hallelujah

"So today we celebrate the gift of victory over every fall we have ever experienced, every sorrow we have ever known, every discouragement we have ever had, every fear we have ever faced--to say nothing of our resurrection from death and forgiveness for our sins. That victory is available to us because of events that transpired on a weekend precisely like this nearly two millennia ago in Jerusalem.

Beginning in the spiritual anguish of the Garden of Gethsemane, moving to the Crucifixion on a cross at Calvary, and concluding on a beautiful Sunday morning inside a donated tomb, a sinless, pure, and holy man, the very Son of God Himself, did what no other deceased person had ever done nor ever could do. Under His own power, He rose from death, never to have His body separated from His spirit again. Of His own volition, He shed the burial linen with which He had been bound, carefully putting the burial napkin that had been placed over His face “in a place by itself,” the scripture says.

That first Easter sequence of Atonement and Resurrection constitutes the most consequential moment, the most generous gift, the most excruciating pain, and the most majestic manifestation of pure love ever to be demonstrated in the history of this world. Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, suffered, died, and rose from death in order that He could, like lightning in a summer storm, grasp us as we fall, hold us with His might, and through our obedience to His commandments, lift us to eternal life." (Jeffrey R. Holland)

I am thankful today and forever for the atoning sacrifice of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ! He bore the burden of all our sins, pains, and sorrows. He broke the bands of death and rose again on the third day. He lives! And because of His mighty act of love, not only will each one of us live again, but we can receive divine help and forgiveness every day from the One who knows how to heal every wound and mend every hurt. Hallelujah!

The garden tomb might be the most meaningful place in the Holy Land, and I hope one day I might be able to see it in person.

This video is extremely meaningful to me and truly captures what Easter is all about.

This is a wonderful Easter song and the little girl who sings it is so sweet! I love how the simple words of a children's song can convey such a powerful message. 

The hardest thing that ever was done

The greatest pain that ever was known

The biggest battle that ever was won

This was done by Jesus!

The fight was won by Jesus!

Happy Easter, everyone. I hope you have a wonderful time with friends and family, but more importantly, that you are able to spend some time pondering our Savior and the incredible gift He gives to each of us. We are so blessed!