March 31, 2013

Resurrection Basket



This morning I got up, made a beautiful breakfast, put on that purple Easter dress and bonnet. Then just like a postcard from Heaven, my husband ( looking handsome ) and I dashed off to church. After service we enjoyed a beautiful Easter lunch, flew a kite, and then tonight I prepared a beautiful ham for dinner.

I want to tell you that.

Truth ?

I stayed under the covers until the light from outside overpowered the duvet. I awoke to a bedroom flooded in dirty clothes from open suitcases. The kitchen didn't contain a beautiful breakfast but the evidence of our late night Chinese dinner. Instead of primping in that purple dress, I had a melt down in the bathroom after trying to apply my makeup for the 3rd time. Stupid Freckles. ( Only people without them say they are cute !) Eventually we made our way to town for some retail therapy only to find every store closed for.......Easter.

Heart heavy and a 45 minute drive back home, I gazed up at the puffy clouds, the blue sky, and soft green coming over the fields. Easter sure looks a lot different than it did when I was a child. But God quickly spoke over my heart. He reminded me that while there are not baskets and bonnets, I do have a maturing faith. And in this faith, the realness, the fullness, and the delight in Jesus' Resurrection comes to life and that is sweeter than any tradition.

1 Peter 1:3 says:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.."


It is the resurrection that gives us hope, a LIVING HOPE.
Hope to wake up every morning.
Hope to deal with that co-worker.
Hope to heal your heart.

This hope is not just for March 31st. This hope is for every day. Every day is Resurrection Day.

I know.  Not every day feels like a Resurrection Day.
Some days feel like an "Evacuation, Over-reaction, Suffocation, or Medication" kind of  day.
It's not easy to spot Hope on those days.

That's when we have to go hunt Easter eggs.

Hebrews 4:16 says,
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 


Get your basket ready.
When we draw near to God, we will find mercy and grace; the best kind of Easter eggs.
Then on those days when you feel so hopeless, simply return to your basket ( or journal ) and take part in that living hope you have from the Resurrection. !


So may you be encouraged that no matter how you celebrated Easter, every day is Resurrection day.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks, Renda - sounds like all we have to do is ask and our basket will stay loaded!

    ReplyDelete