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Spring is Back !

April

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Spring is an interesting time in northern Georgia. It feels great to get outdoors in the warmer weather, but it doesn’t last.

Every year, it seems Mother Nature can’t make up her mind. We get a burst of warmer weather and then freezing temperatures return. Then it warms up again, but nope, not done. Another cold front blows through, usually with freezing or near freezing temps. Then it warms up again, but this year, we had a third cold wave blow through before winter was all said and done.

Confusing time. One day you’re outside in shorts and the next day you’re in jeans and a coat.

The Easter Confusion

We just celebrated Easter and being on this side of the resurrection it is a significant and joyful time for Christians. The foundation of our faith – Jesus died on the cross, sacrificing Himself for us and then rose from the dead.

But at the time it happened, the disciples were not celebrating. As a matter of fact, they were confused and afraid. Take a look at two different accounts after Jesus’s death.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews (John 20:19)

She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. (Mark 16:10-11)

Jesus told His disciples what would happen, but they had forgotten. Mourning the death of their teacher, they thought all was lost. Some even returned home to probably go back to their old occupation. No one believed Mary Magdalene when she told them she saw Jesus. It took Jesus appearing before them to remove all doubt.

It’s okay when we have doubts or don’t understand

The disciples spent three years with Jesus. They were eyewitnesses to His many miracles, including bringing Lazarus back from the dead. Jesus told them exactly what was going to happen, but doubt set in for them after Jesus’s death. They forgot it all.

When you have doubts or are confused about a situation, don’t be too hard on yourself. We are only human and if eyewitnesses doubted, then give yourself a little grace.

The disciples doubted, but it’s even harder for us sometimes because we were never eyewitnesses to His miracles or teachings. Still, Jesus is with us, even if we can’t see Him. Lean on Him in your time of doubt and trust Him.

Easter Egg Fun Facts

Early Christians used Easter eggs to symbolize the Easter story.

Easter eggs were handed out at Holy Saturday services. The shell representing the tomb and cracking the egg represented Jesus’s resurrection.
Also, early Christians abstained from meat and eggs during Lent and Easter Sunday was the first day Christians were able to eat eggs again.
Eggs began to be colored and pictures added to represent different parts of the Easter story.
They would hide the eggs and when the children found them, they would tell that part of the story.

(https://www.chaseoaks.org/articles/easter-eggs-what-is-the-history-behind-this-tradition/)

Verse for the month

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:26-27)

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