I started this post yesterday, but life got in the way so here we are today! And it’s high time I share my spring mantel with you. You got a sneak peek of it when I shared my DIY twig cross last week. I’ve had this mantel in place for a couple of weeks now and love it! But as you know… things are always subject to change around here. 🙂
This time around I wanted a mix of metals and wood tones, and just an overall fresh feeling. I think I hit the mark…
I’m going to camp out on this view for a while…
Life can get hard sometimes and I find the word “joy” and the view of the cross from my sofa is immensely comforting.
Last week I was struggling with Holy Week… I was reading diligently, working through my Lenten study and I just felt so out of sorts. I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed with Legacy and finances and life with semi-adult children and just life. I wanted the week to feel sacred but it felt anything but. So I was battling frustration with myself, and even a little anger and resentment that I was juggling so much life.
Truth be told, my “suffering” is nothing like His was. My “despair” doesn’t even scratch the surface of what His was. And yet He walked in obedience, submitting to God’s will and loving us every step of the way. Why couldn’t I embrace all of that last week? Why was I distracted and disgruntled instead of reverent and thankful?
I lunched with a friend that was struggling in a similar manner and as we talked through things I shared a little epiphany I had… the cross is there for us ALL. THE. TIME. 365 days a week, 24 hours a day. We can turn and return to Him anytime. It doesn’t have to be Holy Week for us to remember His suffering, His death, and His glorious Resurrection. We can honor and immerse ourselves in the Holy Week story any time we feel led to. And with this realization came a measure of relief… a sense of God’s grace. He knows our weaknesses — and yet He’s always there, whether we think we’re measuring up or not.
And when I found myself on Easter morning NOT in a pew worshiping and rejoicing in our Risen Lord, but walking one of my kids through something Big and Dark, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Our faith and our love of God — and our worship — doesn’t have to look a certain way or be on display in church on Easter morning. It’s okay that it’s right smack in the middle of life — the hard, ugly, reality of life. Life where Satan looks for footholds in our world at every turn.
But here’s the truth — “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
He has overcome the world! And I will hold onto that in the good, easy times and in the hard ugly times. So my twig cross and that word “joy” will stay front and center for a while as we walk through this latest. I know He is faithful and I am seeing — once again — His work up close and personal. And what an unexpected Easter gift that is.
Wishing you all a great week celebrating Christ’s Resurrection and the gift of salvation!
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