Tag Archive | children

Preparing for Resurrection Sunday

Mar27

Day 31 of 40 days to Resurrection day

Today’s suggetion:

Get ready for Resurrection weekend by doing any or all of the following:

  • Put a palm branch on your front door on Palm Sunday and leave it there all week for a witness.
  • Watch The Passion of the Christ movie. 
  • Clean out a closet or a drawer in remembrance of Passover (leaven was to be removed from houses in preparation).
  • Make Resurrection Cookies with a child, yours or someone else’s. (Recipe will be posted tomorrow.)

Palm branches

A dear friend told me about her tradition of taking home a branch from the Palm Sunday decorations to place on her door during holy week.  I followed her lead.  To me the branch represents victory and triumph and hope for the future kingdom of peace.

The palm branch is beautiful and green when I press the tack into it to secure it to my front door.  By the end of the week it has become yellowed and dried, a bit symbolic of Jesus vital life being snuffed out in the prime of His life.

I hope this visual is a witness to my neighbors as they pass by and see something different at my house.  I’d like to think the outward sign reveals the heart of the home I share with Sweet William, the atmosphere that comes from the presence of Jesus, the Prince of peace.

The Passion movie

The Passion

The first time I saw The Passion, I cringed at what I saw on screen, the meanness, the beating, the cruelty of those who arrested, tried, and crucified Jesus.  It was more real than I had ever seen or could have imagined. My mind reels at what Jesus did for me.

I try to watch The Passion once a year during this season.  I can only bear to watch it once a year.

I see myself in the characters of the story, people like Judas, Peter, and Mary Magdalene. A betrayer.  A deny-er.  A sinner.  What I saw in Jesus’ eyes in this portrayal was love and longing and an offer of forgiveness.  I am convinced that is an accurate representation of His response.

How could he love me when I’ve failed Him so often?  Why does He long to be my friend and offer His sweet fellowship?  How can He forgive me again and again?  And again.

I don’t know the answers.  I only know He does.  He was passionate to do the Father’s will, to complete the plan, to die in my place.  He is the Savior I needed.  The Lover of my soul.  The High Priest who always intercedes for me.   He is Jesus.

Clean out something

Before Passover begins, Jewish families make a thorough cleansing of the house to remove all leavening agents, whether it is cookies or bread or baking powder. During the Passover meal and for seven days thereafter, nothing containing leaven is to be eaten.  This is the Feast of Unleavened Bread as told in Exodus 13.

Jesus warned His disciples about the leavening of the Pharisees, their pious self-righteous attitude that made them think they were better than others.  Jesus’ constant reminder was to serve, to think of others first, to stop trying to get the first place.  He lived out the principal for three year and washed feet at their last supper together, showing He meant what He said.

Cleaning out a drawer or a closet isn’t going to make me more humble.  But it can be a reminder that I need to consider what clutters my heart and my life.  I can gather hurt and unforgiveness, pride and selfishness very quickly.  If I don’t examine myself, those things can become corrupt in me.  The corrupting influence of leavening must be dealt with.  I need daily cleansing from the precious blood of the Lamb.

With any clean space, I want to be careful what I put in it.  I’ll take faith, courage, peace, love, joy and the gifts God offers.

Wash me, Lord, and I will be cleansed from my sin.  Fill me with Your presence.

Resurrection cookies

resurrection-cookiesCooking as a family can be fun, educational and even a little spiritual.  Making Resurrection Cookies together gives the adult an opportunity to tell the story of Jesus death and resurrection to a child with the best object lesson ever – something that can be eaten later.

Tomorrow I will post the recipe and more information. Think about a child with whom you can share this activity. It will be well worth the effort.

Happy Birthday Jesus

Dec6

Cupcake

The first time I heard that little voice singing “Happy Birthday Jesus” on the radio I melted into a puddle.  It was so tender, so sweet, so, well, childlike.  That’s all I can say.

And isn’t it really His birthday?  Really.

Is there a chance we have become sidetracked in our Christmas flurry and forgotten?

An article I read years ago suggested giving a gift to Jesus at Christmas.  Assuredly, it would be difficult, practically impossible, to find something for the One who has everything, the One who is complete in Himself, the self-existent  “I AM.”

How does one gift the original Giver?

Reading in Genesis 12 this morning, the words leap from the page.  “I will bless you . . . and you will be a blessing.”

And I see that this is the key.  I have been gifted, graced, showered with blessings in order that I might give grace out of my abundance.

Yesterday, I spent my day getting ready for a Christmas recital with my piano students.  It was a flurry of activity and I was weary at day’s end.  But smiles from parents and grandparents and hugs from students afterwards were reward for my efforts.  This morning, I consider how the gift of music given me has become opportunity for me now to gift others.  And it brings joy.

Because when we give, we are blessed again by the blessing we have received.  Isn’t that God’s economy?  That we can never give it away without more blessing being returned upon us, good measure, pressed down, shaken together?

There are countless ways to do it.  Each person’s uniqueness can be an expression of blessing to another. You can decide what gift to give and doing it in His name, it’s like giving to Him.  And isn’t that just an amazing way to share grace.

Christmas programs with children are something everyone should experience.  This is a precious picture of children in all their child-likeness.  Enjoy their expressions, their wiggles, their singing, their attention, their distraction.  They are being who God made them to be.  Children.  And it is just delightful!