April 14, 2020

Today’s Peanuts cartoon finds Charlie Brown telling Sally and Linus the story about the apostle Paul being lowered over the wall in a basket.  Sally asked why he had to do that, and Snoopy replies:  He probably got tired of signing autographs.  Only Snoopy….. 

This morning Kathy and I did our usual Walmart run.  The store was not crowded and really, all the shelves were well stocked and all product was available – except Lysol and Clorox wipes.  Just keep waiting.  It’ll get there.  I didn’t sleep well last night and when the alarm went off at 5:20am I felt like I had been drugged.  It’s only 10:44am and I can’t keep my eyes open.  I hope to do some yard work after lunch, and possibly change the deck lights from Easter purple to Spring purple.  Don’t ask.  🙂   

After my shower and breakfast I listened to Pastor Paul Eisaman from River Hill Church of Christ.  His message was HE IS RISEN.  He emphasized that Easter is more than a season, it’s the beginning of our hope.  Any time angels are spoken of they were referred to as messengers of hope, and they played a major role in Jesus’ earthly life.  Angels announced His birth, first to Mary, then Joseph, then the Shepherds.  He appeared at the resurrection. proclaiming HE IS RISEN!  That announcement confirmed our HOPE in the Lord, and His victory over death.  We, too, will overcome death.  The third instance of angels in Jesus’ life was at his ascension.  After Jesus had disappeared into the clouds, returning to His Father in Heaven, the angel assured the disciples and all of us as well that Jesus would come back, and he would take us with him.  We have that HOPE in Him!  It’s awesome to remember that Jesus doesn’t condemn; he encourages us, even through our failure (read the story of Peter’s denial, and how Peter is specifically mentioned by the angel!)  Everything that happened was for our salvation.  Free with the claiming!  Have you claimed it for yourself??? 

 Today on this date in 43BC Julius Caesar was assassinated.  In 1828 Noah Webster registered his copyright for the first American Dictionary. In 1861, the Union surrendered Ft. Sumter.  In 1865, Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s theater in Washington DC.  J.C. Penny opened his first store in Wyoming in 1902, and on this date in 1912 the Titanic sinks.  Anne Sullivan was born in 1866, and in 1932 Loretta Lynn was born. 

Even though Easter day is past for 2020, keep the HOPE that it brings in your heart and life every day.  God Bless….