Easter blank

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This past Sunday, pastor Kevin spoke about Easter as a CELEBRATION of the resurrection of Jesus. And you? 


Easter is  _______.

[I'm not asking you to reply by e-mail or anything, though you can if you like.]

What is Easter to you? Is it hope and peace and renewal and forgiveness? Or is it rules or hypocrisy or just high fives for the American Confectioners Association?

What do you say Easter is? What does your life say?

Easter is life *abundant*.

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Forgive

 

This past Sunday at Lighthouse, Pastor Kevin delivered the second part of a two-part series entitled Red Letter Day.

Jesus claimed that we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. And he actually did it, as men tortured him on the cross because of his goodness and mercy.

"Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

During his final painful moments, at the pinnacle of injustice, Jesus prayed. Is that not a miracle in itself? The miracle continues when we choose to have mercy and forgive others as we have been forgiven.

 

The alternative? As Pastor Kevin mentioned, unforgiveness drags us down and keeps kicking us in the face.

Thanks be to God's grace, which is bigger than all of our offenses, and a lot easier on my face.


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forsaken

Last Sunday at Lighthouse, Pastor Brown delivered a message about...ugh.

That place. The place of darkness we will all face (or already have faced), where we see poorly and trust is fading. We feel stranded on one tragic, painful moment, and we don't understand.

Jesus himself, King of kings and Lord of lords, felt forsaken by God.

There's good news! The way we live now, how we think and what we do on a daily basis - it all matters on the day(s) when life is not sunshine and lollipops. Have we chosen to live in humility, with a confident trust in the Lord? Have we nurtured our relationship with God, knowing that He is always good, always for us, and always with us?

Last Sundays message helped me drop some of the fear and uncertainty that I was carrying toward the inevitable, temporary darkness.

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Know Peace

[I'm filling in as a sub - the mid-week reflection for our church.]

This past Sunday, Pastor Kevin delivered the final message of a four-part series entitled Joy. This weeks message focused on peace.

In the Lord we find relational peace.
In the Lord we find inward peace.
In the Lord we find circumstantial peace.

Imagine that! How wonderful...

...You go back to business as usual, "real life" outside of Sunday morning. Your grace and gentleness is evident to everyone. Trust has replaced worry, opening the door for genuine selflessness and generosity. You have learned to be content whatever the circumstances, filled with gratitude, noticing the riches of each moment...

[Sigh]

Pastors sermon reminded me that contrary to popular opinion (including mine sometimes), peace is really not so elusive.

Peace is a person.

I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.

And the peace I give

is a gift the world cannot give.

                                                                                                              John 14:27