Καλα Χριστουγεννα! Linksmų Kalėdų!: It's True

Happy Christmas Eve Eve Readers!

Do you know what the words in my post mean? Merry Christmas, of course! In two languages I wish I knew- Greek and Lithuanian!

It's that time of year again when we celebrate the birth of a baby who would change the world through His life, death, and resurrection. There is so much hope tied to the "reason for the season" of this holiday: hope for change, hope for redemption, hope for Love, and hope for Grace.

A time when we can pause. Pause in our shuffling and bustling. Pause to consider hope and Love. A peaceful pause.

A part of a Norman Rockwell painting from a Christmas book. The board in between the church doors reads "Lift Up Thine Eyes"

I want to extend an invitation to pause in reflection of the Christmas holiday. The YouTube clip below plays a song by Sara Groves that has become one of my favorite Christmas songs this year. If you listen carefully, I think you will hear more about this hope to be found in the celebration of Jesus' birth.

Take a pause from the hustle and bustle of the day. Listen, and in your pause, enjoy!

Here are the lyrics!

In your heart you
hope it's true
though you hold no expectation
in the deepest part of you
there's an open hesitation

but it's true
kingdoms and crowns
a God who came down to find you
it's true
Angels on high
sing through the night alleluia

heard it told you
think it's odd
the whole thing fraught with complication
the play begins with
baby God
and all His blessed implications

but it's true
kingdoms and crowns
a God who came down to find you
it's true
Angels on high
sing through the night alleluia

alleluia, alleluia

Oh it's true
kingdoms and crowns
a God who came down to find you
it's true
Angels on high
sing through the night alleluia

Χριστός ανέστη, Αληθώς ανέστη

Does anyone know what the title of this blog post means?  First clue: it has something to do with what I celebrated yesterday.  Second clue: it is in Greek.  Third clue: it was said many times today in many languages and this is a variant of what we say in English on this day.


Did you guess "Christ is risen, He is risen indeed?"  Well- you are right! I found this translation (which is supposed to say "Christ is risen, Truly He is risen").


This post is about Resurrection Sunday. According to Google Translate, it is also known as Easter, Pascuas, Pâques, Cásca, Pasqua, Páscoa, Velikonočni, Påske, Wielkanoc, Velykos, Paskalya, as well as many other names in many other languages.  


The reason why we say "Christ is risen, He is risen indeed" on this day is because we (Christians) celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, three days after He died on the cross. Resurrection Sunday (Easter) is of great significance because we believe it is the day that Christ defeated death.  With this day comes an invitation to start a new beginning, to be renewed- an invitation to bask in the beauty of forgiveness.  Pardon for you and for me, and for the whole world.  This is a good day!


Instead of an outfit (that post will come later) I want to share a song with you all.  The video below is of a song that I first heard at my church in Peoria, Imago Dei, written and performed by John Mark McMillan for RELEVANT Magazine.  Enjoy!

Also, if you are interested in hearing the sermon that I heard on Sunday at Imago Dei Church, it is available on their website here. The podcast is titled "Eighth Day of the Week" and it is also available on iTunes as a podcast.


Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!