It seems sometimes like death is all around us. People we love leave us too soon. People we love get sick and their bodies wear out. People we love, they grow old and we watch them reach the end of their lives. Grandparents become memories. Loved ones we had to say goodbye to leave aches in the depths of our hearts.  If we have faith in Jesus, we don’t have to say goodbye forever. We say goodbye until we meet again. Easter is the greatest reminder that we have faith in a risen Savior. The One who conquered the grave. Our physical deaths are just a stepping stone to a life that is so much greater and so much more alive than this one we are living now. Our Savior stepped out of the grave, very much alive! He promised that He will return and when He does, He will lead us all in a procession. He will lead us in a resurrection parade.  We will see the ones we have been missing, if they followed Him in life. We can all join hands together and with resurrected bodies, join the greatest celebration, the greatest party too awesome to describe. 

Resurrection Parade

we wear out
we don’t know
how long
we have time
our bodies
they give out
one day
they’ll shine

He will come again
leading the way
in the resurrection parade

at one time
He made us
His friends
again
He did this
by dying
so we can
live again

we must not
give up hope
on what
He said
He will be
returning
he’ll raise
the dead

I recently learned that in medieval times, the days between Maundy Thursday (which is the day before Good Friday) and Easter were referred to as “the still days”.  That phrase has stuck with me. The more I thought about that term, “the still days,” the more interesting it became to me. Days to be quiet and remember His death. There is beauty and passion in remembering our Savior’s death on the Cross. There should be a time to let ourselves lament and consider the pain Jesus bore for us.  But the more I thought about these still days or waiting, the more troubled I felt. We, hopefully, talk about the cross and how He died for our sins. On Easter we remember that He rose from the dead. But, are we living like He rose? Or are we living like He is still dead?  We live in limbo waiting for Jesus to return. You could say we are living all our days caught in these still days waiting for Him to return physically, but He is with us spiritually, isn’t He? Are we stuck in those still days?  Remembering His death is far better than not considering or giving weight to the enormity and significance of His death on the cross.  He died to make a way for salvation. That is central to the Gospel.  But His resurrection is just as crucial. Without the resurrection, Apostle Paul said that our Gospel is for naught. Without the resurrection what do we have? A dead savior who will one day return?  He isn’t dead! He rose from death. He is alive. He is alive. Today, not when He returns, but now. Today!

​

   God is love! Everything He does is motivated from love.  Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’”
    It was His love that compelled Him to die on the cross. It is His kindness that loves us so that we can love Him in return. Romans 2:4 says, “…God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.” He loves us so much He made a way for us to be freed from sin.
    No matter what is going on in our lives, and no matter where our emotions may be on any given day, we can count on one unchanging truth: Jesus loves us and He offers us forgiveness. That truth will never change or diminish.


        You’re good even when
        my faith is dry
        You’re good even when
        my dreams capsize
        You’re good always
        You’re good everyday
        You’re good always
        You’re good everyday

        It’s Your kindness that draws us in
        It’s Your mercy that covers sin                        
        It’s Your kindness that draws us in
        It’s Your mercy that covers sin

        You give and You gave
        You conquered the grave
        You call out again
        be found and be saved

        Your love is an everlasting love
        Your love is, Your love is

    This song is simply a prayer to Jesus. A plea really, followed by a resolution. Sometimes the presence of Jesus feels far away. Sometimes we don’t have any clue what Jesus wants us to do. So many times I have focused on doing things for Jesus, instead of focusing on Jesus, Himself. Psalm 130:5 says, “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.”
    If we just wait and fix our eyes on Jesus, instead of the things we think we need or the things we should do, we will find that Jesus, Himself, will become enough. He will answer all our needs. And in His own time will direct our paths. As Proverbs 3:5-7 promises, ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.


I lay down my head as I wait for You to lead
me to a place that I can’t see
oh please, come and breathe on me

and all I hope for is that You know
just what I am to do and where I’ll go
and all I need is Your face to show
me that You haven’t left me alone

If I stay here in this place
I might forget Your taste
of mercy that brought me here so far
oh Father, come and speak

and all I need to know is that You see
and that You hear and You’re here with me
I don’t need direction or sign
just to know I am Yours, You are mine

And so I lay my head
and I will wait here instead
and all I want is whatever You bring
oh Father, cause me again to sing

In the body of Christ, we are supposed to be able to be real with one another. We are supposed to be able to confess our sins, one to another. Our churches are supposed to be safe places. As Christians, we should proclaim "Freedom to the captives", not condemnation. 1 John 1:9 says: 
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
We have to be able to confess our sins. We need each other. Unfortunately, our churches and even our friends, are not always safe. I think Jesus says to us, let's be people who offer hope. 
I wrote this song because I have experienced both. I've been condemned, but I've also been loved and set free. 

They assure me that it's safe
But I am not untrained
I spoke before and watched how things changed
Anonymity is great 
But let's get one thing straight
Silence does not bring us healing

This is not the way it's supposed to be

We sleep quiet we sleep sound
We've buried in the ground
All our shame and secret stories
And I would like to pave the way
But I am not that brave
How quickly I forget that

You, you knew right from the start
That I would break your heart
Still you stuck around with me 

https://companyofsaints.bandcamp.com/track/confession