I've been looking through our church's service for Good Friday today. I've not felt all that great this week and I have fought hard trying not to feel behind in work. I do not always win this battle but this week I can happily say I've been quite successful in winning because of my sweet Lord. He taught me to work hard other days to plan ahead for days like today. He also provided a husband who spoils me beyond what anyone deserves much less me, and a very patient and understanding boss, bless them! And He also created some wonderful soothing medicines like peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, lavender, and of course Nutella! I may gain a couple of pounds but boy do I smell great! Is it possible to overdose on oil? Definitely not Nutella because I've tested that many a time over! And obviously albuteral, however you spell it, helps with asthma and gives a burst of energy! Actually I might need to back off of that a little.
Back on track!!! In school today Clayton and I talked about contentment and joy in all things, even in the times that aren't so fun. What is the REAL source of all my contentment and joy? For today I can tell you it is not Easter. (Send any complaint emails to our church administrator. He's really nice.) Today it is Good Friday. Yes contentment and joy from Good Friday. Contentment and joy doesn't mean that I'm fully healed or full of energy or didn't have the flu, or I'm not having to keep my panic in check as the Nutella starts to empty out! It doesn't always mean that things are great. It just means that for today's tasks I've chosen to find the GREAT in them, in the good and bad, plenty and want (I think some famous disciple wrote about that in a book I believe is the best of all times. I recommend you check it out!)
Sitting here and listening to the music for our Good Friday service and thinking about the topic, I realized we talk a lot about Easter as Christians. We should talk a lot about Easter and we could never talk about Easter enough. But what about Good Friday? How can I claim to love Easter without recognizing, respecting, grieving, and rejoicing just as much or maybe even more over Good Friday? Lots of churches have a Good Friday service. I'm thankful to be part of a church and a staff that sees the importance of a Good Friday service. I'm not honest if I don't admit that the first year we decided to do it I pushed back a little, ok a lot. And possibly the next year. (Bless our Pastor's heart and his patience!)
With full and sincere heart I can say Good Friday has now become one of my most favorite services. What???? But isn't it a lot of extra work? And isn't it on a Friday night? And isn't it about DEATH? Yep, yep, and yep. But it is also about contentment and joy. A Son found contentment in completing the task before Him, even though He knew it would also be the most excruciating and painful task He would face as a human. And He found joy in being obedient to His Father because He loves Him, and He loves me and He didn't want to live without me. Oh what a beautiful thought! He found joy in knowing it was the only way to bring me to Him. Contentment and joy in pain,sorrow, grief, and LOVE.
No doubt I will cry at least one tear. I'll try not to and I'll hope not to but let's just be real, we all remember Christmas Eve even though we're not allowed to talk about it! Good Friday tears will be tears of grief over the pain of needing to be saved because of what my sin and shame caused and knowing He had to wear my in and shame. But it will be followed with contentment and joy for the same reasons. Contentment that because of Good Friday I have peace in a life with a Father who provides for my every need, even unto death. Joy in no more sin or shame to answer for because of the contentment and joy that Jesus displayed. Now He displayed a lot more but for today, contentment and joy.
So GO to a Good Friday service (I know one at 7 pm at Guilford Elementary in Greensboro that is going to be amazing!). GO and take your family, your friends, your enemies. GO and love Good Friday!
I LOVE GOOD FRIDAY! And Easter is so much more amazing because of it!
