I've been to a lot of funerals lately - eight since June. Funerals really make me think about my life - do I live the kind of life to justify the things I hope would be said about me? I have learned some really incredible things about the people I went to celebrate - things they did silently and hoped to be anonymous, but were noticed and appreciated by someone.
My best friend died for me a long time ago, but the Good News is that He lives! He defeated death and is going to help me defeat death someday. That is what makes all these funerals I've been to bearable. While these people are missing from my life, I know it isn't forever. I am so happy that Jesus Christ is my best friend.
On that subject - I feel in our society we take on what we believe a best friend should be and apply it to our Saviour. Although he is our best friend, we need to approach him with reverence and awe - this best friend is God after all. He is holy - we are not. He is perfect - we are not. He defeated death - we did not. He can save us - we can't do that.
This morning I sang great masterpieces from Bach, Beethoven, Handel... all celebrating the risen Saviour. My best friend. Here's the cool part... Jesus can be your best friend, too. All you have to do is ask Him and believe.
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Sunday, March 23, 2008
He is Risen!
I love Easter for as long as I can remember.
My mother was a music director so I remember many choir practices and sun rise services at the cemetary. I remember my cousin hiding our eggs over and over until she refused to hide them any more. I remember having chicken pox one year. Oh that year was fun. not.
I remember my senior year of high school and Easter was very sad. Very. Sad. I'll tell you why some time but not now. And the next several Easters were sad for me too. Then in 1993 about two weeks before Easter I had a beautiful little baby girl - that was a very happy Easter.
And I realized that I am writing in very choppy sentences... I can't help it - I'm a math teacher. But back to the story.
Back a few years ago, I began taking a journey during Lent. God took me on sometimes painful journeys, helping me to discover the woman He wants me to be. It has been eye-opening and healing. Sometimes I was in the wilderness, sometimes I was experiencing the dark night of the soul, sometimes it was heart-wrenching, but always it was meaningful. But the last two years, it has been something different. Something unexpected and wonderful. Something I have always longed for. I feel JOY.
Now if you know me, you know I can belly laugh. But you also know that I struggle with being joyful. This Easter I am joyful. The only pain I feel is in my face after all the singing today, but I knew that would happen. I have a deep, heart-lightening, resounding joy in God today.
Anyway, I wanted to share that. I hope you are having a blessed Easter. As for me... I'm working Calculus problems. :)
My mother was a music director so I remember many choir practices and sun rise services at the cemetary. I remember my cousin hiding our eggs over and over until she refused to hide them any more. I remember having chicken pox one year. Oh that year was fun. not.
I remember my senior year of high school and Easter was very sad. Very. Sad. I'll tell you why some time but not now. And the next several Easters were sad for me too. Then in 1993 about two weeks before Easter I had a beautiful little baby girl - that was a very happy Easter.
And I realized that I am writing in very choppy sentences... I can't help it - I'm a math teacher. But back to the story.
Back a few years ago, I began taking a journey during Lent. God took me on sometimes painful journeys, helping me to discover the woman He wants me to be. It has been eye-opening and healing. Sometimes I was in the wilderness, sometimes I was experiencing the dark night of the soul, sometimes it was heart-wrenching, but always it was meaningful. But the last two years, it has been something different. Something unexpected and wonderful. Something I have always longed for. I feel JOY.
Now if you know me, you know I can belly laugh. But you also know that I struggle with being joyful. This Easter I am joyful. The only pain I feel is in my face after all the singing today, but I knew that would happen. I have a deep, heart-lightening, resounding joy in God today.
Anyway, I wanted to share that. I hope you are having a blessed Easter. As for me... I'm working Calculus problems. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)