There is no Joy, greater than the assurance of a Risen Savior,
Jesus Christ. Today we celebrate the mystery and joy of Easter.

Sir Woody ponders the difference between a Bunny’s feet and his paws.
Happy Easter!

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By Dan Bode

It was indeed a Silent and Holy night.

There was little left to do but watch. The animals had long since fallen asleep. The small town activities had for the most part ceased, and those who still escaped the realm of dreams were oblivious to the occasion to which they were not witness. Most were merely puzzled by the Star never seen before even though it seemed to hover right over this little town of Bethlehem, a town whose very existence was based on the industry of providing sacrificial lambs for the temple in Jerusalem.

The only sounds were the moans of a young, soon-to-be mother in the final hours of a labor that had begun in the Garden so long ago. The will of her body was overcome by the need of the moment as contraction after contraction contorted her features with pain. But she had known this was out of her control from the moment she became aware of His presence.

The only other person aware of the import of this moment is the man at her side. The one on whose shoulders fall the responsibility of helping to bring into this world He who will be the Flesh of God.

All the questions that race through their minds are pushed aside as the symphony of the birthing process reaches its crescendo, and suddenly the Life of Man is Present in this world.

I find myself envious of their perspective. They were there at the beginning, and all they knew of the child at that moment was the name of His Father and His role as Savior of the world. They could take joy in the grasping hands and the baby’s laughter.

I, on the other hand, have the historical perspective as well.

I can look back at His birth, and look back at His death as well.

And there lies the difference..

I cannot see the newborn babe without the grown man on the cross.

I cannot see the grasping hands without the nails piercing His flesh.

I cannot see the smooth brow without the thorns.

What I can see is the mercy of our maker.

Some would say we deserve only His pity for what we’ve done with what He’s given us, but pity is merely mercy without action, and God can never be described as complacent.

He has always been active in His love for us, even undeserving as we are. And because of all this I will always see the whole life of Christ as the Great Substitution. Completely undeserved.

Undeserved by Christ for suffering penalties not meant for Him.

Undeserved by me for being unable to make the necessary sacrifice.

It took so long for me to discover that I truly needed a Savior.

And so I sit as the world goes by around me; almost everyone once again oblivious to the occasion to which they are not witness.

So, into this Silent and Holy Night I have these three things to say:

God have mercy.

Joy to the world when you recognize your Lord.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

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Copyright 2002 Dan Bode ( http://www.thoughts-of-dan.blogspot.com ).

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A friend sent me these words of encouragement..

“Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though Sometimes It’s Hell in the Hallway.”

Seems appropriate..

Today, like every day of the year, we sit in the presence of Jesus Christ who was fully made to be God in the flesh of man. The triune God, God made in the flesh. In the person of Jesus The Christ
This Jesus Christ, my personal savior demonstrated that he loved God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his strength, and with his whole mind.

This Jesus Christ, loved with a love that is hard to understand.
Jesus Christ loved the human race so much that he gave his life as an offering of payment for sin. You sinned? Christ has already paid for it. That’s how much he loves us.
Sin will never ever be an issue for a growing Christian.
Why?
Because the Savior the great “I AM” knew the penalty of sin, and knew that all people would sin. That Christians would continue to sin. So he offered himself as a propitiation offering. On the Cross, to fulfill prophesy

Today why not take a few moments and ask yourself if you are not a Christian, to let God into your heart and accept the great sacrifice Jesus Christ gave.

It can be a simple prayer, or a conversation. In the book of Acts, it is very clear.
That faith alone is the path to eternal salvation.
Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.”

“Dear God I know I’m a sinner, I know I am not where I want to be, and I want your forgiveness! I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins.
Please cleanse me from all sin, shame, and guilt, come into my life Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I ask this in your name Jesus. Amen!”

Recognize that you are a person of sin, with no way to access God the Father except through the work of Jesus Christ. Just ask God for cleansing of your sin, and that Jesus would come into your heart to save you.

Remember the story of the two thieves crucified with Jesus? One absolutely refused to seek what Jesus offered; the other thief did, and was told “today you will be with me in paradise” Buddy Gray pastor of Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham recently said this.

“This really is justification by faith alone. Notice there was no baptism, no communion, no confession, no last rites, no church membership, no good works, no praying a prayer, no walking an aisle. This man trusts in Christ alone…. All he can do is trust in the work of Jesus Christ, and Jesus says that is all that it takes.”

Ephesians 2:8-10: “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Today while we acknowledge the gift we were given by Jesus, through his death on the cross, we may mourn.
Yet the family of God knows this was a penalty that had to be paid, so that we can know we will have the gift of eternal life.Here is enough reason to call this Friday Good.

Trackposted to The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Allie is Wired, Right Truth, Blue Star Chronicles, Oblogatory Anecdotes, The Pink Flamingo, A Newt One, Right Voices, Pursuing Holiness, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.