Sunday, April 12, 2009

Grace

A few days ago I gathered the makings of that Easter egg resurrection lesson. This is the first year I'm doing it with the kids (they've never seen it at church before, of course). I felt really strange and sad while collecting nails and making a little cross and writing out a miniature "King of the Jews" sign.

I remember when I was younger always feeling grateful for what Christ did for me, but I also remember wondering why it was such a big deal. I mean the dying for us. I thought, probably a lot of people would be willing to die to save everyone else. Even suffering a painful and prolonged death. Many people have died for family and country or what they believe.

I don't think it was very long after having those thoughts that I remembered the atonement. There's something no one else every could or would do.

I am so grateful for Christ's sacrifice for me. I am grateful for his death which brought resurrection and immortality and for his atonement which gives me a shot at eternal life.

A CD arrived unexpectedly in our mailbox before we left for Greg's parent's house for the Easter break. We've been listening to it a lot and one of the hymns on it is a favorite of mine "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing". I love the lyrics (I can't hear or think of the refrain without getting teary) and I love the melody. The last verse captures just how I feel, especially at this time of year, so I will write it here.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, as a fetter,
Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
Sorry this post is diconjointed and incomplete. I wrote half at home and half here at Greg's parent's house.

18 comments:

Stephanie said...

I too love that hymn. I remember seeing a version of it by a BYU chorus on TV that almost brought me to tears. It's beautiful, and you are so right about the power of that Grace. Happy Easter.

Lara Neves said...

I think that you're right...we tend to focus more on Christ's dying for us than we do on the entire Atonement and all that really entails. Thank you for making that point, because it's something I don't think enough about myself.

Love that piece...it gives me chills every time I sing that particular arrangement. (I'm even singing in the clip you showed...I am standing right behind that girl they keep showing at the end, but they never show my face.)

Heidi said...

It's also absolutely one of my favorites. It's been around for such a long time, I think it might have originally been an Irish folk tune. Have a wonderful Easter!

Melanie Jacobson said...

You're my second to friend to mention that hymn recently. I think I need to go listen to it. The words you quoted are lovely.

Mrs4444 said...

It was beautiful to listen to as I read your post. I feel the same.

Randi said...

That's my favorite hymn and verse, too! I so wish it was in the hymnbook!

Lesley said...

Beautiful. Happy Easter!

Heather of the EO said...

I love that hymn too and feel the same way about the part you shared here. I got teary just reading it!

I thought the same thing you did when I was younger. And I don't think I really got it until thinking of that atonement, that one so perfect would literally BECOME all sin, evil, perversion...for me. That makes it different.

Jesus rocks :)

That Girl said...

That is my most favorite hymn ever and I STILL can't believe it's not in our hymnbook.

Should we start a petition?

Kazzy said...

Beautiful post, friend. I love it. Still shocks me that that hymn was removed in the newer hymnbook. I love that one!

Becky said...

How could anyone NOT love that hymn? Beautiful testimony, Lisa. Thank you for sharing it.

Shannon (The Daily Balance) said...

Beautiful. Happy Easter ;)

charrette said...

Sweet testimony, lovely post. I have done an Easter lesson similar to that, but in the ofrm of a growing centerpiece on the dining room table throughout Holy Week...first a palm frond, a loaf of bread, etc. Then finally the scarlet cloth and crown of thorns. Actually, your easter egg version is probably way more fun for the kids.

Come Thou Fount is one of my all-time favorites. (Sally DeFord has a great arrangement of it online, to the tune of O my Father. I performed it with a friend last month.) Anyway, it's a wonderful hymn with a powerful message.

Mormon Mommy Blogs said...

HI,
I'm moving stuff around on the MMB and wondered if you wanted to stay in the funny category or be in the International one... Let me know

~motherboard

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

That song gets me every time too...it makes my heart ache in such a good way...

Anonymous said...

Let thy goodness, as a fetter, bind my wand'ring heart to Thee...Here's my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.I was just talking about that with some friends of mine last night. I think I said, "any mom would throw herself in front of a train for her child." Yes, the death is important but you're right, it's the atonement that makes all the difference.

No one else has descended into the darkness of my soul, has seen that failing in me, and loved me enough to lead me back out again. He is my brother. He is my Savior.

But mostly, He is my Friend.

Thank you for this beautiful, beautiful post.

Andi Kate, Children's Author said...

I wanted to put a churchy post up for Easter, but only got so far as Taj's mini-reminder of what it's about. Thanks for posting this.

Anne said...

Definitely one of my favs too!