Celebrating Jesus

Claire Black: This is True Girl, a podcast for girls and their moms. Together, we’ll explore God’s truth for us one drive at a time. Buckle up! You’re about to grow closer to each other and closer to Jesus!

Welcome to the True Girl podcast with Dannah Gresh and Staci Rudolph. In this season, we’re exploring the songs on the True Girl Original Album created to plant truth in your heart! 

I hope you have a party hat nearby. Today we’re going to celebrate Jesus! There’s really no better celebration to attend than one that honors our Savior!

True Girl is hosted by Dannah Gresh with Staci Rudolph. Let’s get moving for season 3, episode 5, titled “Celebrating Jesus.” Here’s Dannah.

Staci Rudolph: Today is party day! I hope you’re ready to celebrate because I sure am!

Dannah Gresh: Me, too! 

Staci: If you’re new here, hey, I’m Staci. If you’re not, welcome back my friend.

Dannah: And I’m Dannah. I am so excited to celebrate Christ’s resurrection today!

Staci: You might be thinking, Uh, it's so not Easter today! And yes, you are right. But His resurrection is worth celebrating every single day. Whether it’s Christmas—the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus . . . 

Dannah: Or Resurrection Sunday—the day we celebrate His victory over death and sin. 

Staci: Or any day in-between. 

Dannah: Any day in-between. So, we say the word resurrection a whole lot, but let’s go over what it means, because I want us to have a better understanding of what we are celebrating.

Staci: Now, Dannah, I think we’ve got some smart cookies here, you think so?

Dannah: Yeah, and by cookies you mean girls. 

Staci: Yes, yes. So they might be able to guess what that word means. So, go ahead and give it a shot. Tell your mom or whoever is nearby with you, what you think the word resurrection means. We’ll wait.

Resurrection is the action of being resurrected, which means to bring something that was dead back to life. For the record, I can’t do that. It would be pretty cool, though. I’d have a lot more plants around my house if I had that power!

Dannah: I probably would, too. So, we know that we can’t bring something back to life. But God can . . . and He did! Let’s go back in time, oh, a few thousand years to the Garden of Eden.

Staci: Back then, the world was perfect. Adam and Eve were there naming all the animals and birds and fish.

Man: I’ll call you a blob fish because you’re kinda blobby.

Staci: God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They enjoyed each other's presence and lived perfect lives. It was all so beautiful and full of life.

There was just one rule: God commanded them to eat freely of any tree in the garden except . . . the tree of the knowledge of good and evil . . . the one in the middle of the garden. God said, “If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

Sadly, Satan came to Eve in the form of a snake. The snake lied to Eve and convinced her to eat from that tree. Adam and Eve sinned. They disobeyed God’s command. What did God say would happen if they ate from that tree? They would surely die! From that day on, humanity began to live with the reality of death and dying.

Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden. They had to live a life separated from God, the One who made them, the One who loved and cherished them above all else. And for the rest of us, sin continues to separate us from God and move us towards death.

And, you probably know Jesus died on the cross as a punishment for all your sin and all my sin. But let me ask this. Why? Why did He do that?

Because sin separates us from God and from other people. I mean, have you ever lied to your mom or dad? Do you remember feeling far away from them because of that lie? That’s just one of the many horrible things sin does to us.

Dannah: Yes. You know, Staci, I am remembering a time when I lied to my dad, and I just felt farther and farther and farther away from him, until I couldn’t stand that feeling anymore. I actually had to confess to him that I lied to him. Sin does separate us from God, and it does separate us from other people. 

It’s evidence of being under the curse of sin and death. But from the beginning of time God set up the stage for the resurrection. Now, what’s that mean again?

Staci: To bring something that was dead back to life.

Dannah: Yes. And when Jesus came, He changed everything. He died so that we would not have to pay the price of sin. He came and gave His life on the cross. Since He lived a perfect life, without any sin, He was able to take all of our sin on Him. His death gave us a way to be close to God forever, it erased the power of death and offered us eternal life.

Staci: But here’s the really awesome news. Jesus didn’t stay dead. 

Dannah: Amen. 

Staci: Three days after he was crucified, He came back to life. He resurrected. 

Dannah: And that, my friend, is why you and I don’t have to live with the ultimate consequence of our sin. 

Let’s read our key verse for today. Here’s Chizzy Anderson with John 8:36.

Chizzy Anderson: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Dannah: Because Jesus died, because Jesus was resurrected, you and I can be free! 

Staci: Yes! Now that is something to celebrate!

Dannah: If you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sin and say so with your mouth, making a decision to follow Him, not only are you a Christian and a daughter of the King (a princess), but you are a free girl. 

Staci: You’re no longer locked up with all the consequences of sin. You’re not just free. You’re free indeed. That’s like saying “You’re free! No seriously, you’re free. You are free!” Ya know what I think? 

Dannah: What?

Staci: I think that’s worth celebrating.

Dannah: Yes, me too. Now, I gotta tell you, I really wish we could all be together to celebrate, because this, Staci, is my absolute favorite song to hear when the True Girl worship team performs at our life events.

Staci: Me, too! Are you serious?

Dannah: I love it. 

Staci: I didn’t know that. 

Dannah: But I think this time of listening to the next song will be pretty sweet, even though we aren’t together. We can celebrate all across the world together.

Staci: Don’t forget to look out for the key verse in the song. John 8:36 says,

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Dannah: Okay, get ready to dance! Here is “Celebrate” from the True GirlOriginal Album!

Song: “Celebrate”

We’re jumping, jumping;
Can’t contain the joy that you’ve given us.
We’re runnin’, runnin’;
Running to your arms, we can’t get enough.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
We won’t stop singing.
Oh, oh, oh, oh,
It’s time to . . .
Celebrate this freedom!

Time for us to get up
On our feet walking in the light.
We’ll dance in every season. 
You’re what we’re believin’.

Jesus, You are our one desire.
Let’s celebrate this freedom;
Time to celebrate, time to celebrate, time to celebrate.
Let’s celebrate this freedom;
Time to celebrate, time to celebrate, time to celebrate.

Amazing, amazing!
Jesus, you’re the reason why we sing;
We’ll shout it, shout it!
Shout it from the mountains, you’re our king!
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh we won’t stop singing.
Oh, oh, oh, oh it’s time to
Celebrate this freedom.

Time for us to get up;
On our feet walking in the light.
We’ll dance in every season.
You’re what we’re believin’.
Jesus, You are our one desire.

Let’s celebrate this freedom;
Time to celebrate, time to celebrate, time to celebrate.
Let’s celebrate this freedom;
Time to celebrate, time to celebrate, time to celebrate.

You came and gave us life.
On the cross where you died
Lifted us up on high.
Your resurrection is why we celebrate tonight.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, we won’t stop singing.

Oh, oh, oh, oh it’s time to
Celebrate this freedom.
Time for us to get up
On our feet walking in the light.
We’ll dance in every season.
You’re what we’re believin’.
Jesus, You are our one desire.

Let’s celebrate this freedom,
Time to celebrate, time to celebrate, time to celebrate.
Let’s celebrate this freedom,
Time to celebrate, time to celebrate, time to celebrate.
Let’s celebrate this freedom.

Claire: I don’t know about you but I’m celebrating big time right now! And just ’cause the song’s over doesn’t mean you have to stop the party. You can download the whole True Girl Original Album and find more resources to bring moms and daughters closer to each other and closer to Jesus at MyTrueGirl.com.

Be sure to join us next time when we go back to the Garden of Eden again, but we’ll hear about more than just blob fish. We want to ask you an important question: Do you believe God created this world? I sure do, and we’ll hear why next time on the True Girl podcast.

The True Girl podcast is produced by Revive Our Hearts, calling women of all ages to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“Celebrate”lyrics and music by Carmen Hadley and David Thulin

*Offers available only during the broadcast of the podcast season.