Happy Easter Everyone!

Hallelujah! Hope this day finds you and yours enjoying the blessings and joy of this day … and celebrating the greatest “saving” of all… salvation!

*I am re-sharing the Easter message that I wrote to you last year because quite honestly, Easter still means the same thing to me; and I am still a sinner, thankful for God’s grace in this (and every) day!

I wanted to share with you what is probably one of the most powerful and moving parts of the bible for me personally … and I share this not to be “preachy” (and I SO promise you that I am not being preachy!) …but to truly share with you what Easter means to me. There is much (much!) of the bible that I do not even pretend to understand… but this part, gives me the hope and promise of the grace that God has for us. We read this together as a family every Easter as a reminder of just what we are so thankful for on this Easter day:

Luke 23:32-43: 32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him. 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

One of my greatest lessons, as a woman, wife, mother, daughter …. and friend, has been forgiveness. And Lord knows, I still have a lot of work to do… dudes, I am a mess! ….. but oh what a beautiful gift forgiveness is, and seriously, thank the Good Lord for that!! And what I love about this narrative from Luke is that this was a criminal that Jesus was offering Paradise to…. plain and simple: a sinner. Just like me. Now that is something worth celebrating….Happy Easter my Friends!