Easter will be different this year, but it might be one of those holidays that besides the meaning of the holiday that is so important to Christians, might just show us how much we truly do value our relationship with God, our family and friendships. This year, we won’t be going to grandmother’s or Moms for a lunch of ham, potato salad and Easter Bunny Cake that Easter meals are so well known for and that has been a tradition for so many throughout the years.
Last year when we were in Italy and didn’t get to go to church because we couldn’t find a taxi to take us and it was to far to walk, we kept thinking about how this year, it would be so great to be able to be in church celebrating Easter with other believers. But here, once again, for the second year in a row, we are not in a church building, but alone in our home, watching a sermon on-line. So how do we react? Do we allow these difficult circumstances to sadden our hearts and focus on the traditions that we aren’t a part of this year? Or do we truly realize that we are the church, no matter where we are and not matter the circumstance. We are to celebrate the empty tomb that assures us of His great love for us. To worship Him from our homes this year,and truly grasp what the Lord has been trying to get us to realize for over 2000 years! That His love never fails, and that His love truly does endure forever. That He is here with us. That just because we cannot sit in a building and worship together with other believers, we can, we must, show Him the honor due His name. We know as believers, that our bodies are the true church, not the building. As we look forward to Sunday and meditate on the true meaning of Easter, what are we dwelling on? Are we dwelling on the negative reports that we hear each and every day from leading physicians and government officials?
Because of the circumstances that are playing out all around us, what are our concerns? Our health, our families, our jobs? Of course, these are things that are important to us. It is not that we are not to be concerned about these. We are just instructed by God to not let them take priority over our love and worship of Him.
As we gather together with just those who are in our homes this Easter, may our hearts be turned towards Him, who is right here with us. As we sit at the table having whatever we are having, Whether there is one of us, or two or 5, may His Name be glorified in our hearts as we worship the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and be praying that our world will come to the place that hearts and eyes will be open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This morning, instead of waking up to the TV and the latest report on the virus, I instead turned on a a live coffee/chat with Tasha, Women’s Minister of Prestonwood for 30 minutes of Bible study and prayer. How refreshing and what a way to begin the morning. Her words spoke to my heart as I’m sure it did to every women who was listening. Her word to us was from 1 Samuel. Hannah had gone to the temple with her husband to worship and sacrifice to the Lord as was their yearly ritual. Hannah was distraught because the Lord had closed her womb. As she prayed there in the Temple, the priest saw her lips moving, but could hear no words. He thought she was drunk. When he approached her to tell her to quit drinking, she answered him, “oh no Sir, I’m not drunk! But I am very sad and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Please don’t think I am a wicked woman. For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”
Eli, the priest said, “cheer up! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of Him.”
Then Hannah went away and ate and was no longer sad.
What a lesson for us all. Before the Lord answered Hannahs’ prayer, her heart was changed. What had changed in her life at that point? Nothing, except that her heart had received hope. What are we looking or listening to for our hope? Is it earthly things or heavenly?
As Tasha reminded us this morning, her words rang so true of what I look at and depend on for my hope, my encouragement or answers to problems. Prayer should be our “go to” no matter the occasion, no matter the problem.
Prayer allows us:
Intimacy with our Lord and Savior. We can process our pain in the presence of our God.
We should never “spin” our requests pretending that we are doing things for the Lord, only to be manipulating getting what we are asking for.
We need to let our guard down when talking to the Lord and acknowledge our need of Him and accept the fact that we need to surrender our will to His.
To understand that unanswered prayer, as well as answered prayers have purpose.
Just like Hannah had been praying for a son for years, God’s timing was perfect for Hannah to have a son, Samuel. God had a purpose for Samuel to become a great prophet of Israel. Her “unanswered prayer” was answered at the appointed time.
Hannah’s heart was changed by praying. Her heart was softened so that she became surrendered to allow God to work in her life, according to His will and purpose.
We should never allow earthly substitutions for heavenly petitions. Hannah’s husband always gave her more than he gave to his other wife. He loved Hannah more and thought that his love should be enough that she shouldn’t want or desire children. But God……God had a plan and a purpose, but it had to be in His timing, not Hannah’s.
So as we approach Sunday, the resurrection day of our precious Lord and Savior, may we as God’s temple, celebrate Easter in a way that brings Him the most worship of all…surrendering our hearts and our lives to the One, the only One, worthy of our praise!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE AND CONTINUES TO DO!
Years ago, in the 70’s, before I married, I had a roommate, Sheila Waterman. She was a teacher and I worked for the government. We spent lots of Friday nights, sitting in our apartment, wondering why all the guys were not flocking to our door, to take us out on dates. When we would get paid at the beginning of the month, we would go crazy buying all sorts of great food that would last us about a week or so. By the end of each month, we dined on vermicelli, boiled cabbage or mac & cheese. But the first of the month, oh boy, did we have some great meals. One of those great recipes that Sheila made were these chicken croquettes. We would sit and visit over this great meal and laugh at our feeble attempts at how we would try to get certain guys attentions and tell ourselves, “wow,if they could see how good we cooked, they would be lining up outside the door.” In reality, looking back, it was probably all the great meals that kept us both in one piece bathing suits, while the other girls who lived at the apartment complex were sitting out there flirting with the guys in their two piece cute little suits that wouldn’t cover a 3 yr old, much less a 20 year old. But…don’t feel sorry for us. After a year or so, we both met guys that ended up marrying us. Neither of our marriages lasted, but this recipe….it has lasted through the years.
We have a winner folks. These cupcakes are truly decadent, light, flavorful, beautiful, sunshine in your mouth wonderful! Everyone who has had one, (and so far that is about 50, (two different times of baking them and taking them to different places) has told me that this is their new favorite flavor of cupcake, or cake, that I have made. The first time i made it, was in a cake with cream cheese frosting for the filling and then wrapped it in whipped cream. As that is, to me, the best way to enjoy anything, (wrapped in whipping cream) these cupcakes just are so light and fluffy, that you could eat 5 of them in one sitting. I wish I could say it is because we have great will power to not do that, but the truth of the matter is, that we are in “stay at home” mode due to the CV. I don’t want to run out of eggs, or flour, which I am being told is very hard to find right now. So thankful I had bought a 10 lb bag of flour last time I went to the store and 36 eggs. Because I make a shake pretty much every morning for breakfast with frozen blueberries I usually always have frozen blueberries in the freezer so when I began to think yesterday what I would bake, these came to mind, as the sun finally came shining through the kitchen window after about eleven days. So in honor of the beautiful sunshine, lemon blueberries were the baked good of the day.
Today, another rainy beginning to this new normal of everyone working from home and kids being home schooled as well as parents trying to teach, and learn right along with them, while still trying to do what is necessary to bring in a pay check. These are difficult days, and challenging times when we all have to step up and change what we have been doing. What do we do to still serve when so many are confined to their homes? This week, when we began to hear about seniors being ask to self quarantine, I began to think of ways that I could help serve them. What should be my part in stepping out of my comfort zone to share God’s love by meeting the needs of those who are seniors? As I was sharing these thoughts with Randy the other night, he watched me and listened to what I had to say. Then without a moments hesitation, the minute I ask him what he thought I should do, he smiled at me and said, “uh do you realize that in a couple of months you will be 70 and you are suppose to be one of those who are to self quarantine for awhile?” WHAT……but, wait a minute. That thought never crossed my mind that I am considered old. When did that happen? Quickly I responded to him, that because I eat garlic almost everyday and enough chocolate to ward off most bacterias, I should be able to hang a garlic bulb around my neck and get out there among the true old folks. Why I’m still young because I still wear cute little blingy sandals and capris (even though these cute little capris might have elastic waistbands) and wear loop earrings that could easily be mistaken for “tapers”. And….I teach other people how to use their phones. So truly, I can’t be considered someone who needs to stay at home…? But because so many stores and restaurants are closed down, I haven been forced to spend more time at home than normal. It is allowing me time to work on another book, which will be called Tis So Sweet and is full of dessert recipes and stories of women who are willing to share how God has been faithful in difficult circumstances in their lives. Also, I have been baking a little more than normal, which means that instead of making a dessert each day, I’m now making two or three. It is fun to share food with others. Last night I made up a recipe that actually turned out really good. Was so easy and simple and I had everything on hand so no trip to the store was necessary. It was a baked chocolate fudge pie that we ate watching a really good movie on Netflix. That is Randy’s job each night. To find us a good movie that is fun to watch and family friendly so that we can recommend to others without fear of it being full of foul language or sexual content. So far, he is batting a thousand. Two for two. Tues night we watched Faith, Hope and Love and last night we enjoyed a little french film called French Toast. Darling movie. Here is the easy peasy recipe for a great chocolate fudge pie for you to up your immune system…at least that is what I tell myself when I am cutting a big piece and topping it with whipped cream.
