He is Risen!

As Easter weekend comes to an end I am reminded that the incredible sacrifice made on that cross is the central point in history. Everything before Jesus' death on the cross led to that event and everything from that point on flows from it. I was inspired from the Beautiful church service on Sunday to write this post. Jesus is ALIVE and I need to share it!

Have you had that awful anxious feeling this week? Worried about finances, loved ones or health? Perhaps you have felt fear. This weekend as my room mates left for home I was to sleep alone in my apartment. I often am afraid staying alone on long weekends when almost everyone is off campus, and this weekend was no different. I had wanted to stay the night at Jake's house but I forgot to ask him before his parents went to bed, so I thought I would stay the next night at his place. I told Jake how it is funny how I wasn't scared when he was with me in the apartment but as soon as he left I would feel a bit uneasy. It's true that I am in the same surroundings and nothing has changed between when Jake is with me and when he leaves, so why should I be afraid? Exactly! Why?? Statistics have proven that most of the things we fear never become a reality. I suppose it is our human nature to worry but as a Christian I know that God is always with me. Many people have different insecurities for different reasons: A young person may be afraid of trusting another person in a relationship because of the divorce of their parents, a child may feel insecure about their surroundings because of a tragic fire that burned their home, maybe the fear of not finding a job or losing he job you have. 2 Timothy 1:7 says "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." Fear is more than just an emotion, it is a spirit of torment sent out by the devil which is meant to steal our peace and more than that, question our faith in God. Fear can cause us to not think clearly or to be irrational. When we fear or doubt God we are said to be double minded. James 1:6-8 says, "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." God gave us his peace to break free of our fears as Philippians 4:7 says, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." When God sent his son to be crucified for our sins He gave us a gift that we can accept no matter who we are, not matter what we've done God will forgive us if we ask. When I asked Jesus to be the center of my life and come to live in me at the age of 6 I didn't understand fully the powerful decision I had made that would have changed the way I live and see others and life. I am a child of God and have faith that He will lead me and use me in ways that I can't and don't understand right now. I have confidence that He knows my deepest thoughts and desires of my heart, he will never leave me or forsake me. As a Believer I know that when I leave this Earth that is only the beginning. The beginning of REAL life with my Father in Heaven and fellow believers. So what do I have to be afraid of? We all experience pain, suffering and trials. God uses these to shape us and build our character and trust in him. We worry about a loved one who may be oversees in an area that we consider unsafe, but know that God has your loved one in the palm of his hand, God knows where he/she is at every moment and loves them more than we do. Detroit city is no less safe that sleepy ol' Spring Arbor because God is with us wherever we are. God hears our prayers, we don't have to be afraid. However, if you have not made the decision to follow God and believe that Jesus, His son, died for your sins and has risen then you have every right to be afraid. I can't imagine going through life with out having the firm security knowing that I was created for a purpose, that God loves me unconditionally and hears my prayers, forgives me for all my sins, even future sins that I haven't committed yet and that I will not be in Hell when I die but be taken up to Heaven to spend eternity there with God. How WONDERFUL that will be.
I have to go now, but will leave you with this thought: God loves you the way you are and is the one who created you and knows you better than anyone, He sent his only son to die for YOUR sins and wants you to love him back, ask for his forgiveness and become his child, a child of The King.