Easter in Retrospect

Lord-

Redemption weekend was an experience like nothing I remember growing up. Easter has always been about family, traditions, and church. Those things are good, but You are the main reason we remember Easter. Sometimes I fall into what the culture around me tells me to think. Going through this Easter alone (without my family) really made me think about the true meaning of the cross.

On Friday, I thank you for remembering me while You were on the cross. You knew what sins I was going to stumble over before I ever came into being. This Friday I spent the day walking around the city and really praying over some issues. You really broke me Lord over some strong holds in my life, parts of my heart and mind where lies had taken root. I realized that this Easter was when you wanted those surrendered to you. I went into the retreat day assuming you were going to say one thing and struggling when you didn't end up saying the thing I thought. Something better happened though: You had me approach some things that really freed me from some binding lies. I thank you for that.

Saturday. The song that says "whatever you're doing inside of me/it feels like chaos but somehow there's peace" (by Sanctus Real) was how I felt on Saturday. I felt chaotic with emotions, but somehow there was peace. Jesus, you were weeding out the lies and really renewing me through me doing basic tasks such as cleaning the bathroom and homework. You were healing my mind by giving me mundane, self-explanatory things to do. The routine and quietness on Saturday really did help heal me this weekend. Thank you.

Sanctus Real video:



Resurrection Sunday. I went to church, and at church the most powerful part of the service was the drama put on by youth from the church. It was set to the song "Everything" by Lifehouse. It depicted this girl who meets you, Jesus, and begins a relationship with you, but then she gets pulled away and distracted by things of this world: relationship with a guy, money, drinking and partying, body-image issues and eating disorders, and lastly by the threat of cutting and suicide. But at the end she throws the gun away and runs toward you again as the world's things try to hold her back. The skit really shows how the world can get (and tries to get) in the way of our relationship with you, Jesus. But my favorite part of the whole skit that really sent me into tears was the part where the girl is struggling and struggling to get to you, Jesus, and when she finally gets pulled to her knees you jump behind her and shield her from all the forces of this world as she worships you. The struggle continues behind you, and then in one mighty force you cause all the forces to fall away and stillness to return.

Below are two links depicting the skit (not done at the church I attended) but the same skit done in two different churches (both are great):






Thank you Jesus for this Easter and how you isolated me to talk to me and help me root out things in my life that I was not letting your sacrifice cover. Lord, you are the King of Kings and my redeemer.

In your cleansing name,

Amen