Light it Up

 One of the things I like about this season of increasing darkness (until winter solstice - December 21 - when daylight starts gaining again) is creative lighting. How many ways can I illumine a gloomy room?

Room lights, hall lights, floodlights, etc. have their place for sure, but it's ambience that I'm after, chasing away the tenebrific shadows.

Bookshelf lights, book lights, string lights (not too early!), dimmers, candles (of course), my new favorite rechargeable, portable cuties (have you gotten some? Oy - life changer!), firelight (even electric), flickering window lights, and more! They must all be warm white, obviously. Just ask my husband. Somehow, these make the dark early mornings and evenings not just tolerable, but cozy. 

I finished my annual reading of the Bible yesterday. It ended with a glorious, flourishing finish. Jesus on page one, Jesus on page 1329, and Jesus on the pages between - all of it all about Him. What a wonder.

As we approach Advent which starts next week and as I sit here in my dim library this morning, I marvel at the last promises written down and preserved for us so long ago. Revelation 21 is a very encouraging chapter (and very appropriate for Advent). Don't miss it. 

Here are a few things I wrote down to both remember in future and be thankful for especially this week (see what I did there?).

There will be:

a new heaven and a new earth.

God will dwell with us in both.

He will be with us and be our God.

He will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

Death will be no more; grief, crying and pain will be no more - passed away. (no more - amen?)

He will make everything new. (Everything? Me too? Everything.)

He will freely give the water of life to the thirsty and access to the tree of life.

He will bring blessings and rewards for those who keep His words and those who conquer.

It will never be night there. (No more night?!)

There will be no need for sun or moon (sunlight or lamplight says the Message version).

The glory of God lights it with the Lamb as the lamp. (see John 8:12 "Jesus declared, 'I Am the Light of the World. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the Light and life.'")

Well. 

Hello Advent. I see you. December is the darkest month of the year. One can't help but draw out the benefit of observing this dark season of Advent annually because we long for the Light who already came into the world, Who already shines in the darkness, and we remember to long for these future promises - the second Advent of Jesus. 

During Advent we are reenacting the drama of prophecy and longing and joyous fulfillment that climaxed with Jesus' first coming. We're reliving all those centuries of waiting in the darkness for a great Light to shine.

Friend, if you are in a season of darkness, be of good cheer. Be illumined. The Light has come. The Light will come again. No more darkness. No more night. No more pain, grief or tears. 

What a wonder.

Even so, come Lord Jesus. We are watching and waiting and expecting You.

P.S. This glorious passage in Revelation (a book that deceptively scares many of us too much to read) is another reason to read the Bible from beginning to end. Especially if you dig happy endings.

An August Hello

I wrote the title of this blogpost into the subject line of a recent email I sent to a faraway friend. I intended it as a late summer greeting, but after we exchanged a few notes, I saw something else - a robust salutation. Dictionary.com defines august this way: "inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic." 

Don't you love it when a simple, common word has two different interpretations? (Unlike the illegal forcing of noun into verb such as, "adulting" - don't get me started on this trend.) The natural dual-purpose idiom jazzes me to no end. 

Changing one letter from upper to lower case amplifies the emotion in this case. It's so good - and in regard to the greeting I want to open this post for you - much more heartfelt than just reminding you what month we're in.

So, an august "Hello!" to you in August. It's been a while. I hope you are well.

I've spent the better part of this summer working on a few projects I want to tell you about.

1. Preparing messages for speaking engagements coming this fall. It is my great privilege to travel to women's events and share from the Bible and my experiences on all manner of topics. My schedule is filling up and I would love to serve your group. Let's compare calendars and see what works. 

2. Finishing my next book. For months I've been writing a book for young women/wives/moms based on the letters I wrote my daughter and daughters-in-law leading up to their weddings. You know, older to younger, passing down lessons learned from older women along the way and principles from the Bible for how to thrive in these roles and seasons of life.

Mentoring has been a passion of mine for what seems like centuries. (Ok, I'm not that ancient, but I am firmly in the older category.) Many olders invested in me when I was a younger, and I simply can't keep all this goodness to myself any longer!

If you're a younger, this book is for you to have a companion for this one beautiful life you've been entrusted with.

If you're an older, this book can be for you too - a resource as you invest in your youngers.

In the weeks to come, I'll be making announcements here, on social media, and via email to let you, my readers, know when and how you can get a copy for yourself and maybe some for your youngers. There will even be bonus material and gifts for pre-orders or multiples. Watch for videos too (We're so hip!).

It's going to be fun!

Title and cover reveal is first up👏...stay tuned.

Ways we can get/stay in touch to be sure you don't miss anything as launch date is approaching:

• Contact me directly to speak at your event
• Subscribe to this blog (see top right corner of this page) so you are notified of new posts
• For all contact information and to subscribe to monthly email newsletter: angelaburtis.com

I look forward to hearing from you!

I would be so thankful if you share this post and/or anything in it with those you think could benefit.

_______________________

P.S. We did this other TINY little thing this summer - a 35th wedding anniversary cruise to Alaska! I prayed for awe and wonder and may have wept at the God-created beauty. (I did) I was speechless (can you imagine?). There is no place like Alaska. I can't say enough so, I'll just show you a little glimpse. 

zoom for waterfall and ice in water

Yes, it was windy...and chilly

Of course I bought yellow rainboots to match my jacket.

Last word - you must see Alaska. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Just get there!

Also, if it applies - stay married. 35 years is a prize to be won.

The Worst Question

 
A Lent buddy of mine is sending me a question a week to consider during these forty days leading up to Easter.

The latest:

What is your favorite question in the Bible? Least favorite? Most powerful? Most reassuring?

We agreed the answers would require a measure of time to sit with and listen for Divine Guidance though an easy favorite popped right into my selfish, self-focused, self-obsessed, greedy mind. 

Jesus asked it to a few, "What would you like me to do for you?" 

Way to go, Angela. (In case it lands as answer to the first question, I hope He smiled.)

This morning the next answer jumped off the page.

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 

and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?"*

These two verses are so troubling. "One of the twelve" means Judas was in the inner circle of the Son of God for three years. He watched Jesus heal the lame, sick, unhealthy by touch and word. He saw thousands of hungry sermon-listeners fed to full of barely an appetizer broke by Jesus' hands. He observed the wind, and waves die down in a tumultuous storm on a lake by Jesus' rebuke. He smelled the body of Lazarus, four days dead, when it came alive and walked out of a burial tomb at Jesus' command. He listened to Jesus teach the truths and heart of God which astonished the crowds with no notes. He heard Jesus pray for God's chosen people, future followers, the other eleven and for him. He felt Jesus' hands on his dirty feet when He humbly washed them. He looked into the eyes of the long-awaited Savior in the flesh and was loved. He even greeted Him with a kiss, the most intimate expression on their last encounter.

Don't even get me started on the way he "went to the chief priests". The chief priests? The highest-ranking religious leaders? These who earlier that day had "gathered and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him."** Plotted together to arrest a man by stealth and kill him? Excuse me?! Where is that written in the Bible as part of the chief priests' job description, acceptable to God? 

Back to the question - the terrible question. One later regretted (understatement), resulting in suicide. Who could bear the consequences of it? Were the thirty pieces of silver he gained actually enough satisfaction for the trade? Apparently so.

We are in the thick of Holy Week now, no turning back. As stated in my last post, the most important week of the year - it truly holds everything.

Kate Bowler put it this way, "Holy Week is a horror movie. And somehow, it's still holy. If it were a movie, we'd all be screaming at the characters: 'DON'T GO IN THERE!' But...in they go."

Isn't that the truth? We're going in too if we dare.

Let's.

Holy Week brings up a lot of questions worthy of our consideration. On this day, Spy Wednesday, the worst - in my opinion written above - can only lead a deep thinker to the obvious self-reflecting follow-ups.

"What would you sell Jesus for?" 

Money?

Power?

Safety?

Security?

Family?

I shudder to think what this heart is capable of here. But I must.

It's good to sit in it, this week in particular. Perhaps a set-up, preparation of the soul, expectant for the gift of newness promised just days away.

Join me?

Just for a little while...because Sunday is coming!

*Matthew 26:14-15

**Matthew 26:3-4

Best Week of the Year

 

Palm Sunday. 

It's kind of a big deal.

Holy Week finishes the season of Lent. For the next six days we will experience whiplash between the highest of highs of Palm Sunday and the lowest of lows on Good Friday.

All of Scripture and our life as the Church revolve around one theme: the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and His triumph over sin and death. We need a whole week to complete our Lenten focus, to pay attention to Jesus' last week on earth, the final days before His human life ended, and enter into the long-awaited celebration of resurrection and new life.

Palm Sunday kicks us off. I don’t know about you, but when I read through the Gospels and get to this day – happy and exciting as it is and should be - I always think, “No! I’m not ready. Not ready to let go of Jesus. Not ready to say goodbye.” I’m thankful we know the end of this story. But the disciples didn’t.

Yet it was a triumphant day for those in attendance that Sunday morning in Jerusalem. A King arriving on a donkey, the crowd waving palm branches, singing "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." We should do likewise. I hope your church had palms for you this morning.

Holy Monday – This day we remember Mary anointing Jesus’ feet in Bethany. The beautiful gift of lavish love and worship. This day we can reflect on what we offer to Jesus.

During this weighty week we become increasingly aware of the way our sin required the death of Jesus. The rhythm of confession and forgiveness is the practice in the life of a growing Christian.

Holy Tuesday – On this day, Jesus entered Jerusalem and headed to the temple. Upon arrival, witnessing those who were profiting from worship, changing money, selling goods, and profaning God’s holy place of worship, Jesus got mad. He overturned the tables and drove out the unrighteousness. He cleansed the temple.

And wildly, He stayed, spending the next days - His last - healing and teaching right there, so the temple could be used for God’s intended purpose: a place for the people to meet with God, learn about Him and worship Him. Amen?

Maybe on this day we can honor this day by cleaning our homes – top to bottom – in preparation. Making space for the holy to come.

Holy or Spy Wednesday – This day we remember Judas’ betrayal – for 30 pieces of silver. Perhaps we can assess our allegiances. At what price do we value Jesus’ life? Would we give Him up for money? For family? For power? For love?

Maundy Thursday – Maundy means commandment. Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and declared a new commandment to “love one another: just as I have loved you, you are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Jesus puts this verse into practice by submitting to the scourging, humiliation, rejection, torture and excruciating death because of His great love for us.

The Last Supper happened on this day. May we remember and marvel that Jesus fulfilled and served Himself up as the Passover lamb that Jews had celebrated and longed for for generations. Spend a little time reading in Exodus?

Good Friday – the day to go to church. Please go to church this Friday. Christians must be together to remember together. It’s designed to be a time of mourning, prayer and repentance. We look on the cross helpless, both grateful and horrified. The bogus middle of the night trials. The scattering of the "believers". The rejection. The outrageous suffering and death of the innocent, the most loving. 

Of course, it will be somber and dark. As it should be. Lament is a very important element of our worship. May we feel all the feelings and confess deeply.

Holy Saturday – or Silent Saturday. Put yourself in the disciples' seats. What in the world just happened? The glorious Sunday resurrection has not yet – they don’t know it’s coming. They should, but they don't. Jesus' closest friends must sit in the silence of what they witnessed happen to Jesus and what happened in their own hearts (which was not pretty).

Holy Saturday teaches us to go through it. It’s a sacred time. So, take away the noise. No music, no media, no noise. Prepare for Easter quietly and reverently.

Because the Big Day – the most important – most glorious and happiest day of the year – is coming! Resurrection Sunday - our annual set apart day to marvel, worship and feast – together! Go wild! Sing! Dance! At church! Then feast.

Brothers and sisters, this is our week to shine. 

To pay attention and participate. 

To read along in the Bible tracking what Jesus was doing and saying those final days. 

To magnify the greatest week in history. The week that changed everything. 

To showcase Jesus, the One and Only, who rose from the dead, fulfilling prophecies and making all things new. Making you new.

Let's engage with gusto. Maybe we will be joined by the curious.

P.S. How about that plant in the above picture? It's called crown of thorns. Check your local florist or nursery to get yours. A beautiful visual. 

The Next Big Thing...

 

I love looking forward to something. A deadline reached, vacations, the next time my grandchildren will be on my lap, our kids all together, the end of a diet. But a top favorite is preparing for sacred holidays; intentional time spent in anticipation.

This is not news for those of you who have been reading around here for a while. It seems I've become the poster child for heralding the news when the next big thing on the holiday calendar is almost here. This is my job, and I love it!

Christmas is in the rearview mirror (sniff!), so Easter is on the horizon. 

Arguably the most important holiday in the life of a Jesus-follower, without Easter, there'd be nothing to hang our hat on regarding our faith and what we believe. It's a biggie.

Clearly our commemoration of the cornerstone of the Christian faith – the death and resurrection of King Jesus, our Savior - could (and should) this be the new most wonderful time of the year? Both holidays focus on Jesus and matter to our annual rhythm of life.  

During Advent, we watch for His comings to earth (the first 2000 years ago, the 2nd date TBD). During Lent, we walk the footsteps of Jesus to the cross of suffering all the way to the empty tomb. He is risen, hallelujah!

The true Gospel story is brimming with miracles and prophecies fulfilled which must never become humdrum or yada yada yada or less than awe-inspiring.

That said, doesn’t it deserve more than one Easter morning worship gathering and possibly a Good Friday service if we don’t get a better offer?  

Let’s back up a second before we buy a new Spring dress or plan an Easter egg hunt.

For Christians who are paying attention to the Church Calendar, we are about to move from Ordinary Time to Lent. 

To skip Lent and jump right into Easter is missing depth and richness leading up to the Big Day.

Like Advent (my 2nd favorite sacred holiday), Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper, so that when Good Friday and eventually Sunday comes, it is not just another day at church, albeit an exciting one bursting with pastel colors and Spring flowers.

Unlike Advent, characterized by anticipation and eventual abundance, Lent is a more solemn season, meant to be like lament – to feel or express sorrow or regret for; to mourn over. One can't appreciate the light and the miracle of resurrection (new life!) without spending a significant amount of time remembering the dark side, the sin, the pain, the rejection, the suffering, the death.

Did you realize the majority of the Psalms are laments? It's important to give lamenting time to do its work in us.

Maybe consider practicing Lent a form of spiritual housekeeping: 

Praying (drawing close to God)
Fasting (denying self for a spiritual purpose)
Giving (to the poor what we don’t need)

If you want seasonal heart transformation and to present God with pure, meaningful worship on Resurrection Sunday, it must cost you something. All spiritual growth does. 

I guess you could consider this my annual invitation for you to open your calendar and heart a little wider. To approach Easter - the holiday that sets Christians apart - by entering a 40-day journey with Jesus on His path of suffering and death to purchase our salvation with an empty tomb. This is the stuff!

This could look like many things.  (more ideas below)

• Focused Bible readings.  Start with any Gospel. That's where the story picks up. In addition, there is no shortage of printed and digital devotional guides that will lead you to a heightened awareness of sin, repentance and appreciation. 
• Fasting from something you will truly miss daily (not something you hate, but something you love and think you can't live without - go big or go home!); denying yourself a pleasure (when you miss it, you trade that desire for prayer).
• Giving to the poor. Purging our souls of sin and self, also emptying our home of excess. What can we give away to benefit another (both money and stuff)?

If you've never done anything like this and are willing to experiment, I'm excited for you. You are in for a treat. It might hurt a little, but you won't regret your effort.

We can do this. We need to do this. When we decrease (fast), Jesus will increase, and our focus become sharper (any other 50+somethings out there need some clarity?).

Living Lent is not simply a religious ritual. It's so much better - this is about relationship, relationship, relationship. God wants more of us and the attention we give to sacred holidays is an outward sign of how much we give to Him. It matters. Our efforts will not be wasted.

Trust me, forty days of attentiveness to the cross of Jesus, His earthly ministry and words spoken WILL elevate your Easter Sunday celebration (what Easter bunny?) – and transform you too.  That, my friend, will surprise you the most. Don't miss it!

When you hit the final stretch - Holy Week - you are going to have so much to share with those around you regarding what you've experienced. How real and present God is. How sinful and helpless we are without Him. How mighty and loving Jesus is. 

And that's part of the point - spiritual growth and celebrating sacred holidays is never just for us, it's meant to be shared. It simply must be, or how will they know?

Then finally, when Resurrection Day comes, and Eastertide begins (50 days of Easter! More on that later), we will gather at church, and we will sing "Up from the Grave He Arose", "He's Alive", and all the other Easter songs with gusto! 

Let’s look forward to that day together.

Ash Wednesday, March 5, is day one. Plenty of time to be ready to begin.

Equally stimulating ideas:

Scour your playlists and listen only to faith-based songs. So many Easter selections to choose from (Hello Andrew Peterson's Resurrection Letters). Try Music Inspired by The Story too - gold!

Add a spiritual practice: memorize Bible passages, set specific prayer times and lengths, silence and solitude, prayer walking

Fast from: food, drink, media, headlines, criticism, shame

Pro tip: push through the first few days - they are the hardest! And take Sundays off for Sabbath rest.