Sunday Scripture for Easter 2026

 

 Years ago (2014) I did a four-week "Why Easter Matters" study from Good Morning Girls and have written only five posts from that study -- one in 2014 , two in 2022, one in 2024, and one in 2025.  Since today is Easter Sunday, and since it really does matter tremendously to us, I felt it was important to take a break from our regular Sunday Scripture posts and share more of my study with you.  The Scripture passage to be SOAPed today is Luke 24:45-48, and it is from the third week of the Easter study.  The week is titled "Why the Resurrection Matters".

S= "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
"And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day;
"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 
"And ye are witnesses of these things."  (Luke 24:45-48)

O= This records an incident following Christ's resurrection.  Luke shares several appearances of Jesus after He was raised from the dead: He appeared to Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women very early that morning; He appeared to the two on the road to Emmaus later that day; and that evening, He stood in the midst of His disciples.  He showed them His wounded hands and feet.  He even ate some broiled fish and a piece of honeycomb.

Then He opened their understanding so that they could understand the Scriptures.  He explained it was written that Christ should suffer but would rise from the dead on the third day.  He added that they were witnesses of these things, and that 

repentance
and remission of sins

should be preached in His name
among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem.

Warren Wiersbe explains: "Jesus not only enabled them to understand the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, but He also reminded them of what He had taught them, and He explained how it all fit together.  Now they began to understand the necessity for His suffering and death and how the cross related to the promise of the kingdom ... But privilege always brings responsibility; they were to be witnesses of all that He had said and done."

A= I am so blessed to have multiple copies of God's Word, the Bible, in my own language.  I have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help me understand it.  Since coming to faith in Him many years ago and having walked this far with Him, there is much that I can be a witness of.  My relationship with Christ and my knowledge of Him gives me a responsibility to share His truth.

As Wiersbe says, "A witness is someone who sincerely tells what he has seen and heard, and the word witness is used in one way or another twenty-nine times in the book of Acts.  As Christians, we are not judges or prosecuting attorneys sent to condemn the world.  We are witnesses who point to Jesus Christ and tell lost sinners how to be saved ... We go forth in the authority of His name, in the power of His Spirit, heralding His gospel of His grace."

Am I telling others sincerely what I have seen and heard -- about the work Christ has done in my life?  This is His purpose in saving me -- that I will bring honor and glory to Him and point others to Him!

P= "Lord, I thank You for Your Word and for Your Holy Spirit that helps me understand it and apply it to my life.  

"I thank and praise You for bringing me to the understanding that I needed a Savior and that Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection was for me.  Help me to share this truth with others who need to know the Savior.

"Help me also to share the blessings of the Christian life with other believers and to encourage them in their walk with You.  I thank You for all You will do, in Jesus' glorious name, Amen."

Today, Mr. T and I would like to wish all of our friends a blessed and meaning-filled  day of celebrating Christ's resurrection.  "He is risen, as He said"!  (Matthew 28:7) 

Our Resurrection Day celebration will begin with a meaningful outdoor service and a bountiful breakfast with our church family.  

Later, we will enjoy a celebratory Easter dinner with our local daughter and her family.  We hope that all of you will have as lovely a day and that you will spend time pondering on what Christ's resurrection means for you personally.  May you have the opportunity to share Him with someone today!

Happy Easter!

Sunday Scripture for Easter 2025

 

Years ago (2014) I did a "Why Easter Matters" study from Good Morning Girls and have written only a few posts from that study -- one in 2014 , two in 2022, and one in 2024.  Since today is Easter Sunday, and since it really does matter tremendously to us, I felt it was important to take a break from our regular Sunday Scripture posts and share more of my study with you.  The Scripture passage to be SOAPed today is Romans 6:8 and 14, but for clarity I will also include verse 11-13.  It is from the third week of the Easter study.  The week is titled "Why the Resurrection Matters".

S= "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him;

"Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

"Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in its lusts.

"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

"For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace."  (Romans 6:8, 11-14)

O= "If" in verse 8 " introduces a first class conditional statement which assumes the following is true and can be translated 'since' or 'in view of the fact that' (we have died with Christ)."

Wuest translates verse 8:" Now, in view of the fact that we died once for all with Christ, we believe that we shall also live by means of Him,".

John MacArthur writes: "The assurance that we shall also live with Him obviously applies to the believer’s ultimate and eternal presence with Christ in heaven. But the context, which focuses on holy living, strongly suggests that Paul is here speaking primarily about our living with Him in righteousness in this present life. In Greek, as in English, future tenses often carry the idea of certainty."

C.I. Scofield comments that we can be delivered from the power of indwelling sin: 

1) by union with Christ in death and resurrection; 

2) by counting oneself dead to the old life, and 

3) by yielding the new life to God.

In the Amplified Bible, verse 14 reads, "For sin shall not [any longer] exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves], but under grace [as subjects of God's favor and mercy]"

We see here in verse 14 that sin need not have dominion over us, because we are not under the law, but under grace.

Charles Spurgeon writes in Faith's Checkbook: "Sin will reign if it can (READ THAT SENTENCE AGAIN!): it cannot be satisfied with any place below the throne of the heart. We sometimes fear that it will conquer us, and then we cry unto the Lord, 'Let not any iniquity have dominion over me. This is His comforting answer: 'Sin shall not have dominion over you. ' It may assail you and even wound you, but it shall never establish sovereignty over you. If we were under the law, our sin would gather strength and hold us under its power; for it is the punishment of sin that a man comes under the power of sin. "

" Grace is promised to us by which we are restored from our wanderings, cleansed from our impurities, and set free from the chains of habit ...  since we are the Lord's free men, we take courage to fight with our corruptions and temptations, being assured that sin shall never bring us under its sway again. God Himself giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."

"Having by grace brought the Christian into the highest conceivable position, God ceaselessly works through grace to impart and perfect in him corresponding graces." -- Scofield

A= I need to consider myself as dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ.  I need to yield my new life to God as one who is alive from the dead (verses 11 and 13).  As God's new creation, I must not allow sin to have dominion or power over me.  I want to serve God, not sin.

I like what Spurgeon said: sin may assail me, it may even wound me, but as a believer it can never establish sovereignty over me.  Since I am no longer under the power of sin, I can take courage as he suggests, and fight against it with the assurance that it can never bring me fully under its sway again.  What a thing to celebrate on this Resurrection Day!

P= "Lord, I thank You for these powerful verses.  Help me to remember that You have made me alive in Christ -- and thus, I must see myself as dead to sin.  Help me to yield my life to You daily for Your use.  Help me to remember that sin need no longer have dominion over me, and that I am to serve You and not sin.  I praise You for all that You have done for me, and all that You will do, In Jesus' name, Amen."

Today, Mr. T and I would like to wish all of our friends a blessed and meaning-filled  day of celebrating Christ's resurrection.  "He is risen, as He said"!  (Matthew 28:7) 

Our Resurrection Day celebration will begin with a meaningful outdoor service and a bountiful breakfast with our church family.  

Later, we will enjoy a celebratory Easter dinner with our local daughter and her family.  We hope that all of you will have as lovely a day and that you will spend time pondering on what Christ's resurrection means for you personally.

Happy Easter!

Sunday Scripture for Easter 2024

 

Years ago (2014) I did a "Why Easter Matters" study from Good Morning Girls and have written only a few posts from that study -- one in 2014 and two in 2022.  Since today is Easter Sunday, and since it really does matter tremendously to us, I felt it was important to take a break from our regular Sunday Scripture posts and share more of my study with you.  The Scripture passage to be SOAPed today is 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, but I will write out verses 54-58 to help with context.  It is from the third week of the Easter study.  The week is titled "Why the Resurrection Matters".

S= "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
"O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?
"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
"But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, inasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."  (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

O= Verse 55 asks, "O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?"

We see the answer to this question in verse 54: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

This "saying" as Paul puts it, is a quote from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah:

"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth; for the LORD hath spoken it.
"And it shall be said in that day,  Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."  (Isaiah 26:8-9)

William MacDonald notes that this saying will be "brought to pass when the dead in Christ are raised and the living changed with them ... How magnificent!"

He adds, "Through faith in Christ, we have victory over death and the grave.  Death is robbed of its sting. 
"The truth of resurrection changes everything.  It provides hope and steadfastness, and enables us to go on in the face of overwhelming and difficult circumstances."

A= We can be so thankful to God, who gives us the victory over death and the grave by way of Christ's sacrificial death and His glorious resurrection.  Because of this, we can be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,  We can be confident that our labor for Him is not in vain.

How grateful I am that Christ was victorious over death!  Because of His sacrificial death and His miraculous resurrection, I need not fear death.  It has no sting for me -- and the grave is not the end.  Christ has swallowed up death in victory.

And so I can move forward steadfast and grounded in my faith, abounding in the Lord's work in confidence that my labor is not in vain.  One day my faithful service will be rewarded.

Warren Wiersbe outlines 1 Corinthians chapter 15 like this:

* We have a living Lord (v. 1-19).  Jesus is alive, and the gospel message is true!  Witnesses who saw Him have passed along their testimony to us.  When you trust Him, you receive resurrection life, eternal life; death can hold you no more.

* We have a living hope (v. 20-49).  Jesus Christ will come again, and the dead in Christ will be raised.  We will have glorified bodies like Christ's body.

* We have a living dynamic (v. 50-58).  We have no reason to give up because Jesus has conquered sin and death.  If you really believe in the resurrection and return of Jesus, verse 58 will characterize your life.  The best is yet to come, so let us give Him our best now. -- Warren Wiersbe, With the Word

P= "Lord, I thank You so much for your promise of eternal life.  I praise You that death has no sting for believers, and that the grave is not our final resting place.  I praise You for giving us the victory over death, through Christ.

"I pray that You will help me to be steadfast and grounded and to always abide in Your work.  I know that labor done as unto You, and in Your strength, will never be in vain.  Help me to serve You faithfully throughout my life, I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is our simple Easter study.  I hope it was a blessing to you today and that you will enjoy a blessed Resurrection Day with family or church family.  Because He lives, we will live also!

A blessed Easter to all!

Wonderful graphic from Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

Today I'm taking a break from my regularly scheduled Sunday Scripture posts to wish all of my readers and friends a blessed and meaning-filled  day of celebrating Christ's resurrection.  

"He is risen, as He said"!  (Matthew 28:7)

Our Resurrection Day celebration will begin with a meaningful outdoor service which is always a real blessing.   We will then adjourn to the fellowship hall for a bountiful potluck breakfast.  I'll be bringing an egg bake, hash brown casserole, a fruit salad and some coffeecake and pastries.

Later we will enjoy a special Easter worship service filled with wonderful music.

Our plans are to eat Easter dinner with our local daughter, her hubby, and their four children.  My daughter and I are collaborating on the food, which will include ham, make-ahead mashed potatoes, salad, and more as well as a scrumptious dessert.

I pray that each of you will have a wonderful Easter, however you may be celebrating at church or with family. 

For those who may be missing my usual Sunday Scripture post, here are some links to older posts for you to enjoy: Why Easter Matters (2014); Why Easter Matters (2022); and Why Easter Matters  (also 2022)

In all that we are doing, may each of us ponder all that our salvation cost our Lord and may we take time to thank Him for His willing sacrifice on our behalf.

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
"And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

We serve a risen Savior! This is truly worthy of celebration!  Have a blessed day! 

Hopping into the Hodgepodge

 

It's Wednesday again, so it's time for the Hodgepodge -- the linkup where Joyce, at  From This Side of the Pond, asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers on their own blogs.  This week's Hodgepodge questions have a spring and Easter theme.   Here goes:

1.What would you say is the most difficult task when it comes to spring cleaning? Have you completed that task this year? Any plans to get it done?

I don't do actual spring cleaning, preferring to try and keep up with cleaning tasks all year round, but I do find that windows need cleaning in spring after a long and messy winter.  Mr. T and I will work at it together, but it's not done yet.  Our house is still surrounded by snow.

A 1954 Wonder Book ready to list in my Etsy shop

2. Your favorite pastel color? Favorite thing you own in a pastel shade? 

Oh, that's a good question.  Possibly mint green, possibly peach, possibly light blue. Favorite thing I own in a pastel shade would probably be a peach colored sweater.

3. Do you like ham? Do you fix ham year round or is it mostly just a 'holiday food'? Baked ham-ham and eggs-ham and cheese sandwich-scalloped potatoes and ham-Hawaiian pizza....what's your pleasure? 

 

I do like ham.   I tend to only cook a ham at holiday time, but really there's no reason why I don't cook one any time of year.  I have a hot ham and potato salad recipe that we really enjoy.  Hawaiian pizza is good too -- I usually use barbecue sauce rather than pizza sauce on it.  I guess I have never posted that ham potato salad recipe, so there is no time like the present.   It really is delicious.  One could probably adapt it to use leftover Easter ham, but I've always just used ham steak.

HOT  HAM  AND  POTATO  SALAD
 

2 lb. red potatoes, scrubbed and cut in 1-inch cubes
8 ounces smoked ham steak, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 Tblsp. cider vinegar
1 Tblsp. honey
2 tsp. coarse-grained mustard (I often use the Dijon pub-style with mustard seeds)
1/3 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise (light works fine)
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. Tabasco sauce
Chopped parsley to taste
Hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered (optional)
Plum tomatoes, quartered (optional)

    Place potatoes in saucepan; cover with lightly salted water.  Bring to boil, cover, lower heat, and simmer until just tender, about 15 minutes.
    Meanwhile, cook ham in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes or until lightly browned.  Remove  ham to a large bowl, using a slotted spoon.  Add celery and onion to the bowl.
    Pour vinegar into warm skillet, stirring to dissolve browned bits in bottom of pan.  Stir in honey and mustard.  Slowly whisk in mayo.  Add salt, pepper, and Tabasco.
    Drain cooked potatoes and, while still warm, add to mixing bowl.  Pour dressing over potatoes.  Toss gently to combine, then sprinkle on the chopped parsley.  Serve salad in a shallow bowl (or even in the skillet) encircled with egg and tomato quarters (sprinkled with salt & pepper) if desired.  Serve warm.

Yield :  4 servings.

4. Do you celebrate Easter? What did Easter look like when you were a kid? What are your plans for Easter this year? 

 

I do celebrate Easter! Joyously!  

When I was a kid, Easter was not a holiday that I fully understood.  We did go to church, but the Gospel was not really part of it.  We did not have Easter baskets.  Instead, my mother hid jelly beans around the house for us to collect.  We usually did have a lovely Easter dinner at my grandmother's farmhouse.

 Easter plans this year include an early outdoor service, breakfast at the church, then an Easter worship service.  My daughter and I plan to collaborate on Easter dinner at her house.  Yes, it will include ham!

5. Something that makes you feel hopeful amidst all the chaos and confusion this world brings? 

I can give only one possible answer to this: the fact that God is in complete control and that He is working all things after the counsel of His own will -- and that one day all wrongs will be made right.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Looking forward to dinner out with old friends this evening (Tuesday).  It will be good to catch up. 

And that's the Hodgepodge!  Have a wonderful Easter, everyone!

Why Easter Matters, part 2

 

Graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

As mentioned yesterday, years ago (2014) I did a "Why Easter Matters" study from Good Morning Girls and posted just once about it.  Since today is Easter Sunday, and since it really does matter tremendously to us, I felt it was important to share more of my study with you.  The Scripture passage I'm using today is 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 14.

S= "For I delivered unto you first that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
"And that He was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures ...
"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain."  (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 14)

O=  C.I. Scofield notes concerning these verses: the apostle outlines the Gospel of God's grace.  1) It concerns a Person --the Christ of the Scriptures and history.  2) It concerns His death -- 'for our sins according to the Scriptures.'  And 3) It concerns His resurrection -- likewise 'according to the Scriptures.'  His burial is asserted as the evidence of His death; and that He was seen alive [v.5] is declared as the proof of His resurrection."

But if Christ is not risen -- if there was no resurrection -- then Paul's preaching this Gospel was in vain; it accomplished nothing.  Our faith would also be vain -- we would still be in our sins (v.17).

A=  What a huge blessing that the Gospel is true!  Jesus did die, but He did rise from the dead. He is risen, as He said!  So, instead of being in vain, my faith is living and real.  As Scofield comments on Hebrews 11: "The essence of faith consists in believing and receiving what God has revealed, and may be defined as that trust in that God of the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ whom He has sent which receives Him as Lord and Savior and impels to loving obedience and good works."

P=  "Lord, I thank You so much for the clarity of Your Word and the simplicity of the Gospel.  I praise You that Jesus not only died for my sin, but that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.  Truly, if Jesus had not risen, my faith would be in vain. I would still be in my sins.  There would be nothing to celebrate. 
"But Jesus did rise again, just as He said He would.  And thus my faith can be alive, vibrant, and real, making a difference every day of my life.  Help me to communicate the reality of my faith to those who don't know You.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

Wishing all of my readers a truly blessed Easter!

Why Easter Matters

 

Graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

Years ago (2014) I did a "Why Easter Matters" study from Good Morning Girls.  Back then, I posted just once about it.  Since Easter is coming up tomorrow, and since it really does matter tremendously to us, I felt it was important to share more of my study with you.  The Scripture passage I'm using today is Isaiah 53:4-6.

S=  "Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. 
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all."  (Isaiah 53:4-6)

O= Here we see what Christ has done for us in His sacrificial death.  We also see what we have done:

* Like sheep, we have all gone astray (v.6);
* Every one of us has turned to his or her own way (v.6);
* We have esteemed Christ to be "stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted" (v. 4).

BUT ...

* Christ has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (v.4);
* He was wounded for our transgressions (v.5);
* He was bruised for our iniquities (v.5);
* The chastisement for our peace was upon Him (v.5);
* With His stripes we are healed (v.5)'
* The Lord has laid our iniquity on Him (v.6).

A= This certainly shows a dramatic contrast between what I have done and am prone to do, and what Christ has done for me.  Prior to salvation I certainly did go astray and wanted to walk my own way.  Even after salvation, we are prone to want our own way and to turn aside from the way in which God would have us to walk.

Yet He has done so much for me -- borne my griefs, carried my sorrows, has been wounded and bruised for my transgressions and iniquities, has been chastised that I might have peace, has healed me with His stripes.  How unappreciative I can be!

P= "Lord, I can never thank and praise You enough for all You have done for me.  You have borne my griefs.  You have carried my sorrows.  You were wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities.  You bore the chastisement of a holy God so I might have peace with Him.  My iniquity has been laid upon you, and I've been healed with Your stripes.  Such an amazing, incredible sacrifice is almost beyond my comprehension.

"Truly, as the songwriter has said, how can I do less than give You my best and live for You completely, after all You've done for me?  Help me not to want my own way or to go astray in any way, but to walk as You wold have me to, consistently.  I thank You for all You have done and all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

Easter week hodgepodge

 

 Yes, it's Wednesday again, and time for the Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers.  This week, the Hodgepodge questions revolve around the themes of Easter and Tax Day. 

 1. Do you celebrate Easter? If so what are your plans this year? Did you have egg hunts as a kid? 

We do celebrate Easter, wholeheartedly.  We will have an early, outdoor service at church, followed by a breakfast together.  Then an Easter service which I am sure will be a blessing, replete with triumphant Scripture and music.   Easter dinner will be shared with our daughter and family.  We have only just begun to talk Easter menu.  Ham is a given, but the other details have not yet been worked out.

Egg hunts -- we didn't have them when I was a kid.  In our family, that was likely because at least two, maybe three, of the kids didn't like eggs.  There were no plastic eggs to fill with candy back in the 1950s.  What my mother did do was to hide jelly beans all around the living and dining areas.  We older kids were not allowed to take the jelly beans from low windowsills, so there would still be some there for my little sister to find.

This darling illustration was from a food coloring booklet that sold on Etsy.

2. What's your favorite bread to find in a bread basket? 

Either sourdough or marble rye. 

3. Your favorite chick flick? 

Not sure that I have one, but my favorite movies that appeal to girls more than guys would be the Anne of Green Gables movies. 

4. Tax day is rapidly approaching in the US of A...what's something you currently find 'taxing'? 

It has just ended, but the responsibility of tending a wood furnace while my hubby was spending nights at his mother's.   

5. Have you ever ridden in a taxi? Do you have a funny-scary-crazy-interesting taxi story to share? Do you use any of the newer taxi-like services such as Uber? 

I have ridden in a taxi several times, from airport to hotel and vice versa.  We have also used Uber once, when we and our daughter's family traveled out west to visit our other daughter and her family out there.  Although there were 8 of us, and lots of luggage, only 1 Uber arrived and so we had to divide the group. My hubby and oldest grandson stayed at the airport.   It was a bit of a distance to the hotel, and one of us had to travel back to the airport with the Uber driver.  My daughter did so -- the Uber arrangements had been made with her phone -- while I and my son-in-law got the younger kids settled at the hotel.  We prayed for her safety and breathed a sigh of relief when she returned.  If I recall, her main topic of conversation with the driver was homeschooling!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Remembering that last year we spent Easter in Elko, Nevada!  What a blessing it was to be able to spend Easter with loved ones we seldom see at this time of year!  And to be at Grace Baptist Church in Elko for Easter services, including a chilly sunrise service in the parking lot!  Those are wonderful memories for us and for granddaughter Julia, who went with us.

 And that wraps up the Hodgepodge for this week!  Why not head on over to From This Side of the Pond and snag the questions to answer on your own blog?

A blessed Easter to all!

 

 Mr. T and I would like to wish all of our friends and readers a very blessed Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   We may even be celebrating in some very different ways this year, although I hope that most of us will be able to observe this blessed day with a church family in some fashion.

 As I reflect upon last year, I recall that most churches in our country were closed.  We could gather with up to 10 people, so Mr. T and I hosted a socially distanced sunrise service for seven people (including ourselves) on our back deck, with a simple breakfast following that.  It was a meaningful way to celebrate our Lord's resurrection, and was such a blessing to each of us.

However we celebrate Easter this year, I pray that each believer will take time to ponder all that our salvation cost the Lord --  and may we take time to thank Him for His willing sacrifice on our behalf.

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
"And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

We serve a risen Savior! This is truly worthy of celebration!  Have a blessed day!

Wednesday Hodgepodge for April 8

It's Wednesday again, and our lovely hostess Joyce, at  From This Side of the Pond,  is hosting the Hodgepodge for our blogging and reading pleasure!  If you'd like to jump in too, head on over to  From This Side of the Pond and get the questions, then answer them on your own blog.  It's a wonderful diversion in these crazy times.  Here are Joyce's questions for this week:

1. How will you celebrate Easter this year?

Still up in the air with plans.  It will look very different from previous years, of course; that is absolutely a given.  One thing we are definitely planning to do is to "attend" (virtually) an Easter service in Elko, Nevada, at the church where our Western daughter and family go.  The wonderful pastors there have been going to an empty church on Sunday and doing a live-streamed service.   It's different, but they make it as interactive as they can with singing and a time of corporate prayer.  We've really been enjoying this, and I'm sure Easter Sunday will be a blessing too.

Above you see some lovely colored eggs made with natural dying materials like spinach, beets, red cabbage, and brown onion skins.  My granddaughters and I did this as a project some years ago.

Usually we have an early outdoor service and a lovely Easter breakfast at church.  That won't be  happening this year, sadly.  Mr. T and I will plan to have something special for Easter brunch or dinner, but not sure yet just what we'll do or at which mealtime.  It's just so different, but our reason for celebration has not changed!

2. Is it easier for you to receive grace offered or extend grace to another? Explain. 

Hmm ... it so depends on the situation.  But I think in general I find it easier to extend grace to another.  Sometimes I have difficulty giving myself grace.

Delightful graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings</a>

3. Do you say grace before meals? If so do you have a standard dinnertime grace or is it more 'off the cuff' ? Do you say grace when dining out? Do you have a favorite grace? Any special memory associated with 'saying grace'?

Yes, we do say grace before meals.  No standard or favorite grace; it's definitely off the cuff as the Spirit moves.  We do say grace when dining out, though if the atmosphere is very noisy or chaotic, we will just bow our heads and pray silently.  (However, noisy and chaotic places have not been our usual choice of restaurants.)

I have a couple of memories associated with "saying grace".  One is that as kids, whenever we got together with one particular aunt and uncle's family, we always, always said the "God is great, God is good" grace.  It's so odd to realize it, but of the eleven people who gathered around that table all those years ago, only my cousin Sandy and I are left.

 But the funniest and most memorable "saying grace" memory probably took place 30 years ago or more in our own kitchen.  We were at the table,  just about to pray and eat, when the phone rang.  (Remember, this was before the day of caller ID, and there weren't many telemarketers either.)  One of our daughters ran to answer it and greeted the caller in this way: "Dear Heavenly Father ..."!  Even today I cannot think of this incident without laughter bubbling up.

4. What are some challenges you think the next generation will face? (Generation Alpha -- born between 2011 and 2025)

Good question! Given the challenges we are facing right now, I think maybe their generation could face a lot more challenges regarding health and safety.  Likely many more global challenges as well.

5. Share a favorite quote or lyric featuring the word faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  (Hebrews 11:6)

Free graphic from Holley Gerth

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  

I hope to write a post about this later, but the past 2 days my hubby and I have enjoyed a picnic and hike at a nearby state park -- our governor is encouraging people to get out into nature and walk or hike, and the state parks up here are open.  Only a few other people have been at the park, and all of them distant from us.  We saw 6 people yesterday and only 3 people today.  We opted to go there two days in a row simply because the weather was beautiful (the rest of the week is predicted to be cold and rainy, maybe even snowy), and after leaving there we went directly to my childhood home to work on that project.

And there is the Easter week Hodgepodge!  Happy Wednesday, all!

A Blessed Resurrection Day to You!

Mr. T and I would like to wish all of our friends a blessed and meaning-filled  day of celebrating Christ's resurrection on this Lord's Day.  "He is risen, as He said"!  (Matthew 28:7)

Our Resurrection Day celebration began with a meaningful outdoor service which was a real blessing.  Although the field where we usually meet for this service was  still mostly snow-covered, we were able to stand on dry gravel in the church driveway adjacent to the field.  The temperature was in the 50s and felt so balmy.  Jackets were not even necessary!

We then adjourned to the fellowship hall to enjoy a bountiful breakfast (including a waffle station and another station for crepes!) with our church family.  After breakfast, we enjoyed a lovely Easter worship service together  We hope that all of you will have as lovely a day and that you will spend time pondering on what Christ's resurrection means for you personally.

Happy Easter!

Wishing you a blessed Easter!

Today, Mr. T and I would like to wish all of our friends a blessed and meaning-filled  day of celebrating Christ's resurrection.  "He is risen, as He said"!  (Matthew 28:7)

Our Resurrection Day celebration began with a meaningful outdoor service which was a real blessing.  Although the field where we have often met for this service was snow-covered, we were able to stand on dry gravel in the church driveway adjoining the field.  The temperature was in the 40s and quite moderate compared to some years when it has been very cold on Easter.

 We then adjourned to the fellowship hall to enjoy a bountiful breakfast (including an omelet station and waffle station!) with our church family.  An inspiring DVD took the place of Sunday School, and we then enjoyed a lovely Easter worship service, ending our time together with communion.  We hope that all of you will have as lovely a day and that you will spend time pondering on what Christ's resurrection means for you personally.

Happy Easter!

A blessed Easter to you!

Beautiful Easter graphic from Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

Mr. T and I would like to wish all of our friends and readers a very blessed Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   May each of us ponder all that our salvation cost the Lord and may we take time to thank Him for His willing sacrifice on our behalf.

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
"And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

We serve a risen Savior! This is truly worthy of celebration!  Have a blessed day!

Lovely lemon dessert

This dessert recipe is one I've made many times over the years.  It would make a really nice Easter dessert because it is pretty, somewhat light, and has the bright flavor of lemon.  I made it yesterday, though, for a potluck lunch at church where a ministry team of teenagers would be eating with us.  Here's the recipe if you are interested:

LEMON AMBROSIA CAKE

1 (18.25 oz) lemon cake mix, plus the eggs and oil it calls for
1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 cup sugar
2 (3.5 oz.) packages cook-and-serve lemon pudding and pie filling, plus egg yolks, water and sugar called for
2 cups whipping cream
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup flaked coconut

     Bake the cake as directed in a 13x9x2” pan.  Combine the pineapple and sugar in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and boil 5 minutes.
    Pour pineapple mixture over the hot cake.  Cool pineapple-topped cake in pan on rack.
     Cook the lemon pudding mixes as directed, with the egg yolks and water called for.  Pour the cooked pudding over the cake and chill until firm.
     Whip the cream until medium-stiff peaks form, gradually adding the confectioners sugar (which serves as a stabilizer).  Beat in the vanilla.  Spread the whipped cream over the pudding.  Sprinkle the coconut over the whipped cream and refrigerate the cake until ready to serve.
 Yield:  12 servings.

 This cake has been a family favorite for years.  I copied it years ago off the radio cooking show, Gus Saunders' Yankee Kitchen. Although the dessert is easy to make, it is somewhat time-consuming because the cake needs to cool and then chill in between the different steps of the recipe.  I'll run through those with pictures and captions.  (All photos were taken with my Kindle and so the quality is not of the best, but you will get the idea, I'm sure.)

Mix the cake with eggs, oil, and water as the package directs.  I used coconut oil because that's what I had.  Bake the cake as usual.

When the cake is done, put the undrained pineapple in a saucepan with a cup or less of sugar; bring to a boil.  Boil for 5 minutes and pour over the hot cake.  Let cool completely.

When the cake is cooled, cook the 2 packages of lemon pudding as the package directs.  The kind I used called for egg yolks and water, and I think some sugar too.  When  a recipe calls for 2 egg yolks, I always substitute a whole egg (unless there is a meringue involved to use up the whites).  Spread the pudding over the cooled cake.  Place the dessert in the refrigerator until the pudding is cold.  You can even chill it overnight at this point.

Whip cream with confectioners sugar and vanilla.

Spread whipped cream over the chilled pudding layer.

Sprinkle coconut  over the whipped cream.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Cut in squares of desired size to serve.  Enjoy!

Hope your family enjoys this recipe if you try it!

A blessed Easter to you!

This lovely card is from Little Birdie Blessings

 Yes, because He lives, we shall live also.  I have had the song "Because He Lives" playing through my head the past few days, and it has been a blessing to think on all that is ours because He lives!

Today, Mr. T and I would like to wish all of our friends a blessed and meaning-filled  day of celebrating Christ's resurrection.  "He is risen, as He said"!  (Matthew 28:7) 

Our Resurrection Day celebration will begin with a meaningful outdoor service and a bountiful breakfast with our church family.  We hope that all of you will have as lovely a day and that you will spend time pondering on what Christ's resurrection means for you personally.

Happy Easter!

A few vintage Easter cards

From my great-aunt to her sister, my grandmother

Here are a few vintage Easter cards from my collection.

Love this one!

Love the way these violets look three-dimensional

Sent to me as a child

From my collection of antique advertising and postcards

And now here are a few cross-shaped cards.  I never set out to collect these, but they seem to have found me one way or another.  They are pretty and meaningful.

Such pretty colors.  My scan came out crooked; sorry about that!

An Easter Blessing.  This is actually a card that opens.  The same design, minus the wording, is on the back.

Very, very meaningful.  Because He lives, we shall live also.

A couple of newer cross cards

The two just above could not really be said to be vintage, but they are  springlike and full of meaning for believers.  Hope you have enjoyed seeing these little Easter cards!

I'm sharing today with Vintage Charm.

Happy Easter!

Lovely Easter graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

Mr. T and I would like to wish a blessed Easter to all of our friends and readers.  May you all have a wonderful day of celebrating Christ's victory over the grave and all that it means to us!

We will spend most of the day with church family, including an early service and a scrumptious breakfast together.  We will be singing the hymn at the top of the page, for sure!  I plan to serve a simple lunch of ham and vegetables (and most likely ice cream!) in the early afternoon after our 11 a.m. worship service.  Later on, we will have a birthday celebration for my daughter, whose birthday just happens to fall on Easter this year. 

It will be a lovely and meaningful day with family and friends, and we wish the same for you.  Happy Easter!

Simple Easter and spring decorating

My hutch decorated for Easter and spring; I will show more detail below.

I thought I would show just a few pictures of some of my very simple decorating for Easter and spring.  It still looks very much like winter up here in that we still have LOTS of snow.  In places (like our driveway) we are beginning to have lots of ugly mud.  I detest that ugly fifth season (mud season) that we experience here in northern New England, but I try not to complain.  A side benefit is that my hubby often gets some time off due to mud, so there is something to be thankful for.  I must also pay attention to  the biblical admonition:

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Here are a few pictures.  I will simply caption them.

Top shelf:  Those are my Bunnykins dishes from childhood, a bunny and teapot I acquired for free (from different sources) and a Fiesta cup and saucer from my great-aunt

Bottom shelf: family transferware, papier-mache eggs from my childhood, pink "spring" tag made by my friend J., antique cards from my great-aunt; "chocolate" felt bunny made by me.   Green towel from Cracker Barrel.

Middle shelf: a nod to maple sugaring which is still going on, plus an egg-shaped soap in a candle holder from a friend.  Maple leaf pitcher a gift from my mom years ago.  My "Thankful" sign from The Wilds of New England expresses my thankfulness all year round, but especially for the true meaning of Easter this weekend.  I'm also thankful that maple sugaring with its hard work and sweet rewards was a part of my life growing up.

On the table: Just some simple colored foam eggs on a doily in my little cake dome.

On the island: wanted to use this "Faith" towel somewhere, so it's on the island with an Easter-egg candle (acquired free) atop a Fiesta ware saucer.  Love this color!

The blue flowers on the candle match so well with the saucer.  Serendipity!

Happy Easter!  Happy Spring!