Easter Reading for Today

"He is Not Here" by He Qi

"Eternal Father,

You gave us the Easter mystery as our covenant of reconciliation.

May the new birth we celebrate show its effects on the way we live.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

One God for ever and ever. "

Babysitting for Boo...

We had lots of fun yesterday--she never tired of Easter egg hunts. We played with Mason's marbles, painted, read books, made a zoo, and took a long nap!

Still Celebrating Easter

"The Empty Tomb" by He Qi

Celebrating 8 Days of Easter!

Along with my Protestant upbringing, I was taught that Catholics leave Jesus on the cross. As I have been celebrating Lent by using Catholic liturgy, I was surprised to see that they celebrate Easter for 8 days! As I recall, we went to church on Easter morning--had a hectic time--came home and ate a huge meal and hunted Easter eggs. Then we ended the hunt with an egg fight with all the cousins. That was pretty much the end of Easter.

This beautiful picture was painted by He Qi, a Chinese artist. The colors are so beautiful! I love it! (Notice the communion elements at the bottom of the page.)
Go to www.heqigallery.com to see all of his Easter pictures--they are wonderful!

If I ever need to smile...

This must be one of the funniest pictures we have ever taken of Little Man. Every time I see this picture, I remember him hanging upside down with his glasses on his chin. It makes me smile--every time!

Easter Sunday Eggs

When I got to Melanie's house on Easter Sunday afternoon, she had the table set--all ready to dye eggs. All the kids wanted to do was jump on the trampoline, so LeAne, Melanie, and I had a good time coloring eggs. We put oil in the water, and ta-da--these pretty eggs came out!

Resurrection

Fra Angelico (1400's)

"Angles Hovering Over the Body of Christ" by William Blake (1805)
--from the Victoria and Albert Museum

The Pieta

"The Pieta" by Michelangelo
(Unveiled in 1500 A.D.)

Jesus is Condemned to Die

The First Station
"Jesus stands in the most human of places. He has already experienced profound solidarity with so many on this earth, by being beaten and tortured. Now he is wrongfully condemned to punishment by death. His commitment to entering our lives completely begins its final steps. He has said "yes" to God and placed his life in God's hands. We follow him in this final surrender, and contemplate with reverence each place along the way, as he is broken and given for us.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

As I view the scene, I become moved by both outrage and gratitude.
I look at Jesus. His face. The crown of thorns. The blood. His clothes stuck to the wounds on his back.
Pilate washes his hands of the whole affair. Jesus' hands are tied behind his back.
This is for me. That I might be free. That I might have eternal life.
As the journey begins I ask to be with Jesus. To follow his journey. I express my love and thanks."

(Stations of the Cross, Creigton University Online Ministries Website)

Compline Prayer

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
Keep us, Lord, as the apple of your eye;
Hide us under the shadow of your wings.

Looking Forward to Resurrection

Resurrection has become a "holy" word, but in Greek it simply meant "stand up." Living a "resurrection life" is just that: getting up again no matter what lays us flat.

- adapted from Robert Morris, Wrestling With Grace



I received this antique European crucifix from a dear friend, Mike, after he made a trip to Germany a couple of years ago. I want to take this opportunity to thank him again for the gift. He had 2 crucifixes for me to pick from and when I could not decide which one I wanted, he gave both of them to me. I have felt guilty ever since. I am sure that he would just tell me to "get over it", so I will try. The crucifixes have been a daily reminder of the gift of Mike & Beth's friendship.

This post comes with a prayer from deep in my heart for Beth as she recovers from her heart attack. May she find surprises in each new day--much love and much grace, too!

Lenten Prayer

God of such unwavering love,
how do I "celebrate"
the passion and death of Jesus?
I often want to look the other way
and not watch,
not stay with Jesus in his suffering.
Give me the strength
to see his love with honesty and compassion
and to feel deeply
your own forgiveness and mercy for me.
Help me to understand
how to "celebrate" this week.
I want to be able to bring
my weaknesses and imperfections with me
as I journey with Jesus this week,
so aware of his love.

--From the Creighton University Online Ministries Website

Matt took one of my crosses outdoors this past weekend and took a picture of it--I just thought it was perfect to use on this post. I have so many crosses--maybe I will post more photos of them in the near future. We have such an AMAZING symbol to remind us of the gift of love we were given through Christ's suffering.

An Irish Prayer...

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

What is Love?

C. S. Lewis said this about love:

"Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be attained."

Put that in your pipe and smoke it for a while!

Then Randy Carlson added to this quote:
"Do one thing for your spouse today, make your goal the ultimate good of your spouse."
(Randy Carlson, "Intentional Living" website)

Last night I deleted this post, but I decided it was an important thing for me to share after all...JT

God is Everywhere!

"'Something of God...flows into us from the blue of the sky, the taste of honey, the delicious embrace of water whether cold or hot, and even from sleep itself.'"
--C.S. Lewis in 'Scraps', St. James' Magazine

Quote from THE SHACK

"When you choose to forgive another, you love him well."
"I do not love him."
"Not today, you don't. But I do, Mack, not for what he's become, but for the broken child that has been twisted by his pain. I want to help you take on that nature that finds more power in love and forgiveness than hate."
--The Shack by William P. Young, p. 225

Lent 2008

I have been following a guide for Lent on the Wheatland Mission website. (http://paulhill.wordpress.com/) In Paul's post for the first week of Lent, he asked a question--

"What would happen if you believed, really believed that your Heavenly Father loved you and was pleased with you?"

As Paul suggested, I read Psalm 25. I read the Psalm out of The Message as if I really believed God loved me.

• If I believed God loved me, I would hold my head high and I would look to God instead of people to help me understand how valuable my life is. (vs. 1)
• I would ask Him to show me how He works and I would ask Him to "school me" in His ways. (vs. 4)
• I would ask Him to take me by the hand and lead me down the path of truth. (vs. 5)
• I would ask Him to mark me with His sign of Love (vs. 7)
• "From now on every road you travel will take you to GOD. Follow the covenant signs; read the charted directions." (vs. 10) What a beautiful promise!
• I would believe that God had forgiven me of my sin. (vs. 18)
• I would ask Him to "look at me and help me!" (vs. 16)
• I would realize that God is keeping watch over me and that I can know that He will never let me down when I run to Him. (vs. 20)

My favorite verse from Psalm 25:
"FROM NOW ON EVERY ROAD YOU TRAVEL WILL TAKE YOU TO GOD..."

This is just a glimpse into what my life would look like if I truly believed that Father loved me.

(to be continued...)

Psalm 84:5-7

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca),
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also fills the pools with blessings.
They go from strength to strength
(increasing in victorious power);
till each of them appears before God in Zion."

Parents of Boo & Little Sack O' Sugar

Pearl of Great Price with her Rockstar Husband...

New Painting by Pearl of Great Price...He Will Carry You

Little Sack O' Sugar

Hey, hey, hey
My Little Sack of Sugar

Ho, ho, ho

My Little Sack of Sweet

Hee, hee, hee

My Pretty Little Angel

I could eat your feet

Hey, hey, hey

My Little Honey Bunny

Ho, ho, ho

My Little Turtle Dove

Hee, Hee, Hee

My Little Sack of Taters

So pretty, pretty, pretty

I could eat your toes...

This is an old Woody guthrie song from the 1930's. My daughter-in-law sings this to the baby. It is just fitting to call her a "Little Sack of Sugar"!

Boo & Little Sack of Sugar

Ten Thousand Angels -- Caedmon's Call

I have a new favorite song--go to iTunes and take a listen. I read that they used this song on Grey's Anatomy last month because of the compelling lyrics. I love the words...

TEN THOUSAND ANGELS

how long you have traveled in darkness weeping
no rest in language, no words to speak
but there in the wreckage beneath bricks and bindings
love has come, love has come for you

against the night sky of your waiting
your face is like starlight when he walks in
everything worth keeping comes through dying
love has come, love has come for you

so lift up your heart now, to this unfolding
all that has been broken will be restored
here runs deep waters for all who are thirsty
love has come, love has come for you

ten thousand angels will light your pathway
until the day breaks fully in the East
they will surround you and make your way straight
love has come, love has come for you
love has come, love has come for you