The Resurrection: how do you respond?

A peek into an ongoing correspondence between sister-friends. She is one of my Paulettes and most assuredly my longtime Barnabia.

Dear friend,

I read yesterday Matthew 28 and Mark 16. This was our planned chronological reading with The Bible Recap. My reading walked me through the crucifixion. And then I encountered The Resurrection of Christ. 

“But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭5‬-‭7‬, ‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Yesterday, I took time to respond to the empty tomb. Christ is alive! He is not here, the angels declare and confirm. My rudimentary drawing is my heart-felt response to these words and the emotions they evoke. Immediately then I watched as a color-filled rainbow indicating God’s covenant promise stretched itself across our mountains, overarching our beautiful desert valley.

It was then I sat and wrote out these thoughts…

~

I cannot experience the absolute, inexplicable 

JOY & gratitude associated with unmerited favor gifted freely to me in the 

Resurrection of my own personal life…

{beauty grown from the ash heap}

Without experiencing the full force of 

death upon my flesh

{the crucifixion of my will,

my sin, selfish ambition, manipulation, 

control and the anguish of pain and loss}

~

The seed must go into the dirt grave, die, and in that grave the nutrients, water, and warmth of the sun on the dirt grave will sprout new life. 

It dawns on me (a revelatory lightbulb) …

It is impossible for me to grasp the magnitude of my miraculous life, the daily manna, and the front row seat from which I get to observe God, without first knowing experientially the death of my own will for my life, the death of my plans, and the death of my own dreams, schemes and designs. For I must confess in this light-filled moment, that I have always fought God for control. Just as I fought my mother and father as a willful child, I have fought God in an attempt to have my own way.

True confessions: agreeing with God about what He says is true.

How He loves me! Oh He must truly love me for He has chased me, pursued me, and wrangled with me daily over these almost 63 years. Oh how He loves me, and I can only see it now looking back at the multitude of times He has patiently put up with me and disciplined me through seasons of subordinance. Rebellion. A late pastor called our human willfulness – treason against the good King.

Oh how He loves me that He can see the hidden gem, of which you spoke, dear friend. How patient and kind is our Father that He works diligently through our life circumstances to uncover the beauty of His original design. It’s painful work, costly to Him and to me, but mostly to Him.

And today’s Bible highlight reminds me and brings me back to yesterday’s revelations…

““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Another confession. Whoever… is reading this. God loved you first. He gave. He died. He defeated death. He did. It’s your turn to respond. He offers the free gift of life to you… How will you respond to such love, such generosity?
Receive… whoever… with a grateful heart.

Thank you friend for being available yesterday, when the gift of revelation creating such gratitude and worship at dawn was soundly and quickly chased into hiding just hours later by a painful encounter with someone who’s needs are beyond my capacity to resolve. I was able to listen, and will try to connect her with some resources.

I need wisdom. And so I pray as I struggle against feelings of helplessness, fear, and anger that a neighbor is living in this kind of unrest, alone and anxious.

Lord God, You are able. Make a way where there seems to be no way. You see. You hear. And You know what will happen next. Hold my hand and my heart. Catch my tears and take my anger over injustice and the brokenness of humanity. Help this dear soul. Please, Lord Jesus, come and do for her what only You can do. Teach me. Give me wisdom for my part. In Your Holy name. Amen.

This is real life, isn’t it. One moment with Him at the mountain height experiencing His glory, and the next moment knee deep in human tragedy. Or the other way around as were the disciples in such despair and disappointment at the death and burial of their Rabbi.

But then…

“But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Your words yesterday, friend, they ministered to me in a deep place. And thank God, for physical exercise and fresh air, which helped to burn up energy that needed to be disbursed.

Thank you! It’s a treat to FaceTime with you, and hear your voice. God sent you at just the right time.

I hope to have a coffee visit face to face with you before eternity.

Much love and appreciation,

Lisa

Eyes on Jesus and Shine!

www.lisabrittain.com

For those grieving here’s a tool. My book, Random Radiance, it’s a book you help write. It’s a book in which you write your own story.