Bread and Other Provisions: Easter Blessings- brought to you by the Holy Spirit

Easter actually began on Good Friday, appropriately so. Peter is in the choir at our church so he was a part of the services for both Friday and Sunday. Since Friday was more of a "concert" of contemplation and Praise with Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin, etc. It did go about 3 hours. It was outside in an amphitheater with 12,000 other people. In some ways that was good, because it allowed for freedom of movement for the young man. And also, as a venue like that would have it, there was popcorn for sale. Seems a tad odd to have popcorn during a worship service, but there ya go. It was great "entertainment" and kept us there longer than I expected. We made it about 2 1/4 hours. It was a tad chilly in the 50's so that made it a bit tough and is probably the reason we left in addition to it being 9:45 pm. We were not as well prepared for that as we should have been. But, read on.

Having said all of that, I really think we did well. We all were able to lift our voices in Praise during such a sacred day in our year. Celebrating all Jesus did for us in going to that cross and taking on the burden of our sin. It just overwhelms me everytime I think about it. During the service, as an expression of our praise we tend to move a little, dance a little, raise hands, clap, or whatever the Sprit leads us to do. Lucas has been at 2 other services with us and is moved and drawn in by the music. He LOVES it! (so do we).

It is hard to explain to him what is going on and who this "Jesus" is. Who is "God"? How do you cross a language barrier with a concept of something/someone who created the World and Loves you so much to lay it all down at the cross and forgive you for all your sin? I cannot begin to use a translator to try to figure that out. So, I used the best "Translator" I could---the Holy Sprit through prayer. As the service began, I began to pray for a Supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit to come upon this boy. I pray this for Isaac regularly in Worship too. But, in this case, I do not have any words to adequately explain something he has absolutely no reference point for. However, the Holy Spirit, DOES have Lucas's "language"....isn't that COOL?...HE can speak directly to Lucas's heart, even if I cannot. There is nothing in this that I could manufacture. I can train him and guide him, but it is ALL the Holy Spirit's work that is going to minister to him.
Acts 2 talks about how the Holy Spirit came to the people at Pentecost and spoke to them even though they spoke with different languages:

¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

(these "tongues" were different languages. The Holy Spirit came and spoke to these people in their native tongue so that they could understand Him and they in turn could share with others in their languages. Isn't that COOL?)

and in Eph. 2:8-9 it says

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Lest anyone believe that WE are the translators for God's message, HA! It is the Holy Spirit. This all became so real as I struggle to find words to explain God to Lucas.

ok, so, what did that look like for Lucas on Good Friday and Easter? I prayed for him that the Holy Spirit would overcome him. The Spirit was speaking to him through the music and even the preaching. He sat and listened. (to most of it) It was amazing to watch. My mom was there and was stunned to see it too. On Good Friday we stayed through the song Grace Flows Down...listen and imagine a little boy with his hands raised in praise to Jesus....

Easter Sunday he also did the same thing and listened to the message. It was such a blessing.
Chris sang I Lift My Hands:

I LOVE the reminder of GOD'S FAITHFULNESS...His sweet little hands were once again raised in Praise. How amazing that the Lord would allow for such tender worship in this little man.

When PCC gets the sermon up online I will post it here--it was wonderful to hear again the eyewitness accounts of those who were there at the Tomb from John 20. And to worship the God of the Universe who created the music in the heavens and on the earth:
Psm. 69:34
³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them

Do I believe the Holy Spirit has the kind of Power to speak to a boy in his own language? Yep I do. Do I believe he was really worshiping? Yep I do. Do I believe God is Faithful and will continue to do His work in this young man? Yep I do.

Welcome to a daily life of Easter....That's what it's all about! The Power of God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit left behind to beckon God on our behalf. mmm mmm good stuff.

Pics of the other "Fun" of Easter to follow...