Hope Lives Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass April 05, 2012

I am the Resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John 11:25 What does the cross mean to you? For many of us it is a symbol of our faith. Jesus died on the cross and while it brings to mind Jesus’ suffering, the Resurrection three days later gives us hope eternal. Because Jesus rose again, which shines the light on God’s Promise for Eternal Life we know there is more than this earthly life that awaits us. I am counting on God’s Promise that as believers we shall never die, but live with Him in eternity. A favorite old Easter hymn is called “He Lives” and part of the chorus says this: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and He talks with me Along life's narrow way. He lives, He live, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart. Martin Luther is quoted as saying that “Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring time.” How true. Each budding tree or bush we see now in our surroundings is showing us new life. It gives hope and meaning to new beginnings. Let’s go forward with renewed faith this Easter and seek God in a higher way. God doesn’t want us to just be satisfied with just our Salvation. There is so much more He can do through us if we are willing to let Him. It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday. We can have a new beginning today. A fresh start. A new life. We have everything within us, on the inside of us, to start anew. God believes in us and wants the very best for us. Educator Alice Freeman Palmer said that “For I remember it is Easter morn, and life and love and peace are all new born”. Today is a new day. Lord, we believe in you and we ask for a fresh new anointing of love and peace to fill us and surround us, to see our life and circumstances in a new light through you