He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Sorry I have once again been missing in Blogsville. No excuses except the busyness of life. Thanks to so many of you who contacted me worried that I was down after I posted so honestly about my recent struggles. I am happy to say, weeping lasts for a night but there is joy in the morning and it is a new dawn in my life!

Recently I listened in on a discussion on Facebook (befriend me, if you haven’t!) wondering if blogs put undue pressure on their writers.

I’m not sure. Obviously there is a bit of pressure to write and to connect, but I am a firm believer in the dog wagging the tail, not the tail wagging the dog. So if my blog makes me feel guilty, I will just beat it back into submission! So there! (See? I am feeling my chipper! :0)

Happy Easter! Happy Ressurection Day!

We once again took a large group of our youth and sponsors to The Thorn, www.thethorn.net, the wonderful production by New Life Church in Colorado Springs that tells the whole story–Creation, The Fall, Why we need a Savior and then the greatest story ever told–Jesus birth, death, and resurrection. Fabulous production with a huge cast, special effects, music, dancers and acrobatics. Phenomenal! Their auditorium is huge, but they utilize the whole thing with dancing in the aisle as well as Roman soldiers marching up and down nearby. So much is going on all around you, you are just immersed in the story. Truly is a fabulous undertaking and what a witness! 

Good Friday night we had our traditional service at the church. It is one of my favorite services during the year. Quiet. Contemplative. Remembering His suffering. The altar draped in black. A single rose and the cross. Communion.

I sang “Were You There” during communion and my voice broke during the song with a verse I hadn’t known before–

“Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Oh…..sometimes, it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when the sun refused to shine.?’

A powerful word picture to be sure but even more powerful knowing that the Bible tells of darkness covering the earth as Jesus hung on the cross bearing my sin, my shame, suffering pain and humiliation and death for the sin that solely belongs to me.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Then Saturday we were up early caravanning to Colorado Springs and seeing the story come alive before us. It was a long day and a short night with Easter Sunrise Service at 7:30 am out in the country. A bonfire kept the chill off and our voices echoed across the pastures, “Christ the Lord is Risen today, Alleluia!”

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

We broke bread as a church family with a wonderful brunch followed by our regular service at the church. So wonderful to celebrate Jesus together. Our whole family was together with my kids home from college so just a very special time on many levels….remembering His sacrifice, celebrating New Life!

Last night at youth group, Kary talked to the kids about their experience at the Thorn. What it means that He died for us. How easy it is to forget that He gave His life for mine.

Didn’t have to.

Asked for a different way…..”Let this cup pass from me…..” but for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross.

For me.

We sang,

“Amazing love, how can it be, that my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know it’s true, It’s my joy to honor You,

In all I do, I honor You.” 

Kary asked the kids if we truly did that…..do we honor Him in all we do?

I love that song and yet, I had to answer “no.”  I don’t.

I want my life to be a prayer and praise and always honoring to Him, but it is easy to slide into the easy way.

Joining the laughter about someone’s misfortune.

Telling the secret we promised not to tell.  Forgetting a promise.

Lying….those little ones that “everybody does.”

When I do them, I pound the nails deeper into His flesh.

My sin. My shame.

His suffering.

So what to do?

Do better! 

That is the grace of His death!

The reason of the resurrection!

New life! Fresh beginnings! Letting my life rise from the ash heap of sin and shame to soar with Him on eagles wings!

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

May His resurrection live in your heart all year long!

Blessings,

Kim