A Cup of Tea With Gail
Grab a cup of tea or coffee. Light your favorite Mia Bella Candle,
and visit with me for a few moments.
When we have finished chatting,
I hope you will feel more informed,
but most of all, refreshed!
April 2007
Food For
Thought......
HAPPY EASTER!
The other day I found myself standing amongst isles of Easter candy, Easter eggs, Easter toys and Easter bunnies. As I watched all the mothers scurrying around trying to pick just the right candy, toys and goodies for their kids on Easter Day, I had to ask myself….Is this really what Easter is all about? I have to admit; I had this overwhelming sense of sadness fill my heart as I looked at what Easter has become. I grabbed my bags of Jelly beans, Chocolate Eggs and Malted Eggs and decided I was going to go home and remind myself and educate myself in why we use the symbols of Easter lilies, eggs, and bunnies. Here is a bit of information I found:
Easter lily origin - Is it spiritual?
Tradition states that the Easter lily originated in the Garden of Eden by the teardrops of Eve that she spread while leaving the Garden of Eden. They were teardrops of repentance. The Easter lily also has its roots in pagan rituals - specifically, Hera, the queen of motherhood.
For the Christian, the Easter lily is used in a positive sense and represents many things. The Easter lily is representative of Christ's resurrection; it speaks of purity and innocence, being untainted by the world. The Easter lily also represents a new season, a new birth, such as when one comes to Christ.
Many times, the enemy (Satan) takes the things that God has created and distorts them, causing people to be deceived, and believe a lie. The Easter lily is not to be worshipped, however the lily can be used as a sign to represent new life.
How do you view the Easter lily? What does it mean to you? Does it represent Christ's death and resurrection? Is the Easter lily symbolic of a new birth? Does the Easter lily relate to innocence or purity? God uses many things of this world, even the earth and its entire splendor as a sign.
What is the origin of the Easter bunny?
Like the origin of Easter, the origin of the Easter Bunny has roots that go back to pre-Christian, Anglo-Saxon history. The holiday was originally a pagan celebration that worshipped the goddess Eastre. She was the goddess of fertility and springtime and her earthly symbol was the rabbit.
Thus the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxons worshipped the rabbit believing it to be Eastre's earthly incarnation.
When the Anglo-Saxons were converted to Christianity, the pagan holiday, which occurred around the same time as the Christian memorial of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, was combined with the Christian celebration and given the name Easter.
Originally, there were some very pagan practices that went along with the Easter celebration. Today, Easter is often commercialized, with all the focus on eggs, the Easter bunny, etc.
Because of this, many churches are starting to refer to it as Resurrection Day.
What is the origin of the Easter egg?
Exchanging Easter eggs with one another is a custom that goes back thousands of years. Long before its association with Easter, the egg was a symbol of rebirth. Many ancient cultures used the egg to symbolize both rebirth and the universe. Ancient peoples such as the Persians, the Egyptians, the Chinese, the Gauls, and the Romans all used the egg in their springtime celebrations. Thus the origin of the Easter egg predates the origin of Christianity.
However, when Christianity spread to the lands of these ancient cultures, the exchanging of colored eggs became incorporated in the memorial celebration of Jesus' resurrection, the holy day that came to be known as Easter. These Easter eggs were colored and given as tokens to remind Christians of the tomb and Jesus' triumphant victory over death.
Easter Origin - The Biblical Accounts
Easter (also known as Resurrection Day), is the event upon which the entire Christian faith hinges. Paul, once a Jewish leader hostile to Christians, became a convert when he met Jesus on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9). As an eyewitness of Christ, Paul made it abundantly clear that without the resurrection, there is no basis for faith in Christ: Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Corinthians 15:12-29)
When Christ was born, He fulfilled a number of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. By the time of His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, He had fulfilled more than 300 of them. These numbers alone provide staggering evidence that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah. So it is with good reason that Christians the world over regard Easter as a very special event. But in the early days of the church, most Christians were Jewish converts. Because Jesus was crucified and rose again during the Passover season, their celebration of Christ's resurrection was acknowledged during that annual observance of the deliverance from bondage in Egypt. Christian Jews (or Messianic Jews) consider the Passover to be symbolic of the time when Christ set all believers free from the penalty of sin (through His death on the cross) and death (through His resurrection from the dead).
Easter Origin - What Does the Resurrection Mean to You?
Easter origin? Can a man who claims to be God and then rises from the dead actually be God in human form? Is He someone you should follow? C.S. Lewis asked those same questions and came to the conclusion that there are only three possibilities. Jesus Christ claimed to be God. Therefore, to say He is just a "good man" or "great teacher" is to call him a liar. Any sane person who would claim to be God, but who in fact, is not, must then be a madman - a lunatic! If Christ is neither a liar nor a lunatic, then there is only one other possible conclusion - He must be the Lord! If He is the Lord, what does Resurrection Day mean to you?
Excerpts from http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/easter-origin.htm
The other day I found myself standing amongst isles of Easter candy, Easter eggs, Easter toys and Easter bunnies. As I watched all the mothers scurrying around trying to pick just the right candy, toys and goodies for their kids on Easter Day, I had to ask myself….Is this really what Easter is all about? I have to admit; I had this overwhelming sense of sadness fill my heart as I looked at what Easter has become. I grabbed my bags of Jelly beans, Chocolate Eggs and Malted Eggs and decided I was going to go home and remind myself and educate myself in why we use the symbols of Easter lilies, eggs, and bunnies. Here is a bit of information I found:
Easter lily origin - Is it spiritual?
Tradition states that the Easter lily originated in the Garden of Eden by the teardrops of Eve that she spread while leaving the Garden of Eden. They were teardrops of repentance. The Easter lily also has its roots in pagan rituals - specifically, Hera, the queen of motherhood.
For the Christian, the Easter lily is used in a positive sense and represents many things. The Easter lily is representative of Christ's resurrection; it speaks of purity and innocence, being untainted by the world. The Easter lily also represents a new season, a new birth, such as when one comes to Christ.
Many times, the enemy (Satan) takes the things that God has created and distorts them, causing people to be deceived, and believe a lie. The Easter lily is not to be worshipped, however the lily can be used as a sign to represent new life.
How do you view the Easter lily? What does it mean to you? Does it represent Christ's death and resurrection? Is the Easter lily symbolic of a new birth? Does the Easter lily relate to innocence or purity? God uses many things of this world, even the earth and its entire splendor as a sign.
What is the origin of the Easter bunny?
Like the origin of Easter, the origin of the Easter Bunny has roots that go back to pre-Christian, Anglo-Saxon history. The holiday was originally a pagan celebration that worshipped the goddess Eastre. She was the goddess of fertility and springtime and her earthly symbol was the rabbit.
Thus the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxons worshipped the rabbit believing it to be Eastre's earthly incarnation.
When the Anglo-Saxons were converted to Christianity, the pagan holiday, which occurred around the same time as the Christian memorial of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, was combined with the Christian celebration and given the name Easter.
Originally, there were some very pagan practices that went along with the Easter celebration. Today, Easter is often commercialized, with all the focus on eggs, the Easter bunny, etc.
Because of this, many churches are starting to refer to it as Resurrection Day.
What is the origin of the Easter egg?
Exchanging Easter eggs with one another is a custom that goes back thousands of years. Long before its association with Easter, the egg was a symbol of rebirth. Many ancient cultures used the egg to symbolize both rebirth and the universe. Ancient peoples such as the Persians, the Egyptians, the Chinese, the Gauls, and the Romans all used the egg in their springtime celebrations. Thus the origin of the Easter egg predates the origin of Christianity.
However, when Christianity spread to the lands of these ancient cultures, the exchanging of colored eggs became incorporated in the memorial celebration of Jesus' resurrection, the holy day that came to be known as Easter. These Easter eggs were colored and given as tokens to remind Christians of the tomb and Jesus' triumphant victory over death.
Easter Origin - The Biblical Accounts
Easter (also known as Resurrection Day), is the event upon which the entire Christian faith hinges. Paul, once a Jewish leader hostile to Christians, became a convert when he met Jesus on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9). As an eyewitness of Christ, Paul made it abundantly clear that without the resurrection, there is no basis for faith in Christ: Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Corinthians 15:12-29)
When Christ was born, He fulfilled a number of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. By the time of His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, He had fulfilled more than 300 of them. These numbers alone provide staggering evidence that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah. So it is with good reason that Christians the world over regard Easter as a very special event. But in the early days of the church, most Christians were Jewish converts. Because Jesus was crucified and rose again during the Passover season, their celebration of Christ's resurrection was acknowledged during that annual observance of the deliverance from bondage in Egypt. Christian Jews (or Messianic Jews) consider the Passover to be symbolic of the time when Christ set all believers free from the penalty of sin (through His death on the cross) and death (through His resurrection from the dead).
Easter Origin - What Does the Resurrection Mean to You?
Easter origin? Can a man who claims to be God and then rises from the dead actually be God in human form? Is He someone you should follow? C.S. Lewis asked those same questions and came to the conclusion that there are only three possibilities. Jesus Christ claimed to be God. Therefore, to say He is just a "good man" or "great teacher" is to call him a liar. Any sane person who would claim to be God, but who in fact, is not, must then be a madman - a lunatic! If Christ is neither a liar nor a lunatic, then there is only one other possible conclusion - He must be the Lord! If He is the Lord, what does Resurrection Day mean to you?
Excerpts from http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/easter-origin.htm
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April COTM: GINGER CEDARWOOD
One of our most popular pillar candle scents is now available in Jar and Votive.
Projected Future COTM Scents (Subject to change)
Sicilian Lemon and Rosemary
Liquorice and Grape Seed
Cactus and White Peach
Fig and Wild Berry
Hazlenut Coffee
Join the Candle of the
Month Club (COTM)
Give yourself a gift.
Join the COTM club and have the latest Jar Candle, 12 votives and a Soap Bar delivered to your door every month!
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Easter Potatoes
Aunt Relda's Cheesy Potatoes
These potatoes will disappear before your eyes.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
2lb pkg. frozen hash brown potatoes
8 oz. carton sour cream
1/2 c. melted butter or margarine
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1 tsp. Salt
1 small onion, chopped (optional)
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese.
Combine all ingredients. Pour into 13x9 inch pan. Bake 1 hour at 350. Serves 6-8.
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