A Good Friday

We're a fairly informal bunch at my house. We've been celebrating Christmas this week. Today we move on to Passover, and Sunday it'll be the Resurrection.

No, really, I'm not trying to create confusion in my children. I have my reasons....

The Christmas season crept up on me too quickly in December. We decided to go on vacation the second week, and the next thing you know, we were unwrapping gifts. I promised the kids we'd set up the Christmas tree at some point, so we did—last Friday. Over the past week, we made gingerbread, sang a few carols, and read the Christmas story.

Today they are putting the finishing touches on their gingerbread houses, and tonight we celebrate Passover. I've always wanted to, and Good Friday seemed as good a time as ever to have a seder meal. I'll use the lamb shank for our Resurrection Day meal.

The truth is, I love this time of year. It was 19 years ago this weekend that I understood the cross for the first time. I remember the moment it became crystal clear. My friend Kevin was singing a Don Francisco song called He's Alive, and suddenly it made sense to me that God opened the door to heaven through Jesus' death and resurrection. It took about three weeks before I asked God into my life for keeps. Before and since then, I have seen his mighty hand moving powerfully in my life and in others' lives: marriages put back together, illnesses healed, the Prince of Peace bringing peace to confusion and turmoil.

I love this season and the God it celebrates. Why not put it all together and focus on who He is, from beginning—the God of creation, of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses—to end? I am so grateful we serve a risen Savior.