Happy Easter from our happy, little family. He is Risen!
The Ameri Brit Mom
Tag: easter
Five Minute Friday: Empty
This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is Empty. What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He is risen!…” Luke 24:1-6a
Imagine you were these women. You were still grieving a man who had suffered brutality at the hands of the law. He was beaten and scorned before the eyes of man. He was mocked and ridiculed. They looked on as He took his final breaths and pled with God to forgive those who had tortured Him.
He was one so many believed in and who gave them hope so days after his crucifixion these women decided to pay their respects.
But the tomb was empty.
The women had traveled expecting to see his defeated body, but instead they were met by angels. Their crushed spirits resurrected as they left to tell the others about this Good News. Jesus was alive!
Jesus overcame the grave. Death did not triumph. He arose undefeated. He had the last word.
As the plastic eggs and vinegar dye fill our homes this weekend take heart and remember that our Lord is victorious. When we are struggling in our own lives and feeling the weight of expectations, failure, fear, depression, and everything else that binds up our hearts and keeps us from joy remember that the One who left that tomb empty is alive in us today. We have His power to overcome.
The battle is already won!
The Ameri Brit Mom
Happy Easter
From our happy little family to yours on this Resurrection Sunday,
The Ameri Brit Mom
Five Minute Friday: Alive
This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is Alive. What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:
When I Feel Alive
Lauren Sisley
Spring is upon us. Morning showers have become the compliment to each day’s commute. Dew rests temporarily on petals and on earth. The luminescence of the sun paints the horizon in golds, reds, and yellows. This is when I feel alive.
He takes my hand in his lacing finger between finger. In love he strengthens me. His confidence gives wings to my dreams. He holds me in my weakness and showers me with kindness. This is when I feel alive.
In the light of day a small bundle jumps into my lap. Her small arms wrap around me and her gentle words recount her love for her mother. The girl with her soft curls beckons me with her desire to be talked to, to be read to, and to be played with. This is when I feel alive.
A bell tolls in the distance. Thirty pairs of ears obey my instruction. They belong to pupils awaiting knowledge with hearts panting to matter and to feel loved. They hear my words and follow my my commands, but what they are most attentive to are my actions. My character is perceived and learned by those entrusted to my care. This is when I feel alive.
A new page is turned an a pen is uncapped. Emotion pours forth from my heart to words upon the paper. Writing gives life to each sentence. The Lord writes my story through words; he builds and deconstructs syllables. To tell of His story I toil in peace. This is when I feel alive.
A Savior on a hill. Cursed, bruised, and despised he looks his last at those he came to save. His purpose in death was fulfilled. But his promise in life was still to come. Jesus died to give us life so fill your life with things that make you feel alive. Each life-giving moment is a testament to a Savior who gave his so that we might live ours. This is when I feel alive.
How To Survive An Egg Hunt
This weekend my daughter took part in her first Easter Egg Hunt. In the past, I’ve had anxiety about turning her loose with a bunch of other kids in pursuit if plastic eggs filled with candy. I always envisioned a ten year old boy knocking her over and ruining the whole deal. But this year after some coercion I finally decided she was ready for her egg hunting debut. After all, these days she is a strong and independent girl and I pity any ten year old boy who attempts to get in her way.
The event went flawlessly.
We arrived about twenty minutes early. If you are new to the egg hunt scene heed this warning: Get there early!! There are a limited number of eggs and many hunts involve standing in line. Give yourself an edge on others (and potentially get out of there quicker) by arriving before the event begins.
The egg hunt we decided to participate in is held annually in our town at a farm market/nursery. It’s great because they do divide children into age groups. In that scenario my daughter actually fell into the upper-end of her age bracket so I could rest assured that she was the alpha and many of my fears of bigger children were dissolved. Also, we decided to join my sister and her family. When in doubt make sure there is backup. If anyone tried to mess with my daughter in the chaos of egg hunting at least her bigger cousin would be there to protect her.
As we awaited the opening of the gates we were given free popcorn which served as a slight distraction to the fact that we were waiting in a line. Lines may be Satan’s way of punishing parents. It is nearly impossible to corral any antsy toddler into something like a line. Thank you, popcorn, you saved the day! Then, once the event began it was over within five minutes. All this build up an anticipation seems worth the five minute experience, right?
Afterwards we stepped to the side where my daughter insisted that she open every egg to take a gander at her spoils. We stood watching her open each individual egg when an employee of the market stopped us and let us know there was free pizza inside. It was fantastic!
This experience taught me many things, but here are the main lessons:
How To Survive An Easter Egg Hunt:
- Arrive early
- Call in back up
- Check to see if there will be free pizza
In all seriousness I hope you and your family are celebrating this wonderful Easter season and enjoying every moment. As we prepare our hearts for the upcoming weekend take a few minutes to remember why we go through all of the trouble of egg hunts, family dinners, and buying Easter clothes.
The Ameri Brit Mom
My Hope
Easter.
What a hallowed day. This day is a celebration of life and the one who overcame death. At its very essence this day holds the promise of hope. Hope that if we believe and repent we may enter into the freedom that God has for us.
2 Corinthians 5:21- God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Luke 24:46-47- He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations beginning in Jerusalem.”
Personally, this Easter has followed the theme of hope. I already knew, but was reminded that having accepted Christ into my heart that I have that same power living in me. Jesus had victory over death. He was the only person in history who was able to defeat death. He was not limited by death, but rather used death as a means for saving humanity. With the reminder of this principle I am also reminded that I am more than a conqueror of all things through Christ. (Romans 8:37)
These ideas give me hope and if you have accepted Jesus you should be full of hope as well. Life is full of storms. We all face them. However, it is a great reminder to remember that no matter the circumstances we face that we have the power of the greatest conqueror on our side. I’ve been battling some of my own issues and even just this week I’d begun to lose hope in a solution for my circumstance. I never once lost belief in an all-powerful God, but I’d begun to lose hope in his willingness to see me through.
These verses and principles coupled with some wisdom from godly influences have helped me to realign my focus and thinking. I’m continuing to believe that God will intervene in my life to prove me a conqueror over my circumstances. He will do the same for you in your circumstance. His will for us may not always look the way we imagine it to, but God is always in the business of furthering His Kingdom. That is hope enough for me. I can trust and rely on the fact that whatever the reason God has for bringing me to a rough situation it is ultimately to further His Kingdom. I have faith that even the worst situation can be used to bring God glory. So…I’m rethinking my whining and waiting and instead choosing to focus on this HOPE. God will bring me through and He has a plan for everything.
It was so liberating to spend this beautiful holiday with this new perspective. I was able to play, laugh, speak and think a little freer. I was able to relax and enjoy friends and family as God intended me to. I was able to knock down the walls keeping me from total happiness and live in the victory of Jesus.
I hope you were able to experience this freedom today and will continue to. If you’ve never had an encounter with Jesus I’d love to chat with you more about how He could change your life the way He has changed mine and my family’s.
Happy Easter 🙂
The Ameri Brit Mom 