"The Easter Story"

It was the night before Easter Sunday. The old grandfather clock in the hallway downstairs was chimming out 8:00p.m. for all the family to hear. The "Sweet" household was prepairing their little ones for bedtime. Chrissy and Gabrielle were hopping up on their fluffy pink beds as their mommy was pulling down the covers for them to climb in. The room had a touch of Victorian elegance to it as you looked about. The wallpaper was soft pink and red flowers and had a pink striped border to top it off. Two pink velvet chairs sat empty for now in the corner, waiting for tommorrow when it would be play time again. These chairs had seen lots of fun and playtime's with the little cherub faced two. A white and pink toy chest sat against the wall. It was filled with wonderful toys that the girls loved. Fluffy stuffed animals sat in a line on top of the beautiful chest.

There, next to the beds was a bookshelf that held some of the childrens favorite books and bedtime stories. Faith Sweet, the mother of of the two girls was looking for for a story to read to her two little blessings when Chrissy asked her mother, why Easter was so special. Stephen Sweet their daddy was just entering the room when he heard his daughters question.

Stephen sat on the edge of the girls bed and Faith sat on the floor and leaned with hands clasped waiting for her husbands reply. "Well"..why don't you two climb up here and your Mom and I will tell you aaaalllll about it!" The girls slid under the pretty pink covers and Stephen tucked them in. Faith leaned over and kissed them both. Stephen went on..."We know that December 25th is the day we celabrate the birth of JESUS CHRIST,..right! HE is the Son of GOD. The girls giggeled and said, "YES Daddy!" "Well..this special day is very important to us as Children of GOD and as Christians." As the girls lay quite and attentive, Stephen proceeded to tell them a wonderous story.

"JESUS walked and taught the people when HE was here with us. HIS Love and Understanding for those who were hurting, sick and lost was like no other man before or after HIM. HE was a man who walked in the Love of GOD consistantly. HE had been with HIS Father GOD before HE was born and was going to go back there when HIS work was done here. HE came here for one reason girls.....to set us free from what the devil had done to us. At one time man and GOD were as close as a father and son could be. But Adam and Eve made a grave mistake, they believed the lyes of the enemy and disobeyed GOD'S direct command NOT to eat of the tree of good and evil. Eve was decieved the bible says, that means she was tricked. That is when sin first entered the world."

"You remember the wonderful stories that mother and I have read to you from the old testimemt don't you?" The girls nodded a "YES". "Well in those days men would have to sacrifice a perfect lamb to GOD so HE would forgive man's sins". "JESUS came to change that." "JESUS had never committed a sin in all HIS life. GOD sent JESUS, HIS Son to be that perfect Lamb for us all. No more sacrificeing animals. When JESUS was taken to be punished and hung on the cross and died, HE was the real sacrificial lamb. HIS death and HIS Blood were to wash away ALL mankind's sins, once and for ALL time. HE was the perfect sacrifice. GOD Loves us so much that HE sacrifced HIS own Son for us. Never again would man need to sacrifice a lamb to GOD. JESUS paid it all with HIS blood..Forever. All man would have to do is to believe that what JESUS did, was for him." Many of the people of that time did not understand who JESUS was. They thought that HE was a prophet and that HE was stirring up trouble with HIS idea's so they wanted to kill HIM. The devil knew who JESUS was and wanted HIM dead. He thought that if he could kill JESUS, he would stop GOD'S plan. Girls, nothing can stop GOD'S plans because HE knows everything from beginging to end."

"So the leaders of that day arrested JESUS and HE was sentenced to be whipped 39 times with a terribel whip called, cat of nine tales, and made to hang on a cross as a common thief. HE hung there completely innocent of any evil or wrong. HE died for you and me, so we could have the sweet fellowship with GOD that Adam and Eve once had". "It may be hard for some of us to understand such a Love, but GOD wanted back the fellowship with HIS Sons's and Daughter's that the enemy had stolen by deciet". "He Loves us so muchm HE was willing to come down here in the body of a man in order to make a way to be close with us again". The choice is ours, we can believe that JESUS was and is the Son of GOD or not". "GOD Loves us enough to give us a choice even now".

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"The devil thought that he had won when JESUS took HIS last breath and died, but GOD's Ways are much higher then ours". "GOD planned it this way for a purpose". "Because JESUS was pure in heart and deed, GOD gave HIM back HIS Life and HE Rose from the dead!!" "HE became the first Son of many to be able to do this". "All who believe this will also RISE from the dead and LIVE in ETERNITY with JESUS and their FATHER in HEAVEN"! "All we must do is to believe that what the Bible says it TRUE". "That JESUS CHRIST is the Son of GOD and that HE died for me and you!" "Easter Sunday is celibrated in rememberance of what JESUS did for us All!" "How HE gave us the chance to be close with GOD again and to be HIS Children". "SO you see girls, it is a great day in the KINGDOM of GOD!" "JESUS rose from the dead on this day almost 2,000 years ago". "The Bible tells us that HE will return soon again to take all those who believe in HIM home to HEAVEN with HIM". "It is the most beautiful place you can ever imagin". "There is pure JOY and Happiness there and No pain or sadness". "Well, do you understand what Easter Sunday means now"?

Both girls smiled and nodded. Gabrella said, "Can I bring a flower to church for JESUS Daddy? Since HE did something so wonderful for us, I want to give HIM something. Do people tell HIM Thank-You? I want to tell HIM Thank-You Daddy!" Stephen smiled, "JESUS can hear you Gabrella, and HE knows that you love HIM and are Thankful." Chrissy hugged her Daddy and said, "I love JESUS too Daddy and I know HE loves me back cause HE loves everybody, that's why HE died for us all, Right!?" Stephen hugged his girls and they all knelt by the bed and prayed to the LORD of Heaven and Earth for their keeping, just like they did every night.

JESUS stood there in the quietness of the room with a host of HIS FATHERS Angels. If they could ..... they would have heard the soft rustel of angel's wings. The light that emanated from them was incredible, had they been able to see it.*

Dedicated to the Saving Grace of JESUS CHRIST
Toni Sweikert