Bunnies, Baskets, Egg Hunts..... or NOT?

He is Risen!  That statement and knowledge brings me so much joy!  However, this morning I was very depressed.  The house was not decorated, nor even all that tidy either!  We had not gotten around to coloring any eggs.  We had the baskets - but ONLY the baskets, no eggs or candy to go in them.  I was going to work on pulling something together last night, but I have been so exhausted lately that I accidentally fell asleep without doing any of things I had planned!  The only special thing we did was served made-from-scratch waffles for breakfast!  And that was only because we had run out of waffle mix.  Today started out very frazzled!  I guilt-tripped myself the whole morning!  

But then we all made it to Church - nevermind that we were late - the point is we were all there!  And despite the children's fidgety non-reverent behaviors, I realized that THIS is what EASTER is all about!  None of the added trimmings were necessary!  Sure I have already planned how I am going to do much much better with all the "unnecessary" trimmings next year!  But for this year, the fact that we are all together and praising God for His Atoning Sacrifice and the Gift of Eternal Life - is more than enough!  As soon as I realized that, my nerves began to unwind and I started to actually enjoy this Easter celebration!  The children walked out of their Sunday School Classes with the message of Easter on their hearts, and Easter Baskets filled with eggs and candy.  They had more than what they had expected!   

This Sunday opened my eyes to a couple things: 

I have failed in many ways as a parent.  I am not talking about not having everything decorated and what not.  I mean in the areas of demanding respect and obedience from my children.  I feel like I am always fighting them to do simple things.  I have preached and lived by the "pick your battles" technique so much that I forgot to pay real attention to which battles I was really picking and the dangers of the ones I surrendered.  I am resolved to focus more on praying for guidance when it comes to raising my children in Obedience, Respect, and Gratitude.  All three areas are sorely lacking in my home!  I am still not quite sure where I went wrong, but none of that matters now.  I need to take charge of my home!  

I also realized that none of the trimmings are important.  They are lovely and nice but not important. It is far more important that we remember the true reason for the season!  Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and Lives, breaking us from its bondage!  That is what fills my heart today!  We are finishing today with a lovely family dinner, and spending time together as a family with Jesus Christ as the CENTER of our home!

I wish you all a very blessed Easter Season!  If you were like me and didn't have it all together today - relax!  Remember the real reason for the season and REJOICE!

Silent Saturday - A Challenge

Silent Saturday!  What is Silent Saturday?

Silent Saturday is the day we commemorate the body of Jesus Christ resting in the enclosed stone tomb after it's burial on Good Friday!  Many Christians know this day as Holy Saturday!  I consider Holy Saturday a Spiritual New Year's Eve!   I sit and ponder how I can build my Faith in Jesus Christ!  I make resolutions that help keep this Faith strong!  And most of all, I fall on my knees in repentance for my failings and lack of trust in Him!   

Jesus Christ is 100% God as well as 100% Man!  Christ spent the 3 years of His ministry using both His Divine and Human natures.  It is thru His Divinity as God that He forgave Mary Magdalene and healed the sick, and called Lazarus back to life!  What made His sufferings and death on the cross so sacrificial is that He set aside His Divinity so that NO ONE could question how GREAT His Pure Sacrifice was!  He suffered and died, subjecting His entire Human Nature to the ridicule and pain that was inflicted!  He was indeed the Pure and Perfect Sacrifice as foretold and foreshadowed in the Old Testament!  Today is indeed a day of pondering!  We are still in a time of Repentance and mourning of the death of Our Lord!    


Jesus Christ suffered willingly and gave up his life to atone for all the sins of the world.  Even if I were His only creation, He would have willingly gone through the exact same sacrifice just for me!  But it isn't just His sacrifice that has me falling to my knees, it is a sentiment of complete repentance that fills my soul!  Jesus was laid in a tomb before sundown the day He died in accordance with Jewish customs.  Silent Saturday receives its title from the fact that Christ was SILENT on this day as He laid in the enclosed tomb.  The Atonement was NOT yet COMPLETE.   

We know that Jesus' burial was a representation of our laying aside our natural man!  So I challenge you for the entire month of April, to honor Saturdays as "Silent."  I challenge you to lay aside your normal day to day busy-ness and turn your heart to the Lord in repentance and selfless service to those around you!  I will be doing this challenge alongside you! 

#SilentSaturday