Easter Ideas

With Easter quickly approaching I saw this article from Focus on the Family and I LOVE the ideas so I thought I would share :) Happy Easter to you all!! He is Risen!!!

Finding Easter in Bunnies and Baskets

The Easter story can be confusing to young children. Use the things popular culture associates with Easter today to teach kids about the real meaning of Easter.

by Kim WierPrevious Article

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If you have walked through store aisles lately, you've seen many reminders that Easter is coming. What isn't so obvious is that, for Christians, Easter is truly the most significant day of the year.

At the store we find:

• baskets and eggs as the symbols of Easter, instead of a cross and an empty tomb
• a bunny that brings candy instead of a Savior who brings life

Is it any wonder that our children are more excited about the coming of the Easter Bunny than about the coming of God's kingdom? We spend many days on egg-coloring and baskets but focus on Jesus Christ's death and resurrection for only one hour on Sunday morning.

Many parents, however, are looking for ways to make the true significance of Easter a reality to their children. Well, here's the good news!

Bunnies, eggs, baskets and more can become tools that parents use to bring a greater understanding of the message of Easter. With just a little creativity, all these symbols that often replace the real significance of Easter can be the very things that make the holiday full and rich with spiritual meaning.

Tell the Story of Easter with Eggs

Instead of merely coloring eggs this Easter, why not use the eggs to tell the story of God's love and forgiveness?

• Before you hide the eggs or put them in baskets, encircle each one with a colored strip of paper (or place the strip inside plastic eggs) that tells one small part of the Easter story. When the eggs have been found, the children must unscramble the story and put it in the right order.
• Instead of decorating the eggs with dye, or in addition to dying them, write one attribute of Jesus on each egg. You can do this by writing on the egg with a crayon before you put it in the dye. If you are using plastic eggs, you can write with a permanent marker or paint pen.
• Send kids on a hunt for the eggs that have Jesus' attributes written on them. Instead of just discovering eggs, they will be discovering the wonderful things that make Jesus so special. If the eggs are plastic, fill them with treats to remember how sweet the life of Jesus really is.
• Dye eggs in certain colors and use them to tell the story of salvation.

Teach them about Jesus by talking about what a real Easter Bunny is

Use a rabbit picture, a stuffed bunny or even a real one (if you are adventurous) to teach some of the characteristics of Jesus that we should all try to have. By adding a Bible verse to each quality, you will create a true Easter Bunny.

Real Easter bunnies:

• are white as snow because Jesus takes all sin away (Isaiah 1:18b).
• are gentle, kind-hearted and forgiving (Ephesians 4:32).
• have big ears that are quick to listen (James 1:19).
• have big eyes to look carefully and choose what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
• have no voice for complaining or arguing (Philippians 2:13).
• are quiet in prayer, but hop with thanksgiving and rejoicing (Philippians 4:4-6).
• have big feet to go tell others about Jesus so they can be like Easter bunnies, too (Matthew 28: 19-20).
• eat what is healthy by filling up on God's word every day (Psalm 119:11).

The Easter Story: Defining the Terms

We sometimes forget that our children don't understand everything that is being said and done around them. Often we take for granted that they understand things we have not explained.

The Easter story, while beautiful, can be very confusing to children when we don't take time to simplify the story in a way they can understand. An explanation of some big words can help. For very young children, omitting the harder words all together may reduce confusion.

Explain to your kids what these terms mean:

• Disciples — Jesus' closest friends
• Pharisees and religious leaders — the people who were not teaching the truth about God
• Arrested — Guards took Jesus and would not let him go.
• Sanhedrin or Court — Leaders all got together and decided that Jesus should be punished for telling the people that He was God's Son.
• Righteous — Jesus told only the truth and did everything God wanted Him to do.
• Condemned to death — Rulers announced that Jesus would have to die.
• Crucified — They nailed His hands and feet onto a big wooden cross and left Him hanging on it until He died.
• Tomb — a special place, like a small cave, where Jesus' body was laid after He died
• Resurrection — Even though Jesus had been dead for three days, God made Him come back alive so His friends would know that Jesus really is God's Son.
• Ascension — After Jesus came back to life and spent time with His friends, He was lifted up from the ground and floated above the clouds so He could finally go to be with God in heaven.
• Second Coming — When He left to go back to heaven, the angels promised Jesus' friends that He would be coming back one day to get all His friends.

Copyright © 2005, Kim Wier, Engaging Women Ministries, www.engagingwomen.com*

Worth It

This past week my husband and I ventured out to a discipleship conference in Pawleys Island, SC. It was a much-needed and amazingly refreshing time. We stayed on the beach and enjoyed just being a couple. God was continually speaking and we were listening as He gave direction for the next steps in ministry for our family.  I had no idea the revelation that the Lord was going to throw my way.

As each speaker finished we were challenged, in small groups, to share how the Lord spoke to us personally through the message. As we went around the circle and everyone began to share I really thought I knew my "AHA" moment. My heart strings were tugged on as the message spoke on inviting others into our life and opening wide the doors of our home to build up and send out disciples. Or so I thought. Our insightful and wise leader prodded me to share.

The Holy Spirit used her to explain that my main issue wasn't opening up my home, with fear of my children running wild, but that it was fear of man and what his thoughts were of me as my children were running wild! I have struggled with this for a while and am SO thankful the Lord brought it to my attention through this exercise.

My leader, Elizabeth, encouraged me that my worth or value doesn't come from my position or identity as a mom but to acknowledge and rest in how HE sees me. That even in the struggle, the Father sees me through the lens of His son Jesus. I wept, in our small group, as I realized I was allowing others opinions of me to form how I thought God saw me too. This fear was stifling the ministry I could be doing in our home as we could be inviting others over. What a lie Satan places in the mind of moms. It is so freeing to find my worth and identity in how my creator, Father, and friend sees me.

Do you struggle with that too? Ask someone to pray for you and your situation.

God loves you and wants you to be set free from the fear of others and start relying on His word for reassurance :)He loves you and is well-pleased because Jesus in living within you..


 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”-Luke 3:21-22

Wisdom from my Sister in Law!

At Parakaleo Jill Bryant is considered a guest blogger.  To me, she is a precious God-loving, God-fearing amazing lady!! She also happens to be married to my brother, so I am blessed to have her as my sister.  I am challenging her to write her thoughts and experiences as she beautifully parents my three nephews and niece.  Following is what God lead her to capture with pen and paper.  May you be blessed.

Psalm 91:1-2;4 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my Refuge, my place of Safety; He is my God, and I trust Him…He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful Promises are your Armor and Protection. 

THE REAL THING

This is not an inspirational message about finding strength, or about being successful. It’s all about brokenness…weakness…failure…fear…and vulnerability.  Admit it out loud or not, we’ve all been there and know those painful words too well, and maybe you have a few more to add to the list.  And so, we have a choice to make. 

We can wither and die in our circumstances, being of NO earthly good to the Lord. (If this is the option you’ve chosen, there is good news to come.)

We can be a fake and put on a great show when others are around, continuously running from things. (This option seems to be the majority choice in our world today.)

OR, we can rise up on God’s wings and let Him USE US in all of our pain as we allow Him to heal us. (Sadly, this is the road less traveled.) 

Nothing fake here – I’m talking about EACH of our lives right now. They are very real and probably very difficult for each of us in very different ways. What if, in the midst of it all, we all would CHOOSE to trust God, stop hiding behind our busy lives or title/position. What if we take off the mask of fakeness that we present to the world (pretending that we are just fine, there is nothing wrong, and we struggle with nothing), and just start being honest with ourselves, God, and others.

What is it that we need to face?  And what have we got to lose?  Our pride?  Well, guess what – that’s one step closer to being the humble one He wants & needs us to be IF we are going to be effective & genuine messengers of Christ to the world!! 

Remember, this life isn’t about US, it’s about HIM.  We are to love and serve Him by sharing His love and serving others.  And how can we effectively do that if we’re busy being a fake or duplicitous person?  We really can’t.

That’s one way the enemy wins in our lives. If he can’t make us stumble, he will just poke us in our weak spots, stealing our confidence and creating doubt so that we don’t have the guts to be honest with others, making us feel the need to put on an act and keep running from dealing with the very things that inhibit us from fully being who God intended for us to be.  If we truly want to live for GOD, then we need to rise up on His Wings and simply remember that our confidence should be IN HIM alone, our Creator (and NOT in what others think.)  

And then we can ask ourselves, why did He create us?  We know this answer…to proclaim His name & love and serve.  Now is the time for all of us to stop serving up a big ol’ plate full of FAKE, regain OR find our confidence in HIM, and realize it does NOT matter what anyone thinks except Him; we are here to please only Him!  And then, we can sincerely and effectively reach out and serve others in our REALness.  Did you know that Christ allows us to go through our hurts, trials and tribulations to give us a passion for something, maybe even the very thing that CAUSED our brokenness?  So don’t try to hide from it, face it and let God use it…for HIS glory, not your own.  

God knows when we’re genuine. And being vulnerable in HIS name will prove that genuineness to others!  What have you got to lose that Christ already doesn’t WANT you to lose?  You have everything to gain when you do!  He is the One who made you with a purpose (Jer. 1:5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb…”) so don’t miss it by letting pride get in the way.  Don’t let the enemy distract you OR intimidate you from fulfilling that purpose or the passion He gave you in life.

Maybe you chose the first option, and you’re withered and bitter, or you resent where you are in life. Maybe you feel so overwhelmed, and you wonder why God is entrusting YOU with all of this. Or you feel like you are smothered by all of the pressures and expectations. You feel defeated, deflated, or even debilitated.  It’s time for you to have a talk with HIM and tell Him how you feel. Admit to Him what He already knows…and then ask Him to HELP you LOVE His will for you!

Wow, is that a turning point perspective or what?  KEEP ASKING HIM TO HELP YOU LOVE HIS WILL FOR YOU - AND WHERE HE HAS YOU RIGHT NOW!!  And watch what happens.  

He will take your defeat and make you Incontestable, He won’t deflate you, but He will Inflate you, He will transform your debilitation into Invigoration. It’s Inevitable because He is the GREAT I AM, and that’s INCONTROVERTIBLE!!  And my friend in Christ, please put on your FULL armor daily, because the enemy WILL try to stop you, taunt you, distract you, or get you in a tailspin, because the last thing he wants to see happen is a success for Christ. Remember – the enemy has NO power over us! The VICTORY is already ours when we asked Christ into our hearts and lives!! All we have to do is claim it, cling to it, and LIVE it sincerely with NO compromise!  We have nothing to lose and everything to gain!  Allow Christ to SHINE through you. He can only shine in us when WE are weak…and genuine. Be the real thing to others, because HE is THE REAL THING to us.

Lord, Your Word is Truth, and it is proclaimed all the way from Genesis to Revelation that YOU ARE the great “I AM!!” You are all we need, You are our everything, so does anything else really matter?  Lord, help us to cling to that Truth, to trust Your will, to face what needs to be healed in us, to be genuine, and to shine to the world as we proclaim Your Name and SHOW them who You are because You are in us…and You ARE REAL!!    

Who I Am In Christ

Shannon Ethridge in her book Every Women's Battle has this great section titled, Who I Am In Christ. I wanted to share it with you. I found encouragement in God's word and I also thought it may be a handy little print out to hang-up or tuck somewhere to pull out on a day when you need a little pick-me-up. Enjoy! I pray that you will be blessed.

I Am Accepted In Christ

• I am God's child (John 1:12)
• I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)
• I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
• I am united with the Lord and one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17)
• I have been bought at a price; I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20)
• I am a member of Christ's body (1 Corinthians 12:27)
• I am a saint (Ephesians 1:1)
• I have been adopted as God's child (Ephesians 1:5)
• I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians (2:18)
• I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins (Colossians 1:14)
• I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)

I Am Secure In Christ

• I am free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2)
• I am assured that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)
• I am free from any condemning charges against me (Romans8:33-34)
• I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35, 38-39)
• I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
• I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected (Philippians 1:6)
• I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
• I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
• I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)
• I can find grace and mercy to help me in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)
• I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)

I Am Significant In Christ

• I am the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14)
• I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of his life (John 15:1,5)
• I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
• I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)
• I am God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:16)
• I am a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
• I am God's coworker (2 Corinthians 6:1)
• I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
• I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
• I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
• I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)

Home Base

“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:2

This past week at church as we were going through the book of Joshua, the pastor emphasized that in a time of transition (or at any time) we all need a home base in order to experience spiritual victory in the midst of hardship. He shared that his home-base was the church because it was a support network for him, and he is continuously blessed by both the staff and members of the church.

As my husband and I reflected on this portion of the sermon, we agreed that each person needs a church where they are connected to a fellowship of believers. However, more than that we concluded that our ultimate home-base is our quiet time with the Lord, and then after that our home should be a home-base for us and our children.

As we reflected on that principle, we decided to have a family worship time last night. We broke out the computer and found two of our favorite contemporary Christian songs on youtube.com and then we worshipped the Lord as a family. After that we prayed, read a devotional from Mikey’s devotional book, sang another song, and prayed again. I want to establish our home as a place where our kids feel safe, where they can feel connected to the Lord, where they can experience fellowship, and learn about and worship our heavenly Father in complete security.

We realize that security for our kids must come from an understanding of who God is and who they are in Him. This notion of security came up because just a couple of days ago when someone broke into our SUV and stole my wallet, purse, and camcorder. Worse than that, they tried to get in our front door as well—all while we were sleeping! The crazy thing is that I thought I heard something, so I had walked around the house to check all the doors and windows. When I went to back to bed, again I thought I heard something so I prayed, “Dear God, you are our greatest security. You are our best line of defense. If someone tries to get into our house, may you stop them in their tracks as they encounter ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies and that He is watching over us.” The next morning, we all woke up safely…but our front door was completely unlocked. The burglar had managed to work the lock with some type of sharp device, but he did not open the door. Our conclusion: the Lord of Heaven’s Armies showed up.

So, as we worshipped as a family we thanked God that our security is in Him alone. Even though we are now taking several extra precautions to protect ourselves and our home, may we always remember that our security is in Him alone and that He alone is worthy of our absolute worship. He is home-base!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for watching over us at all times. Thank you for being our home-base, our protector, our Savior. May we worship you individually and as a family. May we delight in your goodness and stay connected to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Challenge: How can you better create a home-base for you and your family? What time during the week can you carve out for a family worship time?

Easter Treats

Thinking ahead to Easter, here are 2 great activities you can do with the kids to bring to life the glorious event we are celebrating and enjoy a delicious treat as well. Though I have not made the cookies, I will be making them this year. I have a tradition of making the sweet bread every Easter morning upon our return from sunrise service. It is sooooo yummy!

Empty Tomb Bread

• crescent roll dough or any bread dough will do
• large marshmallows
• butter, 1 stick melted
• cinnamon sugar

Preheat oven to 375. Unroll dough and separate into sections (or use bread dough separated into small handfuls). Take one large marshmallow and dip it in butter; then roll it around the cinnamon sugar mixture. Wrap the marshmallow completely in the dough, taking care to seal it in. Place into greased muffin tins. Repeat until you have reached the desired amount of rolls. Brush the tops of the rolls with butter and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar. Bake 10-12 minutes. The marshmallow melts, leaving an empty tomb filled with a sweet gooey sauce inside!

Resurrection Cookies

• 1 cup whole pecans
  
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1 cup sugar
• Plastic baggie
• Wooden spoon, rolling pin
• Tape
• Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. (Do this before doing anything else.)

• Place nuts in baggie and beat them with a wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3

• Open the vinegar and let everyone smell it. Put 1 teaspoon into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, all He was given to drink was vinegar. Read John 19:28-30

• Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11

• Sprinkle a little salt into each person’s hand. Let them taste it, then brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27

• So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Sprinkle a little sugar into each person’s hand. Let them taste it, then brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

• Beat with mixer on high speed for 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents our purity in God’s eyes because our sins are cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18

• Fold in nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60

• Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and TURN THE OVEN OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door shut. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66

• You’re done! Explain that you cannot eat the cookies tonight, but that you have to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Explain that Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22

• The next morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the third day, Jesus followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9
  (courtesy of http://realfoodliving.com/recipes/resurrection-cookies)

My Lesson

This seems to be my area of struggle because God keeps on giving me the same lesson over and over again. I start out so peaceful, tranquil, hopeful and ministry minded, only to eventually hit a wall of despair. This time the endeavor was baseball for both our boys, ages 3 and 5. Everything is so exciting, practice is fun, the boys have a great outlet and Tanner actually makes contact 95% of the time when he hits! His cousin is on the team as well and they love it! I’m getting to know the parents and am really prayerful about opportunities for good conversation.

It’s amazing how a good idea can quickly turn into an absolute stress disaster when you are running late for the first game, have four kids in the car with one overtired 3 yr old and its pouring out with no one around to help to carry bags and helmets plus one cranky 3 yr old. Then there’s entertainment of my cranky one while the others are playing so I miss half the game while teaching sharing toys with other children around. And on it goes.

It does not matter whose fault it is in any stressful situation (although we like to camp there), but what choice am I going to make? Be on time for a game by yelling at the kids and misrepresenting God to them or choosing the way of love and possibly being late. Blaming others and complaining to people or honoring God by holding my tongue.

The end result, no matter how good or godly, does not justify the ugly way we got there. It is so much like the world today. I saw a coach slap his son across the face at the game because the 5 yr old was so exhausted after playing 3 games in a row, he didn't want to get back out on the field. We won all three games but "what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” (Luke 9:25)
It's a lot more subtle for us Christians, but we do it too. I confess, it happens even on our way to church sometimes! We are so close to getting there on time, we can make it if I can only allow my flesh to help by yelling or threatening kids into obedience.
Even the enemy tried to tempt Jesus to take a shortcut to glory to gain what the Father had promised would be His eventually.
"Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”(Luke 4:5)
But that's not the way of obedience to the One we say we love.

I’m beginning to believe God always has a lesson for me in the middle of the one I’m thinking I’m teaching my boys. When kids don’t cooperate, I have a choice to make and my lesson begins. “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man."(Mark7:20) It shows me and others around where I live; in the flesh or in the Spirit. God already knows, He just wants me to see where I am and come to Him for help. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”(Matt 7:7)
If I blow it by misrepresenting God in my reaction to the situation, it is wiser to focus my attention on my issue and deal with it than blaming the kids. Why? Because the word says “ first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matt.7:5) I must understand that I am a fellow believer walking and learning alongside of them. And if our children are not saved yet, even greater reason not to misrepresent our loving and merciful God! One day we want them to receive Him.

Today I’m really grateful for the trials the Lord allows through my children. He wants us to see how we are getting where we are going or even if we are still on a journey with Him or simply doing our own thing. It will quickly be evident in our families.

So what is your reoccurring struggle? What keeps coming up and are you still making excuses or blaming other things? It's your lesson God wants to help you with. I want to encourage you to scratch any parenting formulas pertaining to your area of struggle and just walk with Jesus! Daily and in close communion because those who do don’t need formulas but are naturally filled with Gods Spirit that makes us aware. We are so blinded to our own sins that unless we allow the Spirit to search us daily and show us, we cannot see it, let alone be free. Just be with Him daily and we will continue to be transformed, from glory to glory until He returns or takes us home. Amen

“If we live, it’s to honor the Lord.” (Rom 14:8)