Easter is coming!!!

Every year we get to a time when the title of this blog is ringing in my head. All the time. Easter is coming, Easter is coming, Easter is coming. Why? It's because for the "worship guy", Easter is a huge deal. Actually for the whole church it's a huge deal. We know it's the day with the biggest attendance, the day where people come who otherwise never come. It's the greatest, happiest, biggest celebration of the year. We want to give it our all. Jesus Christ is risen!!!

But it's also the saddest day. Now I know Good Friday is sad and I'm sure other specific days are sad for you as you move through a year. But as I sit here and think, Easter is at the top of the list. It's pretty simple to think this way. It has to do with the big attendance at churches around the world. People come out of their homes, walk into a church, and don't realize that the whole point is God loves them. They 'celebrate' a day that don't understand. It's like cheering for your friends' team, never realizing that your own father plays on the team too. They have never figured out that the reason we put so much effort into one day is because it commemorates our Messiah's conquering of death. Eternity with God is now possible. Holy cow!

That's my point. It doesn't seem to matter to people. Or maybe it just doesn't click. It's sad either way. I so desperately want people to know and embrace the truth. What is offered to us is incredible. So maybe I'll just tell you now. In case you're reading and you don't already know. God loves you. That might sound weird, but it doesn't make it untrue. He knows that you have messed up over and over and over. You don't deserve His love, attention, grace or anything like that. But you have it. Jesus came to suffer for your sin, your junk, your messups. He took all of that and more...by defeating death and bringing eternal life to be a reality for all of us. He literally died for your sins. All of them. Isn't that awesome?! And then he literally came back to life. He beat death down big time. He did all the work. We just have to receive this gift. He has said that we must place our faith in Him, confessing with our mouth that He is Lord of our life, and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. Wow, what a gift you've been given. Why wouldn't you take it?

I'm starting to cheer up now. It will still be sad to look at faces and know I won't see them for a year. But knowing I could see them the next week will be so exciting! I know my God and I know He loves every person that comes to our Easter service. And at any point, including that morning, they could turn to Him.  Even as you read this you could do that. Completely. Listen...forget pride and always needing to be right. Make a step of faith and put your trust in God. Why not do it now?! Then celebrate Easter in a whole new way...knowing your Father is the one you're cheering for.