by Joanne Wiklund
Easter will be here this Sunday. I love this time of year. Full of pastel colors, eggs and good special food. Chocolate bunnies and of course, where would we be without Peeps of all colors? We who believe in and love the Lord, however, could have Easter without all of that. We can relish the love of God who loved us first of all with the gift of His son, Jesus Christ. Easter isn’t an ending, it’s a beginning.
Hope is what Easter gives us. We know that if we believe in Him, we will see Him return to us someday and save us all. But it will be His Grace that saves us, not what we’ve done for Him. My prayer each morning now is Jesus, what can I do for you and our Father today? Then, still praying, I listen hard for a nudge to do what He wants me to do. There are those people who don’t believe that the Holy Spirit is in us to help us with strength and power to do what is right for us, and often, for someone we love. Or don’t know yet. Or will never see them again. My life is so brightened when I hear of good things people do for total strangers. Myself included. Did you ever find yourself in a situation out there somewhere doing something for someone while asking yourself: What brought me here? What am I supposed to do? Do you ever look back to see who God sent to make what we were trying to do for Him succeed? I fully believe God loves us, leads us and gives us credit when we honor Him.
HOPE stands for Hold On, Pray Expectantly! May your Easter be the beginning of a wonderful season in your life. Because even though Jesus died, He also rose again. He lives! For everyone who accepts Him, opens the door of their heart and lets Him come in. Sing Him home: Jesus Loves Me This I Know, For The Bible Tells Me So, Jesus Loves Me When I’m Good, When I Do The Things I Should, Jesus Loves Me When I’m Bad, But It Makes Him Very Sad. Yes, Jesus Loves Me… Always. All Ways.
Hebrews 13:1-2 “Let brotherly love continue. 2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unaware. 5. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
James 1:17-18 “ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”