3 in 1 - Easter Sunday 2019
Easter has always been a special holiday for me because of the childhood memories it holds.
Growing up we always had all these fun holiday traditions we would do. Mom came up with the best traditions to teach us kids the Bible. I thrived on this. Maybe it was because it was consistent structure. I knew what to expect. I like structure. I like knowing what we're gonna do when. When my structure gets messed up, I go nuts. I go a little crazy.
Easter 2019 was the first year that we didn't do any traditions or even go to church on Easter. I thought it was going to be a very hard day emotionally. I always expect things to stay the same even though they don't. I thought I was gonna be an emotional wreck this year because my life is totally messed up due to health issues. But to my shock and surprise, I wasn't a wreck at all. It wasn't a hard day at all. In fact, it was a beautiful day. Probably the most beautiful Easter I've ever had. The Lord really showed me who He is. He really showed up in a very special unexpected way.
Here's how Easter Sunday morning 2019 started.
I woke up and watched Brookside Baptist Church in WI online because I knew that Ron and Shelly's son, Jason, would be conducting Ron's Easter cantata "The Centurion" at his church. Jason Hamilton is a music pastor at Brookside Baptist Church in WI.
The pastor talked about a question that Jesus asked His disciples. He asked them “Who do you think I am ?” The pastor went into talking about the trinity and how God is 3 in one. For some reason the number 3 really stuck out to me.
A patch song called “3 in one” started going through my head. I think it answers that question.
It got me thinking.
Have you ever thought about the #3 and the Easter story?
Think about how many times in the Bible where we see a pattern of 3.
Jesus told His disciples “3” times that He would die and rise again
Jesus rose again on the “3rd” day.
Death, Burial, resurrection. “3” words
The rooster crowed “3” times after Peter denied Jesus.
Jesus asked Peter “3” times do you love me?
Jesus said “I am “1. The way, 2. the truth and 3. the life” “3” words
Judas betrayed Jesus with “30” pieces of silver. The number “3” shows up again.
The wise men brought “3” spices as gifts to baby Jesus. 1. Gold, 2. Frankincense, 3.Myrrh
Jonah was in the whales belly for “3” days and “3” nights.
There were "3" men who got thrown into the fire and the Lord was in the fire with them-Daniel 6
For the rest of the day the Lord kept bringing to mind how many times the #3 shows up in the Bible. The #3 represents the trinity. God says He is 3 in 1. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe, in a round about way that God is trying to show His people who He is and we're just not seeing it? I just think this is really interesting. The trinity is represented the best way through music and most people will have no clue. A chord ”3” notes or triad (triangle ”3” corners) ”3” notes is the best example of this.
Ps. At the end of the church service online we all got a surprise ending. Ron and Shelly showed up!!! Which was a complete shock and surprise!
Ron looked great! I was happy.
Better yet they gave Ron an award and told him they were sending him to "Sight and Sound theater" to see the "Jesus" play live on stage. How cool is that?
I was only a little bit jealous. Lol.
The next two blog posts are a little bit out of order but I did that on purpose.
As I mentioned earlier, Easter 2019 was the first Easter that I didn't go to church. That's because I had left the church I was attending back in October 2018.
That church was the last straw for me. Every single church that I have been to here in southern California (except my uncle's church) has said that illness is a lack of faith and the churches have been against meds. This is one of my biggest pet peeves because it's not true and it's not biblical.
I'm done attending churches here in Orange County California.
After I left the church, it dawned on me to find out what church the Hamiltons attend. I trust their judgement on churches because of what they went through with their son Jonathan, and what they're going through now with Ron's dementia.
They wouldn't attend a church that would say that illness is a lack of faith or be against meds.
They know that's not biblical.
They attend a church called Morningside Baptist Church in their hometown of Greenville SC.
(Right around this time there started being talk of us moving to NC. I feel this is God's way of transitioning me from churches here in southern California to churches in SC/NC.)
Ron wrote a song about someone in the Bible who had a thorn in his flesh. You might know who I'm talking about. This person was Paul. He asked God "3" times to take away his thorn in his flesh and God said no. God gave him the thorn to keep him humble. God said my grace is sufficient for you.
I love the story of when Paul and Silas get thrown in prison and what do they do? They sang praises at midnight, during the worst part of suffering. Amazing.
The song Ron wrote is called "Tho It's Midnight."