Happy Easter!

 Happy, blessed holy, incomparable Easter!

 

Cross image from Israel

Dear Friends and Family,

How utterly amazing that the one and only God, the power force behind all that is, would love us without our “goodness” first earning His love. That He treasures each of us before we know Him seems incredible! 

 

Jesus was willing to enter this world with all its darkness and self-absorption to boldly declare “I LOVE YOU” . It’s taken me a lifetime to understand His love that endured crucifixion’s torture with poise so that death cannot keep us in graves.

 

The Resurrection, beyond doubt, is the greatest event that ever occurred in history.  Jesus entered our world as a Babe, became Teacher modeling the way of truth and love, and then our suffering Savior who set us free from fear and the consequences of sin. Not only was He human, but Divine, the one and only God. Through His Holy Spirit, He empowers us with hope to peacefully face any challenge. 

 

How do I know Christ rose and lives on? Because I see His Spirit work among us.

 

I recall that our amazing God recharged my husband’s heart during an Easter season eleven years go through the hands of a Jewish doctor, Gabi Silberman, and through marvels provided by drug companies who invested in medical research so Wayne could live on with a Pacemaker.

 

I recall the reality of Easter’s gift of peace of mind in Wayne as we entered that Florida emergency room. Wayne's prayer, he told me later, was: Whatever Lord You’ve planned is fine by me, altho I know my wife would like to have me around a little longer. (He had that right!!!) 

 

As we sat through that first night in intensive care, me in my rock-hard recliner, inches from his bed, holding hands through the bed bars watching pulse numbers, Wayne slept off and on between nurses’ attentiveness. His peace never faltered. Whatever the Lord had in mind…simply stated, he deeply believed. This is what I call Easter confidence.

 

Easter confidence in Wayne was not a wonder. My man started each day sitting calmly on the sofa reading the Bible. No fanfare, no hoopla, wherever we traveled, with friends, family or the two of us, he simply was attracted to absorbing more and more of God’s message to man.

 

By the way,  he could tell the funniest stories, was compassionate enough to get teary eyed in Les Mis, and couldn’t pass an infirm person without silently praying. He was a guy’s guy, wild about golf, his fishing trips to Canada. Yet he had that something extra because of Jesus - the deep joy that comes to God’s very own that God wants to give each of us.

 

I saw God’s power in Wayne’s renewed post-Pacemaker life for which I was deeply grateful, but also a reminder that His peace gift exists for us every day. It’s God’s present to the living described in one of my all-time favorite Scriptures:

 “…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-8 

 

May the Easter peace that passes all understanding be yours every day!

 

 

 

 

Writing Update:

You can read some of Wayne’s stories for yourself in his bookThoughts-Today-Words-Tomorrow-Wayne/dp/1722125322 The paperback is currently onsale for $7.79 from $19.95 thru amazon prime. It’s a great coffee table book for your home or an Easter gift for the man in your house. 

 

I was blessed to have the Marion Citizen newspaper in Ocala, Florida  do an article about my work. This  link will take you there. https://www.chronicleonline.com/weeklies/marion_citizen/lifestyle/oak-run-inspiration-for-mystery-novel/article_c1a10353-d526-548b-8d26-b04a55c610eb.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

  

Valentine’s Day, our special twenty-four hour celebration  of love, has arrived. What a powerful four-letter word! And what an extraordinary force love is! 

 

On this Valentine’s Day I encourage you to make loving well your highest priority. Of course we send remembrances of cards, flowers, but it’s great to speak words of love all throughout the year. What a privilege to love people as we go through life - a spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, dear friends - their presence in our world brings deep joy.

 

The greatest Lover ever is our Creator and we’re made in His image. It’s His love we model when we tenderly treasure one another. We cannot “over love” by its true definition, which is caring for the welfare of your beloved even more than your own. This mean no smothering love but freeing love, respecting your loved one and urging him or her on to become the best person possible. Love is fuel to help you survive and thrive no matter what happens around you. 

 

The truth is my heart will always long for my 60-year-plus love affair with my husband, Wayne, even though my soul knows I cannot see him again on earth. I’m never completely without the desire to return to my former married life. Yet, I have a God-given incentive to pursue new experiences. I pray for the gift of holy laughter again. I always taught the people I counseled that God wants us to rejoice in Him no matter what. We are to live with joy and serenity and clothe ourselves with kindness and compassion, so I try. As I look for a plus in my husband’s departure, I can see one glowing in the darkness: my love for God, my intimacy with him has become ever greater. 

 

When I’m in church, and see in a row ahead of me a man put his arm around his wife or a couple holding hands as they walk in, it makes me happy, not sad. For a couple seconds, as I see their tender touch, I recall the love I had. Marriage is finding another imperfect being to join with in your imperfection, and allowing God to perfect the two of you. This can only happen when God is central in your life. Always He is to be our greatest love! 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you lovers whose life is blessed as mine is today by memories of love, and to those who are praying for their future to find someone to bestow their love upon, and for those who are in the midst of a precious union, celebrate moment by moment your love! 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day to God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit!

And Happy Valentine’s Day to you my friend.

 

1 Corinthians 13:13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love.”

WRITING UPDATE

 

To give your marital love a boost, please check out my Intimacy Reviver free on my YouTube page (JudithRolfs). It will enrich your love affair whether you’ve been married one month or 50 years. This simple communication tool can strengthen the bond between you. 

 

To become ever more intimate with God consider using my Jesus Time 365 Love Notes of Wonder and Worship, devotionals for your daily prayer. I wrote them for readers to draw into greater intimacy with God. A reader recently sent me this message, “I’m currently using this as my devotional for the third year. Daily I find new nuggets to bless me.”

 

I’m excited to say that I’ve resumed my writing again, and am nearing completion of my next mystery novel. It has many twists and turn and is set in England and Scotland. I’m eager for you to read it. Also, I’m working on a grief book to help those who, like me, have lost a beloved spouse. I appreciate your prayers that these projects will honor God and bless readers.

For more information on my books, blogs and videos visit:

https://drjudithrolfs.com/