Rice and Beans

Easter is the best day of the year.  You can't keep a good man down, the good will always win in the long-run.  This is what we all want, what we ALL NEED!!!  Lent is the 40 days that preceed Easter. It's purpose is to help prepare our hearts for this awesome truth: Jesus is overcoming our evil...we tried to get rid of Jesus, but couldn't. It was even impossible for death to keep its hold on Jesus (acts 2:24).  He is more powerful than anything, and because he beat death, he took what we deserve (death) and changes it for life with him (heaven)!!

Lent is a tradition that is not largely celebrated in my church as a whole, but can be a thoughtful practice and this year our extended family has embraced it.

My inspiring sister-in-law, Jenae, invited us over for a "Rice and Beans gathering".  She blogged about it so I don't need to!!! She is an amazing writer and so much more thoughtful than me, so I will just link to her post for most of it.  But first,  I must add a few of my own thoughts.

She had 31 people over for lunch to kick off the "lenten season" and served rice and beans... Andy and I are both thrifty and practical, so one of our favorite parts was just seeing the cost table that she made:

It shows that it only cost $13 to feed all of us!!

Here is a link to her blog... and she has written a few other great posts since then, so feel free to keep on reading!

My Easter verse for this year:

Acts

 22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene[a] by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King David said this about him:

‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
26 No wonder my heart is glad,
    and my tongue shouts his praises!
    My body rests in hope.
27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead[b]
    or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
28 You have shown me the way of life,
    and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’[c]

29 “Dear brothers, think about this!