This ain't your worldly Easter....

   What is the true meaning of Easter?  I can start by telling you what Easter isn't.  Easter is not Reese cups. Easter is not about Thumper running around hiding eggs for our kids to find.  Easter is not about a big ol' lunch or even watching baseball.  All those things are nice and whatnot, but it is not the real meaning of Easter.  I believe that we can get so wrapped up in all the other stuff that the meaning of Easter gets a little faded.  Sure, we'll pray and Thank God at lunch or dinner for God sending Jesus, but do we really know what that looks like?  I know that I can get the meaning of Easter all messed up at times.  I wish that when I write a blog that I can tell you all that I am so holy and amazing and that I walk the straight and narrow all the time, but that's not the case.  I like all the other stuff sometimes that by me writing a blog, it helps to keep me in check.  It helps me stay vigilant and stay the course. 

   Since I have been writing these blogs I have been in a constant battle with the enemy.  Satan will throw a couple of body shots my way to knock me down.  I have been finding it a struggle to get back into the battle at times, but I know for the sake of my family and myself that I must.  I know that the closer I draw to God the more distractions will be present.  The kids will get sick.  I will start to get sick and I haven't been sick in a long time.  The car will have issues or the baseball game will be on.  Petty disagreements with family and friends will arise or some sort of financial crisis will hit.  Just watch.  The more you cling to God and draw closer to him, the more the enemy will attack.  I acknowledge the fact that as a son of God that I have ultimately won the war and nowhere in the Bible does it say that being a believer was or is easy.  

   God sent His Son Jesus to walk among us over 2000 years ago.  Jesus walked this Earth and died for my sins because He loves me.  Because He loves you.  Jesus was beaten.  Jesus was whipped.  Jesus was punched, kicked, spit on, cursed at, and wore a crown of thorns.  For what?  Because He served those who were poor?  Who were sinners?  Jesus was an innocent man who showed love.  Jesus made a blind man see, made a lame man walk, and made a dead man alive again.  And for this He was nailed to a tree. Really?  How does that make you feel?  I'll be honest with you.  If I were Jesus, and if I was the one hanging on that cross, I would call all the Angels of Heaven down and destroy all my enemies.  And that's why I fall short.  Jesus did the opposite of how I feel.  Jesus prayed for these people and asked God to forgive them.  Jesus just hung there with the entire worlds sin on his shoulders so we can spend eternity in Heaven with Him.  He was the ultimate sacrifice.  

   Jesus was placed in the tomb and heavily armed guards stood watch to make sure Jesus' pals would not move the body and make him a martyr.  If Jesus died then that would be the end of this story.  But it's not.  Jesus rose from the tomb.  Let me rephrase this.  Jesus beat death.  Jesus beat death so we could spend eternity in Heaven.  That's the real meaning of Easter.  Jesus beat death.  Or as you may hear, He rose from the Grave.  Jesus is a stud and I am no Jesus.  I try to live by the example that Jesus modeled, but I fail at times.  But Jesus never fails and He has never failed me, no matter how stupid I can be or the stupid things I do.  Happy Easter everyone and why not do something calorie free and give thanks to Jesus that YOU didn't have to hang on a tree.