“He is not here: he is risen, as he said.” Matthew 28:6

On March 14th in 1987, over 20 years ago, in my driveway with a co-worker, I opened my life to Jesus. I had sat on the fence for many months, refusing to admit that I was in need of a Savior... that I had sin in my life that I could not make go away. That night, I gave up and asked Jesus to take over. And did He ever. More than just headed for death, I was headed toward a lifetime of selfishness, living only for me and what I wanted, without a care for anyone else in the world. He saved me from much more than my destiny in hell. He saved me from a life here of misery, lonliness and pain. He put my feet on a path of life. He gave me true joy and a life I could not have even dreamed. Not easy all the time, as this blog can attest, but full... an abundant life of direction, reason and significance. From that moment forward, I am blessed to say that I've never walked away from Him. I've had valleys and difficulties, but none so great that God wasn't there. Take time today to read John 3. On the original Good Friday Jesus was lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in Numbers 21. That all that look to Him would be cleansed and saved... just as all that looked at the serpent of Moses were healed from their snake bites. We've all been bitten by sin and each of us, as individuals... just like those in the desert with Moses, must look to Jesus' completed work on the cross to be healed. But don't leave Jesus on the cross. As today reminds us... He is not there anymore, He is risen.

So many songs are so special to me, but these few in particular.


Because He Lives (Bill Gaither)

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy he gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then, as death gives way to vict'ry
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives!


In Christ Alone (Keith Getty & Stuart Townend)

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all—Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine—Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home—Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.