Easter 2010

I just finished doing Kelly Minter's Bible study on Ruth.  I learned a lot about the role of a kinsmen redeemer, and it made this Easter special.  Jesus, my Kinsmen Redeemer, fits every requirement in every way.  He is a close relative.  He is able to redeem--more than able!  He is willing to redeem.  Even when I was His enemy, He chose me, and you.  How amazing is that!  And that is why we celebrate Easter.

We went to church with family.

Then it was off to Mamaw's to meet the rest of the family for lunch.  A delicious lunch with ham and fried chicken and all the fixin's...and desserts!  YUM!  The kids were anxious for the fun of the egg hunt and that was next on the agenda.  The big kids hid the eggs this year.  SweetBoy is in that stage where he likes to be one of the big kids, but a cousin he really looks up to said, "When you get to double digits, you can hide them.  This year you still get to hunt."  And that made it ok.  (Thanks, Bud!)

On your marks, get set, GO!

We have three kids and came home with 4 baskets of candy.  How does that happen?!  The confetti eggs are always picked up first.  And always used quickly!

We had a great time with family.

Thanks Mamaw and Meme for a wonderful Easter!

And all too soon it was time to head back home.

Easter Pictures

We had a great Easter Sunday worshipping at church! And signing went well. My family laughed at me because I would put on my high heels with my jeans to practice. But if I don't, I get off balance with heels on! So I'm pleased to report that I didn't fall or loose my balance. When I have the opportunity to sign at church, my prayer is that the audience worships with me, not just watch my performance. In the second service everyone stood up during the song and worshipped with us! It was great!

Then we were off to SweetHeart's grandmother's house, along with the extended family, for a delicious lunch! You know the big family dinners where you get one plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, salads, casseroles, and homemade bread...mmm! Then go back for a plate of "I can't decide which dessert so I'll try a little bit of these." YUM! Makes me hungry for left-overs! Then the rain had stopped, so it was a go for the Egg Hunt complete with confetti eggs. Too much fun! SweetBoy and SweetDoll need to learn a thing or two from SweetTate--he was gentle cracking eggs on heads! One little cousin would pick up an egg and shake it, looking for the candy, and he threw back several confetti eggs. I thought, "Oh Honey, you are young!" Everyone goes for the confetti eggs! And within a few minutes we are all covered with tiny bits of colored paper and giggles.

(Yes, I forgot SweetTate's cute basket, but we were on time to early church!)

On the Living Proof blog, Melissa was reminiscing about Easter growing up, and she asked what we remembered and looked forward to about the holiday. Growing up we would usually go to my cousins' house for the long weekend. They lived in a different part of the state so we would visit state parks or historical places in the area. Their dad was a preacher so we always went to church. That is what I look forward to: celebrating the most exciting, Good News day at church and being with family. I'm glad my kids are making those same kind of memories too.

Me and two of my cousins back in the day.

The Monday after Easter

Several years ago I had the opportunity to go on a "Walk to Emmaus" retreat. It was a good experience--if you have ever done it, you know what I mean. They sent us off with the idea of the two friends walking home to Emmaus from Jerusalem on Monday after Jesus had been crucified on Friday and resurrected from the grave on Sunday. Jesus came up and walked with them and explained with Scripture what had just happened. "Now what will you do with it?"


We just finished up The Truth Project and Dr. Del Tackett challenged us with this: "God cares, do I?" Knowing the Truth. Knowing there are so many captives out there caught in the lies. Knowing that God's heart is with them. What am I going to do now? God has placed each of us in this generation in our specific places for a purpose. Wow. What a responsibility. What a privilege!


I can get caught up in a grandiose plan, but this post helps me remember that God works in the little things too. That being a mom and being in the "ministry of availability" to my family and friends is important and very useful to God. After all, it was a mom who packed a little boy's lunch that Jesus used for a miraculous picnic for 15 thousand or so! So I will serve in this family, in this place content to make small contributions to His kingdom, knowing that nothing is small in His hands.

Thinking about Easter

Beth Moore pointed out in her blog yesterday that we guess about the timing of the events of the Christmas story, but Easter we have a much clearer record and we can say about this time what was happening. Anniversaries are so important. Then on Jill Savage's blog she suggested to think about Jesus' human experience this weekend, not to just gloss over the story but step inside it. I'm doing Beth's study of John, and I just couldn't help but think this morning that after a horrible Friday, this was the first morning the disciples woke up without Jesus since they met Him. What a lonely, devastating feeling. But God (don't you just love that!) was busy doing what we desperately needed and what He had planned since the beginning--providing a way to be in fellowship with Him. Providing a way to never be lonely. Providing a way to be with Him for eternity. In my study this morning, I read Revelation 20 about the new Jerusalem and what that will be like. Wow! On that Saturday so many years ago, John could not have known that God would make such a revelation to him and what He had planned. I can't imagine the emotions they felt as they ran to the empty tomb on Sunday morning, and then saw Jesus alive again! Then the emotions we will have when we see the new Jerusalem! Beth suggested that there will not be a dry eye in the place, and that is our last cry before God wipes all our tears away.

Tomorrow I have the privilege of signing "Redeemer" by Nicole C. Mullen at church. It is new to me, so it has been neat to work on it this week with all those thoughts running through my head. That "the very same God who spins things in orbit runs to the weary, worn, and weak" --that would be me. And, along with Mary and John and the disciples that Sunday morning, I can know without a doubt, and I can praise with all my heart that my Redeemer lives!

Redeemer
By: Nicole C. Mullen
Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning

Who told the ocean you an only come this far?

Who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening

Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Well I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

All of creation testify

This life within me cries

I know my Redeemer lives

The very same God that spins things in orbit

He runs to the weary, the worn and the weak

And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken

They conquered death to bring me victory

Now I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

Let all creation testify

Let this life within me cry

I know my Redeemer, He lives

To take away my shame

And He lives forever I'll proclaim

That the payment for my sin

Was the precious life He gave

But now He's alive

And there's an empty grave.

And I know my Redeemer, He lives

I know my Redeemer lives

Let all creation testify

This life within me cries

I know my Redeemer lives