A PIECE OF LINEN AND A ROCK

 

These eggs represent the linen cloths that the body of Jesus was wrapped in as Joseph of Arimathaea, a respected counsellor in that day, asked for the body.  He placed it in his tomb.  Yes, Jesus had a borrowed tomb.  The rock represents the stone that was rolled in the opening of that tomb.  You see, the powers that be had done their best to get rid of Jesus but there was a part of them that was uncertain.  They said someone might try to steal the body so that tomb needed to be secure with the rock and the guards.  I think they also knew that the promise of Jesus was that he would not stay in the tomb and after three days he would come out.  

As my Easter t-shirt says, "A lot can happen in three days."  And as another saying goes, "Get ready.  Sunday's coming!"

Consider...

A CROSS AND A SPEAR

 

The eggs today show a cross and a toothpick dipped in paint.  I'll be real.  It's a toothpick dipped in paint.

The cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus.  A dark, sad day when Jesus, bloody and spent carried his cross to Golgotha, the place of a skull.  A man called Simon was compelled to carry his cross at a point as well.  As they trudged up this hill, I can only imagine the scene and the horror of that scene.

The toothpick dipped in paint represents the spear that pierced his side.  I believe this happened after he had died on the cross before they took him down.  I will be real again that when I sat in that recliner with The Grandbaby beside me listening to her tell me this story for the first time, I was okay with it all until she opened this toothpick egg and pulled out this toothpick dipped in red.  My eyes got all teary and I will tell you they are full of water now as I type as when I look at this toothpick spear, I see the blood of Jesus and it really hits home to me what HE did for ME.

Consider...

A ROPE AND THORNS

 

As Jesus came out of the garden after praying, the powers that be along with Judas were there.  Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.  There's more to the story, but remember, I'm in the simple egg version here. I encourage you to read your Bible for yourself.

Today's eggs hold a piece of rope and a twig of thorns.   The rope reminds us that Jesus was bound and taken away to the "courts".  The twig of thorns reminds us that a crown of thorns was placed on his head, he was ridiculed, he was whipped, and so much more of inflicted pain.  

I always was sad at the thought of the pain of that crown of thorns so when I saw this twig in the egg, my heart hurt.  I'm reminded, too, of a few weeks back when I was out in the edge of my yard to pick some jonquils.  The ones I wanted had a bush of thorns hanging over them.  These particular blooms were unique so since I now have a new hip, I managed carefully to somewhat squat to reach them to cut.  I did not consider the thorn bush since I was somewhat squatting.  A piece of the bush got tangled in my hair and in my ear.  It hurt.  It really hurt.  Badly.  It took a bit of doing but I managed to get it disconnected from me but not without a bloody ear.  It took a bit of time for healing of that ear.  I think back now and consider even more the pain that the crown of thorns must have been to Jesus as it was pushed hard down onto his head.  The picture I see in my mind of this breaks my heart.   A little thorn but such huge pain and destruction.

Consider....

A GARDEN

 

Today's egg and it's contents are one of The Grandbaby's favorite colors--pink.  This egg and flower remind us of the garden of Gethsemane.  It was in this garden that Jesus went to pray after he had his supper with his disciples.  

There are many things about this event that make me so very sad.  He took his disciples along, minus Judas who had "disappeared" and when he came to the garden, he told them to wait while he prayed.  He actually took three disciple friends on into the garden with him--Peter, James, and John.  He told them to wait.  He went further into what must have been such a beautiful garden and he prayed.  I don't mean he prayed lightly, He REALLY prayed.  Sadly to me, Jesus returned to the three disciples as they waited and he found them asleep.  Two more times, he returned and found them asleep.  

I can't fathom the mental agony that Jesus must have been in as he was in that beautiful garden.  He was in a place that had given such peace in times of fear and turmoil, but HIS agony was great.  

In my study, I again was reminded of a chapter before this event in the gospel of John.   It's John 17 and the subtitles in my Bible for each section of this chapter are "Christ Prays for Himself", "Christ Prays for His Disciples", and "Christ Prays for All Believers".  That means HE prayed for ME.  To me, it is one of the most poignant yet one of the sweetest chapters in my Bible and has become one of my favorite passages.  I would encourage you to read it for yourself.

Consider....

A PIECE OF BREAD, A CUP OF WINE, A TOWEL

 

A last supper with his disciples--or his friends, if you prefer to call them--are what today's eggs are reminders of to us.

Jesus and the twelve disciples, yes the twelve, gathered in the upper room that was prepared just as Jesus said.   Jesus had conversation with his friends, instructed them to take the bread as his body and drink the cup of wine in representation of his blood.  After that he "girded" himself with a towel, filled a basin, and began to wash his disciples feet--such an example of humbleness.  I don't know that any of the gospels say specifically, but I often have wondered if Jesus also washed the feet of his betrayer, Judas.  That would be some spiritual food for thought.

Our church celebrates communion and "feet washing" twice yearly with communion also at Christmas.  This spring, that celebration has fallen on this upcoming Easter Sunday.  I love communion and will especially love it on Easter Sunday.  What a wonderful way to REMEMBER what Jesus did for us!  And yes, in case you wonder, I have in the past washed the feet of a friend or two.  Not every time, but have done so before and been blessed by the outpouring of love and humbleness even as I watch others. I think, too, of how often we figuratively "wash feet" in other ways, by loving and serving, and just caring daily about them and showing it.  So often I fail, especially in the showing it part.    

As Easter week continues, remember what Jesus did for you and for me.  As you remember, let your heart be filled with thankfulness and love for HIM.  

Consider.....

COINS

 Betrayal.

The coin in today's "egg" represents betrayal.  Betrayal of Jesus by one of his own.  A disciple named Judas Iscariot.  

He got involved with the powers that be who wanted to get rid of Jesus.  They devised a plan and made a plan to capture Jesus.  For his help, Judas would be "paid" thirty pieces of silver.  "Paid" to capture Jesus.....then there's Jesus who PAID IT ALL.  For you and for me....the ultimate plan.

Consider....

EGGS AND THE RESURRECTION

 I don't know if I mentioned an experience I had but if I did, I think I'll mention again.

The Grandbaby made a set of Resurrection Eggs at her youth group a few weeks ago.  When I visited their house after that, she got the eggs and told me the Easter story.  I had to catch a tear or two as she told me the story of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and events leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection.  I said that some are overcome with emotion when they view the movie, "The Passion of the Christ".  I have found no emotion to compare to the story of Easter from the mouth of a six year old with a carton of colored eggs.

Today as I listened to the sermon, I began to recall that "egg" experience.  The sermon today was fitting and focused on the "Palm Sunday" entry into Jerusalem.   It came to me at that time that especially since this week is medically busy for me that I need to keep my comments simple.  How much simpler can I be than the story from the Resurrection Eggs?   

Today's "egg" holds a leaf.  This leaf represents the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  The people placed palm leaves and fronds into the path and they cried "Hosanna, Hosanna..."  

I sit here tonight and noticed on the television a lot of greenery in the form of the big palm fronds.  My mind pictures that with Jesus riding on the donkey.  I encourage you to allow your mind to picture that scene and over the coming days when you see beautiful greenery, let it bring to your mind Jesus riding on that donkey with those palms in his path.....Hosanna, Hosanna.

Amidst the busy of this coming week, let your mind move often to Jesus and what he endured for you and for me.

Consider....

WORTH SHARING

Easter, my FAVORITE "holiday", is drawing near.  My life is full of necessary busyness so Easter is sort of slipping up on me.  I'm not certain yet if I will make posts daily pre-Easter week as I have done in the past, but give me a look next week on occasion just in case I do.  I encourage you to also read daily pre-Easter week the life of Jesus during that week.  You may look back at my post from March 27, 2021 titled EIGHT DAYS to see the outline for reading the passages in all four gospels.

In the meantime, I've been tidying up my space--the sewing, scrapbooking, and my space room.  On my cabinet door, my eyes were drawn to a card front I had put there a long time ago.  I read it again and it fit so much in my life today, I wanted to share.  It's unfortunate that I don't know who to credit these wonderful thoughts to but whoever it was, it hit me in just the right place this day.

It goes like this:

We should fear only if the Lord were not in control...

We should worry only if the Lord were not able to meet our needs...

We should strive only if the Lord were not our shepherd...

We should doubt only if the Lord were not faithful....

We should grieve only if the Lord were not risen!

Consider.......

MOMENTS

I might already have a post titled this and if you a regular blog reader and know this to be true, excuse the same title.  Lately I guess you could say I have been on "hiatus" from my writing.  It's not that I haven't had thoughts, I've just not had any time to sit and type my thoughts.  I decided to make time on this day.

Today's sermon was a good one.  It spoke of moments in our life with the focus on salvation moments to begin.  That seemed to go right along with my thought process I've had since lying awake since 3 a.m.  Tonight begins spring revival at my church and my thoughts had been going to my own testimony or "experience of grace" as we say in the Baptist world.  And yes, you blog readers who read regularly and never miss a post, will know I've told this experience more than once and even maybe more than twice in this blog.  I don't know that I can testify enough so I guess you hear it again.

I was saved at the age of nine, a popular salvation age if you listen to the testimonies of others.  It was on a Wednesday night, the first night of a three nighter spring revival at the church my daddy pastored.  I sat about 2/3 of the way back from the pulpit on the aisle.  It seems some days I can shut my eyes and see the scene, then others I shut my eyes and feel the feeling more.  Does that make sense?

I'll not be long here with my testimony.  It's simple.  The congregation began to sing the invitation song after the preacher finished preaching, I stepped out to the aisle and went to the altar.  Funny thing is I always remember that altar as having an off-white vinyl covering.  My tears went on that vinyl, I prayed to the Lord, and got a peace in my heart.  Salvation.  Peace.  Now 57 years later, I STILL have it!  

Walking that aisle that night was a simple choice.  I've learned in the years between that a body gets to make a lot of choices.  Some we choose are good and beneficial and holy and some we choose are the total opposite.  I've determined, especially as I age, that I choose to choose joy.  I recall hearing Gloria Gaither say one time about her salvation, "I chose that day to go with the cross crowd and every good and beautiful thing that has happened to me since has been a direct result of that choice."  I would totally agree with that.  And I can testify to you that everything that's happened to me in all those years since has not been good and beautiful but I have had a loving heavenly Father to walk right there beside me and provide every step of the way.   

I know there are many in this world who don't believe in the salvation plan of Jesus.  They say it's just a good story.  I will say it's a real, life-giving spiritual way of living.  I would not debate this, I don't think, I would just testify what I know to be the truth for me because honestly, I only know about my heart and my business.  I will tell you, though, that my Jesus is real and as the preacher said today, my eternity has already begun.  I'll just move along into it later on when I move to heaven.  

Now, I will get dressed to go to revival.  I will look for those many precious moments this week.  I'm betting if I look, I will find.

I want to close with the song I sing as a solo most often.  Now understand I rarely sing solos but when I do, this is my favorite because it speaks my heart....a song by the Gaithers--you know, those that chose to go with the cross crowd....it goes like this:

"Since I started for the kingdom, since my life He controls. Since I gave my heart to Jesus, the longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.  The more that I love him, more joy He bestows.  Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows.  The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

Every need He is supplying, plenteous grace He bestows.  Every day my way gets brighter, the longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows."

Makes one WANT to testify, doesn't it?!

Consider........

41 YEARS

 "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."    Psalm 126:3

This Bible verse describes the feeling of this day.  It was 41 years ago today at 11:59 a.m on a Sunday morning that The Husband and I changed our names to Daddy and Mama.  We may have acquired other names throughout the years but these are two of the most precious.  That morning 41 years ago we were two youngsters with more fear than excitement....labor two weeks early, a bad breech pregnancy, an unexpected C-section, and a serious doctor who, when asked if The Husband could be in the OR also, said five scary words, "I think not this time."  The pediatrician that day said that breech was the worst he had seen in his 35 years of practice.  The Baby Girl had a hip problem that was attended to in the following months by an orthopedic doctor and resolved.  Maybe that leg has never kicked as high as the other but thankfully even though she might have wanted to kick us parents, she refrained from the temptation.  :)

Between then and now there has been much life, both wonderful and not so wonderful, but in all truthfulness, the joy that this day brings and the point of life to which we have all come is due to the Lord's provisions and we are so gratefully glad.  

The Girl is a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, and friend.  She not only makes her family proud but I am certain her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ smiles at her love and service to HIM.  The Girl is full of grace, often more for others than herself, and loves big.  I see her becoming quite the "adult child" already as we age.  When I look at The Grandbaby, I see very much of both her parents but I am often reminded of the little girl who lived all the years in our house--blond, smiling, imaginative, and so much more.  More so I pray for The Grandbaby to grow up to be the kind, loving adult that her mama is and her daddy as well.

So today, we celebrate!  Happy Birthday to The Girl!