Easter 20/20

The Corona Virus has

shut down just about

everything except…

THE POWER OF GOD!

Walk by faith not in fear!

“Jesus didn’t die because He had to convince a begrudging God to be merciful to us.  Jesus died because God loved us so much, He willingly gave His only begotten Son.”

~ Grant Castleberry

This Easter will not be what we envisioned.  We will not gather to worship corporately in the church building with family and friends.  The service may begin at a different time and the choir and orchestra will not be singing and playing in person.  All of our puzzle pieces may not be in the correct spot, but worship will happen because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” and is worthy of our love, devotion and worship.

During these days, I want to see, with perfect vision, what God wants to show and teach me.  I desire to view this day with new lenses and not just the way Easter has been in the past.  I want to slow down, stop, ponder, and experience the freshness and reality of what the Almighty can do.

Because we cannot worship corporately, people are reaching out in amazing ways.

This past Sunday, people placed green branches on their front doors as a reminder of what happened to Jesus on Palm Sunday.

Children either found palm branches or made them out of construction paper to wave. 

Scriptures and encouraging messages have been written in chalk on sidewalks, driveways, and fences.  One child in our subdivision wrote a scripture and then left a box of chalk and encouraged others to write their favorite Bible verse, too.

People are making stain glass designs, with a heart or cross in the middle, either on their front door, windows, or sidewalk.

Two streets in our neighborhood have set up the stations of the cross.  They also provided a guide to print out with a description and things to pray for at each stop.  People can either walk by or ride by in their car.

People are encouraging friends, neighbors, and co-workers to livestream worship services for Easter.

We are learning new ways, and going back to the basics in other ways, to minister and keep up with friends and family.

Because of technology, people are able to participate in Bible studies, worship services, choir practices, and group connections.

The church isn’t empty; the church has been deployed!

“How the Virus Stole Easter”

By Kristi Bothur

With a nod to Dr. Seuss

The world stared around, popping its eyes.

Then it shook!  What it saw was a shocking surprise!

Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,

Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!

It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming!  It came!

Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine

Stood puzzling and puzzling.

“Just how can it be?”

“It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,

It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”

Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before.

“Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store.

Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

And what happened then?

Well…the story’s not done.

What will YOU do?

Will you share with that one

Or two or more people needing hope in this night?

Will you share the source of your life in this fight?

The churches are empty – but so is the tomb,

And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.

So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,

As the virus rages all around, everywhere.

May the world see hope when it looks at God’s people.

May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.

May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection,

May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.

May 2020 be known as the year of survival,

But not only that –

Let it start a revival.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8