True Freedom Found in the Empty Tomb
It was a striking picture. Despite the sandstorms and blistering heat, two soldiers stood in the middle of their Kuwaiti camp digging a man-sized hole in the ground. With help from their comrades, they lined the hole with sandbags and plastic then filled the makeshift tub with water. That Wednesday March 12, before they headed for the front lines in Iraq, Chaplain Ron Cooper lowered eight soldiers into that well, quietly baptizing members of the 3rd Infantry Division. In the middle of the desert, far from home, these men found freedom in Jesus.
The next day, they set out to free thousands of others trapped by the evil and oppression of Iraq. In the end, it took courageous people, men who were willing to lay down their lives, to deliver Baghdad. May we remember God sacrificed His son in another war, the war against sin. But the good news is the story doesn’t end in death; it ends with resurrection! No matter what progress is made at home or abroad, Easter shows us that true freedom can’t be found in this world. It’s found in the empty tomb. May God bless you and your family as we celebrate our risen Lord. –From Family Research Council 2003
Easter Promise
The miracle of Easter lives within our hearts today.
Though skeptics through the centuries have come to have their way.
The empty tomb, the angel’s words, the grave clothes folded there.
Give sample proof our Lord arose, as prophecy declared.
Oh, let us keep Christ in our hearts, and truly follow Him;
We, too, shall have our Easter day and rise to live again!
The Conquering Christ
They nailed Him to an ugly cross that bleak and dreadful day;
And thought forever from their midst they’d driven Him away.
But three days passed, and He arose, triumphant o’er the grave,
With hell’s keys in His mighty hands, and wondrous power to save.
And He ascended to the throne, the Spirit to send forth,
That men no more alone should be, and every life have worth.
He’s coming back some golden day, and victory shall He bring
For He’ll be Conqueror when He comes; our Lord, our coming King!
Every Day is Easter
“Easter comes just once a year” so many people say,
But, to a person saved from sin, it’s Easter every day!
A man, when saved or born again, His life to Christ will give,
And, as a new-born babe in Christ, He’s just begun to live!
“I am the resurrection, life”, The Savior one day said:
“And he, believing in My Word, shall live though he be dead.
And that well-known Apostle, Paul, in Philippi made plain;
“For me to live is Jesus Christ, for me to die is gain.”
So when the blood of Christ, our Lord, redeems a soul from sin;
Every day is Easter, for Jesus lives within!-Carolyn Orr
Easter and the Butterfly
The butterfly is one of the symbols most often used to signify Easter. Its whole life cycle is symbolic of the meaning of Christianity. First there is the caterpillar, which stands for life. Second is the cocoon which signifies death. The third stage, portraying the resurrection, is the butterfly which emerges from the cocoon.
Time to Rejoice
Open the windows and let the sun in. O listen how sweet the birds sing;
The bond of winter has broken away, its time to rejoice and greet spring.
Hillsides are lovely in green once again; blossoms appear on the trees;
Flowers are waking aroused by Spring’s kiss; lilac scents drift on the breeze.
Earth now is busting with joy and rebirth; how can a soul fail to sing!
After life’s winter comes heart-peace and hope-all parts of God’s promise called Spring.- Beverly J. Anderson
Songs of Spring
I love all the songs that Spring sings-the calls of birds on outstretched wings,
The tree toad’s trill, the bullfrog’s bass, and the bees hum over the flowers’ face
The tap-tap-tap of the sweet Spring rain, while the wind at dawn adds its soft refrain
And my own heart singing merrily as it joins the happy symphony.
-Jean Brabham McKinney
Chuckles
The first five days after a weekend are the hardest!
I just did a week’s worth of cardio after walking into a spider’s web.
Somebody has said there are two kinds of people in the world-those who wake up in the morning and say “Good morning, Lord!” and those who get up in the morning and say “Good Lord-its morning!”
While driving in Pennsylvania, a family caught up to an Amish carriage. The owner obviously had a sense of humor. Attached to the back was a sign that said: “Energy efficient vehicle; runs on oats and grass. Caution-do not step on the exhaust.”
A husband walked into the house completely out of breath. His wife asked “what happened honey?” “It’s a great new idea I have” he gasped. I ran all the way home behind the bus and saved 50 cents.” “Well, that certainly wasn’t very bright” replied his wife. “Why didn’t you run home behind a taxi and save three dollars?”