Easter - the Story of My Redemption

I know that I don’t bring a lot to the table
Just little pieces of a broken heart
There’s days I wonder if You’ll still be faithful
Hold me together when I fall apart
Would You remind me now of who You are?

That Your love will never change,
that there’s healing in your name
That You can take broken things,
and make them beautiful
You took my shame
And You walked out of the grave
So Your love can take broken things
and make them beautiful

I’m better off when I begin to remember
How You have met me in my deepest pain
So give me glimpses now of how You have covered
All of my heart ache, oh with all Your grace
Remind me now that You can make a way

You say that You’ll turn my weeping into dancing
Remove my sadness & cover me with joy
You say your scars are the evidence of healing
That You can make the broken beautiful
You make us beautiful 
(The Broken Beautiful by Ellie Holcomb)

When I think of Easter...
Easter is a story of redemption. It's a reminder that my God is for me and not against me and that He died so that I could be free. While I think this can be viewed by some as a very basic answer let me break it down a little deeper for you.

Jesus - who never did any wrong, had committed NO SIN AT ALL, and who was definitely not a criminal who deserved the public torture he received  - went to the cross for me, for you, and for those who shouted "kill him!" not long after they were lining the streets for him to walk by and shouting "Hosanna!". That is beyond comprehension for me. He knew what was ahead and yet He still did it. And do you know what that means for me? He took my "stuff" with Him on that cross: 

my rejection from my earthly father
my postpartum anxiety
my victim mentality
my shame
my sorrow
my pain

my bitterness
my bad decisions from the past
my fear
my perfectionism
my unrealistic expectations of others
my doubt
my mom guilt
my anxiety
my critical spirit
my anger

and so, so much more.

I can take all of the above and say "You paid the price so that these things that I sometimes allow to take hold of me can go to the cross with you and stay there, never to come back. Because I am free. All of this was covered with your grace." 

When He walked out of the grave it was done. And instead of these hurts He wants to replace all of the above with HIS joy, love, mercy, grace, hope and much more so I can experience the fullness of His sacrifice. 

The best example of love - EVER - will be the sacrifice that He made on the cross. To lay down His life for me. For you. He did it and He conquered the grave - - - - > Let that sink in. 

DEATH COULD NOT HOLD HIM. 

Because of His sacrifice on that cross (His blood) we are healed. He has come to set us FREE. And in our broken places (that we all have, because we are still sinners) He gives us hope, mercy, grace, love, and redeems us from all of our STUFF and makes it beautiful. That, to me, is the story of Easter.

And to quote another wonderful Ellie Holcomb song...

"I am not who I once was. Defined by all the things I've done. Afraid my shame would be exposed, afraid of really being known. But then you gave my heart a home. 

So I walk out of the darkness and into the light. From fear of shame into the HOPE of life. Mercy called my name and made a way to fly out of the darkness....and into the LIGHT.

...Because when you are hiding all alone your heart can turn into a stone...and that's not the way I want to go.  

There's no place I'd rather be. Your light is marvelous. You have come to set us free. You are marvelous, your light is marvelous to me!" - - - - Marvelous Light by Ellie Holcomb

And with that I say a big AMEN. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU LORD. Happy Easter, friends!

"He is not here, for he has risen, as he said." Matthew 28:6

Must Have Music - Ellie Holcomb

I don't even know where to begin with the love we have for Ellie Holcomb. Her song Magnolia was the inspiration for the blog name and she's been singing beautiful truth in our lives over these months while we prepared to launch. When she started her Kickstarter campaign for a full length album we were thrilled! And As Sure As the Sun has far exceeded our expectations. Anytime we actually get a vote on what's playing in our home or car it's on full blast with many of the songs on repeat. As Sure As the Sun is a must have, but you won't need us to tell you that - you'll take one listen and Ellie Holcomb will convince you herself!

Before the full album was released I purchased the wonderful song Marvelous Light. When I played it for the first time in my car I released a flood of happy tears, thankful tears, tears of sheer joy, and hit repeat at least 3 times. The other song that I have on repeat is The Broken Beautiful - here's a glimpse - "you took my shame & you walked out of the grave so your love will take broken things & make them beautiful". Can I get an AMEN?! Only Hope I've Got, Night Song, Love Never Fails, Love Broke Through, and I Want to Be Free are my current favorites. OK, I'll be honest, I really want to listen to the entire album on repeat all day. It's true!! I even gifted it to the first person who sent me their email on Facebook and Instagram if that tells you anything :) Just get the album and sing praises from the top of your lungs - you won't regret it!

Check out this performance of Marvelous Light performed at The Well Coffeehouse in Nashville.

Also, to get another glimpse into the beautiful stories behind the songs visit Ellie's blog here.