Our God Reigns!!! Christ is Risen!

Happy Easter Everyone!!

I hope you are having a blessed and beautiful Resurrection Day wherever you are.

It has been a long and busy, and wonderful day here. Starting at sunrise, as the sun arose above the treetops,

we realized that Christ has risen...He's no longer in the tomb!

Alleluia!

Jesus Lives!!

And then we went to church and our choir presented the Easter Cantata entitled

"Our God Reigns".

Here it is for you in its entirety.  I hope you will enjoy the proclamation of the

Easter story through message and song.

And it was SO wonderful to be back in our sanctuary again for the first time in over a year.

We've been meeting in our fellowship hall for the past several months since we were able to have in person services, but it just wasn't quite the same.

We still had to maintain "social distancing" as much as possible, and wear masks, but that didn't dampen our spirits. We rejoiced to see some folks who have not been back with us during this whole year, so this was a day of rejoicing and "homecoming" in so many ways.

Yes, "Celebrate Easter"

in music and praise...

These are candid shots before the service began, so please excuse the casualness...we were still assembling and getting ready for worship.

And our Pastor was so happy to finally be back in the sanctuary...for him it was actually his first Sunday with us in the sanctuary. When he started as our new pastor last summer, we could only meet in the Fellowship Hall, so for him it was also a very special day...

I can assure you there is a big smile under that mask!

Following our service we hurried home and got dinner ready and waited for the family to arrive:

And even the "Grand-pups" came to join us today:

Sugar and Spice love coming to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Forgot to take any pictures of the full plates...we had ham, sweet potato casserole, potato salad, green beans and Hawaiian rolls and butter. Chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert.

It was all yummy.

Love our family.

Then came the annual Easter Basket Hunt.

Son Scott was the first to find his basket:

Son Benton was next...He still thinks he's Mom's favorite...LOL.

He's one of my favorites, that is for sure.

Friend Sherrie (Rose's sister) was next to find her basket. This was her first Easter basket search with us, and she loved being a kid again:

And sweet Daughter in Love Rose was last to find hers, but only because she was busy feeding the dogs while the others searched.  She seems to have "radar" and can zero in on her basket faster than anyone I know!

And yes, even Lily Grace found her Easter Basket...Normally I would save her pictures for her own blog, but she wanted you to know that she has had a wonderful Easter, and is SO happy that Jesus Christ is Risen as He said He would!

And even the puppies were happy to see Lily today...

Spice seems to have forgotten that she was once a bit afraid of Lily, and now she just loves to kiss her face!!

And Lily was so surprised to finally see what a real Easter Lily looks like!  She is very happy to know that her name is synonymous with something so special as Easter.

Yes, Easter has been a day filled with much joy and rejoicing. Even the gorgeous red Amaryllis flowers are trumpeting out their praise,

"Christ is Risen!!"

Our God Reigns!!!

Alleluia!!!

"He is Lord,

He is Lord,

He is risen from the dead and He is Lord.

Every knee shall bow,

Every tongue confess that

Jesus Christ is Lord!"

Amen.

 

The Secret Garden Chronicles-Visitors in the Garden

I am writing this on Friday evening...and it's been a busy and happy day.  First, let me thank all of my friends who commented  on my Friday Foto Friends post earlier today about "My Cabin Rules".  I loved all your comments, and would welcome all of you to come visit here anytime, and we can enjoy the "cabin rules" together!  Just give me a little notice!  I still don't have that special cabin, but we can still have a great time together with all that God has provided for us to enjoy!

These were my earliest visitors this morning, running down the road in front of us, doing the "turkey trot":

And off they trotted into the woods away from all the prying eyes and busy traffic.

I apologize that I haven't yet had a chance to get around and visit all of your posts today...because we DID have REAL company here, enjoying the cool breezes and the wildlife and The Secret Garden!  These were very special friends from over 35 years ago!  They were members of one of our early churches in another state, and have been faithful friends ever since...visiting us in so many places throughout the years.  It was such a privilege and joy to be able to share The Secret Garden with them today...and they pronounced it "very peaceful and beautiful".  Actually...they agreed that the Presence of the Lord was in that place, and they found themselves wanting to sing and praise the Lord just while sitting there...The first song that came to mind was "Our God Reigns".

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him

Who brings good news, good news;

Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness:

Our God reigns, our God reigns!

Refrain

Our God reigns!

Our God reigns!

Our God reigns!

Our God reigns!

(This song was based on Isaiah 52:7)

"How beautiful upon the mountains 

Are the feet of him who brings good news,

Who proclaims peace,

Who brings glad tidings of good things,

Who proclaims salvation,

who says to Zion,

"Your God reigns!"

And as we sat there watching the trees swaying in the breeze we started singing "The Trees of the Field 

will clap their hands" 

Isaiah 55:12 says: 

 "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; 

The mountains and the hills shall break forth 

into singing before you. 

 And all the trees of the field shall clap their

hands."

Here is a picture of my sweet friends today in the garden:

And here is a picture of these same friends when they came to visit me way back in 1982:

 We had moved to the country from the city (where they lived), and they thought it would be great fun to dress up like a couple of country gals when they came to visit!!!

Here's the three of us.  I didn't have the appropriate country garb at the time...but I do now! (No, I didn't wear it today.)

They are still a lot of fun...they couldn't believe I had these pictures!! Won't they be happy to see them on here?  I love you girls!!!

Here we are with our hubbies today also...enjoying some Strawberry Shortcake:

After spending some beautiful moments together in the Secret Garden, we came inside and joined the men

for some strawberry shortcake...and then we went to the living room and sang hymns while my friend Evelyn

accompanied us on the organ.  

What a marvelous blessing to have these precious friends after so many years.  

So tonight I am just resting in the joy of this beautiful day, and thanking the Lord for my friends, both here, and you out there in "blogland", many of whom I have never met in person, but I count you as very special friends and thank God for you.  

(Internet Photo)