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There are lots of things I love about my cousin, Jana. She is always up for a good game of cards, her hospitality is unmatched and she doesn’t hold it against me for that time I bit her when I was a toddler and she still has the scar. But my most favorite thing about Jana is her love for the Lord and how she encourages me (and so many in our family) in our prayer life.

Fifteen years ago, our extended family gathered for Christmas. There were dozens of us in the mountains of Georgia and at one point many of us gathered for prayer. This in itself wasn’t unusual, as faith is deeply ingrained in my heritage, but an idea was born. The time was special and we didn’t want it to be over and done. We agreed to pray routinely for each other, and Jana offered to send weekly email reminders.

Since that time, Jana has been consistent to keep us connected through prayer for each other. Very nearly every week since that Christmas in 2011, Jana has sent an email out to the list, which currently includes 23 of us. Sometimes the email is a specific prayer request or praise – like a new baby! Sometimes she sends a devotional that she has found. Some weeks others in the family have sent out a specific message. But usually, Jana has been the faithful servant in our prayer ministry.

The past year she chose a theme each week and a corresponding bible verse that we can pray for each other, together. This week it was to pray for courage and the verse was: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9, NIV.

There are many wonderful things that have come from this ministry – and it really is a ministry. The intentionality to pray together. The community that has been built because we are scattered so far and wide around the world. The way it has knit us together to come before the Lord – for each other. And we will never know all the ways the Lord has used this unified prayer time for His glory and His purpose. Some of it eternally.

I encourage you to find your people, your tribe, your community, your family and pray together. Intentionally. Consistently. Diligently. Be the “Jana” in your group who pulls it together – and keeps it together. The Lord will be glorified and you will be a blessing and also be blessed.

For quite a few years folks have remarked to me that I’m particularly optimistic in the face of life’s challenges and difficulties. I’ve been said to have a Pollyanna approach to life, a sentiment I took as an approbation and not a criticism.

Recently I tore my calf muscle, causing me to take minutes of significant pain to walk across a room. When I learned what my issue was, and my first text to my family discussing the problem included praise to God, I understood that my attitude was not that of Pollyanna, but derived from my understanding of how much God loves me. I’ll call this a Jimmyanna attitude.

The dictionary tells us that “A Pollyanna is a person characterized by excessive, blind or unjustifiable optimism, often finding a silver lining in every situation”. Instead of this, I want to be characterized as one who knows that God’s love is far greater than anything I can imagine; I have no need to doubt the truth of His care for me because He gave me His Word in assurance; and I don’t have a silver lining to fall back on, but am awaiting streets of gold for eternity.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 simply says “rejoice always.” It doesn’t say only rejoice at the good stuff.

Last year I had the experience of helping a young man on the Appalachian Trail who had been badly bitten by a dog in multiple locations and was in need of rabies shots in both arms, both legs and his torso. I first met his two companions as they were vomiting on the road as they talked because they were so sick with norovirus. A friend and I were able to get all of them the help they needed: rest, nourishment and multiple trips to emergency rooms up the trail for periodic rabies shots. My friend and I rejoiced for them, not because of their ills, but because there would be multiple opportunities in the next days to talk to them about the good news of Jesus, and also because they would be the recipients of multiple good meals and wonderful places to rest, much better than normal trail life. (In fact, all three were very moved by the love shown to them, and learned a lot about Jesus’ love; we hope they will accept His free gift of salvation.)

I hope that this year as I live along the AT for a few months, I will meet others with whom I can rejoice in the midst of their trials, and help them to experience joy that knows no bounds. And by the way, it’s important to keep in mind the context of the Thessalonians verse: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 We need to always keep our prayers and our focus on the will of God; rejoicing is not an idle sport!

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to arouse a deaf world." C. S. Lewis

Here’s an interesting question to ask someone: if God were to suddenly appear before you, how would you react? How would you receive him?

I think most people who are not believers would say that they would be honored by the visit, awed by the appearance. Some might say they would be hospitable and make God feel welcomed. Or maybe they would say they have lots of questions they would want to ask him. And perhaps the more cavalier would say that they would have a word with the Almighty and present their grievances and accusations.

As Christians, we know what would happen if God were to suddenly appear among us. We would kill him.

We know this because God did appear before us. He took on human flesh and lived among us. And we killed him.

Peter tells the crowd in Solomon’s Portico shortly after the resurrection, “and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:15).

This is the first shocking thing Easter teaches us. We humans killed the very Author of Life.

And we would do it again.

We like to imagine we are equals with God, and we would make space for him at our table. Or we think we are submissive to God, giving him due honor. Or we believe ourselves superior to God and fantasize ourselves as prosecutors of the Holy One. 

We are none of these things. We are God’s enemy, we are in rebellion, we harbor hatred for him in our hearts and we wish to kill him.

So that we may finally and fully become gods ourselves. Accountable to no power but our own desire.

But the second shocking lesson that Easter holds for us is that we cannot kill God, try as we may.

We can write manifestos about the death of God, put on subversive plays, blaspheme and desecrate sacred traditions, belittle those who say they believe in God, conjure theorems that claim things happen by themselves, and live as if there is no monarch behind the universe.

But we cannot kill God.

We tried, and it didn’t work.

The Prince of Life is more powerful than death itself.

Death is the denial of life. And the Source of Life will not be denied.

And that leads us to the third surprising lesson Easter teaches us. Death is not the end. It’s easy sometimes to believe that the biggest reality we operate under is that we will one day case to exist, and therefore we should either enjoy yourselves as much as possible or try to leave some sort of legacy.

But we will live on, even after we die.

We know this, because the God we killed, Jesus Christ, told us he had the power of eternal life and he would prove it by rising from the dead.

And he did rise from the dead.

Peter tells the crowd in Solomon’s Portico, “To this we are witnesses.” Multitudes have willingly been martyred for upholding Peter’s declaration that Jesus rose from the dead. It is the singular claim in human history. No one else has said they would rise from the dead and then have ample witnesses assert that they did.

Jesus rising from the dead changes everything. If death is not the end, then the most important question in life is not how do I maximize this little bit of time I have among the living? No, the most important question becomes, how should I relate to this God who has proven I cannot kill him, who has shown he has power over death, and has told me he will see me after I die and judge me?

Now we arrive at the most shocking thing about Easter. The very God we tried the kill, the one we resent, the one we are at war with, willingly died so that we, yes we, these foul ingrates, these rebellious creatures of His, “may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10).

We go back to the first lesson: God is the Author of Life. We reject God’s authority and in doing so, we reject life itself. We imagine this life we have some out of nowhere, that somehow it belongs to us and we are in charge of it. But that is not true. Our life has an Author, and when we rebel against that Author, when we sin, what we are in fact doing, is summoning death.

But the absolutely incredible thing about Easter is that the Prince of Life, wants to gives us life again, a new life, a better life, a life where we are united to the Fountain of Life, where we no longer want to kill him, but want to share in life with him. An eternal life.

And to do that, he willingly took on the death, the anti-life, the sin, that we continuously heap upon ourselves, he took that death and put it to death.

So that we may live.

To receive this new life, we must recognize ourselves for who we are: doers of death. And we must acknowledge Him for whom He is: The Giver of Life. And we must lay down our arms, cease our rebellion, and surrender.

Jesus declares to Martha, before the tomb of her brother Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)

And then he asks her a question, “Do you believe this?” 

This is the question we must all answer for ourselves.

Where is our security? How does one begin walking in faith? Finding that which steadies us in every aspect of life begins with beholding the One who has made our faith possible. We find our solid ground when we consider Christ. Considering our Lord calls us to surrender — a chance to come to the end of ourselves, which is a choice to trust. Christ is more present and applicable than we allow Him to be. We reorient our thoughts and actions by first focusing them on Him.

Our hope is in Him who delivers. When we consider His sacrifice, we can confidently go through life knowing that we walk in victory. Our shame is covered by His blood. The future glory of the end of our time on earth is secured in Him. Our identity as believers began with His sacrifice. His grace opened the door to our faith. Who is this glorious King who alone can keep us from stumbling and present us blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy? (Jude 1:24). 

Consider His goodness. How great that we get to call our Creator good. The God of all the universe — being goodness itself. When the heaviness of sin takes its toll, recall our omnipotent Creator, the source of goodness and redemption. He is the Good Shepherd who knows His own and knows our every need.

Consider His sovereignty. He has established His throne in the heavens and His kingdom rules over all (Psalms 103:19). His omniscient eye is always on us (Proverbs 15:3). Cultivate the habit of beholding the One who beholds you. In doing so, consider His love for you. He is committed to His children; we persevere because of His commitment to us. The Lord’s will shall not be deterred. Know that He will one day make all manner of things well.

Certitude is found in considering His promises. Rest in the promise that nothing can separate us from His love. We can trust in His divine security. He promises mercy and grace (Matt. 11:28-29). He promises never to leave (Deut. 31:8). He promises that He is coming soon (Rev. 22:20). God’s promises find their fulfillment in Christ and are sealed by His Spirit. The Lord’s promises become real for us when we consider the Holy Spirit. He is with you (Romans 8:11). What joy it is to know that when we feel uneasy, we have the privilege of calling upon His name. How quickly He responds, how ready He is to restore, how loving He is to always be nearby.

It can be difficult to remember the security we have when our minds are clouded by the distractions of the world. Consider His word and find clarity in Him. The effectiveness of Scripture speaks to every matter. As we navigate life, we have a true north. Meditation on biblical truth exposes us to our innermost thoughts and refocuses our mind on Him. His word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). When we guard our minds according to His word (Psalm 119:9), we find His character, His promises, His faithfulness. We learn about those who have witnessed His faithfulness, opening opportunity for us to consider His faithfulness in our own lives. 

Building small habits of beholding Christ throughout the day peacefully guides every thought and decision. As we consistently think about Jesus, we abound in knowledge of Him. There is no limit to the aspects of Christ that we may behold. Consider His mercy, forgiveness, justice, relentlessness, character, and all the countless ways He reveals Himself to us. Focusing our minds on Him is the catalyst for trusting the One who promises us forgiveness, redemption, serenity, and eternal life. It is He who keeps us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). Behold Him today, rest in His steadfastness, and let Him guide your step as you walk in faith with eyes fixed on Him.

In preparation for traveling to Bolivia, I have been blessed with many opportunities to hear stories from friends and family who have traveled for cross-cultural missions. One conversation with my cousin, Ryan, this week was especially impactful for me. He shared stories of his time in Mexico and Costa Rica and the ways that the Lord has come through for him and his family in their travels.

One thing he reminded me of was the fact that missions work isn’t only traveling outside the country. Many people are called to leave their native country so that they can share the gospel with other cultures. Praise God for the people who do work like this full-time or for certain seasons of their life. The pressures and demands of living in and with suffering communities are huge and heavy and I am thankful for the people who stick it out and trust God with their big problems. The stories they tell bolster my faith in our God who is bigger than any catastrophe or pain or need.

Traveling (or moving) overseas is not the only way to be a part of missions work in our world, though, as Ryan reminded me. The people whose calling it is to travel can only fulfill their calling with support from others. Ryan’s family has been looking for ways to invest in relationship with the missionaries in their community when they come home to the U.S. Hosting bonfires and making space for missionaries to talk and share their stories. Emailing with friends overseas to keep a pulse on what is needed and how the church can be praying. Making time to pray and seek the Lord.  

I have been able to see, in my own small way, the impact that support like this makes for people traveling. I am beyond blessed to be able to go to Bolivia with the MCC team this year. I am so excited to see the Lord’s work in a new culture and to make new friends who are worshipping Jesus on the other side of the equator.

In full transparency, I am also incredibly scared as the travel date approaches. The thought of all the unknowns is daunting to me. I feel unqualified to be a missionary, even in this tiny way. I still have so many questions of my own, so many things still to learn! This anxiety has given me a new gratitude for my church, family, and friends. Y’all have prayed with me and for me, shared your stories with me, listened to my excitement and my nerves, planned with me, and encouraged me to trust the Lord with all of my fear and all of my questions.

I have the gift of stepping into Bolivia physically, but in some special way I feel like all of you are coming with me. This is the gift of ministry oftentimes. Lord willing, as Jesus pours His love out into our lives, we are then able to pour into each other (broken vessels though we are) and somehow, wonder of wonders, there’s always enough to go around. Our God never runs out of love, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, mercy, or strength. I trust that He will continue to be faithful in the coming days as He has proven to be so far.

Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus to me and the whole Bolivia team. May the Lord bless and keep each of you and may He continue to open doors for each of us to share His good news near and far.