Easter Sunday 2015 has come and gone.

For some of us egg hunts and pictures with a big, furry bunny at the mall are now history for another year.

For many of us, our families have made their way back home to settle back into whatever normal might look like for them.

Sunrise services, church choirs, and dramatic productions too have become past tense this week as the calendar has clocked forward from Sunday.

For those of us who choose to remember the season with our “church” families, the suits and new dresses are fashion statements now relegated to the hangars in our closets.

Little boys in their “mini-suits” and little girls in their “twirly” dresses have had their fill of Kodak moments and now are ready for their everyday clothes.

I read a heartfelt post authored by Michele Cushatt last week.

It reminded me of the Easter celebrations of my childhood and of times gone by.

Michele hit the nail on the head in one of her summary points.

“Easter means I have a Savior who faced death so I would no longer need to fear it.”

Her statement could be taken as cliché to the casual observer. Fair enough.

However, a peek behind the curtain of her life would reveal a real life struggle that fully qualifies her to speak of the hope which she has come to embrace!

I’ll include one final plug for her new book, Undone.

Michele’s journey is our collective journey in many, many ways.

Although Easter “the day” is behind us, the promise of why we observe and celebrate the Resurrection is not restricted to a date on a calendar.

It is eternal and cannot be confined within the sands of an hour glass.

We are reminded of the promise of the Resurrection in many ways, all with one central purpose – to draw our attention to the Hope who desires to live inside each of us.

We see it in nature as winter is (finally!) yielding to spring – a seasonal transformation.

 

We are encouraged to allow God to transform us into a new person by changing the way we think and thereby learning what His will is for each of our lives – something that is good, pleasing, and perfect.

It is a step from what was or what is into what could be – our personal transformation.

In many ways the promise of the Resurrection can be pictured as a 180 degree turnaround.

It can be summarized in choosing to forsake our sinful ways and changing direction and yielding to a much better way.

It is an invitation only opportunity and occasion.

Christ, by His death and resurrection, is the One who is making the offer.

We are the ones who must RSVP by accepting, rejecting, or considering the invitation.

• Some may choose to reject the offer. We are free to do so as He forces Himself on no one.
• Others may choose to think about the invite and RSVP in the “maybe” bucket, leaving the decision to another day of which there is no guarantee.
• Finally there are those like myself, who have considered the invitation, weighed the options, and mailed the RSVP back with a resounding “yes” and have reserved our place at His banquet table.

There exists the promise of life after death with Him.

We get to experience life now with heaven in our hearts and minds, knowing that one day we will be with Him.

“What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! “(1 Corinthians 15: 50-51 NLT)

We all have endings and beginnings.

For me, the season without work is transforming into a new beginning this coming week as I begin a new assignment with a new employer.

I am grateful for how He has carried me (and us) through the current season and I welcome the transition into a new season!

It’s been five months to the day since the phrase “no longer employed” entered my life.  I am ready to move on!

I was attending to many things this week and was hunkered down at my laptop to deal with the matters at hand.

I tuned into an online radio station and came across a new song called Shake by the group, Mercy Me.

The tune was catchy and my feet followed suit by tapping along.

Soon thereafter I was playing my imaginary drums.

A stanza jumped out at me and its truth resonated in my heart.

Blame it on the transformation

Changed down to the core

His love is real And I can’t sit still

Cause my name’s not shamed no more

Although I am not ashamed to share my faith, I tend to keep it reserved and personal.

More inward than outward.

As the lyrics state, “blame it on THE Transformation” I could sit still no longer.

I went out of character, stood up, and began to get into the music and did my own silly dance, playing my air guitar!

It was transformative and fun!

I can’t wait to see my three little walking grandchildren again so they too can get crazy with their Papa!

I invite you to listen below.

I have much to shout about as “Great God Almighty, He has changed me”.

If you have accepted His RSVP, you too have much to sing and dance about as “Great God Almighty has changed you!”

God is not some celestial, wrist slapping, old dude who is waiting to nail you at the next wrong turn.

He loves you and like any good Father is waiting to throw you a party and place His arms around you.

If you have not yet accepted His invitation, I’d encourage you to consider it.

By the way, get out of your seat, get a little crazy, and do the Shake!

Doing so will transform your day!

Photos Courtesy of Brittany Castillejo, Jessica Lamos, and Bruce R. Cross