Resurrection Life  

 Jn 11:17-44 esp 25

25…I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?

Do I?

In light of the last two months, while watching family members fall into a sort of death, my perspective on resurrection life has been turned in a different direction than I originally intended. My father, suddenly wheel-chair bound, moved into my home and one month later had a massive stroke. My daughter, a college student, struggled with medication changes for chronic migraines leaving her with weeks of insomnia and a mental downward spiral leading to her hospitalization, and some life changes. In essence two very dear loved ones “died” directly after Resurrection Sunday. 

And, initially, in the shock of each tragic event, I died too. 

But God… This year I sought to really know Him, to abide in His presence and to allow His indwelling light to shine out of me, and, just as I chose to study Resurrection Life… I experienced death. But you can’t go after the Lord’s presence and stay in the grave. The indwelling force of His Love pulls you up by its very nature. My previous commitment was all I needed during the most difficult weeks of my life. Resurrection just happened. I didn’t pull myself up by my bootstraps, I didn’t keep chanting positive confessions, I just kept my eyes on Him whom I’ve been chasing this year. 

And suddenly… I was standing, able to do what needed to be done, pray how I needed to pray and do it with the joy of the Lord. I did not work to be in peace during these storms. The peace just came, and I can’t explain how in any other way than to say seek Him (not it) and you WILL find Him. 

I don’t know exactly how the stories will turn out, but I do believe in and know the One who is resurrection life, and He’s all I need to know.

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with me, and He will dwell with me, and I shall be His. God Himself will be with me and be my God. And God will wipe away every tear from our eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then God says “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:3-5 NKJV

Week 14

Ephesians 1:18-23; 2:1-7 

Paul prayed a special prayer for believers and these are some of my favorite verses. But this time I focused on the words “power” and “raised”; I realized the word power is not dunamis as I assumed. Dunamis is like dynamite power, but this word means force. So this mighty force that raised Christ from the dead, also raises us and then is strong enough to overcome death, sin and gravity (the grave) to seat us with Jesus in heavenly places. What is powerful enough to awaken me from the death that sin brings? Chapter 2 tells me God’s Love is the power that makes me alive. And in that resurrection comes an ascension into the heavenly realm. Just as Jesus is risen, I am risen; just as Jesus is seated, I am seated. Knowing that should give me a different perspective of the earthly and the power to live a spiritual life.
   I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably GREAT POWER for us who believe. That POWER is the SAME as the MIGHTY STRENGTH he exerted when HE RAISED CHRIST from the DEAD and SEATED HIM at his right hand in the heavenly realms, FAR ABOVE all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

NIV VERSION

  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably GREAT POWER for us who believe. That POWER is the SAME as the MIGHTY STRENGTH he exerted when HE RAISED CHRIST from the DEAD and SEATED HIM at his right hand in the heavenly realms, FAR ABOVE all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

  As for you, you were DEAD in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his GREAT LOVE for us, GOD, who is rich in mercy, MADE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And GOD RAISED US UP WITH CHRIST and SEATED US with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Luke 24:1-8 NIV On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.

 Week 13 and the April Theme
The past month and a half have been crazy around here, lots of struggles and tears. But I am so thankful that God invited me on a journey at the start of 2016. I started by seeking Him and finding Him in surprising places, then dwelling in Him. In my dwelling I realized His light filled me and poured out of me even when I couldn’t see it myself.
Now, after experiencing a sort of death in so many areas, I stand at the door and feel resurrection power, in the midst of a tomb.

I will be sharing the whole testimony at some point, but I mostly want everyone to realize that this journey is leading to more peace than I ever could have dreamed, and it’s so worth it to invest in seeking and abiding in the light.

Today and everyday, we have an opportunity to stand in resurrection power. HE IS RISEN! He is risen indeed.

The theme for the month of April is ‘Resurrection Power.’

I encourage you to look through the weekly scriptures on this site and take the challenge to journey with Him. The next time a trial comes your way, you’ll meet it as one with the Lord.

  
During this season of trials, both personal and global, when even our country seems to have slipped down into the confusing darkness, we have this promise:
Arise, shine, for YOUR light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon YOU. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon YOU and his glory appears over YOU. Nations will come to YOUR light, and kings to the brightness of YOUR dawn. Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV 

Yes, for a season of despair you have laid upon your bed of languishing, 

                                     Cursing the darkness. 

                                       But God calls out:       

                                Arise! Wake up o’ Sleeper! 

His Glory rises like the dawn, rays reach out and unlock your slumbering heart. 

                    Though choking darkness smothers the earth, 

                                           He speaks,

                                        A spark ignites.

Holy breath fans the tinder of your parched heart into a flaming torch. 

                                 Yes, your own heart, 

                                       Light Bearer, 

                       Illuminates the fearful blackness. 

Awake o’ sleepers, arise from the the dead, and break your earthen jars.

                                     Let your lights shine

                                  And the signal fires blaze;

                                  Drive darkness into despair.                                 

And the people walking in darkness will see the great light

                                  As the Light Bearers unite.

                        On the land of deep darkness dwellers

                                    The light has dawned.

Interestingly, the day after I wrote this I read Lana Vawser’s prophecy, which you can read for yourself. http://www.elijahlist.com/words/html/textonly-032116-Vawser.html

  The past couple weeks could have been pretty dark around here, between young adult children, husband and an aging father: A few car accidents, totaled car, speeding ticket, hay fever, long night in an emergency room, bringing my aging dad home, lost debit cards, expensive MRI, major migraines. Every day we had some new challenge to overcome.
But at the same time I had peace in the storms, financial provision, finally a diagnosis (accidentally) of what causes my daughter’s migraines, health answers for another daughter, praying for others in the ER, countless others acknowledging God’s light in me.

I share all this to say that I did not feel strong in myself at all. I felt more like a cracked pot, unable to carry the days without leaking, pouring out my heart to my Lord. But, I DID keep my eyes on Jesus, and His Glory could be seen in this earthen vessel BECAUSE of the cracks and unblocked openings. 

As I read 2 Corinthians 4:4-7, I couldn’t stop, I read the whole chapter, over and over. There could not be a more appropriate chapter for this week. Verses 8-9 defined my life, praise God for the ‘buts!’ 

As in verse 13, “I believed, therefore I spoke.” I began to realize through all this that this world is about God’s Kingdom advancing. All these hard things are mere momentary afflictions in the light of His Glory. So I do not lose heart, I am going after an eternal glory that changes this world and ushers in His kingdom. 

For Him I seek the unseen purposes, for Him I fight the good fight, for Him I allow myself to be renewed day by day, for Him I live in His Grace that reaches more and more people so they too can overflow with thanksgiving to God. Selah.

2 Corinthians 4:4-18 NIV:

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Col 1:27 & 1 Co 6:19

*** I applied 2 coats of Dina Wakely clear gesso, using a heat tool to dry in between applications. I lightly outlined out the pottery vessel with brown Inktense pencil and used my masking fluid pen for the cracks and light beams. Finished out the pot and shadows with Inktense, dried and the used watercolor for the light. I carefully peeled up the masking, et voila! 

Week 10
YOU are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let YOUR light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

Jesus said He is a the light of the world, but here He calls ME the light of the world. When you look at them side by side it seems almost blasphemous. If He is, then how can we be? That’s what abiding does, it allows everything He is to be who we are. It is Christ in me, the hope of Glory, which is most often seen or associated with light.

About the artwork:  A light bulb cannot produce light unless it is hooked up to an energy source. And inside that bulb a thin weak filament carries the power and lights the darkness. So we are really more of the filament in the bulb connected to Him, the power source. And what a shame if, in this world where people are stumbling in the darkness, we use our weakness as an excuse not to abide in His power and light people’s way.

*** I prepped the top corner of the page with Art Basics clear gesso. After drying with a heat tool, I used black Ranger Archival ink on a lightbulb stamp. This ink is waterproof and smudge proof when dried. I colored the page with Gelatos. I tried using my microns for the lettering, but the Gelatos are too creamy. I ended up using a felt tip marker instead. Simple illustration but I will not forget about my role as a light in this world.

  
Week 9

John 8

Jesus says He is the Light of the World. His Light shines in the darkness, and guess what? He’s still alive, so His light still shines.

*** I did not prep the page. First I used my galaxy white pen for the light. After it dried I used Inktense pencils to add the color and painted with water. The color resisted over the white which gives the feeling of light in the darkness. I did use a little colored pencil to define some detail.

March is here! And so is the new theme.”The Light of the World”

Now there are tons of scripture about light, but my personal focus is how it works within me. Please feel free to study light in the Word in all its various meanings and focuses.

This is the Week 9 scripture:

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12 NIV

Love you all! May the light of His Word illuminate your life!

Week 8 February Theme: Abide

Verse of the week:
2co 12:9.     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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may REST (abide or dwell) on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I have read these verses many times and have never known that the word ‘REST’ actually should be translated ‘abide’ or ‘dwell.’ I noticed it in my Amplified Bible the other day. I decided to check out the original Greek and sure enough ‘episkēnóō’ means: to fix a tent, tabernacle or dwelling on.  

It is only used in this verse. Why is it translated rest? I understand rest can mean to spend time with, but it sure has more punch when I think of Christ’s Power dwelling inside me. 

I mean, it’s one thing to think of His Power resting on me like a bird on my shoulder but it’s another thing to realize that His Power dwells or remains inside of me. 

The key to this dwelling power is that I need to make room for it. Acknowledging my weakness, mentally, emotionally or physically, gives God room to move in, so He can be the Strength and Power that I need. If I can do something all by myself, God doesn’t have to, but I happen to know that He can do ‘whatever’ better. 

So I glory in my weakness so that I can receive what my Father has promised and be clothed with power from on high. Then, as I receive power as the Holy Spirit dwells in me, I will be His witness in Salem, in all the county and state, and to the ends of the earth. (Lk 24:49, Acts 1:8)