Hallelujah

"Everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost..."

Risen:

to get up after falling or being thrown down

to come into action/ existence

to become active in opposition or resistance

to increase in degree, intensity, or force

to return from the dead

Easter weekend is always an emotional time for me. It's a celebration, but it's also a sobering reminder that He gave it all, His life-- for this life. It makes me wonder what He gave up so much for... what am I doing, who am I to be worth so much? I am humbled by His obedience, His grace, His mercy... and I am exalted by His love. Truly, when you find yourself in Him, you realize that nothing else matters more.

I believe when we choose to devote ourselves to Him completely, we also experience a dying, a loss. And we also experience a rising of our true selves, of His purpose, of full life.

This is certainly a cause for a celebration! "I'm alive because Jesus lives."

I love this, from Brennan Manning:

"The Gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus meaningless unless we believe He lived, died, and rose again with one purpose in mind: to make brand new creations. Not to make people with better morals, but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers-- men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within; who would live in greater fidelity to the word of God; who would enter into the very Center of it all... the very heart and mystery of Christ; into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love.

This, my friends, is what it really means to be a Christian."

So this weekend, remember His sacrifice & rejoice in His promise. And...

"Tell him or her about those moments when you are alone with God and you just smile to yourself, because He is alive in you."

Sin is broken, You have saved me.

It is written: Christ is risen.

:) my soul sings Hallelujah.