It was not long into the day before I learned the Easter greeting in Arabic, “El Masiah Kam!”, with the response of “Hakkan Kam!”.  We are saying to each other “The Messiah has risen!”  “Indeed, He is Risen!”.  How exciting to know that we serve a living God, He has indeed risen!  The Easter service was moving as we celebrated new life and victory we have in the resurrection of the Jesus Christ.  Adding to the enthusiasm was the celebration of the ninth birthday of the church.  We are looking forward to what this year and the many more to come are holding for Abundant Life and for the Middle East!

We celebrated Easter with the youth in our weekly Saturday meeting.  The theme was “Living by the Grace of the Cross”.  We had several new people in our meeting, and lives were touched as we celebrated what Jesus did for us on the cross.  We had a great time and I learned a few Lebanese traditions, as well.  The favorite here is to crack eggs.  You take your colored egg and hit someone else’s.  The egg that doesn’t crack is the winner, you keep going until both ends are cracked.  I was out pretty quick, but it was still fun.  It's always a fun and lively time with youth, be sure to check out the pictures.

Our Friday service was a powerful time focusing on the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  The drama team presented an amazing performance depicting Jesus in Gethsemane until His death and finally His resurrection!!!  The team had been working on this presentation since the beginning of the year, and you could tell.  It was excellent, a powerful portrayal of what Jesus went through.  The team then went straight into a song declaring “Worthy is the Lamb!”

Afterwards, Pastor Chady led us through the Last Supper discussing Passover Meal that Jesus shared with His disciples.  The bitter herbs represented all bitterness from our past being removed by the power of the cross.  Then pastor discussed the four cups of wine that are shared during the meal.  Jesus did not drink from the fourth cup, the cup of praise.  This cup He will share with us when He returns, halleluyah!!!  May we live remembering His death and resurrection, and in expectancy of His return!

The week before Easter, we held a praise and worship service every night at Abundant Life Church. On Thursday night, we extended the prayer time until 6 in the morning! This Thursday before Easter is the last night of Jesus before the cross, so this was not an average prayer meeting. Each hour we focused on what Jesus was doing at this same time. We started with the Last Supper and the washing of His disciples feet, and asked Him to also cleanse us, too, this night. Midnight till 3am Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, each hour coming out to His disciples. Three o’clock in the morning was when He was arrested and beaten by the Jews until being brought before Pilate at 6 in the morning. Our meeting ended at 6, but it was not the end of His suffering before His death on the cross.

It was really amazing to sit through the time that Jesus went through His journey to the cross. We read through these events in the Bible so quickly, but to realize how long He had to endure this suffering was eye-opening. How deep His love for us. 

Mat 21:9  And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Wow!  Palm Sunday is very exciting at Abundant Life Church.  We gathered at the church at 10 am and then headed off to the streets.  We marched through the streets of Bourj Hammoud, Beirut declaring the triumphal entry of our King!!!  We sang “Hosanna in the Highest” and other songs lifting up the name of Jesus throughout the neighborhoods around the church.  Many people came out of their homes and shops are were taking pictures.  It was an amazing experience to be able to sing and shout praises to our King and proclaim Him Lord over our city!

After eating too much, we headed back to church for the evening service.  I was helping with the kids this weekend.  We taught them a dance to perform in front of the church for Palm Sunday.  The song was "Better than Life",  and danced their hearts out while singing "I can't stop falling in love with You!"  The kids had a great time and the church really enjoyed seeing them dance for Jesus!