Easter.09

Well, another holiday complete. Time to pick up all of the candy wrappers, new clothes tags and that dumb grass from all the baskets. Easter 09' is history. Did anything change in your heart this year? Or did you attend church for the first time since Christmas? Or not at all? Did the death and resurrection of Jesus even enter your thoughts yesterday? For many people it is a day to spend with family, Easter egg hunts, and delicious brunch...all wonderful things but temporary. How did you celebrate the most significant event in the history of the world? The sermon at church yesterday was one that I wish everyone could hear. It came from John 20:1-18. We didn't just rehash the same old story of the death, crucifixion and resurrection but made it relevant to our lives. Here is the basic message....keep in mind I am not a preacher :) Basically you can't talk about Easter without discussing death and disappointment. Mary Magdalene was deeply upset and disappointed at the death of her beloved friend. Her hope was in an earthly Jesus. When she went to the tomb and was found weeping, Jesus appeared to her and said "Whom are you seeking? and Why are you weeping?" He was basically telling her that her hope was placed in the wrong thing. Many times our hopes are put in the wrong things...careers, money, marriages, financial stability, friends, family, material things, even church. These things WILL disappoint us at some point. The road of life is riddled with disappointments until the resurrection is firmly rooted in our hearts. This is the only hope that is NEVER lost. The analogy at the end was instead of Jesus asking Mary Magdalene "Why are you weeping, Whom are you seeking?" ...he is asking YOU that! He is saying "I just died for you and then conquered death, why are YOU disappointed in your life?" Do not cling to the things of this Earth...they WILL disappoint you! Is the resurrection a STORY or a REALITY in your life that you put your ultimate hope in? And if you don't have that hope right now, open your heart, turn to Him, and ask Him...he will NOT disappoint you!!! And so that concludes Jenn's first sermon...:) Hope you enjoyed it! The girls and I are gearing up for a fun week...spring break! I can't wait to sleep in and not rush in the morning. Yippee! Jordan left for a cruise yesterday with Grammy and Papa and won't be back until Saturday. It is a very weird feeling to have her gone. I have been constantly looking for her. My brain thinks in terms of 4...not 3! The song that is playing now summarizes the message I was trying to convey....this song says it much better! Here are the lyrics: Artist: Tenth Avenue North Song: By Your Side Why are you striving these days Why are you trying to earn grace Why are you crying Let me lift up your face Just don't turn away Why are you looking for love Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough To where will you go child Tell me where will you run To where will you run And I'll be by your side Wherever you fall In the dead of night Whenever you call And please don't fight These hands that are holding you My hands are holding you Look at these hands and my side They swallowed the grave on that night When I drank the world's sin So I could carry you in And give you life I want to give you life Cause I, I love you I want you to know That I, I love you I'll never let you go