I enjoy the signs of Spring very much, but couldn’t say that they give me new life- even though they might put a smile on my face! But God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, offers us new life. It was a long time before I realized this. I studied Jesus’ life according to the Bible in high school in my religious education classes. So I knew about the resurrection and knew that people argued over whether it really happened. I thought it maybe it did; I didn’t know. I didn’t know there was anything more to being a Christian than being one of those people who were of the opinion “yes, that probably did happen a long time ago”.

But when I was twenty I heard something that I’d never heard before: that being a Christian was about beginning a new life with God; it was not simply mental assent to some historical fact. I heard that God has a plan for my life and wanted me to give my life to Him so He could show me what His plan was. That His plan was better than mine could ever be (since He knows all things) and was the best plan for me (because He is love and loves me). That giving God control was not just a matter of coming under some external code of conduct but about inviting Jesus, who is very much alive, into my life to be Lord of it. This new life was freely offered to me by God but it cost Him a very high price; Jesus His Son had to die for my sins, otherwise I couldn’t have a relationship with Him because my sins separated us. The only way to have this new life and relationship was to receive it from God as a gift. It would be impossible for me to earn my way into a relationship with God by doing good things.

I thought carefully about beginning this new life because it was obviously a commitment that would involve changes in my life although I didn’t know what they would be. A couple of weeks later I did decide to pray a prayer along the lines of “Jesus (if you’re real), thank you for dying on the cross so I could be forgiven. Please come into my heart and life and take control of it.”

Until then I was thinking the changes in my life would be external – for example, now my schedule would change because I’d have to go to church! But in fact God began changing me on the inside within days, as I realized that since God loved me totally and unconditionally, I could begin to let go of unforgiveness towards people and a need to impress others or be a certain way to win their approval. Now I knew God loved me, it didn’t matter so much what other people thought and now I had a relationship with God I would always have Someone to go to when I was lonely or afraid or needing direction in my life.

God is still changing me (as fast as I will let Him!) and bringing new life into my life. And I’m very thankful I can teach my children about having new life through Jesus before they are twenty. I hope you will consider coming to God and receiving the new life He offers through Jesus, this Easter, if you have never done so.

Bible verses to look up about new life in Jesus: John 3:16, John 5:24, John 14:6, 2 Cor 5:21, Eph 2:1-10, Rom 8:9-11, Rom 5:8 (see below)

Bible Passages Mentioned Above:

John 3:16 (NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 5:24 (NIV) “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2Cor 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Ephe 2:1 (NIV) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 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. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 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. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Roma 8:9 (NIV) You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Roma 5:8 (NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It’s easy for me to get discouraged at how often I seem to give in to these temptations. At those times I’m glad to know that Jesus does understand and will help me if I ask. These Bible passages are very reassuring to me:

Because [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)

We do not have a high priest [Jesus] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

I know that Jesus didn’t face the exact temptations I face as a Mom. I understand the second passage to be saying that Jesus’ temptations were similar enough to mine that He truly has experienced the conflict I go through when I am tempted. He knows what it is like to choose between doing what is right but hard, or doing what is easy or comfortable, but a less good choice in other ways.

Paul the apostle also wrote these helpful words about temptation:

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

So, next time we’re having a particularly hard day, let’s remember that one of the most effective things we can do is ask Jesus for help. Jesus may not remove what is difficult but He will always comfort us and give us the strength we need to do what is right, when it is not what is easiest or most comfortable. God always has a “way out” for us and will show it to us when we ask Him.

Note: all the Bible verses quoted above are taken from the New International Version.

When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens…the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground–trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil … The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. (from Genesis 2, the New International Version)

What I notice particularly in this passage is how attentive God is to all Adam’s physical and emotional needs. God gives Adam a meaningful task to occupy him. God put trees in the garden which not only were good for food but were pleasing to the eye, for Adam to enjoy. God explains his rule and the consequences of not keeping it clearly to Adam so it is not possible for Adam to offend God without realizing. Even in giving rules God is generous rather than restrictive: “You are free to eat from any tree except one”.

God understands that no animal can be a “suitable helper” for Adam and that Adam does need one (“It is not good for man to be alone”) so God makes a woman for Adam. (By the way, nothing in Genesis chapter 1 or 2 states that women are inferior to men. The word “helper” does not have this emphasis since it is most often used of God, in the Bible, to describe Him as “Israel’s helper”. Also, in the first chapter of Genesis, we read that God created both man and woman in His image and both of them were to rule over the animals together.)

When I read about how God looked after Adam, so he would be happily occupied, in a pleasant environment and with a human friend, I’m encouraged that God does know what I need too and will take care of me. Let’s take all our concerns to God in prayer, believing that he will be as attentive to our needs as he was to Adam.

Esther is chosen by King Xerxes of Persia out of all the young women of the land, to be his wife and Queen. Esther’s Uncle Mordecai, who raised her, warns her not to tell anyone that she is Jewish. Some time after she is made Queen, Haman, an official of the King who dislikes the Jews, has the King sign a decree that on a certain day all the Jews are to be destroyed. Mordecai hears about this decree and sends a message to Esther asking her to plead with the King for the lives of the Jews. She replies that anyone who goes into the King’s presence without being summoned is risking their life. Mordecai then answers “”Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:9-10)

Esther decides to risk her life and speak to the King. She goes to see him after she and all the other Jews have fasted for three days (the Jews fasted when they were praying very intently for God to intervene on their behalf). The King is pleased to see her and spares her life although she goes to see him uninvited. And when he hears about the plight of her people he makes a further decree that all Jews can defend themselves on the appointed day for their destruction (since he could not reverse his earlier decree). I’d recommend reading the whole story for yourselves; it has exciting plot twists and turns that I’m sure you’d enjoy!

From a human perspective, Esther’s life is largely controlled by the desires and dictates of King Xerxes. But Mordecai steps back and considers God’s perspective. Mordecai knows that God will save His people, the Jews, and believes that God has chosen Esther to do it, by arranging for her to be Queen. I often think about what God might have prepared me to do, or be calling me to, in view of my own circumstances. What I learned from my illness a couple of years ago, (which I would not have chosen to have, of course), has given me opportunities to comfort and encourage people who have emotional problems. This summer I volunteered to teach the preschool class at my church’s Vacation Bible School, because I believed that I was available for “such a time as this”, despite my lack of teaching experience. And, remembering that Esther and the Jews prayed hard that God would use her to accomplish His plans, I pray this too, about whatever I’m involved in. Let’s look for the specific opportunities that God’s prepared us for and pray for the courage to accept them, believing that He will enable us to complete anything He’s called us to do.

Well, are you ready for summer? My children are very excited that summer is coming. And I am too, although I know that summer brings the challenge of finding fun activities for my children when their scheduled ones are over and many of their friends are away on vacation. I thought I’d finish the year with some words of Jesus that seem particularly applicable for Moms caught up in the busy-ness of summer. These are taken from Matthew 11:28-30 and John 14:27 of the New International Version of the Bible:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. “

The word Jesus uses for “rest” also means “comfort” and “refreshment”. There is a kind of inside peace and rest and refreshment that Jesus gives, that we can’t get from anywhere else. As you know, we Moms can’t always take time for a physical break. But the peace and rest and refreshment from Jesus is always available to us and makes the heaviest burden lighter. So when the busy-ness of summer is getting too much for us, let’s remember to come to Jesus, in prayer and by reading about His love and care for us in the Bible. Then we will experience his peace and rest and refreshment, no matter how busy we are outwardly. And our children will notice the difference in us and have more fun with us this summer, too, because of the peace of Jesus in us.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer!