Email from American Values Please share with your fellow prayer warriors.   Fighting For Faith, Family & Freedom Friday, April 18, 2025 To: Friends & Supporters From: Carol Bauer As you know, my wife, Carol, prepares a monthly prayer alert. I hope you will share Carol's thoughts with your friends and fellow worshipers. Thank you for taking an interest in her monthly devotion. -- Gary As Christians across the world prepare to mark Easter Sunday, let us do so with a sense of both joy and humility, thankfulness and awe. The days leading up to Easter Sunday span the emotional spectrum. The week begins as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 with the triumphant arrival of The King in Jerusalem on a lowly donkey, greeted by happy, celebratory throngs. A favorite memory for me is the aisles of the church lined with happy children waving palm branches in today’s representation of ushering in the faith’s Holy Week. And the week ends with the resurrection of Christ and the joyous and triumphant recitation: He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! In the intervening days, Jesus teaches in the temple, offends the religious leaders, leads His disciples in the Last Supper, is betrayed, tried, publicly humiliated, spit upon, crucified between two thieves, and buried. It is a dramatic and speedy series of events that a modern-day screenwriter would be hard-pressed to outdo. From the screenwriter’s pen, the weeklong drama marked by the highest of high points and the lowest of low points would seem implausible. As the week unfolds, we see our Savior at His most vulnerable, relatable, humble … and then triumphant. And with His resurrection comes the fulfillment of prophecy and the Savior’s gift to us … forgiveness of our sins through His personal sacrifice on behalf of all who believe and the promise of life everlasting for us with our risen Lord. The week begins with the affirmation of fickle man and ends with God’s Son willingly fulfilling God’s plan for Him … and each believer. In the flurry of Easter activities and images … egg hunts, frilly dresses, chocolate bunnies, dyed eggs, colorful baskets filled with sweets and delicious food … let us keep uppermost in our minds the true meaning and symbolism of this week and the impact it must have on our daily lives. He came to live among us, to teach by His word and example, to laugh, to weep, to befriend the outcast, and show the world the love of the Father. Then, in obedience, He suffered a humiliating and torturous public death to close the chapter on His earthly life and open the chapter of life everlasting for all who would believe. His sacrificial life is a love offering to us. Lord, prompt us to open our eyes and hearts in wonder at the gift of your Son, Jesus. Stir in us a new sense of wonder at Your plan laid out in the Old Testament and unfolded in the life and death of Jesus in the New Testament. May our new appreciation of this Holy Week inspire us to live for You by seeking You and serving You in our daily lives this side of eternity.  He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed! MAKE YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION NOW SHARE VIA SOCIAL MEDIA Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations to American Values are tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions may be mailed to the following address: American Values 2800 S. Shirlington Road Suite 950 Arlington, VA 22206 Phone: 703-671-9700 Email Carol End Of Day Sign Up End Of Day Archives Bauer & Rose Podcast Truth Social Listen to Gary's Defending Faith, Family, & Freedom Podcast   American Values | ouramericanvalues.org American Values | 2800 S. Shirlington Road Suite 950 | Arlington, VA 22206 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice