Love For His People: Easter

Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Jerusalem's holiest sites remain closed in run-up to Easter - Donna Birrell, Premier Christian News

Government of Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

March 23, 2026

Jerusalem’s holiest sites could remain closed for Holy Week and Easter due to security concerns over the Iran war.

The 4th-century Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christ is believed to have been buried and risen from the dead, is closed indefinitely after shrapnel fell onto its roof. It is unclear whether it will reopen for Holy Week and Easter.

Other sacred places for Christians, Jews, and Muslims—including the Western Wall, Temple Mount, and the Garden Tomb, which some Christians also believe to be the site of the resurrection—are also closed.

Christian journalist Paul Calvert, who lives in Bethlehem, told Premier Christian News: “The Garden Tomb really relies on tourism, and it's looking like they won't have any Easter celebrations. Even during the Gaza war they have had Easter celebrations there, but it's looking like they're not going to be having any there this year. So it’s a very, very sad and difficult time for the Christian community.”

The closure of these holy sites ahead of Holy Week and Easter is significant, and many Christians fear they will be unable to attend traditional services.

Paul Calvert said a Holy Saturday service marking Orthodox Easter at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is always a highlight of the year:

“We have the traditional Easter that the West usually celebrates, then a week later we have the Orthodox Easter, and that is where you have the Holy Fire celebration. Thousands and thousands of Christians go in there with their candles, get their candles lit and they come out with the holy fire. They celebrate and rejoice and then that light is passed throughout the Orthodox world. It then comes to Bethlehem, to the Church of the Nativity. It’s a very moving experience.”

#Jerusalem #holiestsites #remainclosed #Easter #DonnaBirrell #PremierChristianNews

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Resurrection Celebration - A Testimony Shared

LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE NOTE: I received this in my email on April 20, 2017, from a Charleston, SC resident (my sister!). I thought you'd enjoy reading it too.

Steve Martin

President

Love For His People

I wanted to encourage you with my story...

The week of the Resurrection was a normal one at work...lots of complaining and fussing with the coworkers. On Tuesday I felt the Lord "whisper in my ear", to buy everyone a Resurrection card and invite them to church. Now at Christmas time we all exchange gifts and the 'Christmas Spirit" for the most part is pretty strong in the office with everyone smiling and being more pleasant.

Well this time of year is pretty busy and most of the employees are not so very happy under the strain and stress. So when the Lord told me to do this, I was at first excited ( I was still at home), then when I got to work I thought, no, I don't want to do that, nobody is interested nor care.

Then the next day, Wednesday, I heard Him tell me to do it again. So out of obedience and the challenge you had given us at church, I took my break and went to the Dollar Tree to pick out my cards and to buy everyone a full size candy bar to tape to the envelope. Well I needed 15 cards and there was the PERFECT card ( AND exactly 15 of them!) that said on the front "You are a special gift made from God above".

I was so excited! I picked out about 20 different candy bars and went to my car. I addressed each envelope and wrote inside each in my car. When I went inside my office, I started to work on typing up an invitation to say if they did not have a church to celebrate Christ Resurrection I would love to have them come visit mine and I gave the name, address and time of our service. I copied to about 4 on a page and printed it out on purple paper.

Now the miraculous of all this time is NOBODY came in to interrupt me and the phone did not ring! Now that doesn't happen! I was able to tape the candy to each card after cutting and inserting the invite without any asking what was I doing.

What happened next was spectacular!

I walked around and handed each their card, calling it an Easter Basket, when I got looks of surprise. Well, what happened was it CHANGED the atmosphere in there! It was awesome! People said thank you and gave me hugs and 3 said I gave them the perfect candy of their choice (Holy Spirit led, right!?). I was so blessed...and all because I was obedient! One even said they would like sometime to join me at church.

And then the topping on the cake was serving communion at church. What an honor we have to serve His body and blood to the family of God! That the Lord wanted to share of Himself so intimately.

Thank you Jon for all you do and sacrifice for His body!

Have a wonderful day!

Have a blessed day,

Mary

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Jesus (Yeshua)

Doubt & Unbelief - Now Think On This Steve Martin

Doubt & Unbelief

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.

(Hebrews 10:23, THE MESSAGE)

Opportunities abound in this present age to doubt the Word of God, to let go of the written Word and let unbelief take hold.

Popular opinions, so backed up with the latest national polls, would tempt to steal away that which has been rooted in our mind and spirit, long taught to be the truth. The everlasting truth. Pushing hard against the bedrock of historical fact, the winds of change and roaring waters beat constantly as they seek to destroy that which has been held sacred.

No doubt, doubt and unbelief scheme to take over what we know to be the truth.

What many now say is truth, based on the contemporary news and the desires of the people, are put forth to dismiss the facts revealed centuries ago. Just keep saying the same thing long enough and enough people will believe it. Thus it must make it true. It must be that the previous generations just had it wrong, and therefore we must modernize our thinking and update our beliefs. How often have you heard that?

What a bunch of hog wash. (I was raised in Iowa, where pigs like to get real dirty in the slime and mud.)

When presented with the notion that Jesus (Yeshua) was not raised from the dead, there is more than enough proof, just from that historical period of time, to dismiss whatever is thrown out as otherwise. Written words, eyewitnesses onsite, and changed lives after His crucifixion stand as bedrock proof of what He said would happen, and then did happen.

His resurrection from the dead completely backs up His words spoken prior, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world." (John 11:25-27, NASU)

What is the most important foundational truth of believers, who have committed to receive and bear witness of the truth in their own lives, remains that solid rock upon which we stand. Jesus came, was born of a virgin, confirmed the words of the prophets of old, lived a sinless life, was crucified, dead, buried and rose again, to eternally bear witness to the gospel truth. Doubt and unbelief must go when presented with the firm facts that the written words of Torah and the complete Bible present. Nothing and no one will ever be able to deny for any length of time this eternal fact.

When the times get tough, and the onslaught of the evil one presses hard against us, as believers we can always stand on His truth, fight the good fight of faith, and continue to commit our lives to the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach. When the temptation to waver in doubt and unbelief comes our way, it is by His grace and mercy we shall stand strong and live to see our eternal reward in heaven. The truth has set us free. The truth will bring us to the final destination.

This is not just a seasonal word for us. This is the Eternal Word that completely solidifies our everlasting life.

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14, NKJV)

Faith and belief in Jesus will always be the only way. Salvation is found in no other.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.