Blessed Easter

     It is early this morning, the sun is rising, and the chilly Maine air is at 18 degrees.  Blair and Noah bundled up and headed out to the Sunrise Service.  It has been three days (according to Jewish days) since we read Jesus' final words from the cross at church and "heard" the stone rolled into place at the "tomb".  
      Much can happen in three days.  A phone call at 7:20 AM asking if I can fill in  and lead the Ladies' Bible Study at church.  The chapter is on fear.  Is it a coincidence that God has been dealing with the fear in my life for the past two years and delivering me from it?  No, but still I get down on the floor and ask God to help me, not because I am fearful, but because I want Him to help these women like He has helped me.  After a quick stop at a thrift store on my way home, I twist my ankle coming out the door as my left foot slips off the ramp, the left foot that I have sprained several times.  It has slowed me down a little these last couple of days. 
      Saturday morning brought an old struggle to light, a prayer together, but discouragement later.  A struggle to let go, to trust, to hope for a change.  And then there was much preparation for today: cooking, cleaning, hair cuts, laundry, and a Resurrection movie to watch.  There was sunshine to enjoy; opening doors to let it stream in and washing windows to remove the dirt it revealed.  
      As I pack up the Easter eggs for children's church and listen to "Were You There" by Selah, I begin the rejoicing by singing along: Were you there when He rose from the grave?  Sometimes it cause me to shout, and I begin to tremble, Were you there when He rose from the grave?  I listen to the Hallelujah Chorus: 

 The kingdom of this world

Is become the kingdom of our Lord,

And of His Christ, and of His Christ;

And He shall reign for ever and ever,

For ever and ever, forever and ever,

King of kings, and Lord of lords,

King of kings, and Lord of lords, 

And Lord of lords,

And He shall reign,

And He shall reign forever and ever,

King of kings, forever and ever,

And Lord of lords,

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Blessed Easter to you all!  He is Risen!

Day 4

One gift old:  my hubby!
One gift new:  the new year, 2013
One gift blue:  Noah's blue eyes

Day 5

Something I'm reading:  Self Talk, Soul Talk
Something I'm  making:  Addison's quilt (must finish this!)
Something I'm  seeing:  Nathan enjoying his senior year of high school

Day 6

One thing in my bag:  my pocket calander
One thing on my fridge:  picture of Esmael Abdela, our sponsored child in Ethiopia
One thing in my heart:  the Spirit of the Living God

http://www.christianbook.com/self-talk-soul-what-when-yourself/jennifer-rothschild/9780736920728/pd/920720

Day 2

A gift outside:  Sunshine, in spite of the -10 degrees this morning
A gift inside:  Our new pellet stove
On a plate:  Baked salmon

Day 3

3 graces you overheard:
#1 My husband praying
#2 My son laughing
#3 In the quiet, the clock ticking, knowing He is with me every second

On Ann Voskamp's journal today, she suggests choosing a word for the year.  Allowing God to focus you on one word, thought, concept and then watching how He forms that word in you.  Trying to think of my word....how to choose just one word.  Fullness.  That's my word.  

Col. 2:9  For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.

fullness

Noun The state of being filled to capacity. The state of having eaten enough or more than enough and feeling full.

Synonyms plenitude - completeness

One of my new things this year, 2013 is to paticipate in the Joy Dares. So I'm already a day behind! 
Day 1:  3 gifts heard

1.  Dad and I taking Elisabeth out to lunch and a movie for her birthday, and as we are in line waiting to go into the movie, she says, "I feel like an only child."  
2.  The voice of an old friend from Tennessee.
3.  Revelation Song by Phillips, Craig and Dean

Revelation Song