Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!

Today is GOOD FRIDAY... A day I am personally using to reflect upon Jesus and His suffering on the cross for me.  I am also reflecting upon some of my early Easter years...

I am reminded of those days when I was a little girl just so excited about a new pair of white gloves, a new dress and a hat to complete my Easter Sunday finest.  I am reminded about the anticipation of Easter Sunday.

Today, I am anticipating Easter Sunday, although I am not looking for a new dress or a new hat but rather for what I didn't understand back then.

Easter as a preacher's daughter started at Sunrise Service at Buccaneer Park on the beach.  Did I say it was BEFORE the sun came up?  Whew!  My BFF, Tammy Cremer  and I would sit in the back of the station wagon and look through our baskets of candy after the service while we waited for the next service to begin.  Yep, another service...

It was a day I knew was a really, really special day.   I knew that we celebrated Jesus' resurrection... I understood the agenda of our day, I understood Jesus died on the cross and I understood that three days later He was risen! 

But, as that little girl was all dolled up in her Sunday best, she had no idea what the depth of it all meant.

As life and death happened, I would soon find out.

Y'all all know the song "Because HE lives," right?  And if you don't, go to church on Easter Sunday morning and you will find out.  So, on to the song...

Read the lyrics before I go any further-  even if you know the song, read them again...

"Because HE Lives"

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,Because He lives, all fear is gone;Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!
Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

I sang this a little girl over and over and over and over, Well, why wouldn't anyone want to face tomorrow I wondered? 

Oh boy, did I ever grow into that one!

The lyrics to this song pierce my heart! 

Let me have you read this verse again-

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

As a little girl I had no idea I would understand this song so very much as an adult! But I will tell you folks something... I may not have  understood it so much then, but I BELIEVED every word of it and it was IN my heart and today more than ever I KNOW HE LIVES!

I know how sweet it is to hold a newborn baby and the pride and joy that he gives!  I know that I have the calm assurance that my child, Matthew, who is not living here with me is living with Jesus!  Because HE lives! 

Jesus died for you and me... He suffered for our sins and our iniquities...

He died so that we could  have everlasting life!

He was nailed to a cross so we could be free from our sins!  He took his last breath for you and for me.  And three days later the tomb was empty!

HE LIVES!  And because He lives, I can face tomorrow!  My fear is gone!  Life is worth living  because He lives! 

Because HE lives, Mattthew lives and I will be with him one day again because His death upon the cross made it possible for a sinner like me to be forgiven and to enter into heaven!

John 3:16 ~ "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!" 

Get real people... Heaven is for real! 

I was outside earlier today and I was thinking about Matthew and life without him here on this earth.  I was thinking about the amazing grace that has been given to us so that we will be with him again and I was thinking about the lyrics to "Because He lives."  All of it made me want to go to heaven right now! 

When I came in, I felt my heart tug to go to Matthew 10:7 in the Bible, specifically because it was Matthew's time of death...10:07 pm on July 2, 2005.  I had never looked specifically at this scripture before as I did today, but when I read it  I was sure grateful I did!  Heaven is near!  Heaven is near!  I will leave you with this today! 

Matthew 10:7 "As you go, preach this message; The kingdom of heaven is near." 

If I didn't have the HOPE in  my heart that I would be with Matthew again, I wouldn't be able to face tomorrow BUT... BECAUSE HE LIVES... I CAN FACE TOMORROW!  Can you?

And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Woo, can't wait til' that day "peeps!"- tis' the season for those lil' guys, right?  :)

With much love and a great big Happy, Happy, Happy Easter to you all! 

LCW