What’s in Your Name? by Sandi Somers

 

Image by Sandi Somers

While teaching ESL, I learned a lot about names from different countries. I discovered that the name Bol Angelo Yei was from the Nuer tribe of South Sudan. The name Michael or Solomon or Thomas usually comes from the Indian state of Kerala, where the Apostle Thomas took the gospel. Any name that includes “Jeet” or “Singh” comes from the Punjab state in India.

Sometimes I met families who gave their children special names. A Kurdish mother called her son, "No Home", and the other, "Poor", (in Kurdish), profound names to signify that the Kurds have no homeland--they're spread across Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Armenia. Following World War I, European powers carved new nations in the Middle East without regard to such people as the Kurds.

I also saw how my ESL students felt when their names weren't valued. In Elizebeth’s immigration process, someone documented her as “Elizabeth”. “But that’s not the way I spell my name,” she said. Vuoy, a Vietnamese girl of the boat people era, objected to her teacher calling her “Nugyen,” not realizing that Nguyen was her last name and that the Vietnamese write their family names first.

When I value the name of a person, I think of the words of the writer Margaret Shull:

There is something about knowing and calling a person by name that gives dignity and worth to that individual. To look someone in the eye and say his or her name communicates knowledge, often times warmth, and a sense of value. I care enough to know your name. To listen, talk together, share.

All of the above gave me a context for Biblical names. Isaiah gave his son the name, “Shea-jashub”, which means “A remnant will return”. This signified that God had promised to return His people from captivity. “Jesus” meant “Saviour”, or “He who shall save his people.”

Then I sometimes wondered why Scripture says: “The Name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and rare safe” (Proverbs 18:10), and why we sing, "Blessed be the Name of the Lord". Why Name? On thinking this through, I recognized that in Biblical times, names equalled the person and identified their essence. This is something we don’t usually think of when we name our children.

Today our parents may have given us a name because they liked it, because it was a popular name at the time, or because it was the name of an ancestor. 

My parents gave me the name Sandra because they liked it. However, God had a hand in it, as He divinely chose it for me to fulfill a part of God’s story of redemption for the world. "I have called you by name, you are mine," He said in Isaiah 43:1. Sandra means helper. In my twenties God gave me a verse which signified the special type of helper God meant me to be.

The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will (Isaiah 50:4)

Ever since that time, I have wanted to live up to that honour.

But there is another significance to our names. I read in Revelation that God will have a special bestowment for us:  

To the one who is victorious, I will give… that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it (Revelation 2:17).

The idea of my future new name resonated deeply and brought tears. Will it be a sign of how my life has contributed to God’s kingdom? For how I brought glory to Him? For how I have carried out His mission for me? For sure I want to finish well and hear God’s words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” and hear Him say, “Your name on earth was Sandra/Sandi, and now I give you the new name, ____.” What an honour that will be!

 Now over to you.

What does your name mean?

How and why did your parents choose your name (if you know)?

What implication does your name have for you in your growth of faith and writing?

Or perhaps you can write about how you chose your children’s names.

What implications did their names have for your hopes and God’s purposes for their lives?

 NOTE on our previous contributors:

Joylene Bailey wrote on how her parents chose her name and what it means to her life and writing.

Ruth Snyder also reflected on the meaning of her name. 

Guest post by Christine Smith - Truth, Fire and the Road to Emmaus

Truth, Fire, and the Road to Emmaus 

This March teaching has held a higher level of anxiety and reflection than any other year. It has been 12 months since COVID-19 changed each of our lives. A year later, I find myself having adjusted somewhat to the new normal of masks, handwashing, and social distancing. It is time to teach the same topics as I did last March, including focusing on the same Bible stories as Easter approaches. 

One of the stories that greatly resonated with me last year was the Road to Emmaus. My teaching partner suggested we teach it so we could talk about trusting God “in these uncertain times.” To my delight I was able to find ways to make this story relevant to seven-year-olds on an electronic platform during our new online e-learning time. 

 Each Lent I take time to read in detail the accounts of Holy Week. This year, however, I started with the Road to Emmaus, as this story had brought me hope and direction last year. This account is a great roadmap in learning how to trust Jesus more in every season of life. Just as the disciples needed to grow in this area, so do we, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of a pandemic and really, in all of our troubles of this world. 

As the story reveals in Luke 24:13-35, trust is not something the disciples had that Sunday so many years ago. The Scripture said that their faces were “downcast” and that they “had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” Had hoped. Their hope was gone, dashed. 

 Jesus, not having indicated who He was yet, goes on to point out their lack of faith. “How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” Then “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” I cannot help but wonder if they had heard some of these things before but had merely forgotten. Perhaps some of these truths never actually took root in their hearts at all. They did not believe what the Scriptures said and as a result, their joy too was missing. 

Once Jesus revealed himself to the disciples they said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Not only was their hope restored, so was their energy and passion, such that they ran over two hours back to Jerusalem. As many of us have learned and relearned, spending time with Jesus is the best way to restore joy to our souls. 

During different seasons of my life, I have found it extremely valuable to write out and frequently read what is true. My soul is strengthened when I read truths to myself that I find challenging to believe. A year ago, in response to this story, I had my students rate how easy or difficult it is for them to believe certain statements that are indeed true for all of God’s people, such as “God forgives all my sins.” or “God is with me all the time.” Reading their responses brought me joy and I accepted the opportunity to pray for their belief in God’s truth to grow in their hearts. 

 What truths do you need to remind yourself of today? How will you take time to be with Jesus and let His words build a fire in your soul? Just like the disciples, may your heart burn with a fire of joy, energy, passion, and renewed purpose to glorify Him this Easter season.

Christine Smith loves words: having stimulating conversations with people, reading a variety of books, and most recently, the words she writes.  She is a teacher who is just beginning to write for audiences other than herself in her journal or her students’ parents.  Christine lives in Langley, B.C. and enjoys coffee, being outside, and making memories with her husband and four kids.

Get Your Copy of EASTER STORIES AND MORE

 

EASTER STORIES AND MORE recently released! Get your copy in time for Easter!

Amazon

Kobo

A collection of stories, poems, reflections and more from InScribe members. A worth addition to your bookshelf! 

There is also a blog tour featuring many of the authors: Check out the schedule here and join in with comments.

March 24 - Ruth L. Snyder https://ruthlsnyder.com/blog/

March 25 - Sally Meadows https://sallymeadows.com/blog

March 26 - Eunice Matchett https://albertastoryteller.com/

March 27 - Lynn Dove https://lynndove.com/

March 28 - Pat Gerbrandt https://patgwriter.wordpress.com/

March 29 - Denise Ford https://walkingwithdustyanddee.com/

March 30 - Marcia Laycock https://marcialeelaycock.com/thespur/

March 31 - Bob Jones revwords.com https://revwords.com/

April 1 - Valerie Ronald https://scriptordeus.wordpress.com

April 2 - Kimberley Payne https://www.kimberleypayne.com/blog/

April 3 - Marnie Pohlmann https://marniewriter.com/blog/

April 4 - Lynn Simpson https://lynnjsimpson.com/

April 4 - Allison Lynn https://allisonlynn.blogspot.com

Rabbits and Relationships - Bruce Atchison

I'm sure we all agree that the real meaning of Easter has been buried under chocolate bunnies and marsh mellow chicks. Even so, I've learned much from having rabbits living in my home. Instead of keeping them in lonely backyard hutches, they lived with me and received as much care and attention as I could pay each one.

Bunnies are timid creatures but they enjoy the company of those whom they trust. That's why winning the friendship of a rabbit is precious. Just as wounded souls need to learn to trust Christians again, so rabbits need to learn that they're safe with us.

Tenderness is one requirement of us all in Christ. As 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (Bible in Basic English) admonishes, "For it is not right for the Lord's servant to make trouble, but he is to be gentle to all, ready in teaching, putting up with wrong, Gently guiding those who go against the teaching; if by chance God may give them a change of heart and true knowledge, And so they may get themselves free from the net of the Evil One, being made the prisoners of the Lord's servant, for the purpose of God."

Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits misunderstand chastisement. To them they think they're being attacked.

When we correct wayward believers, we must consider 1 Thessalonians 2:7   and 8 (BBE). It shows how we need to be easy on each other. "But we were gentle among you, like a woman caring for her little ones: Even so, being full of loving desire for you, we took delight in giving you not only God's good news, but even our lives, because you were dear to us."

I also learned over the years to relate to bunnies on their terms rather than forcing myself on them. For example, I would lie on the floor rather than grabbing them and putting them on my lap. Every rabbit I had came to trust me and to associate that posture with being petted. Some bunnies even hopped over to me when I began to lie down.

Paul likewise learned to relate to different groups, as he wrote in 1 Thessalonians 9:22 (BBE). "To the feeble, I was as one who is feeble, so that they might have salvation: I have been all things to all men, so that some at least might have salvation."

What a wonder it is that Christ also became one of us. He could have come as a consuming fire but he became the Lamb of God for our transgressions. When he comes again, he'll be the judge who will punish wickedness and dispense blessings to his children.

Thoughts on the First Easter Morning - Lorilee Guenter

The Tomb is Empty

Each year I look forward to Easter Sunday. We pull out songs just for this service to celebrate our Risen Lord. We celebrate victory, hope and promises fulfilled. In Sunday school the celebration begins early since there is no Sunday school on this special day. In the weeks leading up to Passion Week we tell the story of Jesus sacrifice, of His resurrection and his appearances to His followers. This year as I prepared to tell the story of that day I reflected on how different it must have been.

The ladies in their grief and shock begged to know where Jesus body was moved to. Why would someone take the body? I imagine their heartbreak turned to anger. First their hopes died on the cross. Jesus could not be the Messiah they waited for, not now that he was dead. Now they could not even anoint his body with the spices they had. It was their custom. It was part of grieving and honouring their dead. Someone had taken even that from them. Oh what relief it must have been to hear the words of the angels and remember Jesus words: He would be raised on the third day. Maybe their hope was not dead. Maybe.

Unfortunately the men did not believe the story told by the women. Why should they? They were all still grieving and everyone knew the testimony of women held no influence, not then. Perhaps they brushed it off as false hope of those who refused to give up hope of a long awaited Messiah. Perhaps they brushed it off as grief filled denial of the truth. In any case, it sounded like fictitious nonsense. But  then there is Peter. At least one person did not dismiss the ramblings of the women. Grief filled, guilt ridden Peter. Could it be true? But the denial, the fear, even if this far fetched story was true, how could he face Jesus? Still he had to know, had to see for himself even though he knew the story told by the women was impossible.

Then the scene changes. The story moves from the tomb and the gathered mourners. The rod. The dusty road home. A part of the story I knew but did not think much about. Two men on a road is all I remembered even after reading this story many times. This time I lingered longer because instead of rushing ahead to Jesus appearing to His disciples our story this year paused to look at these two men. With centuries of church history and theologians studying the Scriptures, picking apart the nuances, the signs that could have been obvious it seems incredulous that the men did not recognise Jesus. Oh they might have the thought they had seen him at a distance in the crowd. They had no other context to aid their recognition and no expectation of meeting Jesus on the road even if the story of the women was true.

Cleopas, a name to match a downcast face, accused Jesus of being out of touch. How could anyone not know about the crucifixion? This was headline news. Crowds lined the route, as if watching a parade,  to that horrible hill. The crosses still stood as a reminder of the terrible event. Then he summarised the events as if reporting for a newspaper but he included the quieter, hope crushing morning with the missing body.

But we would know better, wouldn't we. We would recognise Jesus from the first time we saw Him. How easy to claim those on the road, those who walked with Jesus should have understood. How arrogant to judge from our position of having Scripture explained from Moses and the prophets through Paul's letters and the Revelation of Jesus. This season I am celebrating the empty tomb, the victory over sin and death. I am also considering how different our perspective is than those who found the tomb. How fortunate for us they believed as they encountered Jesus and began to understand. How fortunate for us Jesus had the patience to explain again to His followers why this had to happen. Now we can celebrate: He is alive!

A Bar Song - Marnie Pohlmann

 

This evening is the Facebook launch event for Inscribe’s Easter Stories and More anthology. I am excited to have some writing and photos in this book. Will you meet me on the Inscribe Facebook page to celebrate?

I have enjoyed this month’s blogs about Easter. Like the anthology, we see a variety of writing styles, and this month has more poems, songs, and lyrical prayers than are usually posted. Somehow celebrations like Easter make us want to break out in song, don’t they? So to celebrate the launch of our anthology and the upcoming celebration of Easter, I would like to join in.

I am NOT a singer. I am, as the cliché goes, not able to carry a tune in a bucket. I come from a musical family, though, so I learned how to join in, and I continue to use this method to worship God in church. I whisper-sing, and sometimes I even just mouth the words (gasp!) but I know God is hearing the sweet sacrifice of praise even if my neighbour cannot.

I have written songs, though, or at least lyrical words that have been set to music by others. And if I have a tune stuck in my head, I will sometimes re-write the lyrics to that music.

Did you know that early hymn books didn’t have the music included, only the words? That’s because the early musicians and congregants didn’t write new music. They put new words to songs that the populace would already know the tunes for. Many of the favorite hymns were sung to the same tune, with new words, as the songs sung in the pubs by drunken sailors.

See if you know the tune these changed lyrics could be sung to, and if you can, I apologize now for putting that tune in your head for the rest of the day.

                    A Risen Saviour 

What will you do with a risen Saviour?
What will you do with a risen Saviour?
What will you do with a risen Saviour?
Early Easter morning?

He conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Early Easter morning.

Drop the grave clothes and fold the headpiece,
Drop the grave clothes and fold the headpiece,
Drop the grave clothes and fold the headpiece,
Early Easter morning.

He conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Early Easter morning.

The stone rolled away by muscled angels,
The stone rolled away by muscled angels,
The stone rolled away by muscled angels,

Early Easter morning.

He conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Early Easter morning.

Some women came with tears and herbs,
Some women came with tears and herbs,
Some women came with tears and herbs,
Early Easter morning.

He conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Early Easter morning

What have you done with my Lord, my Saviour?
What have you done with my Lord, my Saviour?
What have you done with my Lord, my Saviour?
Early Easter morning.

He conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Early Easter morning

The angels explained that Christ is Risen,
The angels explained that Christ is Risen,
The angels explained that Christ is Risen,
Early Easter morning.

He conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Conquered death and up He rises,
Early Easter morning

OooOoh,
What will you do with a risen Saviour?
What will you do with a risen Saviour?
What will you do with a risen Saviour?
Early this Easter morning?

 While not an Easter song anyone will sing next weekend, the message of this ditty is clear.

Christ conquered death and rose from the grave. Yes, we need to celebrate this but more importantly, what does that mean to us? The theology of believing Jesus literally died on the cross, rose from that death, and remains alive today is a stumbling block for some people. But what an amazing truth it is!

What would our own hope be for life after death if God Incarnate had not defeated death? What hope would we have if Christ had not given us His Spirit, alive and present in our lives today?

The resurrection is a crucial piece of the salvation message, so each of us must ask ourselves,

“What will I do with a risen Saviour?”

Marnie writes from Northern BC and has recently resurrected her blog, Phosphorescent. 

Beginning, Middle and End by Sharon Heagy

 

Great stories. The kind with a beginning, middle and end. Stories that twist and turn and challenge your brain but at the end leave you feeling like you are wrapped in a warm quilt with a hot beverage, snuggled in an easy chair sighing contentedly. These are my favourites.

The story of Jesus has been given the distinction of the greatest story ever told, and it is.

It has a beginning. “In the beginning, God.” (Gen.1:1) “In the beginning was the Word.” (John 1:1) In the beginning Father, Son and Spirit create, well, everything. Including us. God pours out his agape love on human beings, knowing full well we will reject it. We will reject, Him. One of the saddest verses I have ever read is Genesis 6:6 – “The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.” Yet even though mankind spurns God’s love, God has a plan. The plan takes us to the middle of the story.

The plan includes Noah, who builds a massive boat. It includes Abraham, the father of nations. God’s plan includes scheming Jacob and steadfast Joseph. Joshua the visionary, Rahab the harlot, Samson the strong, Gideon the reluctant and Ruth the devoted. It includes David, the enigma of an adulterous murderer who is also a man after God’s own heart. The story of the plan unfolds with Jonah the stubborn, courageous Esther and faith filled Job. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel help the others point us to the One to come. Then things get silent. We wait for the next chapter. We assume there will be fanfare and fireworks but then God comes to earth as an infant. Jesus is born in Bethlehem. He is born to die. The ultimate sacrifice. The plan unfolding in God’s great love. He sent his son to die and make amends for mankind’s rejection. Grace. Mercy. Love. All on a cross of crucifixion. “It is finished,” he said. (John 19:30)

And it was. But it was not the end. For three days later He rose in resurrection power. My heart quickens even as I write this and I want to shout,’ Hallelujah! Yes! Jesus is alive!’

The gospel is written. The good news is told. Yet, I recall the days when I have wept in sorrow at Christ’s suffering. Love, grace and mercy flowed in blood and water from a cross to which I should have been nailed. And I say with Rich Mullins the words from his song, ‘Jesus’ – “Jesus, write me into Your story, whisper it to me and let me know I’m Yours.”  - and He does.

Soon we will celebrate this amazing, indescribable redemption of mankind once again. Hopefully, we will ponder it all. The whole plan. Right from the beginning. May it fill us to the brim with incredible joy and overwhelming thankfulness, so much so that it will pour out in much praise and worship.

But this is not the end of the story. We are still in the middle, getting closer to the end with each passing hour. He is coming back. Perhaps we will be the generation who will see “the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” (Mt 24:30) There is a huge part of me that wants to see that day but there is another giant part of me that hopes He delays in order for more people to be written into His story.

 “Even so, come Lord Jesus.” (Rev 22:20)

May you have a wonderful celebration next week, may your heart truly be full to overflowing, and may Jesus draw you deeper into His story. Thanks be to God.

 

 

Mother, Daughter, Sisters ~ Valerie Ronald

When I twirled, the full skirt of my new Easter dress bloomed around me like the ruffle of a daffodil. The sunny yellow and white windowpane checked fabric matched my mother’s new dress, as did our white shoes, gloves and hats. My mother’s flair for sewing shone in the mother and daughter outfits she made for an Easter church service and luncheon. Being only five years old I barely recall the event, yet I vividly remember feeling proud to be dressed like my lovely mother.

My mother was the center of my world yet there were times when she seemed to disappear even when she was physically present. I realize now that she suffered from bouts of depression, related to the long absences of my sailor father on navy voyages and his battle with alcoholism. Deeply hurt by his condition, she would retreat into a shell, even from her children. I remember trying to read her face so I would know how to respond to her. She was a beautiful woman but when she closed herself off her pale, taut face seemed to belong to a stranger. I watched her for any sign of my real mother returning. Chores were done without being told, little bouquets of wild flowers offered and hugs given even when she wouldn’t hug me in return. Somehow I believed if I was a good little girl she would become the warm, loving mother I missed so much. Actually it had nothing to do with my behavior and all to do with my father’s.

We always knew we were loved and wanted, however my brothers and I grew up with the fixed knowledge that we were secondary to the foundation of our parents’ love for each other. In spite of my father’s increasing struggle with alcoholism, their love gave me a sense of security I felt was unshakable. Coming into a room to find them in each other’s arms made me squirm in delight rather than embarrassment. Sometimes I squeezed my small self into that treasured place between their embrace just to absorb the overflow of their love.

Because she loved him so wholeheartedly, my mother was devastated to lose my father to cancer when he was just 60. At that time I was a young mother of three myself, raising a family and struggling with my own marriage problems. I was also a new believer in Christ, so I shared with my mother the little I knew about the Savior I loved, to offer her comfort. In God’s providence, He provided a caring Christian neighbor who befriended her and shared the healing truth of the gospel so eventually my mother became a believer too. Her new friend invited her to church and enfolded her into a warm circle of women who ministered to her hurting heart and helped her grow in her new faith.

It was a gift when she came to live in our community so she could be closer to my family. Visiting for hours over tea in her bright seaside apartment deepened our relationship beyond mother and daughter, because now we had a common faith to explore. Together we joined a Christian Women’s Club luncheon group where we made friends and memories. My children grew up with the knowledge that Grandma was their biggest fan. She faithfully attended their school concerts, came to their birthday parties and encouraged them in all they did. I soon realized that my mother had become my best friend.

There were still times when she was unreachable, when grief for my father rose strong even after many years, when all I could do was pray for her. These times sent the roots of her faith deep because she realized how much she needed the Lord. I learned so much from her in her suffering. When my time of suffering came with a vengeance, she was there by my side – steadfast, generous, loving me as only she could.

My mother loved celebrating Easter. Her warm brown eyes teared up whenever she talked about what Jesus had done on the cross to save her. She embraced the traditions of Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, preparing her spirit with topical devotionals and events. Her holiday weekend was usually spent with us, often accompanied by gifts of chocolate eggs and bouquets of spring flowers.

As a little girl in a matching twirly Easter dress, I loved my mother with a child’s dependence and adoration. Because the wonderful truth of the first Easter morning rose in both our spirits, we became more than mother and daughter – we became sisters in Christ. The anticipation of our someday reunion in heaven is particularly sweet when Easter comes around each year.

  

 

 

 

 

Valerie's devotionals can be read on her blog https://scriptordeus.wordpress.com

EASTER HALLELUJAH by Joylene M Bailey

 

Image by Ken Haines from Pixabay 

When I think back to Easters of my childhood, what stands out the most are the hymns we sang on Easter Sunday morning. As a little girl, I couldn't have explained why I loved them so much but now when I look back, I understand that it was the pure joy of the moment. 

The songs of Good Friday were beautiful and appropriately solemn, but on Easter Sunday everyone sang with gusto. Who could somberly mumble Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! ?

No, we were celebrating our risen Lord and we couldn't keep quiet about it. I get excited just thinking about those old Easter hymns. 

I wonder if some of the hymns of my childhood will be familiar to you. I dare you to hum through these lines in my Easter Hallelujah and see if you don't continue singing one or two of them for the rest of the day. 

~~~~~

Hosanna, loud hosanna The little children sang;

Through pillared court and temple The lovely anthem rang;

Alas! and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die?

Would He devote that sacred head For sinners such as I?

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Easter Song: Hear the bells ringing, they're singing 

That you can be born again.

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus, my Saviour!

Waiting the coming day, Jesus, my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose, 

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes;

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun

Does his successive journeys run;

Awake, my soul, and sing Of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy matchless King Through all eternity.

How marvelous! how wonderful! And my song shall ever be:

How marvelous! how wonderful Is my Saviour's love for me!

We serve a risen Saviour. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

~~~~~

Joy will be singing with gusto from her family room couch this Easter Sunday, along with The Cowboy and Babe. Check out more of her writing at Scraps of Joy.

Hymns:

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna                    Jennette Threlfall, 1873

Alas! And Did My Saviour Bleed?        Isaac Watts, 1707

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross    Isaac Watts, 1701

Christ the Lord is Risen Today            Charles Wesley, 1739

Easter Song                                      Keith Green, 1977

Low in the Grave He Lay                    Robert Lowry, 1874

Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun    Isaac Watts, 1719

Crown Him With Many Crowns           Matthew Bridges, 1851

I Stand Amazed in the Presence         Charles H. Gabriel, 1905

Hear Our Prayers, O Lord by Alan Anderson.

 

Great Lent for Eastern Orthodox Christians began on March 15. We are now into our journey toward Pascha (Eastern Orthodox Easter) which includes fasting until Pascha on May 2 this year.

 

One blessing of Great Lent is to focus on the life and ministry of Jesus. We do this as a Church through increased church services and times of prayer together.

 

As my March blog post, I offer this humble prayer poem to you my beloved InScribe family.

 

Hear Our Prayers, O Lord

 

In the noise of daily life

Busyness, activity, and human strife,

Hear our prayers, O Lord.

 

By the resplendence of Your unbounded love,

Holds us tight from Your home above,

Hear our prayers, O Lord.

 

You left heaven to show us Your presence,

Where we now realize Your magnificence,

Hear our prayers, O Lord.

 

We consider the majesty of your being,

We sit at Your feet, and on you we are leaning,

Hear our prayers, O Lord.

 

With confession of our sin and need,

By Your compassion You answer our plead.

Hear our prayers, O Lord.

 

When our cries overwhelm, and we give way to fear,

Remind us, O God, You are near.

Hear our prayers, O Lord.

 

You desire our repentance,

And we rejoice in Your acceptance.

Hear our prayers, O Lord.

 

Your Resurrection calls us to praise,

And live renewed lives the rest of our days.

Hear our prayers, O Lord.

 

Lord have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

 

Amen.

 

Alan lives in Deroche, B.C. with his wife, Terry. He contributed stories to Good Grief People by Angel Hope Publishing, 2017, Story by Story: The Power of a Writer, Unstoppable Writers Publishing, 2018, and Easter Stories & More, by InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship, 2021. He has also written articles for FellowScript Magazine. Blog: https://scarredjoy.ca. Alan is the Provincial Rep. Liaison and BC Rep for InScribe.

https://scarredjoy.ca/

Grace Stretched Across the Sky - Gloria Guest

A rainbow stretches wide across the purple, rain-drenched sky It’s many blended hues forming an archway to new life, God fulfills His promises throughout eternity A God of second chances, Grace stretched across the sky. His aching arms strain wide across a darkened, sun-stripped sky While pierced brow bends to his chest and blood pours from his side, It trickles down the burdened cross and soaks into the ground, Rejuvenating earths lost souls Grace stretched across the sky. As daybreak slowly steals across an Easter morning sky It’s soft and shining light reveals an open, empty tomb, And standing tall in morning mist on distant blood soaked hill, A silhouetted, naked cross Grace stretched across the sky. The risen Son, poured out as wine, arms stretched up to the sky His friends all closely gathered near as He begins to rise, Fulfilling all His promises throughout eternity The clouds reach out to gather Him, Grace stretched across the sky.

Gloria blogs and writes creative non-fiction, poetry and fiction/memoir from her prairie home in southern Sk. Easter is her absolute favorite celebration of her Risen Lord and King. You can find some of her less recent writing at www.gloria.guest.wordpress.com

Easter Sunrise in the Frozen North - Tracy Krauss

I loved Sandi Somers' story at the beginning of the month about attending an Easter sunrise service. It made me think about my own experience attending Easter sunrise services. 

My husband and I pastored in the Yukon for eight years in the early 2000s. In our small community of Watson Lake, we worked hard to nurture a close relationship with the other churches in town. I am happy to say that the ministerial enjoyed a vibrant and unified sense of purpose, meeting monthly on the first Sunday night for prayer and fellowship at a different church each month. We put on various fundraising events like spaghetti dinners to top up our benevolent fund, served about 300 at an annual Christmas banquet where the entire town was invited, and did many other activities together. 

All five churches were represented - Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal, Evangelical Free, and a homegroup - and we became very close-knit and supportive, setting aside our doctrinal differences in favor of focusing on the things we had in common - namely Jesus and His resurrection!

This is one reason why our annual Easter sunrise service was so special. 

Another thing that made it memorable was that it was VERY COLD!!!

We met at a small park in the middle of town called Wye Lake. Fortunately, the park had a cabin where we could warm up if necessary and where we had a potluck breakfast afterward. March or early April in the Yukon is not anywhere near spring, believe me! So, the service was usually short and sweet, with scripture, a couple of hymns, and a very short reading or devotional rather than a sermon. Then we gathered inside the cabin to warm up and enjoy some fellowship. Then, because the service was so early, each church went back to their 'home base' for their own service at the usual time. 

These are some of my favourite memories of Easter services. It was not complicated and sometimes it was almost irreverent as folks stomped their feet to try to stay warm! Still, there was such a sense of unity, all centred around the awe of the risen Christ. 

This year, some of us may not be gathering as we normally would, but we can still bask in that same realization that Jesus came to this world for one express purpose - to die and to rise again, defeating death and the devil once and for all.

HE IS RISEN - HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Tracy Krauss now lives and writes in northern BC, but has a soft spot for the far north. (Prince George isn't north, people!) She is currently serving as InScribe's president. Visit her website: https://www.tracykrauss.com to see her many books and plays. 

March Mid-Month Moments by Connie Inglis

 March Mid-Month Moment 

This month's post from Connie's archives was written in March of 2018. I thought it appropriate for our Easter theme:

I am writing to you from the other side of the world - and that is why I'm actually posting earlier than usual.

I'm in Mae Sai--on the northern border between Thailand and a neighbouring country. As I write this, my Bible-translating husband is working through the book of Hebrews with three Shatikha speakers. And I am sitting here listening to them interact on Heb. 9:15. "For this reason, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."

For two days the team has mulled over the proper way to translate the word, "mediator" - a word not found in their language. They finally decided on a compound word meaning, "one who connects to make peace." What a profound translation.

Our world today seems to function in opposition to this. Peace seems unattainable. But when Jesus walked the earth, was it any different, from the Israelites' perspective? They were looking for a Messiah that would bring political peace and rest. But that wasn't Jesus' purpose. In John 16:33 Jesus says,  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus never said, "If you follow me, you will live without pain and sorrow and troubles." In fact, He said the opposite. He told us the world would always be filled with trouble. Which means in our individual lives, our heartache and struggle is NEVER surprising to God. BUT, in the same breath He says, "Take heart! I have overcome the world." He says, "Be encouraged! I am the One who connects you back to the Father to bring peace to your heart and mind and spirit." Our MEDIATOR! Our peace in the midst of trouble.

Finding peace in our Mediator,

Connie

March 6, 2018

Mid-Month Moments are past devotionals written by Connie Inglis that she shared each week when she was InScribe's spiritual advisor. (Originally called 'Mid-Week Moments') They are shared from her archives with permission in the middle of each month.