Resurrection Eggs

Posted on April 14, 2017 by Lynn

Resurrection EggsWhen my children were preschoolers we wanted to share the “Greatest Story Ever Told” with them but we wanted to do so in a way that would not frighten them.  Let’s face it, the last hours of our Saviour’s life were wrought with unimaginable pain and suffering.  Even as an adult I had a hard time watching the “Passion of the Christ” movie when it came out in theatres because of the graphic depiction of Jesus’ death on the Cross.  I knew the sensibilities of my children and I knew we needed to be sensitive to telling them the Truth while at the same time being mindful that they were still children with tendencies to have nightmares.  Still, the last week of Jesus’ life must be told and every child needs to hear it, so we used “Resurrection Eggs” to tell the Easter Story.

Some of you may or may not have heard of these. Believe it or not there is quite a bit of controversy regarding the eggs, (some think there is pagan symbolism associated with eggs).  I will not comment on the controversy, as parents you can do the research and make your own decision whether or not you choose to use this method or not.

For those of you who decide to use Resurrection Eggs, you should know there are store-bought Resurrection Eggs that are  available through a number of stores, or they can be ordered from any Christian bookstore, but we made our own using dollar store plastic eggs and filled them with items that we had around the house.  Again there are several “recipes” on how to fill the eggs, some use 18 eggs rather than the dozen to add more items and more scripture passages.  You can find these recipes online.

Here is our “recipe” for a dozen Resurrection Eggs.  We numbered each of the plastic eggs, filled them with the items listed below and then hid them around the house for the kids to “hunt” for.  When all the eggs were found we started with Egg# 1, opening it and then reading the scripture verse that went with the item and for each subsequent egg until we had read the entire Resurrection Story.

As the children got older of course we “put away childish things” (the eggs) and we read the entire Easter Story from the Bible and we have made it a tradition now to watch one of the many excellent movies on DVD that portray the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Every year I still put out the basket of Resurrection Eggs as I decorate the house for Easter and I will smile seeing my grandchildren opening each egg to take a peak inside knowing our family tradition will continue with them.

Egg#1 – Palm Branch (use a leaf).  Read Matthew 21:8-11.  Jesus rode into Jerusalem.  The people waved branches and shouted, “Hosanna!”

Egg #2 – Bottle of Perfume (use a perfume sample you can pick up at any cosmetic counter).  Read John 12:2-8.  Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet.

Egg#3 – Piece of bread.  (use a crouton, they don’t get moldy).  Read Matthew 26:26-29.  Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples.

Egg#4 – 3 dimes.  Read Matthew 26:14-15.  Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

Egg#5 – A square of red fabric and/or make a small crown of thorns out of wire.  Read Matthew 27:28-30.  They stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns on Him.

Egg#6 – A cross.  (you can get wooden crosses for necklaces at craft stores).  Read Matthew 27:31.  They lead Him away to crucify Him.

Egg#7 – A few nails.  Read Luke 23: 26-34.  Jesus is crucified.

Egg#8 – Dice.  Read Matthew 27:35.  When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots.

Egg#9 – A tiny bag of crushed rock.  Read Matthew 27: 50-51.  When Jesus died, there was a great earthquake.

Egg#10 – Some whole spices.  Read Luke 23:50-56.  Spices were used to prepare Jesus for burial.

Egg#11 – A small round rock.  Read Luke 24:1-5.  The stone covering Jesus’ tomb was rolled away.

Egg#12 – Leave this egg empty.  Read Luke 24:6-8.  He has risen just as He said!

JESUS IS ALIVE!!  GO AND TELL!!

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25 Encouraging Scripture Verses to Relieve Tension

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Lynn

I feel it in my neck and back.  I am mentally fatigued and at times the physical and emotional toll has me paralyzed.  These are common side-effects of stress and tension.  Jesus felt the burden of stress and fatigue many times during His ministry on earth, but none so keenly than when he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane only hours before he was led away to be crucified.  Jesus experienced hematohidrosis, defined as sweating droplets of blood, as Luke, the Physician states in Luke 22:44, “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

If you experience tension to the point of debilitation, you need to seek medical help.  If you are like I am, a “nervous Nelly” and you occasionally allow the pressures of the world to negatively affect you, do what I do and find relief and comfort from scripture.  Meditate on the Word of God…it is a balm (a healing medicine) for the soul.

Psalm 119:143  “Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.”

Psalm 46  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.  God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.  Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.  The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth.  He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.  He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.  He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

James 1:2-4  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Romans 12:2  “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

John 14:27  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Psalm 94:19  “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

Matthew 11:28-30  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Psalm 55:22  “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Psalm 56:3-4  “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?”

Psalm 103:1-5  “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8   “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Luke 10:41-42  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Psalm 61:1-4  “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.  From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.  I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.“

Proverbs 12:25  “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”

Isaiah 35:3-4  “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

1 Peter 5:7  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8  “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Psalm 32: 7-8  “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

2 Corinthians 11:23-30  “Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.   I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.  Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.  Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?  If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”

Romans 8:6  “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Matthew 6:34  “ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Psalm 127:1-2  “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.  In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

Romans 8:26-31  “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.   And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.   And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.   And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

John 16:33  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 4:7  “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

For more verses go to: 25 Encouraging Bible Verses for Stress

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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Faith-Based?

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Lynn

I follow Kevin Sorbo on Facebook and Twitter.  I have been a big fan of his ever since he played Hercules on the small screen.  For those of you who do not know, he is a Christian and has worked in several Christian faith-based movies, most notably, “God’s Not Dead”, and he is involved in two major projects now, “Breathe Bible” (lending his voice to an audio Bible), and “Let There Be Light” movie that he stars in and directs.  He is outspoken about the fact that since he admitted that he was a Christian, Hollywood has not been as kind to him as it once was: “…my faith certainly hurt me in Hollywood. I did Hercules for 7 years, it was the most watched show for a good number of years. But then, for me to get called into read for anything – it just dropped drastically when I came out of that conservative Christian closet so to speak. I used to read for a lot of pilots and TV shows, and it’s very rare now.”  He credits independent films for allowing him to continue his acting and directing.

He recently posted a comment with regards to the new movie: “The Case For Christ”, a movie based on the book by Lee Strobel, which is soon to be released.  Sorbo wrote: “Face it… every film is “faith-based.”  It was obvious that he was being purposefully controversial with the comment to illicit thought-provoking dialogue and I can’t help but join in the conversation.

I will admit that I enjoy watching movies.  I will also admit that I have been more disappointed of late that family-friendly, feel good movies are slowly, but surely being replaced with more worldly, profanity-laced, blasphemous drivel that Hollywood seems more inclined to present to the public nowadays.  Hollywood represents the current pop culture around them and caters to the whims of those who are, let’s face it, opposed to a Christian worldview.  Therefore to even suggest that “every” film is faith-based is absolutely incorrect.

However…

The question is how we define “faith-based”.  Certainly if Hollywood is as inclusive (as it prides itself on), of all faiths being represented in some manner in that industry, then that would include all world religions, atheism (which some would argue is not a faith and I would disagree with that…but that’s another blog to write); cults, and lastly of course the Christian faith.  However, though Hollywood is great with putting movies in theatres that have Satanic, witch-crafty themes, and self-centred worldly themes, it tends to shy away from Christian faith-based movies, T.V. shows and actors and actresses who profess their allegiance to that faith alone.  Again, that’s another blog to write on another day, but if Kevin Sorbo suggests that every film represents a faith of some kind, perhaps his statement is correct.  It just depends which faith it actually represents.  Perhaps most of Hollywood is full of idol worship, for example…just look at that Oscar statue…

Now I’m being controversial.

Personally, I think the public would like to have more films that give them Hope, rather than what Hollywood is now pandering to us…just sayin’…

I would like to have your opinion on this topic.  Leave a comment.

Oh, and make sure you go out and watch “The Case for Christ” next weekend.  Let’s all show support for Christian faith-based movies!

Will do!

 

 

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