He is not here, for He is risen . . .

 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 

 

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you 

 always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:1-8, 16-20 (KJV) 

 

Happy Easter Everyone!!!  Have a beautiful and blessed day!

A Simple Easter

The joy of Christ's Resurrection

Simply expressed in the shape of an egg:

Promise, hope, sweetness, life . . .
Combined with a "Come as you are" invitation,
Set the tone for our Simple Easter Celebration.

While flowers danced

And trees sang a full chorus of beauty,

We sat down to tea with a thankful heart
For the gift Christ bestowed so freely upon us all.

A simple feast,
Fresh and delicious,

Featuring specially prepared eggs by Rachel

Paired with mom's whole wheat buttermilk scones

Satisfied those arriving
With heartiest of appetites and smiles.

The afternoon called us to orchard walks,
Teetering and tottering,

Silly games,

And butterfly hunts.

Gentle nets and sharp-eyed girls

Could catch but a single grasshopper.
(Released promptly following an obligatory photo.)

It proved a day of sweet, sweet simple joy
Full of wishes that it could last an eternity.

Thank you Jesus for a Dream Come True

* * *

And I give unto them eternal life;
And they shall never perish,
Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:28

* * *

And this is life eternal,
That they might know thee the only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 17:3

Sunday Wonder

HAPPY EASTER!

I am come that they might have life,
And that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10b

Sweet Saturday

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,
And satisfy the afflicted soul;
Then shall thy light rise in obscurity,
And thy darkness be as the noon day:

And the LORD shall guide thee continually,
And satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones:
And thou shalt be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Isaiah 58:10-11




Even A tiny child can be hungry though it doesn’t quite know why.
And bigger people can be hungry too, though they may not say so.
Look out for the hungry and you will find them.
He who has satisfied them with Himself will lead you to them.

~~ Amy Carmichael~~
Founder, Dohnavur Fellowship, India

* * *

My upbringing included a sole church attendance each year – Easter. We donned new dresses with fancy hair ornaments and even gloves, at times. The baskets of jelly beans and chocolate bunnies we left behind on the hearth captivated our thoughts as we sat in a strange building on a hard bench surrounded by smiling faces of strangers. Greetings floated in the air but, since we chose a different church each year, the greetings fell empty all around us. A feast with an elderly relative (who never remembered our names) followed the service. All too quickly we returned home to ready ourselves for Monday morning and a return to the routine.

This heavily-marketed holiday provided goodies (which we lacked most of the year) and an eat-all-you-want meal of tasty specialties, but I remained hungry for something more. The filled eggs and puffed chicks sickened my stomach after a bit, especially when piled on top of a heavy, salty ham dinner. I viewed Easter as a chore, more than a treat and that became even more pronounced after my dad left and I juggled two Easter baskets and a broken heart. Many years later I would discover that my hunger pangs emanated from my heart, not my stomach. When my heart found Jesus, my hunger ceased and Easter became a celebration for me. A true JOY-filled day of remembering and rejoicing.

Throughout the years my Easter celebrations have varied greatly from LARGE family gatherings to quiet brunches with my husband and children alone. This year we will worship from home and eat a simple meal together as a family. Too much celebration would overwhelm us this year. God knows . . . Jesus understands . . . The Holy Spirit nods.

Last night for Family Fun Night we enjoyed a tasty meal, marveled over the fancy eggs that resulted from the girls’ crafty afternoon activity, and then settled down to view The Nativity Story. We wanted to tie together Christ’s life from beginning to end this year. Throughout this Holy Week we have discussed God’s far-reaching eyes and personal ties to each and every facet of creation. Not a tree in bud, not a cocooned butterfly, not a precious babe escapes His sight and love.

Tonight we will watch The Visual Bible, Matthew and continue walking with Jesus all the way to The Cross and beyond. There will be no new dresses or large gatherings, not even a lily on the table (which relatives made sure to grace me with each year, though they refuse to settle into my garden comfortably). But, we will feed those pangs of the heart as we celebrate Life Renewed and remember our Savior’s command to look around and find the hungry among us. They exist even as they try to hide or we try to avoid looking. I fret not about who to invite or what to serve, for God promises to lead me. I have only to smile a welcome and keep the pathway to my home and heart open to receive all who pass by. Some may stop for a brief respite of tea, others choose to sup fully, still others will merely wave without stopping. All receive a greeting and invitation as I have received.

Thus we will celebrate this Easter like a well-watered garden and a free-flowing spring. I wish the same for you and your families as you gather this precious Sunday in celebration of the gift of Life Eternal.

* * *

Rejoice in the Lord always:

And again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

Good Friday

Parting Words

These things have I spoken unto you,
That my joy might remain in you,
And that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment,
That ye love one another,
As I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this,
That a man lay down his life for his friends.

Ye are my friends,
If ye do whatsoever I command you.

These things I command you,
That ye love one another.

John 15:11-14,17

* * *



Dying Words

Then said Jesus,
Father, forgive them;
For they know not what they do.

Luke 23:34

* * *

We have been shown the way.
We have been given instruction.
We have been forgiven, as we surely fail.
We must remember.

We must love.