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Sunday, April 1, 2018

Easter Devotional ~"No One Takes Your Joy Away from You!"

will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you.” 

John 16:22
Very early in the morning, …when it was yet dark, …behold, there was a great earthquake:  for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow… and the angel answered and said unto the women, "Fear not!  For I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here, for He is risen, as He said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  Go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead…” 
Matthew 28:2-7

Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him… 
Luke 24:30-31

Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.           
      The Day of Resurrection
                                                       JOHN of DAMASCUS ~760AD                                                                

        If you come to seek His face, not in the empty sepulchre, but in the living power of His presence, as indeed realizing that He has finished His glorious work, and is alive forevermore, then your hearts will be full of true Easter joy, and that joy will shed itself abroad in your homes.  And let your joy not end with the hymns and the prayers and the communions in His house.  Take with you the joy of Easter to the home, and make that home bright with more unselfish love, more hearty service; take it into your work, and do all in the name of the Lord Jesus; take it to your heart, and let that heart rise anew on Easter wings to a higher, a gladder, and fuller life; take it to the dear grave-side and say there the two words, "Jesus lives!" and find in them the secret of calm expectation, and hope of eternal reunion.
JOHN ELLERTON
 ~1826-1893


        There are no marks of the crown of thorns upon His Brow, yet He looks more than ever a King!  The placid sunrise is beautiful, but there is not half so much quiet beauty about it as reigns over that ineffably sweet Face.  O, look into His eyes; what a depth of love, what a tenderness, yet what an overwhelming power of love!  In His Easter joy, He thought of us and of our salvation, of each one of us by name and look; He will know that joy again when we come before Him, to rest forever in His presence.
F. W. FABER
~1815-1863