HOW GOOD IS GOD!

Yesterday was Resurrection Sunday, the day we celebrate the awesome power of our LORD and God as He raised His Son, who died for our sins, from the dead! It was an amazing morning. I woke up early to read the accounts of the Resurrection in the Scriptures, went to an amazing non-kosher breakfast provided by our amazing staff at 5am, and then we got on the bus to go into Jerusalem for a sunrise service at the Garden Tomb! (Not the actual location, but a good picture/reminder of the place.) This particular service was in English - it was packed in the garden. But oh, the joy of praising the Lord together with so many other believers in the midst of a lost city. I am sure that much of the East Jerusalem/Damascus Gate area heard us shout: "He is risen, indeed!" We sang, "See What a Morning" together...what a morning it was. Was it a morning like this, when our Savior rose from the dead? It was beautifully sunny and warm, the city was relatively quiet before dawn, and then our shouts of praise. I think of the words to the song "Was it a Morning Like This:" Did the grass sing? Did the earth rejoice to hear Him again? Over and over like a trumpet underground, did the earth seem to pound, He is risen?! Over and over in a never ending round, He is risen! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"
See God's salvation plan, Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?"
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb; Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years, Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears, For He lives:
Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.
Honor and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned with pow'r and authority!
And we are raised with Him, Death is dead, love has won,
Christ has conquered; And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

All afternoon I was able to quietly enjoy my Lord, thinking about what He has done for His people. When it was finally Sunday morning for the west coast of the U.S., I called home to quickly wish my family a blessed Resurrection morning before they left for church, when they told me about Grant. Grant is a 17-year-old friend from our church who collapsed at home on Saturday. His mom had to administer CPR and for 40 minutes he was without a pulse on his own. My mom asked me to pray and to have my friends here in Israel pray as well. But God is so good! This morning I was reading the updates about Grant, and not only is he breathing on his own, he seems to know and understand what is going on around him. Praise the Lord! Grant still has a long way to go, so please pray for him; but remember to praise the Lord for another way that He has shown His power over death and His control over all things, even the very next breaths we will take.