Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a glorious Easter weekend! We had such a beautiful cantata at church last night which seems to just set the mood for Easter. Since I don’t write on Sundays, I am sending your Easter devotion today. We will be going early to Hackensack tomorrow to hear Leif preach and then on to the Lake for our Easter feast. I plan to stop to see a friend at Birchview on the way also. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I often sing the resurrection song, He arose, while driving somewhere, even though it may not be even close to Easter. I like the reminder, “Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with the saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah Christ arose.”
The cross is at the center of our faith and when Jesus extended his arms on the cross, He embraced each of us in His death for our sins. But there is more, for he arose the victor. As Paul said in Phil 3:10-11, “(I want) to know (Christ) and the power of his resurrection and (the) sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”  In faith we look at Jesus death in light of his resurrection. If Jesus was not resurrected then our faith would be in vain. But He arose and tomorrow we celebrate Easter and His glorious resurrection.
Peter van Beemen writes about what happened that resurrection morning. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, who was one to seek Him and the first to find Him. The other disciples went home but Mary Magdalene didn’t leave but stayed at the empty tomb. There are two angels there who ask her why she is weeping and she says she doesn’t know where they have taken her Lord. She turns her back on the angels and weeps as she is approached by the One who she thinks is the gardener. But Jesus asks her, “Whom are you seeking?” Jesus shows concern for her grief and when He calls her by name, she recognizes him. What joy must have flooded her whole being and her grief disappeared.
Beemen shares how we are to be like Mary and to seek Him with all our hearts, and live in a close relationship with Him. Jesus knows each of us intimately and calls us by name. As like Mary, when Jesus told her not to cling to Him but go tell his disciples the news; that is also what we are called to do. As we have received the Lord, we are sent out to tell others. Mary went quickly and told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”  Our mission is to tell others and let us not keep the good news to ourselves. Like Jesus said to His followers, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 
Challenge for today: Ask for a Mary heart that seeks the Lord and shares the news.
Blessings on our Easter weekend and prayers and love, Judy