Belated Bunny Hop

***OK, so Easter AND my --uh--18th birthday (kinda--if you do the math right!)  were this past Sunday on the 8th,  however I wanted to share this photo. The back of the photo says I was three years old.  My face tells me I may not know what to think about yon Easter Bunny.  Hmm. Looks like I do not have any candy in yon basket-hence I may have been upset about THAT! 
***I look at this photo and smile.  I realize all I had to worry about was candy, toys, and watching The Flintstones on one of three TV channels in existence then. What more was there?  
***In 2012, I look around and smile. I still like me some candy, especially chocolate Easter bunny ears. I like toys--especially if  it is built by "Mercedes-" and I can still watch The Flintstones on one of the over 250 channels I have now. 


Life is so good.  Pass me the bunny.  

Say It's Your Birthday!

Easter Sunday is my birthday this year of 2012--

Nothing less than a GRAND day

If I do say so myself--and I do! 

The photo is of me at my second birthday--

Yep, in another galaxy, long, long ago. 

Look pretty intense as I 'read' the cards! :)
And where was the ice cream to go with that cake??

Nonethless, a wonderful day-then and now.

I am blessed! 

Easter Today...

The picture is me,

on an Easter Sunday about 100 years ago. I remember that hat--I HATED that hat. It kept falling off my head. I think the plastic string was busted. Those gloves---uck. Yea, let's just say I pretty hated the whole outfit, which included hair!
The church, Bethel Baptist, was literally right across the street from my house. I'm sure I had a bible verse to recite, which I'm sure I may have messed up. Nerves. Back then and for alot of years, I was not thrilled going to church, on Easter or any Sunday for that fact.
Why? I didn't like the way I was treated. I seemed to be an outcast. Never seemed to be like the other kids. I was singled out. So Church was always not a fun place for me. Nothing to do with my belief in Him--just made sure I had other things to do.
Fast forward to Easter 2011. The last nine consecutive Easter Sundays I've attended church, because I WANT to. Today was no different. Not a seat empty in the sanctuary, which translated into over 4000. I can't explain the electricity that zips thru the room. Alot of us our "At This Level" t-shirt on. We're not a fancy church, yet we are on one accord. For the first time, I was in the first row. That is something--and yes I was close to the pulpit.
Today is what I needed. Stuff on my mind fries me. The blessings that are ready to break through. Felt good to be there. Sure, some stuff the Pastor does, I disagree with and he understands--all in all, the Inspiring Body of Christ Church is my Home away from home.

April 20, 2003 was Easter Sunday

In essence this coming Easter Sunday is an anniversary of sorts. My steps into a church. Steps I wanted to take and not steps parents pushed me to. Or even being the biggest Osmond Brothers fan and take seat in a LDS ward to listen to the Osmonds share their testimonies.

Yea, I wasn't feelin' the whole God thing back then. Hey, I admit I'd make fun of folks and call them 'holy rollers'. Why would anybody give up sleepin' in late and then --EEKS--miss NFL football--for CHURCH? Naw. Wasn't part of my plan. Hangovers had to be recovered from, pizza to be bought, wondered how quick Friday could roll around again to see if the guy I slept with remembered my number.

Yea. God, church and me. Not BFF's. I had too much other stuff to do.

In 2003 life was topsy turvy. I still grieved the death my dad, Big Daddy Don in '01. I'd get an e-mail from the lawyer saying I had to pay this and pay that. Dad, unfortunately died without insurance--which I didn't didn't know until after he passed. I guess, I should have kept on him about such things, yet I thought my step mother had a handle on it. She didn't. My fault I didn't talk to her--so long story on all that. I eventually was minus 12 grand.

My work situation was horrendous. I experienced the sensation of a boss trying to find something to get me fired. Why? Gotta ask her. My boss wound up being my boss due to a reorganization. This happened right after I was promoted, that job--a dream job--lasted 4 months, before the re-org. I wasn't able to stay. I won't bore with everything. From working together literally 6 working days, my new boss wrote me up because she 'saw things'. When I asked what, she couldn't answer--then to my birthday week in April, and another week before Easter 2003, she wrote me up not once--but twice. The last accusing me of gambling on company time. When I asked her HOW I did that, she had no actual proof. I proved her wrong on what she did have.

That was Thursday, the day before Good Friday 2003. Earlier in April something just popped into my head, "Go to church." I'm like "Huh?" and poo poo'd that off. CHURCH?
After the chat with my boss, I went straight to a co-worker who earlier told me about a church pretty much in my own back yard. She'd printed off directions because she knew I would be back. She said God told her. OK. Yea. OK.

I didn't drive past that night. Scared I think. So I waited for the next day. Good Friday. I couldn't even drive in the lot,. I just parked in front of the church. I remember saying, "I'm going to THAT?" Chills thru my body. I really wanted to go IN.

Eager for Sunday. I'd purchased a bible. Acted like I knew what I was.
Then on Easter, which is Resurrection Sunday, I got up on the day Jesus died.
And journeyed to my first, I really want to be here church service-
Chills
They have yet to stop...
I am blessed.

Easter II

Easter Sunday is Resurrection Sunday and the day I began my Spiritual Journey.

It was Easter Sunday 2003, I set foot in a church that had nothing to do with a wedding or mainly listening to Donny Osmond give his testimony. Yep, there was a point in time I research to be a Mormon--like back in the 70's. So, the only reason I was in a church prior to that day in 2003, was because of the Osmonds. Granted, it wasn't a bad reason. It just wasn't the right reason for me. There was void in my life--and it had to get filled.

OK, the whole point of this is, I'd pretty much decided to go to the church where I started my spiritual journey: Christian Chapel Temple of Faith CME. I hadn't been there since November 2008. I felt 'hungry' after more services than I liked. More Sundays, I wanted 'more' from the sermon. In fact, I'd leave Christian Chapel when service was done, and head to Inspiring Body of Christ Church, with Pastor Rickie Rush--which had 3 services then. That is, until the move to the new sanctuary in November 2010. Sure, there were Sundays I felt I O'D attending both services--yet I'd feel better. I realized I'd rather get more from The Word than not enough.

Even yesterday, I ran into a member, of Christian Chapel in the grocery store. In a part of town, I don't even live anymore. We hugged. It was grand to see her--and she said she'd even save 'my spot' in the sanctuary. Told her I was thinking about coming for a visit. She glowed and I was pretty sure I was gonna do it. When I came home, I was confused. Not sure where to go.

I wanted to see the church where all this started. Heck, I could miss a Sunday at IBOC. I wanted to sit in the pews and remember how I felt on that first Easter Sunday--oh man, I was so petrified that day in 2003. I carried a bible I'd purchased at Half Price Books, just for this church moment. I had yet to open it. Me? Church? HA!

Easter Sunday morning 2010. I woke up. Thanked God for the breath in my lungs and went to IBOC. No hesitation. Just got up and went. Other Christians may get the struggle I had yesterday. There was none today. I sat in a seat and within five minutes I heard a familiar voice.

Bear. My mouth dropped. At IBOC, right before service starts, ushers lead groups of the attendees in a circle of prayer. This is the first Sunday I'd ever been in a group where Bear said the prayer. In fact, it's the first time I've heard Bear say prayer--outside of grace over food. By the time Bear began our groups' prayer he'd seen me and waved. We hugged after service was over. One of these days I may need to ask him what goes through his mind at those moments.

Journeyed long since that Easter Sunday in 2003. I realized when another usher called me "a true Woman of God; " today-no where, before in my life, did I ever think such words would surge electricity in me--more than any other compliment.

Got more mountains to climb. And I realize some people in my life are not really getting where I'm going. I can deal with that.

I know a Light shows me the way.

And I'm OK with that.

Easter

From my cluttered, cat filed yet cozy home-

I wish you and yours a day

Of Reflection and Resurrection..

*

*

*

And for your chuckle pleasure: Yours truly from an Easter Past

Sure hope I got a gi-normous chocolate bunny to wear this outfit!

Thomasina****

Easter Rise

Grand Easter Service spent at Inspiring Body of Christ Church, with Pastor Rickie Rush, who spoke how we should not let a stone cover our grave. Basically, the stone was moved away from the tomb of Jesus and He was not there. In our lives, the stone is the devil who tries his best to not let you move. To not let you rise up. The devil tries to make you feel hopeless, helpless and isolated from your support.

The sermon hit me. It was how I felt pretty much this past entire week--a week I had off. To enjoy and celebrate my birthday. I did have a good time--yet, something hung over my head the entire time. My time wasn't like I wanted it to be. Due the stone that was over me. The stone I didn't push hard enough to move. As Pastor Rush said, the more the anointing the more the attack.

I understand that NOW. The devil doesn't want us to succeed at what we're called to do. Some times I think I've let God just to to voice mail. That needs to stop. Be thankful with what He brought me through--even if this week. He was with me all the time. Because of Him I am here. Because of Him I can go on.

This Easter Sunday was also an anniversary of sorts. On Easter Sunday 2003, I stepped foot in a church for the first time other than a child to recite a verse or a fan to hear the Osmonds bear their testimony, or even somebody's wedding. I went to church that day because I wanted to. Needed to fill a void in my heart. At my wit's end professionally and still mourned the death of my dad.

Easter Sunday 2006, was my first time back at church after my mitral valve replacement surgery. I'd just gotten the OK to drive a couple days before. Been away for almost two months. He had been in my house, to get me well, then it was my turn to go to His house. It was Resurrection Sunday-for both of us.

And today. The message Pastor Rush delivered touched me. Hit all the way home. I've been called to use the gifts God gave me. No more voice mail. I will listen to message first hand and not run. I'm destined. We all are. Do what you know you should do.

I am blessed.