Easter is a special time for Christians. It's a time when we think about the betrayal, the beatings, the accusations, the death and resurrection of Christ!
We did just that yesterday! We attended our first "Sunrise Service" as a family! Our church gathered at Honey Brook Golf Course and watched the sun shine early in the morning. The geese flew over us. There was a devotional and testimonies about what Easter means to us and others. We all brought chairs and blankets and tried to stay warm through the testimonies. I made us some hot tea that we sipped. We sang songs. It was so much fun and neat to be outside on early Easter morning. Remembering how it must have been a long time ago when the women came to put ointments on Jesus dead body but only there to find that he was no longer dead! He was alive!!!
After 45 minutes, we all walked back to our vehicles and headed to church. There was a breakfast prepared there for everyone. Hot biscuits and gravy! Everyone brought a pastry and fruit that we shared! It was fun to sip on hot coffee and fellowship with believers before the regular church service even began.
At 9:30, we all gathered for church inside. We sang more songs about the cross!!! There was a message preached on how it was back when Jesus was on earth. The temple was built for a place of worship. When Jesus saw how they made it a place of money and sales, he got mad and turned over the tables. He was sad and upset and said to keep the temple a "house of prayer". He also said that he will "destroy the temple and in three days will raise it up again."
When Jesus died on the cross, that did happen. Not the way the people expected. The curtain in the temple was torn in two. From top to bottom. The "temple", Jesus, was crucified and three days later, he arose!
We were reminded that resurrection follows crucifixion. New life follows death of self. When we give up of our selves - willing to die - then we experience life. The thief hung on the cross right beside with nothing left to do but die. Even then, Jesus looked at him and gave him life! He loves to take pain and damage and make it into a master piece!!!
We were challenged with this thought: When we think we are giving up a lot ... we are giving up nothing compared to what we will get in eternity!
The Easter service was refreshing! I love to sing songs about the cross and the life that Jesus gives to us!
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Easter was also spent with some family. My side of the family all went to the cabin for the weekend. We stayed home and got to spend Saturday evening with Mike's family. We all went to his parents for supper and fun!
Mom always fills small baskets with some candy and goodies and then hides them for the kids. They all love this and its fun to see them running around trying to find their baskets!
Mom made big sub sandwiches, soup and bang bang shrimp! So yummy!
Ashlyn loved finding her basket!!!
Hadassah's basket was at a harder place to find! :)
It was a sunny day but windy and chilly. These three are so special and we hope that Easter will become more and more special to them as they grow up!
Thanks mom and dad for the fun night!
