Easter Blessings

Happy Easter!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend celebrating Resurrection Sunday and contemplating all that Jesus endured on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.  I had intentions of hopping on here several times to write about what the Lord has been teaching me this Easter, but as is often the case, my priorities with my little family took over :) The month of April is so incredibly busy, with 3 out of 4 of us celebrating birthdays, but I really was determined to not let Easter get lost in the shuffle. 

Last week the Lord impressed many new truths on my heart during Holy week, but He mostly just refreshed my mind with the timeless miracle of the cross and the empty tomb.  I was focused on the doctrine of propitiation most of all, humbled and marveling at the sacrifice Jesus made, to absorb the full wrath of God, in my place. That's what propitiation means.  Jesus taking my place to take the wrath of God off of me and transfering it onto Him.  It struck me anew to remember that in His Holiness and Justice, He could not let the penalty of sin slide.  God had to punish the work of sin, He had to pour out His wrath in His righteous anger and I (we) are the ones who should have been condemned in that wrath.  And yet, as the perfect substitute for us, Jesus who was both fully human and fully God, took it upon Himself to pay the penalty, to bear the wrath and to die to sin.  That alone is miraculous.  But it still wouldn't be good news without the resurrection!  If He only died to sin, then sin would have won.  It would still hold power over us.  But, praise be to the LORD!!  He broke the chains of sin and conquered death, securing our eternal hope forever.  And in His work on the cross and because of the empty tomb, I am free from the curse of sin and death, forever.  I have great HOPE because of Christ.  Hope that sustains me when the world seems to be in chaos.  Hope that anchors my soul when devestating news comes my way.  Hope that cannot be taken away when the economy crumbles beneath us.  Hope that promises I will be reunited with my Savior and those who have died before me and trusted in Christ too.  THAT is real hope and THAT is all wrapped up in Easter and the miracle of salvation.

I sincerely pray that the same is true for each of you.  It can be...There is no one of us who deserves that mercy or grace and yet, He died for us while we were still sinners.  Not because we made a great plea or because we promised to uphold some standard of perfection.  Simply because He offers salvation, we know that we desperately need a Savior, and we trust in His work on the cross and His resurrection from the tomb to satisfy the wrath of God, on our account.  Our penalty has been paid, our debt wiped clean and our eternity secured.  We can claim that when we confess and believe and we can BELIEVE Him because we can TRUST Him.  The hinge of our lives, hangs on the glory of this weekend.  I pray that it was as monumental for you, as it is for me.  Many years ago, when I was just a little girl, the Lord opened my eyes and my heart to the truth of what He did for me.  I am BLESSED that He put a calling on my life, some 25 years ago, and that honestly I have never truly known a day where the Lord wasn't part of my life.  I was raised to know and trust Him, I believed Him at a young age and have only grown in that belief ever since.  I owe my life to my Savior, quite literally, and I have been granted an incredible gift of grace in the parents He gave me to.  Not only did this weekend represent Easter, but I also got to celebrate my 31st birthday yesterday.  These 31 years have held lots of things, but now that I'm a parent, I can truly appreciate the fact that the Lord chose MY Mom and Dad to raise me and disciple me.  31 years ago, He placed me in their arms and they have done an incredible job (still to this day) of loving me, speaking truth into my life, supporting me, and modeling for me authentic (although not perfect) lives that  fall fast and hard for the Lord.  I can think of no greater birthday gift that that. 

Easter and my birthday are two tremendous reminders of the Lord's great love for me. 

 Here are a million pictures that capture that very thought...

Arms that are full with two little blessings...

...represent a season that is busy BUT also a heart that is overflowing.

Milestones reached...

...and the joy that comes from being little.

I have a front row seat in two worlds and I wouldn't trade the privilege of being present for any amount of money or a bigger house or a newer car.  They are my investments and their lives will offer the best return  for our hard work now, by far.

The blessing of a husband who is present, who loves our kids and who is never too busy for a twirl in the  front yard...

...and knowing that my daughter will enjoy the same security and self-respect that I do is a treasure that is not wasted on me.  A Daddy who is encouraging and affirming and loving is a gift that trumps a room full of toys or a backyard pool :)

The joy of an unexpected GIFT, in the life of a happy, smiley little boy!

Celebrating "First Easters" and a host of other annual holidays...

...all the while trusting and hoping for a lifetime of celebrations together.

Praying daily for a little heart that learns to love and trust the Lord early in her (and his) life...

...brings purpose and direction and perseverence on the days that are long and filled with 2 year old behavior!

Watching the bond between siblings being formed is a rare and priceless process that millions of parents before us have witnessed.

Asking the Lord for wisdom in how to make that bond last and grow is a challenge and a blessing that far too little parents experience.

Giving little gifts that delight...

...and watching little ones delight in the gifts!

Realizing that the years of giving stuffed lambs in fluffy baskets are fleeting...

...and hoping that the confidence to be themselves and wear a silly hat, is not!

Looking at pictures of a family of 4 and realizing that WE are that family!

Seeing your siblings love and enjoy your children...

...with a love that can only come from somone cut from the same cloth.

Seeing your children enjoy them in return?  Priceless.

Never forgetting the thrill that a new purse brings, even at 2...

...or the thrill that ice-cream cone cupcakes still bring, at 31!

Birthday candles that were made to be blown out...

...and realizing you just received the very thing you wanted most!

Laughing at the reality that this will most likely be the only birthday that your daughter receives the car of her dreams :)

But rejoicing that for now, baby dolls and clothes and accessories are all she's really asking for anyway!

Grandpas and Grandmas who love their grandkids just like they love their kids...

...and husbands who were the result of many years of prayers and well worth the wait. 

These are just some of my Easter blessings this year...

In the ups and downs of life, the busyness and the stress, I'm so grateful for the Grace today to truly SEE all that the Lord has given me.  31 years of abundance, 31 years of HIM! 

Blessed beyond measure, it's true...