Easter 2007....

I don't even know where to begin....


When I woke up Easter morning, I knew for sure that this Easter would be a "job."

It was raining, cold (barely 30), and our sunrise service was going to be miserable. I left my house at 5:45 a.m. in the pitch black wintery weather... and Starbucks was still closed, and there was not even anywhere open to get a Diet Coke....no caffeine?

As I drove, something amazing happened.

I felt like the Holy Spirit was prompting me to pray for sun. (Did I mention the rain?) And so I did. I just kept praying that the rain would stop and the sun would come out and shine. I prayed that the rain would not deter those thinking about coming to church.

I can honestly say that even though I was praying these things, it wasn't from a place of heart-felt conviction. It wasn't that I didn't want the rain to stop, it just was that I was driving through the rain. My first inclination was to pray people would still come out in the rain, not for the rain to stop and certainly not for the sun to shine.

Well, our sunrise service had to be moved inside because of the rain (and COLD!), and in the midst of answering the church phone, greeting visitors, and trying to take in part of the service, there was no more praying for the sun.

After I had counted in all three children's ministry areas, I was helping out in our nursery (holding my precious Jared!) when I happened to glance out the window.

And there it was.

The sun.
A blue sky, riddled with clouds and the sun bursting forth with its grandeur.

Quite stunned, I said out loud, "This is just what I prayed for."

One of the nursery volunteers said (with quizzical fascination), "You prayed for this?" and I turned around to see a desheveled nursery, two infants, three toddlers (not counting the infant I had in my arms) and could understand why she was confused.

As I told her about praying for the sun, I was still absolutely amazed at the physical demonstration of God's power. The visual of his illuminating power...

And it came to me today; Easter is that simple. It is that powerful. It is that life-changing, and can be that life-giving. As simple as the sun. As powerful as answered prayer. As life-changing as forgiveness, redemption, freedom, and joy. And as life-giving as salvation.

Sometimes Easter gets lost (or sometimes found) in tradition.

Sometimes Easter gets lost (or found) in crazy Christian commercialism.

Sometimes Easter gets lost (or found) in the hustle and bustle that overcomes American churches, reaching out to those who might not normally brave the church building.

Sometimes Easter gets lost (or found) in the Easter egg hunts, gift-giving, and candy craziness that happens....


But it doesn't change the power or meaning of Easter.

It doesn't change the power my risen Savior has in my life and yours...

This Easter, He reminded me how simple and indescribably powerful Easter is...