|
|
This is only a preview of the paper
Click here to register and get the full text.
Existing members click here to login
|
|
|
What Easter Means To Me By Clifford Hall Good morning, I am going to share with you this morning what Easter means to me, because this is a special Easter in many ways. Over the last 8 months I have developed a closer relationship with God and have come to truly understand what walking in His will is all about. I have started leaning on my brothers and sisters in Christ for strength and courage in times of despair and hardship and have learned that no matter what your problems are, you can come forward with them and share them with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. It is in the presence of your brothers and sisters that you will experience first hand, God’s love and compassion, and Christ’s forgiveness. Your family and friends can help carry your burdens, by lifting them up to God in prayer! For many years I tried to carry my own problems, my own doubts, and my own lack of self worth on my own. As far back as I can remember I have always been a person that people could count on to cheer them up when they were down and out. When they had a problem, I was always there to lend an ear and give a friendly smile. The problem was, when I started feeling like a piece of crap inside and I wanted to lean on someone else for a change I didn’t have the courage to share my feelings. I didn’t feel that my problems were big enough or bad enough to be of concern to anyone else. No one else has this sick, lonely and empty feeling that makes me ashamed to look at myself in the mirror, no one else wishes they were 100 lbs lighter and could wear clothes that didn’t have to be purchased from the BIG MEN’S clothing section, no one else has been hurt so bad from the teasing of others and other outside influences, that they go home and cry all alone in their bedroom, no one else wishes they hadn’t been born, no one else ever feels that their life has absolutely no meaning and that the world would never miss them if they were to disappear today! (I’m sure some of you in this room this morning can relate with those feelings.) How wrong I was for thinking that way. Not only was that a very painful way to live, I did it for 26 years! My feelings of worthlessness and self-pity started overwhelming me at a very young age, even though my parents brought me up in a loving, caring, Christian environment. When I was 12, I took Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and to this day, I can still remember sitting with my parents in the sanctuary sharing my first communion together. I had learned in baptism class that Jesus Christ died to give me a life everlasting and that His Holy Spirit would guide me all the days of my life. Of course at that time I didn’t understand exactly what that meant but I do know this, I did feel different. I started actively attending Youth For Christ with a small group from my junior high school but for some reason I was too embarrassed to show my belief in school. It was another thing for me to be teased about and I really began to distance myself from them totally. I felt as though I were on a deserted island, surrounded by lots of people! I know now that Satan was really working overtime in my life. It’s like this; when we decide to let Christ enter our hearts, this angers Satan to no end and he will do everything in his power to turn your heart away from God.
Approximate Word count = 2523
Approximate Pages = 10.1
(250 words per page double spaced)
|
|
|
|
|
|