Somebody Smack Me!

It is not scientific doubt, not athiesm, not pantheism, not agnosticism, that in our day and in this land are likely to "quench the light of the Gospel". It is a proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperous man. (Crazy Love by: Francis Chan)

This one smacked me! I have been so convicted over the past few years and months.....this would be too much to post, but God has been challenging me to give more, to live a more radical life. I am convicted that if my life does not make unbelievers ask "why" then my service and lifestyle are far too similar to the unbeliever. Anyway, one of the books (in addition to God's Word) that the Holy Spirit has used in Crazy Love.

In response to an awesome, faithful, loving God....my worship will be so intense that it may even be perceived as "crazy".

Flea Market Time....

If you have never experienced the Hillsville Flea Market, you are really missing out on some fun! There is the famous "quilt man" and his $3 salvage bins, clothing, antiques, fabrics, rugs, plants, every imaginable odd material and the best fried food you can find. It covers the whole city....check it out!

Get This Book.....for free!

"Revolution in World Missions" is a book written by a man from India who is a believer,teacher & missionary. He is also a preacher who is challenging the "Western World" to see the rest of the world for what it really is.... I can't explain to you how amazing the descriptions are. You truly need to read it for yourself. This book may change the way you "do life".

AND, if you jump over to Money Saving Mom....you will be able to get it for free! Make sure you watch the clip after you request your free book.

The Sealed Tomb-Easter Ideas Part II

A whole Sunday paper, and a bottle of glue later, moss from our Garden of Gethsemane "walk" and some weeds (I mean flowers) from our yard and...voila. Here is our version of the tomb (sealed today because it is Saturday when I took this picture). There is even a little table for Jesus' body inside. There is a lot we would change if we did this again, but it was fun. The girls had a blast (glue and paint, hello!) and it raised a lot of great questions...conversations.

I added a few things to the ideas for the Passion Week. They are as follows:

Sunday-Jesus Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem
Craft palm branches, reenact the entrance to Jerusalem (Daddy's make great donkeys), or use the donkey from your nativity set

Monday-Cleaning the Temple
We read a cooresponding book (several times) and held and easter egg hunt with the resurrection eggs.

Tuesday-Preaching
Work on Tomb-paper mache

Wednesday-Quiet time with Disciples
Special quiet times with each child, reflecting, talking and listening

Thursday-Passover, Jesus Washes Disciples Feet, Garden of Gethsemane, Judas Betrays Jesus
We're having supper on the floor (elbow on a pillow) with hand made bread, goblet style glasses of course, then a trip to our own Gethsemane Gardens (a trail near our house...actually named Gethsemane Gardens), and feet washing when we return

Friday-Trial and Crucifixion
Complete and Prepare our tombs (both girls are making their own)

Communion-at our church

Saturday-Jesus Body in the Grave
We gathered live Dogwood branches/flowers for a display (see the Dogwood story)
We'll make Easter cookies....

Sunday-Jesus Resurrection
Enjoy our Easter Cookies and Celebrate Jesus with our family at church and home

He is Risen, Like He Said

We just had to have an empty tomb in our house for Easter....so we're making one. The above picture is the elaborate version my parents helped my sisters and I make when we were very young (wiring and paper mache). The below picture is the humble beginnings of my 5 year old. I'll have a final product to show you soon.

Here's a reminder of the events of Passion Week and some ideas that we have planned in our family....

Sunday-Jesus Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem

Craft palm branches, reenact the entrance to Jerusalem (Daddy's make great donkeys), or use the donkey from your nativity set

Monday-Cleaning the Temple

We read a cooresponding book (several times) and held and easter egg hunt with the resurrection eggs.

Tuesday-Preaching

Work on Tomb-paper mache

Wednesday-Quiet time with Disciples

Special quiet times with each child, reflecting, talking and listening

Thursday-Passover, Jesus Washes Disciples Feet, Garden of Gethsemane, Judas Betrays Jesus

We're having supper on the floor (elbow on a pillow) with hand made bread, goblet style glasses of course, then a trip to our own Gethsemane Gardens (a trail near our house...actually named Gethsemane Gardens), and feet washing when we return

Friday-Trial and Crucifixion

Complete and Prepare our tombs (both girls are making their own)

Saturday-Jesus Body in the Grave

We'll make Easter cookies....

Sunday-Jesus Resurrection

Enjoy our Easter Cookies and Celebrate Jesus with our family at church and home

THE POINT....So, what is our response to this Easter Season? Are we like Martha (in John 12 Martha was busy serving Jesus and the disciples a meal), working and spending time on good things? Or are we like Mary (in John 12 Mary is at Jesus feet, adoring Him and worshipping Him). I want that attitude of abandonment to this world, and I want to be so drawn to my Messiah that any other responsibility holds its place in the background.

Easter Cookies & Resurrection Eggs

Here's an idea for some Easter Cookies that I plan to use this year. I haven't baked them before, but the description is great, and it sounds like a great visual. I don't remember where I found this, but I'm excited to try it.

Easter Cookies: To be made the evening before Easter

You need: 1 cup whole pecans, 1 tsp. vinegar, 3 egg whites, pinch salt, 1 cup sugar, zipper baggie, wooden spoon, tape, your Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don't wait until you're half done with the recipe)!

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the 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.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. 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 child's hand. Let them taste it and 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. Add 1cup sugar. 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 Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.Read Matt. 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. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.Read Matt. 28:1-9

I also LOVE the resurrection eggs. For those of you who have not invested in a set of these, please do. There are twelve eggs in a carton (you can hide them or whatever). The important thing is that there are items inside the eggs that tell the story of Easter...well, the entire story of our Messiah. Some of the items are a a cup (fromthe last supper), praying hands (Garden of Gethsemane), a nail (the nails from the cross)....and so on. There is a book that explains each of the items and gives verses for reference.

$3.00 Silk Drapes

I found the quilt man a few years ago at a Flea Market Extravaganza in Springfield Ohio. He sells the most beautiful quilts around, and he has discount bins as well. These discount bins, my friends, are where the treasures are. I dug through these bins to find several $3.00 duvets that were in a color I adored. They are a natural brownish copper or bronzed color and I had no particular plans for them at the time of the find. They are a fancy-silk (I had seen some in Pottery Barn for a small fortune). I later decided to turn the duvets into window treatments, and I did some minor re-working (I cut the duvet down the center and sewed a hem, then I attached the classic rings by clips and slid the on the curtain rod). A cream "Cinderella" bow makes them match my girls rooms. Once I discovered how much I loved them, I searched for the Quilt Man, and found that he also frequents the Hillsville Flea Market in North Carolina. Wouldn't you know...I found several more of these gorgeous duvets for $3.00 each. My whole house has beautiful drapes!