Do you believe in Easter?

[eagleswings]

Do you believe in Easter?

A heart-warning reminder to celebrate the Resurrection each day of our lives.

by Russel Kelfer

(See the note at the end)

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The Lady's name was Edith Burns. She was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a fine Christian doctor by the name of Will Phillips, a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.

One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap. She was earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Dr. Phillips knew why Edith was there and what she was doing. You see, Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.

Dr. Phillips said to the nurse, "Beverly, don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room.

After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?"

Dr. Phillips said, "Now Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient." With a heavy heart he said, "your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."

Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!"

Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!"

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips every day. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter.

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were gloriously saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. She made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut."

She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book. Well, one morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a flu shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you."

Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, you religious nut, it won't work. I'm not interested." Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family." Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen." She walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into that room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you." One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day."

Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, 'Do you believe in Easter?' but you have never asked me."

Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked..." She took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Then she asked, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?"

Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life."

Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.

Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?"

Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday."

Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"

Well, two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her those Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed.

That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible and there was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also."

Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith Burns - Happy Easter!"

Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

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See also: What it means to be a Christian

The Old Rugged Cross & Links: The Cross and the Resurrection

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Home ~ Contents ~ Preparing for Victory

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"This is an awesome fictional story written by Russel Kelfer of discipleship tape ministries (http://dtm.org/lessons/192a.htm)," wrote Miriam, a helpful visitor. "I had the opportunity to hear him read the story in a church service several years ago before his death. I thought you might want to see the whole story or make a link to his site or something like that."

Let us pray that we too might be as truly certain of our relationship to Christ and as concerned about the eternal destiny of others as was the heroine of this story.

[~candice~]

Wow that brought real tears to my eyes.

Yes! I believe in Easter. Yes! I believe He rose again.

Praise be the the Risen King .

[Guest]

[MorningGlory]

This story made me cry as well. But they're tears of joy; I believe, have always believed, and always will. All glory to the Lord this weekend and forever. He is risen.

[Guest]

Hello,

Many years ago we(my ex-wife and I) finally decided to visit the little church outside of Kearny, Mo. On the road to Watkins Mill Lake, my second home as I liked to refer to it. Our visit there that day was like, finally coming home, or so I thought at the time. As we became friends with the pastor and his wife, and many others in the small gathering, one thing was sure clear to me. These folks wanted to follow God no matter what. Which leads me to this:

When "Easter" was coming around, we had a talk one day of the importance of this day. (Referencing 1 Corinthians 15). He shared with me that as a church family, they did not recognize "Easter," but instead referred to this day as "Ressurection Sunday." After the service on this day, a love feast was prepared as we all gathered to spend time together as a family all day. The evening service was held outside, weather permitting, with testimonies given by many.

I sat there amazed at how simple this gospel of Jesus Christ really is. Even though I stepped away, for quite some time, and now that my life is changing in ways that is only attributed to God's love and grace each day, I will never forget our conversation that day between my pastor and myself. I do not celebrate "Easter." I celebrate the ressurection of my Lord and my Saviour...Ressurection Sunday.

God bless yall, and do have a blessed Ressurection Sunday.

Randal

1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1 Corinthians 15: 1 - 7

ps. I do live in San Antonio, Texas...the setting of this incredible story you shared today. Thank you.