Tuesday With Teri

          “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”  Who could forget this infamous line from the movie Jaws?  As the lead character gets his first real look at the large shark he is trying to capture/kill, he comes to a quick conclusion that they are less than adequately prepared to take on the oversized Great White.  

  His need was bigger than his boat.

          I drive a VW Bug.  Although the rest of my family does not think my car is cool, I love my Bug!  The only problem I have with my Bug is a lack of sufficient trunk space.  It does have a surprisingly roomy little trunk, but it is definitely not intended to hold two week’s worth of groceries.   There have been several occasions upon which I found myself in the grocery store to, “pick up a few things” only to get caught up in a sort of buying frenzy.    After spending a significant amount of time in the store, I totally forgot which vehicle I had driven.   When I rolled my overflowing grocery cart out to the parking lot it became obvious that I was not adequately prepared.  I could almost hear the line in the back of mind…”We’re gonna need a bigger trunk.” 

My need was bigger than my Bug.

          The other night as I was leaving the church I encountered an elderly woman in the foyer.   It was pouring rain and she commented that she had left her umbrella in her car on the other side of the parking lot.  I offered to walk her to her car and share my umbrella.  She graciously accepted my offer.   As we exited the church arm in arm I popped opened my umbrella and discovered that I had forgotten which umbrella I had with me.  I have several tote size umbrellas at home, but apparently I placed the extremely miniature version in my purse that night.  The circumference of the umbrella was barely large enough to cover one person.  I held it over her as best I could, but as we hurried across the parking lot it seemed only to funnel large amounts of water down our backs. 

 My need was bigger than my umbrella.

          There will continue to be times in all our lives when our needs may be bigger than what we have at hand…but my earthly needs pale in comparison to my spiritual need.

          This week I am reminded, again, of my need for forgiveness and grace.   In his Passover sermon our pastor went so far as to proclaim what “great sinners” we all were.  OUCH!  I wanted to be offended, but the reality was that not only was he speaking the truth, he was actually understating it.  I know my heart, my struggles, my faith, my temptations and my falling downs.  I know that even in an attempt to live a life that is pleasing to God, I still struggle in my flesh.  I know that I am not alone… “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23 

          Easter is the time of year when Christians celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of our Christ.  It is because of His sacrifice, His defeat over death, and His resurrection that we can ask to be forgiven of our sins. “For if while we were yet sinners, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10

This Easter I celebrate the sufficient covering of my sins by a God whose love, forgiveness and grace is “big enough”!

My need is NOT bigger than my God!

“…if anyone sins, we have this Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the world.” 1 John 2:1-2