How are you preparing for Easter? Are there traditions your family anticipates each Easter or sunrise services you never miss? Do you emphasize bunnies and baskets filled to the brim or preparing during Lent to honor Jesus and come closer to Him?
What does Jesus mean to you? Humbly accepting an invitation to speak at a Lent service at Topsail Beach, I was asked to share what Jesus means to me. Having plenty of time to prepare, I pondered on that question with intentional reverence for Jesus and all He means to me.
“How do I share in 20 minutes all that sweet Jesus means to me,” I thought!
When Tim and I sat down with our sons to talk over family matters, Tim simply stated what was what, asked if they had any questions, and we prayed! To make sure they heard their dad’s short message, I would elaborate on the subject at hand until Tim would pat my hand and say, “Baby, you’ve said enough”! When the boys left our meeting table, Tim would hold me tight and whisper sweet messages of love that still warm my heart.
Once, James and I were headed to a speaking engagement. I talked aloud asking God to give me the right words to say to glorify Him and help the children. James squeezed my hand and said, “Dear Lord, I know you’ll give Becky the right words, just help her know when it’s time to hush.” He hugged me too and swept me off my feet. Again, I looked to heaven and thanked God for a good husband who loved me enough to speak truth and teach me lessons I would cherish even more after he was gone.
Jesus means love is eternal when we keep our focus on Him and love and cherish them! I praise Him for sealing the love Tim and I, then James and I shared with His Holy Spirit.
So, I prayed that God would give me the right words to truly tell how much I love and adore Him that could be shared simply, sweetly, and shortly! Shortly might not be grammatically correct in that sentence but it fits perfectly in my prayers. For, when I stand before people to tell of God’s wonderful love, it’s a never ending story of goodness and grace. When I write stories and share messages about our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – I could go on and on about what He means to me and how He loves and longs for all His children to have a precious, personal relationship with Him! Time limitations are put in place for reasons: staying on schedule for people to attend other events, getting to lunch before the crowd on Sundays, radio or television audiences, and peoples’ preference and attention span suitable for shorter sermons.
The message in Ecclesiastes 3:7 rises up with conviction that time should be honored, for there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. Being respectful of time is important. Going overtime can become habitual, and not embraced without good reason. Giving time for the Holy Spirit to move within our hearts and services we attend is wise and wonderful. When one feels the brush of angels’ wings and sees God’s glory on faces, surely the presence of the Lord is saying ‘take time to worship Me, to hear with the ears of your heart just how much I love you and what I can do through you…and for you.’ Taking time to let the Spirit work in peoples’ hearts strengthens relationships with the Lord.
After pondering and praying, four words kept coming to my mind wherever I was for days on end! So, I knew this was the message He was divinely downloading in my heart.
Jesus means this to me…Happy Everything! He loves me this I know, lives in my heart, keeps me company, and never fails me. He protects, blesses, and has scripted a beautiful love story – just for me and all the people He has put in my path (and He is the main character) – that continues to give exciting experiences as I grow old and write my last chapters.
Jesus has answered my prayers to say shortly and simply just how much He means to me!
Jesus’ grace means I am forgiven and loved in spite of my shortcomings, with promises of forgiveness, healing broken hearts, binding wounds, never leaving me, and living within as my best friend.
Jesus means healing, health, help, and happiness!
And if I get one to grow on (as we did when giving birthday spankings)…it would be HEAVEN!
What does Jesus mean to you? Ponder and pray about your relationship with the Lord…and your loved ones as the season of Easter points us to the cross and shows just how much Jesus should mean to you and me!