Alive and Active Life

In the clothes dryer?!

So, have you ever wondered where else you can hide an Easter basket? Sometimes you run out of ideas.

This bonus content provides lots of new ideas. Here’s a list that gives lots of places to hide your Easter baskets this year! It’s a huge bonus.

For more resources and tools that inspire and equip you to live well using God's Word in practical ways each day, visit the Alive and Active Life website.

You can listen to today’s content with the web player above or read the content below. Now let’s explore Interconnector.

You need a bridge between you and God. Someone very much like you who understands you. Someone very much like God who understands Him.

Jesus is your Interconnector to:

Hide Easter baskets with a small assortment of candies, perhaps a small story book about Easter, and a few surprise treats/tiny gifts. Include a meaningful token – like a cross. Children (and adults!) LOVE searching for goodies! Keep it fun and full of adventure. Then set a time for the hunt!

Just as

You can listen to today’s content with the web player above or read the content below. Now let’s explore Intercessor.

Traditionally, the word “intercessor” has come to mean – a person who prays on behalf of another person or an event. To say it simply, they intercede for God’s blessing on the person/event being prayed over.

Another synonym is “negotiator.” Jesus negotiated with God for you – on your behalf. Consequently, His words made a difference.

Yes, Jesus prayed for you. Incidentally, Jesus continues to pray for you every day. What a comforting thought. Jn. 17:6-24 records such a powerful prayer. Jesus pleads on your behalf with your best interests in mind.

When you consider this fact, it’s truly mind-boggling to know Jesus is your Intercessor – for real!

Consider This: Jesus is the great Creator. With words, only, He created all things. That’s power!

Now, this same Jesus speaks powerful words on your behalf into your trials and sorrows. Your Intercessor has you in His great heart. 

Once you are a Christian, the Spirit of Jesus – who lives in you – knows your weaknesses. He helps you in those very vulnerable spots. Because He continually searches your heart – while also knowing the mind of God – He knows the best way to plead to God for you as you strive to walk in God’s ways.

Jesus will never force His help on you. His help becomes your provision as you accept it. This means you must open your heart and accept His work as your Intercessor. As you do this, your faith releases the power of Jesus’ interceding words into your daily life, problems, and struggles.

Make a specialty breakfast bread of some kind. Perhaps you’ve had exposure to kuchen or coffee cake or sweet bread. Maybe cinnamon rolls, biscuits, or hot cross buns.

Whatever your preference, make that specialty bread and share with someone else as a treat – family, friend, roommate, co-worker, a lonely person.

Make a double batch to last this whole week. Then on Easter Sunday, you can serve up the rest of the yummy bread with chilled Easter eggs and a huge fruit and cheese platter for a quick, easy breakfast before church.

Reflect on Jesus, the Bread of Life. Since He is your spiritual food (the nourishment your inner person needs to survive) you need to “eat of Him.” This means to take Him into your heart and life.

Tell children and remind adults – Jesus gave His body for them on the cross. Then serve small pieces

You can listen to today’s content with the web player above or read the content below. Now let’s explore Intervener.

Consequently, what does it mean to be an Intervener? Most dictionaries say:

You have an Intervener – someone ready to do all those things for you.

For starters, Jesus did the most amazing thing. He stood for you – between you and holy God. Interestingly, He took your side as He became your “stand-in.”

In a skillful, creative, never-been-done-before strategy, Jesus bore God’s wrath and punishment so justice would be carried out and so you would be free from condemnation. (Is.53: 4-10) Yet, Jesus accomplished something even more precious! He also demonstrated God’s deep, abiding love for you.

Because He solved the sin problem with both God’s and your best interests in mind, you can be reconciled to God. So, we say with confidence Jesus is the great Intervener.

In addition to saving you from sin and eternal death, Jesus is eager to intervene for you each day.

Decorate cooled, hard-boiled eggs to show the joy of new life in Christ:

If you don’t have eggs and supplies to do this activity, why not draw/sketch or paint beautiful eggs on paper? Or you can sculpt with clay or play-do. You can also decorate small balloons. Set them out around your home or room to add to this week’s celebration.

If you don’t have children, do this activity with a friend or group. See the variety of beautiful egg designs each person creates. As you see them this week, remember your Intervener.

You can listen to today’s content with the web player above or read the content below. Now let’s explore Lover of Your Soul.

When someone says, “I love you,” you expect more than words. After all, words don’t prove the heart. Actions do.

Consequently, what does Lover of Your Soul mean? Although Jesus was a Teacher while He lived on earth, He was also the Lover of Humanity. When Jesus went to the cross, He took onto Himself the consequences for all wrongs done – ever! He suffered the punishment for all of it.

Since He did this, you don’t have to be punished. Yes, Jesus said, “I AM the Lover of Your Soul.” Then He totally proved it!

Jesus simply loves you as a whole person. As your Creator, He has a purpose for your life.

So, how is your love back to God? Jesus put it in simple terms, “If you love Me, you will obey Me.” (Jn. 14:15) Once again, the focus is on actions.

Since love is only believable by what you do, contemplate Deut. 11:22. “. . . carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow – to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, and to hold fast to Him. . . “

Holding fast to God is pinning yourself to Him. So, loving God is choosing to stick like glue to Him in every thought, word, attitude, and deed. Consequently, since you make decisions with your will, you can pin yourself to the Lover of Your Soul.

Now, that list proves you love the Lord!

Because Jesus proved He’s the Lover of Your Soul, you can enjoy His love. Yes, curl up in it by faith. Yet, don’t stop there. Since that’s a child’s response to love, decide to grow up in your love for God. Love Him back and prove it by how you live.

Lover Of Your Soul Scriptures:

It’s time for the Easter story using Resurrection Eggs. If you have children, let them tell the story. This set is delightful for adults, too.

Read the Easter story from Scripture as you

You can listen to today’s content with the web player above or read the content below. Now let’s explore High Priest.

After God established the Old Testament priesthood, Aaron was chosen as the first High Priest. Because priests were chosen to perform sacrifices to cover people’s sins, they served God on behalf of Israel.

Incidentally, the High Priest had the sober responsibility of entering the Most Holy Place once a year to make a special sacrifice to God. Priests made extreme preparation to enter that sacred place. After all, if a mistake was made, he might drop dead in God’s holy presence. In that case, he’d be dragged out by a rope tied to his ankle (since no one else could enter).

The final Great High Priest, Jesus, ran ahead of you into the invisible, real Holy of Holies. Since no human could enter that place, and live to tell about it, it’s noteworthy that Jesus – a man – ran into the very presence of God. Jesus wants you to follow! So, follow Him!

Because Christ’s sacrifice made it possible for you to enter the Most Holy Place, you don’t need to fear death! In fact, Jesus wants you to live there in close relationship with God. Jesus, the Great High Priest, restores HOPE, making it firm and secure.

Run to this hope! Gratefully grab onto it – like grabbing onto the horns of the altar in the Most Holy Place – an Old Testament gesture showing a plea for mercy.

* If you’ve not heard about the term, “living stone” before, in just a moment, we’ll share a Scripture that helps explain it.

I made this set when my kids were small. They loved using it.

Cut a large, light color flannel fabric (ideally 2′ high X 3′ wide – but can be smaller) into a heart – a symbol of God’s great love. Then cut the following pieces from colored flannel.

Tell the Easter story with this set. I

You can listen to today’s content with the web player above or read the content below. Now let’s explore Sacrifice.

What does Sacrifice mean to you going into Easter week? Since we don’t practice sacrifices these days, why is it important to linger and ponder?

Let’s start in the beginning. When Adam and Eve sinned, that action cut them apart from God. Their disobedience stemmed from not trusting God’s character and intentions. Tragically, intimate relationship was permanently shattered.

Yet, God so loved His children, He sacrificed an animal to cover their sins, bodies, and lives. Sadly, the first sacrifice was made. Then, sacrifices continued for centuries. Consequently, many animals were sacrificed as stand-ins for people’s sins.

This temporary system was not God’s desire or original design. Plus, it was not sufficient by itself. So, He became human – to be the once-for-all Sacrifice. No more animal sacrifices.

Our once-for-all Sacrifice was called “The Word” before God packed Himself in a baby’s body – and was given a new name – “Jesus.” Remarkably, God proved His love for you – literally altering His person. Essentially, Jesus – the Sacrifice – engaged in an incredible life purpose:

In all these ways, Jesus became the Sacrifice for all sin . . . all people . . . all centuries . . . for you! Because God loves you deeply, He could not bear eternity without you. So, instead, He bore the consequences that would keep you away. With passion, strength, and great cost, our Sacrifice established a path for you to become the person He created.

What would you do without this provision? Incidentally, have you responded to this amazing Sacrifice?

To celebrate the joy made possible by Sacrifice, decorate your home and/or your room for Easter. Basically, find something meaningful that captures the message of Easter. Since simple displays often remind of special messages, focus on Jesus death and resurrection, new life, and spring.

I’m sure it’s not just me. Surely, you’ve been there, too. Your computer, phone, or device just isn’t cooperating. So, you refresh. If that doesn’t work, you turn it off – and back on again. Plus, you take care of any updates. Worse case scenario, you back-up data and re-format your device. Honestly! A lot of management! Similarly, there’s management needed for a mindset to work well. However, it involves certain reboots, re-starts, updates, and even re-formats to have a positive mindset work.

Let’s see what Scripture says.

Read More …

I’m sure it’s not just me. Surely, you’ve been there, too. Your computer, phone, or device just isn’t cooperating. So, you refresh. If that doesn’t work, you turn it off – and back on again. Plus, you take care of any updates. Worse case scenario, you back-up data and re-format your device. Honestly! A lot of management! Similarly, there’s management needed for a mindset to work well. However, it involves certain reboots, re-starts, updates, and even re-formats to have a positive mindset work.

Let’s see what Scripture says.

Read More …

In our last article/podcast, “Refuse To Refuse,” we talked about living with hope. Since hope is so critical, it’s worth a look at how God tethers you to hope. Actually, it’s challenging to be a Jesus follower in today’s world. Equally, to live without hope is tragic.

Let’s explore how God tethers you to hope – and exactly what a tether is.

Read More …