He is risen! He is risen indeed!

BECAUSE HE LIVES

(c) Bill Gaither

God sent his son,

They called him Jesus

He came to love, heal and forgive

He lived and died

To buy my pardon

An empty grave is there to prove

My Savior Lived!

Because He lives

I can face tomorrow

Because He lives

All fears are gone;

Because I know

He holds my future

And life is worth the living

Hailey Blu in her Easter Bonnet Just because He lives.

When we first married my husband Ken introduced me to Bill and Gloria Gaither. What a delightful couple with a musical heritage. I was thrilled because my favorite Easter hymn is Because He Lives, one that Bill Gaither penned. Well, maybe Handel's Hallelujah Chorus is my very favorite, but Because He Lives is a close second. Even when it is not Easter and life becomes difficult, I sing the words and this song very comforting. You will agree that life can become difficult; even unbearable at times. But we can rejoice, because He Lives! Jesus said, "I have overcome the world."

Easter is my very favorite holiday . . . I love everything about it . . . the resurrection story, the hope of the holiday, the coloring Easter eggs with my granddaughter Hailey and making resurrection cookies, one of our favorite traditions. You can find the recipe and other family traditions in my cooks co-authored with Alice Gray, Grandmother, Another Name for Love, Simon and Schuster, Keepsake for A Mother's Heart, and A Christmas Keepsake. I have also posted the recipe below.

You can imagine my sadness when I heard that a young woman in my husband's cancer group died this week, leaving her young son and husband to grieve for her. How tragic to die at Easter. But after much reflection I realized that Easter is the perfect time to die . . . with our focus on the resurrection bringing the hope of eternal life! Also with spring bursting first, the constant reminders of rebirth surrounding us, trees budding, flowers blooming, and brown grass turning green! Just as God brings the earth to life after the dead of winter, He will bring gus to live . . . . He defeated death at the cross. He lives, and so we live! The message of Easter is a message of hope and life.

May you have a blessed Easter with your family and celebrate that He Lives! And when life on this earth becomes overwhelming, just remember He lives within your heart!

Baking these cookies is a great way to teach your children and grandchildren the resurrection story!

Resurrection Cookies 1c. whole pecans 1 tsp. vinegar 4 egg whites, pinch of salt 1c. sugar, zipper baggie wooden spoon tape The Holy Bible. Preheat oven to 300 BEFORE BEGINNING. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know this and how to belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Take a bite and notice the cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty! Read Matt. 28:1-9