Beautiful Surprise: April 2012

Monday, April 09, 2012

Easter celebration

Yesterday along with hunting eggs and enjoying a basket of goodies, we celebrated the real reason for this very special holiday, the death and resurection of Christ. Sometimes this holiday seems so religious, so ritualisitic that the true meaning is lost. We forget that it's a time of change and re-birth. Our pastor gave an awesome sermon yesterday about this and how Christ died not for a religion, not for people to participate in a ritual on Easter or Sundays but to give us a gift that no one could ever really afford. I know it's hard to understand, difficult to fathom but for those that don't believe I just ask one question; is this life the end? Don't you want all your love, life, emotions to mean something, to live on forever? Don't you want to be with those you love for all eternity? I know I certainly do! Yes, I get it, lots of people were crucified in the days of Christ. In fact, it was a preferred way to put people to death by the Romans. But, did anyone do it specifically for someone else, namely for you? Did your sin cause anyone else's death? And, I ask you...how many of those people actually died then walked again? This man, Jesus, did that to show us that he is the only 'Living' Christ, the real deal, the one and only. God sent a part of himself to die and show us he understands we're human but wants us to walk like him, share the good news, and attempt to show Grace. Try to remember this sacrifice in everything you do. Hold a door, let someone merge in traffic even when you're in a hurry, and be more patient with your kids and spouse (that's a hard one I know). Although simple sounding, everyday we have the opportunity to make sacrifices and show Grace just like Christ. I pray that everyone that reads this will contemplate how God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can have a place in their lives!