Happy Easter from Think Thankfully! I’ve taken a bit of a
break from writing as the Easter holiday approached. In renewing my faith, I’ve
really started to take a lot into consideration as secular holidays come
around. While all the children excitedly awaited the arrival of the Easter
Bunny, hitting up local egg hunts, searching for the best spot to capture their
picture with the Bunny, hoping for lots of candy, chocolates, and presents, I
was excitedly awaiting the resurrection of my Lord and Savior.
I know I have always said I would not make this a
religiously set blog, however, I have come to realize in my little absence from
writing, that much of the cause of my thankfulness is because of my faith. This morning, as I walked the .75 miles from
my home to the cemetery on the hill for the annual 6am Easter Sunrise (Dawn)
Service, things became extremely clear to me in this journey I am on.
Let me backtrack a little bit. As you may remember, I spent
a few years of my life away from the church. I had a very bad experience with a
previous minister and simply felt the foundation of my faith crumble under my
feet. Much like Christ on the cross, I felt forsaken by the One I never thought
(and was taught) would never do such a thing. I spent time wandering through
this life wondering just what I believed.
I found my way back to my church with the arrival of a new
minister, Pastor Denton Kees. It took me a little bit, but that man of the
cloth, in his own gentle way, helped me find my way back to the fold. I started
attending church more regularly and this past January, I was elected to serve
on our Church Council (which I am enjoying so far……).
As Easter approached, I spent a lot of time in reflection. I
attended Maundy Thursday Services, where I heard a remarkable message from
Pastor Gail Kees (Pastor Denton’s wonderful wife). The tone was set for the
next three days for me. As Good Friday arrived, I followed my annual tradition
of starting my day watching The Passion of the Christ. This year, it hit home
much more than it ever has. I still weep at the suffering Jesus Christ endured
for ME. My frame of mind and the innermost feelings in my heart were put in the
right spot for the waiting….the anxious anticipation of Christ’s Resurrection.
Last night, I set my alarm for 5:15am. I was going to attend
the 6am Easter Sunrise Service on the cemetery. It was a tradition I always
enjoyed as a youngster. I would be the only one in my family who would wake up,
get ready, and trudge across the yard to catch a ride with my neighbors,
Ruthie and Merritt. As I got older, it became a yearly tradition to meet my
friend, Paul, in front of the church and together we’d walk up the hill to the
service. A few times as I grew up, I attended the services, but it has been a
few years since I felt it important to wake up and go. Until this year…..
The alarm sounded and I got up without hesitation, threw on
my sweats and a baseball hat. I had hoped that my 16 year old daughter would
join me, and I know she set her alarm and did wake up, but I believe she fell
back to sleep. It was a little pinch of disappointment, but I understand. She’s
not quite there yet in her faith journey. I left my house at 5:40 to start
walking. Now, .75 miles doesn’t seem like a lot, however, it is quite the hill
to climb. It’s not an easy grade to trek up, especially as you get older. At
one point, about halfway up the hill, I began to rethink my option. It would be
so much easier to just turn around and walk back home. I was short on breath,
it was chilly, and I had a little bit of a climb yet. And then, it all came
together and my mind swirled with images of Christ carrying His cross up the
hill to Golgotha, already beaten down, spit on, ridiculed, and yet He carried
that cross up a hill knowing what was going to happen once He reached the top.
If He could do it, meeting a far more terrible fate than I would at the top, I,
too, can make it. And so I trudged on.
I made it. I arrived at the top in time to be asked to be a
reader. What an honor. To many, it wouldn’t seem like much, but to me, to be
asked to read at the Resurrection service of my Lord, my Savior was a true
honor for me. We celebrated through song, prayer, scripture, sermon, and praise
for our Risen Lord. I watched the beautiful sunrise come through the trees on
the far edge of the cemetery and I smiled, knowing my Redeemer lives!
The whole walk home, I kept humming the Casting Crowns song,
Oh Glorious Day! I am so thankful to have been led back. I am so thankful that,
while there are baskets filled on my table for my family, I was raised to know
and understand the true meaning of Easter. I am thankful that through my own
reflections, I will walk into church this morning, praising the fact that
Christ is Risen, and not just saying it, but believing it with my whole heart.
"Glorious Day
(Living He Loved Me)"
One day when Heaven
was filled with His praises
One day when sin was
as black as could be
Jesus came forth to
be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my
example is He
Word became flesh and
the light shined among us
His glory revealed
[Chorus:]
Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my
sins far away
Rising, He justified
freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh
glorious day
One day they led Him
up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed
Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish,
despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my
Redeemer is He
Hands that healed
nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails
for me
[Chorus]
One day the grave
could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone
rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over
death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my
Lord evermore
Death could not hold
Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
[Chorus]
One day the trumpet
will sound for His coming
One day the skies
with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my
Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is
mine
[Chorus]
Glorious day, Oh,
Glorious day
Christ is risen, my friends…..He is risen, indeed. Until
tomorrow……Happy Easter
Think Thankfully
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