Easter! Resurrection Day! He Is Alive!

 It is Easter time all across the globe.  The majority of the world acknowledges Easter.  However, not all celebrate it or observe it.  As a Christian we often say Easter is the most important holiday we observe.  Others wonder why. We hear people ask, isn’t Christmas the most important?  Well yes in the fact that Jesus was born.  But when you think about why Jesus was born, to seek and save the lost.  To save all mankind from the pit of hell.  His birth is one of the most important days of all.  Jesus walked this earth for 33 years.  Sharing the Gospel, teaching all about who He is and why He came to earth.  To save us all from destruction.  

As we read the Scriptures and learn about all that Jesus did, we realize there is so much more about Jesus than Christmas,  He raised up and used the 12 disciples.   He taught them everything they needed to know.  He shared with them that His days on earth were coming to an end, as they know it.  But He didn’t leave them with that thought alone.  He gave them encouragement, in 3 days He would rise from the grave and return to them.  Can you imagine how the disciples felt? Were they hearing correctly?  Jesus would rise from death, the grave would be empty? Could they even understand what Jesus was telling them?  

And 3 days later, the stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty.  Jesus was alive!  Yes alive!  Can you see why we call Easter the most important days of all?  He came to save us.  

Most of us do not really understand the Gospel until we are a bit older.  Maybe a teen, or young adult, or even an older adult.  Jesus wanted to make sure everyone would hear about His magnificent miracle of rising from the dead.  The tomb is empty.  This is the most important day there is.  It is full of hope, grace, forgiveness, redemption, life.  He came back for us.  

We know there is so much more to this story.  There is so much more that happened to Jesus, so much more that He did for us.  And so much more that happened after He rose from the grave.  That is for a later time. Or pick up your Bible and read about it.  He will change your life.  

As you are sitting around the table with family and friends, take a few moments, go around the table and share what great things Jesus has done for you.  And don’t forget to thank Him.  

Happy Easter my friends.  

Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10

What Type of Battles are You Fighting?

 Let’s face it, we all have battles we have faced in our lives.  Some are small, some are large.  Some downright huge. Some physical in nature, like an illness, or injuries.  Something related to our physical body.  Then we may face other battles, like those with finances, or particular needs we have.  We may have an emotional or mental battle we are going through.  None of these have to be spiritually related.  Or they all could be.  And then we come to a spiritual battle.  These battles can be deep within us. And they also can torment us the most.  Usually we find we have put ourselves in these positions .  We may not be reading God’s Word on a regular basis. We may not be communicating with God the way we ought to.  We may not be attending church the way we should.  There are many things that make us feel like we are in a spiritual battle.  Most of the time, I think, we have the ability to be victorious over these battles if we pray, get in the Word, and commune with Jesus.  Jesus will not let us down or desert us.  

I often wonder why we put ourselves in these places.  I always think of one tool(tools) we have at our disposal in times like these.  The ARMOR OF GOD! (Ephesians 6) This has always been one of my favorite topics.  It is so encouraging and uplifting, giving us hope. 

Our church has been going over the armor the last several weeks.  It is always a nice reminder of the powerful items Jesus has given us to assure us victory in our battles.  Do we walk around with a huge helmet on, or carrying a big shield, or wearing spiked shoes? Of course not.  We are talking about being adorned in the spiritual realm.  These are ours forever.  The enemy cannot take them away from us.  But we must make a conscious effort to have these active in us.  

Sometimes I go through the motions of putting each piece on.  Pretending I have the actual helmet to place on my head, and so on.  No one can see these, but I know they are there. And more importantly so does Jesus.  

So let me ask you to search your heart.  Are you facing battle after battle? Do you feel like it is impossible to get over these battles?  It is alone.  But when we go to Jesus, put those big boy shoes on, lean into Him, we can have victory.  

I pray for you my readers, hand your worries or battles over to Jesus.  Get into His Word.  And grasp ahold of those pieces of armor, put them on.  And I know Jesus is right there with you.  Don’t give up.  Be encouraged.  Be bold, be strong.

“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬