Easter!...a few days late

Yes, I realize Easter was several days ago. I was in too much of a pain medicine fog to form any kind of thoughts. Slowly, I'm coming out of the fog.

Back to Easter. This year, Easter was different. This year, Easter meant more. I wish I wouldn't have just gone through the "Easter" routine for the past 18 years. You know the routine. Buy new clothes, eat a big lunch at home, get Easter baskets, have an Easter egg hunt, oh and you get to wear white after Easter. For so many years, I've just gone through the motions. During church I'll listen to the sermon and think about the Resurrection, but once church is over, I'm mostly focused on the earthly things that we do on Easter. I hate that I've taken it for granted so many years.

Last year, Easter meant more because my mom and I were at my doctor in Reno, Nevada. We had been there for a little over a month by then. I was too sick to go to church and the rest of my family was back home in Oklahoma. There was no big Easter lunch because I didn't feel like eating. So last year, I thought more about the true meaning because I was unable to do the normal activities.

This year, on my 19th Easter, I was more thankful for Christ's resurrection than I have ever been. Because Jesus rose from the dead, death does not have the final say! Because Jesus rose from the dead, I will see Rebecca again! Because Jesus rose from the dead, you and I, and anyone else who accepts Christ will LIVE! Death has no sting! Death has no victory! Jesus conquered sin!

Before Rebecca went to be with Jesus, no one that close to me had passed away. Sure, I know lots of people who have gone to Heaven, but no one as close as her.
Ever since she went to Heaven, I've noticed so many songs that talk about Christ conquering the grave, and death having no sting! I still can't believe how I have missed that my whole life. Here are parts of songs that talk about that.

I Will Rise
"Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead 

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise"


Mighty to Save
"Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,Jesus conquered the grave.


In Christ Alone
"There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand."


Glorious Day
"Living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day"


Because He Lives
"God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain. 
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.


Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!"




Here are some verses about the Resurrection. 


"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." John 11:25-26


"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" Luke 24:5-6

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God." Romans 6:8-10


"We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." 1 Thessalonians 4:14


As two of my friends and Rebecca's mom and sister took flowers to Rebecca's grave on Easter, we were able to smile and laugh because we know this isn't the end. Because of Jesus conquering sin and death, we know that Rebecca is alive and well in Heaven. Because of Jesus conquering sin and death, we know that one day, we will be reunited with her when we meet Jesus face to face.

Everyday is a day of rejoicing because Jesus has overcome death and sin! Praise God! I'm thankful that I now have a new perspective. I am able to really appreciate what Jesus has done for us. Since Rebecca went to be with Jesus, a day hasn't gone by that I haven't thanked God for Christ's resurrection. I won't be able to live life the same now, and for that I am thankful.

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!"