Prayers and Thoughts

for Reflection

Lenton Devotional

2007

April 6

Take your everyday, ordinary life -- your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life -- and place it before God as an offering.

Romans 12:1 [The Message]

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Romans 8:11

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you…

Isaiah 58:9

When we picture Easter colors we picture in our mind yellows and greens pastel pinks and blues. We think of variegated Easter eggs and ribbons on bright colored baskets.  Spring has sprung and colors are in the air. Including the bright colored birds and bumblebees. There are flowers of every color and size, every shade and shape.

Easter: the time to feel lighthearted and shed a few clothes.

Easter: the time to spring clean -- opening doors and windows.

Easter: the time to fill children's thoughts with the idea of gifts and something sweet received for the looking.

RED                    

For one minute, can I ask you to open your mind to the true colors of Easter?  I believe Red is one of the colors of Easter. Red was the color of the sweat that poured from my sweet saviors brow as he asked his father, "if possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will, but thou wilt be done.” Red was the color of the blood that lay across what was left of the back of Jesus after the cat of nine tails dug in ripping and pulling flesh away from his ribs.  Red was the color of the blood on his sweet face after he was beaten and had his beard pulled out by the handfuls. Red was the color of the blood that fell from his forehead when they beat the crown of thorns piercing to the bone. Red was the color of the blood that poured from his side when they pierced him to prove that he was dead.

PURPLE            

Purple is a color of Easter. Purple was the color that Jesus’ back shone bruised for our Transgressions. Purple was the color of Jesus’ swollen face and eyes showing us there was no pride only humility and a feeling of being forsaken by his beloved father.  Purple is a color of Easter because it is the color of royalty. It is the color of the garment that covered Jesus the King of the Jews as they laughed and scorned Jesus.

BLACK                           

Black is one of the colors of Easter. It is the color of sin that so easily took over the eyes of the people that chanted, " Barabbus release Barabbus".  Black was the color of the sixth to the ninth hour over all the land.  About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, "My God My God, why have you forsaken me.” Black was the color of the tomb where they laid the body of Jesus as they rolled the stone in front of it's mouth.

WHITE                           

White is a color of Easter. White is the color of the robe they took from Jesus before they scourged him. White is the color of purity that we can receive from the death of Jesus on that cross. White is the color of the slate of one of the robbers that asked Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. White was the color of the linens that lay empty in the tomb.  White was the color of the angels clothes that asked Mary why she was weeping.  Yes, White is one color of Easter because it is the color of purity.  Symbolizing the purity we can receive through the death of Jesus on that cross and the forgiveness of sins seeing he took them on himself so we can be saved.

Easter is the time for shedding things. Shedding weights of sin and shame so we can feel lighthearted.  It is the time to open doors and windows of our heart so Jesus can sweep clean our slate.  It is time to look for the treasures in the word so we can be filled with the sweet nectar that only comes from the Spirit of God.

Remember the Easter Colors – Red, Purple, Black, and White this Easter.  But more so remember what they symbolize, ‘The True Colors of Easter’.

Author Unknown

Red
is for the blood He gave,

Green
is for the grass He made,

Yellow
is for the sun so bright,

Orange
is for the edge of night.

Black
is for the sins that were made

White
is for the grace He gave,

Purple
is for the hour of sorrow,

Pink
is for the new tomorrow.

Give a bag of jelly beans,
Colorful and sweet,
Tell them it's a Prayer...
It's a Promise...
It's an Easter Treat! Amen
Shirley Kozak

Heavenly Father, your love is the sunrise that makes all days new.  Your love lights my soul and shines like a beacon.  In the rush and peace or hustle and bustle of my day, I seek nothing more than to bask in the joy of your presence.  Thank you for the peace and assurance of your word.  This is a day that you have made, I rejoice in it.  In your creative hand of love, help me to see love in all.  Show me how to find the rainbow in everything that comes my.  Help me to stand sheltered beneath your banner in the sunshine or storms of my life, assured by Your word that I am never alone.  Allow me to be a colorful rainbow in someone’s life today and may my colors always be brilliant and bright reflecting your love to those around me.  Amen.