Because of the Cross

Mrs Naz at Becoming Me is hosting a meme for readers to share "What Easter Means to Me."

As my regular readers know, I grew up in a home with a mentally ill mom. She raised us kids to believe in God and even sent us to Christian school. We went to church on Sundays as much as possible. But it seemed to more tradition that a living vibrant faith. Even when my mom did show some kind of living faith, it was usually messed up by the mental illness.

On Good Friday, my mom would sob and cry out "They're killing my Jesus!" As an adult I tried to explain to her, no they're not. They did on that Good Friday years ago crucify Jesus, but he is raised! He is not crucified again every Good Friday, no more than he becomes an infant again every Christmas. Still my mom would rant on his crucifixion. The interesting thing is, she never exhibited that same over-the-top jubilance on Easter Sunday, as she did sorrow on Good Friday.
How does this tie into what Easter means to me? While I love remembering on Easter Sunday that Jesus is risen, and singing the songs, it bothers me that some people only celebrate this on Easter. Jesus Christ is risen! Not just April 12 (Easter's date this year), but on April 13th too! We should be singing praises every day! Jesus is risen! Amen!

On Good Friday I think we should REMEMBER that Jesus WAS crucified. Watching the video depiction below literally brings me to tears because of what Jesus suffered. But he is suffering no more. No, he rules in Heaven and will return to rule on Earth. He is alive! And because Jesus is alive, we too will get to be alive. We will have eternal life with him.

Easter, Resurrection Sunday, means to me that I get to spend eternity with Jesus. Then I too will have no more pain or suffering or sadness. Joy to the World! The Lord has come...and is coming again! Celebrate Jesus' Resurrection everyday! Hallelujah!




Romans 8:11 -- And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Happy Birthday Sue J!

Today is Sue J's Birthday. God firmly placed Sue & I together as friends, even as we were both saying "What the???" Sue is quiet, I am LOUD. Sue is brown, I am hot pink. Sue is humble, I crave the spotlight. Yes, we are both addicted to coffee, and yes, we both have like-aged daughters. But really, God, really? Oh, that's the other thing. We both love Jesus so much.

I hate outside (it's all the dirt & bugs & stuff). Sue loves to garden. My playdates consist of me saying "go play" to the kids. Sue has themed playdates with crafts, snacks and games all following the theme.

I often wonder why Sue would have me as a friend. But, do you know why I have Sue as friend? Sue is everything I wish I was in a friend. She is truly thoughtful. If you mention something in passing, she remembers. She is the queen of the knock & run gift. See, she doesn't want the spotlight, she just wants you to know that you were thought of and loved. So she doesn't stay to get the thanks, she just leaves it on your porch, knocks and runs.

When I look at Sue, I often can see Jesus shining through. She is strong in that meek way. Yup, I know that's confusing. She faces challenges in her life with strength and dignity, but never says "look at me, look how I'm fighting!" and doesn't want a pat on the back.

Girlfriend, you are special. (this is where I should cue "The Wind Beneath My Wings.") Oh, that's the other thing about Sue...just when you have her pegged as serious, she will say something so funny that you nearly fall out of your chair. And it's clever funny. Not stupid funny like my stuff. :-)

So Happy Birthday Sue! You are thought of and loved. If I had your blog password, I'd hijack your blog. But instead, you'll just have to come over to my blog. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thanks for being my friend!

Gauging Our Love

I've recently completed "40 Days of Love," the most recent 40 day Bible study by Rick Warren of Purpose Driven Life fame. Rick Warren talks about having a loving heart. We must have a loving heart physically, emotionally and spiritually. Each area has three habits to keep the heart loving in that area.

Physically: Rest, Balanced Diet, Regular Exercise
Emotionally: Solitude, Recreation, Laughter
Spiritually: Daily Quiet Time, Small Group, Worship

Rick Warren said we need to gauge each area and see how fulfilled or re-filled we are. This got me thinking about my daughter's webkinz. Webkinz is a website for kids. When you log into the site you see all of your characters gauges. They have one for happy, loved and hungry. You have to play games, feed it, etc., or else the webkinz will expire. You can read the gauges to see where the numbers are to know if you need to give it more food or playtime. (You can see in the illustration that "Dazzle" the raccoon isn't very happy. He needs to be played with).


Don't you wish we have gauges too? Wouldn't it be nice to say, "Honey, my solitude gauge is on low, will you watch the kids so I can have some quiet time?" He couldn't argue, one look at your gauge would show you were low. Or maybe when you were feeling "blue" (as we all do from time to time) you could easily read your own gauge to know if you needed more exercise or rest; solitude or fellowship.

Sometimes the things we fill ourselves up with are the opposite of what we need. Perhaps your body is needing exercise to get over the 3 p.m. slump, but instead you eat a donut. Maybe your body is craving spiritual fulfilment, and instead you take a nap. Ephesians 5:18 says "Do not get drunk on wine.... Instead, be filled with the Spirit." Spiritual emptiness can lead to filling yourself with the wrong things too! Could alcoholism actually be acute longing for God's Holy Spirit?

I urge you today to reflect on your life. Refill and refuel where your gauges are empty. Fill up with living water and quench your thirst today!

Romans 15:13 -- May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 -- Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:20 -- you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Thankful Thursday - 4/2

Welcome to Thankful Thursday. This is the part of our show where Larry comes out and sings a silly song. Oops. I mean, this is the part of my blog where I write five things, big or small, that I am thankful for each week. This week:

1. I won a book! Linda (Mocha with Linda) randomly picked me to win, and it's always fun to win, isn't it? I love to read, so I'll be enjoying the book "If Tomorrow Never Comes."

2. For great teachers! I am so blessed with wonderful teachers for my kids. This is huge, especially when I hear stories from families who do not have loving, caring, Christian teachers for their children. THANK YOU TEACHERS!

3. My sister! (Both of them, but today I am being thankful especially for Mary in honor of her birthday yesterday).

4. My final edition in my 4 Part "THE POWER" series over at ithirst ezine. This was my first multi-part writing series with a monthly deadline, and I did it!

5. Spring break next week! I am SO TIRED, this week has been exhausting. So I'm thankful for the chance next week to sleep late, do fun day trips with my girls and maybe even do some Spring cleaning (and clothes sorting. You moms know you have to rotate the clothes every season as the kids grow, and it's time!)

That's my five things this week. How about you? Leave me a comment, or link up over at Truth 4 the Journey by clicking the button at the bottom of this post.

But since I mentioned silly songs...here is a silly song with Larry I'd never heard! And since it's about Monkeys and Monkeys are Funny, (or at least that's what I've heard) well I had to post it. Enjoy...or not. :-)

O Baby - Baby Picture Carnival

This has got to be the WORST baby picture ever. Look at me (the baby.) I look scared to death. But it was the perfect picture for today's baby picture carnival over at "In His Hands." Why? Becuase my big sister is holding me. And today is HER BIRTHDAY!

Here's another great picture of my with my BIG sister (My ADHD Me). (Don't blame us from the micro-mini skirts either. My mother still dressed us then.) It looks like my sister was always there to protect me right? Well, there was a time when she was actually the one I needed protection from (LOL! - Those teenage years!). But now, if anyone leaves me even the hint of a flaming comment, I can hear the cavalry music and in rides my sister ready to take on the world! All the bloggy friend say they can tell we're sisters just how we comment back and forth to each other.

But what makes us sisters comes from something you can't see -- the life moments we've shared, the triumphs we've celebrated, and the pains we've eased each other through; and from something else only we can feel - the invisible bond that comes from knowing we will always be there for each other. So happy birthday, sis! Everyone head over to My ADHD Me, and wish Mary a Happy Birthday!