Rise Up! by, Bev Allegretti

​​Luke 24:4-8 The Message (MSG)

They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ words.
 
 
One may be thinking, “how will we ever rise from this pandemic?” or one may say “how will we recover from this tragedy?”
 
I thought these same questions 35 yrs. ago when my daughter became ill.  She contracted meningitis twice before she was a year old.  Some of you know this story, but some do not.  After spending months in the hospital, for the second time, she came home in time for Easter.  To her that did not mean a lot but to me it was a sign.  A sign that we will rise from the ashes of this tragedy.  Tragedy you may ask. She was left without her hearing.  Despite all that laid ahead of us, we rose up. 
 
Today, we are amid what would be considered a tragedy of events.  However, believing in what Jesus taught, we can rest in the knowledge there will be a light in this darkness for us to see and to follow.  This light will lead us to the place where we will rise up and be renewed.  The world as we see it and know it may change, but the one constant we have, is knowing that there will always be a Good Friday which leads us to Easter morning and a Risen Lord!
 
Let this be your prayer for such a time as this, RISE UP!!!!  The Son is shining!

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