“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1:18-21).

As we get ready to head into the month of April, we will soon be celebrating another Easter. Although it’s fun to eat Easter candy, participate in a special meal around a pretty table, and watch children enjoy the fun of coloring and hunting for eggs, these things all pale in comparison to the deeper reason – the real reason why we celebrate.

For every believer, Easter should feel like Christmas morning. It should be a time of joy and rejoicing, prayer and reflection, praise and thanksgiving as we remember God’s amazing love for us.

We should be in awe when we think of the sacrifice conveyed in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We should be equally in awe – our hearts bursting with unending praise when we remember Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Romans 5:9 should deeply move us: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Ephesians 1:6-7 should have our hearts rejoicing: “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

1 John 1:7 reminds us of the cleansing power of His shed blood: “…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

There is nothing… NOTHING we can add to what He did. His act of love was for us but did not require any intervention from us, as we literally could never save ourselves. We are saved solely by placing our faith and trust in Him alone and what He did on the cross. We rejoice because His innocent, shed blood covers all our filthy sin and washes each white as snow – every. single. one.

And after Jesus took His last breath on the cross, his body placed in a tomb, the third day came. Easter morning had come. Redemption had come.

Hallelujah… He arose!

His mission was complete. Broken, hopeless, sinful humanity now had a bridge back to the Father. The Creator had saved His creation. Jesus had paid the price we could not pay. It was a price He chose to pay out of His marvelous, incredible love for each of us. All the world now had hope. All the world now had forgiveness and cleansing of sin. All the world had a Savior and an eternity forever bright because of Jesus.

This free gift came at a great price. It came because of a great love. And it is available to all who call upon His name, believe in Him, and place their trust in Him.

Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

We should rejoice on Easter and every day of the year because the greatest gift ever given came from our heavenly Father to touch a sinful, broken people. He could have left us in our sin and darkness. He could have left us in our hopelessness. He could have left us with no bright future. He could have left us orphaned. But, thankfully, He didn’t.

God sending His Son was the greatest rescue mission ever. A mission like no other – a mission that would change hearts and change the world forever.

As you celebrate this Easter, take time to give thanks for all God has done. He sent His most precious gift to earth, wrapped in the purest of love for all of us. His only begotten Son, the lamb of God. And while here, Jesus walked the earth, lived a perfect, sinless life, and willingly went to the cross. His incredibly agonizing pain on the cross, his death, his burial, and his resurrection were all a part of God’s great plan – all given so we could be forgiven of all our sin – past, present, and future – so we could have a way back to the Father.

He did it for you. He did it for me. He paid the price for all of us.

Because He Lives, we can have a bright future.

Because He Lives, we can have a very Happy Easter.

He is risen! (Matthew 28:6)

Blessings to you and yours,

Holly

spate.holly@gmail.com

Friend,

Are you paying attention? Are you awake or waking up to what’s going on… to the times we’re living in?

With each new day, the signs which point to the time of Jesus’ arrival appear nearer. So much is happening, and at breaking speed, it’s literally difficult to keep up with the fast pace of it all. Sin is not only running rampant… it’s ramped up. Good is now called evil, and evil is now called good by many – not just in America but sadly everywhere – globally.

Unthinkable things – things that never would have been accepted even 10 years ago – are now being embraced and called “normal.” The depravity is off the charts! It should grieve every heart to see all that’s good being dismantled and all that’s evil being elevated and put on a pedestal.

With all that’s happening, it’s as if the pages of Revelation are literally jumping off the pages of the Bible and into our daily news headlines.

Guess what? It seems like that’s exactly what’s happening.

After all, everything God says in His Word is true, and every prophecy either has been fulfilled already or will be fulfilled sometime in the present or the future to a tee, just as He said. All because He is perfect, His words are perfect, His plans are perfect, and His timing is perfect.

Luke 21:28 says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Just like us today, Jesus’ disciples, thousands of years ago, questioned the timing of Christ’s return.

Matthew 24:3-8 says, “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

I find this thought incredible: Our heavenly Father loves and cares for each of us so much that He has given His perfect Word, with specific detail, so we would know what’s coming. He also says many times in His Word, “Do not fear.”

The Bible, His love letter to us, provides us with wisdom, knowledge, direction, hope, joy, and peace. I’m not surprised but rather in awe that God’s love is so great and His love and care for us so incredibly perfect that He lovingly gave us the Holy Spirit and the Bible to help us navigate through this life. And through both, He encourages us, guides us, loves us, and helps us.

This is just another example of His great big love. He planned everything perfectly. He has perfectly provided all we need to live victoriously for Him in this life.

Despite all we’re seeing, the times we’re living in, we’re told to trust in our Savior and to not be afraid. We’re told to keep our eyes on JESUS.

Are you, in the midst of all that’s happening, keeping your eyes on JESUS?

Are you fully focused on Him and what He’s calling you to do?

Are you totally trusting Him, or are you trusting in other things?

Are you clinging to Him, or are you clinging to the things of the world?

I’ve realized (like Peter, when he was walking on the water toward Jesus) that if I focus completely on Jesus, I feel a sense of peace and confidence. But the minute I take my eyes off Jesus, like Peter, I begin to feel fearful at all I see around me and start sinking like a rock.

Something I know to be true is just how incredibly important it is to not take my eyes off Jesus. No matter what I go through, I have to keep reminding myself that my Savior has me in the palm of His hand, and because of that truth, I am going to be okay.

And you, too, are going to be okay.

I also know that no matter what I hear on the news or what I see going on in this depraved world, God wants me to keep my eyes on Him and to do all I can to serve in the years, months, days, hours or seconds that I have left.

And God wants you, too, to keep your eyes on Him and to do all you can to serve in the years, months, days, hours, or seconds that you have left.

The signs are quickly converging and are consistently coming.

Our time on this earth seems to be running out.

In these final hours, the mindset of every believer needs to be,

“Don’t Walk… Run!”

Run!

Do all you can now for others. Do all you can now for the Kingdom.

Take off your walking shoes and put on your running shoes.

And RUN!

The faster things are happening, the more we need to pick up the pace.

Each day is one day nearer to Jesus’ return for his bride, and that day could be any day now.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 reminds us of this wonderful time to come: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Time is ticking fast.

Do all you can now, friend.

Don’t Walk… Run!

spate.holly@gmail.com