Easter

All through the week before Easter I knew that I should be thinking about what Jesus did for me and that it should be affecting me, but it wasn't. I felt cold to it, even though I saw and heard others talking about it. Friday affected me none, I hardly thought about the cross; I felt bad, but wasn't willing to open myself up and take the time to think about it...
Then Sunday morning came. I still wasn't really thinking about it. But when we got to church and started singing...it changed. I was like, "Oh my goodness! The message of the cross is just SEEPED in HOPE and LOVE for us!"
So many of us are feeling hopeless. No one cares, we don't care, and there's nothing to live for; there's no hope. But when we take time to THINK about what Jesus did on the cross MEANS (which I encourage you to do)... Jesus —God— came down from the perfect life in heaven. He took on flesh that is limiting, especially compared to what he's used to. He became a baby who can do nothing and has to rely on others (people HE created!) to help it with the basics of life. Then He spent His life being loved and ridiculed, only to be stabbed in the back by His own friend, go through a mock trial, be neared beyond recognition (yikes) and spit upon, and be put through the most excruciating death. Because HE. LOVED. YOU. We know what it's like to not be loved! And hopefully you also know what it's like to love and be loved. It's a POWERFUL thing, and He loves YOU more than you can imagine. He CHOSE you. He made you exactly how He wanted and loves every little bit of you. Yes, even what you're thinking of right now. I know you're probably not taking this in or really believing it, but I really really hope you will... Because this is a message of HOPE. He has a plan for you. Everything you've gone through has brought you or will bring you closer to Him and has or will be used for good. Don't keep Him in a box and limit what He can do or how much He can love you. Open up and let Him in...enjoy His presence as much as He enjoys yours. For this is why He died. For YOU.