He Is Risen!...

...He Is Risen Indeed!  This call and response is repeated each Easter at my church, and on many Sundays in a church of my childhood.  I love Easter Sunday.  Churches are full of people who are there for all different reasons.  Some are there every week.  Some try to come often but see Easter as being on the "must do" list of days.  Some only darken the doors on the "big two" - Christmas and Easter.  Some are there begrudgingly at the request of a family member.  Some may not be sure why they are there, but as a tradition, it feels like the right thing to do.  But in that mass of people, most seem to understand that Easter is a celebration of the greatest day in human history.  To those of us who know Jesus in a personal way, Resurrection Day is a matter of life and death.  For that matter, how each human sees the resurrection is a matter of life and death - whether we know it or not.  There is an overwhelming sense of joy to unite with other Believers and testify that because Jesus died for us and was raised again, we have life beyond the grave.  Our destiny was changed the day we put our trust in Him.  He took the punishment that should have been ours.  What a reason to celebrate!  

But what about tomorrow?  Won't He still be alive tomorrow?  Will I still be reconciled to God because of Jesus' sacrifice, tomorrow?  Won't He still be the awesome Savior who defeated sin and the grave, tomorrow?  What about next Sunday?  When a smaller crowd of us gather next week, won't He still be Lord?  Why don't we have that same exuberance every Sunday and every day that we live as redeemed children of God?!  Complacency?  Unfocused living?  I'm not sure what the answer is, but I want to tell the world, by my words and actions, every day, that I serve a Risen Savior.  And while I'm at it... for those who are familiar with our sanctuary services at FBS, and meaning no offense to anyone in particular, but I want to be a 9:00 Christian, and not a 10:30 one ;)

Happy Resurrection Day.  Happy Resurrected Life.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10b

Today and Yesterday

Today, Judah opened the doors for me as we left school/work/church. This is significant for two reasons. One is that it is maybe the first step in his formal southern gentleman training. The second reason it stands out to me is that yesterday, he couldn't do it. He's tried a few times and I either step around the stroller and help or someone else steps up to assist when it becomes obvious that he's not quite going to make it on his own. This happened just yesterday, in fact. But today, he did it by himself. Two doors - each in turn opened and held proudly for his mama. He and I both commented on his great strength. But the point is, I witnessed a milestone. I've witnessed many, but only a few have struck me with the idea that today he can do something that, literally, YESTERDAY he could not do. It is such a blessing to watch someone grow up. It is simultaneously miraculous and heartbreaking. The things that I wish he could do now, one day, he'll be able to do them, and my baby will slip away a little more. Today, I'm going to savor what he can't do, because tomorrow he may be proudly standing beside his next accomplishment saying, "I can do it, Mama" and needing me a little less.