Loss & Purpose Mixed with Hope & Love

(Purpose…Here I am on that topic again.)

As I reflect on this “in between day”…the day between the crucifixion and the resurrection, I ponder the meaning of all of this and the feelings that the followers of Jesus might have felt.

Have you ever grieved the loss of a close friend or family member? I have: grandparents, cousin in her 30s, colleague in her 40s, teenagers and even infants/young children.

Some deaths make more “sense” than others. Grandparents – yeah, I get it – still hurts, but I understand. Young people – not so much! Babies – oh, those are heart-breakers.

Have you felt that pain? Have you asked that question: Why, Why, Why?! I used to photograph babies lost at a young age through this organization: http://www.nilmdts.org/. Why was a common question.

I think there are two obvious lessons that relate to the cross:
1. Loss
2. Purpose

The day after a death of a friend of family member you wake up and wonder how your world has changed. You know it has changed but can’t yet figure out exactly what the loss means. You know but you don’t understand. There is loss; emptiness; thoughts that don’t even all make sense.

I can’t imagine what the believers of Jesus thought the morning after they’d seen him hang on a cross and die. Gone was the man they’d learned about as little children (religious training), grown close to as friends and had loved and trusted to be the savior of the world. Gone. Dead and in a tomb. Their hope – gone.

They must have felt loss.

They must have wondered why. What was His purpose? Their purpose?


God made us to be in relationship with Him. He made the rules and we broke them. He loved us so much, He found a way to restore our broken relationship. How? He sent His son to pay the price (penalty, ransom) for our poor behavior. If we believe, we can be in a relationship with God – forever and ever! The cross didn’t happen to Jesus. Jesus’ purpose was fulfilled through the cross.

On this day between the crucifixion and the resurrection (Easter), I’d encourage you to think back to that loss of your friend or family member. To think of the emptiness it brought to you. Then, think of the loss the followers of Christ likely felt the day after His death. Then, imagine this world had He just been a man. A dead man. That would = no hope for us.

Instead, we get to dance and celebrate tomorrow. Why? We have a Savior who brought hope to all people. The man who enables us to have a restored relationship with God the Father fulfilled His purpose and we benefit from it! The man who loved us so much, He died and ROSE so that we may have eternal life in heaven…if we only believe and trust that Jesus was the Savior of the lost world!

Through His example we can also be reminded that we each have a purpose. Are you living out your purpose? Are you nurturing your children so that they will pursue and fulfill their purposes (vs. yours or their self desires).

Final thoughts:
a. May you diligently pursue your purpose.
(Jesus' purpose = Save the World; Your purpose = tell the world about the Savior)
b. May you comprehend the loss that today represents and the hope that tomorrow brings: restoration that a living Savior provides to all who believe.

As the Chris Tomlin songs says:
There's a peace I've come to know…
Jesus has overcome…
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings

A love that:
- surpasses all comprehension
- is filled with hope for a peace with our God
- fills that empty space when we’ve suffered a loss

The only love that can meet all of our needs. Jesus.

It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming!

It's Good Friday! Over 2000 years ago on Good Friday, Christ died on the cross for all our sins. He was buried in a borrowed tomb...isn't it interesting that it was "borrowed". I have always thought that was interesting. He didn't need it long...it was just borrowed. I love that!

Place yourself on that day. Can you imagine how the Jesus followers felt? The ONE, their ONE had just died. How could this be? We thought He was THE ONE. How could he die? All their hopes and dreams were probably gone. Their leader, their redeemer, their savior, their ruler, their healer, and their friend is just hanging there...gone forever...

They didn't yet fully understand...

It's Friday, but Sunday's coming!

Good Friday is a great time to reflect on ALL that Jesus did for you...but don't get bogged down in guilt or shame...He's not about that! He did it becasue He loves you! Remember He defeated death so you could spend FOREVER with Him in Heaven!

It's Friday, but Sunday's coming!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z15FlTONVo

HAPPY EASTER!

Easter and other Holidy Memorie's!

Holiday’s were always something to look forward to when I as a child. Thanks to my loving and caring parents, but I give most of the credit and honor to my Mimi (Grandma; my mom’s mom who walks with Jesus now), Birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, and Easter were holidays we (my sister Jamie and I) always looked forward to and anticipated with much joy because of the traditions (and honestly gifts) that we looked forward to.

We could (and still do) always expect a pretty card and $20 bill from Grandma Dorothy Maurer (my dad’s mom) and a cute card and a shopping day/lunch with Mimi for our BIRTHDAYS. Since us girls got older (in our 20’s) our dad and mom usually send us flowers or take us out for dinner for our birthdays.

For CHRISTMAS Jamie and I always struggled with who got to set up which manger scene/set (we have a very old one that has been passed down over 2 or 3 generations now), we thoroughly enjoyed getting to hang up our own ornaments, and had a blast putting out cookies, milk, carrots, and a letter for Santa and Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer. We still remind mom that we have warm cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning (we forgot in 2008; my 9 year-old sister Anna reminded us). We still practice the tradition of opening 1 gift Christmas Eve and our stockings Christmas morning.


For Thanksgiving we still spend Brunch/late lunch or early dinner with my mom’s side of the family and dinner/desert with my dad’s side of the family. I enjoy making pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies. We always look forward to Grandma Dorothy’s potatoes and my mom’s broccoli salad and jello. I enjoy eating the most, but also going around the table and sharing what we are thankful to God for.

For Valentine’s Day my Mimi always got us candy/card/gifts and my dad usually gives us girls chocolates, a card, and sometimes flowers. Until there is a boyfriend/fiancé/husband in our lives; our daddy will have to do (besides God my heavenly father, my dad will always be my first love).

Easter! This year may be the first time (besides the 2 years I was in Tennessee 2003-2005 with Living Proof & Primary Focus) that my family will be split apart. My sister Jamie is spending the morning/day with her newly found boyfriend Ethan (he’s an identical twin) and his family. I will be at Scottsdale Bible Church (where I have been a student intern since May 2008) from 7a,-1pm. My parents and little sister Anna will be at Whitton Avenue Bible Church where I grew up and attended from 1984-2006.

Above all the business and excitement of wearing pretty spring colors; the focus is always on Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross and how He did rise on the 3rd day. Easter reminds me of new life (I have two 1st cousins ready to have baby girls in the next few days/weeks; 1 in AZ and 1 in IN), warmth in weather and with family, as well as looking forward to eternity in heaven with our Lord!

The thing that strikes me the most is that Easter (and Christmas for that matter) is the most well-attended service; meaning that thousands of people go, and many of them do not go to 1 or 2 other church services all year round, but because of tradition, the go on Easter. It gives us devote follower of Christ (who go to church more than 2 times a year and have a relationship with God) to reach up to God and out to people in hopes that a simple act of love or explanation of the gospel may bring someone new to have faith – believe – and really make a life time commitment to Christ.

Another happy time for me is Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) because I was baptized on that day at WABC when I was only 13 years old (1997 I believe).

My sisters and I will be leading 40-100 students (children, teens and adults) with various physical and mental disabilities and their friends and families in worship, communion, and scripture reading at SBC in the Town Center from 6:30-8pm tonight. I hope that God is glorified and that people that don’t know Him will when they leave our service tonight. To God be the Glory!

Easter Traditions

I was looking on History.com (don't ask!) and I came across some interesting info...

Easter Bunny
The Bible makes no mention of a long-eared, short-tailed creature who delivers decorated eggs to well-behaved children on Easter Sunday; nevertheless, the Easter bunny has become a prominent symbol of Christianity's most important holiday. The exact origins of this mythical mammal are unclear, but rabbits, known to be prolific procreators, are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called "Osterhase" or "Oschter Haws." Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. Eventually, the custom spread across the U.S. and the fabled rabbit's Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and gifts, while decorated baskets replaced nests. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry from all his hopping.
Easter Eggs
Easter is a religious holiday, but some of its customs, such as Easter eggs, are likely linked to pagan traditions. The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus' emergence from the tomb and resurrection. Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century, according to some sources. One explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the period of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter as a celebration.
Easter egg hunts and egg rolling are two popular egg-related traditions. In the U.S., the White House Easter Egg Roll, a race in which children push decorated, hard-boiled eggs across the White House lawn, is an annual event held the Monday after Easter. The first official White House egg roll occurred in 1878, when Rutherford B. Hayes was president. The event has no religious significance, although some people have considered egg rolling symbolic of the stone blocking Jesus' tomb being rolled away, leading to his resurrection.
Easter Candy
Easter is the second best-selling candy holiday in America, after Halloween. Among the most popular sweet treats associated with this day are chocolate eggs, which date back to early 19th century Europe. Eggs have long been associated with Easter as a symbol of new life and Jesus' resurrection. Another egg-shaped candy, the jelly bean, became associated with Easter in the 1930s (although the jelly bean's origins reportedly date all the way back to a Biblical-era concoction called a Turkish Delight). According to the National Confectioners Association, over 16 billion jelly beans are made in the U.S. each year for Easter, enough to fill a giant egg measuring 89 feet high and 60 feet wide. For the past decade, the top-selling non-chocolate Easter candy has been the marshmallow Peep, a sugary, pastel-colored confection. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based candy manufacturer Just Born (founded by Russian immigrant Sam Born in 1923) began selling Peeps in the 1950s. The original Peeps were handmade, marshmallow-flavored yellow chicks, but other shapes and flavors were later introduced, including chocolate mousse bunnies.

I hope everyone has a great Easter and gets a chance to focus on the glory and wonder of our creator and friend Jesus Christ!

Beyond Baskets and Bunnies

Yes....I admit it. I have tragically fallen victim to the monster that is... commercialized holidays. As a sugar craving, candy addicted adolescent I especially loved Easter. I have fond memories of searching high and low for that elusive Easter basket. Although, now that I think about it, I'm not really sure my basket could be considered elusive since it was always in the bathtub. Nethertheless, once found, I would quickly toss aside the new 3 pack of underwear and scratchy white panty hose in search of those brightly colored plastic eggs that were sure to hold the key to my happiness for the next 2 days...CANDY!
(No need to reread that last part. You read it right the first time. My sister and I used to get underwear in our Easter baskets. Tragic isn't it? I mean what kid wants to get panties from a bunny?!) As a mom, I confess, that I have continued the nefarious cycle of commercialism with my own girls...although, I'm a little more creative when it comes to hiding baskets and I did ditch the whole underwear thing. Some family traditions are better left forgotten.

In all honesty, I don't think there's anything wrong with hiding Easter baskets and coloring eggs, but as a Christian mom, it is my responsibility to make sure that I go beyond the baskets and the chocolate bunnies and teach my children the REAL meaning of Easter.

MARK 16:1-8

[Mk 16:1] When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. [2] Very early on the first day of the week, they *came to the tomb when the sun had risen. [3] They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” [4] Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. [5] Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. [6] And he *said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here;

He has risen! He Has Risen! HE HAS RISEN!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest of all miracles ever performed. It is the very center of our Christian faith. Without the resurrection we are hopeless.“If there be no resurrection of the dead, … then is our preaching vain, … and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ. … If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:13–15, 17).

Because Jesus conquered the grave our sins our forgiven, our hope is renewed and our eternity is secured forever. So enjoy your Easter egg hunts and the big family dinners( I know I will)...but remember that the message of Easter is the message of a risen and reigning Lord through whom we may be reconciled to God!

Be still - you might miss it!

A few years ago around easter my husband accidentally hit a bunny that ran in front of our car. I told my nieces that their uncle had run over the Easter Bunny. My youngest niece looked up at me all wide-eyed in disbelief and said, "Uncle Devlyn killed the guy at the mall?!"

Ah - the joys of commercialized holidays! To most people Easter represents the following:
1. 1 of 2 times they attend church during the year
2. Purchasing of a new dress and hat to look our "Easter Sunday best".
3. Coloring, hiding and hunting eggs.
4. The Easter bunny leaving us gifts in hidden baskets.
5. Chocolate bunnies and Peeps!

We should all be focusing on the true meaning of Easter, the Resurrection!! Because He died and rose again. The tomb was empty, the promise was fulfilled. This week try and allow the power of the Resurrection to consume you from the inside out.

I will be focusing on Psalm 46:10 - 'Be still and know that I am God'. How simple and easy is that? Be still. Or replace 'be still' in the verse with the things in your life that distract you from doing this:
Cease striving and know that I am God.
Quit crying and know that I am God.
Quit judging and know that I am God.
Slow down and know that I am God.

It's hard to hear what someone is saying if you aren't listening. You might think you are listening, but are you really being still?
I was inside a gas station this past week and was so involved in making my cappuccino that I almost missed a call. I was humming along to the music they were playing in the store and thinking - wow! They are playing a Christian song in here...how cool is that? Then I realized it was my own cell phone and my husband was calling from the car to see what was taking so long.
Have you ever been so wrapped up in something that you can't see the forest for the trees? God has been calling and you recongnize it yet you don't answer?

Exodus 15:26 says 'Diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, do that which is right in His eyes, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes.'
Diligently listen...how many times do you think God has tried to get your attention and you just don't get the hint. We expect communication with God to come in the form of a loud resounding voice and a bright light but it's not a movie people. And if we are not diligently listening, can we be sure we are following His will for our lives?

We all have questions we want answered. I know I am waiting on several things from God. But am I paying attention to what He's already told me? I'm hardly ever just still, listening to God. I have so many opportunities like when I'm in my car for 45 minutes. I should spend the time diligently listening and seeking God and instead I'm listening to the radio or my Ipod and talking on the phone.

During a Beth Moore study, she mentioned the reason it was the women that found the empty tomb is because God knew they would spread the word. We can be known for good gossip too!
So this is your oppurtunity to spread the news. This week be taken with the word of God and revel in it. Be still and listen. Then spread the word. As Christians the week of the passover is our Superbowl. Let's increase the hype - Christ the Lord has risen!! Can I get a witness?

Operation KTN

I love my job!  I spend my work days with 8 and 9 year old children.  I teach them reading, writing, math, science, social studies, penmanship, grammar and spelling.  In my classroom, I also teach my students how to make appropriate behavior and social choices, how to report and prevent bullying, how to study, how to be of strong character and demonstrate such traits as responsibility, respectfulness, thankfulness, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and how to be a good citizen. 

But, as a Believer in Jesus Christ, I know teaching in a public school, my calling is to instruct beyond the 3 R's and the required discipline, character and anti-bullying curriculum. So, in stepped Operation KTN. 

This is my first year of using code word KTN daily. Operation KTN in my classroom is a vehicle to encourage students to stand up for themselves in a kind manner... put an end to untrue words, and decide if they will continue to judge/bully one another.  This code guides them to decide if they are tattling or reporting, being truthful or unkind.

My students have spent the last weeks, exploring how words can hurt moreover than physical action. We have also explored how our actions can also speak the code KTN.   They have written how this special code helps them in playground disputes and to help prevent being bullied. 

Operation KTN has been very successful in these young learners. I have seen great maturity in my students in their manners and most importantly, in their respect for one another in their words and actions. 

I believe teaching academics to children is a high calling, but training children to recognize kindness and truth sets a path of success for them emotionally and socially.  

So, instilling a KTN radar early in children is all part of the Godly command to train up a child in the way they should go.... and of course, setting a strong example as the teaching adult is paramount.  (I have heard reports from the mouths of babes when an adult is not using Operation KTN.) Do not discount even the youngest of God's children can learn this powerful code of KTN. The code of KTN is vital in a household, a classroom, a workplace and even in God's own house. 

Keep on putting up your KTN radar daily, be watchful of areas in your life that you can put into action operation KTN and press on, knowing the prize of taking every thought and word captive will bring honor to your Holy God.

May your words and actions be kind, true and completely necessary.

Happy Passover and Easter week...