Is It Spring or Is It Easter?

Blue Easter Eggs

Along with Spring, comes the celebration of Easter. Children, especially, look forward to it with giggles and happiness. Bunnies and chicks start multiplying! Many of us like to decorate our homes with bouquets and lawn signs that read, “Life is beautiful!” And there is nothing wrong with any of this. . . except, we get Spring and Easter mixed up.  

How Do We Get to Easter?

Realizing the ignorance and hatred that caused a man to murder two and blind a third person caused that one survivor to forgive his attacker in 2011 in Texas. The same thing happened in 2003 when a father forgave a serial killer for the rape and murder of his 16-yr old daughter. And we have read similar true stories.  

How could this be possible in a world gone crazy? Putting the cruelty of the attackers aside, these victims reached deep down inside themselves and found kindness and love to be their answer. Rather than continuing the hatred or blaming themselves for the incident (which is quite common), forgiveness was the only way to heal.

It surprises no one that, most likely, these victims were following their faith. Surely, there were many prayers for wisdom involved first. And don’t think this was just a casual or easy decision. It couldn’t have been--they all experienced the personal pain and anguish deep down in their souls for the loss of their loved ones. However, they already knew what it meant to receive forgiveness themselves.

Like all of us who know the God of Grace [undeserved favor], the victims of these tragedies understood the unimaginable Easter sacrifice on a cross simply to forgive them of their own sins. We all have received this same mercy and forgiveness when we asked Jesus to be our personal Savior and Redeemer. Jesus showed divine love and kindness and willingly removed our guilt forever!

The True Easter Story

As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women.

Two others, both criminals, had already been led out to be executed alongside Jesus, the only innocent One. When they came to a place called The Skull [Golgotha], they nailed him to a cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.

Depiction of Paradise

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people, because they don't know what they are doing."

Then he [one of the criminals] said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Then he [Joseph of Arimathea] took the body of Jesus down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of a rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation for the Sabbath [Saturday].

But very early on [Easter] Sunday morning the women came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside. So they went in, but they couldn't find the body of the Lord Jesus.

The women were terrified and bowed low before them [two men]. Then the men [angels] asked, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead!"

And just as they [the disciples] were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

And he [Jesus] said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day."

Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.

The Easter story is an excerpt from the Holy Bible, Luke 23 and 24 (NLT) [emphasis added].

"But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too" (Mark 11:25 NLT).

Souls on Fire!

Escaping the holiday "rat race"

One holiday down and we survived! Now what to do with all the leftovers! Solve that and we ski over to the best day of winter with ease. It's really not far off--Christmas is just 28 days away. No need for nail-biting though! Let's just enjoy a small break today before it all begins again. Yes, it's okay to rebel. Instead of punching our way through the post-Black-Friday and Cyber Monday madness at the mall, we can escape and do something invigorating.

Souls On Fire!

There are many, many ways to move about our world; to bring the positives back into our lives. But we'll need to limit it to just a few, and build on that as we run into the new year with all the joy we deserve. One thing is certain: life never stands still. No, not for anyone. If this has been a year of mishaps, misgivings, and missed opportunities, it's time to set our "souls on fire!"   

We can hear our hearts beating as the excitement returns. It will happen only as much as we are willing and able to encourage it. Resistance will render the "beat" unable to perform. It will extinguish the fire. And we will suffer a hardened heart, instead of a loving one. And who wants that!

Five Easy Ways to Get the Beat Going!

Think of the word Grace as an acronym. Grace is simply receiving the gifts of favor and kindness from a loving God who believes us to be deserving of all of His blessings.  

Grateful thoughts - every single day brings more than enough to be thankful for that could fill an ocean. Sunrises, lattes, children's laughter, our health and safety, friends, books, gardens, hugs, pets, music, God's creation, and most important, His promise of heaven for all eternity. (Psalm 105:1)

Refreshing efforts - along with that sunrise, if we get outdoors each day and breathe in and out, our health can't help but to improve in amazing ways. Then we will naturally want to eat healthy and move our bodies, too. Our energy level will soar! Our outlook will change in remarkable ways. (Psalm 147:8)

Abiding attitudes - regaining our happiness is a major feat for ourselves and those around us! We can choose to live in bitterness and an unforgiving environment, but we will never be peaceful. We can't have it both ways. Once mistakes are learned, our unhappy past has no purpose whatsoever. Today is all we are promised. Not tomorrow, not next week nor next year. Today is the present. Live in it! (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Calm temperaments - to regain a sense of who we are meant to be is to find out and practice ways to remain calm and composed. This is easier for some women than others. Only you know you. A common cause of staying upset all the time, full of anxiety, and living in depression is harboring and entertaining worries on a consistent basis. God never wants that for us! (Matthew 6:25-32)

Expressing love - "Let me count the ways!" Nothing will move us faster into God's will than spilling the very best of ourselves into the lives of others. Just a simple smile can do it. Laughter and a hug upon seeing a friend (without complaining about our lives) can fill both of us. Give love. Get love. (2 John 1:6)         

Last Thoughts

If we truly want a better life full of love, laughter, meaning and purpose, it's up to us. There is no one else walking on the face of this earth that will make it happen for us. No one else has the ability to do that. We alone have to decide what we want and how we will change for the better.

If we ever want to share our lives with someone else at some point, it's advisable to take out the “trash” first that buries us in sadness, worry, and bitterness before “cooking up a new recipe!”

“May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence [grace], put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech” 2 Thessalonians 2:16 MSG.