Counting Our Blessings
I invite you to pause with me today and reflect on all the gifts God has poured into our lives. When we start naming what we have—the breath in our lungs, the beating of our heart, this gathering of believers—we begin to see a tapestry of grace far greater than we can repay. Yet our simple offering of love and gratitude pleases Him.
The Rhythm of Resurrection
In my Ukrainian heritage we joyfully proclaim “Christ is risen!” three times, reminding ourselves that resurrection is not a one-and-done event but a continuous reality. He is risen indeed—not just a past occurrence, but the steady, life-giving pulse of our faith.
When “Normal” Isn’t Enough
Still, some seasons feel dry. We eat well, balance budgets, stay busy—but inside we sense something’s off. On days like Easter, we long for more than routine; we hunger for resurrection power to break through the ordinary and bring true renewal.
Looking into the Empty Tomb
John 20:1–10 paints a vivid picture: Mary Magdalene arrives while it’s still dark, sees the stone rolled away, and runs to tell Peter and John. They race to the tomb, glance at the linen wrappings, and believe—but the text tells us they still did not understand.
“He saw the strips of linen lying there, and he believed.” John 20:8
The disciples looked, they believed, and then they returned to their routines. Mary stayed behind, weeping. And it was her encounter with the risen Lord—when He spoke her name—that opened the door to real understanding.
From Belief to Abundant Life
Easter beckons us beyond religious habit into an intimate, living relationship with Jesus. Will you, like Mary, linger in His presence? Will you let Him call your name and lead you from mere belief into the fullness of abundant life?
He is risen indeed. May that truth transform not just our Easter Sunday but every day that follows.