Eggshells

Thinking on all those colored eggs the past few days, I wonder how much was spent on "real" eggs, chocolate candy, and that pretty green grass! Or are "real eggs" just passe'? (you know: out of date, passed their prime)
What is it about an Easter Egg Hunt, that gets everyone in a frenzy? Is it the overprotective mom watching over her two year old child running with ten year old children? And why did she allow a 2 year old to run with 10 year old experienced children on an "egg hunt"? My husband suggests football pads and a helmet for the two year old going out for the hunt with the ten year old's.  Is it the looking for anything that is "colored" in those pastels that makes one think of Spring time and new life or is it because the cold and rainy season has departed? Or could it be that "the prize" for this specific hunt is a chocolate, marshmallow filled bunny waiting somewhere for "me" to find? Can you not just feel the perspiration on your brow at this moment?  Yes, I remember looking for that marshmallow filled bunny and by the time we got to the END of the hunt, that bunny was anything but delicious looking. Yes, the heat of that specific day brought about much weakness to chocolate, and marshmallow bunnies everywhere within that area that experienced  85 degrees that spring day! Yes, even now I experience that sweat in that moment in time on a spring time day........and not finding the bunny just when "it needed the most help" from me!


Ahh, yes, those eggshells and their many uses can have one trying to find what else you might use them for in regards to having an extra amount of those 'ole shells around your home!
Well, we know the one about coffee and eggshells, right? But what about eggshells in the garden, calcium for your teeth, in your potting soil and oh, yes, those birds you feed.
They say about a trillion eggs are broken each year. In respect of that figure, is that before Easter counts of broken eggs or is it an all inclusive number to include that holiday?
But seriously, those pastel plastic egg-shaped containers sure made a lot of parent's happy that they no longer have to boil and color an egg. So are there more plastic eggs called to duty today than the regular egg?

They say that time does not change anything, but that people are the ones who change!
Of late, we (my husband and I) have reached back to some historical truths on the age of all accounts of healing and tent revivals of the 40's and 50's. In respect to that time when men and women alike chased after God, and their commitment was made and seen by many others. In truth, many thought Jesus' return was evident at that time and many flocked to those tent revivals like Oral Roberts, and T.L. Lowery. But God is still God and is still powerful. He never makes mistakes and never fails. And today people are still awaiting Christ's return. And these men who followed God obeyed His commands to preach and teach the Word of God. They prayed! They kept their focus on God, His Son Jesus, for salvation and for all that God wanted to do in those tent revivals. Of late, we have returned to more prayer time with the Lord and seeking to remain in hearing Him speak, not only to us about us, but about the times in which we live.


Acts 1:7-14   7 He said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and season (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed ( fixed and reserved ) by His own choice  and authority and personal power. 8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth. 9 And when He had said this, even as they were looking [at Him], He was caught up, and a cloud received and carried Him away out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing intently into heaven as He went, behold, two men [dressed] in white robes suddenly stood beside them. 11 Who said, men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This same Jesus, Who was caught away and lifted up from among you into heaven, will return in [just] the same way in which you saw him go into heaven. 12 Then [ the disciples] went back to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem. [only] a Sabbath day's journey (three-quarters of a mile ) away. 13 And when they had entered [the city], they mounted [the stairs] to the upper room where they were [indefinitely] staying----Peter and John and James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alpheus and Simon the Zealot and Judas [son] of James, 14 and all of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, [waiting together] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

That appointed time was that we would be His witnesses. For them it was in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria and to the ends ( the very bounds ) of the earth.


In the time of this great move shortly after Jesus' resurrection, and many people being saved, yet those salvations went to the Gentiles. And much persecution came to those who spoke out in His name. The disciples with many others came together to wait in prayer together, to communicate with God and allow Him to communicate with them. They had the way in "through Jesus" who died for us, to give us that "hope" in and through Him.

Hebrews 7:25 Amplified       25 Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him since He is always living to make petitions to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.


Acts 4:13-20
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."  NIV

Some seventy years after Jesus' departure into heaven, great destruction came to Jerusalem. In this time shortly after Jesus' crucifixion and before the tragedy to Israel, men spoke out in His name. But those of the Sanhedrin wanted the "talk" to stop. And one thing "noted" was these men, Peter and John had been with Jesus. These men spoke out with courage. They were the unschooled, ordinary men and they lived for God. In unison, Peter and John replied to those questioning their exploit for God, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

So we have two groups that were speaking. In one group you have the Sanhedrin who wanted the Law, and did their own "policing" and did not receive Jesus. They wanted Him dead and did it with the help of Rome. And in group 2 you have those who recognized Jesus as the suffering Messiah. These we know to be the "witnesses".  Those who knew Him and why He came witnessed of Him.  And those who follow today are those who seek after that which is life to them. And they exhibit a love that only comes from God. And no,it is not found in any eggs, colored or not for those things bring no life to anyone. (unless it is one real egg you can fry up in a pan) To me, the traditions of men is just a bunch of eggshells. It is really knowing what is good or is it just the fun thing to do that has nothing to do with really loving another person.
I had a call today, not from one person but from two and in them each so different, yet they were coming across with the same message. They voiced a value for another person.

One call came in the morning and brought me to silence as they expressed honor and the one this afternoon voiced "family" and much love. Ah yes, tears have a healing affect on the mind, soul and body. In all my years I have not been so moved by two people of such valor and love!

When we really care more about the person, than an actual egg hunt, we are putting people first. If we truly care about another and their family, will we truly put Jesus in the midst of them, for it is really not whether they receive Him, but that we present Him to them. For the Holy Spirit can do what He does best. But we surely must bring Him to them!  Did that happen where you attended or was it just about someone in a big bunny suit and a bunch of colored eggs that aren't real in any way, shape or form?  I have not been touched by pastel colored eggs, or chocolate bunnies. I have not been touched by the pretty baskets or multi-colored possibilities of grass color that shines, but about how people can love and touch a heart when it is done in His name.

For I saw this in John and Peter. I saw in Jesus and all that He represented of His Father. And I have experienced it today in my life. When people are really tuned into G-O-D, they sound like a symphony and they harmonize in a beauty that only God sends out through His l-o-v-e!

Jesus spoke of this in the book of Mark about traditions of men!

Mark 7:5-16 

-5 And the Pharisees and scribes kept asking [Jesus], why do Your disciples not order their way of living according to the tradition handed down by the forefathers [to be observed], but eat with hands unwashed and ceremonially not purified? 6 But He said to the, Excellently and truly [so that there will be no room for blame] did  Isaiah prophesy of you; the pretenders and the hypocrites, as it stands written: These people [constantly] honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 7 In vain (fruitlessly and without profit) do they worship Me, ordering and teaching [to be obeyed] as doctrines the commandments and precepts of men. Isaiah 29:13

8 You disregard and give up and ask to depart from you the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men [keeping it carefully and faithfully.]

9 And He said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting [thus thwarting and nullifying and doing away with] the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition (your own human regulations)! 10 For Moses said, Honor (revere with tenderness of feeling and deference )your father and your mother and He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of or abuses or treats improperly his father or mother, let him surely die. Exodus 20:12, Exodus 21:17

11 But [as for you] you say, a man is exempt if he tells [his] father or [his] mother, What you would otherwise have gained  from me [everything I have that would have been use to you] is Corban, that is, is a gift [already given as an offering to God]. 12 Then you no longer are permitting him to do anything of [his] father or [his] mother [ but are letting him off from helping them]. 13 Thus you are nullifying and making void and of no effect [ the authority of ] the Word of God through your tradition, which you [ in turn ] hand on. And many things of this kind you are doing.14 And He called the people to [Him] again and said to them, Listen to Me, all of you and understand [what I say]. 15 There is not [even] one thing outside a man which by going into him can pollute and defile him and make him unhallowed and unclean.16 If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening [and let him perceive and comprehend by hearing.] 

Our delight today should be in that of giving love to others. And in the time of Spring, would we not want to reach out to those who may be in need of rest from the "world"? Are there those who need cold water to be poured upon wandering feet? Could we not bring to those a love, His love that would ring true in hearts, that He is in our midst. As He ever makes intercession for us, and sees after our lives, would it not be to His glory that music would be heard in calling others into salvation and into the Love of God? If people are being cut to shreds by impurity, evil on every corner, and violence in strange places, would not a call to reinforce His love be the "required" of the witness who really gives witness to His love and to that glory.
In closing: may we know that which really brings life into our hearts. May we know that love that keeps giving and supports us when we need it most. And may those who have brought such to me today be those who are fortified in faith to go the distance for which they are the called! 


Isaiah 52:7
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!" 

May we be the witnesses we are called to be and bring salvation, the tidings of good things to those who really need it!

Attention:
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