ALMOST EASTER!

At the beginning of Lent, I thought that 6 weeks as a long time. Now faced with less than a week before Easter Sunday, I wonder where the time went! In a small church setting like ours, there are no massive displays of Easter lilies, no cantatas, hand bell choirs, prayer marches, orchestral presentations, or other exciting events. We just have faithful Christians doing their best to be servants of the Lord Jesus in everyday life.

I confess that there are times that I miss being in an event-driven church, because there are so many things that appeal to and attract a wide variety of people. Truthfully, being a faithful disciple of Jesus isn't very glamorous, or very showy, and isn't likely to command much attention from the ordinary, non-Christian person. It is rather like what Isaiah says about the coming Messiah in Isaiah 53:2-3 King James Version, "He has no form or comeliness, and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." or in the New Living Translation, "There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him." 

Than again, maybe that makes us all the more authentic, and reflective of our Lord. It's not in the flashy events of life that Jesus is best shown, it's in the daily grind. Anybody can be loving, patient, joyful, forgiving, and kind when it's party time, but what about the moments of sorrow, fear, rejection, misunderstanding, and the dull routine of life? That's where we need the presence of our Lord, shown through His faithful followers. For every Easter lily that isn't on our altar, there are countless hugs and prayers for those in need. For every voice not raised in Choral concerts, there are multitudes of comforting and encouraging words that are heard by weary souls. And when the excitement and pageantry of the Easter celebration are over, loving saints will continue to make a difference every ordinary day.

So yes, Lent is almost over, and Easter is almost here, and we rejoice in the reminder that our loving Savior gave up His life to save us from our sins, and then rose from the dead to take His place in Heaven. We also rejoice that our faith doesn't end with Easter, for Jesus still lives within His people every day. May the Spirit energize us all!  Alleluia!!