I Am The Lord Your God....You Are Mine

"...Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..." (Isaiah 43:1-3)

It is "Easter Monday." For some people that means an extension of their holiday weekend. For others it is back to work, business as usual. Easter Sunday is over. The new dresses and bonnets, bow ties and white jackets are all put away.

The organized egg hunts are over. A few stray baskets still sit half-full of chocolates and bunnies.... pastel colored eggs linger in the yard undiscovered.

Another Christian holiday, another worldly "Easter Bunny" day has come and gone.

Is that all there is?

We know better, praise the Lord! Easter is more, so much more than a block on our calendar month marking a holiday observance. Hopefully it never leaves our hearts... this most amazing event to ever take place in our world... in GOD's world.

Now that it's Monday, is your celebrating done? Will you numbly and resignedly settle back into your daily and weekly routines as you arise? Will the choir's inspirational Easter music and the uplifting sermon by your pastor simply become another Sunday in a year of Sundays?

That, my friends, is up to us! With the remembrance of the Resurrection miracle fresh in our minds and renewed in our hearts, what is our response to be?

Our continued and consistent response...?

May the verse above be an ever present thought, more than that, a burning presence in our hearts. WE ARE NOT TO FEAR....ANYTHING! The God of the Heavens... has redeemed us. Through His own Son's death and resurrection, He calls us by name.

WE BELONG TO HIM!

No matter what happens... no matter what comes our way, He is with us. He is our tower of refuge. He is our comfort and strength. He walks through the waters, the river, the fire... with us.

If we lose our way, He will be our guide. It is His promise. We only need to keep our hearts turned toward Him, pulled in close, so close.

Will that assurance affect your day-in and day-out walk?
Will you remember that deep awe and gratitude you felt in response yesterday, and let it drive you to the changes you know you need to make in your life?
He is all you need to accomplish what your heart is speaking to you.

Don't let today be business as usual. Start today, this first day after Easter Sunday 2009. Rise up because He rose. Live because He died for you. Love because He first loved you. Make Him your LIFE....in thankfulness for the miracle you celebrated yesterday.

We have been bought with a price, and it is too precious a gift to set aside in our hearts when Easter Sunday is over.

NOTHING compares to the LIFE we have in Him!

Blessings!