Prepare Your Heart for the Celebration of Easter

Resurrection Day, Easter, is really the most important celebration for Christians.  After all, Christmas would not have done us any good if baby Jesus had not grown up, died, and risen from the dead!  Perhaps you and your family would like to spiritually prepare yourself to celebrate the resurrection, rather than just getting up that day to “hop” from candy hunt to church to brunch and family gatherings.

        

Easter is a joyous celebration, but think how Jesus’ followers must have felt when they woke that first Resurrection Day.  Their Deliverer, seemingly at the pinnacle of His ministry, was beaten, killed, and cast into a tomb?  Discouraged would be an understatement as they trudged to the tomb in the dark.         Job probably felt the same way.  A man who had it all lost it all, despite following God.  He found himself alone and accused.  Do you see any parallels between him and Jesus or him and Jesus’ followers?  Do you wonder about the tragedy that occurs to God’s people?  You may like Layton Talbert’s Beyond Suffering.  The forward says this book is about “the living God”.  How appropriate!  Understanding despair, our response to it, and God’s part in it would make a great study as we approach Easter. 

      

 

Ken Ham’s book, How Could a Loving God…?  Powerful Answers on Suffering and Loss, deals with common questions that arise when we face trouble and death.  He even looks at doubts about resurrection and the reality of heaven.  Remember, even the disciples had trouble believing their Lord was alive, and they saw Him!  Have you ever had trouble wrapping your head around being here on earth one minute and in heaven the next?  Or, seeing someone again someday?  Can we really believe that?      

Trusting God Even When Life Hurts is by Jerry Bridges.  Like Job, we ask “why” when horrible things happen.  Does God even care about individuals? 

     

 

Finally, Easter is about restoration.  Just as God restored Job’s physical life, he restored His followers’ faith and joy.  Even Peter got a second chance after his famous denial.  I’ve denied my Savior by staying silent when I should have spoken.  Perhaps you have, too.  May I suggest a great project?  Concerned Women for America urges all Christians to fly the Christian flag for “Faith Month” in April, and especially April 10-17, for Easter.  If you don’t have a flag, visit the Concerned Women for America website where various sizes are available.  What a great way to proclaim that we identify with the risen Christ!  

Wow.  This is some heavier reading, but what we learn may really lighten some of the burdens we carry.  And maybe your flag will give you an opportunity to lead someone else to the cross and the empty tomb.  May this Easter be one of the most joyous ever!    

 Reading is Rewarding!

Reading is Rewarding!

Katie

Request the following titles from the Family Vision Library here:

Beyond Suffering, by Layton Talbert
How Could a Loving God…? by Ken Ham
Trusting God, by Jerry Bridges

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