There are hints here and there in our household that Easter is just around the corner... the practice of Lent, colourful chocolate eggs, Easter-themed sugar cookies, a bird thawing in the fridge, plans to attend Good Friday service, Easter devotions, hot cross buns...
As I sit here on this cloudy and rainy Wednesday morning contemplating my grocery list for the Easter weekend, I reflect on The Reason we celebrate Easter! Such great Love... what a truly awesome Grace-gift! God's relentless Love that never lets us go! Jesus...
Our family's reading of Ann Voskamp's Trail to the Tree is drawing to a close. It has truly helped us to reflect {even more} on the Easter narrative. My son wants to be the one to read the devotions each night and my daughter wrote about her reflection of Day 10's reading from Matthew 14:13-21 entitled Broken and Multiplied.
As we reflect, we learn, we remember, we live...
I love the prayer from Day 11: Upside Down Kingdom...
Father God, You bless. It is the essence of who You are, the God who so love, He gave... And You bless with all manner of goodness and happiness, when we follow Your counter-culture, radical ways. Before His crucifixion, Your Son answered the interrogating Pilate, "My Kingdom is not of this world." Jesus' sermon on the Mount not only testifies to this truth, but invites us into His Kingdom too. Father, we gather around You and ask You to teach us how to live as Your citizens. Citizens of the upside-down kingdom.
Unwrapping more of His love in this world.
Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!
Your words are a beautiful reminder that we are not here for US alone to be full and happy; we are to help make that true for others also. Always in Christ. Always through grace. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your post and my heart resonates with your prayer. It's awesome to see kids get excited about Jesus and what he did for us. Have a blessed Easter!
ReplyDeleteMy oldest son has come home (while in college) and said, "Mom, we're a peculiar family" - and I thought - well, yes, we're supposed to be a peculiar people. Of an "upsidedown kingdom" - I like that phraseology. Loving God enough to radically Jesus-Love the world - that sounds just right!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed Easter!