In honor of Easter...

As a mom, trying to figure out the world's idiosyncrasies, I am trying to teach my daughter truths, yet not deprive her from the things that brought me greatest enjoyment as a child myself. Some of my greatest memories were the secular-influenced holidays I celebrated with my family. My Uncle Bill used to throw the biggest and best Easter egg hunts known to man. You could always bet the "black egg" held a fortune too big for our little wallets; and man was it a fight for that egg. I was devastated when I learned that Santa Claus "wasn't real." It was a ski trip and I found all the presents stuffed in black bags in my parents room. I was just five.

Often, I sit here and wonder how and when this world warped our holidays and created their own. Though, Christmas is still a very special time in my family, it is too much Santa and not enough Christ's birth. That's going to change. Likewise, Toby and I have spent hours dipping our eggs and decorating them for each other to hide; we've not deeply appreciated the true meaning of what Easter really is. That's going to change. Hear me out, I am not going to deprive Aniela of the spirit of these holidays, but I refuse to deceive her of their first imprint in our hearts.Truth.

We just wrapped up the conclusion of Beth Moore's bible study, Breaking Free. He (God) never seems to amaze me (well, yeah, I take that back, HE ALWAYS AMAZES ME). But... I have learned more from this bible study then I thought I would when I started. I went in with expectations to break free from a number of situations. Some that I have not been freed from yet. But... WOW... He sure did teach me such great stuff. Sorry this blog is not enough to express the power a woman could receive from going through this journey. It's been amazing.

The lessons (not the ones you learn from making mistakes, but the ones from a teacher - of some sort) I've learned have been forever grasped. Such truth has been spoken over my soul and here is one of those:

         The book of Isaiah teaches many things... but perhaps one of my favorites are the lessons we learn from the Israelites and the benefit of a covenant relationship with God. The five benefits are; 1.) To know God and believe in Him, 2.) To Glorify God, 3.) To find satisfaction in God, 4.) to experience God's peace, and 5.) To enjoy God's presence. Today, I am going to talk about #2. Because Glorifying God is exactly what Easter is all about.

          I can think of many times when God was glorified through or by my life. That's for another day. But.... we as Christians know, the ULTIMATE "glorifying" power is JESUS CHRIST. Beth sums up God being glorified in this sentence: Therefore when God seeks to glorify Himself through an individual, He proves who He is by causing the believer to be what is otherwise impossible and to do what is otherwise impossible. This is indeed why our puny minds have such a hard time comprehending miracles. They weren't meant to be understood. If we understood them, God would surely not be glorified.

          In Exodus 12:31-30 we learn about what passover is/was. The Jews of their day and I have something in common. Have you read the story? Have you heard the mercy that God displayed for the Israelites? Have you imagined the miracle of the gold and jewels that Egypt handed over to them? They were told to cover their doors with the blood of a slaughtered lamb. God saw their doorpost covered in blood and "passed over" them. We have no door of escape unless our doorposts have been painted with the blood of Christ. What separates us from them is their daily sacrifice. Our sacrifice has already been made; He has already been slaughtered and He bled for us.

         In 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 we learn of the "blessings" that will last. It was no accident the Israelites received gold and jewels. Read how the Egyptians handed it over to them; it'll give you chills. God gave them riches (that will still be riches after the fire) after their 300 year despair. God gave us the same. We are but captives if not for the grace, mercy and love of our God. And the promise He fulfilled (Genesis 15:14) through His son Jesus Christ.

        So this Easter... I hope you remember with me... that Christ died for you... He went down to hell to fight... for you... and HE WILL RISE, on the third day, HE WILL RISE! And God, oh yes God, WILL BE GLORIFIED.

While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. And He heard the groans of my self-imposed slavery, and He... the God of the universe... His holiness... His majesty... looked on my ugliness and called this captive free. (Beth Moore)

Happy Easter
Love,
Autumn-Rose