Arise and Believe

Celestial spirit that doth roll

The heart's sepulchral stone away,
Be this our resurrection day,
The singing Easter of the soul -
O gentle Master of the Wise,
Teach us to say: "I will arise."

~Richard Le Gallienne


Happy Easter, dear friends! What a WONDERFUL day!
 
I am just overflowing with happiness and actual joy. Things are as they should be, and God has blessed me - as well as you!
 
I always feel like religious holidays are a great excuse to share my personal beliefs with you. It's sort of a pass, so to speak, in this world that would so rather cast a blind eye toward faith. I may not shout from the rooftops how I feel about God, for I see it as a more personal matter. However, it is nice when days like today roll around, and sort of reawakens the spirit.
 
Last night I could not sleep. I know why, and it was nothing bad, well.. unless you count the banana pudding I had before sleep. There was just entirely too much sugar coursing through my veins. I was wide awake. The good news is, it offered me an opportunity to open my bible and read about the resurrection. Literally, the story of Easter.
 
I just reveled in the verse from Mark 8:31 - "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

 
Then I began to think about the wonderful opportunities that are opening up to me - how my life seems to be back on course.
 
Matthew 6:33 - "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
 
 

We are preparing for our Easter meal at home. Typically a baked ham, or sometimes lamb is served. We always have mom's mashed potatoes and her fabulous gravy, and some yummy green beans. Plus, I made a fabulous banana pudding last night.

I said my prayers. I read the Bible. I called my egyptian. I thought about my week at work coming up. I began to make a plan (financially) for my future.

I feel as if I have been lifted out of my own tomb.

 
 
I wish each of you a blessed Easter with your family. For those that do not believe, I hope you find some time today to celebrate life.

He is Risen!

After Jesus was crucified, Joseph of Arimathea had Christ's body placed in his own tomb. A large stone covered the entrance and soldiers guarded the sealed tomb. On the third day, a Sunday, several women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna and Salome are all mentioned in the gospel accounts) went to the tomb at dawn to anoint the body of Jesus.

A violent earthquake took place as an angel from heaven rolled back the stone. The guards shook in fear as the angel, dressed in bright white, sat upon the stone. The angel announced to the women that Jesus who was crucified was no longer in the tomb, "He is risen, just as he said." Then he instructed the women to inspect the tomb and see for themselves. Next he told them to go inform the disciples.

With a mixture of fear and joy they ran to obey the angel's command, but suddenly Jesus met them on their way. They fell at his feet and worshiped him. Jesus then said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see me."


When the guards reported what had happened to the chief priests, they bribed the soldiers with a large sum of money, telling them to lie and say that the disciples had stolen the body in the night.

After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the women near the tomb and later at least twice to the disciples while they were gathered at a house in prayer. He visited two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus and he also appeared at the Sea of Galilee while several of the disciples were fishing.

Happy Easter