Time For Spring Again!

Ah it's Spring time again. Trees bursting with new leaves and filling the space that once lay barren with an expanse of greenery that will shade us during those long, hot days of summer to come. The flower beds that lay dormant, now are filled with new colors that seems more intense than it did last year coupled with fragrance that fills your senses with such joy, such color, such promise.

Sometimes our lives can feel at times like Spring, bursting with uncontainable joy, laughter and love. Other times it can feel like the long, never-ending days of a hot, unbearable summer, sweating out problem after problem. Then again, some of us feel like the fall has come to our lives, things we no longer need in our life, simply fall away , to be blown away by the unseen wind to another place. Still others of us feel completely dead inside like the winter. Cold, empty, and no sign of life. Lacking in hope and faith, our belief in something better is dried up and gone, brittle and broken.

My dearest friends, God can take us at any season in our lives and completely restore us to Spring. Whatever situation you find yourself in, it's literally not the end of the world all though it can certainly feel that way. Whether you find yourself at a crossroads in your life when it comes to your job, your marriage, a difficult relationship, or loss of direction, God can be your compass and roadmap to a new and better life.

Sometimes we look at our lives and wonder, how did I get here? Wasn't everything going along just fine? Why me? God would ask the question, what not you?

We need to remember we live in a world full of sin. Nothing can change that until the world as we know it is destroyed. It is the punishment man will pay for but God can restore, and He will. Yet from time to time, we will have struggles. We will have pain. We will have loss so great we think it's more than we can bear. But if we have God in our lives, we can weather anything because we are not alone. He is with us. He will never, ever leave us, once we invite Him into our lives.

Sure it can seem like God is quiet, like He has left us to attend some bigger crisis somewhere but He doesn't. That's our own worst enemy talking to us. No matter what you are going through right now, give it to God. Stop what you are doing right now and let Him take your burden from you. No matter what it is, God doesn't want to you carry it. He wants you to hand it over and never look at it again. It is a trial by fire if you will. Will you turn it completely over to Him and let Him handle it, no matter how He decides it should be? Are you willing to let Him despite the outcome?

Go to Him in a short prayer. Just tell Him what you need. Tell Him what's on your heart, the good, the bad and the ugly. He can take it all. Ask Him to restore peace to your heart, comfort your emotional needs, and restore your joy. Then most of all, believe it with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul. God wants to help you and the more times we remember to do this, the shorter our storms will be.

Oh and while your waiting, Rejoice! Smile! Be happy! Find the good in something today! It's always present, we simply need to open our eyes and see it. Ask God to show you and be prepared to be amazed at what He can do.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Sometimes I know the cares and worries of this world can wear me down like the sands of time, yet I know that you are greater than anything I find myself going through. Though I find myself lacking your joy today, I lift up my arms and cry out to you, Lord Jesus, restore your joy unto my heart and soul. I ask that you remove any burdens I haven't placed at your feet today. I trust you completely to work in my life and ask that you guide my feet in the steps you need me to take today. Lord, open my eyes to your wonders and help me to see the beauty you have laid out all around my life. Live in me today, Lord Jesus, and restore my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength.

In Jesus Mighty Name, I pray ~ AMEN

"So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!"

Psalm 31:24 (NLT)

A New Version of Nursery Rhymes

Check out this amazing video. It's worth watching all the way to the very end. Here's hoping your day is filled with unexpected surprises that make you smile!

Resurrection Sunday!

Alleluia! He is RiSon! I love that play on words. I tried today to drag my 45 year old body to attempt to go to sunrise service this morning at 6:00am. Yet with our extreme cold winds and my horrible allergies this year, I felt I would just attend our 9:00am service inside instead.

The morning to me, was spent the way I wanted it to be spent, with Jesus reliving the most miraculous time on Earth and I didn't want to spend it asleep. Not only that, our morning went smoothly. No arguing, everyone in a great mood, I was off to a great start with some caramel coffee. I was ready to go.

Troops marched off to their respective showers, got their chores out the way, house and rooms picked up, breakfast made, and time to get to church with minutes to spare. The message, as always very inspiring. We read about the resurrection of Jesus.

The interesting part of our sermon today, was that after witnessing all that Jesus had to show them, after Mary claiming to have been told by angels that Jesus was alive, and others claiming to have the same story of the empty tomb, two disciples were heading out of town despite what Jesus had told them. He reminded the disciples to stay in Jerusalem, when they heard and witnessed his resurrection. However, some still had their doubts. Some still didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah the prophecy had foretold, they thought somehow that Jesus would change their current circumstances and probably fix all their problems in Rome. So after feeling yet even more discouraged they left.

They were joined, later after some grumbling about how let down they felt that Jesus didn't fix things, by Jesus himself, although He prevented them from knowing who He really was. Imagine that, complaining about Jesus to Jesus, Himself. Amazing! Then the two disciples share their story with Jesus, their expectations and let down and Jesus reminds them of all the things fulfilled based on Jesus' presence all this time.

After a time, the disciples arrive at their location for the evening and Jesus bids them farewell, only they insist He must stay with them, it's night after all. Jesus agrees and after breaking bread and offering thanks with them, He reveals who He really is to them and then disappears. Wonder what they were thinking? I know for me, I would feel so ashamed about my grumbling and complaining, I would lose it.

In that moment, they immediately left and headed back to Jerusalem, in a hurry to share the good news with everyone. It's at that moment in time, we find ourselves with the remainder of the disciples in the Upper Room when Jesus returns again to share His resurrection with the rest. I often wonder what transpired in both heaven and hell that day.

You know that when Jesus uttered those words, "It is finished!" that Satan panicked big time, and all of heaven fell silent! I couldn't imagine as a parent watching my only child die for someone else.

Yet even death could not contain Him, and it never will again! He is Alive and He has come to save us all from certain and everlasting death. He is preparing a place in heaven for each of us, where there will be no more pain, no more tears, no more death, just an eternal celebration where I will spend my entire eternity thanking my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all He did for me that day!

I must tell you that I would feel as the disciples did that day when Jesus reappeared to them after His resurrection. The joy can not be contained. Jesus blessed me today with an abundant amount of joy that no matter what anyone said or did, had no effect. My Lord Lives!

....and He shall reign forever and ever!!....Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

The Changed

This Saturday as we reflect the passing of our Savior who was still in between life and death, fighting to take back the keys from Satan who had one last remaining control over us, today I want you to think if there is anything in your life you feel as if God can remove from your life.

Some past sin that you feel is too great, a burden too great for God to remove, a fear that will not release you into His perfect peace. Just when you think there is something, remember this video.

Our God is Supreme, Loving, Full of Grace and willing to restore you as though it had never happened. What ever bad happened in your life, God will renew you and use it for His glory. You will be His testimony of just how GREAT HE IS!

Reflections for Holy Friday

Some 2ooo years ago today, the heavens and the earth fell silent as they mourned for the prince who would no longer exist in human form.

I wonder what the evening felt like when Jesus breathed His last and claimed, "It is finished!"

What were the feelings beyond utter grief and sadness for those that knew Him and now were without hope? Did any remember his words that He'd be back in three days or did they forget the power He possessed over death?

The Bible declares that when Jesus was on the cross it was about noon and the whole land became dark until 3pm because the sun did not shine and curtain in the Temple was torn in two.

Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, I give You My life." After Jesus said this, He died.

Joseph from Arimathea came and took Jesus' body down and laid in the tomb before sundown on Passover.

Yet two betrayed Jesus that day. Judas did it with a kiss, Peter with an oath in the courtyard. Both of them had heard Jesus predict their disobedience, and both were crushed at their own sins.

Judas unwilling to face his guilt, commits suicide.

Peter, shattered by his sin, broke down and wept like a child. Peter opened himself to confession, forgiveness, and resolve.

In the years that followed, Judas became an embarrassing memory.

Peter changed the world.

Remorse and repentance.

Two similar words, with incredibly potent differences.

When caught in sin, its very tempting to throw ourselves to the ground, groveling in remorse. But the message of these two unforgettable disciples is that while remorse ends a life, true repentance starts one all over again.

Jesus Christ has already died for your sin.

He paid the full price for it on the cross.

Recognize your failure, receive your pardon, and go forward in victory.

Don't let it be the end of your life - let it be a new beginning.

Let us remember why He did it. It was so we could look back on any pain, suffering, grief or sadness in our own life and could identify with Jesus that He knows exactly how we feel. There is nothing we are going through that He has not been through. He understands more than you realize! Let us not forget the price that He ultimately paid today!

Come quickly Lord Jesus, we await your return as promised!

Easter Jokes For Your Family

EASTER JOKES FOR YOUR FAMILY

Why does the Easter bunny have a shiny nose?
His powder puff is on the wrong end.

Is it true that bunnies have good eyesight?
Well you never see a bunny wearing glasses, do you?

What is the difference between a crazy bunny and a counterfeit $20 bill?
One is bad money and the other is a mad bunny!

Why did the Easter egg hide?
He was a little chicken!

Why did a fellow rabbit say that the Easter Bunny was self-centered?
Because he was eggo-centric!

Why is a bunny the luckiest animal in the world?
It has four rabbits' feet.

What do you get when you cross a bunny with an onion?
A bunion.

What did the bunny want to do when he grew up?
Join the Hare Force.

What do you call a bunny with a large brain?
Egghead!

What does a bunny use when it goes swimming?
A hare-net.

What did the grey rabbit say to the blue rabbit?
Cheer up!

How does the Easter Bunny say Happy Easter?
Hoppy Easter

Sharing Love

I just wanted to personally thank all of you who stop by here on your daily walk through the Internet world. It means so much that you find something meaningful here to stop you long enough to read it.

Most of all I want to thank my glorious Father in Heaven who has blessed me with the ability to find a way to share His love and messages through the blogging community via Heart2Heart.

When I first had a dream a few years ago, the name stuck out so much because that's what I feel I do with each of you. Is to sit down, by the river, near the fire and share a beautiful, intimate Heart to Heart conversation like great friends do.

Given the gift of encouragement provides me with opportunities to share with you things that I find in my daily walk with God. For awhile, my family and friends have been encouraging me to write a book, but I truly feel now isn't the time. I am waiting on God. I am waiting for the right reasons to do it, and not for my own.

So for now, I will try and commit to sharing my thoughts and inspiration God provides to me daily through my blog. Whatever you do, find the beautiful gift God has given you and use it to bring glory to Him. May it be inviting people to a wonderful home-cooked meal, or sharing coffee with a friend, or simply providing a willing ear for someone who truly needs to pour out their heart to someone, do it all for the glory of God.

Romans 12: 5-8 " so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."