Change in Plans

My husband and I were taking a walk yesterday, enjoying the beautiful day.  As we chatted about the wonders of nature around us, we began to chat about the plans that we had for this spring.  Our son was coming in from deployment and we were going to make the trek from New Hampshire to Virginia to be there for the celebration.  A few weeks later, we had a special cruise planned around Barcelona and Portugal, visiting places we had never been before and enjoying the art of exploration (at least in our lives)!  We had both been working hard and were anxious to spend this time celebrating and being with each other.  Both events were our "beacon of light" during tough days.

Then plans changed.  With the events in our world, our son's deployment return had been extended.  With the events in our world, our cruise was cancelled.  With the events in our world, all the plans we had created disappeared in an instant.  Those who know me know that I don't take kindly to plans changing.  I'm a planning kind of gal.  Little plan changes, I can accept.  These were BIG plans.  

Our reflection led me to think about how many plans have been cancelled with everyone around the world.  My plans seem small and insignificant compared to others' plans.  They planned on spending their life with their spouse and their spouse passed on.  They planned on having a job they loved for years and they were laid off.  They planned on their new business succeeding and now they struggle to pay the rent.  There were much larger plans out there that seemed to have disappeared.

I have found that when plans have changed, Jesus has always had something different in mind for me.  When MY plans have been altered, Jesus has been there to take the direction I was headed in and move it to something "unplanned" but just as important.  When MY plans have been altered, Jesus has been there to teach me, redirect me, and guide me to something new.  When MY plans have been altered, Jesus and I get a little closer.  The truth and reality of all of this as our lives have changed, our Lord God has NOT changed.  His love NEVER changes, his strength NEVER changes, his grace NEVER changes.  We may fight these changes with vigor, yet he is always on the other side of the change, picking us up, helping us to continue on with our lives.  Jesus is setting each next step for us - whatever that step may be.  

Those next steps that he has set for us may be difficult.  They may be challenging.  We may not understand WHY those steps have been set for us.  The important thing is for us to lean into that new direction and lean on God.  Look at the new direction and find hope, find strength and find the new plan that God has laid out for you.  To do this, you need to lean on God's blessed assurance that He is leading your new path.  In that comes peace~~

Dearest Jesus - HELP US!!  Help us to acknowledge that plans do change - our direction is not always your direction.  As our lives and our world continue to change direction, let us lean on you to discover the path you have laid out for us.  May we rely on your strength and your love to guide us through these new waters.  During this journey, let us gain a closeness to you that we have yet to experience.  In your guiding name we pray, Amen!

Newness

As the daffodils bloom and the trees start budding, we do realize that spring is in the air (despite the covering of snow we received in New Hampshire yesterday)!  The promises of spring continue to amaze me.  As much as I love autumn, it is the advent of nature "hibernating" through winter.  Spring seems to be the beginning of new life for nature.

With many of us social distancing and ensuring we are not physically close to family and neighbors, nature has become our resolute.  Getting outdoors, whether it is a short walk or a long hike, has soothed our souls.  How thankful I am that, if the virus needed to spread to the US, it did so in spring, so we may all be able to get outside!

There are many new areas that are being explored by all of us during this period of social distancing.  There are also many areas where our priorities have changed (and many feel - for the better).

• Family dinners are becoming a mainstay versus an exception.  Families are cooking together, sharing grace together, and eating together.  Some may do so virtually (as our family does), some get the opportunity to do that in their own homes.  Either way, we are finding a way to gather around our tables again - without the external distractions.
• Appreciation of nature has taken over social media.  People are focusing on the beauty of what is around us - the buds on the trees, the beautiful flowers.  Even yardwork has become a joy.  Before, we may have taken a walk to get our steps in.  Now, we are walking and noticing the world around us.
• Heralding our heroes is the new norm - and how wonderful is this!  We have moved our attention from the socialites to the delivery people & grocery workers,  from the athletes to the teachers & food pantry workers, from the concert halls to the hospital rooms filled with nurses & doctors, and the list goes on.  Realizing who our true heroes are and cherishing these folks makes us understand the importance of ALL roles in life.

I am certain that each of you can add to the list above. I have heard the question "Where is God?" in all of this.  He is in the points above.  He is right there with us, through all of the struggles.  He is with the family member who may be in a hospital bed.  Although we can't be there with them, our Dear Lord is right by their side.  He is with the person who is lonely in their home - letting them know they are truly loved.  He is with the nurses and doctors, guiding their gifted hands every day and helping them to get up for the next shift.  He is with you and me, providing us hope and showing us how we can help.  He is here, friends, for every single person; those who believe in Him and those who don't.  He is here!  Just as he was raised from the dead for our new life, He is providing a new life for all of us.

Many are stating that they can't wait to get back to normal.  I believe, as do many, that our normal will be changed forever.  I also believe that this is not a bad thing.  Maybe we needed to get self-corrected, maybe we needed to reset our priorities.  I do know one thing.  Our Lord and Savior will never leave us alone, today or in the days to come.  He has given us a new heart and new flesh to do His will in the days ahead.  My our hearts, our hands, and our souls be ready for it!!

Dearest Jesus, thank you for creating us anew.  May we take this time of inward reflection and come out on the other side ready to do your will.  Help us to not lose sight of the precious gifts you have given us and let us always hold onto them.  Provide us a new journey where our priorities are your priorities.  In your saving grace we ask this, Amen!

Freedom

Jesus Christ is Risen Today - Alleluia!!  How I miss sitting in church singing that song to the rafters this morning (oh don't you worry, my home rafters are hearing it!).  Easter has so many wonderful memories for me - from my childhood enjoying Easter at my Grandma's house outside of Pittsburgh, PA to memories of today, with the children (albeit in their 20's), opening baskets and hunting for eggs.  

Yet, it is what Easter truly means that has always led me to have joy in my heart - Jesus rose!  He went to the cross with my sin on His back, filled with darkness and despair, and rose from the tomb and freed not only Himself, but me, from my dark sins into a life of light.  He freed me from hopelessness to hope.  He freed me from guilt to repentance.  He freed me from despair to joy.  He freed me from shame to grace.  He freed not only himself from the shackles of death, but He freed me to have a life with him in our everlasting home.

Being free has many interpretations.  There is mental freedom (free from thoughts that challenge our well being).  There is freedom of the soul (the drain that our sins from the past can bring to us).  There is physical freedom (many of us may be feeling that these days as we are confined to our homes).  There are so many ways we can look at freedom.  Each and every one of you can bring your own thoughts and feelings to this subject.  

Whatever your situation is today, whatever freedoms you believe you don't have, rest assured our Christ has provided for you - freedom.  Freedom from overwhelming thoughts.  Freedom from soul-filled pain.  Freedom of connection through so many other facets other than physical means.  Freedom from darkness into the light.  What Jesus has done for us far outweighs the chains we may be feeling.  Look back upon your life.  We have all had many difficult and trying seasons in our lives.  Seasons of physical pain, seasons of despair, seasons of grief, seasons of hurt.  Look at each one and know that we are on the other side of those seasons because of Jesus - he guided us out of the chains which bound us to the freedoms we enjoy today.  

Jesus is here with us - in sickness, in death, and in health.  He is with us these days that are unprecedented.  He is with us, reminding us, of the real joys He has given us.  The joys of our families.  The joys of the material items that we truly need versus the riches we may want.  The joys of helping others who are in need.  It may be hard to see, but our Lord has provided us the ability to see and feel his goodness during this time of virus.  Take time, my friends.  Thank Him today, for providing you the freedoms we enjoy.  Thank Him that, although life is different for us today than it was a few months ago, that we are focusing on the beauty He has brought to our lives.  Thank Him for the life-saving resurrection and freedom of our sins that only HE could bring to us.  Happy Easter!

Risen Jesus, we thank you for the freedom you have given us by rising from the tomb.  You came to Earth for the sole purpose of saving us.  You provided for us our freedom from sin to a life in eternity with you.  May we always praise you and provide thanksgiving to you for the joys you have given to us.  During the difficult times here on Earth, we ask from you freedom from this and a newfound appreciation for the things that truly matter in our lives.  In your joyous name we pray, Amen!

Humble Adoration

As my mind moves to Palm Sunday and the images of that beautiful day, I'm sure there wasn't too much social distancing going on!  Who could blame them!  The King of Kings was joining them in their midst.  The Holy One was among them.  What joy that must have brought to Jerusalem!!  The picture of Palm Sunday brings to mind the humbleness of our Lord and Savior.

There are so many pictures of this throughout Jesus' life.  Yet, this week, Holy Week, projects so many of them at one time.  The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, riding into Jerusalem on a colt - the foal of a donkey.  No horse, no camel, nothing of grandeur - a humble donkey.  The incredible joy that people shared with their palms and cloaks as a pathway for the king!  Humble Adoration!

Jesus knew what He was walking into - the week that was ahead of Him.  As He received shouts of "hallelujahs", He knew that all of that would change within days.  Yet, He marched forward.   The tough days were ahead of Him, but this didn't stop Him from living out God's plan of salvation for all.  "Lord save us!  Lord grant us success!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.  From the house of the Lord we bless you!"  Psalm 118:25-26.  He came to fulfill the prophecy!

I love the words of this Psalm.   They set the tone for this Palm Sunday.  It also sets the tone for today.  Our world is going through an unprecedented time.  We move from a lifestyle of interaction and closeness to one of distancing and separation.  We continue to live our lives waiting for the days when we will be able to hug our loved ones again.  Similar to the passage above, Our Lord will save us and grant us success.  He is with us to guide us to the day when we will rejoice in humble adoration.  As God guided Jesus to our salvation, He will guide us to the day when we will be able to gather together again. 

This journey seems long for many of us.  Imagine how long Jesus' journey must have felt during Holy Week!  Although we may be finding this to be uncomfortable, the path Jesus took for us was far greater.  He paid such a greater price than we ever could pay.   All He asks for is humble adoration.  All Jesus asks for is time spent with Him.  

The week ahead will be full of emotions - the highs of Palm Sunday, the reflection of Maundy Thursday and the grief of Good Friday.  These emotions bring a reminder to us that our Lord and Savior lived a life with us here on Earth.  He came to us, to live with us, to die with us and to rise again - on that glorious Easter Morning, to give hope to us. 

May we give to our Lord humble adoration on this Palm Sunday.  We may not be gathered together, physically, singing our hymns and waving our palms.  Yet, we can each do this in the safety of our homes and collectively.  Let Jesus know how much we adore Him! 

Jesus, please receive our humble adoration as you received that first Palm Sunday.  As you entered Jerusalem, on a donkey, people adorned you with what they had - palms and cloaks.  May we adorn you with what we have - praises of joy and thanksgiving for giving your life for our sins.  Let us enter Holy Week, full of the emotions that bring us closer towards Easter Sunday.  In your name we pray.  Amen!