Easter Week

"This is the week Jesus rose to his task and split history in two. This is the week he rode on a donkey, cried in the garden, suffered on the cross, rose into GLORY. This is the week that sinful, broken humans were granted a pardon, justified to perfection and set FREE. It is too miraculous for words. Songs and sermons fail us; we huddle at the cross, overwhelmed by the punishment that brought us PEACE. We want our lives to scream WORSHIP, for our Redeemer LIVES and his kingdom cannot be shaken. Jesus REIGNS (Hallelujah!!) and we are HIS... How do we worship in light of this Savior? What if we calculated the money we’d spend on new clothes, anything having to do with a bunny and chocolate, and used that investment for great good, pouring out for someone in need of MERCY?"-- Jen Hatmaker (Wow!)

I love Jen Hatmaker, she is a talented writer who loves the Lord, and she GETS it!! I have loved reading her blog. Here is her blog:  http://www.jenhatmaker.com/blog.htm

Are you PLEADING with God through the storm, or are you PRAISING Him in the storm?

Are you PLEADING with God through the storm, or are you PRAISING Him in the storm? There's a difference, the difference is PEACE! I had this thought today about of the two different ways to approach whatever storm you are in life. The reason is because I have walked both the PLEADING and the PRAISING in my life and the only thing that ever gave me peace was the PRAISING!  I pleaded for years for my mom, I never had any peace, I had anxiety, doubts, worry, I bargained with God and I pleaded with Him.  Never once did I praise Him in the storm, never once did i say I TRUST you in this storm! Fast forward 20 years later, and it took me that long, I decided to praise Him, to tell Him I trusted Him and I loved Him no matter what and I praised Him even when I did not feel like it..the difference for me was Peace! Not only was it peace, it was also joy and the feeling of being blessed despite my circumstances! Once I figured that out, it was like a drug I needed to get through the day during those hard days!