Rejoice! He is Risen, indeed!!

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living amount the dead?  He is not here; He has risen!"

Luke 24:1-6

Rejoice!  He is Risen, indeed!!

On the Cross

"It was not about the noon, and darkness fell over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining.  And  the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  And Jesus, cried out with a loud voice, said "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."  When he had said this, He breathed His last."

Luke 23: 44-46

Today we pause to remember your sacrificial love

That shone light into darkness

That bore life from such emptiness

That reveals hope out of devastation

That spoke truth through incrimination

That released freedom in spite of imprisonment

And brought us forgiveness instead of punishment.

Thank you that we can now walk in the light of your life, Hope, truth , freedom and forgiveness, 

This day and everyday.

www.lords-prayer-words.com

"Triumphant Entry"

They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and He sat on them.  Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  And the crowds that went before Him and that followed Him were shouting

"Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest!"

Mathew 21:7-9

"Triumphant Entry" can't even begin to explain the energy and excitement in the crowd that day... the Savior they had waited for...for hundred, if not thousands of years had finally come!  

Just imagine how you would feel if you happened upon that scene an hour after Jesus had gone through... you missed it!   That pit in your stomach... you'd feel like you had just missed a once in a lifetime opportunity...

But that's not the way it is.  That is why we call it "The Good News"...you haven't missed it!  Over two thousand years later, you can still choose to follow Jesus an experience "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding."  Philippines 4-7a

This Old House

"Even though on the outside, it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace."

2 Corinthians 4:16

Today's my birthday and I've been doing a lot of reflecting on my life... past, present and future!  My heart is overwhelmed with all of the blessings of my life.

However... as birthdays come and go, we start to feel a little bit like this old house.  Our paint may be faded and worn, and we may have a shutter barely hangin on it's hinges.  Even our landscaping gets overgrown and the floorboards occasionally creak!

But we still rejoice with each new day because in Christ, we are brand new and His unfailing grace greets us with hope and promise!

Beyond Comprehension

"For I will put water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground;  I will pour out may Spirit on your offfspring, and my blessings on your descendants."

Isaiah 44:3

Nowhere have I experience the power of mother nature like I have while visiting the Lower Falls in  The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park.  We hiked about a quarter mile down the switchbacks to the very top of the falls where the spray from the 300 foot drop hung in the air.  It was powerful.

Gods power is beyond my comprehension.  The beauty and majesty of His creation on this earth is beyond my comprehension. The miracle of birth and of love and of forgiveness is something that can only come from God.  But "beyond my comprehension" is just another way of describing faith.  I may not understand the how or why, but I know it to be true.

"The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. "

Hebrews 11:1

Challenges in Life

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Recently my husband and I watched the Oscar winning documentary "Free Solo."  The story of Alex Honnold, the first person to climb the face of El Capitan without any ropes or safety net.  It was insane!  The athleticism, the focus and determination was beyond my comprehension.  

We will all face what seem to be insurmountable challenges in life, but we are never, ever without our safety net.  Jesus Christ is right there beside you always.   He is holding you up when you slip, guiding the way through the rocky crags and ravines all while shining His light on the path for you to follow. All we have to do is pay attention and follow His lead.   And isn't it wonderful that when we reach the summit, we can take a big breath, enjoy the view and praise Him for his unfailing love and protection through it all.