Saturday, April 7, 2012

He Rose!

Easter Sunday evokes memories of baskets filled with different candies and colored eggs that my parents and I put together on the Saturday before.  I couldn't wait to get at it. All those jelly beans, except the black, licorice ones that Dad got by default, were my favorite to eat.  New clothes to wear to a family member's house for a day of fun and Easter dinner.  Easter was annual and we did the same things, the same way each year.

Easter was about the bunny and egg hunts for me, and I 'm sure millions of other children. It was fun, and we like fun.  Wow, what memories.

Memories are about remembering, so let's remember what Easter really means.  Jesus, after fulfilling the greatest, most selfless act in history by dying on the cross, rose from the grave with all power.  He had been crucified for no reason other than to save us and allow humanity to live.  He was the offering God received for the redemption of a stained people!

So before the candies and eggs, make sure your children know what Easter really means.  Before that Easter ham with all the sides, remember what happened over two thousand years ago and give thanks to the One that made it all possible.

After the Storm

The storms of life are always raging.  Some are more obvious than others.  But there was no mistaking the storms (tornadoes and twisters) that raged through sections of Texas recently.  But I choose to remember all that  I've heard and seen after the storm.  So many volunteers, there is not enough for all of them to do.  I don't think I've ever heard this about any other state in the aftermath of devastation.  It makes me Godly proud to be a Texan.

Whether we were personally affected or not, we should all take to heart what has happened here, and our lives should never be the same again.  We must all emerge from the ashes a little more humble; a little wiser; a little more focused; a little more loving and kind, and a whole lot more grateful to the one and only true living God.

People suffered great loss, but praise be to God, no life was lost.  That in itself is a miracle!