Resurrection Day 2014

I wanted to get some photos before we left the house this morning. Fancy outfits were easy this year - not that we usually do them - but THIS year I told the kids, "Pick one of your wedding outfits." 

While Michael finished getting ready, I grabbed a few shots. Unfortunately, Stacia insisted she could not open her eyes outside...this is the best shot...though I have lots of blackmail material for her future life. 

I figured out the self-timer and grabbed this one inside....

Michael joined us for a shot. 

Of course there are many fun outtakes. 

The kids put on a great skit this a.m. at Chapel. Arielle was the voice of Mary Magdalene....and Stacia was Mary Magdalene, Zander was the disciple John, Nolan was Jesus.....and we had angels, disciples and crowds. They all did a great job. 

Niki loves to speak Japanese with us...and these two speak some each week. This soothes deep places in my heart...and I think it does the same for Niki. 

After chapel we grabbed lunch. It was Nolan's week to pick and he chose Subway down on Plumas Street. There was a big greed fest Easter Egg Hunt going on across the street which was interesting to watch. 

We watched Heaven Is Real - good movie - then came home and watched a Jerry Lewis movie. Movies are about all we had energy left for after the busy week. 

We Skyped with BreZaak again tonight - great way to end the day or begin a new week! So happy about the scholarships Izaak pulled down for his last semester of Bible College. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

An Observation From Easter Morning

As I read through the  accounts of the crucifixion and the resurrection, one thing consistently showed up

Via Google Images

between the varying accounts.  When the women returned from the empty tomb trying to tell all of the disciples what they had seen, there was much confusion - the men regarded what they had to say as nonsense (Luke 24:11) but not all of the men.  Peter and John took off almost immediately to check this out.  The two of them found the tomb empty.  Peter went in and looked everything over very carefully.  Peter did not understand as of yet what this all meant, but in John 20:8, John saw and believed. 

There were two different groups of disciples that day: the first group was stuck in the paralysis of analysis.  They all stayed behind and hid in their upper room hiding place,  fearful of even their shadows, trying to understand what had happened; the second group was Peter and John - they heard the report of the women and went to check it out.  Merely reasoning it out in their minds would not suffice.  They had to see. 

I wonder how many times we get stuck in the same paralysis of analysis instead of "checking it out."  It was Peter and John that saw the stone rolled away- not the nine that stayed behind.  It was the two that saw rolled up grave linens - not the nine.  It was these two that saw the empty tomb - not the nine.  They had the joy of bringing the news of the risen savior back confirming what the women had said earlier. 

Just wondering...

By Grace
Michael
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...