Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
God blessed us with a wonderful Easter Sunday! It started off with a great ‘Sonrise’ Service in Central Park. It was a beautiful morning with a wonderful service. Charlie Stevens, pastor at FUMC, did an awesome job of sharing with those who were there. Like he said, “He is risen! He is risen indeed! That says it all.”
We had a wonderful group for our Sunday Morning service. Some who haven’t been able to be here for some time were able to be with us. Three who came as guests joined the church! Several other guests shared how much they enjoyed being here with us.
Bryan, Charity and Piper came over from Amarillo to worship with us. Danielle’s mother and two sisters came to spend time with them and stayed for the service. When you put that all together God just blessed us with a wonderful time of praise, worship and being able to be together.
I can sum up the entire weekend in two words – “He’s Alive!” I saw it in the joy of faces as they shared with one another about how God had blessed them. I saw it in the eyes of little children as their parents walked into the room. I saw little one’s run across the auditorium to give a hug to someone. I saw it as people were touched by the word of God as their hearts were transformed as they worshiped together.
In Scripture Mary Magdalene told the disciples that she had ‘seen the Lord’. Cleopas and a friend encountered the risen Lord on the road back to Emmaus, saw Him revealed at a meal, and returned to Jerusalem to share with others. Thomas saw it in the nail prints in His hands. Peter experienced it in the compassionate love beside the shore.
The darkness of the day Christ died was dispelled by the glory of His resurrection! What He did that day, He is still doing today. He is still dispelling the darkness in the lives of individuals as they come to Him. Whereas they once walked in the darkness, in Christ they walk in the light of His love.
There is coming a day when our Lord Jesus Christ will be all the light that is needed. The Revelation 21:23 says, “And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” The Lamb that was slain is the light that shines in the darkness, dispelling that darkness.
He’s Alive! “So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” (Heb. 9:28). He arose the third day and is alive. He arises in the hearts of all who believe and is alive. He will come again because He is alive.
I like the first verse and chorus of the song “He Lives”. It says so much about Jesus and what He is doing in us.
“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
Chorus:
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart.”
BH, p. 533, Alfred H. Ackley © 1933 Homer A. Rodeheaver
He’s Alive! The question that we need to ask is not – “Is He alive?” The question that must be asked is – “Is He alive in us?” I praise His holy name that He lives in me. What about you?
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, there IS something about that name!!
Christ only, always,
Bro. Paul
Brother Paul Nachtigall is the preacher at Highland Baptist Church. He can be reached at bropaul@centramedia.net.
