Well… the eggs have been decorated, placed in baskets, found, and even eaten.
The church service is over and the songs have been sung.
The new dresses and suits have been neatly hung back in the closet.
And, at our house, all the chocolate has been eaten, leaving only jelly beans for a sweet tooth.
But…..is Easter “over”?
Maybe at Target, where aisles of baskets and candy have been replaced with gifts for mothers.
But, for us…..followers of Jesus Christ…..is Easter “finished” for another year….
Or, has it just begun?
Jesus is the Risen Lord.
He has conquered death.
He has overcome the grave.
Do you know what that means for you?
It means, if you choose Him, you, too have conquered death.
If He is your Lord, you, too, have overcome the grave.
You are seated with Christ in the Heavenlies.
Death has no power of you.
Addiction has no power of you.
Fear has no power of you.
He has given YOU new life.
YOU are a New Creation in Christ.
The OLD has gone.
The NEW has come.
You are clean.
You are forgiven.
You are FREE.
Hallelujah!
There is reason to sing!
There is reason to celebrate!
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” says the Lord God. “I am
the One who is, and who was, and who is to come. I am the Mighty One.” Revelation 1:8
We have HOPE. We have an inheritance. We have a future.
No, Easter is NOT over- it continues in us daily throughout eternity. And as we gather together and celebrate each year, we are reminded that we have a glorious inheritance- a “living hope”. Praise God!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you..” -1Peter 1:3-4
Is Easter "OVER"???
Pushin' with you, girls....
Have you ever been desperate for God? Have you experienced a time when it seemed God had abandoned you? A time when you just couldn't "feel" God's Presence?
Most of you know that my father-in-law passed away right before Thanksgiving. Then....we went right into the holidays. I felt immense pressure being a first year homeschooling family. My church is going through HUGE struggles right now. We have been here since we moved to Iowa- for 13 years- this is my family. And of course, just "life" seemed to deal me a blow at every corner. Andrew has been asking tough questions about his faith and God (he is 14). Bills, laundry, the cares of home of family....
I found myself avoiding God. Instead of crying out to Him, I ran away from Him. There were plenty of distractions to keep me busy....the Wii, the computer, the TV, activities....anything to avoid facing the "work" of allowing God to heal my heart.
Boy, the enemy LOVES when we do this. It is a perfect opportunity for him to kick us when we're down. He brings everything possible into our lives to further discourage us- a forgotten bill to pay, a cold, fighting kids- you name it. You know, "what ever CAN go wrong DOES go wrong!" And, then he whispers in your ear, "You're a failure. You are not good enough. You are unloved. No one appreciates you. God isn't there."
Sisters, know those are COMPLETE lies from the enemy!
I (you) are loved. Yes, I could never be "good" enough, but thanks be to God, I don't have to be! I am perfect in Christ! In Christ, I am MORE than good enough....in Christ I have everything I need and His grace is sufficient for me. I am NOT a failure, but "more than a conqueror" in Christ Jesus. God appreciates me. He has numbered the very hairs on my head. I am "precious and honored" in His sight. God is here. He has never left me. He calls to me. Whispers to me.
"I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. I am with you wherever you go."
So, as I walk through this wilderness, the Promised Land in my sight, I cry out like David, "O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name, I will lift up my hands."
I am at Laced with Grace today sharing about SPIRITUAL BATTLES and how I fought this latest one.... I hope you jump over there to read it!
Also, THANK YOU so much for all of your prayers as I have been walking this road. Many days they have truly gotten me through. Thank you, friends.
Labels:
spiritual warfare,
trials
