"Darkness fell.
His friends scattered.
All hope seemed lost.
But Heaven just started counting to three." -Bob Goff
The waiting is over. JESUS HAS RISEN!
Death has been defeated.
The Promise of redemption and deliverance has been fulfilled.
Love has defied every law, every religion, every opinion, and every understanding.
Love lives! Love breathes! Love is here!
"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women with them) came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.
Why are you looking for the living among the dead?" asked the men.
"He is not here, but He has risen! Remember how He spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, 'It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day'?" And they remembered his words.
Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Mary Magdelene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had happened."
Luke 24:1-12
Death. The absence of breath. The last and final experience of life. Permanent and irreversible. Defeated, undone, and trampled. The King and Savior, Messiah has conquered death. JESUS HAS PAID IT ALL!
The most epic Love story of all time has been written and complete.
"For I am convinced that neither death no life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Nothing was stopping Him. Not the crown of thorns He wore, not the people who surrounded Him, spitting, mocking, and shaming Him, not the weight of the cross He carried, not the bleeding wounds in His back, and surely death was not stopping Jesus from running after us.
Friend, this is the Hope of Jesus! EVERYTHING IS FOREVER CHANGED!
Because of the sacrifice Jesus made through His death on the cross, we are FREE!
His biggest gift of Mercy and Grace was taking all of our debt--every lie, selfish way, betrayal, heartache, fear, boundary, misunderstanding, every single kind thing that could possibly separate us from the Love of God, was nailed to and defeated on the cross that Jesus overcame.
You and I's biggest mistake...welcomed, forgiven, and defeated, because Jesus lives.
Our biggest fear...understood, comforted, and defeated, because Jesus lives.
Our most hidden secret...seen, known, and defeated, because Jesus lives.
Our most darkest thoughts...forgiven, renewed, and defeated, because Jesus lives.
Our most intense anxiety...felt, healed, and defeated because Jesus lives.
Our most loneliest heart...desired, pursued, and defeated, because Jesus lives.
Because He lives we have freedom from every sin, every shame, and all the evils of tomorrow.
Because He lives we have Hope in His promise of deliverance.
Because Jesus lives we have all the reason to dance, dream, live, hope, love, grow, learn, become, run, jump, skip, leap, and praise for all of our days to come!
We have joy in the mourning, hope in the future, and Love in abundance.
Friend, You and I have the gift of Love and eternal LIFE with Jesus in Heaven. Every day, we have a choice: to dance in this act of Grace or play life by our playbook.
My playbook happens to be pretty inconsistent, limited, and exhausting. There has been enough life I've lived running on fumes, disappointed by my limited love and left defeated by the brokenness of this world. .
So together, You and Me, let's dance!
Let's dance in Grace.
Run to Love.
And sit in Joy.
TYJ for what You did on the cross, what you're doing right now, and what you're going to do for all the rest of our days! We love You! We praise You!
Amen.
Happy Easter Friend! He is alive and well! Do a little dance + sing a shout of praise! Hallelujah!
As always we love you + can't wait to hear yours thoughts, dreams, prayer requests, and silly stories!
Write to:
A Letter To You
139 Oaklawn Drive
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
AND text @withlovex to 81010 to let us know how we can pray for you and cheer you on!
As always we would love to hear from you any thoughts, stories, or dreams! On your team and in YOUR corner! Love you friend!
Xx,
MM & Laurel