ONE EASTER MORNING

THE CAUSE:
 John 3:16 CEV "God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who has faith in Him will have eternal life and, never really die."

  Love The Lamb:
 John 1:29 NIV The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

  Worship The King:
 Luke 19: 38 NIV "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!"

 Luke 23: 48 CEV "A crowd had gathered to see the terrible sight. Then after they had seen it, they felt brokenhearted and went home."

  As they left that torturous place that day so few knew a sacrificial Lamb had been slain, and a King would arise, and rule in any heart choosing to believe. The ransom was paid; humanity set free. He lives; death died! The glory of the cross; Father God's heart of love; Jesus bearing the sins of the world, my sins…your sins; I feel so inadequate to speak of it. I know the truths of the act; the facts, yet my heart is shredded when I read and think about it again.

Once I rise from stumbling over that obstacle (guilt) pure joy washes through me. Jesus suffered in a manner humans cannot begin to understand. With His God -power, He broke the hold of death: He made me worthy to be in the presence of holy God. He is eternal; He is eternally with me. He gave me soul healing; the finest gift! He arose, and He lives; the greatest truth.

 1 Peter 2:24 The Message "He used His servant body to carry our sins to the cross, so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing!"

 Praises, praises to my living King.

 THE EFFECT:
 John 14:3 New Century Version   " After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am."

  James 1:22-25 New Century Version   " Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves. Those who hear God’s teaching and do nothing are like people who look at themselves in a mirror. They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like. But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God’s perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy."

  It was very early that Easter's morning, during our Tennessee years; the day was not yet sunlit. We were all awake and happy, and because we were early for the service, we drove through the park to the stone wall overlook that encircled a bluff high above Lake Barkley. The water was a dull gray in the wee hours. Soon, at daybreak we would celebrate our risen Christ with a smallish but faithful group from our church.

 Earlier, "in the still dark," the Easter baskets had been opened, well explored, sampled, and put aside for a later sugary feast. They would be emptied after dinner just in time for the egg hunt prepared by "ham filled," sleepy adults ready for "The" Sunday afternoon nap.

 On a sugar high and excited by the unusual activity going on so early, the kids literally sprang from our car and immediately headed for the wall. It had a natural attraction for the boys; it lured them to an active adventure. Due to their sizes, I am sure it appeared as, "a rock precipice."

 Our smaller daughter was not to be denied, so I lifted her up holding tightly to her hand and shivering in the dewy mist we walked for a while. As I was reflecting on the fullness of the Christian life, Jesus had bought for me, I glanced toward the east, and there on the lower edge of the sky were faint streaks of light teasing the night, making promises of an orange-hued dawn takeover. Already the day seemed warmer. The mist was rising and of course, as it continued up the bank its tendrils played "kissy" with my curly-"ish" hair, which shortly turned to fuzz.

 The service (held in another area,) would soon start; we gathered our chicks; it was time to go.

 It was time to go…, and time went; I don't know where, but it flew by. In half a breath 45-48 years passed and life happened all over the place. I'm going back someday and walk around that overlook. I know the air will be thick with the presence of my little family, of the thoughts invading my mind on that occasion. I will walk up the mound (so appropriate) where we gloriously celebrated, and I will worship my Lord in that spot once again, with a grateful heart for His sacrifice and my salvation, and the bit of glory He has let me taste; it leaves me with a great desire for more, so fill me Holy Spirit!

 ~
  My desire for you is this; read the gospels*, go deeper this Easter season, pore over "living Word" with an open heart, be moved in your spirits for the blessings and glory of the Cross. You may travel along new paths, and find answers to questions never asked. Pray for a clearer understanding of His words, and a renewing of your hearts by absorbing the full meaning of His crucifixion, and resurrection. Have the will to be made aware of the "God directed" cause for His death, His resurrection, and the effect it can have on the everyday world in which you live.

 Oh yes, and give Him praise when He answers.

 Praises for the Cross and Happy Resurrection blessings!
And as we go...

  "But now, God’s Message,
    the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
    the One who got you started, Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
    I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
    When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
    it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
    The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
    all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That’s how much you mean to me!
    That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
    trade the creation just for you.

Isaiah 43:1-3

 * gospels:

"Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John"                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                































gospels: "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John"