Death, where is your sting?

This week my mother’s older sister, Wanda Pearl, went home to see Jesus. There are two things that I think of most often when I think of my Aunt Wanda. One is my mom telling me how she always tried to protect her from “ugly things”.  The other is her love of pretty things. When I was a young teenager, Aunt Wanda lived in our town for a little while. I always enjoyed her love of jewelry, make-up, nail polish, hair styles and other accessories. My mother was much more practical about these things and so it was fun for me to watch and learn some things from my aunt.  And so when I learned of her death, I thought of all the pretty things she is enjoying now and the all the ugly things that are no more. It was easy for me to see the victory for her in death because of the work of Christ we celebrate at Easter.

However, this Easter morning as I stood to sing “Because He Lives”, I was face to face with deaths that leave a sting. As we sang the words to the second verse, “how sweet to hold a new born baby and feel the joy and pride he brings, but greater still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because he lives”, I was keenly aware that the man leading the song had recently lost his son who was same age as my daughter. And that was the second child he had lost to death.  In front of me stood a dear friend who tragically lost her husband and two children several years ago. As I looked at my child, my heart was heavy for those who live with the sting of death.  I’ve watched other family members who have lost children and others to untimely deaths and I know that His grace is sufficient to sustain even then, but I also know there is sting that does not go away.  As I looked up, it was my friend who had her hands lifted in worship the One of whom we sing “life is worth the living just because you live.”

As if rounding a corner in my mind we began the last verse. “And then one day … as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.”  It is when we see Jesus that we will fully understand what scripture means when it says “Death is swallowed up in victory”.  There is comfort in knowing that our loved ones who have seen him know that victory fully!

The minister began to speak of those who encountered the risen Jesus and the transformation that it brought in their lives. It is true. The death and resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of our faith and encountering that truth will change a person’s life.  And one day, we will see the risen Lord and in the twinkling of an eye we will be transformed. Then, we will fully understand the victory over death and the grave.  All ugly things gone, only pretty things forever more!

“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye,” (I Corinthians 16:51-52 NLT)

“But thank God he gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 16:57 NLT)

Thanks for listening,

See you next Sunday

Ronda

Something Beautiful

  

The pretty yellow dress &
beautiful little girl!

My love of pretty clothes has always made the hunt for the perfect Easter dress one of my favorite spring activities.  As a young mother the hunt was normally for the perfect pattern, material, lace and ribbon and of course the matching hat or bonnet for my little girl.  One of my favorites was a bright yellow satin dress with a layered lace collar. The funny thing is that one began with digging through the scraps in my mother’s box of fabric for something that would work for an Easter dress.  My mother had a piece of yellow satin left over from making a “Daisy” cape and a lot of scraps of different laces.  With that in mind, I searched the pattern book at Wal-Mart for something that would work with all the mismatched pieces of lace. Satisfied with the one with the big layered collar, I purchased a small amount of yellow ribbon and went home to piece together the scraps. The end product was a beautiful dress for a beautiful little girl.

I would like to say I saw in that experience a reminder of how God takes the pieces of our lives and makes them into something beautiful. That would have been a great Easter lessen. But nope, in 1990 I was just excited to have a pretty dress for my almost 3 year- old daughter.  I wasn’t looking for anything more. But today, thinking back on Easters past I see the symbolism in that yellow dress. Not only was it made from scraps, the yellow satin remnant was connected to a memory of broken relationships in my life at that time.

Isn’t that how it often works?  Our vision is clearer to see the good God was working when we are looking back.

This must have been true for the women who followed Jesus through his trial, crucifixion and resurrection. These were women who had experienced the beauty of His touch. Women who knew the good he had made from the pieces of their lives. Earlier we are told he took his disciples along with some women he had healed and from whom he had cast out evil spirits on his journeys. Among them where Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. (Luke 8:2-3 NLT)   

He trusted these women to be the first to witness his resurrection and take the message back to his disciples. Luke, chapter 24 identifies Mary Magdalene and Joanna to be among several women who told the apostles what had happened.  Jesus even appeared to them as they went to find the disciples, “Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.” (Matthew 28:9 NLT)  What a beautiful moment!

And yet the beauty of that moment had been not visible only 3 days before. Today, we gaze upon the cross and see the beauty of what was being accomplished. These women watched from a distance and saw brokenness and strife. All the good they had seen Jesus bring in their lives must have felt like a distant memory as they watched the horrific events of his death.  “A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women.” (Luke 23:27 NLT)  In the midst of their confusion and grief as soon as it was possible they made their way to the tomb prepared to care for Jesus one last time. It was there they were the first to witness the risen Lord and to hear his voice say do not be afraid. How sweet those words must have been. I wonder how many times along the way, he had said those words to them. The beauty of what Jesus had accomplished on the cross was beginning to be clearer.

When Stephen was pastoring Hugoton Baptist Church we often sang this chorus,

Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But he made something beautiful of my life

One particular Sunday morning, I quietly began singing the song in the present tense. All my confusion he understands, all I have to offer him is brokenness and strife, but he is making something beautiful of my life. There are moments in life when the good and beautiful are clear. There are others when the beauty and the good are still in the making.  

We traded Easter eggs for roses.
& bright yellow for gold, but still
my beautiful little girl!

One last thought, as beautiful as Ginny’s little yellow satin dress was that Easter morning years later when it came time for prom a new yellow satin dress was required. The beauty of the past was not the right fit for that moment. Life brings changes which often include confusion, brokenness and strife.  Each time God is still making something good and beautiful of that moment. I am sure the women who followed Jesus would have preferred he stayed with them, but he knew it was for their good that he must die, resurrect and return to the Father.

Thanks for listening,

See you next Sunday,

Ronda

“And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:27-28 NLT)

"The mail don't run on Sunday"

I suppose every family has quotes from family members that stick with everyone through the years.  For years I was told of the story when I was very small and my mother had given me my meal and forgot to give me a spoon. The story goes that after a few minutes, I said, “bless my heart I need a poon”. How cute is that!  Occasionally, when I am with my mother or my Aunt Bonnie and someone forgets the spoon, it’s not uncommon for one of them to say,”Bless my heart I need a poon”.  Another memorable quote in our family was when my cousin, Jerry, when told by his father to pick up his toys and go his room replied, “I will when I’m ready” only to quickly add to everyone’s relief “and I’m ready”.

Ginny, ready to hunt Easter
eggs at the Hugoton 
Baptist parsonage, our home
for 7 wonderful years. 

Years later Jerry’s niece, Bonnie, was living with Stephen and I and provided another favorite family quote, “the mail don’t run on Sunday”. The occasion was Easter Sunday. It was in the afternoon and we were hiding & hunting eggs. She was 13 but was being a good sport about hunting eggs with our daughter Ginny who was only 7. (I’m pretty sure she was actually enjoying it.)  Anyway, most of the eggs had been found and Stephen was giving hints to hurry the hunt along. So he suggested to the girls that someone check the mail and Bonnie responded, “Uncle Stephen, the mail don’t run on Sunday.”   I don’t remember which one made it to the mailbox to retrieve the hidden eggs, but we’ve never forgot the line.  Anytime someone misses the obvious, one of us will say “the mail don’t run on Sunday”

Ironically, Bonnie is not the only one that missed something that should have been obvious on Easter. I am always amazed at the how surprised the disciples seemed when they heard Jesus was not in the tomb. Granted that his words about tearing down the temple and rebuilding it in 3 days seems more like a hint than his obvious words in Mark, chapter 9.  “He said to them, ’The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but 3 days later he will rise from the dead.’”.  

It can’t get much, more clear than that! And yet, verse 32 says they didn’t understand what he was saying.  And when the women came on the third day after his death at the hands of his enemies to report he had risen, scripture says the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. Even when Peter ran to the tomb and confirmed it was empty, he left wondering what had happened. (Luke 24:11&12 NLT)

So what about us? Do we sometimes miss the obvious in Jesus words?    

Here’s another thing Jesus told his disciples just before they began what would be the very difficult week, we refer to as Holy Week.

 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.  There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (John 14:1-3 NLT)

Recently, I’ve heard many people say it’s obvious that Christ return is near. I pray they are right, but I'll be honest I wonder if we really know everything we think we do. Things did not happen as the disciples thought they would at his first coming.

But this much is obvious, when everything is ready, he will come and get us!  Sounds a little like my Cousin Jerry’s famous line, I will when I’m ready.  And I’m waiting for the next part, when Jesus says and I’m ready.

Thanks for listening

See you next Sunday

Ronda

Bonnie & I years before she
discovered the mail didn't run
on Sunday.

P.S. Another of Bonnie’s favorite lines was “I’m special” and that she is! Special to me & special to God!





In Conclusion

Faith + goodness + knowledge + self-control + perseverance + godliness + kindness + love = Effective & Efficient Living!

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:3 - 9)

 

One of the more experienced lenders on the staff of HNB often referred to a rookie’s analysis as “elevator” analysis. By this he meant it covered all the necessary points with the proper words and ratios, but in the end it drew no useful conclusions. Hoping to avoid that rookie trap, allow me to offer some conclusions which I pray will be useful.

Christ desires that our lives produce useful results. Lives that do not waste the great and precious gifts he has given. Lives that that are actively involved in “divine” things, things that are good and right and lives that avoid corrupt or evil things.

• Goodness - the essence of something or someone. When asked to show his goodness God showed his mercy and compassion.
• Knowledge = informed action. It is knowledge of his word that helps us to know what to participate in what to avoid.
• Self Control - because of our inability to control ourselves Christ came to win control over sin and left his Spirit to produce this same result in us.
• Perseverance - never give up! When we keep our eyes on Jesus, the source of our faith, we can choose a rehab strategy over an exit strategy.
• Godliness - conforming to the wishes of God.
• Kindness -inspires us and others to participate in the divine. The absence of kindness generally yields quarrelling, outburst of anger, and selfish ambition; all on the list of the corrupt.
• Love - the great motivator for all of the above!

If you take anything from these weeks of analysis, I hope it will be that Christ has provided all that we need to live effective, useful lives. He has not only given us instructions on how to live he has provided the motivation to live this way.

My least productive days have been when a boss has given an ultimatum, particularly one that comes with no instruction. However, I have worked long, productive days a boss who elicited high performance not only with words, but with actions. One who led by example. I respond best to a boss who understands what is required to complete an assignment. One who is willing to leave the corner office and work along side me to achieve the desired result. One who provides all the resources necessary to accomplish the task, effectively and efficiently. That kind of boss demands my best effort.

While Christ has given us an ultimatum, he has provided all the instructions we need. He himself left his place in heaven not only to walk where I would walk, but to give his life to make mine possible. He understands much better than I all that is required to complete any assignment. He left his Spirit to work along side me to achieve the desired result. He provided the template for an E² life. One filled with faith, goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. That kind of Savior demands my best effort!

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)

Thanks for listening,
See you next Sunday,

Ronda

The rules are important, but understanding the wishes of the ones who wrote the rules is critical to following the rules.