Happy Easter

Happy Easter!  Buona Pasqua!

I love love love Easter - the colors, the decorations, the sunrise service at church, being with family...  Such a precious time of celebration!  This is the first time that I'm not at home for Easter, and although I find myself missing the Easter traditions, it doesn't make the true meaning of Easter any less meaningful.

Jesus conquered death. He is alive! How GREAT his LOVE for us.

Matthew 28:6 "He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.  Come see the place where he lay."

Romans 5:8 "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Job 19:25 "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth."

John 1:29 "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

1 John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us."

Isaiah 53:4-5 "He took up our pain and bore our suffering...He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

John 11:25-26 "I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

John 16:33 "But take heart.  I have overcome the world."

How great the Father's love for us.  He gave us the gift of Jesus, through whom we have life, love, grace, forgiveness, peace, joy, and all things good.  To me, there truly is nothing more humbling and more meaningful than Jesus dying for my sins and the sins of the world so that we may know love and know God personally.  But he didn't just die; Jesus lives, and he will return to take us home someday! Oh how sweet that day will be.  

Happy Easter, may you know the true meaning of this special day!

Xoxo,