Is Your Problem An Ant Hill Or A Mountain?

Have you ever felt stuck? You want to see your life from a new perspective and move forward, but you just can't put your finger on the right way to get the insight you need? You are looking at things from ground level, going round and round seeing things in the same old way, but never quite getting the perspective you need to really move forward. Have you noticed how things look completely different when you are seeing them from another point of view? Is Your Problem An Ant Hill Or A Mountain? Imagine how an ant hill looks to an ant. To the tiny ant it looms as high as a mountain! He enjoys his job going out finding food for his family, but dreads coming back home and having to climb up a mountain to deliver it! How does that ant hill look to us? We see an ant hill as a small mound of sand. Do your problems feel like a mountain? When you're feeling stuck and your ant hill looks like Mt. Everest, what you need is to see it from a different place. Because it doesn't loom so large and feel so overwhelming, when you see with a new perspective. Maybe it is a completely new outlook on your situation that you need!  Look at it from a different place.  -Harley Storey

RESURRECTION ROLLS - Easter Rolls

There are good, tasty, and easy to make!

Recipe and Instructions for Easter Rolls that tell the true meaning of Easter
which is the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is an inspiring family project that can be done on Easter Morning.

Ingredients needed:
Crescent rolls
Melted butter
Large Marshmallows
Cinnamon
Sugar
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
Give each child one triangle of crescent rolls.
Explain that he crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.
~ Read Matthew 27: 57-61

1. Give each child a marshmallow.
This represents Jesus.

2. Have him/her dip the marshmallow in melted butter.
This represents the oils of embalming.

3. Now dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar.
This represents the spices used to anoint the body.

4. Then wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up, but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside.)  This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death.

5. Place all in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.
The oven represents the tomb--while you are waiting for the rolls to bake.
~ Read Matthew 27:62-66

6. Remove rolls from oven and let them cool slightly.
Now the children can then open their rolls (cloths) and discover that Jesus is no longer there! HE IS RISEN!!!!
(The marshmallow melts and the crescent roll is puffed up, but empty.)

~ Now read Matthew 28:1-10

Good Things - Better Things - Best Things!

It has been said that "Attitude" is everything!!  Do you believe that?  It affects our total being - physically, mentally, and spiritually.  Attitude gives us hope in the positive, gives us faith when we are doubting, gives us strength when we are feeble, gives us truth when false is prevailing all around us, and attitude gives us a way of life that looks beyond the here and now. Beyond the obstacles and hard times to "Better Days" ahead!

These are all "Good Things" but what about "Better Things"?  Is that even possible?  I know we are all waiting for "better days".  But the key to better days is in the "waiting".  Maybe you are going through a tough time - job, finances, relationship, sickness, car trouble, family troubles, a death - the list of situations could go on and on. Truth is, hard times come to all of us. But if we can stand firm and exercise our "patience", our waiting, better days WILL come. Just remember "Good Things" come when we believe and "Better Things" come when we are patient and trust in the hope of each new day, each hour, each minute, and each second.

But wait just a minute, "Good" - "Better" - "Best" . . . who doesn't want the "best" of everything?  We all do!  This is the hard part.  The "Best Things" come to those who don't give up!  It's so easy to get discouraged, defeated, when things aren't going well or when we are down and out.  The test is on during these times. It was once said, "when you get to the end of your rope - tie a knot in the end and hold on tight!!"  That is just exactly what we have to do sometimes.  Tie a knot - hold on - believe - be patient - don't give up and last but not least - TRUST GOD!  He wants to give you not just the "Good Things" or the "Better Things". He wants to give you the "Best Things".  

Growing up in my church, I can still recall the words of a dear elderly lady that echoed throughout all of my growing-up years . . . "keep on keeping on!"  I can still hear the sound of her voice, filled with excitement and encouragement, as she testified to the many "Good Things", the "Better Things", and the "Best Things" yet to come . . . if I would just "keep on keeping on!"

So in the days ahead, just "keep on keeping on" believing, being patient and remember . . . never-ever give up.   

What A Lovely Name [Live]

"What a lovely name, this name of Jesus. Reaching higher far than the brightest star. Sweeter than the songs they sing in Heaven. Let the world proclaim, "What a lovely name"!" - Lyrics and Music by Charles B. Wycuff.

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This has always been one of my all-time-favorite songs . . . especially when sung by Vestal Goodman of the "Happy Goodman Family" Gospel Singers.  She truly lived and experienced the full meaning of this song. She knew "what a lovely name," Jesus was first hand!!

You know there are so many songs with so many messages out there.  They are everywhere - radio, TV, internet, ipods, cd's, tapes, mp3's, videos, concerts, stores, cars, etc.

How many songs do we hear in a day?  I love music so I hear more than I can even count!  Some of them hit home,  some offer words of encouragement and a message, some are cute, clever, and catchy with awesome beats, rhythms and harmony and some of them are just loud noise that I simply tune out and don't even hear!

But this song hit a chord within my heart and soul the first time I heard it years ago and still today touches my heart.  The "Name of Jesus" brings hope, love, cheer, makes clean, redeems, brings wonder and awe, reaches far, gives a "song" . . . "Name above ALL other" - the lovely name of JESUS!!

Do you know and proclaim this Jesus? This Jesus that is "EVERMORE the same yesterday, today, and forever!" 

Verse 1
There's… a name above all others,…… 
Wonderful to hear,… bringing hope and cheer.…… 
It's… the lovely name of Jesus,…… 
Evermore the same,…. what a lovely name.…… 

Chorus….. 
What… a lovely name,… the name of Jesus.…… 
Reaching higher far,…. than the brightest star.…… 
Sweet...er than the songs they sing in heaven.…… 
Let the world proclaim,…. what a lovely name.…… 
Verse 2…..
Thru His name there's wondrous power,…… 
Power to redeem, making sinners clean.…… 
By His pow'r He cleansed the leper,…… 
Opened blinded eyes, caused the dead to rise.…… 
Verse 3….. 
He'll…. return in clouds of glory,…… 
Saints of ev'ry race,…. shall behold His face.…… 
With…. Him enter heaven's city,…… 
Ever to proclaim,…. what a lovely name.…

Chorus:....
Oh what… a lovely name,… this name called... Jesus.…… 
Reaching higher far,…. than the brightest star.…… 
It’s sweeter…. than all the songs they're singing... in heaven.…… 
Let the world proclaim,….Let this world proclaim....
Evermore the same......What a lovely.. name.…… 

What a lovely name…. "JESUS"