Easter 2014 ~ Part I ~ A Reflection in The Wee Hours

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 perish, spoil or fade. 
This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire --
may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

Though you have not seen him, you love him;
and even though you do not see him now,
you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9

Easter is first and foremost a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As they rolled away the tomb after three days, all that remained was the burial cloth. He is risen and in heaven, waiting to greet us when we are called home. The Bible verses I selected today might not be ones you typically think of when it comes to Easter yet when I think of those who grieve the loss of a loved one during the holidays, sometimes we need more than the celebratory cheers. Celebration is wonderful and good, yet the joyfulness of others, on a day you struggle the most can sometimes push one away from God and the cause for such jubilee.

How do I know? I was one of these people. When the hurt is so deep, it's difficult to open your heart, mind, and arms to embrace something or someone so wonderful or "too good to be true." Medication is a Band-Aid. People will let us down. Material items are temporary. Thankfully, God is True. Jesus is Love. God is the Only One who can heal the
hurts deep within our hearts. So we have a choice to make today, celebrate or mourn.

There are many in this world mourning ~ whether you mourn the loss of  loved one, a career, your health, or whatever it might be...remember God is right there waiting for you. In addition to dying for our sins on the cross this past Good Friday, Jesus opened a direct line to His Father, God, through the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is open your heart, lift your voice, and give all your praise, grief, and honest feelings to God. He will forgive, love, and embrace you like you've never experienced before. There is no better time than Easter, a season of forgiveness and selfless love...

Your faith and relationship with God doesn't stop the pain or remove the hurt instantly. BUT you won't spend another day alone on your journey and He'll give you the strength to get through each day, even if it's one day at a time for awhile. Never lose Hope.

Praying you are able to receive Joy today...
~ Happy Easter ~
What is the first thing you think of Easter morning?