Easter Advent: Thursday

***Find previous Easter Advent entries here, here, here and here.***

As Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was full of sorrow.  He knew the excruciating pain he was about to suffer as we would take the punishment for every wrong thing anybody had ever done (or would ever do).  He knew the weight of what His shoulders would hold and of the heartache that stemmed from all of the sin, brokenness and pain in people’s hearts.

With death awaiting Him, He could’ve prayed a thousand different things – most, probably selfish in nature.  Wouldn’t you?  If you knew death was knocking on your door, wouldn’t you be pleading or screaming or flat out running away?  In that moment though, Jesus prayed with a heart full of trust and submission…“Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Wow.  So often we pray differently, don’t we?  Our sinful nature likes to pray things that we deem ‘best’ for us, not necessarily what the Lord has for us.  His way is always best and we should trust that truth, just as Jesus did.

Garden Prayer

Read: Mark 14:32-42    Luke 22:39-53

Do: Memorize scripture.

Not my will, but yours be done.    Luke 22:42

—Sing it, eat a piece of candy for each word, create a hand motion for a set of words – whatever it takes, memorize it!

Pray: Lord, thank you that we can pray to you about everything.  Help us to pray for Your will to be done in every situation.

Easter Advent: Wednesday

We’re on day four of our Easter Advent series and I hope you and your family have been blessed by this experience.  Parts 1, 2 and 3 are still up so feel free to go back and do them or just pick up here!

A Time to Remember

The Last Supper was a beautiful symbol of what was to come in the life and death of Jesus.  He knew His death was imminent and even though His disciples didn’t quite understand, He wanted to make sure they would always remember Him and His sacrifice.

While they were eating the Passover meal, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke it and gave it to the disciples saying, “Take it and eat, for this is my body.” Then he took the cup and gave thanks. He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, for this is my blood poured out to forgive the sins of many.”

This same act is a wonderful reminder to each of us of Christ’s sacrifice and love…

Read: Matthew 26:17-30      Mark 14:12-26

Do: Have a time of remembrance.

— Break bread and drink juice together and talk about how Jesus’ body was broken and His blood poured out for us.

IMG_4341-1—Really take time to remember how Jesus has saved us eternally and how He’s saving us daily from our sinful selves.

Pray: Lord, thank you for loving me enough to die for me.  Help me to always remember Your body that broke and Your blood that was poured out.

Easter Advent: Tuesday

For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.

That was the first Bible verse Sawyer ever learned (and before she was two years old, to boot).

Humble Servant

As Jesus and His disciples met in the upper room before the Passover Feast, He put that service into action.  Knowing His time was near, He got up and performed a job that was usually done by the lowliest of servants…He washed the disciples’ feet. 

My sister/friend Tredessa and I have given free pedicures to some of inner city Denver’s inhabitants as part of a city-wide outreach and it was a pretty humbling, and sometimes uncomfortable, experience.  Feet aren’t always the prettiest, neatest, cleanest parts of God’s creation.  Can you imagine the feet of the disciples??  They couldn’t have been any better, yet Jesus washed them and dried them and showed them great care…and His actions ran deeper than just His physical touch.  He knew they needed to be washed clean in their hearts.

Through this selfless act of service, Jesus set an example for us to follow.  The King of Kings acted as the lowest of low and asks us to do the same.

Read: John 13:1-17

Watch: Jesus washes the disciples’ feet      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmtAMUuFfkk

Do: Wash each others’ feet!

— Get a small pan of water and take turn serving each other by washing each others’ feet.  Talk about how Jesus did this very thing and think of ways that your family can humbly serve others.

IMG_4332Pray: Lord, teach us to be more like you.  Let us be sensitive to ways that we can serve others every day.

**Sidenote**

My favorite part of this whole exchange is when Peter all but refuses to allow Jesus to wash his feet.   

John, 13:6 starts: He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

And so Peter answers, “Then Lord, not just my feet but my hands and head as well.” 

In that moment, he got it.  If this is what it takes to be a part of You then I submit all of me to you; not just what you’re asking…all of me.  So beautiful.  Lord, I wanna live a life like this…

Easter Advent: Monday

**If you missed yesterday, do not fret!  Either backtrack and do two lessons today or just pick up here!**

Extravagant Love

Love makes us do rash things sometimes, doesn’t it??  Wrex and I stayed up waaaaaaaay too late last night visiting and as we discussed it this morning he said, “We’ve have had the problem since the day we met, haven’t we?”  (Insert big, cheesey grin here.)  It’s a true statement.  During the beginnings of our relationship, we’d spend time together until the dorms closed and then we’d talk on the phone to each other well into the morning…morning as in, time to go to class.  We were just so enamored with each other and we threw caution to the wind when it came to logic/rest/responsibilities the next day.  The same could be said of Mary of Bethany…

In the days that followed, Jesus went about His teachings.   While in Bethany, Mary got a wild hair and anointed the feet of Jesus.  She took an expensive perfume, broke open the jar, poured it on His feet and wiped them with her hair.  Can you even imagine?!  What a incredible, and somewhat crazy, gesture!

Those around them grew angry that she would waste something so expensive; they thought she should’ve sold it and given the money to the poor.  Jesus came to her defense and told them what a beautiful thing she had done.  Her actions remind us that following Jesus sometimes means throwing caution to the wind in overwhelming outpourings of love and compassion – extravagant, extreme love.

Read: Mark 14:1-10    John 12:1-11

Watch and Do: Worship the Lord

— Show Him love by taking time to worship Him with song and dance!  Take the time to prepare your hearts and rid the room of distractions…clear 15 minutes of your schedule JUST to praise Him.  (For moms, that IS extravagant, yes?!)

We chose to worship to Hosanna, Jesus is Alive, and Amazing Grace.

Pray: Lord, we love you!  Help us to love you extravagantly and without caution – You are so deserving of that kind of love because that’s how You love us.

Easter Advent: Palm Sunday

Save for Sawyer’s very first Easter, we’ve done an Easter advent of sorts with her.  It’s been a great tool for her (and us) to learn even more about Jesus and to prepare our hearts regarding the significance of the Easter holiday.

Each day, from now until Easter, I’ll post the advent activity that we’ll be doing in our home and I encourage you to check in and do the same! It’ll be good, clean, faith building fun.  🙂

The Triumphant Entry

As a Bible believing Christian, the death of resurrection of Jesus is quintessential to our faith and His entrance into Jerusalem is most definitely a part of that story.  If you think about it though, there wasn’t anything that was really “triumphant” or noble or victorious about his journey into Jerusalem.  He was riding a donkey…not even a horse, people…a donkey!  He didn’t have an army of men surrounding Him, just a bunch of ordinary people who would turn their backs on Him in a few days; the people shouting “Hosanna” would later shout “crucify Him!”  The man who was decorated as “king of Israel” would be brutally beaten and killed in five days.  Doesn’t seem very triumphant, does it?

Oh, but it was!  That entry was the beginning of the greatest triumph ever made in known history – the defeat of death.  No one, other than Jesus, has ever been able to gain victory over death; it simply could not contain Him.  I’d call that triumphant…

Read: Mark 11:1-11     Matthew 21:1-11

Watch: Praise Parade     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq64oLGugp8

Do: Act out the triumphant entry!

— Make palm branches out of construction paper.  We traced hands to make the leaves and glued them to a tongue depressor.

IMG_4314IMG_4316— Take turns having someone be the donkey (or get a toy horse), Jesus and the crowd.

IMG_4324— Wave your branches and shout “Hosanna!  Hosanna to the King!  Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!”

IMG_4318

Pray: Lord, thank you for being our King.  Thank you for coming to save us.  You are the God who saves!

The Christmas Story (Sort Of)

Yesterday morning, Sawyer donned her princess dress and butterfly wings and joined me in the kitchen.  She wanted to act out the Christmas story; she would be the angel and I would be a shepherd who would be afraid when I saw her.  I easily obliged.  She loves to pretend and act things out and I know the Christmas story is one of her favorites.

While she left the room, I sat down to feed Wryder and she soon returned.  I did my part and proclaimed, “Aaagh!  I’m afraid, I’m afraid!  Who are you?”

She replied, “Do not be afraid!  I’m an angel.  A Savior has been born in Bethlehem.  You should go and see Him.”

Knowing that she knew the story of Christ’s birth, I did my part to foster the conversation to lead us into the second act and allow her to have more dialog from the story…so I asked, “How will I know where to go?”…thinking she would reply something about following a star.

Nope.

She replied, in her best Dora-esque set of directions, “First you’ll go past crocodile lake.”

I about fell out of my chair!  She finished her instructions and I thought, this can still be salvaged!  Thinking she’d mention something about swaddling clothes or a manager, I asked, “How will I know it’s baby Jesus?”  To which she replied…

“You’ll have to look closely.”

How funny is she!?  You may disagree but I just have to believe that the Lord was busting a gut right along with me; her innocence was overwhelmingly adorable! I grabbed pen and paper and immediately wrote down our little exchange.  These are the little things I don’t want to forget…these are the things that bless my heart.

Knocking it Out of the Park

I cleaned out my desk this morning and I made it out alive!!  Phew.  It had gotten a little out of control and I’m proud to report that my laptop can fit on it’s surface again.  Ahem.

In that process, I was organizing some preschool stuff and some Bible study materials and I forgot that I had gotten out two old journals the other day, searching for some notes on a study we’d done a few years back.  I was browsing through them…which can be quite humbling, mind you.  It’s a little gut wrenching when you’re still struggling with some of the same thing you were struggling with in 2011.  Keep pressing in, Lord.

One of those journals was Wrexy’s and I was browsing through it and I came across a list he made in May of 2011 titled “Top 15 Goals for My Marriage/Family.”  I was gonna just skip right over it but I felt the Lord asking me to dwell there for a minute, so I read through them.

  1. Create a loving, God-fearing environment.
  2. To be someone Stef trusts and relies on.
  3. To be an example to others of Christian marriage.
  4. To be an involved dad, teaching my kids to do things/gain skills.
  5. To be a good provider.
  6. To teach my kids to hear from the Lord and leave a legacy of the fear of the Lord.
  7. To be a dad/husband that my family will be proud of.
  8. To instil self-worth and the truth about who they are in my kids; build each other up.
  9. To grow together as a family through acts of service/giving.
  10. To be an example of a loyal, honest, hard-working man.
  11. To grow closer to Stef with each day and year through oneness with Christ.
  12. To help nurture Stef’s gifts.
  13. To remain best friends with Stef.
  14. To communicate well with Stef, not just say what I think she wants to hear.
  15. To not grow complacent in my role as the spiritual leader of my home.

Be. Still. My. Heart.  I was absolutely speechless and so incredibly humbled reading this list.  Talk about selfless and God-centered; he gets it and we are blessed because of it.

Let me just say, you are doing a darn fine job, handsome.  I am so proud to be your wife.  You are the glue that holds this ship together and keeps us afloat and you are knocking it out of the park in the husband/dad department!

Thank you for showing us on a daily basis how Christ loved the church.

Thank you for wanting the best for us.

Thank you for dying to yourself over and over again.

Thank you for leading us and guiding us and providing for us.

Thank you for being the most gracious, forgiving, patient, honest, loyal, generous, gentle, determined, enthusiastic, unflappable, God-fearing man I’ve ever known.

****Note to readers, W and I are that couple that shares everything (as I believe all married couples should) – passwords, prayers, bank accounts, spit.  😉  He was not at all concerned that I read his journal or that I shared it here.  His main concern was that women would be stumbling in covetousness.  Ahem.  Notice I didn’t list ‘humble’ in my description of him.  🙂 ****

Love Like That

Earlier, I told you how much I loved Valentine’s day and this year solidified those amorous sentiments even more.  My valentine is soooooo incredibly sweet (and handsome!) and he went out of his way to make the day extra special for me.  He’s good at showing love like that…

Good lookin' rascal!
Good lookin’ rascal!

Wrexy has to leave early on Fridays for his Wyoming sale, so on Thursday morning, we celebrated a little early with heart pancakes.

Yum yum!
Yum yum!

Sawyer thought these were fantastic!  I thought they turned out cute, too.  I ended up putting my batter into a condiment bottle and squeezing it out onto the griddle that way – super easy!

I woke up Friday morning to these beauties…

Gorgeous, right?!
Gorgeous, right?!

Our neighbor is a {fabulously creative} florist and she put this together for him in a vintage flout sifter, no less!  EEP!  I was THRILLED!  I absolutely LOVE fresh flowers and these are still going strong.  Every time I see them on the table I just feel joyful – love them!

The night before, I threw up a little curtain and some hearts and put everyone’s little gifts out.  I like to show love like that…

Love is in the air...
Love is in the air…
Little expressions of love...
Little expressions of love…

The day before, Sawyer wanted to make cards, so I made one for her and Wryder and I’m happy to report that it was his favorite gift.  Probably because it was the most edible, but hey – I’ll take it.

We got daddy off to work and we whipped up some cupcakes for the neighbors.  Little miss likes to share the love like that…

Red velvet, of course!
Red velvet, of course!

Cubbie bear is at our house again this week, so he got to help!  Sawyer is a great batter mixer AND sprinkler – check out the finished products…

She did great, yes?!
She did great, yes?!

She was feeling pretty rotten by the end of the day, but she had energy enough to put on her fancy dress for our V-day dinner.  Daddy was home by supper so we made steak, potatoes, squash/zucchini and garlic bread – four of his favorites!

They are so sweet...
They are so sweet…

It was just a lovely day!  I love my husband and I really, really want him to know that.  I don’t really buy into this “I don’t need a certain day to make sure my spouse knows that I love them” stuff.  You should absolutely make sure they know they are loved every day, but there is definitely nothing wrong with taking a specific time to refresh and renew those sentiments by putting that love into action, ya know?  Wrex does a great job of showing me love on a daily basis and he did especially so on Valentine’s day, making my love for him grow all the more. Everyone should want a love like that…

I hope you all had special days with your loves and more than that, I hope that you know the One who loves you more than all the rest.  The Lord’s love is so pure and so perfect…He never hurts our feelings…He’s always present and available…He doesn’t disappoint…He doesn’t love us only when we’re at our best…He loves us no matter where we go or what we do or who we’re with…

We’ve (obviously) been talking a lot about this love thing and talking to Sawyer about how God loves us.  Our family prayer has been to love like thatLord, help me to love like that…

How to Study the Bible: Topical Study

Do you ever find yourself thinking about something someone did or said (or something you did or said) and you wonder, “What does the Bible say about ________?”  I feel like I do this a lot, depending on the subject (love, sin, shame, forgiveness, etc.)  As a whole, I think we tend to know a little bit about a lot of things or we may know the gist of it, but not the full spectrum of the Lord’s heart on a specific issue…and that’s where topical studies come in.

On our quest to know the Lord more intimately through Biblical study, we’ve looked at inductive studies and personalization.  Today, let’s look at topical studies.

Topical study – a study about a specific topic…love, grace, prayer, forgiveness, humility, sin, etc.

It involves the same three basic steps that we saw in the inductive study…

  1. Observation – what does the passage say?
  2. Interpretation – what does the passage mean?
  3. Application – how does the meaning apply to me?

Observation

  1. Choose a topic.  Choose something you’re interested in or something you’d like to know more about…or something you need to know more about.  Because the Bible is so rich and vast, it’s often best to specify these even more, for example: Jesus’ love for others while on earth (instead of just trying to study love) or intercessory prayer (instead of just trying to study prayer).
  2. Make a list of related words.  Since there are so many different version out there, sometimes it’s best to write down synonyms for the topic you’re studying so that you can get a full explanation of the topic.  If you’re studying prayer, jot down ask, call, intercession, supplication, etc.
  3. Look up Bible references for your topic.  Start with a concordance to look up references to your original word and your synonymous words.  Online Bible tools (Bible Gateway, Bible Hub) have made this a lot simpler and faster, as you can do keyword searches and switch from translation to translation with the click of a mouse.
  4. Read each passage and read them in context, meaning the verses preceding and following, so that you get a full picture of what the Lord is truly saying.

Interpretation

  1. Study each reference.  Use the inductive method of the 5 w’s and h to get the full effect and meaning of the scripture.  If you feel like topics are mentioned that need further cross-referencing, then by all means, research some more!
  2. Write down your observations.  What did you learn broadly?  What is the Lord’s heart regarding your topic?  What did you see brought up consistently throughout Scripture?

Application

  1. Apply what you’ve learned.  How did the Lord speak to you during this study?  in what ways were you convicted?  In what ways do you feel like He’s asking you to make a change or application?  Write down several ways that you can apply what you have learned to your self and do just that.

Topical studies can be quite vast but OH SO RICH.  We have so much Biblical information right at our fingertips thanks to Bible search engines and study materials available online, that this should be an easy-peasy way to learn more about the Lord.  So….hop to it!  What topic is calling your name?!

How to Study the Bible: Personalization

One of my favorite types of Bible study is the personalization of Scripture.  It takes the message of the written word of God from a epistle for everyone (which it is) to an epistle for me (which it is).  For me, personalization really makes Scripture come alive and it helps me take ownership of the truth in His word.  Part of the personalization process involves reading other translations and breaking down the verbage, so for a lover of words and their meanings, that part appeals to me, too.

How to personalize Scripture (for this example, we’ll look at Ephesians 6:10-18)

1. Pray and ask the Lord to teach you and to show you HIs perfect and personal word for you.

           2. Read a passage of Scripture to yourself.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

    3. Read it aloud.

           4. Underline words or phrases that really catch your attention.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

5. Read some different versions and use them to gain deeper understanding of the text.

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].  11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.  12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.  13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].  14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,  15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. 16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].  17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.  18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

     6. Copy the text as written.

           7. Re-write the text in first person. 

I must be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  I will put on all of His armor so that I will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.   I am not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, I will put on every piece of God’s armor so I will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle I will still be standing firm.  I will stand my ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.   For shoes,  I will put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that I will be fully prepared.  In addition to all of these, I will hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. I will put on salvation as my helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

I will pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. I will stay alert and be persistent in my prayers for all believers everywhere.

           8. Expand the text. 

  • Write alternate meanings for words/phrases
  • Write it out in your own words
  • Write it as a personal prayer

I must be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  There is no one stronger than Him!  All He possess, I possess through His Spirit.  I will put on all of His armor so that I will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.  It is possible to stand firm!  That’s what His word is saying – it is possible! I am not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  I am fighting the devil himself.

Therefore, I will put on every piece of God’s armor so I will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.   I WILL be able to resist his schemes.  Then after the battle I will still be standing firm.  I will succeed!  I will triumph victorious!  I will stand my ground; I will not waiver; I will not be moved.  I will put on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.  For shoes, I will put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that I will be fully prepared.  In addition to all of these, I will hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil, because they WILL come…but  can be prepared.  I will put on salvation as my helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Is there a more powerful weapon than He?

I will pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. I will stay alert and be persistent in my prayers for all believers everywhere. 

          9. Pray through the passage.

Oh, you guys…even just taking these few minutes to run through this passage simply and quickly has sooooo ministered to my heart.  Reading and re-reading and expanding and making it my own just brings so much understanding – and not just regarding the text – but about the Author of the text…and isn’t that the point?  Intimate fellowship with Him as we study His word and apply it to our life = the key to Biblical study, and personalization does just that.