Preparing for Easter

I am preparing for Easter. I know it was just Christmas and we are now supposed to be focused on New Years. I, however, am focused on Easter. Why? Because it dawned on me in a new and fresh way, that Christmas and Easter are two sides of the same coin.

I am so glad to have Christmas. The beautiful, holy and perfect Christ child born to save. It makes me smile everytime I think about it. That phrase, "born to save", is the key to the other side of the coin. The Christ child was born to save. Save He did. He saved us by his death and resurrection. That is what brings me to Easter.

Now that I have celebrated Christmas, I am beginning to prepare my heart for Easter. I know Lent is the forty days before Easter. But you know, I think it is important to start focusing on preparing my heart now.

I want to spend this time before Easter to pray and seek to know the Christ child, my Savior and Redeemer, better and more intimately than I ever have before. I want to prepare my heart to more fully understand and appreciate the sacrifice that was made on my behalf, on your behalf.

So, what will this preparation look like for me? More time reading my bible, more time praying, more time praising, more time serving my family in capacities I do not exactly cherish, less time complaining, less time worrying.

There are so many books on things were should be doing. I plan to concentrate on the one that can truly instruct me, my Bible. Passages such as Galatians 5:13-25, Ephesians 4-6, Philippians 2:3-18 and Colossians 3. There are other passages but these are an excellent starting place. Read them for yourselves, follow their instructions and see if your heart does not feel better prepared for the wonder and cleansing power of the Easter season.

Will you join me in preparing for Easter? You will be so blessed by doing so!