Tag Archives: religion

Easter during a pandemic – WWJD

8.5 x 11 miscellaneous VERTICAL - Page 203

When decorating for Easter, we usually focus on the cross, the crown of thorns, the empty tomb…with some cute spring and bunny motif thrown in.
This year, while quarantining through the Easter season, I felt a nudge to accentuate a different moment in Jesus’ final days before crucifixion.

In John 13:1-17, Jesus washed his disciples feet. The humility in his posture toward those he loved. The grace he gave those he loved. The servant-heart he showed those he loved.

To follow the example of our Savior, I forewent the “prettier” Easter decor and set out a bowl filled with tap water and an ordinary dish towel as the centerpiece for our kitchen table.

It is a reminder to keep a servant’s heart, a me-second attitude, and a grace-filled posture toward our family who we’re now spending 24/7 with in a confined space.

God gave us a little devotion about it – to stay in the attitude of “How can I wash your feet today?” Maybe it’s praying for each other. Maybe it’s unloading the dishwasher or helping with yard work or turning down the tv when someone is trying to work.
Maybe it’s an encouraging word or hug. Or sharing a laugh or a joke to lighten the day.

However, in these stressful times of isolating from a world-wide crisis while juggling work, sick family, fears of the future, and the million things that keep us up at night, perhaps “washing each others’ feet” is NOT saying the irrational, negative, angst-filled words in the moment; NOT taking the stress and fear out on each other; maybe it’s what we DON’T say and do – the hurtful and not helpful – that best demonstrates Jesus’ point in these extraordinary times.

The bowl, water and dish towel sit in full view all day long. Every day. It’s a great visual of what Jesus did, KNOWING he was going to suffer and die, and is a reminder of how we can follow his example as we wait and wonder IF we will suffer and die.

Jesus’ life gave us all the tools we need to navigate this crazy world. Pandemic or otherwise. I might just leave this centerpiece out indefinitely so we never forget to love, serve and give grace to those nearest, our neighbors and the nations. 
______________________________________________________________________

John 13:12-17 “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Psalm 139…Amish-Country Style

Psalm 139 has been my life Scripture.  While in Ukraine, I relied heavily on God’s message in this Psalm for courage and strength.  For instance, I don’t mind flying, but it’s not on my list of favorites by far.  When I fly, I always recite verses 9-10, and it helps me remember who is in control of the plane and the journey.  Or, when I walked 32 flights of stairs to visit with some precious Ukrainian people in their apartment because the building’s elevator was iffy, I heard verses 2-3 roll around in my mind.  God continues to speak to me through this collection of verses, so thought I would share this post again and hope it speaks to you, too! 🙂

This passage has shared mountain-top highs with me and pulled my soul out of the pit.  It is a joy to offer a visual perspective of David’s incredible, tender heart seen through the eyes of the Amish country.

Psalm 139: 1-18, 23-24

Oh LORD, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit

and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out

and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O LORD.

You hem me in – behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”

even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake, I am still with you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Sunday Selah

One thing I ask of the Lord,
    this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

In Psalm 27, David reminds himself of God’s strongarm against his enemies.  He reiterates God’s mercy, goodness and safety.  Yet, in the middle of wrestling with fear, weakness and unstable circumstances, David breaks away in his heart and seems to pause mid-thought.

He is in crisis.  He feels unsafe of where he is and unsure of what the future holds in the hands of his enemies.  However, I can almost see David stop his heart’s plea and set his gaze on the horizon.  Although his feet stand on a place of longitutde and latitude, his heart escapes to another place and time.  There it is peaceful, quiet and restful.  Indeed, God’s house is a respite, a place of refuge.

Until God calls His chidlren home, we are called to seek Him now – every day.  Where do you find rest in God?

One place I find Him is at the beach.  I am reminded of His greatness of strength, creativity and control.  The rythmic waves crashing on the shore slow my own racing heart, and I come to a place of surrender.

I’m not at the beach today, but I can still find my way to God’s house – in my heart.  His children are His temple, and He dwells in us.  When I surrender myself to Him, I find rest, peace and stillness not found anywhere on this earth.

I encourage you, also, to look and listen for God today whever you are.

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. ~ Psalm 29:11

Lord willing, I’ll see you tomorrow back here for more real…deep…stuff.

Have a wonderful Sabbath,

Kristi