Thoughts on Easter

Happy Easter!

What does this mean? How have I lost the connection this year? It has been so wild these past 4 months. I can't remember the last time I took in God's creation. But today, WOW, Jesus rose from the dead! How awesome and beautiful that is. So much more than egg hunts. Greater than Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs. Hard to believe but yes God's plan for our salvation was completed this day. Without Christ's resurrection where would the power be to save us from death? [1st Corinthians 15] But He has risen, He has risen indeed!!

So, I got the family ready and attended an outside sunrise service in 28 degree (F) weather. While freezing and wiping the snot from everyone's nostrils I got to thinking. I haven't spent enough time to thank God. Looking back at my life I am truly amazed at the provisions given to me. I must say living in this place has really put me in a position to trust the Lord more and rely less on myself if that makes any sense. I've never been a place where Christians are the minority. When examining the culture (LDS central) there are not many people born-again. It's sad and scary. Prayer has been essential for me. When you are placed in a position where you feel helpless and alone (spiritually) it's as if you get bogged down in the muck. You focus on how bad and awful things are. Much like the Israelites were when they started their journey to God's Promised Land. How quickly we try to revert back to our old ways wishing God had left us alone thinking far better to be slaves than starve or die of thirst in this desert(UT) [Exodus 16:2-3]. But I'm reminded today that with Christ we shall not thirst or be hungry[John 4:13, John 6:35]. If I seek Him I will be overfilled and thirst no more. Death has been swallowed up. The chains are broken. Victory is ours through Christ's scarifice and resurrection. It is easy to get caught up in this rat race not remembering the True race that we are running [Hebrews 12, 1st Timothy 4: 1-8]. God is shaping me, my family, and those who are brought to Him. He is working in our lives in ways I can't express how thankful I am. Madilynn is an inspiration to me. She has a faith in Jesus and a love for the Father that I wish I had. My wife Miranda, bless her, she has the courage to follow me, no to walk beside me into a lion's den holding my hand giving me strength. She doesn't even bat an eye. Talk about a mighty, loving, and wonderful woman. I have to say I don't think about death much. I don't know if it's a young man thing, but when I do it's downright terrifying. We are about 21 hours away (by car) from any of our family. What happens when I'm gone? Yet there's a tingle as I get goose bumps that catches me as if a summer breeze is passing over me. I exhale then a whisper in my ear reminds me God has a plan and it is being fulfilled in me. I may not know what it is as I walk this earth but I like it that way. If I knew what it was, would that change anything? How much would I want to control it?

"Thank you Lord for the gift that you have given freely, we love you because you first loved us."