He is Risen Indeed!

With Easter just behind us, I pray that we all might continue to be encouraged and strengthened by the the life and presence of our Risen Lord. Every day.

Thank you, Kristi and Friends, for taking time out of what was probably a busy (and chilly) season to read A Desperate Faith! I'm grateful for the conversation that arose from the book and sincerely hope many more will take place as a result. Many blessings—Jo

PS Would it be tacky to suggest a follow up to your discussion using Desperate Women of the Bible? Its approach and format is similar; these are the stories of the nameless women in the Gospels, "minor" characters in the biblical narrative yet whose stories teach us much about the Protagonist of Scripture: Jesus. (Just a thought.)

Realizing We Can Fly

The story of Saul (Paul) fascinates me as the classic example of the power of the resurrected Christ.  As Jo says, "If Jesus was 'really real' to anyone, it was Paul."  I agree, if Christ hasn't been raised, our faith is useless and we're a people to be pitied.  But if Christ HAS been raised (and he has!), then our lives are revolutionized.  As Jo says, this is not a "nice plan or a moral formula or a value system but a living, breathing person who is with us always."

That means Jesus is with me right now.  As I write this.

To quote Jo again:  "[I]n the strangest of paradoxes, the testimonies of the ages suggest that we can be raised with Jesus not someday, not in some far-off time zone that has no relevance or us in the work and lives we enjoy on earth.  No, we're raised with him now."  The pressure is off, we can't earn or try harder for eternal life.  It's ours.

Kind of like jumping off a cliff and realizing we can fly.

How does the reality of Christ's resurrection change my perspective?   I came up with 10 ways, just for a start:

1)  I can freely share the gospel of Christ with my friend, knowing it's not my stuttering words, but only God's power that can draw her to himself.  He's the one who resurrects from death and sin, he's just given me the privilege of delivering the news.

2)  I can look in my mom's Alzheimer's-filled eyes and see Jesus.  I can tell her with confidence that I'll see her in heaven (she's a believer), and say I look forward to sitting down for coffee to catch up on all we can't say to each other right now.  I don't have to grieve like the world does, without hope.

3)  I can know as I watch the evening news (like Kristi mentioned), horrified by the brutal violence around the world - in Syria, in Kenya, and even America - I can rest knowing our God is in control and is working all things together to further his purposes, and he WILL prevail.

4)  I can look at my husband with renewed love and respect because I know that our marriage relationship is a picture of the love, joy and fulfillment between Christ and his Church, giving it deep meaning beyond what the world can understand.

5)  I can enjoy the springtime, smell the flowers, taste delicious food, revel in the softness of a cat's fur and the roughness of tree bark, knowing God has created all things for us to enjoy.  The physical world is God's creation, and although fallen, is still very good.

6)  I can work diligently at whatever the Lord puts in my hand, knowing everything is "sacred" work, even the mundane tasks, and I can be on the lookout for how God wants me to bless others through my work.

7)  I can stand firm when persecuted or distressed, knowing that whatever trials the Lord allows, they are ultimately for my good, and he is faithful to bring me through them, as through a refining fire.

8)  I can joyfully go to church on Sunday, knowing Christ has risen and I'm joined together with other believers in a unified Body to worship God, loving and caring for each other in community.

9)  I can feed that hungry person, help that single mother, take time to talk with someone who's discouraged, knowing that God has carefully placed me in their lives to show them the living Jesus.  (And they may be placed in mine to do the same.)

10)  I can lose myself in God's Word and prayer, knowing my soul can rest in him.  He loves me to draw near and he wants me to know him better so I can learn to pray his thoughts after him, to come along with him on his awesome adventure as he redeems his people.


Thanks, Kristi, for this opportunity to read Jo's book and share with each other in this forum.  Many blessings to all of you as the Lord continues to sanctify us and bring us to a fuller knowledge of his Son.  I'll finish with one of my favorite verses:

"I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free."  (Psalm 119:32)  Wheeeeeee!!!

The persecution of the church continues across the globe today.  We see it in the news, every day.  The evil expressed in destruction, violence, and killings.  I read this chapter and am reminded, that it has always been because it is a spiritual battle.  And, what differentiates the christian is love.  That Jesus came to us to save us and equip us to live out and spread this love; the good news.  The daily news can feel so daunting, can't it? Whether it be in our own relationships, jobs, communities; life can distort our vision of Jesus.  This was a wonderful culminating chapter to the book.  It spurs us on to see clearly that the good news is for all whom God calls.  My life can become comfortable but that's not satisfying because I'm His and He has more for me...it's in my DNA since salvation.  I thank Him that He gave us these imperfect disciples in the Bible showing us their imperfect faithfulness and His perfect love and faithfulness to them and to us.

I pray that I will live radically for Jesus name, for the sharing of the good news.  Yikes, I'm not sure what that will look like!  Please pray for me:)

This ends the reading of A Desperate Faith, and I hope it was time well spent for everyone.  I personally needed the accountability to "read a book" and I appreciated and was encouraged by the postings you put up!  

There has been some interest in continuing this site with a new read.  So,  I would really appreciate your feedback!  Please gmail me at kristikadlecek@gmail.com or comment on this post your feedback in regards to this blog.  Did you enjoy/like the format?  What could be done better or to encourage more involvement?  Would you be interested in doing this again?  

..."what indeed would our lives-and our world-look like if we heard and believed the living voice of the man who was born to be King?"(p. 171)

Kristi

Chapter 8 (Final Chapter): SENT AGAIN/ April 5th - April 11th

Imperfect Devotion

Like Peter, I have "painfully inconsistent devotion."  I love the Lord, truly I do, but I don't always do the things I want to do for Him (or I do other things I shouldn't).  My ragged participation in this blog is one example, but I've got a boatload of other peccadilloes that can make the same point.

However, since I was behind in my reading, I had the distinct advantage of seeing Thomas and Peter together.  They both loved Jesus; they both were overjoyed when they realized He was resurrected; yet they both failed the Lord in major, visible ways.  And in both cases, Jesus reached out to each one personally, in front of witnesses, as he lovingly, gently and with great compassion restored them.  He reoriented their vision so they could see Him clearly.

We hear Thomas's believing heart revealed in John 11:16 where he says, "Let us also go, that we may die with him [Jesus]."  But even so, when Christ really did die, Thomas's expectations were trampled.  He couldn't believe that God would choose a cross to accomplish His purpose.  Peter also gave a remarkable testimony in Matt 16:16 when he said to Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  And yet he showed his confusion and unbelief when he denied his Lord.

As for me, yes, I believe Jesus.  I trust him.  But I often can't believe the methods He uses to accomplish His purposes in my life and in the world.  It's way too messy.  Disorienting.  Uncomfortable.  Certainly not what I expected.  I fail Jesus daily.

But it's at that point of failure, when I feel hopeless and insecure, that Jesus meets me on the beach of my heart with His compassion and agape love.  He asks me gentle questions and listens for the answers He knows I will give.  For resonating deep in my soul is the truth that "despite [my] best efforts or deepest wounds, despite [my] grand plans or most painful decisions, Christ alone fulfills the longings of [my] heart."  He truly restores my soul.  (Psalm 23:3)

Happy Easter, my friends.  Happy, glorious, amazing day of resurrection.

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through...The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it."  I Thess 5:23-24

Although the song Michele listed didn't work here, I went to YouTube and watched it there. It was great and here's my favorite oldie but goodie; David Phelps's Behold the Lamb.  These are worthwhile songs to listen to anytime but especially as we navigate this book and during this week.  Worship and enjoy!

Check out this playlist on YouTube:

I light of everything we've been studying and in preparation for Easter Sunday!!
Hope this works ... Enjoy!!!
Michele

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gGa1w_bnvM&list=RD0gGa1w_bnvM

Wondering if I love Him (Chapter 7)

I have fallen way behind on my reading and devoting, as I feared I would. I skipped ahead to catch up, so I guess I'm like Peter just plunging in! :)
When Tevye asks Golda, "Do you love me?" in Fiddler on the Roof, she doesn't want to be bothered with such a dumb question. "Why talk about love right now?" she asks. But Tevye insists, so she has to stop and think about it.  Now, Golda isn't exactly portrayed as a loving, patient wife. She's more like the "continual dripping" kind of wife. Her behavior makes us wonder if she does love her husband. But she looks back over their twenty-five years together and thinks about the hard times she has shared with Tevye. She considers the things she's done with and for him, and ends up surprising herself by realizing, "I suppose I do!"
I feel a little like Golda when I imagine myself in Peter's shoes.  I know I'd wish He wouldn't ask me hard questions. But when pressed, l'd have to search myself and come up with an answer. And then, like both Peter and Golda, when I looked back over my behavior and attitudes toward the One asking the question, I'd have to admit to myself that there's much that doesn't look like true love.  Many denials, many failures to put Him first, long periods of little to no emotional connection, reluctance to "get together," etc.
But I'd also look at what He has done for me: the hard times He brought me through, the provision, the self-sacrifice, the comfort, the peace.  When I consider those things, I'm like Golda: surprised and relieved to find that, "I suppose I do!" I deeply love Jesus for all those things!
I wish there were not this wide disparity between His love in action and mine. I wish I had more proofs of love to offer up.  I'm so small in so many ways, and He's so all-encompassing and mighty. I can only praise Him for being so, and ask Him to enlarge my love for Him and others.

Chapter 7- Beach Fires/ March 29th - April 4th

For Our Sake

I guess I've always thought that if it had been ME rather than Thomas, I would have believed:)
It's funny how it's easier to see others situations more clearly than our own sometimes.  But, although I have the word of God to read, it's my life lived and my thoughts that reveal what I believe to be true.
What stood out, among much, was on page 125, where Jo writes, "he still stands among us and says, "Peace be with you", breaking through the locked areas of our unbelief, the stubbornness of our individuality and self-assurance, and meets us with a grace far greater than all the doubts and cynicism and betrayal we've ever experienced combined.  And, that He does this for our sake and invites us to believe".  So, in any challenge I'm facing right now; God is not outside of it.  He is showing up and is in it giving the grace needed, the strength to believe and rest in Him with confidence that He's working out His purpose. Just as He stood with Thomas; He stands with me and gently pulls me up, through, and out, and to Himself.


Praying for us all,

Kristi