Resurrection Morning

Luke 24:1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words.

9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

As I was trying to sleep too many thoughts were inside my head. I'm thinking this morning that God likes to glorified and magnify Himself, like looking through a telescope, in a surprising way. Jesus had been telling the disciples all along exactly what was going to happen. But Jesus knows the heart and He knew they didn't fully understand what He was telling them, but He had a surprise for them.

Can you imagine the look on their faces when the tomb was really empty and now they understood what He had been telling them all along? They had to be like Jr. high girls at a sleep over, all of them so excited they couldn't stand it. He's Alive.

Well, it is Easter morning. I called the hospital and the nurse said they have given Grant a medication that will not allow him to shiver at all. They have him cooled to 31c which is appr 89f so that his body will put all the energy it has into the brain and heart recovery, but this makes Grant very cold. Shivering takes energy and that is wasted energy.

Other than that he had an uneventful night. Dr. Chung, the cardiologist, will be happy with that news. No events right now are good.

As I listen to a quiet house, the only noises are the refrigerator hum and Teresa's occasional wave of emotion comes over her. She is so tender hearted and yesterday will be hard for her to forget.

I was reminded of the Israelites putting up markers where they traveled to remind them of the good things that God had done for them. We had so many markers yesterday, so many good things that we are able to focus on God's goodness to us. Many of you are those markers and we will probably cry with joy when we see you because you were part of Day 1 in our lives.

We want to be like Joshua and not be afraid of the "giants in the land". We must remember that God carried us yesterday through "the sea". That means today we are in the desert, but that also means we are in a place where God is our sole provider.

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

God is the giver of good things. Please pray that we would remember those good things today while running "the marathon".

Pray for Teresa, Kimmy and Garrett that they would see the good.

Pray that I would see the good as well and be able to focus them on the truth.

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Our God is worthy of our praise.

We need to worship like we mean it.

The Invitation
By Steven Curtis Chapman
In the palace in the land of mercy
The king looked out from his throne
He saw the sick and the homeless and hungry
He saw me lost and without hope
And moved with compassion
He sent out his only son
With the invitation to come

This is your invitation
Come just the way you are
Come find what your soul has been longing for
Come find your peace
Come join the feast
Come in this is your invitation

So I stood outside the gates and trembled
In my rags of unworthiness
Afraid to even stand at a distance
In the presence of holiness
But just as I turned to go
The gates swung open wide
And the king and his only son
They invited me inside

So now will you come with me
To where the gates swing open wide
The king and his only son
Are inviting us inside

This is our invitation
Come sinner as you are
Come find what your soul has been longing for
Come find your peace
Come join the feast
Come in this is your invitation
This is our invitation
This is the invitation

Rejoicing in Hope,
Chuck

Click here to read the next part, "Resurrection Day (Part 2)"