Restore
Issue No. 12 | Happy Easter | April 2023
In This Issue
Women at the Tomb
Reflections on Matthew 28:1-10
Resurrection Rolls
Get my family's favorite Easter recipe
Inside Copyright © 2023, ABF Communications, LLC ~ P.O. Box 1804, Queen Creek AZ 85142 All articles written by Andrea Fortenberry, unless otherwise noted. Some articles contain affiliate links. Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. From My Heart to Yours Page 3
of the Month Page 4
Rolls
9 The Veil Was Torn Page 5
at The Tomb
What's
Question
Resurrection
Page
Women
Pages 7-8
from my heart to yours
Happy Easter Week!
Truth be told, I'm a little behind this Easter. I barely put out my Easter decorations yesterday. I haven't bought a thing for my kids' Easter baskets. I'm going to brave Target later and I'm prepared to pick through the leftovers from other moms who are much more prepared.
But you know what? I'm fine with it. It's totally okay to not be prepared for these Easter traditions. What really matters is focusing on the Good News of Easter: that Jesus loves us so much that He came down to die for us. And He didn't stay dead, He rose from the grave!
My prayer is that we remember the Good News of Easter far beyond this weekend. Let's remember it when:
We're knee-deep in laundry
We're worried about one of our children
Finances are tight
We have a fight with our spouse
We feel lonely or ashamed
We aren't sure about the future
The power and hope of the Resurrection are always with us!
Andrea
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xoxo,
Question of the Month:
What are the best things you've received in your Easter basket?
My aunt made me a coupon book when I was little. It had things like: Call Auntie for a sleepover, call Auntie for a movie date, call Auntie to go to the park. It was cool.
Brianna Dupuy
Scratch-off lottery tickets!
Lori McGoldrick
Chocolate, Starbucks gift cards, a new book, jewelry and fun socks.
Jennifer Iverson
When I was four, I saw a stuffed pink bunny holding a little white purse for me at a department store. I was thrilled it was in my Easter basket and was so excited to carry my new little purse to church.
Kat Berry
My daughter's favorite Easter "basket" was a baseball cap flipped upside down, filled with her favorite treats like beef jerky, Nerds, other candy, a Starbucks frap in the bottle and I think I had a few gift cards in there too.
Cadbury cream eggs.
Devotional! Wish I got an adult Easter basket.
Patricia Marie
For my kids this year, I found these wooden tokens on Etsy to put in Easter eggs for the hunt. They have things like: Date with Mom, Date with Dad, Donuts for Breakfast, 20-Minute Later Bedtime and $1 on them. I'm excited to use them for years to come.
Mad Libs, new book, new swim suit, eggs with cash and gift cards.
Jeanne Lehmkuhl
Amber Price
Amy Cooper
Amy Moore
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The Veil Was Torn
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.”
– Matthew 27:50-51 NASB
When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, God commanded Moses to make an ark, or a large box, to contain The Ten Commandments. Two gold angels adorned the top of the ark, which was known as the Ark of the Covenant. God promised the people of Israel that He would be with them and the ark symbolized God’s physical presence among them.
As the Israelites wandered through the desert and then conquered the Promised Land, the Ark went with them. Years later, King Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem and gave the Ark a permanent home. Deep inside the temple was a place known as The Holy of Holies where the presence of God dwelled. Only the high priests were allowed inside just once a year. The Holy of Holies was enclosed by a very tall thick curtain, also known as the veil. Bible scholars estimate it was about 45 feet tall and four inches thick.
It was customary for the priests to tie a rope around their waist in case they fainted or died while inside this most holy place so someone who wasn’t allowed within the veil could pull them out.
Why am I telling you all this?
Because at the moment Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. This was no accident or coincidence! God intentionally removed this barrier between the people and Himself because of Jesus. No person could have split the veil, it was God Himself.
Although Jesus’ death was an ending, God immediately gave His people a physical representation of a new beginning. The old way had finished, the new had come. All because of Jesus. Thank you, Lord!
This Good Friday, let’s remember the great love of our Savior and the intentionality of our Father who removed the barriers between us!
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
1 Peter 1:3
Women at the Tomb
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples. 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now, I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." -
Matthew 28:1-10
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This Holy week, these are the verses that have stood out most to me. I love that the women were the first to visit the tomb, the first to be commissioned after the Resurrection to "go and tell," and the first to see Jesus. If you ever want proof that God cares about women and wants them to preach the Gospel, this is it!
This Easter, may we consider how we can "go and tell" others about Jesus. Sometimes we think this means preaching a sermon, evangelizing in the streets or taking a mission trip across the world.
Yes, we can absolutely do those things. But it can also be much simpler. It can be a friendly conversation with moms at a playdate or a stranger at the grocery store, showing up with a meal for a neighbor, wearing your cross necklace, and reading Bible stories with your children. There are a million little ways we can bring the Gospel to the people God puts in our path.
I love these words from St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words."
When we watch the news or scroll social media, it seems the world gets darker every day,
My 2023 Schedule
I'd love to see you this year! Find me at one of these amazing events or book me for your own.
Use this link to access my speaker request form.
April 12th: Moms Connect at Rock Point Church - Queen Creek
April 22nd: loveSTRONG One-Day Retreat - Peoria
April 24th: Cornerstone MOPS & MOMSnext - Chandler
April 25th and 26th: La Casa de Cristo MOPS - Scottsdale
May 2nd: The Living Room at Rock Point Church - Queen Creek
May 3rd: New Life MOPS & MOMSnext - Virtual
September 7-9th: MOMcon - Chicago, IL
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Resurrection Rolls
Our favorite Easter recipe that's both meaningful and tasty!
The Ingredients
One can of refrigerated crescent rolls
8 large marshmallows
3 tablespoons butter (melted)
3 tablespoons of sugar combined with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
The Steps
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy clean up.
3. Divide the crescent rolls into eight pieces.
4. Dip marshmallow in melted butter to coat.
5. Roll marshmallow in sugar and cinnamon mixture.
6. Place the marshmallow in the center of the crescent roll. Completely wrap dough around the marshmallow so that you cannot see it. Pinch any holes so that the dough is completely closed and place on the baking sheet.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 for the rest of the marshmallows.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until rolls are golden brown on the outside.
9. Allow rolls to cool. When serving, cut each roll open to show that the marshmallow is gone. Jesus is alive!
The Lesson
The marshmallow represents Jesus. After His death on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took His body and prepared it for burial (roll the marshmallow in the butter and sugar mixture). They wrapped Him in linen cloths (the crescent dough) and placed His body in the tomb (the oven). After the rolls are baked and cooled, cut an opening to see that the marshmallow is gone, just like Jesus was not in the tomb three days after His death. He is Risen!
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