Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
 
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
 
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, [...]

I haven’t made sugar cookies—and decorated them!—in a long time, but thinking about celebrating Easter put me in the mood for making some. And, can you believe it? I took pictures during the process! The lighting’s not great, but I took ‘em and I’m gonna post ‘em!

The rolling of the dough, of course. See [...]

Extended on a cursèd tree,
Besmeared with dust, and sweat, and blood,
See there, the King of Glory see!
Sinks and expires the Son of God.
Who, who, my Savior, this hath done?
Who could Thy sacred body wound?
No guilt Thy spotless heart hath known,
No guile hath in Thy lips been found.
I, I alone, have done the deed!
’Tis I Thy [...]

On my heart imprint Thine image,
Blessèd Jesus, King of Grace,
That life’s riches, cares and pleasures
Have no power Thee to efface.
This the superscription be:
Jesus, crucified for me,
Is my Life, my hope’s Foundation,
And my Glory and Salvation.
 
~Thomas H. Kingo, 1689

I’m reading through the gospel of John in preparation for Easter, and this morning’s reading was the eleventh chapter. I was struck by the words of Caiaphas, the high priest, so I was very interested when I opened today’s post by John Piper on the Desiring God blog, because it deals with the same [...]

IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST I GLORY

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Tow’ring o’er the the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers ‘round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o’ertake me,
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me;
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.
When the sun of bliss [...]

It is good to learn early on that suffering and God
are no contradiction,
but much more a necessary unity:
for me the idea that God himself suffered
was always one of the most convincing teachings
of Christianity.
I think that God is closer to suffering than to happiness,
and to find God in this manner gives peace and rest,
and a strong [...]