Happy Belated Easter. How did you celebrate? My family and I attended service (my daughter played her trumpet), I bought an Easter lily to honor my maternal grandmother and then headed to my mom's for a family dinner. The weather was in the 70s (about 20 degrees higher than normal) and my nephew was home from his first year in college.
A lot of people don't understand why Good Friday, but especially Easter is so important. When I worked, I always took Good Friday off. People assumed we automatically had it off...not true. In my household working on Good Friday and Easter were frowned upon. (Same thing with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.)
Last night, I listened as a news reporter described Easter Sunday as the day when most people believe the alleged resurrection of Jesus Christ. Her words struck me as odd. What do you mean "alleged"?
I know she has to report the news objectively, but come on. The resurrection of Jesus is real to me and for me. I think about what the resurrection has done for me and how it impacted my life. If it wasn't for Jesus' life saving and unselfish act, I might not be here. None of us would.
Jesus gave us a special gift: eternal life. I'm the kind of person who can
receive a gift and not open it right away. My sister isn't. She has to rip off the wrapping open it immediately. Most of us are like my sister.
Many of us are confused about the resurrection. (Check out 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 and 15: 19-26) Paul doesn't explain the tale. He gives the story in the tradition of faith. Paul's validity was questioned, but he was a fighter and gave answers to his critics. The resurrection is about our future. We need to be happy and experience joy in our present not in the after life. You won't truly understand the power of His resurrection in the present, if you are waiting to see it when you are dead. Have your JOY now!
Look at the gifts the resurrection brings you: Forgiveness of all your sins, witnesses to it, preaching, eternal life (because everyone who believes in him; will follow him.) and faith (the gift that keeps giving and giving).
It's a few days after Easter. The Easter baskets may be gone and the women's colorful hats are put away. I'm happy that Jesus lives again...especially with in my life. I'm a believer... Oh happy day!
Posted By: Marsha Jones
Tuesday, April 6th 2010 at 9:48AM
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