"He has risen from the dead!" Week 14

They found that the stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside. So they went in, but they couldn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. They were puzzled, trying to think what could have happenend to it. Suddenly, two men appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed low before them. Then the men asked, "Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn't here! He has risen from the dead!"

Luke 24: 2-6

The story doesn't end there. This was just the beginning! Why did He rise from the dead? Why did he have to die such a gruesome death? After Jesus had risen, he met up with the remaining 11 disciples as well as a group of Jesus' followers. He told them, "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true. Yes, it is written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and will rise again from the dead on the third day. With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations..... There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me."

As we go through this week before Easter Sunday, take a minute to meditate and think about the above scriptures. "There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me." This is such a bold statement that sums up why Jesus went through what He did. I'm blown away! He loves us THAT much! And He loves us so much that He didn't leave us alone here on earth. He said, "And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven."

As a daughter of the King, I have been given that power from Heaven. YOU have been given that power from Heaven! We are never alone and Jesus is always right there within us. It's such a comforting truth and I encourage you to revel in His love for us this week (and always!).

This is the reason we celebrate Easter! The word "celebrate" means 'to observe a day or event with respect, festivity, or rejoicing'. Let us REJOICE this week in the love our Lord Jesus has for us! And let us spread the good news to the ones we love! He has risen and He is real and alive!!!

I pray that He becomes alive in your hearts as He is in mine.

Much love to you always! =)

McPIFP Goal for Week #13

So many tangles in life are ultimately hopeless that we have no appropriate sword other than laughter.

Gordon W. Allport

Goal: Make someone laugh

April Fool's day is tomorrow (I know! I'm sorry for being late again!)! This would be a good time to make someone laugh by playing a NICE April Fool's joke on them. We get the tradition of April fools day, because the timing seems related to the vernal equinox and the coming of spring, which we all know, is a time when nature fools us with sudden changes between showers and sunshine (or SNOW!).

If you're not able to get a joke in tomorrow on someone, then try to at least make someone laugh at some point during the rest of the week. Enjoy the freedom that laughter can bring someone, as well as yourself! =)

Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails; what puts man in a higher state of evolution is that he's got his laugh on the right end!

-Max Eastman

McPIFP Goal for Week #12

Happy Spring everyone!

As I write this, it's a warm, windy, and beautiful morning here in Independence Missouri. I know that because I live in Missouri, we'll still be having some cold days left before all the warmth, but I sooo enjoy these "teaser" days and am so thankful for them!

Speaking of "thanks".... that kind of goes along with our goal for this week!

Goal: "Thank you" card or Blessing Blitz
Pick someone(s) who has made a difference in your life.. usually the first person that comes to mind would be a good one, and send them a "thank you" or "bless you" card/letter. You can do this several different ways: If it's just you participating in the McPIFP, then you can pick someone to send a "thank you" card or "bless you" card to for the week; or you can pick several different people to acknowledge throughout the week (that's why it's called a Blessing Blitz!);

Another way is to get your whole family and/or a group of friends to participate! (this also helps in paying it forward!!!) Choose one person who has made a difference in your lives, and each person take a turn in sending a card/letter to that one person. If you do it this way, that person will be completely "blitzed" by blessings and love. How cool would that be?!

We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will

build them up in the Lord...

Romans 15:2

McPIFP Goal for Week #11

Goal: Go Green!!

So in lieu of St. Patty's Day.... this week's goal is to go GREEN!!!

Examples: choose an item to start recycling (most trash companies have the option of picking up your recycleables for a small extra charge); or you can carpool for the week or even better, maybe walk or ride your bike (if you live someplace that you're able to do this); buy products made of recycled paper; use cloth bags for shopping vs. plastic/paper bags; don't buy aresols; find out how to properly dispose of hazardous waste; make scratch pads out of used computer paper vs. throwing them away; plant a tree; don't throw away batteries.. instead take them to your local hazardous waste site; turn off the lights and close the refrigerator door immediately after use.

Happy St. Patty's Day! Have a good week!

McPIFP Goal for Week #10

Goal: Spring Cleaning: Clean out your closet!

Yay! Spring is almost here! I know that most of us are ready for the sunshine and warm weather, but it's also time to think about spring cleaning.

The goal for this week is to "clean out your closet" and give your clothes/items to a charity. You don't just have to focus on your closet to give items away, but you can also go through your attics or basements or storage units, and get rid of "junk" that might be someone else's treasure. Have fun with this! You are blessing someone else with your items, but you're also helping to simplify your life!

Have a great week! =)

Seasons of Life

Seasons of Life
(This is a story from a forwarded email that some of you may or may not have heard, but I wanted to share. It really spoke to my heart)


There once was a man who had 4 sons that he wanted to teach not to judge people too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third son in the summer, and the fourth in the fall. When they had all gone and returned, the father called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first described the tree as ugly, bent, and twisted; the second described it as covered with green buds and full of promise; the third son disagreed and described the tree as laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful! It was the most graceful thing he had ever seen!; and the fourth son disagreed further. He described it as ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The father then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen only one season in the pear tree's life. He went on to say that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season. The essense of who they are, and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from life, can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment of your fall. Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. And don't judge life by one difficult season.

There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to harvest; a time to kill and a time to heal; and time to tear down and a time to rebuild; a time to cry and a time to laugh; a time to grieve and a time to dance; a time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to turn away; a time to search and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to mend; a time to be quiet and a time to speak up; a time to love and time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

As we are finally about to enter the beautiful season of spring, I pray that your life is full of promise and hope. However, if you are still stuck in "winter", take heart knowing that it is simply that-- a season. =)

McPIFP Goal for Week #9

Goal: Bless your Mail Carrier (Postman) or Trash Man

Leave something for your hard working Postman or Trash Man. This can be a note of thanks or blessing, a power/breakfast bar, a gift card to QT or Walmart or McDonald's, a new pair of warm gloves/socks, small amount of cash, etc.

Be creative if you want! And have a blessed week!