A Season to Celebrate: Resurrection and Faithfulness
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Most folks don’t need an excuse to have a party. Expressing joy and having fun are wired into our nature. When was the last time a piece of news or a special occasion brought the purest expression of happiness and euphoria out of you? I’m not referring to simply feeling good; I mean being moved to celebrate and let your joy out somehow. Children are our best example of this. There are no filters there; when kids are happy, they show it. When they're invited to more fun and joy, they head toward it.
We need to find that in us again because this month we have two reasons for such celebrations. First is the Day of Days – Resurrection Sunday - Easter! It’s hard to imagine the depths of despair that the followers of Christ experienced after his crucifixion. We look back with wonder and awe at the love Jesus shows by His willingness to go to the cross, but to think of the heartbreak those who loved Him felt that day is beyond us. Then, to witness the unexpected, unbelievable, incredible news of His rising again, is beyond words. We can't even begin to comprehend that our Lord was willing to experience the horrors of being whipped, scourged, and crucified on our behalf, then die, and rise again because of love for us and love for God the Father. Today, we live knowing in our hearts that Christ is alive, loves us, walks with us, and works with us. Is there a better reason to celebrate? So much is special about the Easter celebration: tremendous worship, close fellowship as a church family, and sharing the day with loved ones. My prayer is that in the midst of it all, your joy is made real and makes its way into the world for all to see as you celebrate how Jesus Christ conquered sin and death.
We have another celebration in April (which pales in comparison to the Resurrection), but it is still significant in our lives together. This month, we'll be celebrating our 175th anniversary as a church. When we consider the souls who have touched our lives along the way, the number of precious shared moments, and the ways we’ve grown as disciples together, we must praise God for each gift. Most of us know of churches that have closed. We may drive past abandoned or repurposed church buildings that represent the end of a chapter of good faith and service. We have to celebrate how remarkable it is to stand as a legacy of 175 years of faithful ministry and know that God is still doing so many amazing things through this church.
It's critical that we remember that we did not get here by ourselves. God gave us these moments, which is why the Psalm rings so true for us. We must praise the Lord! Let our celebration be focused on God, because these are God's works in our lives. Keep the unbelievable generosity, kindness, and grace of God that are the reasons for these celebrations. When that is at the front of your mind and the center of your heart, the Psalm will flow naturally from you:
Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Look what the Lord has done! It is marvelous in our eyes! Let’s celebrate and praise our God during this special season in our lives together!
Pastor Scott
