As Easter approaches, what better time to get our hearts and thoughts and minds in order. Not that we wait until Easter each year to do this! But the upcoming annual celebration of the Resurrection presents us with good grounds for clearing away the debris that has accumulated. (A bit like winter’s pile of dead leaves in my garden.)

The Bible gives us much consolation and comfort from Genesis to Revelation, but somehow or other, we can still manage to get distracted by many burdens and cares. Our flesh tends toward anxiety, worry, discontent, ingratitude, and envy. These are all worldly things, things on the earth, things below. And Paul tells the Colossians to put to death, put off, and put away the old earthly stuff (3:5-9) and put on the new man, which is being renewed and sanctified after the image of our Creator (3:10).

But we want to fuss a little bit about this. “It is so hard.” Of course it is hard. No one said it would be easy. The Christian life is compared to a race not a stroll in the park. Paul tells the Philippians (4:8) to think about certain things: things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or worthy of praise. Why did he Read More

Yes, this is outdated and essentially old news. But then again, I’ve only just peeled myself up off the floor after Easter and so I could hardly have been expected to mention it earlier!

Here’s what happened. In the comment section from last week when everyone was giving their ideas for Easter menus, I loved the suggestion (from Cindy I believe) to make Resurrection Rolls. I mean, how festive is that? (I should mention at this point that I also made Cheryl’s deviled egg chicks . . . because how could you look at that picture and then NOT make them? Mine looked like googly-eyed owls wearing flight goggles, but still quite a striking presence on the table. They lent a high tone to the whole proceeding.)

Anyway, I thought I should definitely make the Resurrection Rolls for Easter breakfast. But since I didn’t get around to that until about 10:30 pm on Saturday night, I decided that I would just do the old trick of letting them do their second rise in the fridge overnight and baking them in the morning. I made my favorite dough for cinnamon rolls which makes a lovely, squidgy dough – and wrapped them round the marshmallows, dipped them in butter and stuck them in the pans And now we come to the moment where I stop, drop, and show you a picture of my fridge. Brace yourselves.

(I would also like to take a moment to congratulate myself on my great spirituality . . . I didn’t even photoshop out the grimy floor underneath, or even reduce the resolution so Read More

So I don’t know about you, but I have quite a bit of mop-up to do after our Easter celebrations yesterday. We had such a great time! We ended up with twenty children and sixteen adults, so we spread out in the family room at several tables rather than at one big one. Everyone brought parts of the meal, so of course there was way too much food (which I think is the whole idea anyway). The wind-up toy race was a good way to finish the festivities, and I don’t think I want to see another jelly bean for at least a week.

But two things struck me about it. One is a verse my husband pointed out at the end of 1 Corinthians 15 (the great resurrection chapter): Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. He pointed out that cleaning up stacks of dishes is one of those abounding works, one of those labors that is not in vain. And I’m grateful I have a kitchen abounding with good work for me to do!

But secondly,  when the disciples heard and really believed that Christ was risen, the celebration didn’t end the next morning. We live in the light of the risen Christ. The good news continues to be good news from one morning to the next. So, even though I’m mopping up from the feasting, the rejoicing extends from one Sunday to the next, all year long.

So many blessings on you all as you abound in the good work of mopping up.

He is risen indeed! A very blessed Easter feast to you all!

We had a joint Good Friday service tonight with Trinity Reformed Church, and my husband preached a very good word which you can read here if you missed it.

Have you ever wondered why Good Friday is called good since it commemorates the day that unspeakable wickedness was done? But it is also the day of the greatest act of love.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Why is Good Friday good? Because God show-cased before the eyes of the whole world and for all time His great love for us. For whom? For us, His own people. Christ did not die hoping to save us. No, He secured the salvation of His people finally, conclusively, forever.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Cor. 2:7-8)

The bad guys did not know that Christ’s crucifixion was their last breath. What they did for their own evil ends, God overruled for His own glory and our good.

Good Friday is good indeed.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Cor. 2:9)