Easter Sunday is near!
Hallelujah!

Part of me is relieved that Lent is nearly over so
I can resume the consumption of chocolate and binge watch television.

You would think after 46 days the cravings would be gone,
but they taunt me.

I have repeatedly whispered,
“God, I want to long for you like I long for chocolate and Netflix.”

The glorious discipline of Lent has brought me closer to God and
has transformed some of my strongholds into mere indulgences.

I have experienced God in powerful ways over the past 40-plus days.

But Lent isn’t about just overcoming
temptations or even establishing new patterns.

It’s to prepare me for Easter.

To put me in the place where I anticipate the celebration of an an empty tomb.
To synchronize my trust and faith with the RESURRECTION of Jesus.

Jesus’ resurrection has to be more than get-out-of-hell insurance.

Jesus’ resurrection has to be the assurance that
all the things wrong in my life and in yours
can be resurrected.

I don’t know about you,
but I need to know that today.

I need to know that what’s wrong in my life right now
isn’t permanent.
That finances can be resurrected.
That health can be resurrected.
That marriages can be resurrected.

Don’t you want to know that?

Don’t you NEED to know that
it’s not always going to be like this?

Lent seemed to last forever.

The discipline is important, but the training is hard.

I want freedom, not rules.
I’m weary of the constraints.
I want a resurrection moment!

Just this week, my car stopped blowing heat.
Not even a wisp of air could be coaxed from the vents no matter how often or energetically I twisted the knobs and adjusted the buttons.
I knew the sticker price to replace the fan motor was way more than my allowance this month.
I truly didn’t want to invest so much in a car with a bazillion miles on it.

But, heat is important.
I live in Michigan!

Mr. 4-Ever made the appointment with the mechanic who said,
“I’ll have to take the dash apart.
You’re looking at 5 or 6 hours of labor costs on top of parts.”

I groaned.
Mr. 4-Ever groaned.

Then he got that look on his face that he does when a brilliant idea is percolating.
He went out the car.
I could see him peering at the mysterious workings under the hood,
under the dash and under the seats.
He wiggled wires and tapped on casings with a rubber mallet.
He scratched his head.
There was a little more jerking and grunting and then he smiled.

“Come and try it now,” he said as he came back in the house.

The fan blew hot air at my face with the force of a hair dryer.
Heat, glorious heat!
Hurrah!

“How did you do that? What was the problem?” I asked.
“A loose connection to the fan motor.”

It was God’s Favorball to us.
A financial blessing.
A time and money salvation!

My car’s heat was resurrected!

Really good news.
And, Good News is nearer still.

Friend, have you grown weary waiting for your resurrection moment to come?
Does it feel like resurrection Sunday is still a long way off?
Are you ready for Good News?
Hang on.
Easter is almost here.
Your resurrection moment may be closer than you think.

Scripture Refresher: …In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33, NIV) He is risen. (Mark 16:6 NIV)

Prayer: Jesus, how thankful we are that you are alive. Thankful for an empty tomb.
Thankful for the possibility of a resurrection moment and any moment.  Help us to trust you as we wait for it. Amen.