Then Bursting Forth In Glorious Day...

"Do you know that our God is awesome? Did you know the devil wants to be more powerful than Him? But...that will never happen. Because our God is just that awesome."

Out of the mouths of babes. My 6-year old 'little brother' spoke these words to me this week as I asked him about Easter. I was expecting an answer laced with the usual...easter egg hunts, the Easter Bunny, Cadbury eggs filled with chocolate...I thought the word 'church' might come up, but he surprised me with that answer. He asked me if I knew that God had scars on his hands from where the nails were hammered into his hands on the cross.

I was raised Southern Baptist and Easter has always been an important day of reflection in my family. As I've grown, it's become a very humbling weekend. This year is different. I've been through an incredible transition phase in life the past several months and this past week has been a difficult one. I have found myself asking God where I'm supposed to be. Where is my place in life? I can feel changes are right around the corner. I know He has a path layed out for me. I've definitely strayed and taken my share of wrong turns. But, for some reason, this week, I realized something. No matter how many times I've gone off the beaten path, He's still there. He's faithful. He walks with me and picks me up when I fall. Even when I try my best to take off running away from Him, He always catches up. He has never given up on me. To say I'm humbled doesn't even come close to where I'm at. Sometimes I feel so lost, but when I sit back and reflect on life, He is the one consistent piece to my puzzle. At times I feel like I'm missing some of the puzzle pieces..and each time I feel that way, He shows up with the perfect piece that fits exactly where it's supposed to. I don't deserve His faithfulness or forgiveness. I cringe at the thought of some of the things I've done. But as I reflect on the meaning behind Easter, I am reminded that He loves me. He loves me enough to die on the cross for me and forgive me for all of the horrible things I've done and will continue to do. As I sit here listening to my ipod, gazing outside at a West Texas sunset, I keep thinking of the famous poem by Mary Stevenson.

One night I dreamed I was walking

along the beach with the Lord

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low

periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow

or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

"You promised me, Lord, that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods

of my life, there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most,

have you not been there for me?"

The Lord replied, "The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child,

is when I carried you."

I'll leave you with the best explanation I've heard so far. "Our God will live forever...because He's just that awesome."