Sunday, April 01, 2018

"The Resurrection of Love and Hope"


Reflections4Life April 1, 2018
“The Resurrection of Love and Hope”
“Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.” Mark 16:9-10
Scripture Contemplation: Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 27; 28; John 20; 2 Corinthians 13...

©Ruthe McDonald.
Happy Resurrection Sunday! The ultimate sacrifice and unconditional love of Jesus Christ, gave us the greatest gift man could ever receive: Salvation, an eternity with our Heavenly Father. When Jesus rose that third day, it was for all of humanity, past present, and future. By His grace, we’re afforded the opportunity to partake in the power of His resurrection every single day God grants us.
I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. If you do not take anything from today’s devotional but one thing, let it be that we have the power to change our lives and others by what we believe in our hearts. No matter you have faced in your life that may have you feeling hopeless and far removed from love; understand this: the Resurrection was not just for then or for our physical bodies to rise up to heaven. The power of the Resurrection extends to all things that may seem dead in our lives that God says needs to live again. Such as, dreams, visions, happiness, and even love and hope. Allow the power of the resurrection touch every area of your life, believing that God is doing just what He has promised, no matter how long the wait.
A Little Bit Different
I come before you a little bit different today, sharing with you about my family and our traditions on what many call Easter Sunday. We don’t always understand things or the significance of something as a child, but with age hopefully for most of us comes wisdom, and with that understanding.
On my life’s journey, I have learned that there really is no secret to happiness. No secret code to love and hope. Not for those who walk with God, spend time in His presence and read His word. Some of the things that we did in our childhood, with our families, the traditions we practiced, were really life lessons in love and hope. We may have felt stifled as we got older, thinking we were missing something out in the big world. The truth is, for many, the keys to our happiness were already received, and we just have to remember the lessons.
My Family Traditions
Can you remember being a child during the Easter holiday? I remember feeling excited. It was more than the new clothes, and the Easter candy. It was getting to go over to my Gram’s house, and sit in her kitchen, watching her work her magic.
What I also remember about Easter, as a child, was going to church. Funny how every Easter Sunday, the church would be filled with people who had not been in church all year. Yet, the Pastor was extremely happy and made sure he gave a sermon that was at least six sermons in one!
Resurrection Sunday has always been a very special time in my family. As I got older and understood the meaning of this holy day, it made it even more special and the fact that I could spend it with those I love, celebrating what Christ did for us.
Many feel a certain way about Easter, and point out its paganism origin. However, there were life and love lessons that came in those traditions that planted seeds of truth about the Resurrection and the real reason we gathered for what many called Easter. As children, it was not so much what was said (considering our short attention span) but it was the actions of the adults that would have lasting impressions on us, and shape who we would become, what we would believe, and how we would lead our own families.
My Grams showed in her actions the love behind the Resurrection. She went all out every holiday but especially Resurrection Sunday. When my cousins and I were children, she would make sure there was a basket for everyone filled to the brim. She would gather her family and we would all go to church together. All of us decked out in our finest clothes. My Grams with her Easter hat. After services, we’d go back to her house for dinner. As she was finishing preparing her meal for her family, all the children were hunting for Easter eggs, and sneaking candy from out of our baskets.
I would always find myself at my Grams table watching her. She had the hugest smile on her face and a song on her lips. What I remember the most is how happy she was; how much joy that she held in her heart. Tired was not in her vocabulary when it came to her family. She was just pleased that all her children were under one roof, healthy and loving on one another.
That is what many of us are missing today, that familial love, the joy, the simplicity of coming together. We weren’t the richest people monetarily. We definitely had our share of hard times. However, when we came together and celebrated the life that we had and the gift of one another, it made us stronger. It made us richer. We were wealthy in love and in each other. When we shared with our friends and neighbors, even strangers, it made Resurrection Sunday that more real and joyous.
There was love and hope at my Grams table, in her home. It was such an abundance of love and hopes that even those who were not family felt it and benefited from it. We did not need permission to invite anyone, we could just bring him or her, and they would be fed and loved on. Perhaps even filled them with hope.
I realized at the same time, it was the reason why so many people show up at Church on Resurrection Sunday. Even they know, somewhere in their hearts, that it is a sacred and special time where anything can happen. They came, out of all days, hoping to receive something. Perhaps they are looking for love; looking for a little hope in their lives. Who am I to judge why they came or why they have not been there since the previous year.
What I Know for Sure
Many are facing very difficult times. The last thing that many people have on their mind is celebrating. But isn’t that what Resurrection Sunday represents? Miracles? Optimism? Hope? When we gathered around my Gram’s table for prayer, it solidified why we were really there: To celebrate what Christ had done for us, and what He made possible. 
Though there are times we might not know where the next meal is coming from, or how the bills are going to be paid, we cannot count ourselves out. We are alive and breathing. They thought when they crucified Christ, that that was the end of the story. However, it was just the beginning. A miraculous thing occurred on that third day of that Passover: Christ arose.
There are things that we face in this life, and sometimes we have no control over some things. Yet we do have control over how we respond. Things might be a bit rough right now, but it won’t always be this way. One of the greatest lessons I learned from my Gram was to share. Share what you have, and God will always provide. I have an abundance of love and hope to go around.
My Beloveds, May the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. An open fist can receive more than a closed fist. If you know someone that stands in the need of help, reach out your hands to him or her. Invite them over for dinner. Or send an anonymous food basket to their home. So many stand in the need of a miracle, perhaps you are that person’s miracle. Maybe you are the person God desires to use to resurrect someone’s love and hope this Resurrection Season. Be open to God today. You are indeed blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!
©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.


No comments: