Rest

There have been many Easters I have spent hunting eggs, eating great meals with friends and family, enjoying my new dress but without fully embracing the beauty of the day.  This year will be so, so different but there are a few things that will stay the same.

We will still wake up and gather as a family to hear an Easter message from our pastor. There will still be brunch which has become our standard and we may even decorate a few Easter eggs. More than likely at some point in the afternoon we will rest.

It is not lost on me what a blessing it is to find rest. For so many years resting in Jesus was impossible for me.  I carried so many bad choices and burdens on my heart believing I would need to earn back the love of Jesus. It was exhausting and as I continued to fail and fall short the cycle of darkness continued.  Instead of mercy and grace I felt shame and regret. I didn’t fully understand I was worthy and chosen or that Jesus had already paid my debt.  

One Easter morning a message changed all that for me and I remember the tears as I finally realized this gift is free. I am a sinner and I will always be but I can rest in knowing because of His sacrifice my sins may be forgiven. I still have work to do, love to share and battles to conquer but I can do all this knowing my salvation rests in Him.

So how do we find rest this Easter when we may be struggling to make sense of all that is around us? Ask Him to lead you there. Maybe your rest comes from being creative, baking or disconnecting by diving into a good book. For those who are missing the human interaction maybe your rest comes in checking up on loved ones with a phone call, facetime or happy mail.

I am wishing all of you a beautiful Easter and hope you find your heart filled with the peace that only comes from above. I hope you find rest.

Here are just a few of my favorites this week.

My friend Holly has found it rests her racing mind to be creative and spark some joy for others. The tasks for punching out all these hearts and then creating this art for her front window brought her rest. Hearts in the window is a whole movement across the nation and you can see more inspiration by joining the original Facebook group follwing this hashtag on instagram. So many beautiful expressions in the form of window art. You can see some more of their colorful artwork by visiting her here.

My friend Kelly at The Anthony Kitchen has been sharing all sorts of Easter inspired treats including these cake pops and a yummy ham and cheese quiche. She also has a better than store bought recipe for Lofthouse cookies I’ve been dying to try.

Carly and I are members of the National Charity League which is a mother and daughter group serving in the community. Since we cannot physically go out to many of the philanthropies we typically service, the league has given us the opportuntiy to earn hours from home. One of the opportunties was to create Easter cards for local assisted living facilities. I pulled out my scrapbook supplies and it really reminded me how much I love being creative in this way!

Several years ago at Easter I shared why Jesus is my Favorite. I always love remembering this!

This verse feels so right in light of our current events. Resting in Him and trusting Him to see us through.