Family »

Crossing Kids: Sunday, May 19, 2013

5th Grade, Elementary, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning No Responses »

May 192013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Jesus uses His followers to tell others about His love.

The best solution payday loans

Memory Verse: “Go make disciples of all nations” – Matthew 28:19

Bible Story Focus: Paul and Silas in jail

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will hear the story of Paul and Silas in jail. They will learn that Paul and Silas trusted God when they were in prison and because of this, God rescued them. God wanted Paul and Silas to share His love with others, including the jailer that became a follower of Jesus.

Songs

“Wherever, Whatever” from I Count on You CD

“My God is So Big” from One Big Gulp

Pre-School

Monthly Image: Trumpet

Big Idea: Jesus uses His followers to tell others about His love.

Memory Verse: “Go make disciples of all nations” – Matthew 28:19

Bible Story Focus: Paul Discovers a Statue | Acts 17:16-34

Lesson Overview:

Paul tells the people of Athens of the Forever King. In this lesson, kids will hear of Paul’s travels to Athens, a city that worshipped statues and made Paul very sad. Kids will hear of Paul’s courage to stand up in front of a large counsel of people and tell them about the Forever King. Kids will hear that many people became believers that day. Jesus wants us to share Jesus with others; He uses His people to bring others close to Him.

Songs

“Shout” from Little Praise Party

“We Can Praise Jesus” from I Count on You CD

Activities
At all services, children will be “finding Paul” and helping put him on the map where he traveled in the lesson for the week. At the 8:00 and 11:00 kids will be making megaphones with the memory verse to remind themselves to proclaim the good news of Jesus, just like Paul did. At 9:30 children will be making “Tell It” bracelets they can wear to tell others about Jesus, just like Paul did.

Kindergarten-4th Grade

Unit: Judges

Unit Key Passage: Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. Judges 2:18

Unit Christ Connection: God used the judges to deliver His people from their enemies; Christ delivers people from the greatest enemy, Satan.

Bible Passage: Judges 6-8

Big Picture Question: How should we respond to God’s calling? We should obey God and trust Him to help us.

Follow Up Questions:

• What did the Angel of the LORD as Gideon to do? (Destroy the idols of his father and build an altar to God instead—Judges 6:25-26)

• What material did Gideon ask God to use to prove He would be with them against the Midianites? (Fleece—Judges 6:36-40)

5th Grade

Grapple Question: Why Aren’t Other Religions OK?

Kids Learn: Jesus Is the Only Way

Dig Into the Bible: Matthew 7:13-23; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 1 John 5:1-12

With hundreds of different religions in the world (not to mention all the different denominations and beliefs there are even among Christians!), sometimes we forget the main foundation of our faith: Having a relationship with Jesus is the only way to salvation.

It’s important to know about other religions so we can discuss our beliefs intelligently. With your preteen, write down five questions you have about other religions. Then together type “compare religions” into an Internet search engine, and find a site that answers some of the questions you have.

Kids Club Homework: Make Sure Your Kids Know Jimmy and Gergu

Event, Family, Kids Club, Uncategorized, Volunteers No Responses »

May 152013

If your kids are coming or you are volunteering at Kids Club this year, you have some very important homework! So, maybe it’s not as important as reading the Parent and Volunteer Devotional to prepare your hearts for the week. But, this homework should be pretty high up on your Kids Club priority list, ok?

You and your kids must watch last year’s Jimmy and Gergu (they are our skit characters) video before coming. Want to know why? I’ll tell you a little secret. They are returning this year! But, in order to understand and appreciate the nuances of this year’s story, you need to understand the depth of their character, the breadth of their story, and the love of Kids Club in their hearts. Ok, that’s probably a bit dramatic but you get my point.

P.S. Our kids’ teams are now all filled up for this year’s Kids Club. But, we still need a lot of volunteers, so if you haven’t signed up as one yet you can learn more and sign up here.

Here is your homework–last year’s opening video…

And, if you’re an ambitious learner, take a moment to watch last year’s recap video and think about all the fun we’re going to have this year!

Kids Club 2013 Devotional (Day 1: Map)

Devotional, Family, Kids Club, Parents, Volunteers No Responses »

May 142013

If you’ve been around The Crossing for a while, you probably know that one of our favorite weeks of the year is Kids Club, our camp-like spin on VBS. We would also like to give you a glimpse of this year’s theme along with a special resource to help equip you–both parents and volunteers–for follow up conversations to come. Each week, we will post the next portion of our parent/volunteer devotional to the blog.

You can click on the image below to make them appear larger or download the entire thing here.

Crossing Kids: Sunday, May 5, 2013

5th Grade, Elementary, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning No Responses »

May 062013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Jesus uses His followers to tell others about His love.

Memory Verse: “Go make disciples of all nations” – Matthew 28:19

Bible Story Focus: Paul and Silas in jail

Lesson Overview:

Songs

“Wherever, Whatever” from I Count on You CD

“My God is So Big” from One Big Gulp

Preschool

Monthly Image: Trumpet

Big Idea: Jesus uses His followers to tell others about His love.

Memory Verse: “Go make disciples of all nations” – Matthew 28:19

Bible Story Focus: Saul/Paul and Barnabas Go Out | Acts 13-14

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will take a close look at the travels of Paul and Barnabas to Cypress and then to Pisidian Antioch to share with others about Jesus. Kids will hear Paul’s message to the people of Pisidian explaining how Jesus came through the line of David (Acts 13:22-23). They will learn that the Forever King, even after His resurrection can still change lives.

Songs

“Shout” from Little Praise Party

“We Can Praise Jesus” from I Count on You CD

Kindergarten-4th Grade

Rotation Topic: Forever Home with Our Forever King

Key Concept: Those who trust in Jesus as their Forever King will one day live with Him in their Forever Home.

Objectives: After participating in the workshop unit on Revelation 21, children will understand:

- God always keeps his promises: God kept his big promise to David to send a Forever King (2 Sam 7) when He sent Jesus as our Savior. Therefore, we can trust God’s promise of our Forever Home (2 Sam 7; Rev 21:5, John 14:1-3) for those who trust in Him, too.

- We will be happiest when we live forever with Jesus: The greatest thing about our Forever Home is that we will finally be with our Forever King. We will be truly satisfied then. (Rev 21:3-4, 6-7; Psalm 27:4)

- When Jesus returns, our world will be made new:When we are in our Forever Home with our Forever King, everything that is broken in our world will be fixed— no sin, no tears, no death, no sadness, no sickness, no pain, etc. (Rev. 21:1, 4-5)

- Our Forever Home is better than we can ever imagine: We only have a small glimpse of what heaven will be like; it is more amazing than we can ever imagine. (1 Corinthians 2:9; Rev. 21:10-27; Psalm 27:4)

- Heaven is for those who trust in Jesus as their Forever King. We cannot earn our way into heaven by “being good.” We must trust that Jesus paid for our sins by dying on the cross for us. He is the one who saves us!

Memory Verse:

Psalm 27:4 (NIrV):

⁴ I’m asking the Lord for only one thing.
Here is what I want.
I want to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life.
I want to look at the beauty of the Lord.
I want to worship him in his temple.

Unit Overview: God’s promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:11-16 was indestructible. Sin, death, and time didn’t stop it. God sent our Forever King to us as a man named Jesus, our Savior. But, the promise doesn’t stop there. King Jesus will come again in all this glory and bring his kingdom forever when he returns (Revelation 21). Children will learn in this unit how God will keep his big promise to David and us ultimately when we are with our Forever King in our Forever Home. They will also learn that we will be happiest and all things made right when we are with him forever in heaven. That is what we are made for and can look forward to!

Workshop Descriptions

Workshop #1: Something Beautiful

We will explore the idea of what the “new heaven and new earth” will be like and why we can look forward to it, like King David did. To do this, we will:

· play a game called “Trash Game”

· read and discuss Something Beautiful

· discuss Revelation 21 in small groups

· have children decorate a bookmark that has our memory verse on it

Workshop #2: Who Will Be Your King?

Children will learn that our Forever Home is for those who make Jesus their King. We will explore this idea by:

· Sharing a gospel diagram called “Who Will Be Your King?”

· Playing a game called “Lay Down Your Crown”

· Reviewing the “Who Will Be Your King?” presentation through a small group activity

· Sending kids home with a booklet called “Who Will Be Your King?”

Workshop #3: Create a “Forever Home” Castle

We will ask and try to answer the question “Why is heaven better than where we are?” To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse.

· Read and discuss Revelation 21 in small groups.

· Each child will create a Forever Home castle that describes what heaven will be like.

Workshop 4: Forever Home Celebration

We will celebrate our Forever King and his promise of a Forever Home. To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse and motions

· Watch “A Dream of Heaven” video from The Jesus Storybook Bible

· Have a banquet together at tables while listening toHome and discussing questions about heaven.

· Play a party game with balloons

Workshop #5: Forever King Timeline

Children will discover how God’s promise to David to send a king who will reign forever on his throne is fulfilled in the birth of and ultimately in the return of Jesus. To do this, we will:

· Review the memory verse and do motions.

· Play a game called “Birthday Line-Up” that helps kids learn what a timeline is.

· Discuss how the three main parts of the Forever King Story we have talked about this year fit into The Big God Story timeline on the wall (the promise to King David 2 Samuel 7, the birth of Jesus in Luke 2, and the return of Jesus in Revelation 21).

· Review the big Forever King story and have kids create their own timeline in small groups.

Music:

Big House - Audio Adrenaline

Home - Forever/Home CD

A Place for You - Forever Home CD

5th Grade

Grapple Question:

Why Is Church So Long?

Kids Learn: Church Practices

Dig Into the Bible: Psalm 100:1-3; Luke 22:19-20; 2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Timothy 2:8, 4:13

Do your kids complain about how much time you spend at church each week? Do this object lesson as a family to remind everyone of the importance of spending time with God each week.

Measure and cut a rope or string to make it 168 inches long (that’s how many hours are in a week). Then attach a 1-inch piece of masking tape to the string (one hour is the aver- age length of a church service). Stretch the string out so your family can see it. Then read Psalm 150 as a family. Spending time at church is just one small opportunity to worship God. Talk about how you could spend the other 167 hours a week praising him!

Remembering the Big Picture

Family, Parents, Reflection 1 Response »

Apr 302013

I have been thinking a lot lately about what Bissy Crosby shared last Wednesday night at the Moms Seminar: Remembering the Big Picture. I’ve also had a few moms who couldn’t be there ask about it, so I thought I would share my notes with you.

Bissy described that we either live in need of HELP or live filled with HOPE. We obviously want to live daily with hope as our anchor and yet for so many of our days we are in need of help. She said we are guaranteed a troubled, weary, anxious heart (one that needs help) when we do the following things:

1. Neglect our personal relationship with Christ.

2. Determine to neglect God’s word. Can’t find the time in a day to read the Bible.

3. Decide problems are everyone else’s fault.

4. Don’t practice reflection or confession.

5. Rush to worry about problems or challenges and stay away from prayer.

She pointed us to Psalm 90 as a way to help us remember the big picture. In verse 12, it says “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” And she shared one question that helps us remember what is most important: Is this __________ going to matter in 10,000 years? (You fill in the blank.) Will this minor issue with my child matter? Will the clean house matter? The real answer that will matter is “Are they a child of God?” And have I invested my time each day so that my children will have every chance to be a child of God?

God is the one who brings our children to himself and changes their hearts but are we leading them to Jesus as we parent? Does how we spend out time each day reveal our need of HELP or our deep trust in finding our HOPE in Jesus?

One practical idea that Julie Geyer shared with us is something that can help us remember the big picture. She has created a simple jar for each of her children. In each jar, she has placed a number of items that represent that child to her. For example, for one child she placed googly eyes because she has an eye for the creative. She has placed the number of items that represent the number of weekends that each child has left in their home. And after each weekend, she takes an item out of the jar. This has helped her “number her days” that she has left to influence and guide that child to Jesus. She shared that she made a jar for her oldest son who is already out of the house. She has placed a short pencil with no eraser in this jar to remind her that his days are gone in their home and that she can’t go back and erase the past. This also reminds her to pray for him because God is not finished writing his story in his life.

I was especially moved by this idea since I am counting down the weekends with my oldest son who will graduate this May. I’m not sure what season of life you are in, but the saying is very true that days go by slowly, but the years go by quickly. May we be mothers who determine to keep the “big picture” in front of us daily and lead our children to Jesus.

If you attended the seminar, I’d love to hear how you are applying what you heard last week.

“On Purpose” from Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing

Devotional, Family, Parents, Uncategorized No Responses »

Apr 272013

Not only is Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones something kids of a wide age range can enjoy, but it’s something that stirs my own heart every time I read it. In fact, I’ve been reading one each morning before most of the kids are up. It’s a quick and beautiful reminder of a truth about God and what that means for my life.

I wanted to share the one I read to my preschool daughter this morning called “On Purpose”. What if we each lived our days with this truth in our hearts? And what if our kids–perhaps especially our daughters in this beauty-obsessed culture–grow up living out a truth like this?

ON PURPOSE

by Sally Llloyd-Jones

Did you just end up here on earth? Was it all by accident?

The Bible says it wasn’t a mistake or an accident. It was a plan.

You didn’t just end up here. God put you here on purpose.

God wanted you here, and he had to have you here right now. Because he has a wonderful plan for you–something that only you can do.

Every single thing about you–the color of your eyes, your name, what you love, every day you will live–God knew before time began.

Even before you were born, he loved you. You began in God’s heart.

You are his. Made by him. Made for him.

“You saw my body as it was formed. All the days planned for me…before I was one day old.”

PSALM 139:16 (NCV)

Here is the trailer video that will give you an idea of what to expect if you order this delightful devotional. The art work makes my heart sing as much as the words do.

Crossing Kids: Sunday, April 21, 2013

5th Grade, Elementary, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning No Responses »

Apr 212013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Our Forever King changes us.

Memory Verse: We are being changed to be more like Him. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Bible Story Focus: Paul’s Conversion

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will hear the conversion of Paul, understanding that Jesus changes us. Paul hated Christians until Jesus changed his heart, then he wanted to tell everyone about Jesus.

Songs:

I Like To - One, Big Gulp CD
I Wanna Be Like Jesus - Reach Up High

Preschool

Monthly Image: Scepter

Big Idea: Jesus, our Forever King, changes us to be more like Him.

Memory Verse: “We are being changed to become more like Him.” - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Bible Story Focus: Paul’s Conversion, part two | Acts 9:10-19

I Wonder Questions

I wonder… Who did Jesus ask to go see Saul?

* Jesus asked Saul to see Ananias.

I wonder… What happened when Ananias touched Saul?

* Scales fell off his eyes and he could see again.

I wonder… Did Saul hurt Ananias?

*No, Jesus changed him and he was baptized and loved Jesus instead.

Songs

You Alone Can Rescue - Matt Redman

Good, Good Friend - I Count On You CD

Activities
This week children at 8:00 and 11:00 children will see the transformation of tarnished pennies and connect it to Paul’s transformation by Jesus. They will also create blind drawings to remind them of Paul’s blindness in his conversion. At 9:30, children will get to see carnations transformed by food coloring and will make light switch covers to remind themselves of Jesus’ changing power.

Kindergarten-4th Grade

Rotation Topic: Forever Home with Our Forever King

Key Concept: Those who trust in Jesus as their Forever King will one day live with Him in their Forever Home.

Objectives: After participating in the workshop unit on Revelation 21, children will understand:

Memory Verse:

Psalm 27:4 (NIrV):

Workshop Descriptions

Workshop #1: Something Beautiful

We will explore the idea of what the “new heaven and new earth” will be like and why we can look forward to it, like King David did. To do this, we will:

· play a game called “Trash Game”

· read and discuss Something Beautiful

· discuss Revelation 21 in small groups

· have children decorate a bookmark that has our memory verse on it

Workshop #2: Who Will Be Your King?

Children will learn that our Forever Home is for those who make Jesus their King. We will explore this idea by:

· Sharing a gospel diagram called “Who Will Be Your King?”

· Playing a game called “Lay Down Your Crown”

· Reviewing the “Who Will Be Your King?” presentation through a small group activity

· Sending kids home with a booklet called “Who Will Be Your King?”

Workshop #3: Create a “Forever Home” Castle

We will ask and try to answer the question “Why is heaven better than where we are?” To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse.

· Read and discuss Revelation 21 in small groups.

· Each child will create a Forever Home castle that describes what heaven will be like.

Workshop 4: Forever Home Celebration

We will celebrate our Forever King and his promise of a Forever Home. To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse and motions

· Watch “A Dream of Heaven” video from The Jesus Storybook Bible

· Have a banquet together at tables while listening toHome and discussing questions about heaven.

· Play a party game with balloons

Workshop #5: Forever King Timeline

Children will discover how God’s promise to David to send a king who will reign forever on his throne is fulfilled in the birth of and ultimately in the return of Jesus. To do this, we will:

· Review the memory verse and do motions.

· Play a game called “Birthday Line-Up” that helps kids learn what a timeline is.

· Review the big Forever King story and have kids create their own timeline in small groups.

Music:

Big House - Audio Adrenaline

Home - Forever/Home CD

A Place for You - Forever Home CD

5th Grade

Grapple Question: Why Are There So Many Churches?? Kids Learn: The Church Is the Body of Christ

Dig Into the Bible: John 17:20-23; Romans 16:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 12:12-31

Many people focus on the differences between churches. But the real message Jesus gave us is that we are all one church. First Corinthians 1:10 says, “Live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”

Talk to your family about ways to work together with people from other churches. May- be you will think of a few families in your neighborhood who go to different churches and invite them to your home for dinner. Remember that as Christians we need to work together as the body of Christ.

Crossing Kids: Sunday, April 14, 2013

5th Grade, Elementary, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning 1 Response »

Apr 142013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Our Forever King changes us.

Memory Verse: We are being changed to be more like Him. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Bible Story Focus: Paul’s Conversion

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, kids will hear the conversion of Paul, understanding that Jesus changes us. Paul hated Christians until Jesus changed his heart, then he wanted to tell everyone about Jesus.

Songs:

I Like To - One, Big Gulp CD
I Wanna Be Like Jesus - Reach Up High

Preschool

Monthly Image: Scepter

Big Idea: Jesus, our Forever King, changes us to be more like Him.

Memory Verse: “We are being changed to become more like Him.” - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Bible Story Focus: Paul’s Conversion, part one | Acts 9:1-9

I Wonder Questions

I wonder… Who was Saul being mean to?

* Christians – people who believe in Jesus

I wonder… Who spoke to Saul outside of Damascus?

* Jesus did

I wonder… What happened to Saul after Jesus told him to go to Damascus?

*He became blind, and did not eat or drink for three days

Songs

You Alone Can Rescue - Matt Redman

Good, Good Friend - I Count On You CD

Activities
This week our activities are a bit messy! At 8:00 and 11:00 we’ll be playing pin the tail on the donkey to talk about how Paul was blinded during his conversion and making slime while we talk about how God changes us just like he changed Paul. At 9:30 we’ll be playing a mystery object game to talk about how Paul was blinded by Jesus and then we’ll be doing a color changing game to talk about how God changes us just like he changed Paul.Kindergarten-4th Grade

Rotation Topic: Forever Home with Our Forever King

Key Concept: Those who trust in Jesus as their Forever King will one day live with Him in their Forever Home.

Objectives: After participating in the workshop unit on Revelation 21, children will understand:

Memory Verse:

Psalm 27:4 (NIrV):

Unit Overview: God’s promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:11-16 was indestructible. Sin, death, and time didn’t stop it. God sent our Forever King to us as a man named Jesus, our Savior. But, the promise doesn’t stop there. King Jesus will come again in all this glory and bring his kingdom forever when he returns (Revelation 21). Children will learn in this unit how God will keep his big promise to David and us ultimately when we are with our Forever King in our Forever Home. They will also learn that we will be happiest and all things made right when we are with him forever in heaven. That is what we are made for and can look forward to!

Workshop Descriptions

Workshop #1: Something Beautiful

We will explore the idea of what the “new heaven and new earth” will be like and why we can look forward to it, like King David did. To do this, we will:

· play a game called “Trash Game”

· read and discuss Something Beautiful

· discuss Revelation 21 in small groups

· have children decorate a bookmark that has our memory verse on it

Workshop #2: Who Will Be Your King?

Children will learn that our Forever Home is for those who make Jesus their King. We will explore this idea by:

· Sharing a gospel diagram called “Who Will Be Your King?”

· Playing a game called “Lay Down Your Crown”

· Reviewing the “Who Will Be Your King?” presentation through a small group activity

· Sending kids home with a booklet called “Who Will Be Your King?”

Workshop #3: Create a “Forever Home” Castle

We will ask and try to answer the question “Why is heaven better than where we are?” To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse.

· Read and discuss Revelation 21 in small groups.

· Each child will create a Forever Home castle that describes what heaven will be like.

Workshop 4: Forever Home Celebration

We will celebrate our Forever King and his promise of a Forever Home. To do this, we will:

· Review our memory verse and motions

· Watch “A Dream of Heaven” video from The Jesus Storybook Bible

· Have a banquet together at tables while listening toHome and discussing questions about heaven.

· Play a party game with balloons

Workshop #5: Forever King Timeline

Children will discover how God’s promise to David to send a king who will reign forever on his throne is fulfilled in the birth of and ultimately in the return of Jesus. To do this, we will:

· Review the memory verse and do motions.

· Play a game called “Birthday Line-Up” that helps kids learn what a timeline is.

· Review the big Forever King story and have kids create their own timeline in small groups.

Music:

Big House - Audio Adrenaline

Home - Forever/Home CD

A Place for You - Forever Home CD

5th Grade

Grapple Question: Why Do I Have to Go?

Kids Learn: Encountering God in Community

Dig Into the Bible: Luke 4:14-16; Colossians 1:18-20; Hebrews 10:23-25

Have you ever had this happen to you on a Sunday morning? As you’re struggling to get the kids up and out of the house, your preteen asks the inevitable question: “Why do we even have to go to church?” And you respond with your most respectful and understanding tone of voice, “Because I said so!”

Think about why it’s important to you that your kids go to church. Is it because you want them to hang out with their friends, so your neighbors will see you going to church as a family, or because you hope your kids will listen to their Sunday school teachers even if they won’t listen to you? Or is it because you realize that some of the most powerful life-changing moments happen in the midst of other Christians, while listening to a friend share about a tough situation, for example, or worshipping in a large group? Find a quiet time (not on your way out the door to church!) to talk to your preteen about the importance of experiencing God in community. It’s all about growing in relationship with God and others.

Mom Guilt

Devotional, Family, Parents No Responses »

Apr 102013

I haven’t been a mom for very long. Not even for a year, actually. But 10 months has given me plenty of time to experience Mom Guilt. Perhaps you’ve heard of this phenomenon. No matter how much you do in a day, there is almost always something to feel guilty about. If my child is clothed, fed, and well loved, then I probably feel a bit guilty that I’m in sweatpants at 6:00 p.m. and just ordered pizza because I forgot to get groceries. If I’ve managed to workout, shower, AND put on make up, then I probably feel a bit guilty that my husband watched our son for a couple of hours so I could have a break. I could go on but you get the idea.

There is something in our culture telling moms that we can do it all. All you have to do is open the latest issue of Real Simple, visit Facebook, or open Pinterest and you’ll understand why. We are bombarded with recipes, projects, ideas, and philosophies every day that tell us that we can, and should, accomplish all of these.

I came across this blog post by Stephen Altrogge a few months ago and it spoke to the internal struggle I was facing every day. The title is blunt, “Dear Moms, Jesus Wants You to Chill Out”. I laughed when I saw it, but I knew it was true before I even read it. I encourage you to read his post because Altrogge says it better than I can explain or summarize. He points out that the Internet has given moms quite a few reasons to “freak out” about being failures. The only real, Biblical job description we have as moms is to love God, love our husbands (unless you’re a single mom, of course), and love our kids. The way we do these three things is going to look different for each and every person.

I was thankful for this reminder when I read Altrogge’s post, and I’m still thankful for it today. But the truth is that I fail at my Biblical job description everyday. I will never love God enough, my husband perfectly, or my child correctly. But that’s okay because Christ does all those things for me. I am free to fail in both my daily to-do list and my imperfect, selfishly tainted love for God and my family. My daily identity for success in whatever I’m supposed to be doing is Jesus Christ. So yes, I do need to reign in the mom guilt in which I tend to wallow. And yes, I do need to chill out. But ultimately, I need to be resting more in the grace of Christ.

Let me learn by Easter paradox…

Devotional, Easter, Family, Parents, Volunteers No Responses »

Mar 282013

I don’t think it’s an accident that the most beautiful things of this earth aren’t typically so in the predictable sense. The things that move us the most quite often involve a contrast of some type, an element of surprise.

Wildflowers creeping along a crowded highway.

The intricate wrinkles on my grandmother’s hands.

A quilt created entirely from scraps that sits on my bed.

Weeds left uncared for. Signs of aging and decay. Leftovers that otherwise had no use. Symptoms of the curse redeemed. Beauty rooted in what doesn’t seem to make sense.

Why is my heart captured by such things? Perhaps because this contrast is merely an echo of something greater. Perhaps because the face of beauty itself is described in this way.

…he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
-Isaiah 53:2-5-

With wounds we are healed. Grace at its very core is a paradox. Something so costly, so undeserved, is given freely. A gruesome, torturous method of execution becomes the central icon for redemption. A story I’ve heard since I was a little girl continues to contain an element of mystery. My faith, my hope, and my peace secured, only because the righteous died for the unrighteous. Darkness and light, bondage and freedom juxtaposed. And all this was for our salvation.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;
Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.
-The Valley of Vision, A Puritain Prayer-

Older Entries