Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you have a blessed and fulfilling day no matter how you spend it!

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I'm taking this opportunity to stop and think about the Easter holiday. Easter is one holiday that means different things to different people. There are many different traditions surrounding this time of year. Some people are celebrating Easter, some Passover, some Ostara and some chocolate and bunnies. Whatever you believe or why you believe it is your business. I haven't really thought about what Easter really means to me in a while, so here goes...

This Easter our plan is to go to church like we do every Sunday. However, this morning Zoey is excited to  wear her pretty new dress that my mom and I made for her. When we get home there will be an Easter basket waiting for Zoey from the Easter bunny with a few small gifts and candy in it. Then we will color eggs with the promise of very colorful Easter egg salad to eat for lunch all week.

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As you can tell from my description, we do not stay directly to the "Christian Easter" though we do learn about it. Teaching a three year old about the death and Resurrection of Christ is not exactly easy. It's hard enough to explain death that young, let alone Christ rising above it. Instead I focus on this message: Jesus loves you. That is something she understands.

I love Easter. It is a great day to spend time with friends and family. But Easter is so much more than that. Easter is recognized by Christians as the day Jesus rose from the dead.

Matthew 28:6 -- "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."
Jesus died on the cross three days prior (Good Friday). He died as a sacrifice for our sins because He loves us. But the point of Easter is not that He died, it is that He lives! Death itself could not hold the Son of God.

Revelation 1:18 -- "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."

Jesus has conquered death and He has conquered sin. He is victorious and He shares that freedom with all who believe in Him.

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What does Easter mean to me? Easter is a time to remember, to refresh and to renew my focus on:

1. The Love of God the Father

John 3:16 -- "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

2. The Sacrifice of God the Son

John 19:30 -- "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

3. The Power of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:4 -- "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

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Above all, I believe Easter is a time for thanksgiving and prayer, a time to reflect on how much God truly loves His people. How much God loves you. I pray to keep Him as my focus, not only on Easter, but all the days of my life.

Ephesians 1:15-23 -- "15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."

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Well, that is what Easter means to me. It means love, sacrifice and many reasons to be thankful. I hope you have a wonderful day and that your life is truly blessed. 

  

Even Our Defiance is God's Glory

Psalm 76:10 -- "Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon."

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The Bible is full of unlikely heroes. Noah was a drunkard, Moses was a poor speaker, David was an adulterer and murderer, and even Paul was a Christian persecutor. However, all of these men were Men of God.

We are all human, we all make mistakes and God can still use us to fulfill His glory. David brings up a terrific point in his Psalm -- God does not only use us in His plan, but our imperfections actually enhance His glory. God can complete miracles on earth despite our flaws. Our short comings and even our unwillingness are not able to disrupt God's plan. He uses our defiance as a weapon to make what He has already laid out even more powerful. There is a moment where it can only be God at work so all the glory goes to Him.

Dear Lord,
Help me to keep you in my focus and stay in your will. However, if I falter  I pray you still use me to fulfill your plans and to give you the glory.

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Confess Your Sins to Each Other

James 5:16 -- "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

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It is a very vulnerable feeling to be truly open with other. All we want, most of the time, is for others to like us and to fit in with the people around us. However, God does not call us to fit, He calls us to stand out. He does not want to see us compromise who we are to be like someone else, He made us each individual so that we could have a special role within the whole of the body of Christ.

With this statement, "confess your sins to each other," there also comes a level of discernment. You aren't going to share every struggle with every person you meet. You confess your sins to others you trust. Being open and encouraging to each other is what Jesus meant for the community known as Christians.

When we walk together in faith with Jesus as our guide, we can do miraculous things. The community of believers, the church, is stronger than anyone is alone. That is why we confess to each other and pray for each other -- not to judge or condemn, but to lift each other up and encourage each other through the difficult trials we face everyday.

Dear Lord,
Help me to be vulnerable with those I trust so they may pray for me and lift me up so I may be healed and walk closer with you. Also, help me to lift others up without being judgmental or condemning, but only showing them Your love.

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Training for Right Living

Hebrews 12:11 -- "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way."

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I tell my three year old daughter all the time that if she will listen and obey, we can have a lot more fun and do a lot more things. It's difficult to treat her to ice cream, for example, if I spend all of my time and energy convincing her to get buckled in the car or to continuously keep an eye on her so she doesn't wander off. I want to show her how much I love her and all the wonderful things we can do together, but before I can show her any of that I have to be sure she will be safe.

I think God feels the same about us. He wants us to experience all kinds of wonderful things, but before he can show us anything fun and spectacular He has to be sure that we will be safe and we won't wander off from him. In the same way we discipline our children to know the right and wrong way to act, God disciplines us. It is not fun, but it is necessary. Once God can trust us to listen and obey, He can bless us with many spectacular things.

Dear Lord,
Help me to learn from the experiences you put before me. Disciple is not fun, but I understand its purpose and I thank you for loving me so much that you yearn to teach me and bless me.

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Wordless Wednesday *Linky* Signs of Spring

I am so excited for spring to come. The temperature dropped again this week, but the signs are still there in the bees and the flowers. Spring will soon be here, bringing warm weather with it!

Link up and join me in the Wordless Wednesday fun!

  

Make Time To Rest

Mark 6:30-32 -- "(30) The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. (31) Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. (32) So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone."

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I don't know about you, but my days are busy. Between activities for my daughter, church groups, teaching preschool at home and the medial tasks of dishes, laundry and getting dinner on the table every night, I am exhausted by dusk. At the end of some days I just sit down and wonder where the time went. Maybe you can relate.

It is very easy to get caught up in the everyday grind. We tend to not make much time for ourselves, or for God. When I am constantly busy without any rejuvenation, it is only a matter of time before I break down. My temper flairs and an emotional upheaval envelops the house (especially when it is just my daughter and I). Most of the time this unbalance can be deterred by simply resting.

Jesus knew the importance of rest. Many times Jesus goes off by himself to pray and talk to the Father. We need that time set aside, just like Jesus did. Making time for rest and to pray with the Father is essential for a balanced life.

Sometimes, let's face it, you just need a nap. There is a time that you must rest the physical body. However, the need to rest and renew your Spirit is just as strong.

God wants us to come to him for rest, to energize your Spirit. By praying and spending time in God's Word, He gives you joy and peace to carry with you throughout the day. He also gives you the ability to keep His purpose at the forefront of your mind at all times.

When I keep God and what He wants for me as the focus of my day, the dishes don't seem quite the same chore because I see the blessing it is to have dishes to clean and a roof over my head to come home to. I see the blessing I have in my family that dirties the dishes. Even a simple, repetitive chore like washing the dishes is a gift from God.

The most important thing God reminds me of is that my daughter is watching me and looking to me to be her role model. If I show no one else in the entire world the love of Christ (though I'd rather shout His love from the rooftops than keep it secret), I want my daughter to know it in her heart and in her home. When I am rested and strengthened by God's Word, I am just a little bit more patient and a little bit more understanding with my lovable, sometimes erratic three year old.

When I get tired and emotional it affects my entire family. I want to be better for my daughter. I want her to see how to take time out for herself and how to take time out for God. I want my home to be filled with peace and joy, just like I want my heart to be.

Jesus said, "Come with me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6:31). That invitation applies to us, to you and me, today.

Dear Lord,
Help me to see past the distractions and the busyness of life and to keep my focus always on You. Help me to make time to seek you out and go to a quiet place with you and get some rest.

There are more Devotionals where this one came from!

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This is Real Love

1 John 4:10 -- "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

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I have a confession. I am human. I have lots of faults and I sin more often than I care to admit to anyone other than God. However, God still loves me. I can't understand it and I am not worthy of it, but it is truth.

God knew his children would get lost. He knows our hearts and He knows our sin. But he didn't want us separated from Him. God sent his son as the ultimate sacrifice to cover our sin so we can still communicate and walk with Him despite our shortcomings.

This is the greatest gift. We can do nothing to deserve His love, but He gives it freely.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for loving me. I don't deserve you're love and I have nothing to offer you but myself and I freely give that to you. Thank you for loving me, and thank you for saving me. Help me Lord, to overcome my weakness and always live for you.

There are more Devotionals where this one came from!

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Malachi (Bible in 90 Days)

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Malachi’s message is of God’s perfect and complete love. He spends much time and detail on the sins of the Jews. However, we have to confront our sins with God before we can restore that most important relationship with Him.

That is the point—despite all the awful things the Jews have done while turning their backs on God, He is still waiting with open arms to heal a repented heart instead of casting judgment. All hope is not lost. God wants to shower blessings and lessons on those who love him.

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“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.” Malachi 4:2

Malachi continues to bridge the gap between the old and new testaments. These Minor Prophets begin opening up a new way of thinking and foretells of John the Baptist as well as Jesus. “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives.” Malachi 4:5

  

Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Matthew 12:50 -- "Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

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We are not meant to be alone. God said as much in Genesis 2:18: "Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

We have our family tied by blood that we are born into. But we also have our family tied by Christ. When we declare that Jesus is our Lord and Savior we are adopted into a whole new family. A family that Jesus is the head of and will stand up for us to say that we are His. Just like we adopt children into our blood family through the courts, Jesus signed for us by shedding His blood on the cross.

We are not meant to be alone. We are not meant to do God's work alone. He gives us an entire community, a family full of brothers and sisters, to encourage us, challenge us, and to hold us accountable. Everyone has special gifts and talents and when we work together as God intended miraculous things happen.

Dear Lord,
Thank you so much that I am not alone. I have You, who is always looking out for me, and you have given me a family through Christ Your Son who I can lift up and be lifted up by. Thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Joy in Serving

Galatians 6:10 -- "Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."

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There is great joy in serving others. I believe God does not want us to be spectators in this life, but to actively love on others and share the joy of the light of God. By helping others, even with small acts of kindness, we can change the world. By putting others in front of our own comforts and wants we prove there is hope left in this world in the name of Jesus, that there is more than just darkness and sin left in this world. There is light, there is joy and there is peace, even among the struggles. God gives us that gift. He fills our hearts with joy when we willingly serve others.

God has a plan. God doesn't need us to fulfill his plan, that will happen no matter which side we choose. However, He wants us to be a part of what He is doing. He wants us to love him and trust him enough to walk confidently in the light of Jesus. Opportunities to help others are all around us, in big and small ways. It isn't about giving money or time or possessions (though those are some ways to help), it is about the heart. By being willing to put others before ourselves, to put God's kingdom work above our own selfish desires, we can be a part of what God is doing. We can be a light, a message of salvation, to a world destined for destruction.

Dear Lord,
Help me to have a servant's heart that is willing to put others in front of myself. Help me to find the joy and peace that you offer no matter what trials we face. Help me to trust in your plan and be a part of what you are doing.

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Crown of Life

James 1:12 -- "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

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Do you ever wonder if you are making a difference in this world? I do. In general, as Christians, we try to make the world a little bit better, to shed some light into a world covered in darkness. I watch the news and see how cruel people can be to one another and it is just depressing. I can't imagine the grief God feels over his lost children.

James tells us that God blesses those who endure testing and temptation. It is so easy to get lost in the world -- even the world that seems so cruel. It is easy to get short with people at the grocery store, or choose the path of less resistance by following the crowd so people will like you, or squander my money and resources away on myself and my family without a glance at how God could use them to help others.

It is very easy to get lost in the world; however, if we can endure the temptation, if we can keep our eyes on God and follow his will, if we can be repentant and love him, then he will give us the crown of life -- the ultimate prize. The crown of life is not glory here on earth, but the reward of eternal life -- living with God forever. That makes all of the trouble here on earth durable because it is only temporary. God's love is forever and He has the whole mess of a world under control. He has a plan -- one of judgment and salvation.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for being God. Thank you for giving light and purpose to this dark, chaotic world. Please be with me and help me overcome temptations. I want to patiently endure so I can be in your light forever.

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Wordless Wednesday *Linky* Happy St. Patty's Day

We had a lot of fun on St. Patrick's Day! Zoey loved dancing around in this dress my mom and I made for her! Happy St. Patty's Day and have a wonderful week!

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Because God Loved

Psalm 29:11 -- "The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace."

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The Lord loves us, his children, in a way that is very hard to grasp. He loves us without expectation. "For God so loved the world..." (John 3:16). This well-known verse doesn't speak of what we have to do to earn God's love because we can't do anything to earn his love. God's love is not conditional, it just is. God loved us, so he sent his son to save us. It is a free gift from our father God to his children.

The disconnect comes when we refuse to accept his gift. The sin in our lives is like a wall that blocks our path to God. Since God sacrificed his son Jesus to atone for our sins, our path to God is covered. That inpenitrable wall turned into a curtain that we simply have to pull back with our repentance and praise in the name of Jesus. God loves us and wants to shower us with love and gifts of strength and peace, we only have to come to God to accept them.

Dear Lord,
Help me to see past the distractions of this world to experience your love and your gifts. Thank you for your love.

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God Keeps His Promises

Micah 5:2 -- "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past."

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The prophet Micah foretold the birth of Jesus down to the name of the small town he was born. I mean really, how cool is that!

Bethlehem was a small village located in the district of Ephrathah. There was little distinct about this town other than it was the homeland going back to King David, the line Jesus was descended from. Joseph and Mary did not even live in this town at the time of Jesus's birth, but the census drew them back there.

God gives us promises that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem and beyond all odds -- he was. This wasn't coincidence this was a miracle. This was God.

God's Word, the Bible, is full of promises. Just as He kept His word that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He will keep His other promises too.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for sending Your son. You knew when, where and how Your plan would be fulfilled in the past, present and the future. I know you are Almighty. Help me to be faithful and know you have everything under control when I feel like I'm falling apart. You promised me peace and salvation and I trust you will keep your promise.

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Zechariah (Bible in 90 Days)

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Five hundred years before Jesus was born the prophets spoke of him. The Messiah was referenced in detail by many prophets, but Zechariah gives us the most conclusive view of the promised deliverer. Zechariah gives a message of hope to the people in Jerusalem. He tells of the first coming of Christ, but also delivers a message of the end of times when Christ returns for his people.

“Therefore, say to the people, “This is what the Lord Of Heaven’s armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s armies.” Zechariah 1:3

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“The Lord says, “shout and rejoice, o beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s armies sent me to you.” Zechariah 2:10-11

“Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.” Zechariah 9:9

There are more Devotionals where this one came from!

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