It's Easter Monday Morning

It's Easter Monday Morning...the day after Easter. The day after Mary and the Disciples learned that Jesus was alive and no longer in the tomb! I was reading in the Gospels the different accounts of all that happened on Resurrection Day, and the activities of Jesus as He revealed Himself to His disciples,  and then also to the men on the Road to Emmaus, (Luke 24:13-32),

and still on that same day He came and had fish and honeycomb with the Disciples (Luke 24:33-43), and also came back especially to show Himself to Thomas, so that he would also believe and not doubt...(John 20:19-29).  Jesus was quite active on that first day!

Jesus continued to show Himself to His disciples for forty more days, teaching them more about love being the only proper motive for service (John 21:15-17),  and there were "many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." John 21:25.

And then at the end of these forty days Jesus gave them (and us) His Great Commission:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son 

and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20

And after sharing these things with them and giving them this commandment, 

"He blessed them...

He was parted from them and carried up into heaven."

Luke 24:51

And Acts 1:9-11 tells us:

"Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up,

and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, 

behold two men stood by them in white apparel,

who also said,

"Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?

This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven,

will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

So, here we are, the day after Christ's Resurrection, and we have work to do! We can't just keep standing here gazing up into heaven. We've been given a Great Commission to go out and share this Good News with the world, and then to prepare our hearts for His, I believe, soon return.  

I trust that you all had a blessed and pleasant Easter. Yes, it was different for everyone, without being able to attend our regular Easter Sunday worship services, singing the songs we love so much that are special especially on that day.  I don't know about you, but I sang them anyway.  We awoke early and waited for the sunrise to go outside into our front yard, to rejoice to see the day of Christ's Resurrection.

I stood there at the cross and sang several of my favorites..."He Arose", "Christ The Lord is Risen Today, Alleluia!", and "He Lives".  The neighborhood was quiet and calm. No one else was stirring except for a distant rooster crowing. I thought about Peter when I heard it crow, and was thankful that Peter's denial of Christ did not stop him from repenting of that and being forgiven by Christ...and then going forward to begin what we know as the Church today! How awful it would have been if Peter had quit after denying Christ...we would not even know about Jesus today, nor have any reason to celebrate! So thankful Christ gave Peter another chance when He told him to "Feed My Sheep" in John 21:15-17. 

After singing and waiting on the sunrise in our own yard, we decided to jump in the car and take a short ride to the boat ramp where we hoped we could get a better view of the sunrise:

 It really wasn't much better as it was very overcast, but it did not deter me from continuing my praise and worship of the Risen Christ. Again, I was moved to sing the above mentioned songs and added what I could remember of one of my favorites, "Was it a Morning Like This?"

"Did the grass sing? Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?"

"Over and over like a trumpet underground, did the earth seem to pound He is Risen?, 

Over and over in a never ending round, He is Risen, Alleluia "

Was it a morning like this, when my Lord looked out on Jerusalem? He is Risen, Alleluia...Alleluia...Alleluia!"

Thankfully no one came outside of their homes to tell me to be quiet...but my thoughts were like what Jesus told the Pharisees:

Luke 19:39-40 (NKJV)

"39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Finally, I felt satisfied that Jesus knew my heart...and that the angels and saints above were all rejoicing along with me...and it was time to go back to our home and begin the preparations for the day of Easter celebration with our immediate family. I say immediate, meaning our adult son who lives with us, and our other adult son and his wife, who live nearby. We have been appreciating their help over the past month especially since my surgery, and they have been in and out of our home frequently, so we felt safe that we could spend this day together, within reason. No holding hands to say grace, no welcoming hugs, which we miss, but still sharing time together in a reasonable way. I feel badly for those who could not spend time with any family members due to having younger children or other restrictions.  These are difficult times for all, and we pray this "season of social distancing" will soon be a thing of the past and people will be able to get back to work and resume their lives with loved ones once again.

That being said, I thought I'd share a few pictures with you from our Easter family celebration. If you are a Facebook friend, you have probably already seen most of these, but bear with me. There may be some surprises still.

 Many of you already know about my interesting cake...My son asked why I put "stove top stuffing" on top of the cake. That quip took the cake,  so to speak! Actually, I was trying to have a lovely pastel hued multi colored coconut topping, but it just didn't turn out that way. It still tasted good. Next time I will just stick to using green food coloring to look like grass. No one turned down a piece of cake, btw.

Yes, we still have Easter Baskets for our adult children. The trick is, they have to find them first. The Easter Bunny had a difficult time finding good spots in this new house to hide the baskets, but after many hints to the searchers of "hot, cold, luke warm, red hot"...they each finally found their baskets...

If you recall THIS POST a couple of weeks ago, you will remember that we ladies were supposed to display our lovely "Easter Dresses" for at home Easter celebration wear. I'm probably the only one brave (or silly enough) to actually do this.  If you did, please show us your outfit!! I don't want to be the only crazy one in the bunch!

My hubby was getting anxious for the shenanigans to get over with so he could have some lunch:

And lunch we did have, actually, this was "Dinner"...Baked Ham with pineapple and glaze baked by my daughter in law perfectly, scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot medley (fresh, not frozen), rolls, and of course deviled eggs!

We even used my good china. I was planning to put them in the dishwasher, but someone grabbed them and washed them first because they didn't want to possibly ruin them in the DW.  That was very thoughtful, but so much for my great plans for saving us some work! LOL.

I know this is picture overload, but I never got around to posting my Easter decorations before Easter, and so I thought I'd better go ahead before we get totally out of the season and you won't be interested in seeing Easter Bunnies and such anymore.

 This is my "Margie Doll", so named for my Aunt Margie, who gave her to me for my 7th birthday many many years ago. She is all dressed up for Easter in a lovely dress that my mother made for her many years ago also.

These next few pictures are just some of the Easter Bunnies that are sitting around...

Or, should I say "hanging around"?  LOL...

Or perhaps swinging in to wish us a Happy Easter...

The green china bunny on the far left was given to me by my maternal Grandma Tedlie when I was a very young child. It is a special treasure.  Some of the ceramic bunnies sitting on the table were given to our boys when they were little by my mother.

And we must not forget Baby Elva,  who is all dressed up for Easter in a dress that I actually wore when I was an infant, so you KNOW that's old!

 With that, I will close this montage of Easter pictures. I hope that you have enjoyed this visit as much as I have enjoyed spending this time with you. I hope to get around to visit your stories in the next few days to see how you have celebrated this special time.

Now let us be like the disciples and go out tell everyone that "Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!" Hallelujah!! Because He lives, we shall live too!!!  The Good News is that because Christ is risen, death does not have the victory!! 

 "Death is swallowed up in victory.

O Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?"

I Corinthians 15:54-55

Praise God!!

Postscript, Let us remember in prayer those who may be suffering loss of home or family due to the bad storms that have been passing through the south yesterday and today, as well as those who are suffering loss of income and health due to the coronavirus. I would not want my "frivolity" above to take away from those who are truly suffering at this time. They are definitely in my thoughts and prayers, as I am sure they are yours as well. 

Sermon Notes: Closed Doors and Windows Can't Keep Jesus Out!

My ears really perked up during Sunday's sermon when the pastor said,

"Closed doors and windows can't keep Jesus out..."

or at least that's what I thought he said...but then I realized what he really said was this:

"SPIRITUAL Closed doors and windows can't keep Jesus' SPIRIT out!"

Either way, I thought to myself..."He must be reading my blog to use the Closed Doors, Open Windows terminology!"....and then I started paying closer attention to what the pastor was REALLY saying...

And what he was really talking about was what was happening in the days following Jesus' resurrection from the dead...looking especially at John's Gospel, chapter 20,  verses 24-29.

Here's the story... just prior to this in verses 19-23, Jesus had appeared to most of the Disciples as they gathered back in the Upper Room trying to figure out what was going on...

19.  "Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week,

when the doors were shut 

where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them

"Peace be with you."

Now, on to verse 24...

"Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, 

was not with them when Jesus came."

So the other disciples told Thomas all about Jesus appearing to them, and Thomas was a bit incredulous...or maybe just a bit envious...either way, he wasn't too sure about this, so he said,

25.  "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe!"

Thomas wanted his own experience...his own story...not everyone else's story...he wanted to see Jesus for himself and experience the Risen Christ personally before he would truly believe...

So, what happened?  Well, read on...

26.  And after eight days His disciples were again inside,

and Thomas with them.

Jesus came,

the doors being shut, 

and stood in the midst, and said,

"Peace to you!"

Jesus got right to the heart of the matter with Thomas when He said to him,

27.  "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands;

and reach your hand here, put it into My side.

Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

28.And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

At this point, Thomas acknowledged Jesus as his LORD...he let Jesus' Spirit enter into his heart...he made Him LORD of his life...which is like saying "My Lord, You have dominion over my life here on earth..."    We can lean on His everlasting arms as our sustainer, protector, and guide here on earth...

And then Thomas also acknowledged Jesus as "My God"...for eternity...even when this life ends... My God Who will be there on the other side of this life...waiting for us...to welcome us home...

Jesus not only entered the room through closed doors and windows, where the disciples were sitting and waiting, but He entered the closed door of Thomas' heart, and opened it wide...just one look at the Savior and Thomas's heart door opened wide to let Him enter in.

Jesus then said to Thomas,

29.  "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

It is as if Jesus "established a new blessing for those not yet born...we are blessed...God has blessed us. We weren't there at the Upper Room or at the crucifixion...yet Jesus said we are blessed because we have believed, yet not seen!  We are blessed...Jesus says we are blessed...and no liar, gossiper, or demon can change that..."  (paraphrasing from sermon)  

Don't let spiritual closed doors or windows keep you from letting Christ into your heart!  He wants to enter in...He's standing there waiting and knocking at your heart's door.  His Spirit is able to enter in through closed doors and windows...perhaps even when we aren't really "believing"...but we need to acknowledge His Presence and welcome Him in, and proclaim with Thomas, 

"My Lord and my God!"

Sermon notes from FUMC Interlachen, Pastor A.C. Myers, 4/8/2018

Friday Foto Friends...Some Post-Easter Thoughts and Ideas - updated

Daffodils and Easter Bunnies...Happy Post-Easter Blessings...

I wonder how many of you had ham for Easter dinner?  Probably quite a few...

Well, I cooked a ham for Easter dinner, but we really didn't sit down and have an Easter dinner 

per se'.  A lot of unusual stuff was happening in our family last weekend, and so our normal Easter dinner plans had to be put on hold.  Therefore, I had a lot of ham left over.  We tried to eat ham a couple of times during the week, but our at-home family has shrunken in size this past year, and we just don't seem to eat up the leftovers like we used to.  So, I resorted to doing what my Grandma Mursch  (paternal) used to do with leftover ham after Easter or Christmas dinner....make a ham loaf!  Have you ever had ham loaf before?  If not, you have missed a treat.  For my Friday Foto Friends I have decided to show you how to make a ham loaf from start to finish.  

1.  You need something to grind up your leftover, fully cooked ham. I use this ancient meat grinder, which belonged to my mother.  Her notes are written on the plastic bag:

"Used on Clarion Farm 1950-on...Grinder, meats, etc."

(this meat grinder is actually as old as me!)

(The Clarion farm was in Pennsylvania, where I was born. However, we moved to Florida when I was almost six years old...but my mother continued to use this meat grinder until she gave it to me many years later)

2.  Set up the meat grinder by attaching it to the counter top or a table, and place a pan under the grinder to catch the meat as you grind it.

3.  Prepare the ham by trimming off excess fat and skin, and cut it into chunks that will fit into the port on the grinder.

4. Feed the meat into the grinder as you turn the handle...watch out that you don't get your fingers down into the grinder...we don't want "Pam" in the Ham...LOL!!!  (Even if Pam IS a bit of a "ham")

5.  Keep grinding until you have at least two pounds of ground ham.

6.  Oh, this is important: here is my grandmother's recipe.  You will note that it calls for 2 lbs. of ground ham, and 1/2 lb. of ground pork.  Sometimes it is difficult to get the ground fresh pork, so I use ground beef instead, and it turns out just as good.  I think the ground pork or ground beef are needed to add some necessary moisture to the ham (a.k.a fat) to keep it from being too dry.  (also, I think I usually use a little more than just 1/2 lb. of this...it's more like a pound)** NOTE: 4/13/2020: My sweet and smart daughter-in-love Rose has started making this hamloaf for us, and she has improved the recipe by adding ground sausage instead of the ground fresh pork or hamburger. It adds some great flavor, and I believe even my Grandma Mursch would approve!!

7.  Next cube or finely chop up in a food chopper at least 1 cup of bread crumbs.  I have found that using the food chopper makes the crumbs really fine, which is okay, but actually I kind of like using the torn up/cubed bread better...the texture of the loaf is not quite so "packed".

8.  I mix all of the ingredients in the large stainless steel roasting pan...the meat, bread crumbs, 1 cup of milk, and 2 eggs. Also a 1/2 teaspoon of salt (this is optional, as the ham is probably salty enough).

9. Next comes the fun part...pat, pat, pat the meat and ingredients together into a nice fat loaf.  I prefer it to be a little flatter and wider as opposed to a higher loaf.

10.  Keep patting and shaping (I call it "spanking") the loaf until it is compacted well together.

Then put the loaf into the oven at 375 degrees, and set the oven for 1 &1/4 hours.
(1 hour, 15 minutes).

(Here's a side note...while baking the ham loaf it is also a good opportunity to bake some potatoes, scalloped potatoes, or sweet potatoes in the oven at the same time...just a thought to take advantage of that nice hot oven and have a complete meal when done...)

11.  Meanwhile, mix together the ingredients for the glaze.
3/4 Cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of prepared mustard. I use the spicy brown mustard.

Stir those ingredients together in a pyrex measuring cup, stirring until the sugar is dissolved pretty well.

12.  When the ham loaf has baked at 375 degrees for 1 & 1/4 hours, pour the glaze mixture over the top of the meat, and baste to be sure all the meat is covered with the glaze.  Reduce the temperature in the oven to 300 or 325, and bake for about 3/4 hour. Keep an eye on it, and baste occasionally. If it is getting too brown or burning, turn down the heat, but also you may be able to take it out of the oven a little sooner.  I have found that 1/2 hour is usually sufficient for the glaze to bake on.

I forgot to take a picture of the ham loaf when it came out of the oven before we cut it and devoured half of it...so here is a picture of the half-eaten ham loaf!

It is so yummy, it is hard to have left-overs, but, I must tell you that the left over ham loaf makes wonderful grilled sandwiches...put a slice of swiss cheese on the slice of meat and grill with your favorite bread...It is also wonderful as a cold sandwich, using a little mayo and maybe some mustard, if you want, on bread or a hamburger bun.  Either way, hot or cold, it makes a great sandwich the next day!!!

This was a Grandma Mursch specialty that my father always asked for, so after my grandmother died, I made it for my father several times. I don't recall my mother ever making it. I think she always let her mother in law do it for the family as one of her specialties.  So now, this is also a Steiner family favorite, as my hubby and sons love it...and I introduced it to my new daughter- in- law after our Christmas dinner, and she already has made it one of their family favorites. The tradition continues on from generation to generation!!** See previous note above regarding how Rose has "improved" this recipe for our family!


Our Post -Easter Table... haven't quite wanted to put the bunnies away yet...and I just found these daffodils at the grocery store today...they are to be a gift to my sister for her birthday when she comes to celebrate this weekend! She LOVES daffodils, and we can't grow them here in Florida...so this is always a special treat...(and part of another family tradition...our mother used to always put a little vase of daffodils in the center of an angel food cake for my sister's birthday cake. Now I bake the cake for my sister, and I always try really hard to find some daffodils to put in the center. Sometimes we can't find them and have to use fake daffodils...but real are so much nicer!!)

And it wouldn't be spring and "Easter" season without a few real "Easter Bunnies" hopping around!

 This one got caught with his mouth full of some kind of plant in my yard...or...maybe he's just giving me a "raspberry"  (a green raspberry) LOL.  Hoppy Spring Time everyone!!

Here are some post-Easter thoughts spoken by our Lord Himself...

Excerpts from Luke 24:36-43

"Peace to you"...

Why are you troubled?

And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

Behold My hands and My feet, 

that it is I, Myself.

Handle Me and see,

for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

When He had said this, he showed them His hands and His feet.

But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled,

He said to them,

"Have you any food here?"

So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.

And He took it and ate in their presence."

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

And that's what Easter is all about!

Have a blessed "post-Easter" season...and remember that Jesus IS the reason for THIS season too...

Now let's hop over to Deb's place and see what our other Friday Foto Friends are posting this week!!

The Secret Garden Chronicles - How Can It Be?

(Written on) Palm Sunday-The beginning of "Holy Week"...

So much to ponder...sitting in the Secret Garden...it is breezy and warm...lovely Sunday afternoon...

"Be still and know that I Am God" (Psalm 46:10)...

the words of the verse stare at me from across the garden...

I sit in the stillness and wait on the Lord.

It wasn't so still for You, Lord,

as You rode into Jerusalem on a donkey that day...

The little children sang "Hosanna"

the people waved palm branches and rejoiced to see You. 

They hailed You as their King and Savior...

and five days later they crucified You.

How can it be, Lord?

And yet, how can it not be?

"Amazing love! How can it be...

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!"

And then three days later...

Mary and the other women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body with spices...

and when they arrived...

they discovered the stone had been rolled away!

When they entered the tomb, they saw a "young man" in a white robe sitting there...

and he said to them,

"Do not be alarmed.  

You seek Jesus of Nazareth, 

who was crucified.

He is risen!

He is not here!

See the place where they laid Him.

But go, tell His disciples...and Peter...

that He is going before you into Galilee,

there you will see Him, as He said to you."

(Mark 16: 1-7)

Mary was the first one to tell the others that Jesus was alive!

Mary went back to the tomb later...and she wept as she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

(see John 20)

In the stillness of the garden where the tomb was, Jesus appeared to Mary...

She thought He was the gardener...

But when Jesus called her by name, she recognized His voice!

She knew then it was the Lord!

She knew His voice...

because she knew Jesus...

He called her by name...

because He knew her, and He loved her...

"My sheep hear my voice..."  

(See John 10:1-18)

"I Am the good Shepherd, and I know my sheep...

and am known by My own.

As the Father knows me,

even so I know the Father,

and I lay down My life for the sheep."

"No one takes it from Me,

but I lay it down of Myself. 

I have power to lay it down, 

and I have power to take it again..."

"And can it be that I should gain

an interest in the Saviour's blood?

Died He for me, 

who caused His pain,

for me, who Him to death pursued!

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

(hymn by Charles Wesley)

He knows my name...

I hear His voice, and I know that He loves me...

because He died for me,

so that I might live...

This dove sat above me in the Secret Garden,

quietly watching and listening as I sang the song above...

he never moved...just watched  and waited in the "Sanctuary"

The dove is a symbol of peace...

and also a symbol of God's Holy Spirit...

And I felt His Presence there in the garden as I listened for His voice...and heard Him speaking to me.

As I sat there I was praying for one of our neighbors, who had to leave suddenly in the morning because they received the news that their adult son was in serious condition, his life hanging between life and death...I prayed for them, and for their son and his family. Prayed for God to be with them and to carry them home safely. 

Prayed for their son, that God's will be done, knowing that he belonged to Jesus...

and I received word this morning when I woke up that their son had passed into heaven during the night. 

He passed from this life into life eternal...carried by the angels to heaven...

Oh! What joy for him...but what sorrow for his family today. 

Lord, I lift up this dear family to you today, and pray that they will be comforted in knowing that when You called their son's name, he knew Your voice, and he answered with joy...

"Here I am, Lord..."

And I know that You said to him,

"Welcome home, son."

But Lord, please wrap Your loving arms around this precious family and give them peace in knowing that their son is with You, and that he is safe in the arms of Jesus today.

I know what this feels like...to see a son leave this earth for heaven...

and there are no easy words to say...

but our comfort is in knowing that our child is with Jesus...

Finally Home...because of what Jesus did for us on that cross so many years ago...

"Because He lives...I can face tomorrow."

(Postscript: This post replaces the weekly Sermon Notes for this week, as it is based in part on Sunday's message, and how God applied it as the day progressed...)