Easter: A Season of Renewal

Beautiful white and light pink flowers
Jesus Christ is RISEN!

This momentous occasion signifies the start of the Easter season. According to the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb where Jesus was buried only to discover it was empty. Then, an angel appeared to her and told her that Jesus had risen. And it was in that very moment when everyone began to realize the true depth of what had just happened.

The Easter season is a time of renewal. It is a time of joy and rejoicing in the risen Christ. The season lasts from Easter Sunday to Pentecost – 50 days – and culminates with Jesus’ ascension to heaven and sending forth the Holy Spirit upon the church.

These days are a great time for us to reflect on Jesus’ time on earth in His risen body. He appeared to some who did not even recognize Him and others, like Thomas, who needed to see and touch Him to believe He had risen. (John 20:24-29)

Throughout this joyous season, we can learn about Jesus and read about Him in the Bible. Even though we were not there to witness His life or resurrection, we can continue to develop our relationship with Him and see how it may impact our life.

What was Once Dead, Becomes New Again Beautiful white and light pink flowers

Throughout this new season, our surroundings are beginning to change with the arrival of Spring. We are beginning to see sprouting green grass, budding trees, and flowers breaking through the earth. Spring showers refresh everything around us.

Not only are our surroundings turning green and brightening up the world, but new life is also evident. Many may see calves, lambs, foals, and other baby animals learning to navigate life. Birds are migrating back to their northern homes. Other animals are emerging from hibernation.

As we look around, we see nature and God’s creation letting us know we are starting anew during this season. Spring is a reminder that God continues to make things new. We are never too old to learn more about God and His goodness. Rain provides nourishment to the plants like God’s word speaks to our hearts and shows us things we never thought possible.
As the winds seem to blow harder and harder, have you ever considered that it might just be the Holy Spirit blowing God’s love into your heart? Are you open to change and renewal this season?

Many of us are beginning to do yardwork and spring cleaning. So, how can we do some “spring cleaning” in our faith lives? Here are some tips:

  • Start a new devotional – check out our Foundation devotional to get you started!
  • Get into the habit of reading Scripture daily.
  • Join a Bible study or faith sharing group to learn more about your faith and experience how Jesus has touched others’ lives.

What other ways are you renewing and refreshing your spiritual life this Easter season?

“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.” – Psalms 1:3 (NIV)

Holy Week

Without the Crucifixion There is No Resurrection

Before we celebrate the joy of Easter, we walk through Holy Week and hear about what Jesus went through before the crucifixion. Holy Week was and is a difficult time, just like some components of Lent, such as fasting. But it is not supposed to be easy. Jesus went through a lot during Holy Week. This week allows us to catch a glimpse of the suffering Jesus went through for us. It serves as a reminder that we will get through these long days of struggle and see God’s enduring love for us all.

Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday and goes through Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Throughout this week, we witness what Jesus endured to save us from our sins. Each day holds special meaning based on the actions of Jesus in his final hours.

Palm Sunday

The first day of Holy Week is Palm Sunday, which is marked by celebrating the day Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. As He entered the city, the people greeted Him by waving palm branches and proclaiming Him as their Savior. The people of Jerusalem were not aware that Jesus was going to be crucified or that they would be the ones calling for His death. The Passion of Christ is recounted at Palm Sunday services to remember the sufferings of Jesus.

Monday-Wednesday

The next three days were ones of conflict between Jesus and others. On Monday, Jesus was angered by people selling their goods in the house of God. He reminded them that it was to be a place of prayer. On Tuesday, Jesus was questioned by the Jewish leaders who were not convinced that He was the Messiah. Jesus continued preaching his message on Wednesday while the elders, chief priests, and scribes began to plan His death.

Holy or Maundy Thursday

Thursday was Jesus’ last day of freedom before He was arrested. Jesus shared the Last Supper with the Apostles, which is when He instituted the Holy Eucharist or Communion – sharing His own body and blood. To demonstrate humility and love, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. Jesus then went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He stayed late into the night.

Good Friday

In the early morning of Good Friday, Jesus was arrested. Judas betrayed Jesus by kissing His cheek, the sign He arranged with those who bribed Him. Thus began a day of suffering before Jesus died on the cross. He stood trial where He was whipped, beaten, spat upon, and made to carry His own cross up the hill where He was nailed to it. A crown of thorns was forced on His head. After He died on the cross, He was removed, wrapped in cloths, and buried in a nearby tomb.

Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday

Holy Saturday was a day of mourning for Jesus’ followers while He lay in his tomb. A guard stood watch to make sure no one tried to steal the body. Early on Sunday morning, Easter Sunday, it was discovered Jesus was no longer in the tomb and He had indeed risen from the dead.
How did this incredible man endure such affliction? Can we even begin to imagine how great God’s love for us is to send his ONLY son to die for us on the cross so that our sins may be forgiven for eternity? It truly is remarkable.

As you endure your own trials and tribulations, remember this Lenten season and Holy Week. Jesus would not have had the Resurrection on Easter Sunday without first suffering and dying on the cross. There is a revelation that comes with the resurrection.

Lent: A Season of Reflection and Growth

Lent is a time to prepare for the resurrection of Jesus at Easter. No matter what you call them, the basics of Lent are the same – prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

The 40 days of Lent allow us to reflect on Jesus’ time alone in the desert. This experience was not glamourous or easy. It was a time for Jesus to listen, hear God’s calling, and discover His purpose.

This time of year allows for recentering and focusing, especially on Jesus’ life and the end of His life on earth – His sacrifice. Allow yourself time with your inner thoughts and time to connect with the plans God has for your life.

Common Lenten Traditions
  • Midweek church services to come together as a community.
  • Reflection opportunities – Praying, playing the piano, reading the Bible, or sitting and meditating with God.
  • Stations of the Cross and going to confession in the Catholic Church.
  • Prayer – Improving our prayer life during Lent can allow us to become closer to God. We can do this by reading Scripture, participating in a Bible study, or daily prayer. Continuing and furthering a relationship with God can help us in our daily lives.
  • Fasting – Many times, people give up chocolate, pop, or other foods during Lent. However, Lent can also be a time to fast and rid ourselves of unnecessary “things” to make space for God in our lives. We could fast from gossiping, social media, or something that takes us away from our relationship with God.
  • Almsgiving – This can be many things, giving of your time, talents, and most commonly, your treasures. This is our opportunity to serve others just as Christ would do.

Though these are a few common Lenten traditions, you don’t necessarily need to do them all to participate in this season.

What we are ‘supposed to do’ throughout Lent isn’t actually spelled out in the Bible. The apostles and early church did not actually observe Lent, but rather it became a tradition in the fourth century AD. Just as they did in the early days, though, during this time we can refocus and center our lives while modeling Jesus’ life.

The actions we take during these 40 days are not meant to happen solely during this season. The intent is to build habits that will continue year-round. So, whatever your Lenten traditions may be, remember the reason for the season.

Prayer Practices

Have you ever wondered if you’re praying ‘the right way’? We’re here to tell you that there really isn’t a right or wrong way to pray. It’s all about enhancing your relationship with God and listening or focusing on what He is trying to tell you.

Prayer is personal. It brings you closer to God. Your relationship with God evolves and deepens the more you pray and spend time with Jesus.

Each time we pray, it is typically for a different reason or season in our life. If you struggle to make time to pray or aren’t quite sure how to start, here are a few best practices to consider.

  • Find a designated time each day to spend time in prayer, because developing a consistent routine results in healthy habits! Maybe start with praying at the beginning and/or end of your day. That could eventually expand into spontaneous prayer throughout your day when the spirit moves you to pray. Be aware and look for moments when prayer is needed.
  • Pray simply. You might think you need to have a lengthy prayer or something profound prepared, but God listens to our prayers during moments of need or times of thankfulness, no matter what words we use. God listens to even our shortest prayers in a sudden time of need. You can talk to God like you talk to a friend.
  • Read the Bible. Look up a Bible verse and pray by reflecting on the words. Taking time to read Scripture helps us get to know God even better. Let the words assist you in finding specific and effective ways to continue your conversation with God and aid in prayer requests of yourself and the people you love.

The prayer process can include finding something you are grateful for, acknowledging when you might not have been the best version of yourself, exploring significant moments in your life with God, asking for forgiveness, and lifting up certain people in your life who might need prayer, and asking God to bless them.

No matter how you pray, you are talking to God. He is your friend, and He is always listening.

5 Bible Verses for Trusting God

Trust in His word

Trust in His wordAre you having a hard time putting your trust in God?

Are you letting fear run your life?

Do feel like nothing is stable or certain?

Have you been experiencing doubt?

Are you unsure where to start? If so, that’s okay, we have all been there before!

A great way to begin trusting God is by reading His word. Too often we forget how beautiful and powerful the gift of scripture is! When life seems crazy and nothing is going as planned, lean into Him and lean into His word. We promise your heart, mind, and soul will be renewed and you walk away stronger in your faith and more confident in the plans God has for you.

Here are 5 Bible verses for trusting God:

Jeremiah 29:11 → “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
  •  Too often, we have this notion in our head that we have to make every right move and decision to live the life that God has created for us. But the sweet truth of this verse tells us that God isn’t asking us to figure things out on our own, He is asking us to trust that He already has!
Psalm 25:4-5 → Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
  • Take a moment and think about where and what you put your hope in. A lot of times, we put our hope in earthly things and as a result, we allow the world to lead us. In this verse, David is asking God for guidance. He is choosing to be led by the spirit and truth. Let’s make the choice, each day, to seek and follow the Lord’s ways rather than the ways of the world.
Jeremiah 17:7 → But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
  • This verse is the definition of beautiful! Over time, our trust in God becomes a trust that is God – it’s a natural by-product of being with Jesus. Friend, this is your invitation to take a step in trust today.
Psalm 37:4 → Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
  • Taking delight in the Lord means that our hearts truly find peace and fulfillment in Him. When we rejoice and delight in the eternal things of God, our desires begin to parallel His, and we will never go unfulfilled.
Isaiah 58:11 → The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
  • Where God guides you, He will provide for you. Raise your hand if you are guilty of thinking just the opposite! Too often we believe we aren’t good enough, talented enough, or strong enough to fulfill what God has put on our hearts. But this verse tells us just the opposite. Where God guides, He provides. Read that once more!

Gratitude

Gratitude

GratitudeIf you have read our Foundation devotional, you are more than likely familiar with the word gratitude because we spent an entire day talking about a grateful mindset! In case you haven’t read it, I’ll give you a sneak peek. Google defines gratitude as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

What I love most about this definition are the words, “return kindness”. I will be the first to admit it, when I think of gratitude, returning kindness is the last thing that pops into my head! Selfishly, I think of the people, things, and opportunities God has put in my life! Not the readiness to return kindness.

But imagine what would happen if it were the first thing that came to mind.

Imagine the hearts it would touch.

The fruit it would produce.

Imagine the relationships it would strengthen.

And the love it would give.

Imagine what would happen if we lived every day with a heart eager to return kindness. Imagine what would happen if we lived every day with a heart like Jesus.

The next time you hear the word gratitude, stop, and return kindness. Yes, it is important to have a thankful heart, but don’t forget to spread the love and kindness of Jesus along the way.

Psalm 51:10: Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me.

Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed
Mustard SeedMatthew 17:20 (NIV) – He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

The parable of the mustard seed is a biblical truth that was quite literally planted into my heart at a very young age. As a kid, I didn’t think much of it besides the fact that a small amount of faith could go a long way! But the older I have gotten, the deeper the roots of this parable have grown into my heart. I realized it’s not about how much faith I have; it’s about what I put my faith in.

A small amount of faith can accomplish great things. But only if that small amount of faith is placed in Him – a reliable soil. Just like mustard seeds need to be planted, our faith needs to be planted, as well. Lucky for us, Jesus is the most nurturing and life-giving soil there is.

I believe Jesus chose to use a mustard seed within this parable for many reasons. The first being that mustard seeds only need a little consistent water and sunlight each day to grow. When you think about it, Jesus refers to himself in scripture as our living water (John 7:38) and the light of the world (John 8:12). Coincidence? I think not!

The second being that a mustard seed is the smallest of seeds, yet the largest of garden plants. It shows us that even a small amount of faith can grow into something bigger than ourselves. It shows us what happens when we plant our faith in life-giving soil; we bloom.

So, I challenge you to plant your faith. Put your hope in the name of Jesus, because just like a mustard seed, you are allowed to start small and let God be big.