Love, Sacrifice, and Rescue–A New Lent Tradition

 Easter, Elementary, Family, Lent, Parents, Preschool, Treasuring God in Our Traditions  No Responses »
Feb 212013
 

Today’s post is a guest blog from my dear friend Kassie Phillips.  If I were to make a list of people whose lives both challenge and encourage me to believe the Gospel and live a more radical life of love as a result, Kassie and her husband Brian would be at the very top.  In the last year, my friends and their three small children moved to Spain.  Their stories of learning language and culture aren’t the only things that amaze me, however.  You see, Brian and Kassie from the start have made imperfect but very intentional choices about the way they parent in light of the Gospel.  A trip to their home when they lived in the states made this abundantly evident as do blog posts, emails, and skype dates today.  More recently they’ve began a new tradition as a family to help prepare their hearts for Easter.  Kassie was gracious enough to share this below.

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“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
1 John 3:16

First of all, let me just say that I am no expert on Lent. Until last week, all I knew was that you couldn’t eat meat, at least on some days, and there was something about ashes…

So, if you’ve never thought about Lent, you’re not alone, and I’m not far ahead of you.

Recently, we moved to Spain. Although there are very few Christians here, many of the people are Catholic by tradition. Our son, Malaki, attends a Spanish Catholic school.  So I’ve been trying to use the traditions and holidays (which they celebrate at school) for our education and encouragement. I think it’s really important to give him a springboard (at home) for his questions and doubts.

It’s been like a treasure hunt. A hunt I’m thankful for because it has caused me to think beyond what is normal for me, and find Jesus in traditions and holidays I’m unfamiliar with. It has certainly freshened my view of Easter, Lent, and Jesus. And I believe that when the kids are older, they will think of these times as sweet memories.

Definition: Lent is a period of 40 days (excluding Sundays, so it’s actually around 46-47 days total) of preparation for Easter. Many people abstain from eating meat on Fridays, or fast for one day/meal each week, others give up something for the entire 40 days. The reason for the fast is to remind us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. That day was especially fascinating to me.  It is a day specifically devoted to remembering our need of Jesus’ sacrifice. The ashes symbolize the ashes Old Testament saints wore when they were mourning their sins.

Practically, this is how it has worked for us: first, on Ash Wednesday; our two older kids (3.5, & 5 years old) each chose a toy to put up in the china cabinet until after Easter. I explained to them that it would be difficult, but it would remind them of the sacrifice Jesus made for us when he came down from heaven to die on the cross.

The second thing we did was take a piece of posterboard and draw a calendar. It is a path with one stone per day, from Ash Wednesday, all the way to Easter.  (For some great ideas on this, Google: “Lent Calendar for kids”) Each morning at breakfast, we read a story (usually from The Jesus Storybook Bible) and talk about how that story points us to Jesus and his rescue plan.  Each day, we fill in one stone with what we learned.

 It’s simple. Yesterday we wrote: “Even when Joseph was sad and alone, God was planning a RESCUE!”

By the time we get to Easter, we will have spent 40+ days talking about the great rescue, and preparing to celebrate Easter. Not only should we be ready to celebrate, the kids will know what we are celebrating.

 

For Auld Lang Syne

 Auld Lang Syne, Family, Parents, Reflection, Treasuring God in Our Traditions, Volunteers  No Responses »
Dec 272012
 

Have you ever found yourself singing a familiar melody on December 31 a bit unsure of of what “Auld Lang Syne” is or who exactly we’re supposed to pass a cup of kindness to?  While song lyrics may be lost in translation for many, most people find themselves doing exactly what the song implies.  For however brief a moment, we press pause on our life to take an introspective glance at days gone by.  We remember.  We reflect.  We don’t just stop there, however.  We promise.  We resolve.  We try.  We even try harder.  Yet more often than not, we find ourselves defeated before winter has even given way to spring.  The cynics among us will say, “Why bother?”  The broken places of our hearts and lives might even call out accusations and condemnation.  ”You’re back here again?”  ”You’re still struggling with that?”  As a result, we’re often tempted to despair and give up or fix the problem by pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps and turning to our old friend, “self-discipline.”

So are resolutions good?  Are they bad?  Should we jump on board?  Should we stay clear?  Or are they morally neutral in an of themselves like most created things?  Morally neutral things that can go either way depending on the heart of the person making them and the source they place their hope in?  When I think about reflection and resolutions in my own life, I think of a double edged sword.  One with the potential to do both harm and good to my soul depending on how I answer those questions.  Am I trying to save myself?  Am I looking at this through the lens of the Law or the lens of the Gospel?

The truth is that the message of the Gospel has everything to do with transformation and nothing to do with bootstraps.  The message of the Gospel isn’t about being a better person but about a dead person being raised to life.  Jesus reminds us in John 15 that He is the vine and we are the branches.  Apart from Him we can do nothing.  Perhaps the greatest question I should be asking myself isn’t what I’m resolving from, but why I feel this strong desire to change and who I’m ultimately placing my trust in.

Here are a few posts that flush out this idea far more eloquently than I can.

Happy New Year!

12 Important Questions Every Christian Should Ask Themselves Each Year
Dave Cover shared a blog post with Don Whitney’s original twelve questions a few years ago.  I’ve found them helpful each year since.

Year End Thoughts from Spurgeon
But here is the joy, here is the peace of Christians, that our salvation is a finished one…

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards
If you’re like me, your gut reaction might be to scan this lengthy list, throw your hands up, and shout, “Yeah, right.”  Instead, perhaps we should take a moment to think about how this opening line might speak to any resolutions we make.

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake. 

Back to Square One?
Colleen Kelley, a friend of mine, shares thoughts on letting our resolutions and reflections come under God’s grace.

What is a Habit?
Ann Voskamp responds to this question by saying, “A habit is what we wear.  A habit is the way we wear our days.”

The New Year Wears Hope Like a Fragrance
Another post by Ann Voskamp.  ”What if all tomorrows are just more of all our yesterdays?  A thousand times I’ve told myself, “I simply must try harder.”…Self-striving nurtures self-hatred.  Toiling in the flesh produces foiling in the soul…The grace of His Spirit, fills our empty spots, intercedes, and gives us a fresh start every day.

Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work
“What the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies. The mind doesn’t direct the will. The mind is actually captive to what the will wants, and the will itself, in turn, is captive to what the heart wants.” -Ashley Null-

Sitting in the New Year
Two years ago, CJ Maheny’s wife and daughters posted a series called, “Sitting in the New Year” on their blog Girl Talk.   The series walked through the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 and provided practical tips for being intentional to spend time sitting at Jesus’ feet.

Family Christmas 2012

 5th Grade, Advent, Christmas, Devotional, Event, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Treasuring God in Our Traditions  No Responses »
Dec 102012
 

Last Wednesday evening, hundreds of Crossing Kids and their families gathered to worship our coming King during Family Christmas Celebration 2012: Heaven and Nature Sing.  Our evening started in the auditorium with a collection of different animals singing “Joy to the World” in their native tongues.

This was followed by a dramatic reading of Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones.  Each family in attendance was able to take a copy of this great book home at the end of the night.

Candace then lead us in a time of worship.  We took a closer look at the lyrics of “Joy to the World” and learned that this Christmas favorite is really about all of creation worshiping and longing for the day when Jesus returns and all things will be made new.

Families then left to participate in games that helped us understand what it means to wait in eager anticipation.  They also created paper chains to count down the days until Christmas and use with this year’s Family Advent Devotional.  If you weren’t able to make it, you can download a free downloadable version and order your own copy of Song of the Stars to use alongside it.

Found Advent Poetry: Waiting and Hope

 Advent, Christmas, Devotional, Family, Parents, Reflection, Treasuring God in Our Traditions, Volunteers  No Responses »
Dec 062012
 

A found poem based on Keith Simon’s sermon from Advent past.  You can listen to the entire thing here.

We are Christmas people,
not Advent.

Waiting feels
unnatural,
countercultural,
uncomfortable.

Yet waiting
is just as much a part
of our reality
as it was theirs.

We no longer wait
for his birth,
but His coming.

Eternity amnesia
blinds us to the reality
that this world isn’t all
there is.

Just like kids
tearing open presents
we ask,
“Is this it?”

Unrealistic expectations
that life
can’t deliver.
We ask too much
of other people.
We misplace priorities.
We misunderstand suffering.
Robbed of meaning
and purpose.

We are wired by God
for more.
Eternity set inside
of every human heart.

There is surely
a future hope
that will not be cut off.
A hope
on the other side
of the grave.
This world is
preparation,
not a destination.

A life of wisdom is dependent
on knowing this
isn’t all there is.
Don’t set your hope here
set your hope on the grace
to be brought to you.

We wait as they waited.
We long as they longed.
Come Lord Jesus, come redeem us
we will wait for You.

Come Lord Jesus: Advent Ideas

 Advent, Christmas, Devotional, Elementary, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Treasuring God in Our Traditions, Volunteers  No Responses »
Nov 292012
 

Growing up, Advent and Lent were seasons that not just my church but my family observed.  Both were times of anticipation and waiting.  Both were times of drawing closer to the manger and to the cross.  Both were opportunities my parents used to start intentional conversations about the Gospel.

Advent comes from a Latin word that means “coming.”  It’s a time of preparation and expectant waiting that I’ve participated in for as long as I can remember.  Colored candles glowed, manger scenes were played with, small calendar doors opened, the Christmas story was read, and the countdown for Christmas day grew in anticipation with each passing day. I found this video to be a helpful explanation of why seasons like Advent are important.

Q&A – The Advent Season from The Village Church on Vimeo.

 

Here are a few things I’m doing this year to prepare my heart along with a few additional resources and ideas from others your family might enjoy.

1. Advent Candles
For many years, people have been lighting Advent candles as a way to remember Christ being the light of the world (Matthew 4:16; John 1:4-9, 8:12).   I’ve recreated this with 5 simple candles–four for the weeks leading up to Christmas and one for Christmas day.  Traditionally these candles have represented different things–hope, peace, joy, love, and ultimately how all of these are found and fulfilled in Christ.

I’ve also chosen to spend sometime contemplating each word throughout that particular week (see chalkboard.)  An easy way to do this is a simple keyword search using something like Bible Gateway.  Here are a few thoughts on hope.

2. Advent Devotional Guides for Grown-Ups
Last year I used Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus to prepare.  It features Advent excerpts from Spurgeon, Martin Luther, Tim Keller, etc…

This year, I’m using The Village Church’s free advent guide.

3. Advent Devotional Guides for Families
Over the years, Crossing Kids has developed several Advent Guides for families.

Last year, we took a closer look at how cultural icons of Christmas are really just sign posts that can point our families to a greater spiritual reality.  “Every Good and Perfect Gift” is available for free download.  You can also read more about how the Tiemeyer family used it together.  Rachel Johnson also shared a list of her favorite Christmas picture books while Rachel Tiemeyer shared another great post with practical ideas for pre-schoolers.  We will also have a new Advent devotional guide for you to take home and try at our Family Christmas Celebration next Wednesday, December 5.

Several families at The Crossing have also used Ann Voskamp’s version of The Jesse Tree that you can also download for free.

4. Advent Playlist
While I like some Christmas music and will enjoy it throughout the holiday season, I’m sure.  The purpose of this  is different, though.  These are songs that create a since of angst and anticipation in me.  There are songs that have a more Advent/Christmas feel to them like Red Mountain Church’s “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus and JJ Heller’s “My Savior’s Love Endures/Magnificat” but there are also quite a few other “anytime” hymns and songs that give clear reminders of where my Treasure really does lie.

Case in point, Page CXVI’s version of “Abide with Me.”

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

5. Treasuring God in Our Traditions
This incredible book by Noel Piper is filled with both vision and practical ideas on how to shepherd your child’s heart both every day and during special holiday seasons.

 

Easter People in a Good Friday World…

 Devotional, Easter, Lent, Parents, Treasuring God in Our Traditions, Volunteers  No Responses »
Apr 062012
 

Growing up in a liturgical church setting, Lent was a somber time of contemplation.  Ashes crossed foreheads.  The hymn selection on the old pipe organ only included minor, dissonant sounding chords.  Black cloth draped the altar.  Items were given up.  I remember hearing many of my friends complaining about unsingable melodies and the number of services they attended during Holy Week.  While I kept my mouth shut about how I really felt, Good Friday, was actually one of my favorite days of the year.

For a long time, saying so made me feel a little bit guilty and morbid.  Sure I loved watching the sunrise through stained glass windows on Easter and hearing Lutheran voices belting out “He is risen indeed” with more emotion and joy than you’d hear the congregation use all year long.  But what I found equally, if not more, compelling was the quiet reverence and aching sorrow that echoed as each station of the cross was described.  The realness of my sin exposed.  The penalty willingly endured and paid for by Immanuel–God with us.  Even from a young age, I realized that Easter only came through Good Friday.  Both equally necessary for redemption to occur.

Some say that the crucifixion is too violent for children, that we should water down the message.  My experience would argue the opposite.  So would Russell Moore:

Our children need to hear the Gospel. They need to see Jesus. That means they need to see both sides of skull place. That’s graphic, sure. It’s confusing, of course. And not just for kids. But it is the only message that saves. It’s the only message that prepares one for salvation. It is, as Paul says, that which is “of first importance,” the message he received from Jesus Himself (1 Cor 15:3-4).

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the Gospel. That’s the first word. If we cannot speak of that, we would be better off not speaking of Jesus at all, rather than presenting another Christ, one who meditates but does not mediate, who counsels but is not crucified, who is accessible but not triumphant over sin and death.

The apostle Paul told us the word of the cross would be folly to those who are perishing (1 Cor 1:18). He didn’t warn us that it would sometimes also be folly to those who are publishing. No matter. It is still the power of God.

This Easter, preach the Gospel… to the senior citizens, to the middle-aged, to the young adults, to the teenagers, to the seekers, to the hardened unbelievers, to the whole world. And, yes, preach the Gospel to the preschoolers.

Even and especially the youngest among us need Good Friday just as they need Easter.

A few years ago, I ran across an article where Anne Lamott quotes Barbara Johnson saying, “We are Easter people living in a Good Friday world.”  It took me a few reads to connect the dots, but once I did it helped me process why even amidst sorrow and angst, I felt like maybe in ways I understood Good Friday even more than I did Easter.  We live in the constant tension of the already, but not yet.  We live in a world that’s broken, still under the curse despite the empty tomb.  We live in between the comings of Christ where family members get sick, friends experience tragedy, and sin–both our own and of others–taints even the best things in this life.  As Tullian Tchividjian writes in Jesus + Nothing = Everything,

“Peter tells us: Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13)…How easy it is to lose sight of the benefits that we have in Christ as we go through life’s trials.  It’s easy to do because of the not-yetness of our promised blessings, the full experience of our freedom and peace…But our fullness of hope allows us now to have full and confident expectation of all that is coming to us in the end.  for the Christian, the best is yet to come.“

As you celebrate Easter this year, don’t forget to contemplate not just Good Friday but the future grace that will be brought fully to us when Christ returns.  Don’t shy away from sharing this truth with the littlest among us.  We are all Easter people in a Good Friday world–the best is yet to come.

Preparing for Easter

 5th Grade, Devotional, Easter, Elementary, Family, Lent, Little Ones, Preschool, Treasuring God in Our Traditions  No Responses »
Mar 012012
 

Growing up, Advent and Lent were seasons that not just my church but my family observed.  Both were times of anticipation and waiting.  Both were times of drawing closer to the manger and to the cross.  Both were opportunities my parents used to start intentional conversations about the Gospel.

Lent in many ways has gotten a bad wrap.  The idea of giving something up for the 40+ days before Easter in some ways has become highly ritualistic and unattached from what the season really is about.  People abstain from certain foods or vices with a desire not to draw closer to God, but to lose weight or be a better person.  Others attempt to sacrifice because of a desire to win the approval of man or from a distorted view of obligation.  On the other extreme, Easter in many ways has become a holiday for consumers.  Jelly beans, eggs, and bunnies encourage us to bypass the crucifixion and instead focus on cultural icons tied more closely to spring than anything else.

I’ve ran across several sites and blogs that have shared some great ideas for ways you can prepare your family for this season intentionally.

Tell the Easter Story with a Play Dough Mountain
A great idea for families with younger children, this blog post from Desiring God gives children the opportunity to retell the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection with play dough and pipe cleaners.


Photo Credit 

Resurrection Rolls
Use this fun, tasty recipe to tell the Easter story.  The link includes the recipe along with a list of things to say/share as you cook together.

Photo Credit

Lent Devotional from The Village Church
While this may be a little too extensive to do with young children, it’s what I’m currently working through to prepare my heart as an individual.  Each week includes a prayer from Valley of Vision to meditate on, selected scripture with a place to reflect, and ideas on things to fast from/how best to go about this process in a Biblical way.  It also opens with a great rationale of what Lent is.  I’ve copied a snippet of this below:

“Lent is about the gospel. It is a time to narrow the focus of the Church to the work of Christ, in particular His life and death, a season to turn from sin and trust in His atoning work…ent is a reminder that the resurrection only occurred after the crucifixion. Rather than skipping over the ministry and crucifixion of Christ, Lent is a season to prepare ourselves for the joy of Resurrection Sunday as we symbolically enter the sorrow and pain which preceded it.”

What Lent Really Means and Easter Tree Directions
Ann Voskamp writes about her own struggles with Lent along with different things she does with her family to prepare for the season.  It closes with a free downloadable devotion and directions on how to make an Easter tree.

Lenten Lights from Noel Piper
Noel Piper guides families through 8 weekly scripture readings with an accompanying brief devotional.  Instead of lighting candles as one might do in Advent, she suggests extinguishing candles as a way to physically represent the contrast of light and darkness.

The Jesus Storybook Bible
One of our favorite resources to share with children and families is The Jesus Storybook Bible.   Pages 280-325 tell the story of Passion Week all the way through Jesus ascending into heaven.  Try reading one story a week for six weeks together as a family.  You can also watch a video version of Easter morning below.

http://youtu.be/d_PkwywNxCw

Celebrating Easter with Kids
This blog post is a collection of links put together by C.J. Maheny’s daughter Nicole on Girl Talk.  Throughout the post, she offers many practical, fun ideas for impressing the truth of the Gospel on little hearts during this season.

John Devotional
Of course you can also check out our weekly family devotional through the book of John.  Many of the passages will coincide with the Lent/Easter season.  We will also share a  take home devotional with you at our Family Easter Celebration on March 16.

What other ways do you celebrate the Lent and Easter season together as a family?  Be sure to share your ideas in the comment section or on Facebook.

What Will Be On Our Christmas Dinner Table

 Christmas, Recipes, Treasuring God in Our Traditions  No Responses »
Dec 242011
 

Those who know me well know this: I love food…a lot. I think about food a lot. I cook food a lot. I read about food a lot.

One night, after my exuberant reaction over an article about root vegetables, my husband made up a new term for me.

ferdie – (n) a cross between a foodie and a nerd

I’ll take that as a compliment!

The past few years, since we’ve been staying home on Christmas with our little ones, I’ve been working on our Christmas dinner tradition. For our family, Christmas is about celebrating and welcoming our Savior. It’s a rich time of thankfulness and worship with our loved ones. So, I want our food to reflect that and point toward the great banquet believers will experience in heaven one day with Christ. I don’t cut many low-calorie corners here, and I don’t feel bad about that!

Here is where we’ve landed so far with our dinner tradition, although this may be expanded upon and/or tweaked in years to come.

Roasted Beef Tenderloin - The mother of all beef. This cut is the most tender, succulent, melt-in-your-mouth piece of meat you’ll ever eat. It’s also easy to fix yet expensive! That’s why we only buy it and eat it at Christmas. I make this Horseradish Cream Sauce for dipping or topping that is to die for.

Hashbrown Casserole – How can you go wrong with this old standby? To make it a bit healthier, I use organic frozen hashbrowns, organic lowfat milk, and use an organic cream of chicken soup.

Green Beans – We keep it simple–steamed and tossed with a little butter, salt, and pepper.

Roasted Winter Vegetables – The handy thing about this recipe is that these veggies are great at room temperature, as well as warm from the oven.

Bread – I cut corners here and pick up a favorite loaf from a local bakery, warm it up, and serve with butter.

Homemade Chocolate Cake – We call this our Jesus cake, because we use this to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. The kids get SO excited to sing “Happy Birthday” to him, blow out the candles, and partake of this once-a-year cake. The recipe comes from Ina Garten and is just about a perfect chocolate cake to us. The coffee used in the cake mix and icing enhances the chocolate and provides a richness of flavor you’ll never find in a Pillsbury box. Warning: This is usually takes me about two hours to make from start to finish…but is worth it!

What is your Christmas dinner this year?

Originally posted on heathlyrefuge.com

Our Family Christmas Traditions

 Family, Treasuring God in Our Traditions  2 Responses »
Dec 202011
 

There is never a dull moment in our house and that is especially true at Christmas time. One of my favorite times together is around the dinner table.  We like to laugh, share stories and just enjoy each other.  Below are a few other ways that our family has tried over the years to slow down, spend time together and make memories with our children.

Kid Friendly Nativity Set

Years ago we invested in a nativity set that our kids could easily play with.  We put it up on a table so they could recreate the Christmas story.  It was always fun to see where the shepherd and wise men would end up. My favorite was the time I found them all bowed down on their faces before baby Jesus.

Christmas Book Basket

I usually try and purchase a new book each year to add to our collection of fun and meaningful books to read. My boys love to pick out a book each night before they go to bed.  One of their all-time favorites has been the I Spy Christmas (much harder than you think to find the items).  This year I got the new book by Sally Lloyd-Jones called Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story.  I especially love the art work as well as the way the animals  keep saying “It’s time!” as they announce the birth of Jesus. My boys are really creative at reading this book out loud with animal voices.

Ornament Collection

Every year since my children were born, we have picked out an ornament to give them a week or so before Christmas.  We usually select one that has a special meaning based on something that was a first for the year or somewhere new they had visited.  Some years they all get the same one and other years they have been more specific to each child. This year they all received an ornament with a Arizona cacti since we spent our spring break in Phoenix. We love reminiscing together about our trip. I’ve kept a record of these ornaments and plan to give them a box full when they have their own first Christmas tree.

I’d love to hear what special ways your family creates memories together this time of year.

Advent Devotional: December 19-24

 5th Grade, Advent, Devotional, Elementary, Family, Parents, Preschool, Treasuring God in Our Traditions  No Responses »
Dec 192011
 

Every Monday of Advent, we are posting a brief devotional that your family can do together to prepare your hearts for Christmas this year. Each week, we will discuss how many common, cultural icons are really just sign posts that point to a far greater spiritual reality. You can also check out a printable version of the entire Advent Devotional or view past editions below:

Advent Devotional Week 1: Intro

Advent Devotional Week 2: Christmas Trees

Advent Devotional Week 3: Christmas Lights

Advent Devotional Week 4: Gifts

Advent Devotional Week 5: Christmas Music

If you haven’t started yet, don’t worry! Try using previous pages on a daily rather than weekly basis.

*Consider showing the video below in place of the second Bible reading.  It’s a video version of “A Dream from Heaven” from The Jesus Storybook Bible.  

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