I had spring break this week and although I didn't go anywhere tropical or flew miles away, D surprised me with a day in the city.
It's funny how close I live to New York, but life often gets in the way and well it's always there so I don't take as much advantage as I could. I guess that's with pretty much most things in life huh?
I always casually mentioned how much I love the New York library, but when I went last summer the main room was closed for renovation.
That was our first stop, and it was just as beautiful as all the photos I'd seen. It looks just like Belle's library! I told D I wanted one someday just like it pretty please... the sliding staircase included of course.
Then we walked all the way to Central Park, and as I snapped photos of the pretty cherry blossom trees, I looked over the people in the boats.
D grabbed my hand and I noticed we were going to the entrance. I tried to play it cool but I just blurted it out..."We're going on a boat?!?!" He nodded and smiled, "Yep we are."
There weren't too many people since it was during the week, but it was really pretty. We saw people struggling and laughing to paddle on the boats. It feels like bumper boats when you get too close to someone in the water, and then you just laugh and wait until one of you move out of the way.
After that we headed to the Met Museum. We'd been there a few times, but it was fun admiring the artwork. I got a few good laughs listening to D narrate what the sculptures might have been saying.
Finally, we headed to the Rockefeller Center. The first time he bought tickets, it rained and we didn't end up going. But today was beautiful. Clear blue skies and sunny. The city view was beautiful from the Top of the Rock.
It took about 9 years to build. I loved the small video they showed to tell us a little bit about the history of the building.
Here are the photos I took to remember the city day D planned for us. He made sure to include past things I had mentioned I wanted to do.♡
As I sit here reading through the scriptures in the 21st century, I can't help but imagine what it must have felt like to live during the time of when Jesus was crucified.
What were the disciples feeling? What was everyone saying the Saturday after Jesus died?
The roman soldiers casted lots over who would take his coat. {Psalm 22:18, Matthew 27:35}
People scattered.
Some people passing by scoffed at him saying "He saved others; yet himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross, and we will believe him." Matthew 27:42
Mary, Mary Magdelene, and other women cried for Jesus afar off.
We read that the only one of Jesus' disciples that was there when He was crucified was John.
All hope seemed lost. The messiah many had hoped for in Jesus was just brutally hung on a wooden cross, the most shameful death the Romans had as capital punishment.
// But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day these things were done. // Luke 24:21
Is this how the king who comes to save the world end up?
Surely there was a mistake.
But with all things, we know God had a promise and grand plan.
God's redemption plan was set in place. And when Jesus breathed His last words, "It is finished." (John 19:30) His work, His plan to save me, you, and every soul that God ever created and would create in existence... was now completed.
Sunday morning came, and just as Jesus had promised... He rose from the dead.
In this He conquered what no man would ever do in any religion.
He defeated death and with that proclaimed that sin no longer would abound to those who would believe with all their hearts that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, the lamb slain for all humanity.
When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, the stone that was too big for anyone to move... it had been rolled away. Two men in shining garments stood and said,
"Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen...// Luke 24:5-6
Love couldn't be held in that tomb! It burst out and proved that our Lord came to finish the work He said He would.
God came to us to be with us, not so if we believe in Him our lives would be easier, but so through Him we would overcome anything.
That in the end, no matter what sins we have, what we did or do... if we place our faith in Him and repent, we would be with Him forever in eternity.
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -John 14:6
God placed things so perfectly so that even in history, Jesus was recorded as a man that lived during that time and died on the cross.
But we know that Jesus is not just limited to someone in history books... He lives today!
And He loves you and came and lived and died for you 2,000 years ago.
I hope you come to know His great love and what He accomplished on the cross for you this Easter.
// For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. // Romans 10: 12-13
