Just a reminder that we're not regularly updating with blogs in hopes that you're utilizing the Easter calendar!
Check it out for daily activities and talking points throughout the Easter month.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Rejection of the Cross
By the time our Savior hung on the cross, He had already been mocked, beaten, spit upon, flogged, laughed at, stripped, punched and utterly humiliated. He then had to endure six hours on the cross in utter torment of body and soul.
As I have studied the crucifixion the past few weeks, I have continually been assaulted by the gravity of Christ's loneliness on the cross. Abandoned by friends and family, He was alone. But that loneliness was nothing compared to the complete rejection and desolation He faced when The Father was forced to leave His Son.
Because God's full wrath was put upon Christ on the cross; because all of the nastiness of our sin was placed on the shoulders of One who is sinless, God was forced to leave Jesus there alone. We hear our Savior's agonized cry, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" and cannot fathom the pain of that truth. (Matt 27:46)
How amazing to know that we will never suffer the loss of the Father! Christ did it for us! And because Jesus did it, we will never even know a hint of that loneliness, never catch a glimpse of that rejection. May that beautiful truth color your anticipation and celebration of the Easter season.
Take the opportunity to talk with your child sometime in the coming weeks about loneliness and the truth that we are never apart from the presence of our Father because of Christ's death.
As I have studied the crucifixion the past few weeks, I have continually been assaulted by the gravity of Christ's loneliness on the cross. Abandoned by friends and family, He was alone. But that loneliness was nothing compared to the complete rejection and desolation He faced when The Father was forced to leave His Son.
Because God's full wrath was put upon Christ on the cross; because all of the nastiness of our sin was placed on the shoulders of One who is sinless, God was forced to leave Jesus there alone. We hear our Savior's agonized cry, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" and cannot fathom the pain of that truth. (Matt 27:46)
How amazing to know that we will never suffer the loss of the Father! Christ did it for us! And because Jesus did it, we will never even know a hint of that loneliness, never catch a glimpse of that rejection. May that beautiful truth color your anticipation and celebration of the Easter season.
Take the opportunity to talk with your child sometime in the coming weeks about loneliness and the truth that we are never apart from the presence of our Father because of Christ's death.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Easter Calendar!
Beginning next week, March 23, we have compiled daily activities for you to do with your child to talk about and experience different aspects of the Easter Story.
Download your calendar here and enjoy this special month with your family!
Download your calendar here and enjoy this special month with your family!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Acting out Bible Stories
Many times after dinner there is time for a fun activity for your whole family. Try using this time to act out a story from the Bible. Choose one you have been teaching to your toddler, one your preschooler is learning at church or in MDO, or let your child pick the story. Give each family member a role and make the story come alive!
This can be a simple acting out of each part as the story is read or it can be quite involved, using props and costumes and a set. One dad I know likes to do this nightly as he reads the Bible story to his children.
Our family had fun one night with the story of Noah and the ark. We made a tent in the living room with sheets over chairs and tables. While we constructed the tent, we talked about the other people who made fun of Noah and his sons as they built the ark and how they were obedient despite all that. Then we brought in stuffed animals, pretend food, pillows, and a flashlight (to use as a lantern). We stayed in the ark for "several days" as we turned out the lights and "slept" and then awakened in the morning. Each day we had the task of feeding all the animals. We talked about how the "ark" was crowded and the work was hard and sometimes boring. We created scenarios of lions breaking through their gate and it needing repair before they ate the elephants. Every "morning" Japeth and Amelia had a difficult time waking "Daddy-Noah" from his slumber. Some things we wanted to discuss and created situations where that would be easy, other times the kids thought of events that might happen. Overall we wanted to highlight that Noah and his family were obedient and that God is good and He protected them. Fun times!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Footwashing with Your Children
What are some ways you teach your children to demonstrate footwashing to others? One idea is to find a local nursing home and bring your children along to visit those residents.
Have your kids make several Easter cards and take them with you as you go visit. Or make bookmarks with pictures of spring flowers to share. Preschoolers can use stickers or young toddlers can just color on top of words that you write. Older children can write verses from the Bible or encouraging words. Bringing your children full of energy and smiles can brighten the day for those who don't receive many visitors. Consider "adopting" a grandparent and visiting once a week. By going on a regular basis you and your kids can form relationships with some new friends. But even going once or twice can bring cheer to a place desiring more youthful faces.
Below are two facilities to consider for your visit:
Victoria Gardens of Frisco
10700 Rolater Rd
Frisco, TX 75035
972-712-8652
Kingsley Place at Stonebridge Ranch
1650 S Stonebridge Dr
McKinney, TX 75070
972-529-1420
Have your kids make several Easter cards and take them with you as you go visit. Or make bookmarks with pictures of spring flowers to share. Preschoolers can use stickers or young toddlers can just color on top of words that you write. Older children can write verses from the Bible or encouraging words. Bringing your children full of energy and smiles can brighten the day for those who don't receive many visitors. Consider "adopting" a grandparent and visiting once a week. By going on a regular basis you and your kids can form relationships with some new friends. But even going once or twice can bring cheer to a place desiring more youthful faces.
Below are two facilities to consider for your visit:
Victoria Gardens of Frisco
10700 Rolater Rd
Frisco, TX 75035
972-712-8652
1650 S Stonebridge Dr
McKinney, TX 75070
972-529-1420
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Using our best to honor God
This past week in the Preschool we learned the story of Mary anointing Christ's feet with costly perfume. Though some were angry that such an expensive material was used for such a temporary purpose, Jesus explained the significance of honoring Him with the best of what Mary had.
As we teach our children to love God and make Him famous, we want to communicate the importance of giving Him the best of what we have. Lived out, we are "doing all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
As you go throughout your days, talk openly about the things that you are doing together and how those things can honor God. Simple tasks like washing dishes or picking up toys, to fun activities like coloring or playing outside, are opportunities for us to do little "heart checks" with our children and further explain that a heart that honors God and loves Him most is a heart that is pleasing to the Lord.
Have a great day with your little ones!
As we teach our children to love God and make Him famous, we want to communicate the importance of giving Him the best of what we have. Lived out, we are "doing all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
As you go throughout your days, talk openly about the things that you are doing together and how those things can honor God. Simple tasks like washing dishes or picking up toys, to fun activities like coloring or playing outside, are opportunities for us to do little "heart checks" with our children and further explain that a heart that honors God and loves Him most is a heart that is pleasing to the Lord.
Have a great day with your little ones!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Follow-up: Jesus is a Friend
Story: Jesus trains his disciples
Fundamental Truth: We Can Talk with God
Making it Real:
What can we learn from Jesus and His friends and how He taught His friends?
Jesus chose men to live and work and travel with Him. Those men were with Him always. They saw Him when He was happy and strong and excited, but also when He was sad and tired and upset. Jesus showed them how they can turn to God the Father in times of joy and sadness, confidence and confusion. And because we have it all in the Bible, Jesus showed us those same things. Jesus showed us how to pray. He showed us that we can talk with God. Jesus showed us how to trust God even when things are hard. Jesus showed us how to love God and follow Him no matter what.
Making it Stick:
Using dominoes, blocks, or some other toys that can stack, stack the materials far enough apart so that they aren’t touching but close enough so that when one falls, it will cause a chain reaction so that each hits the next until they all fall. Set up the chain reaction and while you are doing so, explain that Jesus came, taught men and instructed them to teach others. Those men taught others and instructed them to teach others, on and on so that everyone who heard the Good News of Jesus was told to tell others, a command that we have today, too. Let your child knock down the first in the line of dominoes and watch as the rest fall down. Explain that the power of that one domino falling down spread to all the other dominoes and affected them too. That is true of God’s power. The truth of Jesus reaches to one man, and another and another until many, many people have heard and are saved.
Fundamental Truth: We Can Talk with God
Making it Real:
What can we learn from Jesus and His friends and how He taught His friends?
Jesus chose men to live and work and travel with Him. Those men were with Him always. They saw Him when He was happy and strong and excited, but also when He was sad and tired and upset. Jesus showed them how they can turn to God the Father in times of joy and sadness, confidence and confusion. And because we have it all in the Bible, Jesus showed us those same things. Jesus showed us how to pray. He showed us that we can talk with God. Jesus showed us how to trust God even when things are hard. Jesus showed us how to love God and follow Him no matter what.
Making it Stick:
Using dominoes, blocks, or some other toys that can stack, stack the materials far enough apart so that they aren’t touching but close enough so that when one falls, it will cause a chain reaction so that each hits the next until they all fall. Set up the chain reaction and while you are doing so, explain that Jesus came, taught men and instructed them to teach others. Those men taught others and instructed them to teach others, on and on so that everyone who heard the Good News of Jesus was told to tell others, a command that we have today, too. Let your child knock down the first in the line of dominoes and watch as the rest fall down. Explain that the power of that one domino falling down spread to all the other dominoes and affected them too. That is true of God’s power. The truth of Jesus reaches to one man, and another and another until many, many people have heard and are saved.
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