What’s So Good About *This* Friday?

(Plus A Few Friday Facts)

 

A million years ago, when I was the singer in a rock band, I wrote a song called Further Still. It was inspired by something Beth Moore taught regarding the evening Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.

n

n

–Jesus had many followers during his time of ministry. Crowds.

nn

–Jesus had a small group, the 12 disciples, that journeyed everywhere with him, and joined in ministry with him.

nn

–Jesus had his close, personal buds. Peter, James and John, who were the only disciples with him during several, personal, magnificent moments… These three were with Jesus after the Last Supper, late at night when Jesus went to the garden to pray before his crucifixion.

nn

But, when Jesus became deeply troubled and distressed about the hardest, most tragic thing he would endure, he told his inner-circle of three, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He then went Further Still, to be alone with the Father. To hear from Him on the matter. When he returned to where Peter, James and John were, he discovered even his closest friends asleep. Three times this happened. They couldn’t come through for him. Not because they didn’t want to, they just were limited. Their human-ness gave in to the need for sleep.

n

I would like to suggest that during times of tragedy, our small groups will offer encouragement and do life with us. Our closest relationships will be there for us and cry with us and rejoice with us and be an encouragement to us. But there are some needs we have that only the Father can fill. Sure, we look to the humans in our life to fill certain voids. Certain needs. But they are limited. They can’t. They are not God. We have to go Further Still, meet with the Father, and let him speak into those voids. People can bring encouragement. They can be the hands and feet of God, as I so overwhelmingly experienced throughout my battle with cancer this year. But people are limited. Only God could meet me in the deepest darkest voids that needed healing, direction and peace.

nn

Quarantine can feel very isolating. And, we certainly do need our people. We were created for community, for Pete’s sake! But, the deeper things that we are being forced to face, including the need for human interaction, point to deep needs that only He can fill. And, this Good Friday, I would also like to suggest that Jesus completely identifies with deep longings, the feeling of being alone, and distress of the current situation. He identifies with the emotions many of us are feeling right now.

nn

Today is a great day to lean in. Jesus knows the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak. If what you have today feels tiny, ask the Father about it. If what you have today feels magnificent, praise Him for it! Faith is easy when things are going well, and there’s a lot more “digging” when things are coming apart at the seams. That is when mustard seeds come in handy.

nn

If a tiny virus can do this much damage, imagine what mustard seed size faith can do.

nn

Savor this weekend of remembering how to let dead things go and come alive in Him.

nn

And now, on a lighter note, some Fun Friday Facts!

nn

Fact #1- It is perfectly OK to binge-watch all 8 seasons of Psych if necessary. You’ve got plenty of time. Be particularly mindful of any and all 80’s references or cameo appearances. (i.e.: Val Kilmer)

n

Fact #2- It’s Good Friday. What’s so good about it? It’s the day I remember that all my deepest-darkests, all my black, and everything I’m ashamed of, died. Jesus took it all with him to the grave.

n

Fact #3- Lumps are not the only evidence of breast cancer. (See demographic below.)

n

Fact #4- I can’t believe I’m sharing this, but here you go: Further Still- Stillfire

nnn