Before I get into all the super cute Easter pictures and the fun stories of the weekend, I need to share a little of what is on my heart. I don't write much on this blog, but today I feel convicted to share more of the message from church this morning, the message of the gospel. I want to share with those of you that are reading this and I want to share with my little girl, so that years from now she will read this and know what was on mommy's heart.
It is finished. Done. He died. He rose. My sins....gone. This morning's sermon was all about just that...It is finished. I know I've heard this every Easter for my entire life, but for some reason as I heard these words this morning, my cheeks were tear soaked. I am saved. I am going to spend eternity in heaven with Christ. Wow. I think part of my tears were the conviction of my sinfulness, of just how far short I fall. We all do. We are born sinners. Pastor talked about doing good not to earn salvation, but in thankfulness for my salvation. He talked about obedience not to open the gates of heaven, but because He has already opened those gates for me. If I could get to heaven by being nice, by being obedient, then the cross was a sham. Why would Jesus go through all that so many years ago if it was in MY power to decide my fate? Truth is, He did it so that all of us could go to heaven. Galatians 2: 20-21 says "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
We are all sinners. We all NEED Him. I've spent so much of my life trying to earn my way, trying to be nice and do good things and do X, Y and Z in order to feel assured that I was getting "in". Little did I know that all I had to do was look to the cross. It is finished. All I had to do was accept that, accept the forgiveness Christ has offered, and follow Him.
Today's message was such a huge reminder to that commitment I made almost 10 years ago to do just that, to follow Him. Pastor talked about knowing Jesus, about a relationship with Him. I've had glimpses of this over these past 10 years but I go through ruts where I really fall away from spending time with Him. My goal is always to do this daily - and when I do make the time and I do it daily, wow, what a difference it makes. My perspective changes. My life is transformed. He has that power. This morning reminded me how awesome life can be when I am following Him, when I am spending time with Him, when I am in His will. He doesn't promise rainbows and puppies. He doesn't promise a smooth path. Heck, I've gone through the hardest thing in my life
since committing my life to Him in my infertility. What He does promise is that He will never fail. He will be enough. His grace is sufficient. He will carry you through. And at the end of the day when life has been lived, He promises an eternity in heaven by His side.
Yes, He wants us to come to Him when we are having troubles. But He is not a means to an end, He IS the end! He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. That really resonated with me - how often have I come to Him, hoping He would be the one to get me through the struggle. I have used Him as a means to an end. But He offers so much more. He wants all of me- good days and bad days. He wants a relationship with me daily. He wants to be my King.
So, little girl, years from now when you are reading this, my prayer today is that you will know in your heart that IT IS FINISHED! I pray that you will accept this gift of forgiveness and that you will live a life for Him, that He will be your king!
I do have to share that after church today I was so fired up that I grabbed you from the nursery and I whispered to you "you know what Makenna, it is finished, can you say that - It is finished?" and you looked at me and said "finish". Then after your nap, you woke up sooo very crabby all you wanted to do is snuggle with me in the chair and look out the window. As we laid there, I whispered in your ear - "it is finished" and you sat up and looked at me with the biggest smile and said "finished".
With that, Happy Easter!! I have SO many cute pics I could post today so I am going to
try to limit this to my faves:)
What a sharp looking bunch of kids!
Love the face
Pretty pretty girl
Time for the Easter Egg hunt!!
Sorry, Grandpa - you may be missing some bark off of your tree:)
Running!!!
Catch me, Grandpa!
Time for our annual Easter baseball game - well, until someone decided she needed to take over the bat & ball.
Running the bases with my daddy:)
The look on her face tells you this is not her toy...oooo, what have I found?
And finally, its time to blow bubbles!!!!!
Happy Easter!!!!
