DON'T LOSE EASTER

This has been an extremely busy week for me. I was out of town for a week on a relaxing retreat with friends, so I have had to hit the ground running this week. Easter is just days away and family is coming Sunday for lunch and egg hunting. Trying to get the yard presentable as the weeds are quickly taking over with all the rain we've had is a daunting task. Making lists for groceries for Sunday lunch, a meal to take to a sick friend and last minute goodies for granddaughters' Easter baskets have me running a mental checklist in my head. Not to mention the ordinary everyday things like laundry, housecleaning and cooking.

Where is EASTER in all of this? Not the bunnies, Easter eggs, jelly beans, and Sunday fare. Not the Easter dress, centerpiece, or marshmallow bunnies. No, I mean where is the REAL Easter?

Once again, as happens with CHRISTmas, we must fight through all the traditions and commercialism to get to the REAL thing....the REAL reason for this special holiday.

Tomorrow is GOOD FRIDAY, the day we mark as the anniversary of Jesus' death on the cross. Most will mark it only as a holiday, a day off from school and work. A day to get the last minute things done and purchased before Sunday. Most will not give it a thought.

But what happened centuries ago on that hill on that cross forever changed my life. Jesus went to that cross willingly to die for me, to pay my sin debt. He paid a debt He did not owe, because I owed a debt I could not pay.

We must not allow the things of this world....fun as they may be....to crowd out that enormous truth. We must take time to remember and reflect about the sacrifice that was paid for our sins. No one took His life from Him. He laid it down for you and for me. Max Lucado says "He chose the nails" for you and for me. How can we neglect the remembrance of such a great sacrifice.

Why would He do that for the likes of me or you? One reason. LOVE. "For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

One of my favorite songs in all the world expresses it best:

In letters of crimson God wrote His love

on a hillside so long long ago.

For you and for me Jesus died.

Love's greatest story was told.

I love you. I love you.

That's what Calvary said.

I love you. I love you.

I love you………… written in red.

Down through the ages

God wrote His love

With the same hands that suffered and bled.

Giving all that He had

to giveThe message so easily read:
I love you. I love you.

That's what Calvary said.

I love you. I love you.

I love you. Oh precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow.

No other fount I know.

Nothing but the blood the blood of Jesus.

I love you. I love you.

That's what Calvary said.

I love you. I love you. "I love you"… WRITTEN IN RED.

(turn up your sound)