It is well with my soul

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Multitude Monday ~ 4/06/2010

16. Easter

17. sleeping with the windows open

18. music

19. Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs

20. the feel of grass under bare feet

21. the chance to talk to Ethan yesterday

22. electricity

23. the smell of spring rain

24. the sound of frogs croaking

25. the memory foam mattress waiting for me in my bedroom

Monday, April 5, 2010

of calvary and chocolate bunnies...

Yesterday was Easter.

Easter is my favorite holiday. With each year that passes, I am more in awe and more humbled by the events of Jesus' death and resurrection.

This year I almost missed it. Not in the sense that I didn't participate, but rather that I almost didn't experience it. The week was crazy-busy, with birthday parties and meetings and memorial services, leaving no time for quiet reflection. At least, I didn't make the time.

Good Friday found me scrambling to get to Champaign and back in between a memorial service and church that night. Long story short, we borrowed a keyboard from our church to use for the memorial service, and the power cord was bad. Since the keyboard would be needed for the Good Friday service that night at our church, we had to make a trip to Champaign to get a new one. I barely got home in time to rush the kids into their dress clothes and make it to the church service. I know Kenney preached a great sermon, but honestly, I was too tired and frazzled by the events of the day to really appreciate it.

Saturday was filled with not one, but two family gatherings complete with plastic eggs and chocolate candy. I felt like I had a million things to do: fix food to take to Krabels, fix food to take to Aunt Connie's, get kids through the shower, get clothes laid out for the morning, get the kids to bed early, get the Easter baskets out and filled...

...except that as I was getting out the bags of Easter basket goodies that I had stashed in the bottom of my closet, I discovered that someone (or more likely "nobody", because that's who makes most of the messes in our house) had stepped on one of the bags and smashed two of the four chocolate bunnies to smithereens. So despite all that I had to get done, despite how early I had to get up the next morning, off to Walmart I went.

The entire time, I kept thinking to myself how incredibly ridiculous I was being. Really, what do chocolate bunnies have to do with the Resurrection? Even now, I am disgusted with how caught up in the irrelevant trappings of the holiday I was. I don't know what came over me, but by the time I got home, I was so grieved to the point of tears at how I had allowed the real reason for Easter slip past me.

Easter morning came at the not-bright-and-very-early hour of 4:00 am when my alarm rang and again came the mad rush of getting seven people dressed while they are half-awake and out the door in time for Sunrise Service. We herded our sleepy brood into a pew as the service began.

It hit me as we sang the second verse of my favorite Easter hymn:

Lives again our glorious King,

Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting?

Alleluia!

Dying once He all doth save,

Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave?

Alleluia!

My eyes filled with tears as I sang those words. Here is the meaning of Easter. Because Jesus lives, we have the promise of eternal life. Because Jesus overcame the grave, we need not fear death. Easter is a victory celebration!

The rest of the day was lovely. Food, family, friends, and yes, chocolate bunnies. I have nothing against chocolate bunnies, or plastic eggs, or Easter baskets. Those traditions are fun, and I love chocolate and I love gift-giving. They have their place, but not first place. First place belongs to the Savior.

Monday, March 29, 2010

I found this project at another blog I frequently enjoy reading, A Holy Experience, and decided to undertake it for myself. Every Monday, I will list things that I am thankful for, blessings in my life, until I reach a thousand or even more.

Sooo....

1. Jesus Christ, my redeemer

2. My husband who is also my best friend

3. Five beautiful, healthy children at home

4. The opportunity to share Michael's life and see him grown, married and happy.

5. My parents, whom I didn't appreciate enough when I was growing up and I can't express enough appreciation for now.

6. In-laws who have always loved me like their own daughter.

7. A brother who makes me unspeakably proud

8. Sisters-in-law who have become to me the sisters I always longed for when I was growing up.

9. The chance to have known all of my grandparents well.

10. An extended family that has always managed to have more love than dysfunction

11. Overflowing bookshelves.

12. Children who think spaghetti is a gourmet meal and are thrilled when I make it.

13. Hot showers

14. The feeling of a baby sleeping on your chest

15. The promise of spring

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

"Re-Bible"

Our church hosted a revival last week. Eleanor called it "Rebible," which I thought was really cute, so I didn't correct her. The more she said it, the more I realized that her mispronunciation was actually a pretty accurate description of what revival should be: turning our hearts away from the things of the world and back to the word of God.

The speaker challenged us to not just be fans of Jesus, but followers. That really struck a chord with me. He used a sports analogy, but since I've never been a sports fan at all, I will use another example from my life.

Duran Duran.

Ah...Duran Duran in all their 80's glamorous-ness.

Anyone who knew me when I was about 13 years old will tell you that I was a fan of Duran Duran. I had posters on my wall. I had t-shirts and a silkscreen jacket. I had all their records, knew all their songs. I had dozens of buttons to pin on my jean jacket. I knew lots of interesting facts about them from scholarly publications like Tiger Beat. I could tell you their birthdays, favorite colors, musical influences, girlfriends/wives/ex-wives. I was a serious fan.

But even with as much as I knew about them, I never knew them. I've never met them, never even seen them in concert. And they certainly knew nothing about me. I had no relationship with them. Nor did I try to emulate them in my life. I didn't apply myself to musical pursuits. I didn't dress like them. I didn't take up their habits, which in fact were things I did not approve of, such as illegal drug use. I was a fan, but I was not a follower.

A fan is a supporter, a booster, an enthusiast. A follower is a disciple, an adherent, an imitator.

So, am I just a fan of Jesus, or am I a follower?

I definitely know a lot about Jesus. My parents had me in church every Sunday from the day I was born, so I know all the Bible stories, memorized the ten commandments, and I still have the King James Version bible with my name stamped in gold that I was given by my church. I have a beautiful gold cross necklace that Dan gave me. The radio station in my truck rarely is turned away from the local christian station. I like to decorate my home with artwork that includes scripture.

But that's all fan stuff.

To know if I'm a follower of Jesus, I have to ask myself, "Do I know him?" Not: "Do I know about him?", but "Do I know him?"

Or better yet, "Does he know me?"

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven,but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers." ~Matthew 7:21-23

Jesus did not call us to be his fans; he called us to be his followers. His disciples. I want to be a follower of Jesus. That means I must imitate his life, no matter how clumsy at it I will certainly be. I have to love the people he loved. I have to see the needs he saw, and meet them when I can. I must be broken by the things that broke his heart. How exactly that will look in my life, I don't know yet. I just know that I'm discontent with where I am now. I want to follow closer.

I guess I got "re-bibled."

St. Patty's Day

The O'Krabel family enjoys St. Patrick's Day. Our celebration usually centers around breakfast. Last year it was green pancakes. This year, green French toast.