FROM ABANDONED TO ECSTATIC! From the most unimaginable feeling of being
totally forsaken … to the most unimaginable feeling of total triumph and indescribable
joy. That must be what Jesus felt. Yes, before the cross – and every
excruciating moment He hung there. And
yes, after the cross – sensing the lifeblood pulse through His veins once again
and walking out of that tomb. Leaving it
empty behind Him. Facing a world that would
never, ever be the same because He arose from a death that could not keep
Him. What an amazing experience that
would spill out of that joyous, victorious moment down through the ages, from
century to century, and beyond time as we know it … even into Eternity! Experiences I cannot begin to fathom, hard as
I try. My mind and my heart just cannot
wrap themselves around such excruciating and such ecstatic emotions. The span is so extreme from one to the
other. Try as I might, it’s impossible
to comprehend a love that would willingly take on the pain and suffering that
He did – for me. What did He see in me
that would cause Him to submit to such horrific sorrow and pain? In moments of doubt and questions, I can’t
help but understand that there must be something of priceless value in me that
would compel Him to give His very lifeblood to rescue me and save me! Hosanna!
Hallelujah! What I can grasp is
that He would not have wasted His very life.
He knew that giving it for me … and for you, was worth every drop of
blood. My mind begins to spin again with
a million “whys” and “whats” – just what did You see in us that would make you
bear the beating, carry the cross, stumble up the hill, endure the humiliation,
let the soldiers nail You to that splintered cross, sweat drops of blood, and
breathe Your last breath? Why? What for?
I know You knew that we could never be good enough or get it right
enough times to pay for a ticket to heaven.
Suddenly I catch a glimpse of that sparkle in Your beautiful eyes that
looked on a redeemed mankind as you walked out of that grave on that third day. Your eyes are creasing wider as a smile
breaks forth on Your face … for you see the Hope you have brought to us! And there’s no feeling like that of saving
Your children and knowing that Your life would bring us the Gift of all gifts –
a life with You forever in our heavenly home!
You must have shone with an
almost-blinding radiance as You exited that place of cold and darkness … knowing
that death no longer held any power over You, or over us as Your children, for
that matter! Did You skip down the
garden path with a heart of celebration and praise to Your Father? Your sacrifice was complete and heaven
resounded with a multitude of angels singing a new song of victory that could
not be debuted before this moment in time!
You peered into the future and saw us celebrating, too! You saw that we finally get it … we live
because You live. We win because You won
the battle over sin and sickness and death.
We can be victorious because You’ve already taken on Satan – and came
out of hell victorious. We will never be
alone – because You’ve already spent time in that state of being forsaken so we
wouldn’t have to. The joys of that first
Resurrection Sunday morning are ours on this Resurrection morn if we will
accept them, experience them, and share in the ecstasy that our Lord is
Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Walk with Him, your hand in His nail-scarred
hand. Walk in celebration and gratitude and
victory. Redemption is ours!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
A SPECIAL
WELCOME to Brian & Diane and to Mary, who worshipped with us for the
first time this past Sunday! God bless!
10:00 A.M. –
RESURRECTION SUNDAY
CELEBRATION w/fellowship
to follow!
No KIDZONE this week –
will resume next week.
MON, APR 1ST:
6:30 P.M. – RE:FUEL YOUTH
WED/THU, APR 3RD/4TH:
7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDIES
See church calendar for locations!
SUN, APR 07:
10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP
10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH
ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!
Our VINTAGE TEA for all ladies and girls is being planned for Saturday, April 27th, at 2:00 p.m. here at the church! The entire event promises to lift your spirits and bring a smile to your face! You are in for a true, vintage treat ... including Hazel's gourmet foods and refreshments, a powerful program starring a gifted dramatist and music that will cause your hearts to soar! Please, please ... plan to invite family and friends that you want to see blessed and encouraged! There will also be fun prizes and a generous dose of fellowship and laughter. This event is free - no charge!
REMEMBER . . . “You are infinitely dear to the Father, unspeakably precious to Him. You are never, not for one second, alone.” ~ Norman F. Dowty
ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!
Our VINTAGE TEA for all ladies and girls is being planned for Saturday, April 27th, at 2:00 p.m. here at the church! The entire event promises to lift your spirits and bring a smile to your face! You are in for a true, vintage treat ... including Hazel's gourmet foods and refreshments, a powerful program starring a gifted dramatist and music that will cause your hearts to soar! Please, please ... plan to invite family and friends that you want to see blessed and encouraged! There will also be fun prizes and a generous dose of fellowship and laughter. This event is free - no charge!
REMEMBER . . . “You are infinitely dear to the Father, unspeakably precious to Him. You are never, not for one second, alone.” ~ Norman F. Dowty
“HOW GREAT IS
THE LOVE THE FATHER HAS LAVISHED ON US THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF
GOD. AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE!” ~ I John 3:1
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
