Happy Easter and Merry Christmas!!

Without Christmas, there is no Easter. That’s why I still have a brightly-lit Christmas tree sitting in my living room. This year, its 1 1/2 feet tall. It reminds me that Jesus came to this earth as a baby, to be the Light of the world, to show us the way to His Heavenly Father-God. Not only that, He came to set us free from the ongoing lies of the evil one… thoughts in our minds that gnaw at us, day and night, trying to keep us from believing the One who can actually rescue us from those lies that drag us down to the depths of despair, loneliness, bitterness, unforgiveness, like heavy weights and baggage hanging around our necks, ankles, or carried in our hands or on our backs.

 Jesus came… not just to die... but also to live, to show us a way to live above and beyond our circumstances, to give us hope and life, not just for this life, but with our Father-Creator who longs for us to return home to Him… to a place of love, without judgment, to a place of love that redeems us and has paid the ransom for believing and trusting the one who is a liar, instead of the One who is Truth.

I look at this small, Christmas tree and remember God’s amazing love… to send His only begotten Son, not made or created, but the very essence of Himself… to live in this world, which is being assaulted with the lies of the evil one. God's Son came to bring us Truth… the message and hope of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Not only that, but to those who believe that He is truly the Son of God and the Son of Man, the One who came to free us from the bondage and yoke of constant, fruitless unbelief…He has come to break those chains and set us free, once and for all. He offers us the gift of the Spirit of Life, of Love, of forgiveness and mercy… to truly give us life… eternal life, through the power of the resurrected Christ, a gift to us, the Holy Spirit who lives and dwells in each one who believes that Jesus Christ, came to bring us out of living in darkness to the place of living in Light, eternal life with Him!

May you enjoy a blessed Easter, as you celebrate Christmas, whether it’s today or tomorrow or years from now. I pray that this will truly be a day of joy, deep, deep within your heart and soul, not just on the day you say or said, “Yes!” to Christ, but every single moment of every day, that you, too, acknowledge the Power and Presence of His Spirit with you, within you, comforting and directing you, and doing what you could never imagine, in and through You!

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you, now and always!! Amen!

Happy Easter and Merry Christmas!

Hallelujah! The LORD is RISEN!!

He is Risen, indeed!!

Precious Linda, c.2014

Sitting next to my little Christmas tree is the painting from my friend. To learn why it’s sitting there and what it means to me, you can read my previous post at: http://twowhitebutterflies.blogspot.com/2013/03/two-white-butterflies-watercolor.html.

You may also wish to see y Christmas tree and what I wrote last Easter at: http://twowhitebutterflies.blogspot.com/2013/03/happy-easter.html. 

I Saw Something Funny about Easter Eggs, Today!

I know Easter eggs have nothing to do with the true meaning of Easter (unless it's an empty one), but the "poster pic" shown below hit me as FUNNY!! 

The "rules" in our family have always been to hide eggs (plastic) such that they can be seen from "one angle!" Each person has their own color of eggs to find so they can remain in the game, without their eggs being picked up by someone else. We adjust the "challenge" to the age and ability of the person. Every year, it's a challenge to hide eggs for those "young-at-heart" people who still love to find eggs... including me!

The picture and idea shown above would truly be a challenge!! It reminds me of doing puzzles that are all yellow pencils or a scene of trees in the fall, bursting with one shade of brilliant yellow, or maybe a puzzle with a picture of marbles. Maybe this hunt would be like "Where's Waldo?" except he would be masquerading as a white ghost or something. 

For those of you who are tired of seeing "white" on the ground and are wondering when winter will be over, maybe you can have fun with this idea!!

I wish you all much love, joy, and peace in your hearts and lives, at this Easter-time, and always.

I wish a Happy and Blessed Easter to those who believe Jesus rose from the dead and offers new life to those who believe in Him, as Lord and Savior! For all of you, I wish you much joy, peace, and love, always!!

Precious Linda, c. 2014

I found the "poster/pic" shown above on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/353739560014/photos/a.10151237768610015.797948.353739560014/10154038860095015/?type=1&relevant_count=1.

Phantom Pain

Once.

I was.

There.

Hurt. Bewildered. Terror-filled.

No more. Never again.

My body freezes. Remembering.

My thoughts cannot. Remember.

Tension. Debilitating fear!

My heart beats faster and faster.

Neon lights of fear, flash

ON & off, ON & off, ON

in a body

that

cannot

connect

body

memories

to

my

conscious

brain.

My body remembers the past,

my mind does not,

triggering unconscious fears,

pain, and shame.

Neon lights of fear, flash

ON & off, ON & off, ON.

warning me, telling me

of phantom pain;

throbbing, itching,

painful feelings

of what was once there,

but is no more.

Neon lights of fear, flash

ON & off, ON & off, ON.

Phantom memories

surviving, surface.

Gripping pain

holds on, tightly.

The pain remains,

feelings freeze.

The neon lights of fear, flash

ON & off, ON & off, ON

until others mirror the loss,

my brain gently accepts.

Shame

shifts

burps

puffs

snips,

bursting

heavy,

dark

clouds,

thundering

downpours.

The neon lights begin to flicker

ON & off, On & off, on

OFF.

My body relaxes.

My heart purrs.

I am free, once again,

to be at peace.

Precious Linda, c. 2014