Resurrection

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What if death is merely a doorway? 

What if an end opens the way for a beginning? 

What if when it looks like the darkness has won is really an opportunity for the light to shine? 

What if the gaping hole left by someone becomes the means by greater love is poured into your life?

What if when things look the most hopeless is when the greatest power can be displayed? 

What if real life can only be birthed when our fake life dies? 

What if death is just the way that we get to the place where God can resurrect us? 

Death is not pleasant. 

Death often is accompanied by pain. 

Death is hard. 

Death of someone or something you love is inevitable. 

But there is good news. 

Our God is the Lord of Life. 

He is the King of the living. 

He is God Everlasting. 

He has the power of life in His hands. 

He is strong enough to bring resurrection to anything no matter how dead things appear. 

And He longs to bring resurrection into our lives. 

He longs for life abundant to flourish. 

This is who He is. 

This is the power of our God. 

Oh let us come to Him in faith with the dead parts of our lives and ask for a resurrection greater than anything we could imagine. 

The Night Before

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There's something that seems so cold and sad about a grave. I've stood beside the graves of several people that I loved and cried. They have gone into another world free from pain and heartache. Where they once held a place in my heart, there's a void. It hurts.
From the vantage point of over 2000 years its easy to read about the death and burial of Jesus and not feel the weight of Saturday and feel the darkness of the night. Back then they didn't have the end of the story, they were living it. They were experiencing it in real time.
Stop for a moment and think about this: you have just seen a close friend die a bloody merciless death on a cross. His presence is gone. No more laughter or asking questions. No more meals together or enjoyable talks on dusty roads. Nothing. Just a void. You grieve at how you weren't there for Him when He needed you most and wonder if things would have been different. The finality of death fills you with pain. Tears of shame and loss come easy. You wonder if the sun will ever shine again.
What part of your story feels like its been dead and in the grave? What place in your life feels like a void where there was once life and happiness? I have them and you do too.
Can I tell you something? It's not over yet. As black as the night was for Jesus, death wasn't the end of His story. Whatever area in your life feels dead, it's not over yet. It's only the night before the best part of your story takes place.
Is it hard to believe that when all you can see is cold blackness? Yes, but God is not through with your story. He still has more to write. Believe in His power. Wait on the Lord. Wait for the best part of the story. It's coming.

Jesus Has A Plan

Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey. He fulfilled scripture and gave hope for a better future. The people, like so many of us today, were looking for a king to make their earthly lives better. They wanted someone to oust the Romans and usher in a glorious reign.
But the True King had a different plan. He wanted to do something far better than just make things better for a few days. He wanted to show us how far His love will go. He wants to change us from the inside out. He wants to clear the path for us to live with Him, not just in this life, but forever!
So many of the people who cheered for Him that day couldn't have even imagined this plan. As it is how often do we imagine this plan? How often do we look at the story only in terms of how it makes life a little better for me or what Jesus can do for me?
I'm so guilty of this. I look at Jesus through the eyes of what He did for me. I read the Bible through the lens of what I can get out of it that day. But what if I started looking at the Bible and Jesus through the lens of His greatness and that His plans are so much greater than I can imagine? The God who would author such a plan to save and redeem rebellious humanity to transform them into loving sons and daughters deserves my worship and praise.
This week I want to focus on how amazing and wonderful He is. I want to remind us of His amazing character and how He lived it out in this last week before His resurrection. Let's go!

Celebrate!

Resurrection Sunday is coming! I'm looking forward to it. This weekend I get to celebrate some timeless truths.

Christ is Risen!

Evil no longer has the final word.

Christ reigns over all.

Christ is stronger.

Christ is matchless.

Christ is enough.

Christ is victorious.

Christ is beautiful.

Christ is more than words can say.

Christ is good and He is good to me.

I have a place in God's heart.

There is a purpose in pain.

There is hope.

There is redemption.

There is life beyond what I can express.

There is grace.

There is forgiveness.

There is peace.

There is a place where we will live forever.

There is life that I can share with others.

Today take some time and celebrate Christ and the life that He has given to you.