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On Thursday,
it hit me that I didn't have to walk very far
out my front door to realize God's creation was shouting...
Just a few weeks previous,
Seeds and bulbs die
in order for plants and trees to live!
It's one of the many lessons
our good God gives us in nature:
SOMETHING DIES
FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO LIVE!
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The evening sun had set in the western sky,
but because our good God is consistent,
we could expect the sun to rise
in the east on Friday morning.
This wouldn't be just any Friday morning.
It would be GOOD FRIDAY!
Good?
A day that celebrates
the horrible crucifixion
of the Son of God?
Good?
YES!
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JESUS willingly and lovingly gave His life!
He knew the secret to new life!
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1. SOMETHING DIES
FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO LIVE!
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2. NEW BIRTH COMES ABOUT
THROUGH SACRIFICE AND PAIN!
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On Friday, I meditated on the cross and what Jesus chose to do for me! I remembered the nine months, labor, and delivery that Jacqueline had gone through to give birth to Chloe. I was thankful for the phone calls, the emails, the facebook status that said, "She's here!"
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I kept thinking and saying,
"Friday's here!
Sunday's coming!"
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The apostles had been taught the concept of death, burial, and resurrection. Yet, it was hard when going through it. This video / song have been written as if from the perspective of Peter on that Sunday morning...
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He's Alive!
by Don Francisco
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The gates and doors were barred And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrowAnd half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breakin' through To drag us all away
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And just before the sunriseI heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle And a voice began to call
I hurried to the window Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches And the sound of soldiers' feet
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But there was no one there but Mary So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me As she told me where she'd been
She said they might have moved Him in the night And none of us knows where
The stone's been rolled away And now His body isn't there
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We both ran toward the garden Then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and empty tomb Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in Was just an empty shell
And how or where they'd taken Him Was more than I could tell
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Oh something strange had happened there Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation Couldn't lift me very high
'Cause I'd seen them crucify Him Then I saw Him die
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Back inside the house again The guilt and anguish came
Everything I'd promised Him Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive It wouldn't be the same
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But suddenly the air was filled With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere Drove the shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me With his arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees And I just clung to Him and cried
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Then He raised me to my feet And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion Dissappeared in sweet release
And every fear I'd ever had Just melted into peace
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He's alive!
Yes! He's alive!
Yes! He's alive!
And I'm forgiven!
Heaven's gates are open wide!
He's alive!
Yes! He's alive!
Oh! He's alive!
And I'm forgiven!
Heaven's gates are open wide!
He's alive!
yes He's alive!
Hallelujah! He's alive!
He's alive!
And I'm forgiven!
Heaven's gates are open wide!
He's alive!
He's alive!
He's alive!
I believe it!
He's alive!
Sweet Jesus!
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