Marshmallow peeps, creme candy eggs, and chocolate bunnies line store shelves—such sweet sugary-laden treats children love (as parents cringe at the thought). But these worldly items offer no explanation or representation of the real message of Easter.

The real message of Easter can be simply stated: Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God, paid the price for humankind's sins so that we might have the freedom of new life through His death and resurrection on the cross. (But clearly, Jesus' path to the cross was not simple).    

​Like newborns, we are made new though our faith in Him. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17

The candy peeps and chocolate bunnies will never represent Easter. However, the "real" baby chicks, bunnies, birds, and other baby animals born in this spring season, along with the blooming of flowering plants and trees, are a reminder that God brings new life to earth. And He has brought new life to us through Jesus Christ, who offers us salvation from the darkness of the sin of the world.  

May your Easter be a day of celebration as you indulge in this beautiful, sweet message of spiritual food for your soul: "Jesus Christ is risen! He has risen indeed!"

My prayer for you: May you rejoice in the rebirth of your spirit and be renewed in faith today and each day, and may the light, joy, and love of the Lord guide you in all you do. 
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"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 NIV

I woke up suddenly from a deep sleep with an image in my mind: I was holding out my hands in front of me with my palms up, but my hands were empty.

For weeks, I’d prayed fervently for people with serious medical issues. I couldn’t help but worry about their diagnosis, how it was affecting their physical and mental health, their quality of life, and what the coming weeks and months would hold.

When the image of my open hands appeared in my mind, it happened at a particularly odd time: 11:11 p.m. At that moment, I felt I was being helped, guided, and persuaded—all at once. I was certain this was an answer to prayer about all of the concerns. But in that answer to prayer, I realized my job was not to worry but to trust God. The worry lifted, and my hands felt suddenly light as a sense of peace washed over me.

God had removed the weight of my worries and fears and taken them unto Himself. There were not mine to hold onto.

God’s message was clear. It was as if He was saying, It’s Out of Your Hands. End of story. Period.
It was time to quit worrying—and trust Him.   

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May you, too, be at peace, knowing that God is only a prayer away—give your worries to Him. 
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com
Story adapted from a December 2019 blog (N. Johnson)