Easter Resolutions

Romans 6:9-11, "We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. so you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus."

On December 31st we make resolutions all in hope of a new year, a new beginning, a fresh start.  Every year we make plans in our own strength to become a better person and it seems that not to far into the year we fail, or we slip from our resolution back into the person of old.

Easter is in a few days, the holiday in which our faith was founded and in which our King of Kings and Lord of Lords revealed His power and authority.  It was because of His death on the cross and His resurrection that our faith is set a part from any other religion.  Our Savior came to abolish religion and offer relationship.  We celebrate not only His selfless act and His divine power, but we celebrate because we do not have to live this life in our own strength (or short comings), we live with the hope and boldness that sin has no power over us and that we are set free in Christ.

Easter is not just a celebration of what Christ came and did on the cross but it is a reminder of who Christ did it for...YOU.  This Easter, I am going to challenge myself to make a resolution.  I am going to challenge myself (and hopefully you) to stop doing things in my own strength.  As Christians we should see Easter as the ultimate reminder that we have a new beginning, that we have a fresh start, that we were made new.  Christ died so that we could have everlasting life.  He died so that the person of old could be set free and have a hope of being new, not in ourselves, but in Christ Jesus.

Christ died for us...He is asking that we also die to ourselves.  Christ rose from the grave, conquered death, and now lives to God...He is asking that we also live to God.

This Easter as you celebrate the power of the cross and the miracle of Christ's resurrection, I hope that you see God's ultimate sacrifice was for you and for me.  I pray that we truly take this holiday to heart and that we understand just the opportunity that Christ gave us to be new.

January 1st does not hold the power for us to change or to be made new--Easter is a reminder that Christ holds the power and that He died so that we could be made new.  God's blessing are new each and every day, His grace abounds when we fail and fall short. We do not have to walk this journey alone, we have the ultimate gift...a relationship with Christ Jesus.

As you celebrate Easter, realize that God celebrates You...He Died for You!
"So you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (vs. 11)"

A Storm of Opportunity

For the longest time, when I thought about the story of Peter walking on the water to Jesus, I imagined calm waters with this gentle breeze that just tussled Peter's hair.  I always thought the point of the story was for Peter to trust Jesus enough to get out of the boat, but when I re-read the scripture, I realize that there is much more to this story then just taking that first step onto the water.

Matthew 14:24 ...and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

The scripture states that the boat was a considerable distance from land, which means they were committed to their journey, they couldn't just easily turn back. The journey wasn't easy either, because they were having to travel against the wind, which caused waves to hit the boat repeatedly.  These men were terrified and filled with fear.  Jesus didn't calm the winds or the waves yet, the winds were still strong the waves were still attacking the boat, yet Jesus asked Peter to fear not and to come to him.

As Christians, I think we are often under the assumption that after we give our life to the Lord that the winds of our life will be still, that there will not be any waves that come at us, and that our lives will be without hardship or difficulty.  Like Peter we take that first step out of the boat, but as soon as the waves hit us, we lose our focus and our faith and begin to drown.

God often calls us to places in our lives that are many miles away from our comfort zones.  He asks us to take that journey with Him, to be committed to His plan. He asks us to fear not when we face storms and spiritual battles but to keep our eyes on Him and continue our journey in the midst of adversity.

It is in the storms of life that our faith becomes the strongest. It's not enough to just take that first step out of the boat (to give your life to God), but true faith is in continuing the course even when the waves surround you and having the faith to know that God holds all power and authority.  When we lose focus or lose faith, we give more power to the storms in our lives then to the one who holds the power to calm the storms.  

Peter failed this test, He was consumed by His own fear, but Jesus did not allow Peter to drown.  Jesus immediately reached out to Peter and then went back to the boat with him.  It was when they both entered the boat that Jesus calmed the storm and the disciples realized just who Jesus was.  Jesus still revealed His power but Peter missed his opportunity.

Sometimes God doesn't calm the storms in our life because He is giving us the opportunity to grow our faith and to go deeper and be stronger than we ever thought we could. God thinks you are capable---He is asking you not only to take that first step, but to face your fears, follow Him, and find freedom in faith.

When God Meets You Where You Are...

I heard these lyrics today, "Your love, brighter than the sun, more beautiful than words could ever say. This endless light shining over all, it leads me to your glory everlasting (Hillsong United)."

Even at this moment I can't explain in words what my spirit was feeling; however, i remembered a picture I took a few months ago that captured this experience perfectly.

The night I took this picture, I remember sitting at the kitchen table, consumed by my own little world and surroundings, journaling to God and praying for His embrace, His presence, His love to overflow over me.  I went over to the window and cracked the blinds and what I saw was an explosion of light right outside my door.  It was the most beautiful skyline I had ever seen and I was overwhelmed that the God of the universe would answer my prayer and that He would reveal to me just a sliver of His glory and His presence.  That night stuck with me because it was a lesson to me that the world around us is only dark and lonely when we keep our eyes focused on our own surroundings, but when we open that door to God's plan and purpose, He reveals Himself to us.  No matter where you are, no matter what your surroundings may look like, no matter how you feel or what you are going through, the God of the Universe wants you to crack the window to your heart and allow His light and His love to penetrate your soul.

God meets us where we are, for me it was a Wednesday night, at the kitchen table of my apartment and yet to this day I look at this picture and I see not only beauty and wonder but I see that my God is faithful to meet with me in every detail of every day.  He meets us right where we are.

"Love unchanging. God your mercy fades and I'm surrounded by Your compassion and Your grace.
Your love brighter than the sun, more beautiful than words could ever say. This endless light shining over all. It leads me to your glory everlasting...Your love amazing, fills my heart and I sing out. There is none like You, There is nothing like Your love."
---Hillsong United (Zion) "Nothing like Your Love"