – What kind of praise do we bring to Jesus? As we were challenged by the sermon is our praise – visual – is it joyful – is it Biblical? I always want my praise to be this way. Perhaps not all at the same time, but yet yes, at the same time. A few years ago while I was attending a women’s conference I promised the Lord that if His spirit led me to be openly demonstrative with my praise, then I would be obedient. What a freedom has overwhelmed my praise since that time, I no longer worry what “others” think because it really doesn’t matter, it only matters to the one that the praise belongs to – JESUS. So today I say:
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
“ Zechariah 9:9
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