Easter 2021

The celebration of Jesus' resurrection was such a sweet and special joy this year. It was so good to be able to gather with our church family in person this year, and we also had the added bonus of having our family together in one place.

We began our Easter Week observances on Thursday by having a modified Passover Seder meal, using guidance from our church and some families who recorded a meal for us to watch in our homes. The purpose was to remember and experience the type of meal that Jesus and his disciples would have had on the night that Jesus was betrayed. The elements of the meal were used as reminders of how Jesus fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies and promises when he walked on the earth.

 

On Good Friday, our church met for a meaningful time of remembering Christ's death on the cross and the sacrifice he made for our sins. The songs and scripture helped us to consider the mercy that was shown to us and to recommit our lives to living for the glory of Christ as believers.

 Easter Sunday was a wonderful day of gathering to celebrate the risen Savior. It was even more special to be gathered in our church's new worship hall and to be able to greet friends who were coming back to worship in person for the first time since the pandemic. In my role on the church staff, I have responsibilities all morning, but it is truly a joy to serve the Lord and his people in this way.

The rest of the day was spent just relaxing and spending time together as a family. We had a simple meal and then sat outside in the backyard enjoying the beautiful day. The girls enjoyed hunting for the eggs that Daniel hid for them, and they also had fun decorating some cookies. The guinea pigs got to come out to play and there was some whiffle ball action, and even a short ukelele concert. It was a perfect afternoon!

Loving my neighbor

 

 

Today is Palm Sunday. It is the day that Christians celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of the week that he was crucified, buried and rose again. The people who lined the road to Jerusalem when Jesus took that path thought that they were welcoming their new king, the one who had some to get them out from under Roman oppression and give them victory over their oppressors. They were celebrating a King that day, and so do we thousands of years later. But King Jesus came to save us from our sins and give us victory over the oppression of living for ourselves. That was and is the greatest need of humanity.

 

This morning as I was getting ready for church, I was praying for people who had experienced hardship from the storms that came through the Nashville area. I knew that many were having to deal with flooding or damage from high winds and also the emotional trauma that those experiences take on people, even years later. My mind and prayers also went to other friends who are going through very rough situations, some with no end in sight. All of these people in my prayers are in need.

 

My thoughts went to my own needs. I am in need of motivation and focus to finish up some grad school assignments. I will need strength to manage a busy week of work (Easter Week at a church is one of the busiest of the year). I quickly dismissed my own need as I prayed, asking once again for God to help others who are in “more need” than I am.

 

Almost as quickly, the Holy Spirit reminded me that we are all in need and that our greatest need is to be saved from our sins and an eternity of separation from God. While it is good for me to pray for others and to put their needs above my own, I don’t ever want to forget that I am in need of Jesus every day, every minute. He saved me from my sins when I trusted in him as a young girl and that gave me the privilege of approaching the throne of grace with confidence that he hears my prayers and goes before the Father on my behalf with my needs.

 

Today’s sermon from Romans 13:8-10 was about loving our neighbor as the fulfillment of the Law. Paul was echoing the teaching of Jesus where he summed up the ten commandments saying that to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind” and to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). In the sermon, Josh Hussung said that loving our neighbor as ourselves is to see others’ needs as our needs and to have a gut reaction to help. He also said that loving our neighbor is a desire or longing for their good as God prescribes it. The only way we can love our neighbor that way is for God to help us to see others as he sees them:  in need of a Savior. Josh challenged us to think of ways that we draw the line of who can get our love and to repent of that sinful way of thinking.

 

I’m really no different than the people who were in the crowd cheering for Jesus when he rode into Jerusalem on a colt. I want him to be my king on my terms and to meet my needs as I think they should be met. I don’t always think about the needs of others, physical or spiritual. And I definitely put limits and parameters around the ways I am willing to love others.

 

This week as I prepare to remember the events of Jesus’ last week before the cross, I want to be mindful of how I love my neighbor. Do I love and care for others’ deepest need of salvation? Do I share the good news of Jesus’ death on the cross, burial, and rising again on the third day? Who might I share that with this week? How might I truly love my neighbor in the way that God intended?

 

Lord, give me your love for others and help me to share that love with those who you put in my life.

 

 

Spring, change and hope in the air

 

Happy Spring 2021! 

I remember the emotions and uncertainty that we all experienced during this season last year (and all throughout 2020). One year ago, we were newly in quarantine and the work-from-home routine was still getting established. I took daily walks and took pictures of the trees and flowers as they started blooming and it was a highlight of the season.

One year later, I am back to working in the office most days, but am thankful to still have the flexibility to work from home as needed. Life is slowly returning to the pre-pandemic "normal" but like anything, you can't ever really go back to the way it was.

 

 

The trees are blooming and the flowers are starting to pop up out of their beds. My favorite tulip showing at Cheekwood is about to hit its peak, and I am here for it! The temperatures are warming up and the sky is that beautiful clear blue that we have in Tennessee before the awful humidity comes to stay for a while.The threat of severe storms has returned as usual, too, but I don't really want to talk about that.

On Saturday morning, I left my house as the sun was coming up to head to Nissan stadium for my appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. I was one of the 10,000 people who had signed up and I recruited my sister to go with me, as moral support.

When I turned on the music in my car, my phone randomly streamed the song, "His Mercy is More" and got me into a praise/thanksgiving mindset as I drove along Nolensville Road. I saw other people driving to run early errands or to go open up a business, and I realized that one year ago, most of those people were like me, staying at home, and many of those businesses were closed. I thanked God for the opportunity to get the vaccine and for keeping me healthy throughout the first year of COVID-19. 

As Jeanette and I drove to the stadium and got in the line of cars, we remembered another early morning adventure of getting up to go purchase the fabric for my wedding dress at an early-bird sale at the fabric store. Most experiences that I have in life are infinitely more fun when Jeanette is involved, and going to get a vaccine was definitely improved by having her along! She helped me to not get anxious when the traffic pattern was wonky at first. She was ready and willing to take my picture while the nurse administered the vaccine. She sang the Doxology with me. She laughed with me at the salty comment of the volunteer who checked on me in the waiting area when I told her that I was allergic to rubbing alcohol.

After I was released to leave the parking area, we drove to Kroger and picked out some random "treats" to have for breakfast with Russell and the girls. We found some apple danishes and bacon and biscuits and brought it to their house to prepare. Russell met us at the door with a tray with mugs of fresh, hot coffee, and the girls roused from their room with sleepy faces ready to start the day. We made plans to do "normal" things like go to the Goodwill outlet and spend time outdoors.

Last year, I never completely lost hope, because my hope is ultimately in Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). This year, my hope is still in Christ, more than in a vaccine or in any other earthly person or thing. And I'm thankful that the cycle of seasons has come back around and we can once again celebrate the new life and growth that is bursting out all around! 

Praise the Lord, his mercy is more!