I don’t think I have ever been more thankful for the celebration of Easter in my life. After my little weekend with God at Living Proof Live, my heart has just jumped for joy over my Savior. I really cannot even begin to grasp the sacrifice He made for my sins. It’s just too much.
The holiday weekend was such a great one. I got to spend several hours in the car with my parents as we traveled to see my brother play some of the last games of his high school career. This has been a tough season and he hasn’t seen the playing time he wanted to see, but I am so glad I went to support him and his team. Not only did I get to be there for my “little” brother, but I got to spend some quality time with my parents. Quality time is limited for us these days. With me off in college and two active teenagers at home, free time doesn’t come often. We had so many good conversations and fun conversations during our little car ride and I was reminded just how blessed I am. I have some good parents. I have some dang funny parents. Oh, I cannot wait to do more life with them.
Saturday was spent watching even more baseball and enjoying some crafty time with a sweet friend. Yet again, I was reminded just how blessed I am. The Lord completely orchestrated our friendship. We are friends by the sheer goodness of God. A little makeup and a few boys have helped bring us together. And I know I’ll love her to pieces for a lifetime.
Tyler and I got to experience our “home” church Saturday night before heading back to our college home for the remainder of our Easter weekend. This was the first Easter that I haven’t woken up in my family home to my little basket of goodies waiting for me in the den. I spent this Easter in my college town with my boyfriend and a few friends. Although this was a “first” for me, I know that Easter is still Easter and my family is still my family no matter how much space is in between us.
Saturday morning my boyfriend and I made our way to The Grove. If you’re familiar with Oxford, I don’t need to explain The Grove to you. And if you’re not familiar to Oxford, I don’t know how to explain The Grove to you. It’s our school’s thing, I suppose. It’s where we set up and cheer for our Rebel’s. It’s where boys toss a football under the big trees. It’s where we went to worship our risen Lord on Easter morning.
We stood together as the body of Christ and worshiped. There’s something about being outside in the world God created for us that just heightens my awe for Him. Worship filled my heart as we sang beautiful hymns about the sacrifice Christ made for us. I thought my heart might burst right out of my chest as we began to sing “In Christ Alone”. Oh, Jesus is so good! As we sang, children played and danced in the grass in front of us. It was such a perfect picture of God. He’s not some angry guy who set rules for us and scorns us when we’re wrong. He’s a God who brings joy and giddiness and pure happiness to our hearts. He’s a God who has given us the freedom to find peace and comfort in Him. He’s a God who has allowed us to play and dance in His name. Like any loving parent, he disciplines us when we are wrong, but our Father will always accept us again. He will always want us to get back out there and dance for Him. Right in the middle of the Easter service. After the service was over, we stuck around and enjoyed time with friends over a fun picnic lunch!
The rest of my Easter was spent being lazy and enjoying time with the man I love. We opened our Easter goodies, watched a little TV, cooked a little dinner, and shared lots of love and laughter. Thanks to the sacrifice Christ made for me, I can feel love. Whether you believe in Him or not, all love originates with Him. The pure love and joy we feel comes from the Father who created us. The Father who sent His Son to live and die for us. He has shown us such love! It overjoys me that I am able to live with that kind of love in my heart.
I hope you had a beautiful Easter. I hope you felt love and happiness and pure joy.
Until Next Time.
Keep Living. Learning. and Loving