Spring 2021 Family/Ministry update

 

Hristos Inviat

I look at the past year as just a reminder that all is not right in the world that we live in. Last Spring we celebrated Easter by having no one in Church's, no one outside, no one celebrating with extended family, It was by far the strangest Resurrection celebration we have ever had. People’s lives being thrown into turmoil with the loss of jobs, businesses, and even their health. All of their plans and hopes seem to disappear overnight. As I was thinking about these things I was reminded that the disciples went through something very similar.

They had invested 3 years of their lives with Jesus being a part of a close community. They traveled with him, talked with him, listened to him served with him, ate with him, gave up everything to follow him. Yet in a moment they watched their teacher, their friend, being betrayed by one of their own and taken away to be condemned by religious leaders who handed him over to the Romans, they then watched him be beaten, scourged, and dragged off and crucified, with him they watched all of their hopes, their plans, their dreams, being nailed to a tree and watched all of them die. 

Can you imagine the emotions, the loss, the questions, the hopelessness? In the book of Luke Chapter 24 On the road to Emmaus, we have recorded a snapshot into what the disciples were feeling, as they recounted to Jesus, whom they did not recognize, all of the things that Jesus did, all the promise and hope that they had in him.

And in midst of their story, they share that some of the women among them shared with them that the body of Jesus is not in the tomb and that He has risen. I want you to think about that because they are so overwhelmed with the hopelessness of their situation that this news, which is amazing news, it does not make an impact. It was not just these men on the road to Emmaus all of the disciples, start hearing different witnesses with the same account trickling in, that Jesus has risen. But their response is the same, unbelief.

I think it is a much-needed reminder for all of us. Easter shows us that not everything is right in the world. But more importantly, the resurrection of Jesus is a reminder that not all is lost, that not is all dark, that not all is without hope. God is still on the throne and he is still and has been in control.

Easter is not just about a broken world but also about a Redeemer who died and was raised to life again to give us new life so that that which was broken and not right would be mended and made right again.

The world that we see today, full of problems and suffering, injustice, hate, violence, cruelty, is a constant reminder that not all is right. 

This is the world that we created due to our rebellion against God. The solution is our need to be reconciled to God. The relationship that was broken due to our rebellion against God by our sin needs to be restored.

That is only possible through the cross of Christ. On the cross Jesus shed his blood for us, on the cross, Jesus experienced the wrath of God as he cried out God why have you forsaken me. There on the cross, Jesus became the propitiation for us. Meaning that his death extinguished the wrath of God forever for those who accept him as their Lord and Savior because his death satisfied the requirement of God on our behalf.

Easter is not just about a broken world. But about the lengths, a loving redeemer would go to mend that which was broken and make it right again.

Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus should not be limited to a one-time event on our calendar. But should be a reality that all of us wake up to every morning. 

This was part of an Easter message that I shared with our church in Bistrita and felt like all of us could use a reminder. I hope you find this an encouragement to you as well.

Jesus has risen

Praise Report:

Cynthia was able to help her mom with her move and get her settled in her new home. We are so thankful that she was able to do this. And that she was able to come back to Romania without any problems and celebrate Easter with all of us. 

Romania just changed their rules so now people do have to have a mask outside when walking in town. The other restrictions still apply countrywide but they are saying that they will gradually loosen them throughout the summer. So we will see.

Prayer Requests:

We just sent in long-term residency requests for all of the girls and will have to wait a few months to hear back from the Romanian government for approval and to finish the process

Cynthia and I will start our renewal process in September so pray for favor with all of that. 

Prayer, as we have been able to start up our Sunday school for kids again with the relaxed rules and our youth group. Pray for fruit in the lives of the kids.