Happy veterans day to all the service men and women. Thank you for your service. Thank you also to the families of the veterans who also sacrifice so much for our freedom. I just want to shout out to all of you.
Holidays are really the best time of year. As a child you live in anticipation of Christmas for months. The other day KS got our first snow of the year and during school the students said because it was snowing it was Christmas. As a parent Christmas is a really fun time of year too. I love giving my kids gifts and seeing the smiles on their faces and the light in their eyes. Last year I gave D a huge sombrero I bought in mexico. It was an exciting Christmas. Sometimes holidays can be pretty tough. Tough reminders of family members who have gone on without us. This Christmas might be especially hard with the absence of my mom. There is an empty place at the table for thanksgiving, there is an empty seat watching thekids open their gifts. Holidays can also be a reminder of hard years of a bad marriage, some people shut down for the holidays.
I love holidays too for the memories I have. I remember coming down stairs to piles of presents. I remember the excitement and wonder of Christmas. But as an adult I like Christmas because it is the time Jesus came into the world as a human to save us all from our sin. But Christmas is not where it stops. Easter is often overlooked because of the Easter bunny. But the death and resurrection of Christ is the most important holiday to remember. This is where he gave His life for us to live forever. Easter was when we see the miracle of Jesus resurrection into heaven and being alive again. Easter is my favorite because it brings me back to the sacrifice He gave for me on the Cross. Christmas is a joyous time with lots of happiness and wonder. The miracle of a virgin birth, the lowliness of the stable birth. the story of sacrifice of Joseph for Mary and the baby. Then we come to Easter and this wonder and joy is brought back to reality of our sin and what he gave up for you and me. But Easter also doesn’t stop at the death. It also brings the miracle and promise of his coming and his forgiveness for my sin and your sin. Easter defines my salvation. It is the reason for it.
Today’s thankfulness scripture is Colossians 3:16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
This verse says Let the message of Christ dwell among you. I believe the message of Christ is the message of Easter. Rom 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice and giving your life for mine. I pray that I could live in this memory of Easter and what you did for me more. I pray that I would let the message of Christ dwell among me richly. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Signing off from one woman to another,
Jenny Wren.