The Empty Egg

 

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I like to share this Easter Message from Paul Harvey’s “That’s The Rest of the Story” radio program. “It comes with acknowledgement of Rev. Harry Pritchett Jr., then Director of All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta, who is said to have called Mr. Harvey’s attention to a boy named Phillip.”  

A message from a child that so many of us tend to overlook, that “I have new life because the tomb is empty”. The love Jesus demonstrated at the cross nearly 2000 years ago is incomparable - a love meant for us all, big, small, short, tall, old, young, African American, Native American, Caucasian, or Asian. 

Jesus, an innocent man who knew no sin, sacrificed himself on the cross for you and for me, but what happened on the third day after his death was monumental; it brought hope to a dying world. 

Jesus' resurrection served as the ultimate historical confirmation of Jesus Christ’s divinity. It fulfilled prophetic scripture, showed victory over sin and death,  established the foundation of the Church, and gave the world hope.

The empty tomb offers a living hope, for without it, there would be no hope, and the cross would be incomplete. “The empty tomb isn’t the end of the story—it’s the beginning of new life.”

THE EMPTY  EGG (The Story of Phillip)

He was nine—in a Sunday School class of eight-year-olds. Eight-year-olds can be cruel.

The third-graders did not welcome Philip to their group.  Not just because he was older.  He was "different."  He suffered from Down's syndrome and its obvious manifestations: facial characteristics, slow responses, symptoms of retardation.

One Sunday after Easter the Sunday school teacher gathered some of those plastic eggs that pull apart in the middle-the kind in which some ladies' pantyhose are packaged.

The Sunday school teacher gave one of these plastic eggs to each child.

On that beautiful Spring day each child was to go outdoors and discover for himself some symbol of "new life" and place that symbolic seed or leaf or whatever inside his or her egg. 

They would then open their eggs one by one, and each youngster would explain how his or her find was a symbol of "new life."

So... 

The youngsters gathered around on the appointed day and put their eggs on a table, and the teacher began to open them.

One child found a flower. All the children "oohed" and "aahed" at the lovely symbol of new life.

In another was a butterfly.  "Beautiful," the girls said. And it's not easy for an eight-year-old to say "beautiful."

Another egg was opened to reveal a rock. Some of the children laughed.

"That's crazy!" one said. "How is a rock supposed to be like new life?!?"

Immediately the little boy spoke up and said, "That's mine. I knew everybody would get flowers and leaves and butterflies and all that stuff, so I got a rock to be different.

Everyone laughed.

The teacher opened the last one, and there was nothing inside.

"That's not fair!" someone said. "That's stupid!" said another.

Teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Philip. Looking up he said, "It's mine. I did do it . It's empty. I have new life because the tomb is empty."

The class fell silent.

From that day on Philip became part of the group.  They welcomed him. Whatever had made him different was never mentioned again.

Philip's family had known he would not have a long life; just too many things wrong with the tiny body. That summer, overcome with infection, Philip died.

On the day of his funeral nine 8-year-old boys and girls confronted the reality of death and marched up to the altar-not with flower. Nine children with their Sunday school teacher placed on the casket of their friend their gift of love- AN EMPTY EGG.

Paul Harvey. Good  Day.*

 

(Amen!)

 

NOTE:  “Reverend Harry H. Pritchett, Jr., the originator of the above story used by Paul Harvey, is currently the Pastoral Associate to the Dean  of the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, GA.  Before this, he was also the eighth Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City, from which he retired in 2001, having gone there from All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta.”

Pray you all have a blessed and joyful Resurrection Day!

In Christ,

Carol Moore

What's Your Idol?

 

"What's Your Idol"
Mixed Media: Digital/AI

A Christian thought to ponder…

Do you have idols in your life? Do you obsess over things? Do you have something in your life that occupies your heart and mind constantly? What’s your idol?

Idols and Obsessions of the Heart

What is an idol? An idol is something that you worship daily. Idols in the Bible were false gods made of silver, gold, wood, stone, or other materials; they were inanimate objects made by human hands (Psalm 115:4–8). People would trust, elevate, and worship these objects, made with their own hands, above God, the Creator of all things. And just as Lucifer did, you can also elevate yourself to be like God. As written in Isaiah 14, it testifies to the prideful fall of Lucifer and how he was cast down.

Isaiah 14:13-14 (ESV)

You said in your heart,  ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God, I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;  I will make myself like the Most High.’

An obsession is considered an idol if it has led to an unhealthy fixation on something that leads to neglecting other areas in your life and has been elevated above God. It is something that constantly plagues your mind, consumes your time, and you rely on it for comfort. For example, constantly playing video games, being constantly on your cell phone, constantly browsing social media or watching television; an unhealthy fixation over your past regrets, food, money, power, work, hobbies, gambling, drugs, or alcohol; and as seen in the world today people can be obsessed over people, celebrities, pop stars, or political leaders. If  you have become so dependent, addicted, and intoxicated over something that it is the only thing that you think about or want in your life, and it has become the star in your life, instead of God, it has become an idol.

God Warns Us

The word "idols" occurs 101 times in the King James Bible. There are warnings throughout Scripture about worshipping idols. In Deuteronomy 8:19, God warns the Israelites not to worship other gods and serve them, or they will perish.

Deuteronomy 8:19 (ESV)

And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.

Time and time again, the Israelites were warned not to worship idols and other gods. The punishments they received from God is an example for us as to what can happen to you if you do not heed God’s warnings (1 Corinthians 10:11). Idols are an abomination to the Lord (Deuteronomy 27:15). God warns us to flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). In Jonah 2 we are told that if you hold devotion and attention to vain idols, you forsake your hope of steadfast love (Jonah 2:8 ). Idol worshipping will only bring you misery.

Can Idols Make You Truly Happy

Do you think your idol can save you or make you genuinely happy? Worshipping idols can lead to physical ruin – brokenness, pain, suffering, death, and judgment. Idols will not set you free, nor will they save you. But what they will do is drop you to your knees and entrap you into a life that is chained to lies, deceit, and manipulation. They masterfully convince you that you cannot live your life without them and give you false hope. They persuade you into thinking that they will give you everything you need and your heart’s desire. They deceive  your heart and mind, convincing you that without them in your life, your life will be empty, broken, unfulfilled, and hopeless.

So, are you placing your hope in human hands, worldly things, or in Jesus Christ? Are there idols in your life that rule your heart? Ask the Lord to help set you free from these idols that rule your heart, mind, and soul, and as we are instructed in 1 John 5, keep yourselves from idols.

 1 John 5:21 (ESV)

Little children, keep yourselves from idols

Heavenly Father,

We come before you to confess we have allowed things to rule our hearts, minds, and souls, and have elevated these things above you. Please give us the strength to turn away and flee from these idols that rule our hearts and to live a life that is devoted to you alone. Your greatest commandment that you have given us is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” help us to be obedient to this command and seek you for our comfort and hope and not to rely on the things of this world.

Amen.

Have a Blessed Weekend!

Carol Moore

Jesus Sets Us Free

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Mixed media Digital painting/Adobe AI

A Christian thought to ponder…

Are you tired of fighting, running, hiding, or feeling despair, helplessness, and loneliness? You cannot smile. You feel no joy. Fear grips your heart. You are weary, full of regrets, and broken into a million shards of glass.

What if I told you that you could be free from all that is broken in your life? Free from all that weighs your heart and soul and mind down – regrets, pain, despair, hopelessness, weariness, loneliness, fears, and a darkness that swallows you up from within. You no longer have to fight the battle that rages inside of your heart, mind, and soul. You no longer have to feel chained to your past sins. You no longer have to feel broken, fractured, or shattered. How can you be free from all these burdens that plague your life? By letting Jesus Christ into your life.

Jesus is the only One who can fix what is broken and collapsed inside of you. He is the only One that can bring true happiness into your life and set you free from the chains that have control over your life. You can try escaping life’s problems by worldly means, but the world cannot fix what is broken inside of you. The world can never bring you true happiness.

You can only be truly free from all that has broken inside of you and all that has chained you down by believing in Jesus Christ. Run to Jesus instead of running away from your past sins. Surrender all to Jesus, and he will ablate the darkness that strangles and suffocates you. He will abolish the pain that has seeped into your heart. He will mend that which is broken inside of you and set you free. In the Gospel of John, in Chapter 8, verse 36, it tells us that Jesus, the Son, sets us free. 

"So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

John 8:36 – ESV

Therefore, take the  Lord Jesus Christ’s hand, and he will set you free. He will lead you to the mountaintop and across the stormy seas. He will help you rise and shine each new day. He will help you climb any mountain that you face in life by giving you the strength and courage that you need to move onward.

You need only to let the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life, and you will be filled with an unexplainable peace and joy. As it says in the gospel of John, Chapter 8, verses 31-23, by knowing the truth in Him, you will feel complete, and the truth will set you free. 

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

John 8:31-32

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Your word and the truth that sets us free. Help set us free from our past, our burdens, and our heartaches. Help us to overcome the battles that we may face in life. Help us to become separate from the world and not depend on it to escape the battle that we may face in life. Help us to recognize that we can’t fight these battles on our own and that we need You by our side.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Have a blessed week!

Carol Moore

The Writing on the Wall

 

Image by Chatgpt

A Christian thought to ponder…

What would you do if you saw fingers appear out of nowhere and begin to write something on a wall?

Would fear and terror grip your heart? Would you think it was a sign from God? What would you do?

The writing on the wall is an idiom that indicates something bad will happen soon. This idiom comes from the Old Testament Book of Daniel, chapter 5, verse five, and the famous story known as “Belshazzar’s feast.” 

“Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing.” (NASB95)

Around 539 BC, Belshazzar, co-regent of Babylon, was hosting a lavish feast and using Jerusalem’s stolen sacred vessels from the temple to worship false gods. They were taken from the Jerusalem temple during King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem in  597 BCE, and in 586 BCE, he returned and completely destroyed the city and its Temple.

Fear and terror gripped Belshazzar’s heart as he watched fingers appear and began writing on the wall. In verse six, we are told that first he became pale, then his limbs became limp, and finally a sense of foreboding doom claimed his thoughts.

In verse seven, after seeing the writing on the wall, and Belshazzar summoned all the enchanters, diviners, and wise men of Babylon to interpret it. “The king called aloud to bring in the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Any man who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a necklace of gold around his neck and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom.””

Out of the whole kingdom, Daniel was the only person who was able to interpret the writing on the wall. He rebuked Belshazzar, that despite his knowledge of what had happened to his father, King Nebuchadnezzar, he did not have a humble heart and exalted himself above the Most High God. By using the Jerusalem temple vessels for his feast and exalting pagan gods, he brought judgment down upon himself (vs. 22-23 NASB95). Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and arrogance brought judgment down upon himself. It led to his removal from his royal throne, and God took away his glory by causing him to lose his mind, to go crazy, and to live like a wild animal. He was driven from the city into the fields where the beasts were, for seven years, until  he recognized that the Most High God was the sovereign ruler over all humanity (verses 18-21 NASB95). 

Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall which read “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin”.

Mene: God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.

Tekel: you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.

Parsin (Peres): your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians. 

(verses 25-28 NASB95)

Belshazzar’s fate was sealed. Divine judgment was upon him and the great city of Babylon. He would lose his life that very night to the Persian army, led by Cyrus the Great. 

You see, the writing on the wall serves as a powerful reminder to us all about what can happen if we let pride and arrogance rule our lives, and the consequences of such blasphemous actions and behavior as Belshazzar showed. His blasphemy towards God by desecrating what was holy and his total disregard for the divine Most High God sealed his fate.

Although Belshazzar was living in sin, his actions and behavior can teach us many things. One thing we can learn is that no matter how successful or powerful we may become, we need to always give God the credit. Do not let pride rule your heart. God is the one in control of all things, and He is sovereign over all. God giveth kingdoms and God taketh away kingdoms. If it were not for God, Belshazzar would not even have been co-regent of Babylon. God despises pride, and pride can lead to one’s downfall.

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.” (NASB95)

Another thing we can learn from Belshazzar is to beware of idolatry. Belshazzar's misuse of the holy vessels from Jerusalem’s temple for his drunken feast shows how easily we can place worldly things above God. Idolatry in God’s eyes is an abomination and can lead to severe consequences.

Exodus 20:3-5  “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,” (NASB95)

Lastly, Belshazzar attempted to bribe Daniel with riches for interpreting the writing on the wall. True wisdom comes from God. Daniel trusted God and was faithful. He knew God’was more important than material rewards. All of scripture is written to help draw us closer to God, to guide us, to warn us, and to teach us the consequences of our sins. We must turn away from sin, repent of our sin, and seek God. Scripture is our compass in life. Seek God daily for his wisdom, guidance and to reveal His will for you. 

Proverbs 2:6 “For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (NASB95)

Heavenly Father,

Teach us how to love you with all our heart, mind, and soul. Help us to have a desire to serve You and only You. Show us when idols are ruling our hearts and not You. Give us repentant, submissive and thankful hearts. Thank you for Your word to guide us and perfect us. When we get off the path, help us to recognize Your voice to lead us back to You. 

Amen.

Pray you all have a blessed weekend!

Carol Moore

 

“The writing/handwriting is on the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20writing%2Fhandwriting%20is%20on%20the%20wall. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.