By Bindu Adai Mathew

Happy Good Friday, Everyone!  Today is a truly a good day… but around two thousand years ago, it didn’t seem like a good day to those alive, especially to those who were following Jesus and believing that He really was the son of God. In fact, it looked like the very opposite of a Good Friday. But today we all have the benefit of hindsight and the Bible, and we know that beneath the appearances of suffering and defeat, something much greater and wonderful was happening. Even though the people of that day couldn’t see it, Jesus was not dying but actually overcoming death on their and our behalf.

Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are two of the core foundations of our Christian faith. As believers, we believe what the Bible says… that Jesus was the Son of God, born of a virgin, who lived a perfect life but bore all our sins on a cross and died, only to be resurrected a few days later so that we who believe in Him as our Savior, can have eternal life in Heaven with God. On Friday, we reflect on the ridicule and anguish he endured on our behalf. On Sunday, we celebrate, knowing we serve a Risen Savior! This is the foundation of our Christian faith.

But what we must not forget is that Jesus’s resurrection doesn’t just hold meaning for our lives after we die. His resurrection also has great meaning and significance to our daily lives. In John 10:10, God says:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)

Jesus came not to only give us eternal life, but He wants us to enjoy and have victory over our present lives. His resurrection power knows no limits. He can resurrect people from the dead, but He can also resurrect dead dreams… dead relationships… deadened hearts.

So where are you struggling in your life?  Perhaps it is an unfulfilling job that feels monotonous and routine… or a job that you enjoy but somehow no matter how hard you work, you can’t seem to get that promotion or move ahead? Or perhaps it is an unfulfilled dream that is sitting on the shelf in your mind, gathering dust, as it fades further and further out of your grasp. Or perhaps it’s a relationship that is slowly disintegrating helplessly in your hands.

Well, let me challenge you today–let me remind you that He who overcame death also lives in you. That resurrection power lives within you! Get excited… meditate on that. And start living your live with that knowledge. And knowing that, also know that with God, nothing is impossible. Nothing.

We see this so clearly in the book of John 11:

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (NIV)

Even though Martha understood who Jesus was, even she didn’t expect Jesus to bring her brother back to life.   But this was Jesus’s response:

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40 NIV)

So have you forgotten about God’s power? Has being a “Christian” just gotten so common and mundane that you forget the power that lives within you? Just as Jesus resurrected Lazarus even after he was dead and had been buried in the tomb for four days, so can He resurrect you. It doesn’t matter how long you have felt dead inside. He can bring you back to your joy… back to peace. He can resurrect your faith, your dreams, your relationships.

As you reflect on His death today, thank Jesus for his unselfish sacrifice. But get excited… for on Sunday, we celebrate! For He is risen! Because He lives, we, too, shall live in victory on earth as well as in Heaven.

Thank you, Jesus! You suffered and died so that we that we may live. The very blood you shed now flows through our spiritual veins so that we, too, can overcome death. We grieve for the pain our sins have caused you, we have infinite gratitude for your limitless love, and we celebrate and honor you for the loving, generous, forgiving God you are! For you are truly the Resurrection and the Life. Today is not just Good Friday… today is Great, Amazing Friday!  AMEN!

By Bindu Adai Mathew

This year I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions. Now don’t mistake me. There’s plenty I want to improve about myself and my life, but this year I decided on a different approach. I created New Year Intentions.

A New Year Intention is a conscious, dedicated, yet kinder, gentler approach to achieving specific goals. Now I know the experts say without a detailed plan, measureable goals, a specific deadline, accountability, yadda yadda yadda, a goal is less likely to be achieved.  And for some things like tasks and projects, I would agree that is probably the case. But for other things, such as the yearly goal most people have to get into shape or start living healthier, I realized telling myself to cut out sugar, caffeine, carbs and working out 4-5 times a week might work for the month of January, but by February or March, I either get bored or “too busy” or too tired to continue. I love my morning toast and chai. And my afternoon Spicy Cheetos.

Make realistic goals would be some experts’ response. Yeah. I guess. But somehow the yearly New Year’s resolution eventually becomes something I abhor. I intentionally shirk from it after a few months. Because whether it is a lofty, unrealistic goal or just something minor I want to change about myself, I find that anytime I don’t follow my goal for that day or that week, I start reaching for the eject button and am ready to abandon my goals.

A New Year’s Intention, on the other hand, is a shift in mindset. My New Year intention isn’t just a goal that I attain… it’s a lifestyle change. Rather than focusing on a specific amount of pounds to lose or a specific size of clothing, I, instead focus on making healthier choices, whether it’s what I decide to eat or how much of it to eat. It’s recognizing I want to be healthier, that I need to eat better, work out more. And that is my intention every day. That is my intention even when I don’t work out for a few days during the week and that is my intention as I bite into a sweet, soft donut that someone brought to work on Friday. Yeah, you heard me. So as I eat that donut, I’m not plagued with guilt. I’m not plagued with worries about my skinny jeans no longer fitting. That I don’t have a right to eat this donut because I didn’t work out earlier in the week. And neither am I plagued with thoughts of getting to the gym that night or the next day to “burn off” that donut. Instead, I’m enjoying that donut for all its sweet, warm gooey goodness. BUT. I know that donut is not healthy for me. So after a few bites, I realize that my initial desire for the donut has been curbed and because I’m not plagued with a “heck, I already screwed up, I might as well finish it and then grab another donut” thought, I can actually set the donut down and not feel I have to eat all of it. I’m no longer “feeding” my guilt or shame. I can listen to my body and create that space between want and truly need and make a better decision. And because my mindset has shifted, I don’t feel “forced” to make a healthier choice for food at lunch, but realize I want to. Because I truly want to give my body what it really needs. Because that is my underlying intention. Every day.

The same goes for working out. Become more organized. Procrastinating less. Spending more time with God.

This past week, it was hard to find some focused quiet time in the morning to read my Bible. So instead, I turned on some praise and worship music and worshipped God as I made my daughter’s breakfast and packed her lunch and then had a conversation with God on my way to work and during my afternoon break. I think of “time with God” less as a formal, set time but rather than a continual, all-day awareness that He is with me, that He is in control, and I often now speak to him throughout the day like I would with a close friend. And eventually I’m back to reading my Bible on a more consistent time frame.

A New Year’s Intention isn’t casual or half-hearted. In fact, as its name implies, it’s very intentional. It has to be well thought out and some specifics do need to be identified and followed through. But most of all, it has to be something you are ready to do. It requires a commitment. And perseverance. But it’s guilt-free. It allows you to be human. To “mess up. “ But you never have to get back in the saddle, for you never got off.

So whatever changes you want to make in your life, remember, above all else, be kind to yourself. And persevere. For as Ecclesiastes 9:11 says, the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong.

By Bindu Adai Mathew

Today the world lost an amazing person – Susan (Sue) Varghese Thomas – after nearly a 10 month battle with cancer. She had a bright smile, endless optimism, a creative energy, and a beautiful heart.  In many ways, I considered her a kindred spirit because like me, she was an aspiring writer. We shared similar struggles with getting published along with the ups and downs of carving a legitimate career out of our passion for writing. She was Indian and Malayalee like me, and most importantly, she was a sister in Christ.

But I never met Sue. In person, that is.  It was a close friend we had in common, Suja Jacob, who brought us together. Because of our shared love of writing, Suja always told us about each other. So when Sue published her book, The World from My Fire Escape, I felt personally invested in her success as a writer. I followed her on her blog, and when Facebook became popular, we also became Facebook friends.

It was through Suja that I first learned Sue had cancer. It was also through Suja that I learned that Sue’s cancer had worsened when she called me a week ago after seeing Sue. She was in tears after seeing Sue’s condition.

“I really thought God would have healed her,” Suja said, her voice and spirit broken with pain. “I don’t even know how to pray. Do I pray for God to take her so she’s no longer in pain? Or do I pray for her to be healed? Of course, I want her to be healed, but I don’t want to see her suffer like this.”

“You definitely pray for her utter and complete healing, “ I encouraged her, my voice strong with conviction. “With her body wracked in pain, you must stand in the gap and believe for her. You believe God, despite Sue’s condition, can and is willing to heal her. And then you pray for God’s will to be done.”  As I spoke encouragement, I felt faith well up in my own spirit. Yes, I felt, God is the healer. He who brought the dead back to life, He who created Life out of nothingness, He is able. What is impossible for him? Nothing.

“If it’s not her time, she won’t go,” I reminded Suja. “No one, but God can give or take life.”

So this week, I really prayed for Sue. I prayed the pain she was in would subside and be tolerable. I especially prayed for her complete healing and that she, too, would have the strength to believe despite her pain and circumstances.

So you can imagine my shock when I got the call that Sue had died this morning. As I comforted my friend, I felt sadness overwhelm me as well. Gone too soon. I think of all the books she still had in her, waiting to be discovered by new readers. The places she had yet to explore. The love she still had yet to share.

And then suddenly her passing seemed so wrong. But we prayed fervently, I reminded myself. And I know God heard us. And just like all things we don’t understand, I am reminded that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and while He was fully able to heal Susan, He decided it was her time.  And then I’m reminded she is in Heaven. HEAVEN. What am I mourning but our loss? For she has truly gained her reward. As she is pain-free in Heaven in the presence of a God whom she truly believed and loved.

As it reads in 2 Timothy 4:7:  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Now enjoy your reward, Susan. You’ve earned it. I just wish you could have written about your experience… oh what a bestseller that would be!

By Bindu Adai Mathew

When I was young, I was taught to pray to God, especially when I needed His help with anything. Back then I felt blessed when my prayers were answered. And for the times they weren’t, I was disappointed, but I never recall being hurt or angry with God when things didn’t happen the way I prayed. I always knew he was all-powerful, and I always believed He was all loving. But honestly, luckily for me, my problems never felt overwhelming to the point where I was bitter and angry at God. Or maybe back then, I just had that child-like faith.

Even when 911 happened, I didn’t question God’s sovereignty or His goodness. Even when one of my best friends from high school was murdered by a serial killer in 1999, I didn’t question God’s sovereignty. I was shaken, scared, and I questioned why God allowed it, especially since He had protected me from being there. I still recall the week before she died, we had initially made plans to have dinner and maybe even have a sleepover so we could talk into the wee hours of the night like we did when we were in junior high and high school before I headed back to grad school. But just the day before, she cancelled, and the very night I should have been with her, she was murdered. So while I was upset, shaken, and had lots of questions for God, I still didn’t question His essential goodness.

As I’ve gotten older, in many ways I believe my faith is deeper. I know that He is truly Omnipresent, Omniscient, and Omnipotent. Yet with that knowledge, there is also a deeper testing of my faith, especially as life’s challenges beat on our souls and hearts like pounding waves in the midst of a storm. In the desert, in the waiting, I often find myself looking up and not just asking, “Why?”  But now my “whys” aren’t just a question. They’re sometimes an accusation.

We know that every blessing comes from God, and when you see movies like “Miracles from Heaven,” our faith is renewed because that is the kind of God we serve:  a God of mercy, justice, and love. It is with movies and testimonies like that when we know that all things truly do work together for good. But yet, each of us know of plenty of other prayers that haven’t been answered in the way we had hoped.  A beloved family member or friend still died of cancer. The couple struggling to conceive continues to remain childless. A marriage that was prayed over never got restored and still resulted in divorce. A wayward child or family member is still lost.

So when we seek God. When we pray. When we stand in that gap and believe that God is good and that He can and is willing, and things still don’t work out, what then? When we experience things in our lives that are contrary to His will, what do we believe then? Is God still good? We KNOW the answer is yes. But we may not always feel that way.

I believe it is when we believe and continue to trust God even when the situation looks hopeless that we then truly grow and we truly experience the miracle we were seeking. It is when our eyes can look past the natural and our hearts are resolved to trust that we see the supernatural. We see glimpses of God in His glory. It is when we focus on God and not just what we want or prayed and refuse to give up our faith that not only does God shine… but we shine. And it is when our faith is not based on what He does or doesn’t do but what He did on the cross and who He is that we then truly experience that life-transforming answer we were seeking.

So during this month, I pray that those April showers fertile your heart… may they wash away your guilt, your anger, your bitterness. May that child-like faith, along with love and joy, bloom into beautiful flowers in your soul that not only last through the month of May but throughout the year.

 

By JMathis

Reflecting on the many uses of palm fronds today.

Palm fronds screaming with rockstar abandon, “Hosanna in the highest!!”

Palm fronds dusting off the cobwebs of my hidden sins and deepest shame.

Palm fronds exalting high the Name of all Names: King Jesus, my Savior!

Palm fronds sweeping away the pride of life from the pathways to my heart.

Palm fronds bowing before Him, humbled by how fiercely He loves.

Palm fronds shaking off the filth of my biases, prejudices and my “judgy eyes”.

Palm fronds swaying to the voices of angels, dancing like Wild King David.

Palm fronds brushing off muck from years of thoughtlessness and apathy.

Palm fronds nudging me towards worship and closer intimacy with My Father.

Palm fronds mopping away tears of regret, sorrow and remorse.

Palm fronds lifting My Redeemer to the highest realms of praise and adoration.

Palm fronds blowing off my years of cruelty, disregard and callousness.

Palm fronds standing tall before Him, victoriously waving flags of Healing and Deliverance. Salvation and Joy. Goodness and Justice. Miracles Unending.

Palm fronds loosening the worldly ties that bind my soul to darkness.

Palm fronds leading the procession of The Widows, The Orphans, The Abused, The Mistreated, The Neglected, The Abandoned and all those He holds tightly to His heart.

I lay my palm fronds on the dirt roads of my innermost self, Lord, giving way so that You reign over my thoughts, words, actions and dreams.

I offer my palm fronds to You as an act of my reverence, submission and devotion.

Use those palm fronds to cleanse and wipe away anything that is not of You.