At seven years old on a hot Saturday night in early July I vividly remember asking my mom and dad if we could "go talk" after dinner.
I was a rather dramatic child, especially for my age.
But on this particular evening I'm not sure if we can chalk it up the dramatic side of me, or if something in me knew...my life was going to change forever that night.
Eternity would be sealed.
That night I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
Just like everyone else I haven't had a "perfect" walk with Him. Far from it in fact. Some years as Easter approached my focus was less on the cross as I would have liked. Though growing up we were never even introduced to the Easter bunny concept, we did wake up to Easter baskets at the breakfast table and had Easter egg hunts with the eggs we had dyed the day before. Some years my mind seemed to be consumed with the goodies that awaited me in my basket the next morning than the fact that we were celebrating my risen Lord.
As I got older some years I did focus more on that. I even remember one year in high school promising not to watch any television from Good Friday morning until Easter night. I think I made it until about lunch time on Saturday. After that my mind was just on all my guilt for my epic failure of a commitment. Perfect, I know. One year while I was in college my mind was totally swept up by some silly new guy that I had obsessively started talking to all week leading up to Easter, then we planned a "date" at the upcoming Good Friday service at my church. Which clearly was a rock solid plan I had there as well. The date was a nightmare. So was my heart and mind.
I am not trying to say that there is a right or wrong way to approach this Holy Week (though I probably wouldn't recommend some of mine). If there is anything I have learned it's the fact that God can take the most messed up approaches and turn them into beauty, after all, there is no formula for this kind of thing. However as I have grown older I have found a distinct shift in my heart as this time of year approaches-especially during this week. Because this week changed everything for us.
If there would have been no cross there would have been no salvation, no hope, no redemption. It could come no other way. No plan B.
I believe that because of the work on that cross on Calvary that you have not sinned so much that He can't forgive you.
You have not gone so far that He cannot reach you.
You have not sunk so low that He cannot lift you.
You have not stayed gone so long that He no longer knows you.
You have not said so much that He has nothing else to say to you.
You have not sold your soul until He cannot redeem you.
You have not destroyed/been destroyed so much that He cannot rebuild you.
You have not hated/been hated so much that He cannot love you.
You have not been dead so long that He cannot raise you.
That's what this week is. Holy. Miraculous. Dying to flesh. Raising to life. Anyone needing some of that in their life too? Right there with you sister.
So no, I don't have a formula for approaching Holy Week. I'm not trying to dismiss or disapprove family traditions or fun activities for the children. I'm simply praying for a focused mind, a heart towards the cross, for what is life-changing this week. My prayer being that our eyes be opened, and yes, even re-opened, today to the power of the cross thousands of years ago.
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Beautiful. I tend to get very distracted around this time of the year - may be spring fever? I don't know. I love in Italy, where you think it would be easy to keep faith first and center most, however, ever Easter season I really struggle here - language barriers all of that. This Easter season I've put little to know thought on what this period should mean. Thank you for writing this - it has reminded me (thank God in English) to sit and reflect.
ReplyDeleteMadaline, thank you so much for stopping by. I'm so grateful for how God has brought Him to the center of your mind. I pray you've had a beautiful Easter in Italy, friend.
DeleteThis was lovely and love your heart for Christ. I am not a big fan of Easter the way the world celebrates it. I feel it is a holy holiday and the emphasis should be on the resurrection of Christ, without it, we couldn't call ourselves believers. However one celebrates comes down to their personal beliefs, the spring theme is great, but sometimes even believers use it to mask over the true meaning, putting more emphasis on the Easter bunny then Christ.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more Michelle. I would never want to come across as judgmental upon someone else's way of celebrating Easter, but as for my home and for my family I try to be very intentional. Keeping the focus on the cross in every aspect of this season, even the decor in our home. It really is the little things that make the most impact sometimes! Thanks so much for com ing by!
DeleteThanks so much for sharing your heart with us in this encouraging post.
ReplyDelete"No plan B." Thankfully, God doesn't need a plan B. He has plan Jesus!
Blessings to you and yours.
Thank you so much for stopping by Heather!
DeleteThank you so much for your post. Just this afternoon, I was lamenting to myself that I have not reflected enough on Jesus during this lenten season, let alone this Holy Week. I have been in the Word, but going along like any other week of the year, rather than a more intentional reflection on the days leading up to Holy Week and Holy week itself.
ReplyDeleteI was encouraged by the list of reminders you shared of what the cross of Christ means for us.
Happy Easter!
Karen, isn't that such a way the enemy knows he can trip us up so easily? Make us think we haven't "performed well enough"? Just this morning I was thinking I was a little down on myself because I didn't get something finished before Easter like I had hoped to and instantly God reminded me of the whole purpose of this Easter. The work on the cross means no work I do or don't do can't stand a chance. No opportunity for guilt. Grace, grace, and more grace friend. Happy Easter!
DeleteI join you in trying to reopen my eyes to the power of the cross! Great message, here, and great reminder of God's power...He loves, builds up, forgives, pursues, redeems, and so much more.
ReplyDeleteSo true Laura, thanks for stopping by and Happy Easter! Praying for fresh eyes this weekend as we gaze at the cross.
DeleteI enjoyed this post. Sometimes we get so caught up in our failures and that also takes away from our focus of Jesus. Our enemy loves to remind us of everything we have done wrong - it is a tactic he uses to get us discouraged. And it totally misses the point of His grace and love. While it is good for us to be purposeful in spending time with Him, we have to remember His grace covers all.
ReplyDeleteAimee, I couldn't agree more. It's such an easy way to get us discouraged and distracted from the beauty of the cross and the impact grace has on us, and the enemy uses that so quickly in my life. Happy Easter friend!
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