Is Easter "OVER"???

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

Happy Resurrection Day!

He is Risen!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Do you know what today is?

Do you know what it means for you?

Jesus Christ is not the bloody man on the cross.

He 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

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God who rules over all.

He was, and He is, and He is to come." Revelation 4:8

"You are worthy, our Lord and God!

You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power.

You are worthy because You created all things.

They were created and they exist.

That is the way You planned it." Revelation 4:11

"You are worthy because You were put to death.

With Your blood You bought people for God.

They come from every tribe, language, people and nation.

You have made them members of a royal family.

You have made them priests to serve our God.

They will rule on the earth." Revelation 5:9-10

"The Lamb who was put to death, is worthy!

He is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength!

He is worthy to receive honor and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:12

"May praise and honor for ever and ever

be given to the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!

Give them glory and power for ever and ever!" Revelation 5:13

Do I really NEED Jesus?

Easter is 3 days away. This is the time of year when the world seems to take an interest in Jesus, the Christ. We will begin to get bombarded with shows on the Discovery Channel and History Channel claiming many different "truths" about Him. What is true? Who is this Jesus?

Is Jesus really needed for our eternal salvation? A dear one asked me the other day, "But, what if a person has been "good" for most of his life"?.........The implication being, if a person is basically good, but hasn't accepted Jesus as Savior, will that be enough? Would God really deny that "good" person into the Kingdom of Heaven?


We don't want to think God "would do that."

Isn't that mean?

Isn't that cruel?

Well, first of all, we have GOT to get a clearer picture of God. HE is Creator. HE sets the "rules." He is KING- King of the universe, King of all creation, KING of the KINGdom of Heaven! When has our vision of God become so small, or our perception of ourselves so big that we would deny God His right to "make the rules"? He created us- He is Sovereign- He is all-knowing! Do I set the stars out one by one and call them each by name? Do I "spread the snow like wool and scatter the frost like ashes"? Who am I to question God? (see Job 38-42; Isaiah 40) God is perfect. God is Holy. God resides in Heaven- it is HIS Kingdom.

For us to join Him there, in Heaven, for eternity, we too must be holy, perfect, sinless. It is NOT enough to "be good" to be in His presence- to be a part of this perfect place. Because He is Holy, His very nature is Holy, we need to be righteous. We must remember that Heaven is NOT earth. There is no sin in Heaven. There is only righteousness. So, how can I, a sinner, enter Heaven, a perfect place that has no sin?

"But, I am good"........................


What we think is "good" is not righteous. Isaiah tells us that our righteousness is "like filthy rags to the Lord." I may be good, but I am not sinless. Think of the 10 commandments. Have I ever lied? Ever stolen anything? Ever wanted something that was someone else's? Have I lived my whole life with NEVER committing a sin? The bible tells us "ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3) I have seen the wretchedness of my soul and fall down crying out for a Savior! I have fallen short! I have seen the blackness of my heart- unkindness, a critical spirit, anger, hurtful, unwholesome words out of my mouth, selfish ambition, wrong motives, gossip, lying lips, pride, oh pride........... I NEED a Savior!


So, what am I to do? How could God set such high standards if I will fail?

Praise God! I don't have to DO it! God knew that we would never be able to DO it. God is love. He is compassionate. In His mercy, He has made a way for us. "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions...For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it the gift of God- not by WORKS" (Ephesians 2) God knew that our WORK would never be good enough, never be enough, so HE provided a way! It is His "will that not ONE would perish..." God, in His mercy and love for us provided the righteousness we need in the blood of His Son.

"For God so loved the world, that He sent His One and Only Son, Jesus, Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16.) "The righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood." (Romans 3).

Jesus is THE only way to the Father. Jesus said Himself, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

Think about this sacrifice! Would God have given His Son as a sacrifice if it weren't necessary?????? Have you seen the movie, "The Passion of the Christ"? Before the crucifixion, Jesus sweat drops of blood! This is no small thing! Jesus paid the price for us. Think on that! Jesus took the penalty of our sin. What we deserve- the punishment for all the wrongdoing for our whole lives is not carried out against us because Jesus took the sin upon Himself- He BECAME sin.

So, His blood is needed to make us righteous. We are washed in the blood of the Lamb and He forgives ALL of our sins- past, present, and future and makes us righteousness. "...the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1)

This gift is FREELY given...I don't have to DO anything to earn it...accept believe and receive it!
 
I do need Jesus!

But, if you have not experienced this forgiveness of sin, you don't understand this FREEDOM! To know that I am clean.....to experience the freedom from a guilty conscience....to know that I can walk in victory from sin, to experience this liberty, this victory....THIS is TRUE LIVING, TRUE life! Hallelujah! I once was lost, but now am found! I once was blind, and now I see! Oh, how I thank God that I did not need to DO it on my own! Oh, how I thank my precious God that He sent a Savior! Praise Him! Thank you, Jesus!


If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please make that decision right now! God loves you so much! He has made a way- He has provided everything you need.


All you need to do is believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that He is Lord and Savior. Pray, "Father God, thank you! Thank you that my salvation does not depend on my good works or that I am "good" enough. Thank you that you provided your Son, Jesus Christ, as an atoning sacrifice for my sin. I do confess that I am a sinner. I have sinned against you in my thoughts, in my words, and in my actions. I need you, Jesus! Jesus, I accept your sacrifice. I accept your love. I receive your sacrifice. I am washed by your blood, made clean by it. Jesus, you said, 'It is finished.' Everything that is needed you have accomplished. I make you my Lord and Savior. I ask that you come into my heart. I want to make you Lord of my life. In Jesus' Name I pray. Thank you, Jesus."


If you accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, please comment and tell me! I would to pray with and for you.


For further study, read the book of John, and Romans 1-8.

"What is a Christian"?

Have you ever thought about what a Christian is? Christians are people who have shuddered at the awfulness of their sin. They have seen sin for what it is : willful rebellion against the rulership of God in their lives. And, in turning from their sin, they have embraced God's only means of dealing with sin: Jesus."

-Kay Arthur
This was first published March 02, 08. I am reposting several of my Jesus devotions in celebration/preparation of the Easter season:

Happy Resurrection MONDAY!

Oh, Lord! You have RISEN!

It is MONDAY.....

The church service is over.

The songs have been sung.

I do not want to "lose" the power of Sunday! I do not want to let MONDAY be "just another day." I do not want to forget the power of what You did, precious Lord!

It has been an emotional week....with celebrating the Passover and Last Supper on Thursday, remembering Your sacrifice and grieving over Your pain on Friday....waiting on Saturday, and celebrating on Resurrection Sunday!

But, it is NOT over!

I am FREE.

Lord, help me to understand, "get a hold of" the POWER I have in a Risen Christ. Help me to see WHO I AM in Christ! Help me to walk in the victory that is already MINE through You!

I am blessed in the heavenly realms with ALL spiritual blessings in Christ. Not only that, I am CHOSEN, ADOPTED, REDEEMED, INCLUDED, MARKED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT! (Ephesians 1)

I am a NEW CREATION! (2Corinthians 6:17)

I am more than a CONQUEROR, more than an OVERCOMER! (Romans 8:37)

Lord, where I am weak, You are strong! And, I have spirit of POWER through You! (2Timothy)

Lord, You have done so much for me. I don't want to take Your sacrifice and glorious Victory for granted. I want to walk in the victory You have given me.

Yes, "Easter" may be over for another year....but Resurrection Day lives in me forever.

He has risen!

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Many blessings to you today on this incredible Resurrection Day!!

I love Spring!

Oh, YAY! I was able to get out and WALK this morning! I love to walk in the very early hours as my time with God....praying and singing and worshipping Him. This was only the third time I have been out....it's FINALLY beginning to warm up and seem like Spring. Oh, how I have missed this time! The birds are chirping (even in the dark!). The air is crisp and clean. It is so QUIET! This is when I experience the greatest connection to Him....in His presence.

And, I especially love this time in the Spring! There is a gentle wind blowing. The grass is beginning to turn green and a few trees are beginning to bud. Soon the daffodils will be peeking out their cheerful heads!

I especially love Spring because it is such a VISUAL example of death and resurrection (especially in the part of the country where I live!). The winter is DEAD. Around the middle of February it is beginning to feel so LONELY, so dreary. It is almost a time of MOURNING. Then, we begin to see signs of LIFE. The birds return. The grass greens. And, then, the miracle of new birth- the trees flower. The spring flowers bloom. All is beautiful. All is ALIVE once more!

I know it NOT an accident that Easter falls during Spring.

God wants to show us the HOPE we have in a RISEN Jesus Christ through the new life we see all around us. He is NOT DEAD! Hallelujah! He is ALIVE!

"You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. "(in the tomb) Mark 16:6

Lord, thank You for Spring! But, most of all, thank You for Jesus, who IS the Resurrection.