Spring Always Reminds Me of Resurrection

Spring always reminds me of resurrection

As winter approaches, it seems like the world (well, at least Michigan) is a darker place – all the plants wither, lose their leaves and color, and some die. A cold spell sweeps the land for many months. It’s dark, cold, and can be very depressing.

Then, when all seems lost, a glimmer of hope arrives as the snow melts and blue irises begin peeking out of the cold dirt. These hopeful flowers seem to inspire other plants to sprout up, and soon bright green vegetation is emerging exponentially from the earth. The air becomes fragrant with the smell of the blossoms and blooming trees, birds chirp through the air, and small animals run around rambunctiously after their long winter naps. What was dead has now come back to life.

Like the cycles of death and resurrection in the seasons, we experience these patterns in our own lives as Christians. Consider what the following verses have to say about this pattern.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5)

This year, as spring arrives once again, remember that the beauty of this season is also reflected in you. Surrendering all to God and dying to oneself results in a beautiful resurrection and restoration that only God can bring about. It is my prayer that your life will be like the first blue irises of spring – peeking out of the soil into a world that needs hope, a fresh start, resurrection – a world that needs spring.

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Into Arabia

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. (Galations 1:13-18, emphasis added)

It is interesting to note that, after his conversion, Paul did not immediately begin his ministry. After experiencing the Lord in such a mighty way, one would expect Paul to immediately begin to preach the gospel. Instead, he goes away into Arabia – the desert!

Wait – this sounds familiar! Didn’t Moses spend 4o years in the desert before helping Israel? John the Baptist spent years in the desert, and Jesus was even tempted and tried for 40 days in the desert.

Perhaps all this time in the desert was meant as a time of preparation. This time where seemingly nothing was happening in Paul’s life was an immensely important time in Paul’s ministry. This was a time of abiding, of simply BEing with God, rather than DOing. I’m sure Paul felt tremendously weak in the desert. After years of being zealous for what he thought was right, years of persecuting the church and trying to keep the law, Paul spent three years in the desert with God. He’d had a conversion experience, but he was still a baby in his faith. The author of a majority of the New Testament epistles needed time to unlearn the “traditions of his fathers” and learn to see the world through new eyes. He needed to be transformed and changed by God. It was in the desert that he learned how incredibly weak he was as a man, but it was during this time that he saw a glimpse of Christ’s power in his weakness.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

I hope and pray that you will be encouraged when it feels like you’re in a desert time in your life. Those times are not meaningless nor unfruitful. God is doing a work IN you! Abide in Christ during those times. Continue to cry out to Him in prayer and seek his face through reading His Word and spending time with other believers.

May God be with you as you journey into Arabia.

 

Expose

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Eph 5:11).

Expose. Make known. Convince.

The works of darkness are not to be ignored among God’s holy people.

This means prayer, honesty, open eyes, discernment. It means having clear boundaries in my interactions. It means being clear, raw and honest, persistent, and speaking God’s truths consistently. It means not only speaking, but living out integrity. It means being honest about my failings, but remembering God’s victory through it all.

Here I am, Lord – willing and ready to share your truth. How do I convince someone they are living in the midst of deep darkness when they still believe they are living in the light? How do I speak when my voice is one that is not wanted to be heard?

Speak anyway. It is I who will speak through you. My Spirit will convince them of these things… in My time. It is not up to you to rescue anyone out of the darkness. That is My job. I AM – who created the universe, who knows all and sees all. Give them up to My care. Be patient, My child. And be assured that I have made known to them the truth. Their hardness of hearts is preventing them from surrendering to My truth right now, but My Spirit is at work still. So, speak anyway. I will give you My words. I will expose you in order to expose them. Do not be afraid of exposure. From the darkness and ashes of your former life, I have brought forth a blooming flower, fragrant with the light of new life. You are a child of the light. Speak anyway.

 

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:1-14)

Does the Caterpillar Know?

Does the caterpillar know

When she must build a cocoon?

Does she know that she

Will one day be transformed?

 

Even if she does not know

Her instinct tells her what to do:

Build this cage to protect yourself

It’ll make you beautiful.

 

This time in a caterpillar’s life

Is just seen as a stage

Something she must go through

So that life may go on.

 

There are times in our lives

Where walls must be built

To protect who we are already

And to give us a safe place to grow.

 

Do not be discouraged

When you feel trapped or held back.

God has a purpose for this time

You’ll understand when you’re through.

 

From my first trip to Peru in 2009, my life has been an almost constant adventure. Peru, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Kansas, Montana, Minnesota, California, Nevada, Colorado… Traveling and experiencing new things is a passion of mine, so having a full time corporate job in Grand Rapids, MI doesn’t quite match up to my dreams. But, besides the fact that having this job is a necessary step to start paying off my loans, God has been using this time to begin building walls around me – walls of protection and growth. Walls that will allow me to be transformed and bring clarity to what God has for me, and who I am in Christ. I wrote this poem a few weeks ago while at work, and I think I said it perfectly. I’ll understand this time when I’m through.

So soon.

In seven days, Britalia and I will be flying to the HEART institute in Lake Wales, FL. We will be there for three weeks, then spend 5 days with a family friend of hers. On June 2, we will take an Amtrak from Orlando to Miami and fly that night from Miami to Santa Cruz, Bolivia (with a stop in Lima, Peru). This is just the beginning of our adventures during the summer! Hopefully I will have time to edit this website and keep you all updated! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we are preparing for this summer and have our exams this week!

Blessings, Rachel Joy