On that Sunday, we woke up really early and headed to the beach. I remember it was chilly and so we were wrapped in blankets and sweatshirts. When we gathered at the beach, we sat in a circle around a cross made in the sand. We then talked about the death and resurrection of Christ. It wasn't a sermon, but a talk, a conversation of the reality of what Christ endured. Needless to say, there was a lot of silence...and then solitude.
We were given bread and juice and were encouraged to spread across the beach for a time to spend with God.
I was holding the communion in one hand, my Bible in the other, while sitting on a blanket looking out at the vastness of the Gulf of Mexico. I was taking in God...
It was a heart-centered Easter. The depth of death, pain and love that Christ has for me became more real during that day and week spent in Florida.
This Easter, this glorious Easter will be a powerful, life-changing, grace-filled Easter much like the one experienced so long ago on the beach.
As many of you know, my children (foster children) went home on January 2nd to their birth parents. I experienced such a depth of sadness and mourning over this loss...I hope to never experience that again.
However, and to God's glory alone, life has been profound and beautiful again. A little over a month ago my little Jaylin, through a series of situations, brought his mom and Aaron to church. I love this little guy! The way this story unravels, is truly a love story authored by God.
Aaron, our minister, was finishing up a series on grace. Sadness and public crying had kept me home for a couple of weeks. Not because I didn't want people to show compassion, I just wasn't ready to face church, life, friends, etc. without children. It was just hard. When I came back, however, Aaron was teaching the reality and goodness of giving grace. For two weeks, I sat in my seat and cried as he explained from scripture what it means to give grace. I didn't want to be grace-filled at that moment. I was hurt and angry that a judge would force me to show grace to people who had hurt their children...children whom I loved!
On the final week of Grace, and through Jaylin's need to be with my family, Jenny and the boys came to Traders Point. That Sunday was about salvation. I was floored by what God was pouring out through Aaron. I could literally feel the prayers of my family and friends as we sat around Jenny. I was so eager to know all afternoon what she was thinking, but I didn't feel prompted by the Holy Spirit to ask. My spirit was telling me to sit quietly and pray.
At 7:35pm that Sunday night, Jenny called. The first words out of her mouth were questions on accepting Christ and being baptized. I was standing in my bedroom when I got that call and I literally fell to my knees. I couldn't believe that this was happening...all glory to God!
After talking for a long time, she asked if I would mind picking her the boys up for church every Sunday...of course I said, Yes! Every week our conversations grow deeper in God and in friendship. She loves spending time with the Mayer/Hills clan and isn't intimidated by our loudness and political talks :) She craves the wholeness of being part of a family. She is our newest adoption!
Although we have been talking about her baptism for awhile, we have finally set the date for this Easter. When everything was set, the word Glorious kept running through my mind. This isn't a word I use...ever. So, to have it run through my mind constantly was a strange sensation. The dictionary defines glorious as:
delightful; wonderful; completely enjoyable; full of glory; entitled to great renown; brilliantly beautiful or magnificent; splendid
The brilliantly beautiful part rings so very true. Seeing God move in this way, seeing Jenny give her life to Christ, and seeing this family build a foundation on truth founded by God is Glorious, brilliantly beautiful.
To be brutally honest, I have struggled with understanding The Parable of the Lost Son...until now. In the past, I always resonated with the son that stayed home and was "responsible". After all, he didn't squander his inheritance and he was faithful to his family and did what was right. However, I have seen in Jenny what the grace for the other son looked like--I will not run off angry like the other son did, but will instead take hold of this grace...the same grace I need from God! And now, there is NO turning back...
"But while she was still a long way off, her father saw her and was filled with compassion for her; he ran to his daughter, threw his arms around her and kissed her." Luke 15:20 (with revisions).
So this Easter will be Glorious!
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