Easter & Pastor's Wives by Becky Dietz

It's so hard to pause and truly appreciate Easter when you're a pastor's wife.  Easter Sunday is probably the busiest Sunday of the year!  Finding Easter clothes on a budget, Easter baskets for the kids (if you do that kind of thing), getting everyone fed and dressed and to church, helping your pastor-husband with many logistics in the Easter service(s), getting a family photo while everyone is dressed in their Easter Sunday best, cooking an Easter meal and possibly having family or friends over, making sure children change out of their Easter clothes....it's enough to say, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!  Finish this thing!" 

There may be no way out of the mayhem you'll face this Sunday.  So can I just suggest something?  Take these few days for yourself leading up to Easter to focus on Jesus and what he went through.  This is a good site to look at the timeline of the life of Jesus leading up to the cross and resurrection.  It's helped me as I've remembered what Jesus endured.  Have a grateful heart this week.  Thank God for giving up His Son.  Thank Jesus for his willingness to go to the cross for you.  Praise God that Jesus didn't stay dead!!  Be appreciative that you get to serve Him by loving Jesus' bride.

I encourage you to find an age-appropriate movie to watch with your family this week about the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Ask your kids afterwards if they have any questions.  If you have small children, plant some flowers together from seed (if there's not still snow on the ground where you live!) and talk about how it's a picture of Jesus.  The seed has to die--but new life will come.  

Do something for someone else this week.  Bake some cookies, invite a widow or widower to join you for a meal, babysit for a single mom....give and love.  Be reminded of why Jesus came and what His mission on earth was all about.  Use it as a teachable moment for your children.

Be intentional.  Think about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  Remember why He came.  And fulfill what He's called us to do...even in little ways.

HE IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN, INDEED!