AND, ALSO ENJOYED THE LOVE, CLOSENESS, HAPPINESS, LAUGHTER AND TOGETHERNESS THAT MAKES THE MEMORIES SO PRECIOUS!
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couple of last thoughts about Easter.. a little on the lighter side!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"I just love these stories... and this computer thing has so many of them!" said the bunny, sitting at his computer! lol
Imagine my excitement when one Spring I learned that the Easter Bunny would be at the same department store. Neither my family nor I had ever seen the Easter Bunny. I had seen white rabbits. Those cute, cuddly little bunnies seemed so warm and innocent. I looked forward for some time to seeing the real Easter Bunny. "people are so funny"
Finally, the big day came. My father took me to the store that afternoon. When we reached the Bunny's floor, I was shocked. Before me was a human-sized hare with big eyes and large, floppy ears. The creature walked on two legs like a human. He talked. "well, not many of us bunnies walk on two legs.. for sure!"
The more clearly I saw him as I approached him, the more slowly I walked. I would not get close to the furry beast. He wanted to give me a gift, but I was not cooperating. "Just throw it to me," I suggested. He tossed his present across the room, Frisbee-style.
Much as I was confused about the Easter Bunny, many folks are confused about the meaning of Easter itself. For some, it means new clothes and a chance to show them off. Others focus on eggs, candy and special meals. Spring Break is a highlight of the season. The beach beckons and relaxing on the sand or reveling at parties defines the holiday.
Easter is also billed as a time of renewal. It may be relatively easy to renew things outwardly -- new clothes, a hairstyle, a fancy party. Renewal on the inside can be more difficult. Problems from the past can haunt one's memory. Broken relationships undermine self-esteem. Guilt over missed opportunities, pain from rejection, loneliness and anger from past hurts can sometimes create a swirling inner vortex, a psychological suction from which escape is difficult. "thankfully bunnies don't have these problems... people are just so complex and full of drama!" (thought the bunny again)
Where does one find inner renewal? Some look to friends or family. Counselors and self-help books provide coping skills. But maybe a look at the first Easter could also offer some clues.
Nearly two millennia ago, a young Jewish leader fell into disfavor with established authorities. He was executed, declared dead, wrapped up like a mummy and placed in a tomb. A large stone was rolled against the tomb's entrance and an elite unit of Roman soldiers guarded the tomb against grave robbers.
Two days later, the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty, but the grave clothes were still in place. The man's closest followers, most of whom had abandoned him during his trials, reported seeing him alive again. Many later died horrible deaths for telling people that their leader had risen from
They had been transformed from the inside and it affected every facet of their lives, giving them inner strength, freedom from guilt, love for their enemies, and boldness to stand for what they believed was right. "If anyone is in Christ," wrote one early believer, "he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (how very true, thought the bunny)
Sometimes life's challenges can seem as scary as that huge hare seemed to me when I was a child. We don't want to get near them. Yet that first Easter still offers hope. Well, Jesus really did come back from the dead, then people today can find inner renewal by knowing him personally. "so WHY don't they ask HIM to come into their lives?"
As we enjoy eggs and rabbits this Spring, might that be a message worth pondering? "Absolutely! Without a question... "
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praying that you and yours had a very....
and made some PRECIOUS MEMORIES!
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GIVING THANKS AGAIN TO GOD FOR THE SACRIFICE OF HIS ONLY SON, SO THAT WE MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE! AND THANK YOU JESUS, FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BEAUTIFUL WISTERIA... ONE OF HIS AWESOME CREATIONS THAT HE GAVE US TO ENJOY! AND THE SMELL... AWWWWW!
PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOURS TODAY AND DAILY THAT GOD WILL BLESS EACH OF YOU SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, FINANCIALLY, AND WITH HIS AWESOME LOVE, GRACE, MERCIES, FORGIVENESS, GUIDANCE AND A SPECIAL BLESSING THAT ONLY HE KNOWS YOU NEED. PRAYING FOR THOSE THAT ARE SICK, HURTING, GRIEVING OR LONELY.. THAT GOD WILL WRAP HIS LOVING ARMS AROUND EACH OF YOU AND POUR HIS LOVE, MERCIES, AND HEALING DOWN UPON YOU. AND THAT HE'LL GRANT COMFORT AND INNER PEACE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. PRAYING A SPECIAL "UNSPOKEN PRAYER FOR CONNIE'S FAMILY" (LORD YOU KNOW THE REQUEST SHE'S MADE, AND YOU ALONE CAN GRANT THE RESULTS SHE'S ASKING FOR, AND GIVING YOU THE THANKS IN ADVANCE, because I know it's a prayer that is like music to Your ears) PRAYING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND IT'S LEADERS.. (THEY SURELY NEED HIM, IN ALL THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE)... AND PRAYING FOR ALL THE SERVICE PEOPLE.. PLEASE LORD, KEEP THEM SAFE, HEALTHY, AND UNDER YOUR PROTECTION AND GUIDANCE AND BRING THEM ALL SAFELY HOME, TO LOVING HOMES, HAPPINESS, DUE RESPECT AND AN ABUNDANCE OF JOBS. GIVING THANKS LORD FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR EACH OF US, ALONG WITH MY LOVE, HONOR, PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY IN JESUS HOLY NAME, AMEN.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Matthew 18: 19 & 20 KJV... 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
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