It’s April, and that means Easter!
This month, we’d like to hear from you! Do you have a special Easter memory? How will you be celebrating this amazing season of grace? Will you share with us? Just leave a comment, letting us know your own Easter story. Or, during the month of April, perhaps you’d write an Easter post and link up here with this community?
To get things started, I’m sharing a memory of a special Easter Sunrise Service.
On Easter morning the alarm goes off extra early and I reach out from underneath the sheets for silence. The air is still and dark and hushed and I stretch arms and legs and reach my toes for warmth among the sheets.
It’s early and the sun still hasn’t made its way to our side of the world. And early is the point of this exercise.
We rise before the sun on Easter and we pull on denim and knit and keep our children in their pj’s and wrap them up in blankets and their anticipation mixes with their groggy and we talk in whispers in the dark. “It’s Easter,” we breathe into their ears and we buckle them in so that they’re safe while stars still twinkle in the air above us and the edges of the sky begin to show some signs of giving way to Light.
We drive in quiet and I watch the sky and it feels like the very air itself knows something special’s going on. The sky is rolling up its hemline and a slim line of silver sparkles at the edges of the earth as we park our car among the rest and join the others who have come as witnesses to grace, at the dawning of this new day.
These broken and put together worshipers smile in an open field beneath the sky. We whisper, “Happy Easter” and we can see our breath as the sky begins to glow and we are led in songs and prayers. Then the preacher ushers in the sunrise as he tells the story of Jesus giving us back our lives early in the morning, more than 2000 years ago.
The sun fills up the sky and pushes back the darkness and later we will warm up in the fellowship hall at church. We’ll eat eggs and grits and bacon and biscuits and we’ll talk loudly and laugh deeply. But for now, beneath this sky that glimmers bright above us, we lift up our hearts with praise to God who saw our bruised and battered and broken selves and came to meet us exactly where we were, before we even knew we needed it.
~~~
The amazing folks at DaySpring would like to help us all remember the gift of grace we received that very first Easter. Throughout the month of April, DaySpring is offering special deals on items that help celebrate grace.
Receive 50% off the Wonderful Grace carved wooden serving tray, and $10 off the Studio JRU Crosses and SDG Grace Hanging Tiles.
And, the entire By Grace Alone jewelry set is on sale for just $39.99!
All of these items reflect the gift of grace that has set us free!
Now it’s your turn! Leave a comment, or link up an Easter story to share here with the (in)courage community! We love hearing from you!
Leave a Comment
Emily says
I’ve always loved easter. Growing up, it meant wearing a new dress, getting candy, and a glorious feeling of freshness and newness. This Easter has been extra special for me, because it is the first time I’ve observed Lent. It’s been a challenge and stretched me in so many ways. My husband and I will be celebrating at our new church, and attending a Good Friday service for the first time. I’m really looking forward to it, and anticipating all that God has to teach me in the next several weeks before Easter.
Deidra says
I remember the brand new dresses, too. One year, my mom made matching dresses – one for her, one for me, and one for my sister.
Blessings to you as you close out this season of Lent and begin your journey toward Easter with new memories made!
Chelsea Taylor says
I’m so excited about this Easter. Since Ash Wednesday I’ve been memorizing Romans 8. Truly a way to refocus my mind on WHY I celebrate Easter. I’ve been writing thoughts on each verse and it’s just been…well….just wonderful. I can feel the Holy Spirit working with each passing day, I can feel the molding and shaping and I’m SO thankful!
Deidra says
Wow! I can feel your excitement, Chelsea! Thanks so much for sharing here. There is something about spending time with those ancient words, isn’t there? And you’re memorizing all of chapter 8? Amazing!
tinuviel says
Well, it’s not quite an Easter memory, strictly speaking, but my favorite Easter-ish memory is coming to faith in Christ on Good Friday, 1987, through a Scripture and song service at my childhood church. I have loved Easter weekend ever since.
Deidra says
That is an exquisite memory! This time of year must be extra special for you! Last year a friend of mine was baptized on Easter morning. That will remain a beautiful memory for me.
~VA~ says
I’m not sure this totally counts as an Easter memory, but Good Friday two years ago (April 10, 2009) was the very last time I hurt myself. Although I would have loved to have ended the struggle sooner, it painted an amazing picture to have it happen that day to kinda show “this was before, now that I have died and risen again you are set free.” It also means that close to Easter time I get to celebrate not only the resurrection of my Lord, but also the anniversary of my freedom from self-injury! It is such an amazing picture of the Lord’s renewing power!!
Deidra says
Freedom! It’s one of the best gifts we receive, isn’t it? I rejoice with you over your gift of freedom and – from the bottom of my heart – I thank you for sharing your memory here! Indeed, it is for freedom that we have been set free!
Kim says
Easter, my favorite day of the year. It is the music that speaks to me. After the long quiet solemn lent it is the trumpets blaring, the handbells ringing and, the choirs singing alleluia that tell me we have been set free once again! What I love so much is that still to this day, my 24 year old son, is willing to play his trumpet, use his gift and shout to the world that He has Risen, Yes Indeed.
Deidra says
Sweet, sweet memories. I love a trumpet on Easter morning! The fanfare is appropriate – announcing the news that yes, He has indeed risen!
hippie4ever says
How beautiful.
Deidra says
🙂
Elaine Wiley says
Hi Deidra, I appreciate your beautiful comments about Easter. I used to think that Christmas was my favorite time of year, but in the past number of years I have grown to love Easter even more. Without Christ’s sacrifice on the cross his birth would have been just a birth. With Easter, his calling was fulfilled and we have been redeemed and set free. Thank you for the reminder. With love in His precious name, Elaine Wiley
Deidra says
We need all of it, don’t we? Every single bit.
Teri @ StumblingAroundInTheLight says
Such a deeply meaningful tradition! Pondering doing something along those lines for our crew…there’s a perfect sunrise spot we could hike to.
Thank you so much for the inspiration!
Teri
Deidra says
Oooo! Sounds like fun! There is something wondrous about worshipping as the world wakes up on Easter.
Two Fun Ways to Make Easter All About Jesus « Living Devotionally says
[…] on and buy from these links I receive a very small percentage of your purchase. Linked up with (in)courage Easter Stories and Impress Your Kids Meaningful […]