Happy Easter

Our Lord is risen from the dead.

(Nate and I travelled to Moshi Saturday morning and will be here until Tuesday. We have limited internet access, but much to update you on, including many funny stories about my first dala-dala ride and our commute to Moshi. But those will come later this week.)

I wanted to focus this post on Jesus Christ. He is becoming more real to me than ever before. All my life, I've heard about him, loved him, run from him, obeyed him, disobeyed him...he has been real to me. But now, when I"m halfway across the world, feeling lonely at times, feeling like a failure most of the time, feeling lost, I feel my deepest need is him. And I realize only he can satisfy my true needs. (Now, I don't want you all to think I'm having a miserable lonely time here...I'm not. I'm loving it, but there are some difficult times...which would be true even if I was home. I'm just trying to be authentic...by giving you the good and the bad.)

I love Christ. Today, I was reminded that he is so much bigger of a God than I gave him credit for. Nate and I had the great pleasure of celebrating easter service with Americans, Tanzanians, Italians, Germans, Dutch, British, and more I'm not remembering. We sang together, prayed together, gave thanks together, shared the cup and bread together. It was both a reminder that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for people all over the world (not just my small bubble between IN and SCand reaching out to parts of NY and TX and CA) and it was a picture of worshiping in heaven.

I also had somewhat of a revelation today. (Forgive me, but I'm copying this from an email to my family.)

I think I focus on Christ's death...which obviously is significant. It was the sacrifice for our sins. But I don't think I ever realized that his resurrection is just as important. I mean, I knew it was important and unique (compared to other religions) that we serve a Living God (b/c he rose from the dead), but I think it just never was personal to me like the cross feels personal to me. And sadly, I have often forgotten or minimized the resurrection. But, today in church, I realized that great significance of the resurrection is that it is our hope for new life.

so, cross/death = sacrifice, forgiveness
and, resurrection = our hope of a new life

This is so simple, and I know I've heard it a thousand times before, but today I heard it with ears and a heart that were open. Jesus is my only hope. I will fail him every time, but he is my hope for a new life. One day he will complete the work in me, and I will see him face to face. No more tears, no more sinning. Til then, we press on brothers and sisters.

Happy Easter!