NEW LIFE!

It's Easter Sunday morning.

I was up at 6 a.m. as my oldest daughter had to leave for church at 6:45.  She is in the Easter Choir and we have 4 services this weekend at church.  (one last evening, and 3 this morning!).  As she was getting ready, I laid back down on my bed next to my sleeping husband and listened to the songbirds in the cherry tree outside my window.  There was a robin and 2 purple finches.  I believe the finch is making a nest in the juniper tree between our 2 living room windows.  At any rate, the sounds of their joyeous, early morning chirping reminded me of the good news that is preached and sung about in almost every Christian church today:  Jesus Christ is Risen!!  Alleluia!  Our Redeemer liveth!!  Up from the grave He arose!!  He lives, He lives!

And...my thoughts turned towards my youngest daughter who was still asleep in her bed.  She tried to stay up to watch the entire 10 Commandments movie that was shown on tv last evening.  We've seen this movie numerous times....I used to watch it with my own parents when I was a child. Claire only made it to the Passover as we are going to the 9:45 service this morning and she really needed to get to bed (it's too bad they start the movie so late in the evening!).  Anyways...I remember telling her a couple of years ago, that even though this movie has nothing to do with Easter (it's always shown on Easter weekend in this country), it DOES include Passover which is the Jewish celebration usually right around the time of Easter.  Of course my children know about Passover from their Bible learning and our talks as a family.  What struck me this morning though, is just how sad it is for the Jewish people who still haven't found their Messiah!!  The Messiah is JESUS!  He already came to this earth.  And He died for our sins......he "passed over" from death to LIFE!  He is the Living God and He Reigns forever!!!

We can have New Life because of what God did with His Son on that Cross.  And today.....we celebrate that New Life by rejoicing that He arose from the dark grave to bring us light!  He is the Light of the world and we never have to fear death.....spiritual death...if we just believe in Him, accept Him as Savior, confess our sins to Him and repent and nail those sins to the Cross.

The robins and finches are building nests to begin new life.....

What are we doing with our lives to show New Life??

"up from the grave He arose...with a mighty triumph o'er his foes....
He arose a Victor from the darkest grave....and
HE LIVES FOREVER with his saints to reign....."