The Gift of Easter
Wee ones always enjoy a fun Easter Egg Hunt around Easter-time. When my girls were little, we had hunts inside when we had bad weather and outside in nature where it really is so much fun when weather allowed. At church or at a park, we always were on the lookout for children whose baskets were empty and “guided” them toward unfound eggs. But we always had the question of “What do Easter Egg hunts really have to do wtih the meaning of Easter?” Our simple response was that searching for and finding the eggs celebrated the need for a Savior which is the greatest gift of God Our Father. And what happens to eggs? Eggs in the nest hatch and new life is born!” Christians around the world celebrate God’s ultimate gift to the world in Jesus Christ. God knows that we humans need a gracious Savior, so God Himself came to us as Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Christ, the King of Kings, gave his earthly life for us and this is our salvation. Through His gift we have forgiveness of sins and Eternal life. Praise be to God!!! The season of Lent is for our focus on repenting our sins and asking forgiveness. It is an opportunity for us to reflect of the lives we live and recognition of areas in our lives that we can find a closer walk with Christ and in His teachings. There are numerous prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus Christ, the coming of our Messiah. Isaiah, the prophet, writes in Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” And so, in this Holy Week, we reflect of the miraculous birth of our Savior, His teachings, our sins, and the HOPE we have in His sacrifice for our Eternal life withGod the Father. Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow! Easter blessings to...
Read MoreHalf Way Through The Wilderness
During the Season of Lent, Christians reflect on the walk of our Lord Jesus Christ for forty days in the wilderness as He fasted, prayed, was tempted and resisted these temptations of the devil. Just as we find ourselves in the wilderness in our life journey, through prayer & faith we, too, can resist temptations knowing that God is always there with us in our humility with His merciful forgiveness. In the 40 days in the wilderness with all the temptations of the devil, Jesus was being prepared for what lay ahead for Him. We, too, find ourselves at times reflecting on our own wilderness walks becoming aware that those times had prepared & strengthened us for fulfillment of God’s plan & use of us. Sometimes those realizations can be very subtle while, at other times, they might just knock on the door of our heart & soul with great vigor!! At the end of all this our charge is to step out into our world shining our light, being the hands & feet of Christ our Savior to the hurting and wayward souls. Psalm 51:10-12 is actually a prayer that means a lot to me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit....
Read MoreA Wrist Alarm to Be Imposed??
I suppose that to get to the blessings of the Lenten season, we must actively do penance. I mean, we know we sin, I know there are things that stand between God and me and our closeness, so I must go through the process of identifying my shortcomings, truly contemplate them and ask for God’s forgiveness. And I will get that. But, then, the really hard work follows. I must work diligently to correct my wrong doings or the things of which I am guilty by omission. The things I could do, I should do that would really make a difference and, yet, somehow they just don’t get done. Now, instead of thinking of things I do that are not good for ME…like OK, from now on I am going to wear a wrist alarm that will blast out alarms when I open the ICE CREAM case at Publix or pick up a pack of my favorite cookies from the bakery. You know, if I actually shopped that way I could lose a lot more weight and get better blood work reports. But, I don’t have that wrist alarm that probably would go straight to 911 and Publix might even go into lockdown!!! No, I just have a conscience or inner voice guiding me to make the right choices. And even though every time I hear my conscience telling me not to buy the ice cream, I buy the ice cream. I’m better on somethings, but that is one I must work on! 🙁 But, this year in Lent, I am working to identify my behaviors or lack of that are not good/helpful to other people. My behaviors that offend God. Really, offend God? That right there was hard for me to even type, yet, I know God wants and needs more from me. God, the Creator of the Universe and the lover of my soul, breathe into me the fullness of your love so that I may live life more fully within Your commandment of love. Inspire me, Father, to more actively reach out and stretch really hard to seek where I am needed. I lay at the foot of the cross of our Christ Jesus, all my shortcomings, and trust that you will nourish me with you Word and fill me with your grace and gentle mercy as we celebrate the feast of the Resurrection of Christ. Lent, a time of reflection, decisions, renewal through the journey of our Lord Jesus Christ ...
Read MoreContemplating Lent
For Christians around the world the season of lent is upon us. How shall we approach the cross? With Lent being the 40 days leading up to Easter, this is a season of discovery or, perhaps, rediscovery of who God is and who each of us is to Him. It is a season of sadness and sorrow that in the end becomes a “bright sadness.” For me, Holy Week, itself, has a somber tone with the awareness of Christ praying in the garden, the disciples gathering in a private room for their final meal together….the Last Supper. The Holy Communion they shared. The bread…His body broken for us; the wine, His blood shed for each of us. The parting words, so carefully chosen as the New Commandment…”love one another as I have loved you.” Christ knew he was to be killed and would be leaving His disciples so when I contemplate His choice of message to leave them with for all Christians on earth, it is just so divinely ordained. It was the New Commandment and it is for all times. Just as important, just as critical now as then…”love one another as I have loved you.” So how are we doing down here on this earth that grows more crowded every minute…more hostile and more secular as we breathe the day’s breaths in and out? So how are we doing with the New Commandment to “love one another as I have loved you.” Palm Sunday starts off our Christian Holy Week. Our custom has been to attend our Maundy Thursday service and leave in silence reflecting on the crucifixion and suffering of Christ for us and our salvation. Then, Good Friday services arrive setting the tone of the act of the crucifixion and beginning the three days until Christ rises from the dead in all glory. He is Risen…He is Risen, indeed!! The “Bright Sadness” has arrived! Glory, hallelujah! Easter has...
Read MoreColor Purple in Lent
The color purple represents royalty and in the Christian church, is also celebrates through the pain and suffering Christ endured and leads us to the hope of newness in His resurrection on Easter morning. Christians around the world have been focusing on the season of Lent as we prepare for Easter. How do we prepare? Some choose to fast and young children are sometimes introduced to fasting or sacrificing by choosing to “give up” something they especially enjoy for the 40 weekdays of Lent. Discipline is one of the ways we prepare for Easter and disciplining ourselves is not always easy to accomplish. For me, the main idea of observing Lent, is to set aside time for reflection on Christ, himself, and what He experienced for our salvation. As we move our way toward the joy of Easter, we must consider the journey that our Lord took…the sacrifice, pain and suffering, the steps He took that led to His death and burial, and finally, His resurrection. Many Christians observe Lent as a time of prayer and strengthening our spirituality. Prayer, especially one of penance, helps me to refocus the days of my life and ponder my own short-comings when I can prayerfully ask God’s forgiveness and guidance in living a life more glorifying to God. What Grace there is in the blessed assurance of Christ’s great gift to each of...
Read MoreWhat's Your Passion?
National Audubon Society
Help support the efforts of our National Audubon Society in conservation of natural bird habitats. Visit: www.birds.audubon.org