EASTER SUNDAY 2009
This Easter was absolutely incredible. It was incredible for a few reasons...First of all, sunrise service at St. Augustine Fort is something Dave and I have always done. We've been there together for the past 16+/- years. Each year, you never know what to expect. Though some better than others, it is always a very positive experience. This year was awesome because, right before our eyes, as the sun rose, three people decided to give their lives to Christ and were Baptized right there in the bay, with the sun coming up and the waves rolling in. It was amazing. Probably a little frigid as well, but it was beautiful.
Secondly, Cracker Barrel. After only 3 hours of sleep because of a sick little boy, a 5:45 wake up call, and a beautiful sunrise, what more could I ask for? I don't know if it's the rocking chairs, the way it takes me back, or the fact that the food is fabulous, but Cracker Barrel will always be on my top ten list. A little country restaurant, that I've gone to all of my life, and that can take me back home in an instant is truly amazing.
Thirdly, and certainly in order only chronologically, was Christ's Church....
I love that place. I've been going and serving there for many years. I love it. My kids love it. I've been very in touch with the Christ that lives in my heart for a while, and I tell you, He is awesome. I went there to volunteer only, because Myra had asked me to:) When I got there and she found out that I had gone to sunrise and hadn't been able to go to the 9:00 service, she insisted go into the main church and listen to Jason. What she forgot to tell me was that I would need to take some tissue!! I was touched watching Jason because he was so passionate about what he was saying. This (and possibly Christmas Eve) is the time that Preachers get their big chance...the chance to touch a lot of people at once. The chance to do what they've trained for and what they are passionate about. Jason's passion was about to cost him his voice. I was touched because his love for everyone in that service was Amazing. Thus, I needed tissue.
Thirdly (part 2), just when I thought I would be able to compose myself, Jason pulled out all stops. He came up front with a sign that read "Abandoned by Father". Then he flipped to the other side and it said "Saved by Heavenly Father". O.K. Teary now. I looked around and saw people who were hurting. I know they were hurting because I have been there. When my best friend died, I didn't know why, but the one place I knew I had to be was at church. I couldn't talk to anyone, didn't want anyone to talk to me, but I HAD to be there. I saw people there like that yesterday. I could feel them. The Christ in my heart began flowing down my face. Amazing.
This brings me to the most incredible lesson that I took from yesterday. One word can move me like no other. "GRACE". When my mother was dying, I was in Florida and she was in Tennessee and I was very pregnant with my little girl. My Aunt Nancy, who lives in Alaska, had come to Tennesse to stay with my mom and grandmother during this difficult time. I would call mom every day. Every day she said the same thing..."I'm going to fight this". I would hang up and cry. Then one day my aunt said something to me. She told me "The Grace of God is on your mother's face". "The Grace of God is on your mother's face". A peace came over me and I knew.....I knew. My mom died March 6, 2000. My little girl was born 3 months later. I named her Kali Grace. She's named after her grandmother. I'm reading a book about Grace right now by Phillip Yancey called "What's so Amazing About Grace?". In this book, he says that many people go to church in a search for Grace, and then leave because they found none. He says, (and I agree), that this is a huge problem with The Church.
I will finish by saying that Phillip Yancey should have been at Christ's Church yesterday. One by one, sometimes by twos, people would come up and have their "labels". Then they would turn them over to share what The Lord had done for them. You guessed it, I was crying like a baby. But I wasn't the only one. I think everybody cried yesterday. Some cried because they related to the stories on stage. I cried because, just as I was concerned about Grace not being around like it should be, I was surrounded in it. I was bathed by tears and AMAZING GRACE.
GOD BLESS
