Color Outside the Lines on Easter

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

~Romans 6:8-11

April 20, 2014
Easter Sunday

Dear God,

He is risen! Your son, my Savior, is risen! How could I ever begin to thank you for loving me (and other sinners) enough to send a Savior with shoulders big enough to take on all the sins of the world? The only way I am able to scratch the surface is to live a life pleasing to you and to share my story with others through my blog.

"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

I woke up this morning singing, "He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!" Then, came the song, "I serve a risen Savior, He's in my heart today..." By the time my eyes were barely open, I had my own church service going. My furry kids were staring at me and sitting at my feet as I carried on, waving my hands in the air. We began a procession into the house them barking for breakfast and me shouting, "Whereeeee's the coffee?!" I had that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart ... yes, I sure did.

My daughter, Jill, texted me about 8 and said she was leaving Dallas to come visit. Varooom (You think I'm kidding? Her car thunders down the road!)  ~ in no time she was pulling into town and calling for final directions.  I get such a kick out of her and her bright red Camaro, Scarlet. I had lined up a choice of three meals: (1) a ham dinner; (2) meatloaf dinner; and, (3) a Mexican dinner of nachos and all the fixins. Next thing you know, we were cooking up a storm and giggling like teenagers.  Since I had a garage sale yesterday, things were a bit helter skelter. Oh well, wherever family is gathered there is laughter and a whole lotta love and that's the main thing.

Jill brought me some Gregg's Mist which we planted after we ate. Butterflies are supposed to go bonkers over the blooms so come on plants ... BLOOM! I enjoy Jill so much because she colors outside the lines like me. I'm a free spirit but she is even more so. She helped me clean out the storm shelter and put a bunch of tubs down there ~ it's always a chore but somehow we made it fun.

To color outside the lines means having nachos on Easter. To color outside the lines means doing things that might not make sense to others but invites hearts and souls to come together. To color outside the lines means the traditional Easter dinner of ham, baked potatoes, veggies, and dessert will be served tomorrow on a Monday night. Lord, I think you made me to color outside the lines ... to be creative ... to think outside the box ... to be able to learn (and laugh) at the flops and fumbles of life knowing that with each flop, I gain wisdom and can celebrate the journey.

Father, this Easter Sunday, I can't say it enough that I am thankful beyond thankful that I serve a risen Savior. Bless my Readers, opening their eyes and hearts to receiving your Son. With each new day, help us to come together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let not Jesus death on the cross be the end of the story for there is so much more. Christ saved us for a purpose and that purpose is to move beyond the self-centered existence we are born with, maturing into adults who reach out and make others' lives a little easier. Because you are the center of my existence, I am more than I ever hoped I would be. That being said, I pray that my Readers would grow in you as a stone skipping across a pond, the ripples fanning out into eternity.

Amen!

Miss Dottie

NOTE TO READERS: It is nightfall and I am one tired lady. Mr Sandman has sprinkled sleepy sand in my eyes and my bed is looking mighty inviting. When I think about Easter, I think about rebirth. Christ was raised from the dead that we might have newness of life. Spring ... newness of life. With each bud that appears, I am giddy looking forward to the opening of a beautiful flower. I never get tired of experiencing the magic of Easter and the perennials rising from the depths of my garden floor. I have visions of Christ rising from a tomb AND my garden bursting at the seams with buds. This blogger is a happy camper!! Hope your Easter was as blessed as mine!