In The Midst Of a Storm: Read Words of Encouragement

Words Of Encouragement

 

During the month of April Americans all over the world celebrates Easter.  

Where did that name, Easter, come from?  Well here’s a little history lesson for you and for me as well.

The naming of the celebration as “Easter” seems to go back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England, Eostre, who was celebrated at the beginning of Spring. 

The only reference to this goddess comes from the writings of the Venerable Bede, a British monk who lived in the late seventh and early eighth century.  As religious studies scholar Bruce Forbes summarizes:

“Bede wrote that the month in which English Christians were celebrating the resurrection of Jesus had been called Eosturmonath in Old English, referring to a goddess named Eostre.  And even though Christians had begun affirming the Christian meaning of the celebration, they continued to use the name of the goddess to designate the season.”

Bede was so influential for later Christians that the name stuck, and hence Easter remains the name by which the English, Germans and Americans refer to the festival of Jesus’ resurrection. 

I know what you’re thinking. How on earth did the Easter bunny and eggs become a part of the story? Well, in my search via Google I found that the story of the Easter Bunny is thought to have become common in the 19th Century.  Rabbits usually give birth to a big litter of babies, so they became a symbol of new life.  Legend has it that the Easter Bunny lays, decorates and hides eggs as they are also a symbol of new life. 

Now, quite frankly, I don’t know about how true any of that is, but what I do know, April 12, 2020, is “Resurrection” Sunday.  A day where CHRISTians celebrate The Risen Savior who, alone, gives New Life. 

It’s the perfect opportunity to share the Gospel to the dying world around us. Remember how I encouraged you in my last two communications to not allow this quarantine to keep you from the many ways God has blessed us to reach out?  Well, I have already given a hand-written card of encouragement to each of my neighbors. I followed up with the written story of the Gospel – The Resurrection. I made Easter bags, filled them with lots of goodies for my neighbors who have small children and made sure the written Gospel Account was included in each bag. 

Blessed Ones, continue to spend time in God’s Word and ask Him how He wants to use YOU to share The Gospel. There is no time like today. In Romans 1:16 Paul says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” 

Jesus says in Luke 9:26, ” If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, The Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

Let us not be ashamed, but prepared to give an account for the hope we, as believers, have in Christ Jesus. 

As always, be blessed and be a blessing,

The Bride of Our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

 

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!