“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb … (it was empty).” Matt 28:1 NLTWhen there is a death, there is a resurrection. Someone shared that today. A most beautiful promise from Papa, indeed. Think about what He is saying …
The same person as the above shared a story to illustrate her point.
She was called to her Mother’s death bed in a nursing home. She left after staying for a time. On her way out, a woman stopped her. The woman, very sick as well, commented on how much the Mother would be missed. The response was, “Thank you. I know she is with Jesus now, in a better place.” The conversation continued.
“Jesus??”
“Yes, Jesus. Do you know Him?”
“No.”
“Would you like to?”
“Yes. Very much.”
So, the woman accepted Jesus into her heart right there and then. Our Author ran down to the (Nurses) office filled with joy. On the way down, she heard the LORD speak to her clearly, “When there is a death, there is always a resurrection!”
This true experience stuck with me and had me thinking …
“Then He turned to the host. "The next time you put on a dinner, don't just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You'll be—and experience—a blessing. They won't be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God's people." Luke 14:12 The Message
I found the above scripture to mean more to me, seeing it in the context of the story. That every opportunity to bless others, can be Papa bringing life, in a response to death, through us. The ageless victory of life over death, can be seen in our every day lives. While we’re waiting to receive our blessing from Papa, at the ‘great’ resurrection … let’s see how many ‘miny’ illustrations of Jesus’ resurrection we can bless others with day to day!
Happy Easter!
Story by Bridget Elwood
Painting by Lydia van Knijff
Great entry, Shawna! Yes, I remember receiving a very powerful word back in the "renewal days" at TACF. The word was, "God is imparting Resurrection Life to you!" This always seemed very exciting. Of course, I didn't realize that, in order for there to be a resurrection, there would have to be Death.
ReplyDelete"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
Yannah
I love this! Where there is death there is life - it is the promise that we have, and I like, 'there is a hope!' And the hope we have is actually through His death, so very timely. I am glad that I am not the only one who gets so excited about talking about this life or resurrection and redemption!
ReplyDeleteThe message about inviting misfits to dinner reminded me of a Russian friend I had. She was in working in the USA for a couple of years, living alone in an apartment near the Rosslyn metro station in the Washington, DC area, while her whole family was back in Russia. She struck up a speaking acquaintance with one of the homeless people who panhandled at the metro station and soon started calling him "moi bombzh" (my homeless-guy). She had no one to share the holidays with -- Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter -- and so she would invite him to her apartment. She was a wonderful cook; he got some good food and respite from the street. She got company on days when she might have been very lonely. Just because someone has nothing to give financially does not mean that they have nothing to give spiritually. The poor are the blessed among us, and that lesson, for whomever will learn it, is life changing and life enriching.
ReplyDelete