He Is Risen — Happy Easter Sunday

 

I hope everyone has a blessed day today on this Resurrection (Easter) Sunday. I woke up early, not as early as some of you who may have attended those Sunrise Services, but early enough to watch the 8:00AM Service offered by Harvest Christian Fellowship. Pastor Greg Laurie, the Senior Pastor of Harvest offered a wonderful message about second chances. God not only gives second chances, I think in my case, He has given me more than two. I thank Him for that!!

Every Easter takes me back to my childhood and my own children’s memories of days past. One of my most beautiful Easters happened when I was about 4 years old. I remember all the cousins and I went to a park together to celebrate Easter. I come from a large Hispanic family and Easter was a day when most of us joined to go to Trinity Church in El Monte and have a family park gathering. I remember on this particular Easter, my Mom had bought me a beautiful Easter dress with a bonnet and gloves. I remember feeling pretty that day. On top of that, my Godmother and Godfather (daughter and father) remembered me on this day and they brought me the most beautiful big Easter basket I had ever seen. When I think of my Easters, that has to be the best memory. I’ve shared many other beautiful Easters with family, but as a child that was my favorite memory. I loved how my large family went to church, then we celebrated with all the baskets, food and eggs filled with confetti that we cousins used to crack on our Uncles heads. In this family there was the tradition of hanging carrots on the front door of the house. When you woke up, if the carrots had been nibbled, the Easter Bunny came and left you your Easter Basket. Traditions our fun aren’t they?

As I got older and going to church I was taught the true meaning of Easter having to do with the three day sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was crucified (Good Friday), then put in a tomb that had a large stone that sealed it to make sure He stayed in the tomb and didn’t rise as He had prophesied — there He rested for one day (going through His darkest hours on our behalf). Then He rose on the third day — He is Risen!! and now sits at the throne of God on His right side. Jesus did this so that we would no longer be separated from God because of our sin. So Easter is actually the day of my redemption and of course, yours.

Because of this event, we have the assurance of 2 Corinthians 5:8 “Yes, be fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be home with the Lord.” — that our last breath we breathe here on earth, that we will open our eyes and breathe our first breath in heaven — Billy Graham. All we have to do is believe and accept that Jesus and God with the guidance of the Holy Spirit exists. Your life does have a purpose and there is a reason why the world exists.

If you are a wanderer who doesn’t like attending a live church because of personal reasons. It might be that you think there are too many hypocrites in the church body, church just isn’t your thing, your life is too complicated to think of pulling the family together to attend a church service — whatever reason you have to not attend, there are now alternatives. I know for myself that my commitments as I got older changed, so for years (although occasionally attending and thoroughly enjoying the live experience and participation of church) I have attended Harvest Christian Fellowship by streaming it online at Harvest.org — guaranteed every Sunday at 8:00AM, 10:00AM and 12:00Noon — there is a service, most of which you will hear a message from Pastor Greg Laurie. This church also provides numerous resources through their website, Harvest+ and Harvest Discipleship. About a year ago, I received an email that told me about Harvest Discipleship — through this app, I have been able to have consistent daily Bible Studies with members of this church via internet. Pastor Greg Laurie and his beautiful wife First Lady Cathe Laurie, Founder of Virtue for Women Ministries offer devotionals through email and online through all the social media platforms. The resources are endless. They even provide portals for beautiful Christian Music!! Along with this church, there are many other churches online who offer similar resources.

If you have attended church before or never, but are looking for purpose in your life or if you feel you want to come back, but feel your life has changed so much, you won’t be welcome — that is the furthest from the truth. It’s really easy to bring Jesus back into the forefront of your life by praying the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, I have broken your commandments and fallen short of you standards. Right. Now I turn from that sin and ask you to come into my life. Be my Lord, Savior, friend, and God. I put my faith in Jesus Christ, in home alone to save me from my sins, Thank you for loving and calling me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. (This prayer is known as the Sinner’s Prayer and quoted from the Start Bible offered by Harvest Christian Fellowship church.) This congregation and Start Bible (Which includes context from Pastor Greg Laurie) provided me a peace beyond all understanding through the messages contained within the word. It all starts with your first steps toward wanting change and purpose in your life.

I speak from 66 years of experience as a former backslider, that when my life is most content is always when I put God first daily in my life. The world is changing and there is a lot happening that can be scary at times but when you can give those worries to Christ, each day becomes easier. Believe me there will still be strife in your life because we live in an imperfect world, but it’s great that you don’t have to be alone in your circumstance and there really is a bigger plan for your life.