“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” – John 14:19 (NIV)
What does it mean to you that because Jesus lives you also will live? What kind of freedom does that offer you? How do you live in that freedom?
I’ve heard the following story about Frank Luke Jr. and it is often called, “The Day the Lilies Bloomed”
Frank Luke Jr. was an American fighter pilot in World War I and is considered one of the heroes of the Great War. He was twenty when he joined the army air corps and was accepted into flight training. After his training he was commissioned and given a brief leave before going off to war.
While at home he was going to leave with some friends one afternoon when his mother, Tillie, stopped him and asked, “Frank, I was hoping you would plant some lily bulbs for me. Would you mind doing that before you left?”
Frank did as his mother asked, and then went off with his friends. A couple of days later he went to join the war in France.
Quickly Frank became one of the stars of American fighter pilots. Between September 12 and September 29 Frank was credited with shooting down 18 German balloons and planes.
Back home in Phoenix, on September 29, Tillie stepped outside to discover that the lilies Frank planted were in full bloom. Lilies typically bloom much earlier in the year so this was strange. They had been planted in the shape of a cross, like one of the side of a fighter plane. Frank loved airplanes and was a devout Catholic. When his mother saw this she was nervous that something was wrong.
Two months later word reached America that Frank had been shot down and killed. He died on September 29, 1918, at the age of twenty-one, the day the lilies bloomed.
It makes sense that Frank’s mother was nervous. The bonds of love often will let us know that something is wrong with our beloved, even if oceans and continents separate us. However, the symbolism cannot be ignored. The Easter lilies stood bloomed in the shape of a cross. Paul remembering the prophet Hosea once wrote, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” And we recall that Jesus said, “Because I live, you also will live.” This Easter will be a day the lilies bloom. Go somewhere, anywhere and celebrate the victory of our Christ!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Too Good
But the man said, “Don’t be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who has been crucified. He has risen from the dead; he is not here. Look, here is the place they laid him.” – Mark 16:6 (NCV)
Is this good news to you? What does it mean to you? How does it change the way you live? What are you afraid of you should not be because of this event? Is there better news anywhere? How do you share this news?
This story was told to me:
A young boy’s favorite shows were Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo. Better shows did not exist, and he could barely wait to watch them each day. One day as he was began to watch incredible news came over the television screen… Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo were going to have a special show where they were together!
The boy’s excitement bubbled over as he announced to his parents news that could not get any better. “Mom, Dad!” he shouted, “Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo are going to meet and be on the same show, this is the best news ever!”
All week long he talked about it. He told his friends, his teacher, his neighbors, and his family, he thought everyone needed to know. The night before the monumental event he was in bed just staring up at the ceiling imaging every possibility, it was going to be great.
The day was the slowest day ever, the evening could not come soon enough. And minutes before the show started he was sitting right in front of the television screen, nervous with anticipation. His parents sat on the couch behind him, excited for him. The show started, Mr. Rogers came into Captain Kangaroo’s house. The boy didn’t move for the first minute. Then after about two minutes he started crying uncontrollably, and he got up and ran to his room.
His parents followed him into his room very concerned about their son. “What happened to him,” they wondered, “he had been waiting so long for this.” The boy was face down on his bed weeping. His mother sat on the bed and rubbed his back, “What is wrong?”
He looked up and in between sobs was able to say these words, “It is just too good, it is too good.”
“He has risen from the dead; he is not here.” It is just too good, it is too good! This is the best news ever, there cannot be better news. Live life holding onto news that is just too good, so that everyone can see your joy in whichever way that joy comes out!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Is this good news to you? What does it mean to you? How does it change the way you live? What are you afraid of you should not be because of this event? Is there better news anywhere? How do you share this news?
This story was told to me:
A young boy’s favorite shows were Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo. Better shows did not exist, and he could barely wait to watch them each day. One day as he was began to watch incredible news came over the television screen… Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo were going to have a special show where they were together!
The boy’s excitement bubbled over as he announced to his parents news that could not get any better. “Mom, Dad!” he shouted, “Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo are going to meet and be on the same show, this is the best news ever!”
All week long he talked about it. He told his friends, his teacher, his neighbors, and his family, he thought everyone needed to know. The night before the monumental event he was in bed just staring up at the ceiling imaging every possibility, it was going to be great.
The day was the slowest day ever, the evening could not come soon enough. And minutes before the show started he was sitting right in front of the television screen, nervous with anticipation. His parents sat on the couch behind him, excited for him. The show started, Mr. Rogers came into Captain Kangaroo’s house. The boy didn’t move for the first minute. Then after about two minutes he started crying uncontrollably, and he got up and ran to his room.
His parents followed him into his room very concerned about their son. “What happened to him,” they wondered, “he had been waiting so long for this.” The boy was face down on his bed weeping. His mother sat on the bed and rubbed his back, “What is wrong?”
He looked up and in between sobs was able to say these words, “It is just too good, it is too good.”
“He has risen from the dead; he is not here.” It is just too good, it is too good! This is the best news ever, there cannot be better news. Live life holding onto news that is just too good, so that everyone can see your joy in whichever way that joy comes out!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Death Where Is Thy Sting
So this body that can be destroyed will clothe itself with that which can never be destroyed, and this body that dies will clothe itself with that which can never die. When this happens, this Scripture will be made true: "Death is destroyed forever in victory."
"Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your pain?"… But we thank God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:54-55,57 (NCV)
What is this victory of which Paul speaks? What can never be destroyed? What can never die? What does a life of giving thanks to God for this victory look like? Do you live a life of victory?
A poem I found at: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/4/414.html
We lived out in the country, fifty miles from a big town. We had a little church, for all of us who lived around. The minister was part time and came every other week, So when he came, we all would go to hear the preacher speak.
Once a year, on Easter, we would drive to the big town. That was the only place a sunrise service could be found. So once a year, on Easter, to a church in town we'd go, My kids would make a fuss, but my sweet Mother loved it so.
She lived with us, my wife and I, two daughters and a son, And everybody loved ol' NaNa, she was so much fun. She had a personality that was controlled by love. She always said she got it from the angels up above.
So every Easter morning we would all dress in our best, And go to sunrise service that would start before the rest. Once a year that preacher knew that we would all be there, Because that was the only sunrise service anywhere.
He knew my Mother loved the sunrise service that was here, And he knew all of us, by name, and we went once a year. He loved ol' NaNa and he knew that she would never miss, His sunrise service Easter morning, he had told her this.
He knew we had a country church, and minister part time. He knew that we could not join his, and he said that was fine. He said he thought he knew our preacher, "Godly man," he said. "I know he likes to travel, that's the calling he's been led."
When Mother died in early March, our part time preacher came, Out to our little country church, where we put her remains. Our little church was crowded, NaNa's friends for miles around, But, we forgot to tell the preacher that was in the town.
Easter morning came that year, but we were not up to, Going to the sunrise service, like we always do. Then as we sat at breakfast, knowing that we didn't go, Deciding we should go to town and let that preacher know.
They had a later service and it started at eleven, We really should go tell the preacher, NaNa's now in heaven. So we got dressed, and off we went, much later than before. When we arrived, we saw the preacher standing by the door.
He smiled at us and shook our hands, as he began to speak, And as he spoke, the words he said just made my knees get weak. He said, "I knew something was wrong, you all were not together" "The sunrise was so beautiful, we had such perfect weather."
"But, you have made this service, that is why we have another." And then I started telling him, what happened to my Mother. A puzzled look came on his face, when I said Mom had died, A look that someone gives you, when they think that you have lied.
We just stood in silence, as my heart began to vex, And to this day, I'm still in shock of what he told me next. It's something that you don't expect, it comes without a warning. He looked at me and said..."I saw your Mother here this morning!"
Easter is coming! Our victory is just around the corner! When we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we must never forget that his resurrection ensures our resurrection… for us death has been defeated!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What is this victory of which Paul speaks? What can never be destroyed? What can never die? What does a life of giving thanks to God for this victory look like? Do you live a life of victory?
A poem I found at: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/4/414.html
We lived out in the country, fifty miles from a big town. We had a little church, for all of us who lived around. The minister was part time and came every other week, So when he came, we all would go to hear the preacher speak.
Once a year, on Easter, we would drive to the big town. That was the only place a sunrise service could be found. So once a year, on Easter, to a church in town we'd go, My kids would make a fuss, but my sweet Mother loved it so.
She lived with us, my wife and I, two daughters and a son, And everybody loved ol' NaNa, she was so much fun. She had a personality that was controlled by love. She always said she got it from the angels up above.
So every Easter morning we would all dress in our best, And go to sunrise service that would start before the rest. Once a year that preacher knew that we would all be there, Because that was the only sunrise service anywhere.
He knew my Mother loved the sunrise service that was here, And he knew all of us, by name, and we went once a year. He loved ol' NaNa and he knew that she would never miss, His sunrise service Easter morning, he had told her this.
He knew we had a country church, and minister part time. He knew that we could not join his, and he said that was fine. He said he thought he knew our preacher, "Godly man," he said. "I know he likes to travel, that's the calling he's been led."
When Mother died in early March, our part time preacher came, Out to our little country church, where we put her remains. Our little church was crowded, NaNa's friends for miles around, But, we forgot to tell the preacher that was in the town.
Easter morning came that year, but we were not up to, Going to the sunrise service, like we always do. Then as we sat at breakfast, knowing that we didn't go, Deciding we should go to town and let that preacher know.
They had a later service and it started at eleven, We really should go tell the preacher, NaNa's now in heaven. So we got dressed, and off we went, much later than before. When we arrived, we saw the preacher standing by the door.
He smiled at us and shook our hands, as he began to speak, And as he spoke, the words he said just made my knees get weak. He said, "I knew something was wrong, you all were not together" "The sunrise was so beautiful, we had such perfect weather."
"But, you have made this service, that is why we have another." And then I started telling him, what happened to my Mother. A puzzled look came on his face, when I said Mom had died, A look that someone gives you, when they think that you have lied.
We just stood in silence, as my heart began to vex, And to this day, I'm still in shock of what he told me next. It's something that you don't expect, it comes without a warning. He looked at me and said..."I saw your Mother here this morning!"
Easter is coming! Our victory is just around the corner! When we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we must never forget that his resurrection ensures our resurrection… for us death has been defeated!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
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