you ask me how I know he lives...



Of all the Hymns I love about Easter and the resurrection I ended up picking one that talks about feelings rather than evidence.

I sat in the service yesterday and was rather humbled when this song was mentioned.
It was not mentioned as one of the solid great old Hymns...
but one that talks about feelings.  I will always love this song...
partly because of the nostalgic memories of Easters with new dresses and shoes and afternoons with cousins.  Added to those wonderful memories is now the reminder that  I know Christ lives within me..
I know it....based on truth.

"you ask me how I know he lives...
He lives...within my heart".

Yes...of course he does...
but I know he does because the Bible says so...
not because I feel it.

There are actually  days that I don't feel much of anything in my heart and truth be told there are days that my heart condemns me and I am discouraged...
and I wouldn't sing the song heartily at all.

We've been studying Mark in church...
and last night it really was the final chapter.
When the message is up on the church website...
  I'll post the message because I believe it will touch your heart as it did my own.
  I was  convicted and encouraged and spurred to action to explain to you how I know that Jesus lives.


Mark 16 tells the story of the resurrection.
In the verses preceding the 16th chapter...
Mark tells us about Joseph of Arimathea who was a respected member of the council.
(This was the same council that had all agreed to condemn Jesus to death).
Clearly...Joseph had a change of heart because it was he that went to Pilate requesting the body of Jesus.  He alone went and stood before Pilate and then took the body of Jesus...
wrapped him in a linen shroud and placed him in his own tomb.

I wonder ....
how the rest of the council felt about this.
Don't you wonder what they said to him?
He clearly decided to no longer stand on the sidelines and keep his "respected" position.
It was quite a personal risk that would be noticed.

So...
then in chapter 16...
the women who had been staying at a safe distance during the crucifixion ..
had seen where the body was laid...
and went to the tomb on the third day and what did they see?
They saw that the stone was already rolled away...
and inside the tomb was a young man...
dressed in white.

What did he say to them?

He said..
"Do not be alarmed.
You seek  Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified.
He has risen; he is not here"

The tomb was empty.
Jesus was not there.
He is alive.


What remains to decide is whether I will watch on the sidelines...
where it is safe...
or will I take a stand based on the word of the living God.


Oh Lord...
find me faithful!



Comments

  1. Profoundly, yet powerfully simple Gospel message from your heart. Thank you for sharing this morning. Reminds me of the song we sang yesterday; "Because He Lives, we can face tomorrow,"

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  2. I'm singing that song in my heart right now...My dad always sang that...and if it doesn't come from our heart, how can we show the world that
    "My Redeemer Liveth" But I agree with you...there are enough forces in this world that can take those songs away from our hearts...but let's cheer on with the words above..."Because he Lives I Can Face Tomorrow!"

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  3. I always love hearing where God is touching hearts....thanks for sharing where your's was stirred.
    I re read the words carefully this morning to the song 'I serve a risen Saviour'. Hang on to that one.....it is full of truth and power. When people ask you how you know He lives.....you have a wonderful story to proclaim. Add the message from church with it truths and the message in that song and it's all there. When we read the bible it talks about Jesus walking and talking with us along life's way. It encourages us to talk about Him. Both the message for your heart and the song that you love point us to the truth....HE LIVES.
    Many times you have stepped out for Him.....sharing What Matters Most.

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  4. I always love hearing where God is touching hearts....thanks for sharing where your's was stirred.
    I re read the words carefully this morning to the song 'I serve a risen Saviour'. Hang on to that one.....it is full of truth and power. When people ask you how you know He lives.....you have a wonderful story to proclaim. Add the message from church with it truths and the message in that song and it's all there. When we read the bible it talks about Jesus walking and talking with us along life's way. It encourages us to talk about Him. Both the message for your heart and the song that you love point us to the truth....HE LIVES.
    Many times you have stepped out for Him.....sharing What Matters Most.

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  5. And that is what matters most...that each of us be found faithful at the end of the day! Thanks for your words of encouragement on this Easter Monday. May I always be able to sing...'I know He lives. He lives within my heart'!

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  6. Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen! It sounds like you had a very memorable and beautiful Easter, Lovella. Enjoy the week ahead!

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  7. Lovella - thanks for sharing from your heart today. I too have "those days" when I wonder and question - and that my heart condemns me and am discouraged! Intellectually I know that my Redeemer lives but hymns like this help me feel it too! Thanks for this beautiful message and for the encouragement I have received from it! This truly is What Matters Most!

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  8. Happy Easter Monday Lovella. I was curious about the meaning of Easter Monday on the calendar. Looked it up...definition: "Easter Monday is the day after Easter".

    Seems to me that Easter Monday ought to be the day everyone races around to tell everyone they know that He is alive! Isn't that how the disciples would of spent the day?

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  9. It's always good to know that mine is not the only heart that falls into discouragement - the Word, the support of other believers, a special hymn all support us when we are unable to do it for ourselves.

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  10. How glad, how very glad I am that His truth has nothing to do with my feelings. I look forward to your posting the message you heard Easter Sunday.

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  11. I love this song, too. Yes! May we all be found faithful.

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  12. I like your words so sincerely written from the heart. I love the times when my heart is so full of the "feeling" and knowing that God is real ... when His spirit joins with mine and tells me I a m His! But, like you say, there are times our heart condemns us and other add to it... and we may not feel like it.. so we do need to have faith in the facts, and sometimes a faith that will believe even when we do not see or feel.
    I look forward to hearing what I have missed this weekend.

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