Living Hope

Romans 5:8 NIV "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

What a strange Easter celebration we find ourselves in for 2020.  We are all having to find different ways to celebrate and to attend church services.  Whether your church does live stream or you meet over zoom, we have to be creative in how we worship with our church family.  Some churches are having their parishioners come to their parking lot and while you are in the safety of your vehicle, they are broadcasting the service over radio.  If your church does not offer any of these options, there are always incredible messages on YouTube by famous Christian authors or pastors.  Whatever you decide, I encourage you to attend some sort of service

So I want to talk about HOPE.  Hope is what all of us are searching for to help us cope with our new "normal".  I make sure that I spend time every day in God's word and read devotions.  I watch videos that are uplifting and encouraging from Christian authors and people that I know personally that are posting video blogs.  I try to keep my focus on God and what His word tells us.  Romans 15:13 NIV says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 

Easter comes at a perfect time this year.  Easter gives us hope that is immeasurable.  We only have to look at the cross and how it defeated the empty tomb to know the hope that we are given by Jesus.  Our Savior died on the cross for us and rose again three days later; leaving that cold tomb and giving us living HOPE!!!  

Two women had an incredible encounter that first Easter morning; Mary and Mary Magdelene.  These two women had gathered spices and set  off to go to the tomb that housed Jesus's body.  Once they got there, they seen that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  An angel appeared to them and they had this conversation that we read in Matthew 28:5 NIV.  We read "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He has RISEN, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly to tell His disciples.  He has RISEN from the dead and is going ahead of you  into Galilee.  There you will see Him.  Now I have told you."  Wow could you imagine being these two women!!  What an incredible encounter!!

On Easter, we celebrate that empty tomb.  We celebrate that empty tomb not just for Easter, but everyday.  Jesus didn't lay down His life for our sins just for us to celebrate Easter weekend. We need to focus on this hope that Jesus gives us.  We need to celebrate and be thankful for Christ.  Not just this weekend, but every day!!  Ohhh I know how hard being thankful is right now.  But sisters, friends, we have to focus on having a thankful heart.  Be thankful that Jesus laid down His life for us and rose three days later.  John 15:13 NIV states, "Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for ones friends."  Christ blood on that cross covers our sin.  Jesus gave us the ultimate gift, all we have to do is accept.

Christ gave it all, we only have to ask for the gift.  Romans 10:9-11 NIV tells us, "If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." 

As you can see, even in hard, dark days that we find ourselves in, there is always great hope.  Jesus is our hope.  He is bigger than any disease, virus, diagnosis, grief, relationship issues, any circumstance you find yourself in.  HE IS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING OR ANYONE!!    Christ is Hope!!  We have Hope in Christ!!  We just need to focus on Him and build our foundation of Hope on Him!!

1 Peter 1:3-4 NIV says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!!  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never parish, spoil or fade."  Wow!!  What an amazing promise!  God's word and truth give us great hope!!  Please focus on His truth, our living hope. Trust in His will and plans for you and for this world. 

If you do not know Jesus as your Savior and you would like to talk with someone, please never hesitate to reach out to me.  You can reach out to someone that you trust that knows Jesus's heart and they display His love and grace. 

Have a wonderful Easter celebration and focus on our Living Hope!!  He is an ever present Savior!! 

Love and God Bless!!

Angela