Easter Day - ‘in-a-minute’
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 18 Mary went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord.’ John 20v1,18
How are you doing?
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed, Hallelujah!
Most of the people around us can handle Good Friday as history but not the resurrection, and yet for Christians it is the one event that makes us what we are - Christians, spiritually alive in Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:14 St.Paul says, ‘And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.’ But fear not, it was the tomb that was empty and that is history. History records over 520 people who met Jesus after he had risen – I think that is amazing. (1 Cor 5:6). In 1 Cor 15:12ff St Paul goes on a real good rant about how important that was to him and the new Christians in Corinth in Greece.
Here’s my rant - Because Jesus is risen, I can be forgiven, because he lives, eternity is written on my heart, because he lives the disciples, sad on Saturday were transformed and so am I, because of Easter, death lost its sting. Because he lives we have wholeness and healing, because he lives I can face tomorrow! End of rant !! Have a great day.
Easter Blessings to you;
Kelvin <><
Today Let us celebrate with some Easter prayers:
Gladden our hearts, Lord with the remembrance of the glorious resurrection of Jesus; give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week ahead may be spent in the awareness of your grace. Amen (from Common Worship Adapted)
Sovereign Lord you raised your Son to life in triumph. Through him death has been destroyed and radiant life is restored. May our lives reflect his glory and our lips testify to you and proclaim your praises. Amen
An Easter Prayer
God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do your will, and work in us that which is well pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Adapted ASB based on Hebrews 13:20
God, spring of the living water, awaken us to the truth that the gifts of the other are an expression of your unfathomable mystery. Make us sit together, eat at your table and drink from the well of your salvation which gathers us in unity and peace. In the name of Jesus we pray Amen
A Closing Prayer
Today, O Lord, I yield myself to You. May Your will be my delight today. May You have perfect sway in me. May Your love be the pattern of my living. I surrender to You my hopes, my dreams, my ambitions. Do with them what You will, when You will, as You will. I place into Your loving care my family, my friends, my future. Care for them with a care that I can never give. I release into Your hands my need to control, my craving for status, my fear of obscurity. Eradicate the evil, purify the good, and establish Your kingdom on earth. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.’ Richard Foster
