peace

A Different Kind of Easter

April 9, 2020 by Ellen 8 Comments

WHEREAS, the measures are necessary to protect the health and safety of the people of Louisiana,

NOW THEREFORE I, Governor of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

…all gatherings of ten or more people shall be postponed or cancelled…until Monday, April 13, 2020^⁠1

April 13? Why, that’s the Monday after Easter, isn’t it? No Easter church service? No Easter lunch with all the family?

The thoughts sputtered in my brain.

But, but, what will we do??

Easter 2020 will be a different kind of Easter for sure. However, it won’t be much different that the first Easter.

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” John 20:19 NASB

The first disciples were huddled behind closed doors in fear of the Jews. We are staying home for our health, wary of the highly contagious, deadly Covid-19 virus. We are disciples staying in for our safety, just like they were.

And Jesus still speaks those same words to us today: Peace be with you.

The peace of Jesus can be ours this oh, so different Easter.

In the gospels we read about parents bringing their children to Jesus, so that He might pray for them. The disciples scolded the parents. I can imagine why. When you get a group of small kids together, it’s no easy feat to control them! Just ask any VBS worker!

But Jesus said “Let the children come.”

Imagine with me all the children crowding around Jesus! They had no agenda, and no expectations. The kids had just heard about this man from their parents, and wanted to see Him. Their parents had said He would pray for them. So they flocked to Jesus.

Imagine with me all the children sitting at His feet. They just wanted to spend time with Him. Imagine the stories He would tell them, and the blessings He would pray over them. And they are happy and content, because they had Jesus.

Let’s put that perspective on Easter this year:

Our perspective: We can’t have our traditional Easter service with our church family.

God’s perspective: You have My Son, who died for you! You are co-heirs with Him. You are His child.

Our perspective: We can’t have our big family lunch after church.

God’s perspective: You have Jesus, the bread of life. You will never thirst again, if you drink the water He gives.

Be like children this Covid-19 Easter 2020: Sit at the feet of Jesus. Spend time with Him. Enjoy His company. Feast on His words! Be filled with the peace of Christ.

Yes, it will be a different kind of Easter. But in a good way.

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” Matthew 28:6 NASB

Halleleujah! He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Grace be with you,

¹https://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/Proclamations/2020/JBE-33-2020.pdf

Why On Earth Should I Pray?

August 1, 2019 by Ellen 5 Comments

The scene played over and over in my mind. Like summer re-runs on tv, it kept looping through my thoughts. I re-lived every word. Could I have said or done anything differently? I had no peace about the situation. I tried to act like an adult by not moaning and groaning about it to everyone (not much, anyway). But my soul was greatly disturbed.

I was fighting mad, shadowboxing to try and resolve the situation that gnawed at me like termites on wood. Peace would not come.

During this time of angst, I was out of my normal morning routine of reading God’s Word and praying. Yes, I was reading my Bible each day, but unfortunately, I did not set aside time for a conversation with God. I wasn’t praying like I should have been.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB

God was faithful to place this scripture in my path that week. Like a big old boulder, He plunked it down right in front of me. There was no going around it. The thoughts in my mind were anything but quiet and peaceful. Paul tells us that we pray so that we can lead a tranquil life. I had neglected the one thing that could restore calm.

Could Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane bring Him peace? He was brutally crucified. That doesn’t seem like a quiet and tranquil life to me.

The original Greek word for quiet is hēsúchio, meaning undisturbed from without. Tranquil is from the Greek word ḗremos, meaning not easily upset or excited. Jesus could go to the cross because He was in constant contact with His Father through prayer. His external circumstances did not disturb Him.

The battles and concerns I replayed over and over in my mind were things I should have taken to the Lord in prayer. There was nothing I could do in the circumstances. It was out of my hands; I needed to lay it at His feet. So I did.

[tweetthis]It was out of my hands; I needed to lay it at His feet.[/tweetthis]

Turning my concerns over to Jesus didn’t change my circumstances. Everything was the same; what was bothering me was still there. The difference was that praying about it gave me the peace of God. Through the power of prayer, I refused to let the situation excite me or disturb me. I had great peace.

I like to think of it as prayer protection. Everything on the outside is still happening. But now I am wrapped and protected in the arms of Jesus, sharing my concerns with Him. External circumstances do not disturb me. When I invite Jesus into my life and my situation He walks with me. I’d rather have Him by my side, experiencing His peace, than walk all alone.

Don’t let life’s circumstances rattle you. Give your concerns to the Lord in prayer. Lead the tranquil and quiet life He desires for you.

Father, I thank you that we can take all our burdens to You in prayer, so that we can lead a quiet and tranquil life. Thank You for the peace that prayer brings. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Grace be with you,