An Easter Song (Part 1)
“We found this fellow perverting the nation” (Luke 23:2 KJV).
I sense a humming effect especially through the arrest, trial and crucifixion of the Christ. It’s a background music revealing awful consternation. We never hear the music as we read scriptures, but there was music. Music has always been with mankind. The reverberation is now moving into a time of great mourning and pathos as Calvary is approaching. Even in Israel today there is that electric music and rhythm that stirs one’s soul. In this hour of the Galilean’s life there is also betrayal and a deep hatred for a Man who has revolutionized a whole nation by His healings, His preaching and His teaching. Love is no where to be found now. The music is faint. Only a hum. But Easter is coming.
In her book, A Simple Path, Mother Teresa says:
Love is not patronizing and charity isn’t about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same—with charity you give love, so don’t just give money but reach out your hand instead. When I was in London, I went to see the homeless people where our sisters have a soup kitchen. One man, who was living in a cardboard box, held my hand and said, “It’s been a long time since I felt the warmth of a human hand.”
“Love has no meaning,” Mother Teresa writes later in this chapter, “if it isn’t shared.”
The Easter Song is coming. Great pieces of music are yet to be written. But that sound, that melodious and harmonically rhythmic song is coming. God shared Him with us. He is now standing before His accusers. He has allowed Himself to be totally helpless—Lamb-like. He is ready for His shearers. He is just another fellow—they think! But music is on the way. Love and charity has been shared by heaven. The world has “felt the warmth of a Divine hand.” Singing will be heard across the land. Easter is coming.
Friends with the Best,
Jason D. Lloyd
An Easter Song (Part 2)
“And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate” (St. Luke 23:11 KJV).
In the Amplified Bible it says, they “treated Him with contempt, scoffed at and ridiculed Him; then, dressing Him up in bright and gorgeous apparel…”Little did they know that they were dressing him in his robe of war against evil itself. He performed no miracle for Herod who had longed to meet the Carpenter/Healer. News had spread. However, the Christ authenticated himself in no way before this ruler. He in fact, made no reply. He stood before Herod, his throne, and entourage and said nothing—complete silence
But I still hear in the background a humming effect; a sound so strong yet so silent. Somewhere through this entire story there is a cymbal rhythmic clashing, a drum beat, and a flute playing. A faint whistling over the hill is in one’s ear—‘cause Easter is Coming.
Years ago my family and I went through San Jacinta Texas State Monument on vacation. It rises high into the atmosphere east of Houston, Texas. This 570 foot spiraling structure of Cordova shell stone is a symbol of the Lone Star of Texas and representative of those gallant soldiers who fought for its Independence. The Monument is 15 feet taller than the Washington Monument and topped with a 35 foot star weighing 200 tons. I also remember touring the museum at the base of this Monument. We saw General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna’s military uniform. It was a dark purplish-blue color decorated with military décor. He was a very small person, yet a great threat and villain in Texas History. You might say this was his robe of war.
Here the Christ stood before a king, yet he himself, a king! Both had on their robes. One stood as a political figure, the other stood as the Prince of Peace. The irony is that Herod had longed to see Jesus “do his thing (perform the unusual).”But he said nothing.
Music is made by its movement. It’s in the harmonious flow of the minstrel. I hope you hear it, too. This Easter Season I hope you hear that symphony of hope and salvation—‘cause they’re playing our song. Little did Herod know what—No! Little did Herod know Who was under the robe. Easter is Coming!
Friends with the Best,
Jason D. Lloyd
An Easter Song (Part 3)
“Then they came, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him” (St. Matthew 26:50b KJV).
His arrest came after his betrayal. It was the kiss of Judas that pointed out to the arresting soldiers who this Teacher/Healer was that had caused so much commotion in the land. At this point the disciples are still doodling along in their faith. But now comes game time. This Christianity is no longer in a classroom upon hill or by the Sea of Galilee. It is for real. Christ is now in the hands of man. He is a criminal about to have a record. The trial is just around the corner. His days are doomed. He is taken away. But Easter is Coming.
Having taught and preached in all kinds of jails, prisons and correctional facilities it is a humbling experience to see young men and women especially, being led around in those chains. I can only tell you that when I have spoken to prisoners the most moving has been when I was accompanied by a former prisoner turned preacher. The African American preacher seemed to always start singing with his preaching. In the eerie echo of the cold jail cell I can still hear his voice. That voice, that rumbling sound rose higher and higher when he would bellow out those words. It caused a tingling up and down my spine. But he never sang about a Savior who was a prisoner. He sang about a Savior who is our Redeemer. He, too, knew that Easter is Coming.
History reveals to us that this special occasion called Easter dates back to a pagan celebration. People centuries ago worshiped the sun, the moon, the water, and all kinds of creatures. Somehow out of this pagan celebration evolved our recognition of the Resurrection Day that we call Easter.It is much more than a colorful egg hunt, bunny rabbits, parades and prizes. It is about the very core of Christianity. It is the celebration of the One who brought us life midst death, hope midst despair.
Do you hear that faint Easter song in the street? Is there a picking of strings creating a rhapsody? Are those the beat of drums, the sound of the horns? Are those people ballad singers? Do you hear percussionist players forming an Easter ensemble, that orchestra of melodious music about the Living Lord? Those hands that held him could not hold him—-not even death could! Easter is Coming.
‘Friends with the Best,
Jason D. Lloyd
An Easter Song (Part 4)
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19 KJV).
The great Missionary knew music. He was a cultured, social figure of his day long before his dramatic conversion. He knew all about Jewish customs and music—he himself was a “Hebrew of the Hebrews from the tribe of Benjamin.” In Hebrew history Paul knew the power of praise and song. Centuries and centuries before the coming Christ David began his last five Psalms with, “Praise you the Lord” (RKJV).In his 146TH Psalm he declares, “Praise you the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul” (Psalm 146:1 RKJV).Praise is the Hebrew word, halal (haw-lal) which means to rave. And the Hebrew word for soul is the term, naphash (naw-fash) that means to breathe; as though a gust of air refreshes you as it hits you in the face.
Remember in the end the Pharisees urged the Lord to silence His disciples who were praising Him as their King. From their naphash, their souls they were crying out praises to the Messiah. When the Lord heard these defiant and pessimistic Pharisees he retorted, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40 KJV). Why? ‘Cause Easter is Coming!
Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, praise, music, those tambourines, and bands all speak to our naphash, our soul. The Easter that is upon us is about the naphash. It is about the breath of new life—that gust of refreshing air. You and I have something to sing about in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. We have something to rave about! It is an Easter Song. HE IS RISEN!
Friends with the Best,
Jason D. Lloyd
An Easter Song (Part 5)
“And there followed him a great company of people, and women who also bewailed and lamented over Christ” (Luke 23:27 RKJV).
Who were all these people following this criminal sentenced to his death? What had they heard about him? Why were they so sorrowful? Hadn’t they all been touched by his life? Hadn’t he put a new song in their hearts? An Easter Song maybe? What gloom came before the empty tomb!
Could there have been a more dark, desperate and disappointing period before Christ came to this earth? A music-less moment in time! It was an age that needed a broom. It needed to be swept clean of its unromantic memories, its lack of creativity and its loss of luster and life. It was truly the Dark Age Period of Time. In Judaism they had become so steeped in their rigorous rules and laws that they were a people inhibited by their own ignorance of any freedom in religion. From the Torah (Five Books of Moses) came the Mishna and its incessant legalistic laws (over 700).Later in the 5TH century came the Talmud which was basically an interpretation and explanation of the Mishna. The people had become slaves to their own beliefs and burdened by their many judgmental codes. They were blinded by religion.
And then this Carpenter Boy appeared. And there were parties. Laughter! Praise! Healings! Transformations! Miracles! New sermons! Exciting events! Multitudes gathered. A new voice in time! Whispers of hope! Some even wondered—“did John the Baptist come back to life?” Blind people got new eyes. Lepers became normal citizens again. Some people came out of their caskets, their tombs and lived again! Right smack in the middle of all this ugly darkness came LIGHT like no one had ever seen before, and never will again. But they thought they eliminated this LIGHT. But they didn’t—did they? Easter is coming.
Friends with the Best,
Jason D. Lloyd
An Easter Song (Part 6)
“I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the valleys” (The Song of Solomon 2:1 RKJV).
Mozart penned for us music beyond description. The man was truly a genius at music. In his masterpiece the Marriage of Figaro he captivates an audience’s heart as we saw in the movie, The Shawshank Redemption. Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins is a banker who supposedly killed his wife; the truth is he was innocent. And Morgan Freeman, who played the role of Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, knew this was true. This music, this operatic wonder of sound and euphoria fills the atmosphere at this ill-fated and poorly run prison. Andy Dufresne never should have been there, but he was. He was under the ward of the state. He had no say anymore. But that music, that incredible opera language of beauty and excellence seemed to keep Andy Dufresne’s soul free even though he was behind correctional walls. There was music in his heart even though there was a prison around his life. When the lady of the opera sang, and the sound spread throughout the prison, it was as though Andy’s soul began to fly like a bird in the free airs above. No bars could hold his spirit and passion he had for that incredible music of this opera.
Many centuries before He came, the music had already begun. Solomon couldn’t have penned prettier words of poetry than these, “I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valleys.” Although He became an innocent prisoner, the music about Him could not be contained. He died for you. He died for me. He died for all mankind. But the music, that worshipful, exhilarating and awesome sound played on…and it still does. It is An Easter Song. It is the song of freedom and grace, of mercy and love; of peace and hope of salvation and life. The voices are still singing and the orchestras are still playing. Easter has come. Easter has finally come. He’s Alive!
Friends with the Best,
Jason D. Lloyd
Your Own God
“And God said unto Moses, ‘I AM THAT I AM’” (Exodus 3:14a KJV).
He is the Always God. Infinite. Eternal. Never changes His calendar. No past. No present. No future. Timeless. We can best understand Almighty by Alpha and Omega—He is the beginning and the ending for what we know as existence. “For a thousand years in your sight, are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4 RKJV).His world, His space is filled with boundlessness, measurelessness and exhaustlessness. He is your forever Father and Friend and Confidant.
Isaiah penned so well for us:
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not faint, neither is He weary? There is no searching of His understanding.
He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might, He increases their strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:28-31 RKJV).
As you go out into your day to today remember I AM THAT I AM is with you. He is like the illimitable ocean and the incalculable stars of the night. This is more than enough assurance and inspiration and affirmation for you and your faith. Go with God. Let His presence empower you. “With Him on your side, who can be against you?” He is Your Own God.
Basking in His grace,
Sarah Li Kim
Your Own God (II)
“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations” (Psalm 90:1 RKJV).
In this poem or prayer of Moses is the confidence and comfort we can find in our God and King. All too often we look around at our situation and only see the gloom and doom before us. We forget the Co-Pilot of our life, of our world. He is truly Your Own God. He is not Someone high up in a sky that cannot be reached or conversed with. He is as the Psalmist cries out, “...A very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1b KJV). Every problem you have you can approach Him with.E very hurt you are experiencing, every decision you’re facing; every wall you’re up against, every possible challenging issue you have on this earth, God, Your Own God, wants to be your “dwelling place”—your solution.
In one of my favorite Bible verses the Psalmist declares, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4 KJV). That incredible and incomparable “dwelling place” and safe shelter God has is just for you and me. Could this 90TH Psalm really have been a Psalm by Moses? Perhaps so. It would be the oldest of the 150 Psalms. It would have been written from a wilderness no doubt, from a land of treacherous terrain, much trepidation, and a myriad of taunting terrors by day and by night. But midst this horrible backdrop of life and death, of desolation and rebellion, of fear and pain Moses could avow with such assurance and affirmation, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.” Goodness! What a precious promise to His children—you and me. And then there’s that awesome truth you can pick up as you face the real world and all of its calamities—God is Your Own God. He provides that spiritually unique, cozy, reassuring, inspiring, safe shelter just for you. Your “Dwelling Place.” In any land, in any wilderness, in any situation, He is Your Own God and Father.
Basking in His grace,
Sarah Li Kim
Your Own God (IV)
“And with the scraps he made a god; a graven image” (Isaiah 44:17 RKJV).
The carpenter in this story cuts down his timber. He then builds himself what he wishes. He, of course, builds his own abode. He even takes ashes and enriches his garden with them. He uses the wood to start a fire and bake his food. He also uses his timber in his fireplace to keep himself warm. With wood a carpenter can build many things: furniture, homes, barns, boats, businesses, toys, writing pens, etc. But in this case the carpenter saved the scraps for his god. Sad! Huh?
Within all mankind is a vacuum; in that vacuum there is an insatiable longing for God. It has always been. It always will be. Inside you is that special compartment where God wants to be and needs to be. However, God is a true Gentleman. He will not force or coerce His way into a person’s heart. Religion is a very personal matter. Those who seek God’s face and are both devoted to doing so and genuine in their quest, will find more of God than those who do not. The very thought that He is Your Own God may sound a bit presumptuous, but even God is a jealous God. He craves for you to crave Him—Him only! He longs for your worship and adoration. He desires to be Your Own God. Earlier in this same chapter Isaiah writes: “I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no God….Is there a God beside me? Be sure! There is no God; I know not any” (Isaiah 44:6b, 8b RKJV).
Many years ago I came to a very personal crisis in my life; without a doubt one of the lowest moments I ever experienced. I was at my wits end. I went to a church at a very young age in ministry. The people were fighting. Tempers flared constantly. The hate within this body of believers could have been cut with a knife. So I walked down the street one sunny day to visit an old minister at his home. He talked to me a long time. But I shall never forget that he fed me fried chicken that day for lunch. It was a simple meal. But the food that went inside me was anything but scraps. He gave food that I could “run on” for many years to come. I can’t even remember all that he said to me that day—but it was a turning point in my life. He feed me hope, confidence and a new aspiration to go on with my life and ministry—and he fed me delicious fried chicken. As you seek Your Own God be prepared for a gourmet meal—at His table is the best fried chicken you’ll ever taste. “O taste and see that the Lord is good…they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing” (Psalm 34: 8a, 10b KJV). From His table of grace you can be sure, He won’t give you the scraps!
Basking in His grace,
Sarah Li Kim
Your Own God (V)
“And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were sat down together, Peter sat down among them” (Luke 22:55 KJV).
Peter is warming himself by the fire along with others. While Christ is being tried, he is being tested. This is a picture of many people spiritually, sitting by the fire of life and warming themselves. Peter becomes a passive bystander; nothing more and nothing less. The Christ he promised not to deny, in the end he denied with cursing. The different maids and people who attempted to label him with his Lord were unsuccessful, and then after three denials the rooster crowed.
Your Own God does not and will not invade your life as a conquering warrior or imposing swat team. God leaves the door open to you. You have the choice to make Him what you want Him to be in your life. Sitting by the fire will not get it! A definite and determined effort is a must. In the New Testament on several occasions we read about people seeking the Christ—anything but sitting by a fire to warm themselves. Remember the men who tore through the roof of a house to get to the Healer? Remember the lady pushing through the crowd to touch the fringe of Messiah’s robe? Do you recall blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, who cried out even more to the Lord when the crowd attempted to silence him? Have you read about the man in Christ’s parable who awoke his friend at midnight to get a few loaves of bread for his company that was visiting him? All of these examples and more tell you that Your Own God is to be sought; He actually awaits you. To know Him more, to seek His face, to enjoy and experience the depths of His presence demands your energies and pro-activeness. You can’t sit by the fire of life and warm yourself and expect to know the greatness of Your Own God. Won’t work! Real faith moves, it has motion, not inertia.
The Christ explains it best I think, “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 RKJV).When you seek Him you will find Him. And you will never be disappointed. Get away from the fire. Tear into the roof, He’s waiting….He’s there.Your Own God stands before you.
Basking in His grace,
Sarah Li Kim
