We are Easter people is a favorite quote from my dear pastor friend, and I’m pondering it with you today.

We Are Easter People

Today I’m reflecting on a 46-day journey of blogging every day for Lent. After reflecting on so many quotes, I couldn’t pick a better quote than this one to celebrate Easter.

Pastor Mark Martin is now with the Lord. I can only imagine his joy today as he celebrates Easter in heaven. He was my pastor for many years, and he was also my friend.

Every Easter Sunday, Pastor Mark proclaimed this message with verve. He wanted us to live in the joy that is possible every day this side of the cross, when all the prophecies about Jesus have been fulfilled.

Because we are Easter people, we can live with joy, hope, and peace. We live with joy that Jesus died for our sins and took away the curse of death from us. He’s now preparing a place for us in heaven, as long as we personally and individually commit our lives to him. We can have peace knowing that though we have many troubles in this world, Jesus has overcome them for us and has much better things in store.

Today, I thank God for the friendship I had with Pastor Mark. More than anyone else, he taught me about small group ministry. He was the first to encourage me to write for the church and gave me unique writing opportunities. Pastor Mark counseled me, baptized my children, and attended my grandpa’s funeral. He and I laughed together and enjoyed good fellowship. I’m grateful for his constant encouragement.

Living as an Easter Person

Today, I commit to living as an Easter person, not just on Easter Sunday, but every day. This experience of blogging every day for over six weeks has renewed my joy and healed me. Surely Pastor Mark would be happy to know I’ve written every day and healed through the process. I can’t wait to catch up with him in heaven someday.

I hope you will live as an Easter person today too. May God renew your joy, hope, and peace today as you spend time in prayer and worship. I also encourage you to worship with others in church because community is essential. That’s where I met Pastor Mark who had such a powerful impact on my life. I pray you meet a supportive brother or sister in Christ in church as well.

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

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As grief wells up is a part of a quote from my book Hope for the Hard Days, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 46 of Lent 2025 – April 19

I’m using my own books for quotes this final week of the Lenten season. This quote is from the chapter called The Second Round of Grief in Hope for the Hard Days.

Here is the quote in context:

The difference between the second round of grief and the first is that I have the advantage of seeing it coming…

One thing I’m doing on this second round of grief is inviting Jesus into each moment with me. I envision him standing beside me back in that first round, when grief suddenly crashed into me like tsunami waves. He was right there, holding me when I felt his presence and especially when I didn’t feel his arms around me.

The second time around, Jesus and I will be standing there together, watching the original scene. I’ll see him standing there with me the first time and feel him standing beside me the second time too. He’ll embrace me as grief wells up, and as it ebbs away.

Though my knowledge of the situation the second time around increases my grief for a moment, he will be offering grace in heavenly abundance to me.

This Easter weekend, you might be dealing with grief. Perhaps it’s another round of grief from something you lost before. I encourage you to spend some private time with the Lord, grieving what happened to you. I hope that what I’ve shared above about inviting Jesus into that moment with you will be helpful.

In Hope for the Hard Days, I often write about grief. It has been an enormous challenge for me to choose hope amid all the grief I’ve faced. However, with God’s help, that has been possible. That’s why I wrote the book – to encourage you to find even just a bit of hope for the hard days. If your hard day happens to fall on Easter this year, I pray my book will encourage you.

You can order bulk signed copies of my book for the cheapest price in my Etsy shop. It’s where you can get a signed copy from me. Check it out HERE, and don’t forget the discount codes below!

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Down went the needle is a part of a quote from my client Naomi Fata’s book Stitching Your Story Piece by Peace, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 45 of Lent 2025 – April 18

I am proud to have been the editor, interior formatter, and book launch manager for Naomi’s book, which made my list of favorite books of 2024 from over 100 reads. It’s a book with many metaphors about sewing. On this Good Friday, I’m featuring a portion of her book that’s ideal for today.

Here is the quote in context:

Good Friday was a quiet day in the sewing room. I decided this was an opportunity to clean the machines…As I dismantled the machines, taking off the throat plates, dusting and oiling as needed, I moved the handwheel to adjust the needle position.

Down went the needle. The picture before my eyes – He was buried. As He went down into the ground from sight. Up came the needle. He is risen. As He rose a secure stitch formed. As we enter in, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ stitches us to the Father. This is the picture of His perfect love. I am stitched to Him, with a stitch that can’t be broken.

As a novice sewist, this metaphor speaks deeply to me. It reminds me of the hope in this scripture:

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 because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Romans 8:11 NIV

Jesus’ perfect love displayed so powerfully on the cross binds us to him. Also, he gives us resurrection power through the Holy Spirit, who is the gift Jesus promised on the night he was betrayed (John 16:1-15).

I’m pondering these thoughts deeply on this Good Friday morning. I’ll be pondering them more when I attend church tonight and on Easter Sunday. May you join in fellowship with others in your local church this weekend, where you can find comfort and strength in community.

Get your copy of Naomi’s book HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Venting upward is a part of a quote from my book The Fruitful Life, and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for just five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 44 of Lent 2025 – April 17

I’m using my own books for quotes this final week of the Lenten season. This quote is from the Selfish or Kind chapter of The Fruitful Life.

Here is the quote in context:

What I’m doing differently now is venting solely to God.   He can handle my raw honesty without being negatively influenced.  By keeping my mouth shut toward others and opening it only in God’s presence, my faith is growing quickly.  I’m learning what’s worth arguing about and what’s not.  I’m learning that God sees the wrongs done to me, and He is my avenger.  My trust in Him is getting stronger, since I’m venting upward instead of outward.

I am not sure where I first learned the lesson about venting upward, but it’s been one of the most powerful tools of spiritual growth I’ve ever used. It broke my tendency to triangulate, as modeled in my toxic family dynamics. Venting upward first draws me closer to God because I cast all my cares on him first. Often, that is enough to take care of the problem.

Once I am finished venting upward, God will tell me if I need to speak to someone else. The Bible says there is wisdom in talking with many counselors (Prov. 15:22). So, only after I have spoken to God do I go to my Christian counselor, best friends, fellow Stephen Ministers, or other wise people for additional input. I start with God first, and this sets everything right.

If you aren’t in the practice of venting upward first, I highly recommend it. This practice tempers your spirit while drawing you closer to God. It’s a great way to grow spiritually in a short period of time, because you’ll notice how often you are turning to others as soon as you put this into practice.

You can order bulk signed copies of my book for the cheapest price in my Etsy shop. I also include meditation cards that you can’t get anywhere else. Check it out HERE, and don’t forget the discount codes below! You might also be interested in my hardcover, large print version HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote.

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!