The Sixth Week of Easter: From FEAR to HOPE
Photo: Pastor Tom Jenkins
STEP ONE: BREATHE
Take a deep, cleansing breath. Allow the air to fill your lungs and expand your body. Exhale and empty yourself into the room. Repeat three times - once for the one who Created you, once for the Incarnate One who walks beside you, and once for the Spirit whose life fills your being.
STEP TWO: DWELL IN WORD
“On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain the pall that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.””
Song: The Mountaintop Feast
The feast on the mountain - can you see it there?
Tears wiped away - death forever done.
The finest fare passed around for all to share.
Eternal wedding banquet has begun.
(Chorus)
In the fullness of forgiveness all disgrace banished away.
At the promised final feast and even here today.
The curse of death devoured, finished, and deceased.
Everybody celebrates the mountain top feast
The universal pall becomes a tablecloth.
Old enemies forget what they fought about
Unhappy hate and petty rivalries put off
Only joy - no more scowl or pout.
(Chorus)
All around only good and glory
Beyond the din of bitter battlefield
This party at the end of the story
Mysterious redemption unveiled and revealed
(Chorus)
Some have gone ahead to the mountaintop feast.
By the hand of Jesus led. By the grace of God released.
Someday we’ll be there too in the fullness of joy and peace
As the well of life springs new, at the mountain top feast
© words and music by Steve Thompson ©2007
STEP THREE: PRAY
Oh God, Our gracious host. We are ever-so-grateful for the delicious promise of the eternal party at the end of the story. In the midst of things that are way beyond our control, even in the midst of death, keep us mindful of your resurrection life. Amen.
Today’s devotion is by Pastor Steve Thompson (song) and Pastor Tom Jenkins (photo)
Song ©2007. Steve Thompson.
Image- © 2020. Tom Jenkins.
Permission granted to share with family and friends.