As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. -- Isaiah 55:10-11

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Fantastical

Tomorrow is Easter, and I am trying to figure out how to celebrate it.

Honestly, I thought I could let is slip by mostly ignored, but I can't.

It's not the children or the need to do the traditional Easter basket. It's...trying to grasp it...Easter that is.

Oh, I know. Easter is the celebration of Christ rising from the dead after being crucified and lying in a tomb three days. Pretty crazy and far fetched. I mean, really. A man is nailed to a cross, left there until he dies, is buried and sealed in a tomb, and just comes back to life three days later. Pretty fantastical, if you ask me.

And if you ask me, I'll tell you I believe every word of it. I believe the same God who created life from an empty void can create life in an empty body. I believe tombs are not defined by their looks but by the lack of life, and I believe God has no problem speaking into tombs...even the tomb where I feel like most of my life got buried in the last year...and creating life.

Not just any life, but life we've never seen before, could never imagine, was too amazing to hope for.

As I look to tomorrow and wait for Easter, I am standing outside a tomb, disillusioned by what is inside, but still wondering what amazing thing that seems too great to hope for is being created by a God who has power to speak life where death seems to reign.

Sound fantastical?

Yep, and fantastical is exactly what I am hoping for.

6 comments:

Karen B. King said...

I share that hope with you, sweet Jerri. And I believe that this coming year is going to be filled with all kinds of new life springing up in you, precious sister in Christ. And others will see and hear your story and you will be Jesus with skin on to many of them. Stories are meant to share. I'm glad you are sharing yours when the temptation would be to just bury it. Hang in there, my precious "Hope"!
Karen King

That's Who I Am said...

Jerri, your writings are right up there with Max Lucado. I hope you like his stuff... I mean it as a very big compliment. :) On my way to church right now; paused at Starbucks. Love you tons, happy Easter!

Jerri Kelley said...

Karen, thank you, sweet sister. You are such an encouragement to me! Big hugs!

Jerri Kelley said...

Nicole, when God was delivering me from religion and teaching me about Christianity and relationship and real love instead of law, He led me to Max's works. I read every book Max had out at the time. Loved, LoVeD, LOVED them. Still do! He is one of my all time faves, and your words are one of the most honoring compliments I've ever received. Thank you, dear one. Love you back.

mizzbrizz said...

I share that fantastical hope as well. God has been breathing new life and new hope into me for almost a year now (that's when I turned to face Him and laid down my me-do attitude).

Jerri Kelley said...

Oh, that me-do attitude! I hate that ugly thing. I keep thinking it is dead, and it keeps coming back to life. Too bad we can't just shoot it, bury it, and move on, huh?

I'm hoping with you, Mizzbrizz. God is wondrous beyond our imagination, so imagine big, and then let Him do bigger things. :-)