by Melissa Meyers
While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Luke 24: 4-6a
He has risen! For a Christian, those three short words capture the essence of our faith. For it was on that Easter morning long ago that God’s plan of redemption was fulfilled…a plan that impacted my life personally at a summer Bible camp on the shore of Lake Koronis when I was twelve. For the first time in my life, though I had been raised in a church, I understood that Christ was offering me something I had been deeply searching for…unconditional love and an offer to be part of God’s family.
It took me years to unpack that decision I made at the age of 12, when I confessed my sins and realized that above all else, I didn’t want to live a life without God. I said, “yes” to Jesus then, and I have spent many years since saying “yes.”
In this month’s blog, we are celebrating the redemption stories that Easter brings! We have three wonderful women, Christy Reed, Bonnie Erpedling and Carol Boyd, who share their testimonies. I love that all three of them came to faith through people reaching out to them or by displaying simple acts of faith. What you do matters, even when you think it is small. Then Heather Cheney shares about a curse and a health crisis that God walked her and her family through during her time in Kenya.
The beauty of the Easter season is saturated in symbolism, and for younger children with concrete thinking this is so important. Elizabeth Walby shares how to make a resurrection garden with your kids or grandkids, while Jessica Olson blesses us with her story of how celebrating the Passover Seder and the tangible symbolism brought up questions that lead her son Peter to faith. Kristi Muston introduces us to a historic Christian book series by Roseanna White, and Diane Enger shares a tasty Easter treat. We get to see behind the scenes of two more of our lovely Calvary ladies, Dianne Orth and Martha Renaud, who both have such unique stories. May this Easter season bring you a greater understanding of the power of the resurrection in your own life.
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Melissa Meyers is co-editor of The Stir, wife to John, and mother to Malcolm (20) and Emily (17). She is a Neonatal Nurse and Creative Writer, who is always looking for ways to communicate God’s truth through stories. She is the author of, Beneath the Ancient Dust: Inspirational Stories from Nine Years in Afghanistan and The Snow Trillium. Her hobbies are drinking coffee, reading, and taking long walks. She will accept an invitation for coffee anytime and loves to hear how God is working in your life.
2 thoughts on “Welcome to a celebration of Easter”
Thanks for creating this amazing blog every month It has helped me get to know the stories of so many wonderful women in our church that I probably wouldn’t have gotten to know if all of you at Stir hadn’t reached out to them and shared their stories! Keep up the good work. It is greatly appreciated!✝️ Pat
So glad you are enjoying it Pat. The women of our church have such amazing stories and testimonies it is a joy to be able to share them in a way that doesn’t come out on Sunday mornings. Thanks for reading them!