Restore Issue No. 02 | Easter Inspiration | April 2022
In This Issue Resurrection Rolls A delicious and meaningful treat to make with your family
Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas Mom-approved items your kids will love
What's Inside From My Heart to Yours Page 3
Resurrection Rolls Page 5
Good Friday Reflections Pages 6-7
Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas
Page 8
1 John 4:8-10 Printable Page 9
What's New on the Podcast Page 10
Copyright © 2022, ABF Communications, LLC ~ P.O. Box 1804, Queen Creek AZ 85142 Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERATIONAL VERSION. © Copyright 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. All articles written by Andrea Fortenberry, unless otherwise noted.
from my heart to yours My friend, Lisa Whittle, has a podcast and at the end of each episode, she asks her guests, “What is the last thing you could say about Jesus if you could say just one more thing?” As I listened to an episode recently, I thought of my response: Jesus changes everything. Easter reminds us of this truth, doesn’t it? A significant detail of the Easter story is that when Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). The veil of the temple surrounded The Most Holy Place, creating a physical separation between the people and God. When Jesus gave up His life for us, the spiritual barrier that separated us from God was forever removed. I love that God cares about details and made sure to tear the physical veil of the temple from top to bottom, demonstrating that there was no longer the separation. Jesus changes everything. One of my favorite passages of Scripture about Jesus is Isaiah 61:1-3: The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion —to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Yes and amen. Jesus changes everything. Happy Easter, He is Risen!
xoxo,
Andrea
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Save the Date! Restore: Soul Care for Moms is coming to Arizona on Tuesday, June 21st! I am so grateful to partner with Rock Point Church this year to bring you this summer soul care event. Tickets are on sale now!
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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. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
7. 8. 9.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy clean up. Divide the crescent rolls into eight pieces. Dip marshmallow in melted butter to coat. Roll marshmallow in sugar and cinnamon mixture. 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. Repeat steps 4-6 for the rest of the marshmallows. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until rolls are golden brown on the outside. 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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Good Friday Reflections Every Good Friday I think back to my most memorable one, in 1997 when I lived in Israel. My parents let me skip school to go with them to Jerusalem to watch the Good Friday ceremonies. Thousands of people followed the procession along the Via Doloroso, The Way of Sorrows/Stations of the Cross, which are marked throughout the city. We visited The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located over the site of Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. I saw people weeping and touching The Stone of the Anointing, the site marking Jesus’ anointing after His death. I too touched the stone and marveled at being where Jesus had once been—where He had been on the day He died. What I didn’t realize at that time was that Jesus died for me. I grew up knowing that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins, but I understood it corporately and not personally. The time I spent in Israel truly began my walk with God and I came to realize that yes, Jesus died for us all, but He also died for me. On the day He gave up His life, He knew my name, the sins I would commit, the issues I would face and the work He’d need to do in my life.
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And knowing all of that, He willingly went to the cross. He went because of His love for me—and for you! While Good Friday is often a hard day to think about, how our loving Savior died the most gruesome death, I’m so grateful for it. I’ve often held my son and thought about how I could never sacrifice him for someone else. I’m so overwhelmed by God’s amazing love, love that sent His Only Son to die so that we would be forgiven and free in Him. May we live and walk in that freedom today and every day! He is Risen!
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Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas Mom-Approved Ideas Your Kids Will Enjoy For Little Ones: Bibs, onesie, baby food, sippy cup, stuffed animal, blanket, new socks or shoes. A new age-appropriate Bible or devotional. A new book or DVD: Try a book of Mad Libs, a journal or a new book from a series they enjoy. Toys: Dolls, cars, blocks, Legos, a stuffed animal, deck of cards, a board game, jacks or marbles. Outdoor toys: Jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, kites, baseball bat and ball, soccer ball, football, Frisbee, etc. Craft Supplies: Play-Doh, Silly Putty, slime or the ingredients for slime, coloring books, crayons, paint set, doodle pad, etc. Gift Cards: To the movies, iTunes, a museum, amusement park or their favorite place to eat.
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Everyday Necessities: New toothbrush, socks, water bottle, hat, sunglasses, swimsuit, flip-flops, new pair of earrings or another practical item that they need.
Snack: It is fun to have a food treat in the Easter basket, here are some alternatives to sweets: fish crackers, pretzels, graham crackers, yogurt cup, prepared smoothie drink, fresh fruit or veggie cup, applesauce pouch, apples, oranges, bananas, dried fruit, nuts, fruit snacks or granola bars.
God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:8-10
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My 2022 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 8th-10th: Amazing Grace Retreat - Williams April 19th: MOPS at Pantano Christian Church - Tucson June 21st: Restore: Soul Care for Moms - Queen Creek September 8th-10th: MOMcon - San Diego, CA* September 30th-October 1st: Arise AZ Conference - Sedona *I'll be at MOMcon for my job with MOPS International. MOMcon is for every mom! If you want to go, I have a special Friends and Family coupon I'd love to share with you. Email me for details. :)