Right In Front of Your Nose

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” John 20:15 (NIV)

Mary approached the tomb. Something was off. It was still dark but through the gray she could see the stone wasn't where it should be. It had been rolled away. With all the chaos and trauma surrounding Jesus' death, thoughts were racing through her head. Had the religious leaders done this? Who would want to steal his body? Who would even touch a dead body? That would make them unclean. Maybe they paid someone. If they took him, where did they take him?

As these thoughts raced through her head, she turned to leave and almost ran into the man standing there. He asked why she was crying and then followed up by asking who she was looking for. She didn't even recognize him. The very person she went to find in the first place was speaking to her and she was missing it.

My husband says I do this. He'll ask me a question and my mind is somewhere else. I wait many seconds, what most would call a pregnant pause, and then answer. It's been so long he thinks I'm not even going to respond. Suddenly, my brain catches up with my hearing and I recognize that I missed something.

Ever been there? You have a problem and you have been staring at it so long you forget to come up for air. You forget to look around and see what may be right in front of your face. Sometimes we have to snap ourselves out of that place. The place where we're down in the rabbit hole and stuck. How? Refocus. Refocus on something else God has placed in your path. Could be him. Could be another relationship, a Bible text, a song or even a beautiful spring day. Take a moment, breathe deep and refocus. 

As Jesus said her name, Mary refocused and knew who it was who was trying to get her attention. It was the very person she was seeking. As it dawned on her that the answer to her problem had already been provided, she ran off exclaiming "I've seen him! I've seen him!"

We will do the same. God's surprises and answers come in many different shapes and sizes - and sometimes, they come in the person of Jesus talking to us. One thing is for sure. When we hear him, we too will run around exclaiming "I've seen him!" because when you do, you can't hold it in.

It's Subtle, But Huge

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:13 (NIV)

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the crowd went wild. Here was their King! He was going to save them. He was going to change their world. They shouted "Hosanna!" which means save us." And Jesus was planning to do just that. But, not the way they expected.

There was a subtle detail to Jesus entrance into Jerusalem that they overlooked. Jesus was on a donkey. Historically, if a King was coming as a conqueror (which is what the Jews wanted) he rode into the town on a horse - probably a war horse. Jesus rode in on a donkey. When a king rode in on a donkey, he came in peace.

How often do we expect Jesus to show up and with a sweep of his mighty hand remove all of our troubles. We want him to crush our enemies! We want him to squash our problems and give us the peace we deserve as his followers! We almost expect it. We forget. We forget that the most important thing to God is our hearts.

Jesus doesn't want to charge in and take over. He wants to enter in and grow a relationship. Sure, he wants to be our King - not a king who will conquer us - but a King that will bring peace to our world. He wants to deliver a peace that will transcend all the enemies and the problems; a peace that is beyond understanding.

Do we, like the Israelites, miss the donkey? Do we miss the message Jesus is sending each day as he communicates with us? Do we want something so badly for ourselves that we lose sight of the bigger picture?  How about you? As you look at Jesus, what are you expecting?

Looking for Life

Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? Luke 24:5 (NLT)

The Bible is great at asking questions that are hard to answer or that make you think. So let me ask you, do you ever look for life by staring at death? We don't usually do that. We look for life among the living. When Jesus came the Bible says he came so we could live life abundantly. How often do we choose instead to live life boxed in?

When we choose to stare at our troubles and stay focused on our feelings of hopelessness, Jesus is not there. He told us we'd have troubles. He also told us he had already overcome those. He's alive!

When we focus on the past and not the future, when we decide that we cannot do anything worthwhile because of mistakes we made, Jesus is not there. He didn't die and rise again so we could walk through life on our own merit. He died and rose again so we can know we are forever forgiven and that in him all things are possible.

Most importantly, readjusting our thinking so we look at living our lives the very best we can because we've been given an opportunity greater than anyone could imagine, that is choosing life. And that is worship. We can bow down, praise and worship in the here and now because Jesus is not among the dead. He is alive!

Trusting Hard

And a sword will pierce your very soul. Luke 2:35 (NLT)

When God revealed to Mary that she would be Jesus' mother, her world was turned upside down. She faced judgement and ridicule. Life took on many more complications than it would have if she had not been chosen by God.

Even Jesus, as he faced the cross said "Can you take this cup from me? Can we not do this?" What he was facing was the kind of hard that is crippling. It was beyond what the human mind could wrap itself around. But, God did not change his path.

Mary went on to face each challenge and in the end do the hardest thing she would ever do. She'd stand at the foot of the cross and watch her son be crucified. When Simeon said that a sword would pierce her soul, I pause. As a mother I know what that piercing must have felt like. The pain is incomprehensible.

Are you walking through something hard? Does it feel like you are not going to make it? Can you not get your mind around what is happening or what is to come? Do you feel like you can't breathe?

Do what Jesus and Mary and so many others did. Look to God. Grasp hold of the truth that he loves you and no matter how hard it is, he is walking with you through it. When God told Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus, she said "I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Jesus after asking if God could take the cup from him said "Not my will but yours." Both bravely faced 'hard'. Both chose to stay on the path, not deviate from the plan, even though it was the hardest thing they ever did.

In the end, the difference their "Yes" made in every single life before and after is immeasurable. Keep walking. Trust in God's plan and know that you are not alone.

Ewww, It's Dark Out There

From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Matthew 27:46 (MSG)

Think of the person in your life that is the closest to you. You would trust them with anything. No matter what, they will always be there for you. You've shared the good, the bad and the really ugly and they stay close. Maybe it's a parent, a spouse, a child, a sibling or a best friend. Now imagine that you were in trouble. Things are really bad and they are about to get worse.

Your closest confident, your support system is near. You know they are there even though you can't see them. Calling out, you tell them to come. If they come, everything will be better. But they don't come. You cry out more loudly. Still there is no response. You have been abandoned. Sounds like a nightmare, doesn't it?

The crush on your heart causes you to not be able to breathe. The knot in your stomach is painful. And your mind is reeling. Why? What did I do? Where are you?

As Jesus hung on the cross, he was unable to connect with his main source of love and life. He and God were one. They were connected at the hip - two peas in a pod. What God wanted, Jesus did and God in turn blessed him. Their mission was the same. Their thinking identical. And Jesus looked to God every minute of every day for guidance. And then he was gone. Not only was it dark on the outside, it was dark on the inside as well. Jesus could not see the light that he relied on for his life line. The sin placed on Jesus was too much and God had withdrawn. Jesus crushed and heartbroken at the absence of his adoration, died.

As I contemplate those moments, I can't imagine the pain and heartbreak. But, I can't help it; I don't linger there long. My sadness turns to praise as I realize that because Jesus faced the ultimate darkness, I don't have to. Never, ever, ever do I need to wonder if God has abandoned me. Never, ever, ever do I need to worry that I am alone. I am never abandoned and I am never alone because Jesus was willing to face the darkest night.

Know of a Good Mediator?

For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5 (GNT)

A mediator is a person who acts as an intervening agency. They are the middle person between two people who are in conflict. If you ever need a mediator, you want someone who understands your situation and the laws around it so they can provide a resolution that works for both parties. Jesus is our mediator. What are his qualifications? How is he qualified to understand us so that he can represent us to God? In his life here on earth he was:

• Uneducated - he didn't have a college degree
• Poor - he lived in poverty his entire life. He didn't own anything.
• Walked everywhere he went
• Lived each day facing temptation
• Faced criticism and harassment
• He was what we would call a rebel. He didn't follow the status quo.
• He worked long hours - often from dawn to dusk
• Sometimes his commute took days to go from one place to the next
• People were always trying to get something from him
• Sometimes, people thought he was crazy
• He was beaten, spit at and mocked
• He had to face and overcome an incredibly hard situation - and for a time, didn't want to
• He was killed for his cause

I think it is safe to say that he understands our situation. He lived a life like ours (only I would venture to say his was harder). He also understands God. He knew him better than anyone. He understood what was required on the part of justice. He understood that if he didn't walk this walk, live this life, that God's righteousness would be at question. He knew what each side needed.

He is the perfect mediator. You see, he is still mediating. He is still representing us to God. He is our advocate. The gift wasn't just in his death and resurrection. It is in the ongoing intercession on our behalf. It is the gift that keeps on giving, day after day, year after year, generation after generation.

Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (GNT)

The One Great Thing

He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:25 (NLT)

This past weekend in church the Pastor asked "How many of you have had God do something great for you?" I raised my hand. I started thinking about my prayers and the answers I'd received. Then, I thought about my outstanding prayers - the prayers without answers still.

How about you? Has God done anything great for you lately? Take a minute...think about it.

As I was thinking through this, the Pastor said "Well Jesus died for you. Wasn't that great?" We all should have raised our hands. Made me think. As Christians maybe we take the death, life and resurrection of Jesus for granted. After all, to be a Christian you have to check that box. Then you can say, "I'm a believer."

There is so much more to it than that. Does it make a difference in our lives? Do we realize what a gift we've been given? Do we live like people who were on death row and were given a pardon? Do we live like people that are loved beyond more than we can ask or imagine?

My prayer this Easter season is that as we look once again at the GREAT thing God did for us, we become changed. We become a people who always raise our hands, jump up and down and shout Hallelujah whenever we can especially because no matter what our recent answers to prayer are, the greatest thing God did for us happened over 2000 years ago. Let's not forget.

That's Not a Cliff

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)

Eleven months ago I came face-to-face with one of the biggest challenges I've ever encountered. I remember distinctly the knot in my stomach for days and the feeling that I was going to lose it and burst into tears at any moment. I was in that state for about 4 days when I woke up one morning with this text in my head. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." I knew that was God saying "Don't freak out. Don't trust what you see. Trust me."

So I began the long, arduous process of learning to trust God more. God is still teaching me this. The challenge I faced eleven months ago is not yet resolved. We've been walking this path for what some days seems like forever. I have days that I call "Some Days Brave." Basically, some days I wake up and say "Yes, I trust you! Let's do this thing." and some days I wake up and say "I can't. Can we go back to the way it was please?"

I can tell you this. As we've walked this path, God and I, he has not failed to provide. It's been super tough and there have been a lot of sacrifices but he has kept his promises. And each time we take a step closer to the edge of the cliff (that's what it feels like) he is there encouraging me to trust him.

For the last week he has been challenging me to take a step closer to the precipice. I have expressed how I think that is totally crazy because it is not logical. It doesn't make any sense to do what he is asking. But today I said "Can you provide a word, something that will help me know this is you?" In my reading, I came across Proverbs 3:5-6 (he's so funny) but in a different version. Notice the line that says "Don't try to figure everything out on your own." Well, that's what I've been doing. Trying it make it look humanly possible. Ha! If it looked humanly possible, it wouldn't be God.

I haven't inched closer to the edge of the cliff yet. I'm still processing but God is talking. And oh by the way, this isn't a cliff for God. It's a flat plain of beautiful green grass with lots of flowers.