Ron Aulbach

I gotta admit, last week was exciting.  Everything pointed to the cross and empty tomb.  I want that every week!

But, what do you do the week after Easter?

Make egg salad?

“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3

I bet it was a pretty inquisitive group that spent time with Jesus after his resurrection.  We’re told that over 500 people saw Jesus over these forty days.  Some probably needed all forty days just to get their head around it.  A full slate of appointments for Jesus with people who asked questions, put the pieces together, and figured out what they would do next.  Nothing would ever be the same.  The church was born and took it’s first steps into the kingdom Jesus had prepared them for.  The bloody cross and empty tomb changed them and they were ready to change the world.

How about you? Is the Easter weekend still amazing you with God’s grace? Or have the troubles and struggles of a normal week taken over?

I put together a list of 10 things you can do the week after Easter to keep growing in your walk.  It’s just a list.  If you don’t like it, make your own.  But chose to do something this week while the experience of Easter is fresh.

1. Start a bible reading plan.  YouVersion has some great new ones to choose from.
2. Write down three people you are thankful for.  Let them know how they make your life better.
3. Forgive someone.  Jesus died to forgive you, need I say more.
4. Pray for someone other than yourself.  Pick a neighbor, missionary, person in your circle and pray them.
5. Get baptized! If you committed your life to Jesus, or just have never been baptized, talk to your pastor about being baptized.
6. New music.  Ask your worship leader what he’s listening to, feeding his soul as an artist?  Then, go on Youtube or Pandora and check them out.
7. Love, serve, and go to church.  Pick an area to serve and ask the leaders in the church what they wish they could do if they had more help.  Be that help.
8. Study your spiritual gift.  Look up your spiritual gift in a bible dictionary and explore all the verses.  BibleStudyTools.com is a great online tool with free bible dictionaries, commentaries, and concordances.
9. Pay it forward.  Whether it be paying for someones fast food order or someone at the gas pump, pay the bill.
10. Laugh.  I read that adults on average laugh 5 times a day while kids laugh 300 times in a day.  It doesn’t seem spiritual, but it is! “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4.