He has risen indeed!

 Three days ago our beloved savior was buried in a sealed tomb after being crucified.  He paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we wouldn't have to.  The perfect, pure Son of GOD died for us.  Not because he had to, but because we wanted to.  Because he loved us.

Many of Jesus's followers were heartbroken about the, supposed, Savior's bitter defeat called death.  Mary, mother of James, Mary Magdalene, a former prostitute, and Mary, mother of Jesus, all went to out Lord's tomb to anoint the body with oils.  But as they gazed upon the tomb they found it was empty!  Had someone stolen the body?  How could that be?  The tomb was sealed with a large boulder and wax, it would take many men to move it.  "Do not be afraid," said a thundering voice from behind them, "He is not here, He has risen from the grave and is alive once again," proclaimed the voice.  The three Mary's whipped around to see a great warrior of GOD standing before them.  An angel had come to them!  And as the angel said, the Lamb of GOD has risen from the grave and defeated death once and for all!

Jesus had defeated one of the most feared and most powerful things in the known universe!  Death!  Not even the Grimm Reaper could hold Jesus back!  Jesus died and rose again for us!  He made the ultimate sacrifice then rewarded us with the hope of the resurrection!  Sin has lost its grip!  Death has lost its sting!  Life has gained its joy!  All because of Jesus and what he did for us; His redeemed children.  Jesus loved you so much, that He literally went to hell and back for you!  Now I don't know about you, but that is what I call true love.

What's so good about Good Friday?

Yesterday was Good Friday, as many of you know.  In honor of Good Friday, my mother and I watched "The Passion of the Christ".  It was my first time watching it and I thought it was a very well made movie!  With great acting, exceptional accuracy, thought-provoking imagery, and professional cinematography!  But, to me, that movie was more than just an R rated film I was allowed to watch.  To me, it was a grotesquely accurate depiction of what our Savior went through for us.  He was beaten nearly to death, ripped apart by the leather wrath of whips, he was spat on like he was nothing but part of the filthy road, he was insulted and betrayed like a common criminal, he was stretched to the point where his shoulders were dislocated on the cross, his limbs were nailed to the cross as if he could feel no pain, a crown of long thorns was pressed into his skull, he was humiliated and laughed at by the people he came to save.  All of this and he did NOTHING WRONG.  He went through all of that pain, all that embarrassment just to save sinful, fallen, lowlifes like us.  He did this because he loves us!  He did this because he cared for us!  He did this because we are his lost children and He did this to redeem us.

We often take this for granted.  We often think of Easter and Good Friday as two trips to church in a week.  We think of it as an Eater egg hunt in the backyard.  We think of it as a new dress or hat we get to buy.  We think of it as eating leftovers for the rest of the month. But Easter isn't any of that.  It was the ultimate sacrifice given to us even though we did nothing to deserve it.  It is the purest, most genuine, most true love that Jesus Christ showed us.

Letters from Jack (part six *final part*)

Dear Jack,

          I hope you like the drawing I made!   I got the idea through a dream I had about you (along with the description of yourself you gave me).  Hopefully, the portrait actually looks like you!  I worked really hard on getting it just right.  I do hope you like it!  Thank you for convincing me to continue doing art.  I want to apologize once again, for the bitter insults I called you.  You were only being a good big brother.  I was just frustrated and frightened, I wasn’t thinking straight.  Hatred was clouding my mind and I let my anger control me.  So I apologize again.

          Jack, thank you so much for sticking with me, even when I was being stubborn and selfish.  You are the best friend I could have asked for!  You are very kind, creative, godly, and selfless!  You encouraged me when I needed it most, you lifted me up when I fell down, I am forever in your debt.  Thank you for showing GOD's love to me when I had doubts about myself.  You were right.  GOD hasn't given up on anyone in the past, why would He have given up on me?  I feel so silly that I actually thought that GOD had abandoned me.  Jack, Thank you.  For everything.

          Oh!  And I love your idea of reading a book together!  Maybe we should start with C.S. Lewis’s "The Screwtape Letters".

Love, your forever grateful friend, and sister,

Avia

Letters from Jack (part five)

Dear Avia,

          I am overjoyed about the letter you sent me!  I am so happy to know that you've picked up art once again!  I would like to thank you for offering to draw me something too!  I will take you up on that offer.  But, I want you to surprise me; draw anything you want and send it to me!  I cannot express how glad I am to see that you've returned to your old self again.  You're that sweet, forgiving, ambitious girl again!

          It is wonderful to hear that your bullies have been taken care of!  Those boys deserved to get expelled after all they put you through.  I've also heard that they've mocked other students too!  Maybe you and those other students can become friends!  Oh, I am so relieved that your parents and teachers had the wisdom to assess that whole situation.  GOD is very pleased with your perseverance and patience.  He is very pleased.

          I also appreciate the fact that you want to get to know me better!  You had numerous questions in your letter, I will try to answer them all!  Let’s start with the easy ones.  I am now 10,483 years old, my favorite color is blue, I am left handed, and my favorite season is Autumn.  Regarding your inquiries about my appearance I have greenish-blue eyes, black, curly hair, fair skin, I am kinda short, though I am lean and strong, and I have freckles.  I think that’s about it.

          Oh!  I also enjoy reading very much.  I, of course, read the Scriptures.  But I also read science encyclopedias.  It's very interesting to study about the wonderful world GOD has made for us to enjoy!  I especially love to study chemistry.  I've noticed that you like to read also!  I've seen that you like to read fairy tales.  I have read the wonderful workings of C.S. Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia" along with "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien and I found them quite intriguing.  Maybe we should read something together?  Like a book club.  I've always wanted to read "Howell's Moving Castle" by Dianna Wynn Jones and "Cupid" by Julius Lester.  Maybe we could read one of those?

          You have been through quite a lot in the past three months since I started writing you and all through it, you always persevered.  I am very proud of you, so is our Father.  I have chosen this verse of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 for you, "Give thanks in every circumstance, because this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  I think it describes you pretty well.  Avia, I can't wait to see you grow in your faith as you blossom into an adult.  It's going to be a bumpy road for sure, but if you put all of your faith in the Lord you will make it through all trials life throws at you.  That bright future GOD has planned for you is just around the corner!

          I will continue writing you letters until you join me in Heaven.  So you're going to be stuck with me for a while!  Keep pushing forward like you always have!  Until the next letter.

Love, your affectionate guardian angel,

Jack

Letters from Jack (part four)

Dear Avia,

          I received your response letter and may I just say, I am appalled by what you said!  I am not bossing you around, I am trying to protect you from yourself!  And I am not an "angelic pain" either.  You just refuse to accept the truth.  Yes, I was the one who urged your parents to do something.  I had to tell your parents about what was going on one way or another!  And I don't see why you're so angry at me.  I mean, after all, I did tell you that if you didn't say anything, I would.  But you didn't listen to me, now did you?  I know I'm being stern with you but that's only because I care about you and don't want you to get hurt!  I've promised to protect you and I'm going to keep that promise in every way I possibly can.  Whether you realize it or not, this is what's best for you.  I know from experience that this is the right course to take.

          I also see you have still been avoiding art.  It saddens my heart to see you walk away from your God-given talent and joy.  Remember that parable in Matthew 25?  The one about the master leaving his servants gifts?  "To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey,".  Remember?  Well, the servant he gave five talents worked hard at improving them so he ended up with ten talents when his master came back.  The servant he gave two talents practiced tirelessly and developed two more talents giving him four talents when his master came back.  But the foolish servant to whom he gave one talent to hid his talent and only had the one when his master came back.  Don't make the same mistake that foolish servant made by hiding your talent.  GOD made you with incredible abilities and spiritual gifts; use them.  Use them for His glory.  Use them for the good of others.  Use the gifts GOD has bestowed upon you.

          Please do not me angry with me.  I am only trying to keep my promise of protecting you.  Proverbs 27:6 says, "Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy," meaning that it is better to hear the hard truth from a close friend than it is to continue sinning with the enemy.  I am merely giving you friendly wounds.  Please do not forsake that.

I love you like a sister, I care deeply about you.  I am always here for you.

Love, your affectionate guardian angel,

Jack

Letters from Jack (part three)

Dear Avia,

          I see you have ignored my last letter.  I assume it is because you think this is a joke.  I assure you this is no joke.  You are being physically and emotionally abused and you need to tell someone so they may help you sort this hot mess!  I am not kidding.  It's time to let someone know.  And if you don't tell someone, I will, whether you like it or not!  I'm going into big brother mode here because I love you.  This situation is very serious and is proving to be dangerous, thus, it should not be taken lightly.  This scenario can possibly hospitalize you, or worse, kill you!  How can you not see the severity of your situation?!

          Not only that, but I am also becoming increasingly concerned about your state of mind.   You're not your normal, cheerful, creative self anymore.  Instead, you're now depressed and distant, it's like I don't know you anymore like you're a complete stranger.  What happened to my favorite little girl?  Yes, I know you're 16, you're not a baby anymore.  But that doesn't give you the right to treat yourself like dirt!  Why do you do this to yourself?!  You're beautifully and wonderfully created yet you say you're worthless, stupid and that no one cares about you.  That's not true!  GOD cares about you, your family cares about you, your friends care about, I care about you!  Don't you realize that?

          But it doesn't end there, no!  You don't just tell yourself, and believe, the same horrible lies that your bullies tell you, but you have given up on the very thing that gave you joy!  Art!  Why would you do that!?  GOD gifted you with extreme talent in that field, you've created wonderful masterpieces, crafted elegant designs and you greatly enjoyed it!  Why would you give all of that up?  Remember that bright future I said you would have?  If you give up art none of that will come to be.  If you continue down this path it will lead you into a whole downward spiral!  I don't want that to happen to you.  I want you to be happy.  I want you to be successful.  But, with the way you're continuing through life, that may not happen.  Please don't do this to yourself.

          Look, I'm going to be completely honest with you.  I'm scared!  I'm afraid of what's going to become of you if you don't do something about this constant abuse at school!  I don't want you to get hurt!  But I trust that GOD will take care of you in your time of need.  I know you don't think you can make it through this rough patch, but you can!  I know it seems impossibly dark right now, but it's always darkest right before dawn!  I beg of you, don't give up on yourself!  Because, no matter what, GOD won't.  Did GOD give up on Jonah when he didn't go to Nineveh the first time?  No!  Did GOD give up on the Israelite slaves when the Pharaoh of Egypt wouldn't free them?  No!  Why would He give up on you?  He wouldn't.  He and I are always here for you, He and I will protect you, we promise to protect you!

Here, I noticed you don't have a Bible so I jotted down some verses of encouragement for you.

Proverbs 18:10

"The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Remember, I am always here if you need to talk.  I'm just a letter away.

Love, your affectionate guardian angel,

Jack

Letters from Jack (part two)

Dear Avia,

           I am so sorry!  I see that your bullies are now physically abusing you!  I saw you limp home today with bruises and blood scattered across your pale skin!  I wish I could have helped you!  I am so very very sorry Avia!  I should have been there to protect you!  I am terribly sorry.  But, you can make it through this.  I know you can.  You're a strong girl.  Just remember, GOD is always with you, through thick and thin, through the good and the bad, through dark and light, no matter what.  I am always here for you as well if you wish to talk.  You can always confide in me.  Not because it's "my responsibility" or because "I was assigned to you", but because I think of you as my closest and dearest friend.  And who wouldn't want to be friends with you?!  You're a very trustworthy, honest, and forgiving young lady!  Three things all great friends are supposed to be.

          Now Avia, please don't continue to listen to those lies those deplorable boys spit at you!  You aren't alone and none of your loved ones hate you!  You have me, your friends and your family!  We all love you very much and we would be devastated if we lost you!  Listen to me Avia, I think it's high time you tell someone what's going on at school.  Tell your parents or a trusted friend what's going on.  Hey, I know it's going to be hard.  These situations are very difficult to deal with, so it is completely understandable if you get nervous or scared.  But trust me, once you do tell someone, everything will get a lot better.  Can you do that for me please?

          I know you're scared and believe me so am I.  But I know that GOD uses all things for good to those who love the Lord!  Just think of Joseph and his coat of many colors.  He was sold into slavery by his own brother's and he was thrown in prison for something he didn't even do!  But he trusted in the Lord that everything would turn out for good and he ended up being a very powerful and wealthy man!  So we have nothing to worry about.  And remember, you're most definitely not the first to go through this, nor the last.  Even Jesus was beaten and bruised unjustly.  So you are never truly alone in this situation.  You are never alone in any situation.  GOD is always watching; he is always with you.

          GOD and I shall be watching over and protecting you wherever you are, don't worry, we'll take care of you.  Please keep safe until I am able to write you once more.

Love, your affectionate guardian angel,

Jack