Rise Up-Dance Your Shoes Off

One of my secret ambitions is to be in a flash mob someday. The celebrations I've observed as joy spills forth in unexpected song are thrilling. Recently, the Second Baptist Church here in Houston put together a fabulous Easter flash mob celebration with 2000 of their own church members. Singing and dancing to a song commissioned by their church and sung by Lauren Carney, they burst into joy with the song "Rise Up." 

Hope you'll enjoy watching this video all the way to its stirring ending. Click twice to see full screen and then come right back to see a few more thoughts I have for you.

One of the reasons this video resonated so much with me is that it reminded me of a very dear friend who recently passed from the earth. 

Pat was a dear friend, wife, mother and grandmother who lived life fully and sparkled with enthusiasm. Her unexpected death a few weeks ago left a big hole in the hearts of all who loved her. We miss her laugh and her compassion terribly. The last couple of years Pat had struggled with her feet--one problem after another, requiring her to wear tennis shoes exclusively for a period of time, and then more recently a padded boot. Oh, how she dreamed of being able to wear a normal shoe.

Because we "... claim the victory, He won on Calvary..." we rejoice now that Pat is dancing with new freedom, with new joy, no longer shackled by the physical limitations of this world.  Because of our Risen Savior, we know we too can rise up to heavenly realms.  

Psalm 30:11 You have turned my mourning into dancing....

He's alive, he's alive inside us

We will rise up.

We claim the victory,

He won on Calvary.

Celebrate the King of Glory

So Rise Up 

People of the Lord.