After all the build-up and anticipation, it's easy to feel the Monday blah's mixed with a holiday hangover and sit in the midst of returning to regular life and think,
"But now what?"Even in that, we know we are not alone!
Surely the disciples and followers way back in the day wondered the same thing: "So, praise God and Hallelujah, He is Risen! But now what?
What we thought would happen, kind of didn't and we need time to regroup and re-center and re-evaluate not only what this Brand New Life offers us, but also what it asks of us!
Because, sure - we can say the prayer and believe the Truth and just go on living our old life. We've been given that choice.
We can be like Mary was on Easter morn... seeking the living among the dead. But even once we know He's not there, we tend to go back to what is familiar. We go back to our old ways, even though we've been given a brand new life!
Many Easters ago, I found a quote that has stuck with me...
"The Two Most Holy Messages of Christianity: 1. HE IS BORN 2. HE IS RISEN. BOTH MESSAGES DELIVERED BY ANGELS TO WOMEN. THE WOMEN WERE THE FIRST TO KNOW AND BELIEVE. We always are. We are holy rascals. We are the hearers and the believers and the deliverers of miraculous news. We hear. We believe MIRACULOUS NONSENSE...
THE TOMB IS EMPTY! HE IS RISEN! And so YOU-YES, YOU - LISTEN! That place you visit every day- your tomb- that place of hopelessness- your pain, your addiction, your past: THERE IS NOTHING THERE! Your hopelessness is empty! STOP VISITING! WHY DO YOU LOOK FOR THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?? YOU HAVE RISEN: YOU ARE ALIVE! YOU ARE A BRAND NEW THING!" (Glennon Melton)
My point, as well as Glennon's, is this:
We have been offered a gift... we can accept it and say thank you and never ever unwrap it and try it on! It's ours, sure - but let's untie the ribbons (or, ahem... loosen the ties that bind!) and open the Brand New Life that cost our God His own...
Let's be willing to take our old life, our old habits, our old way of living and lay them down!
Let's lay those things at His feet, rise up victorious with Him, and step into our Brand New Lives!
It's called Kingdom, and it's right here, right now, if we are willing to walk with Him and follow His lead.
His path, --it's filled with holy rascals... with the hearers and the believers and the deliverers of miraculousnonsense news. And I don't know about you, but I am on the lookout for signs and wonders, both big and small!
For I want to be like Mary, having found God alive and risen.
I want to love on Him and talk with Him, and run to you and tell you whatever He puts on my heart!
From one holy rascal to another,
P.S. I'm linking up with these lovely writers:
The Community over at #Small Wonders
Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday
What is offered to us is Salvation... Redemption... Forgiveness... Restoration. And not once... but a continuous unfolding and pouring out every day - so that each day we choose to accept this extravagant Gift of grace... this grafting in and making us His own.
What is asked of us is simply this:
Follow Him.
We are simply asked to let Him love us. That's it, really.
For He is pretty smart and He knows that when we say yes and allow Him to love us, we will be overwhelmed in all the best ways and we will allow His love to fill us up and overflow and leak out everywhere we go!
When we follow His lead and lean in closer... when we love Him and love others... when we are open and willing to take risks and walk a new way, well - a whole new world awaits us!
It's called Kingdom, and it's right here, right now, if we are willing to walk with Him and follow His lead.
His path, --it's filled with holy rascals... with the hearers and the believers and the deliverers of miraculous
For I want to be like Mary, having found God alive and risen.
I want to love on Him and talk with Him, and run to you and tell you whatever He puts on my heart!
From one holy rascal to another,
P.S. I'm linking up with these lovely writers:
The Community over at #Small Wonders
Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday
Holley Gerth for #CoffeeforYourHeart
Meredith Bernard for #Woman2WomanWednesday
Oh friend I love this so!! It is so easy to forget. But God calls us to follow. And I too want to find those signs big and small too. That Glennon Melton quote is pure gold. Yes indeed lets be holy rascals together. (Are you like me and are picturing us as those little rascals from the movie Little Rascals?) Gods kingdom is here. I think we just need to continue to look for it and share it. Build Your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective Experiment is praying in my head now.
ReplyDeleteLOL - well I am picturring them now... and hearing that song, too! <3
Deletexoxo
Hi Karrilee! I loved this post! Especially this part: "And not once... but a continuous unfolding and pouring out every day - so that each day we choose to accept this extravagant Gift of grace..." Such a good and encouraging message! Thanks for stopping by Faith + Testimony. I'm the editor there. Glad that we're neighbors at Holly's #TestimonyTuesday!
ReplyDeleteLily, thanks so much for stopping by! I think we can tend to forget sometimes that it is a gift that keeps on giving... it's not one and done as much as it is a continual unfolding... an overflowing offering, held out for us day after day after day! So glad we are neighbors!
DeleteBeautiful - step away from our old life and boldly step into the new world. A world where the tomb is empty and Jesus lives.
ReplyDeleteAmen and Amen! Thanks so much for stopping by Kathryn! Aren't you just so glad that He lives? It truly does make ALL the difference!
DeleteThis is fantastic. So true! I love the line: After all the build up and anticipation, it's easy to feel the Monday blah's mixed with a holiday hangover and sit in the midst of returning to regular life and think,
ReplyDelete"But now what?"" And you shared great truth about declaring the truth daily: He is Risen! :)
Your neighbor at #RaRalinkup
He is Risen indeed! So glad you stopped by, Dana! Happy to be neighborly over at Kelly's place!
DeleteSuch an encouraging post to begin my busy, over full day! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOh friend... I know those bossy days well! Praying for you! Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteKarrilee, your enthusiasm is infectious and overflows with joy. I have a special place in my heart for Joanna, which is my given name. God knew who I was from the very beginning. I think He's awesome like that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up at Small Wonder.
TWO DAYS! That is all I have to say to you, my friend! TWO DAYS! xoxo
DeleteI'm on my feet and clapping my hands over your message- and how it was written. Beautiful, friend! I love this so much: "let's be willing to take our old life, our old habits, our old way of living and lay them down! Let's lay those things at His feet, rise up victorious with Him, and step into our Brand New Lives!" Let it be so!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAmen! I'm willing, are you? Let's step in together and just see what this wonderful Kingdom of God has for us today! (And then we get to step in again tomorrow... and the next day, and the next, and so on!)
DeleteThis is wonderful! What fantastic words and a reminder that Easter Sunday morning isn't the end and nor should it be! I love that in the Catholic tradition, we don't celebrate Christmas and Easter as single days. We have a whole Christmas season (from Christmas Eve until the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord which is about 18-20 days depending on the year) and an even longer Easter season. We will celebrate Easter from now until the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord (which is always 40 days after Easter Sunday) which falls this year on May 14th. We will sing songs about Jesus being Our Risen Lord and the response after our communal prayers is always "Risen Lord, hear our prayer" during this time. We also sing "Alleluia" at the end of Mass when the priest dismisses the faithful with the traditional, "The mass is ended. Go in peace, Alleluia!" to which the congregation replies, "Thanks be to God! Alleluia!" The Easter candle remains lit during all the masses as a reminder of the fact that Christ is the Light who overcame the darkness of death by His resurrection and that we ought to take His Light into the world. Like Glennon, I sometimes get a little overwhelmed by the awesomeness of it all! :) Alleluia, He is Risen!
ReplyDeleteHe is Risen indeed! Thanks so much for stopping by and for giving me a little glimpse into how you celebrate! I am (sadly) just starting to really grasp the value of how other brothers and sisters celebrate and worship! There is so much richness and depth to so many of the traditions and practices! I so appreciate you explaining it a bit more for me/us! xoxo
DeleteHe is Risen and I want to be beside Him as I walk this earth. I look forward to my eternal life with Him. For now, I want to share His Good News in ways that He gives to me to do just that.
ReplyDelete~ linda
Amen, Linda! Amen!
DeleteSo... I really wish this wasn't speaking to me, but girl, it really is! Moving forward into the victory and no looking back at what was. I have to cling to this. Let it settle right down in. Ready to be, as you say, overwhelmed in the best ways! *fans self*
ReplyDeleteWhy must you give my spirit such a workout whenever I visit? lol
You're a blessing, Karrilee! No mistake! :)
Girlie - that is just the best comment! *fans self* You are too sweet! You are welcome here any time, my friend!
DeleteLove love love this! Thank you sweet friend. I have been stuck on getting a firm start on an identity talk, overwhelmed with years of journals, growth, points. How to narrow it down and get rolling? Your post has unlocked the door and I can feel the Spirit beginning to move me into the specific content for this time. Love your enthusiasm and wisdom, my friend.
ReplyDeleteOh how much do I love this, Ginger? SO MUCH!!! I had the same issue last month... I spoke on Identity and there can just be so much that feels vital and important but God was bossy and wouldn't let me pre-plan much! Still - as He does... He showed up... and I know He will through you as well! I can't wait to hear about it!
DeleteLove that -->wanting to be found like Mary and clinging to Him then running to tell all. I think our Holy holidays can sometimes render us on a spiritual high but we lose all the momentum when it's over. Really, we can celebrate the fact that He's risen everyday, can't we?! Love that He keeps on making things brand new - especially me!
ReplyDeleteAmen, my friend! Amen! Thanks for stopping by, and leaning in with me!
DeleteKarrilee, thank you for drawing my heart closer to Jesus and for encouraging my soul to walk with him. I love your heart and passion. Keep after him; he is using you! Cheering you on from the #RaRalinkup on Purposeful Faith.
ReplyDeleteKelly - you are such a gift, my friend! Thank you so! xoxo
Delete