He is Risen – Easter Reflection 2013

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I love the words spoken on Easter morning: “He is Risen – He is Risen Indeed!!!” There is nothing more beautiful than an Easter sunrise service. It may be a little early to get up at 4am on a Sunday, but for me personally, it is well worth it.

You may have noticed (or not), I took a 40 day break from Facebook. It really was not intentional, but between Ash Wednesday and this morning, I did not post on Facebook. I used the time to be more intentional about my real-life relationships; especially the relationship with my Lord.

A couple of weeks ago, I had an argument with one of my closest friends. That was not intended at all, but it showed me that I need to work on my communication skills. Yes, I was in a ‘dark’ place filled with frustration, but I should not have said the things I said…

So, this morning, as my hands were cold, my heart warmed. It warmed with the love of Christ. He is the one I need to look to when frustrations hit; when the burdens seem too heavy. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Believe me, my dear friend, Jesus means what He says. When the heart is heavy, come to the cross and leave your burden at the foot of it. Jesus Himself said that life will not be easy, but when traveling with Him in our hearts, the burden is lighter.

We sang the song “You are Stronger” this morning after the reading of the Gospel of Luke (Luke 24:1-12). What a powerful song to sing on this glorious Easter morning. Let me leave you with the chorus of the song:

“You are stronger, You are stronger
Sin is broken, You have saved me
It is written, Christ is risen
Jesus You are Lord of all…”

Have a blessed Easter today and always…

Love & peace,
Iris

Jesus Died for All

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death penalty.

At the time crucifixion was the “worst” death. Only the worst criminals condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus, for unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion Jesus was nailed to the cross by His hands and feet, rather than tied…

Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long.

The nails were driven into His wrist. Not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There’s a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the Wrist, that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself, so that He could breathe.

Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs for long because of the pain, so He was forced to alternate between arching His back and using his legs just to continue to breath. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.

Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours. Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of
suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water
from his wounds.

From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side… But do we remember the many wounds made to his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrists, the feet overlapped and a nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. And… before the nails and the spear, Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The crown of thorns (two to three inch thorns) cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture.

He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds. The human adult body contains about 5 liters (just over a gallon) of blood.

Jesus poured all 5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His body; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest..

All these without mentioning the humiliation He passed after carrying His own cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross beam was almost 30 kg of weight, to which His hands were nailed).

Jesus had to endure this experience, so that you may have free access to God.

So that your sins can be “washed” away. All of them, with no exception! Don’t ignore this.

JESUS CHRIST DIED…FOR YOU!

For you, who now read this post. Do not believe that He only died for others (those who go to church or for pastors, bishops, etc).

He died for you!

Accept the reality, the truth, that JESUS IS THE ONLY SALVATION FOR THE WORLD.

God has special plans for YOU!
~ Author Unknown

Thankful Thursday ~ His Passion

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
(John 1:29 ESV)

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. I am always excited when the Lenten season starts; ending with Easter Sunday at the empty tomb.

Many Christians give up something during the season for reflection. I usually do too, but not so this year. This year I want to add something (again) during this holy season. Over the years I read a book called “The Passion of Christ” from a Lutheran pastor (A.Fibiger) penned in 1941. I don’t even remember who gave me the book, but I treasure it.

Unfortunately last year I got off track reading/reflecting on the old sermons from the 1940’s. This year, I want to read it all the way through again. I pray for a close relationship to my Lord during this season of Lent. I am thankful for the passion of our Lord. His way to show me His love is still mind-boggling. Why would someone Who never met me, give it all up? It can only be a heavenly love…*sigh*.

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving your link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: His passion is showing His love for you – all the way to the cross.

Please remember that in the month of March (starting next week) we will meet up at my friend Laurie’s blog “Women Taking a Stand“.

Love & Peace,
Iris

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Shining Brightly
2. Pia
3. Edwards Granddaughter
4. Amazing Grace
5. Kids turf
6. It Feels Like Chaos
7. Kate @ Teaching What Is Good
8. Laurie @ Women Taking a Stand
9. a red motorcycle
10. Style N Season: Thank You, Lord, for Loving Me THAT Much
11. Daily Journey
12. Tonya
13. Melanie @ M&M
14. Stefanie @ UpLIFTing Words
15. Heart Choices
16. Thankful Prayer
17. LovelyLici @ Conchsaladesque
18. Ms. Kathleen
19. Making Our Life Matter
20. I Get To!
21. LIFE by Ashley Pichea
22. bp
23. Deidra M
24. Carol
25. Have Faith!
26. Amy@Make Me a Mary
27. Katrina@thePoorganicLife
28. Bridget
29. Denise
30. JadeLouise Designs
31. Inspirations from Phather Phil-Thankful Thursday: God Will Send the Rain
32. The Winter Willow Wept – Robert J. Gerryts

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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Thankful Thursday ~ Random

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
(Psalm 9:1-2 ESV)

Honestly I could not come up with just one thing to write about this week for Thankful Thursday. There are just so many things on a daily basis I am thankful for 🙂 .

In no particular order, here is my ‘random’ list from my thankful heart…

  • God’s protection – not only for me, but for my family and friends. I had used the van pool for almost a year, but I had to switch back driving myself to work. I work often later than the hours of the van pool. God has been protecting me on the crazy roads of Arizona (you have no idea how wild these people drive).
  • God providing our ‘daily bread’. We have a roof over our head, food to eat, money to pay the bills and help out others when needed.
  • My husband’s love for me. You have to understand, I am a little ‘wild’ sometimes 😆 – I start dancing or start cracking jokes out of the blue.
  • Our son’s independence. Sometimes I can’t believe that he will be 27 this June. He has done well for himself. And he is very smart with money. I just hope he changes his mind moving back to Europe this year. But then again, I just had him as a ‘loan’; God will guide his steps.
  • My friends far and near, who don’t mind if I ask for prayers. I try to be a good friend as well as they are. I hope I am.

So, what are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving your link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: give thanks to the Lord with your whole heart.

Love & peace,
Iris

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Grace (1st entry)
2. The Blessing of Opposition
3. Edwards Granddaughter
4. Slenderella Jenn
5. It Feels Like Chaos
6. JOHN
7. Aisling Beatha
8. Daily Journey
9. Stefanie @ UpLIFTing Words
10. Jocelyn @ His Pursuing Kindness
11. Amy@Make Me A Mary
12. Working for the Lord…
13. Kate @ Teaching What Is Good
14. Melanie @ M&M
15. Noreen
16. bp
17. Heartmade Home
18. LovelyLici @ Conchsaladesque
19. Mary
20. LIFE by Ashley Pichea
21. Maricon
22. Laurie @ Women Taking a Stand
23. Denise
24. Ms. Kathleen
25. Love and Glory
26. So Full of Love
27. Carol
28. A Moment with God
29. Inspirations from Phather Phil-Thankful Thursday: Comfy Jeans

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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