Archive: March 2011
God Has a Plan for You
Today I wanted to focus on a spiritual battle that perhaps many of us adults who are parents or leaders in children’s ministry may be fighting. It can be an incredible understatement to say the times in which we are living are difficult. Most of us are facing personal challenges in one way or another. The thing is, it’s almost impossible to effectively teach our kids to trust God, when we are caught frequently displaying outward signs of fear and anxiety. Kids see that sort of thing. I say this because I have lived it first-hand. I’m guilty of sometimes not living out, in peace, the trust which I so boldly teach.
Lately I’ve been spending some time in the Book of Exodus, and I found myself completely intrigued with Exodus 14. This is the part where Moses has led the Israelites out of Egypt, and God instructs him to lead the people away from Canaan and toward the Red Sea. This action would cause Pharaoh (whose heart it says God had re-hardened) to think that the Israelites were confused and simply wandering around, lost. As Pharaoh’s army cased after the children of Israel, it appeared quite clearly that God’s chosen people were doomed. In fact they cried out to the Lord and to Moses that it would have been better for them to remain slaves in Egypt than die in the desert!
Moses remained faithful to the vision that God had placed in him, and he encouraged his people by telling them, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)
The Israelites were not faithful in believing that the same God who had seen them through so many obstacles could be trusted once more. They doubted the Lord and feared He had abandoned them!
We know how the story goes…and of course God had a plan already in place. It wasn’t evident at the moment He asked them to change directions. It wasn’t evident until the very last moment. But God was faithful.
Can you relate to the Israelites’ doubt during this time? I can. Are you wandering around today, feeling stressed about the uncertainty of life? Have you forgotten that God has a plan to bless you? Have you really given it to Him and just… let it go?
If you’re fighting a battle on your own, and feeling emotionally, spiritually or even physically exhausted, remember that God has promised to take care of whatever is causing you anxiety, worry or fear. Find rest in the arms of our Lord. He is waiting there to rescue you!
In the battles you are facing, what do you need the Lord to do for you? Use the phrases I’ve listed below to fill in this statement:
THE LORD WILL _______________________FOR ME. I NEED ONLY BE STILL.
*provide peace
*make things happen
*take care of my situation
*provide His strength
*fight my battle
*take care of my worries
*watch after my family
*resolve this problem
You can follow Lisa on twitter @lisastrnad and she blogs regularly at talkinglikeagirl.
We want your curriculum feedback!
Have you used the What’s in the Bible? Curriculum? We’d love your feedback!
We’d like to invite you to take this short (10 minute) survey and we’ll send you at 15% off coupon as a thank you.
Click Here To Take The Survey.
Why Do We Give Up Things for Lent?
If you weren’t raised in a Christian liturgical denomination, the idea of “giving up something” for the 40 day season of Lent may seem like a strange practice – and it may seem even stranger to your children, if it’s a new concept for them as well. If you’re wondering why some of us take part in this season, I’d like to explain it a little further.
But before I go on, I want to address some of the concerns that were raised about Lent / Advent not being Biblical. It’s true, neither of these seasons of reflection are required of Christians. We believe that Jesus’ sacrifice is perfect. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation…it is ours as a gift through the saving grace of Christ. Praise God! My goal is to lovingly explain how the principals of Lent are, indeed, Biblical: Fasting, prayer, service, etc.
The idea behind giving up something for Lent is based on Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”. So, essentially it’s about self denial, carrying our cross and following Jesus. It is something that’s done in a prayerful way, so that we can wholly renew ourselves in Christ. That’s an important part of the process for you as an individual, but also as a family. If your family or your children choose to participate in a Lenten fast, make sure that praying together and reading the Bible is part of the experience.
It’s all about conversion.
As a kid, I think the most widely used Lenten promise was to give up candy. Yes, it was self denial, but come Easter morning– watch out little solid chocolate bunny! So, yeah, there may have been a small disconnect in my complete understanding of Lent as a child. The Lenten promise or “giving up” is about turning our lives over to Jesus, and giving up or turning away from sin. A sin, or anything material that takes our focus off of Jesus, is a good thing to step away from–even for just 40 days. In prayer, we can hope to grow in this time of conversion and be blessed with the realization that through Christ– NOT the fulfillment of the flesh–all things are possible.
I just have to say that giving up something like sugar for 40 days is really HARD. I know it might seem laughable to some. But for those of us who are emotional eaters, focusing on our need to come to the cross when we are hurting, as opposed to the box of Oreos, can be pretty significant in our walk of faith. Lent also serves as a wonderful opportunity to set an example for your children, who may or may not be giving something up themselves.
Many people make a Lenten promise to add something to their lives during this season. This can be done in conjunction with or in place of giving something up – and is another great way to worship as a family during the season. Maybe it’s reading the Bible daily with your children, doing a Lenten devotional, or choosing to do something within the community as a family for the poor, ill or elderly.
If you are looking for some devotionals to utilize with your family during this season, there are all sorts available in the Christian bookstores. This is an online resource that I’ve enjoyed using this year. It’s a daily devotional that I can access wherever I’m at. Since we’re still unpacking our books from the move, this online resource really was my answer to a devotional this Lent. It’s easy and broken down into a daily guide.
Next week I’ll talk about the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and alms giving. I’ll give you some church history and some applications that are still widely in place within the church today.
Do you feel you could benefit from a period of renewal or conversion prior to celebrating Easter? How do you get ready to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection? As an individual? As a family? Let’s discuss this here.
What’s Lent and Why Do I Care?
The great thing about the What’s in the Bible? online community is that we come from such diverse backgrounds! Most of us are Christians, but not all. We come from every denomination (and non-denomination) imaginable! It’s such a great honor to write for you and to hear your feedback– and above all– to learn from each other, with one goal in mind; refining our own Biblical literacy and putting it into practice in our lives on a daily basis.
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday–Lent has begun! But what is Lent? What’s its Biblical relevance? Could it be pagan in origin? Why should I even care?
During the next month and a half I hope to delve into the history, traditions and Biblical relevance of Lent. Not to convert anyone– but rather to share some church history with this community. As always, I welcome your input and questions, and I’d love to see us discuss this on the blog.
Let’s start with the history of Lent. What’s it all about?
Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. It is a preparation for the Easter Season. Like all Christian holy days and holidays, it has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same: self-examination and penitence. demonstrated by self denial, in preparation for Easter. Early church father Irenaus of Lyons (c.130-c.200) wrote about such a season in the earliest days of the church, but back then it lasted only two or three days, not 40 days.
In 325, the council of Nicea discussed a 40 day Lenten season of fasting, but it’s not clear whether its original intent was just for the new Christians (Catechumens) preparing for Baptism, but it soon encompassed the whole church.
Self denial…preparation… Lent also takes us, metaphorically, back to the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert before His own ministry started. We are readying ourselves during these next 40 days.
Lent definitely has a baptismal theme. It is a time when the faithful renew their baptismal commitment in front of the community. In the Catholic church, as in many mainline Protestant churches, Lent is the season where those who are entering into the final preparations for baptismal initiation into the community, are welcomed.
Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, but what do those black smudges on the foreheads of the faithful actually symbolize? Is it pagan in nature? No, not at all.
The ashes are symbols of repentance (sack cloth and ashes) and our own mortality and looking forward to our final judgement after this life (we will return to dust). Therefore the ashes tie into the Easter theme of death and resurrection. We are reminded that we must die now to sin and rise to a new life with Jesus.
Ashes represent an outward reminder of our need for conversion. A change, through Christ, that we are about to experience at Easter. The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are from the palm leaves that were used in the celebration of Palm Sunday during the previous year.
Moms: here’s a printable Lenten Calendar for kids. It can be colored and displayed in a place where they can keep track of the days leading up to Easter.
Next week I’ll tackle the idea of “giving up something for Lent”. What it means, why people do this, and the Biblical aspect of this practice.
Please continue to share with us your trusted web sites, Lenten prayers, and Lenten family traditions. We look forward to growing with you during the next 40 days!
You can follow Lisa on twitter @lisastrnad and she blogs regularly at talkinglikeagirl.
Practicing Lent as a Family
Melanie here from the What’s in the Bible? team! I don’t usually blog on these kinds of topics (mine are more along the lines of product updates and other such things), but I wanted to take the opportunity on this Ash Wednesday to ponder the practice of Lent … particularly, the practice of Lent in community and family.
I’m married, but no kiddos yet for me and my husband of 18 months. We are, however, going to practice Lent together for the first time this year. We’ve made a joint commitment to fast from meat for the next 40 days and we are excited to journey in the abstention together.
As we started to discuss it, I realized just how childlike my approach to Lent really is. My faith tradition growing up was not one that practiced Lent, and so this is really my first dive into fasting … and to fast for 40 days will be quite the challenge! We don’t eat meat a whole lot to begin with – 3 nights a week on average, at best – but it will still be difficult.
I’ve been scrambling around trying to find vegetarian replacements for some of our favorites, but it struck me that Lent really isn’t about that … it’s not about “replacing” one thing we love with substitutes for 40 days. It’s not about using Lent as an excuse to get rid of our bad habits either – giving up sweets for the sake of losing weight, for example, misses the point. What is the point, then? To sacrifice, to remind ourselves of God’s provision and grace in our own lives … and then to celebrate at the Sabbath table and on Easter Sunday in a way that reminds us of a time we have yet to know – when the new Kingdom has come and our days are all spent rejoicing and feasting with our King.
So I started researching both for my own sake and also for yours … how do you share Lent as a family? How do you explain it to your children – or in our case, many of our friends and family members? I am so anxious to start the journey that so many brothers and sisters in Christ have done in the past and will do together for the next several weeks, as we wait in anticipation to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Savior.
This is a great resources for families looking to engage more with the Church Year. It has a fantastic section on Lent, explaining it this way:
“Lent is a forty-day period before Easter when we prepare ourselves. During that time, we remember Christ and the change he made in the world, and we try to better ourselves as followers of Christ. Many people follow the custom of “giving up” something for Lent to remind them of Christ’s suffering.”
Lent started as a way to remember Jesus’ 40-day fast in the desert. Many traditions interpret Lent in different ways – some say to only abstain on Fridays during the Lenten season, others say all 40 days. Some say you don’t have to abstain, but you can add a spiritual discipline or activity (prayer, worship, tithing, service to others) into your daily routine instead.
As you prepare for Lent as a family, what are some of your favorite traditions? How do you involve your children?
If you are like me and are new to Lent, here are some great family resources online for you to explore and some great activities to do as a family!
Resources from CatholicMom.com
Lenten Sacrifice Beans Activity
Hot Cross Buns History and Recipe
Legend of the Lent Pretzel and Recipe
You can follow Melanie on twitter @melanie_rainer. She blogs regularly at Grace for the Table.
A Chameleon Misses the Mark for Family Entertainment but Singing Veggies Save the Day!
My family and I are big Johnny Depp and Pirates of the Caribbean fans, so when the previews of RANGO, the Gore Verbinski / Nickelodeon film started last fall, we were anxiously awaiting its release! This past Friday night we went to the movies expecting to see a smartly written, masterfully directed, fun, CGI animated film that the whole family would enjoy.
We were disappointed on most accounts.
The animation was great! In fact, if you are an animation aficionado, you will appreciate the level of expertise displayed in the film’s many action-packed scenes. There’s a great cameo by Clint Eastwood, who was momentarily reprising his The Man with No Name character. This scene was so well animated, I had to remind myself it was a toon I was seeing, and not the actor himself!
If, however, you’re more like me, and story just happens to be king, then you may walk away from Rango a little disappointed.
The first thing I need to address is that this is by no means a kid’s movie. There are curse words that alone make it inappropriate. But even if you were to dub out the “h” and “d” words (to include one scene where a character actually says, “Go to h…”) the violence and adult situational humor was a bit over the top for the youngsters under 10.
To sum up the plot is one sentence, I would say that it’s a story about a lizard who goes on an adventure to find his true self. The story doesn’t arc until way late in the process, so I found myself checking my watch at least three times, thinking he would never find a resolution. Of course, he does find his true self–his destiny– and saves the day. Think the Odyssey-meets a spaghetti western-meets The Big Lebowski, cast entirely with desert creatures. It’s funny, but not meant for the WHOLE family.
The music in Rango was my favorite part! The mariachi owls were pretty awesome–in fact they almost stole the show! They followed Rango’s story as Mexican minstrels, and would inject just the right dose of humor or emotion in perfect intervals. A decent soundtrack possibility if you are so inclined.
I would not recommend RANGO for young kids.
Don’t despair! Just because I may have squashed (ha…get it? squashed?) your plans for a night out at the movies, there’s a fun, new VeggieTales episode that is being released TODAY! VeggieTales Twas the Night Before Easter…
It’s Easter time in Crisper County and cable news reporter Marlee Meade (Petunia Rhubarb) is hunting for a way to help others. On a tip that the old town theater will be shut down, Marlee cooks up a plan to save the stage and make a difference through the power of musical theater. With a cast of costume-clad townies, massive props and a 20-foot robot rabbit – “Up With Bunnies” is hatched! There’s only one thing missing – the star of the show!
When news spreads that singing sensation Cassie Cassava is arriving to perform in her hometown church’s Easter service, Marlee gets worried. Concerned about the competition, she schemes to steal the starlet for her own pageant! But when things go haywire, will it be curtains for Marlee’s dreams – or will she discover the true meaning of Easter.
In true Veggie fashion, there is always a message in their story. The verse used to teach the lesson in this episode is, Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In the end we learn that the best way to help someone is to just simply… help them. Find out what their needs are and then serve them. Bob and Larry learn that while candy and plastic eggs are fun, Jesus and what He did for us is the MOST important aspect of Easter! Because (like one of the songs in the show says…) when we think about Easter, we think about God’s love!
Written and directed by Mike Nawrocki, and starring the usual cast of Veggies (many who are voiced by Phil Vischer), including some older veggie friends we haven’t seen in awhile. This episode also introduces us to a new Veggie friend, Cassie Cassava, voiced by American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle.
Great story and music which will be enjoyed by the whole family! Recommended for all ages!
VeggieTales has teamed up with Christian charity World Vision as part of this particuar campaign. The partnership will focus on building a greater awareness of how families can help care for those in need with opportunities to sign up for child sponsorships through World Vision at WorldVision.org, as well as in person at numerous Christian retail stores across the country.
Twas the Night Before Easter releases today, March 8, at all major retailers and Christian bookstores.
You can follow Lisa on twitter @lisastrnad and she blogs regularly at talkinglikeagirl.
Church Edition Vol. 3 Now Available
The 3rd volume in our What’s in the Bible? Church Edition series is now available!
Check it out here.
In Volume 3, kids will learn about:
- All those crazy rules in Leviticus and the difference between ethical and ritual rules
- The Promised Land and why the Israelites had a 40 year time out before they could enter
- How the Pentateuch sets the stage for God’s Great Rescue Plan and the rest of the Bible
Curriculum highlights:
- Includes 4 weeks of lessons
- Available in physical or digital form
- Completely flexible and customizable
- Perfect for elementary-school aged students
- Each lesson includes 4 videos and 4 small group activities
- Includes mp3s and sing-a-long music videos
- Features online and mobile access to curriculum for leaders
Based on the bestselling new consumer DVD series from VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer, the What’s in the Bible? Church Edition is designed specifically for classroom use.
Some Thoughts About Exodus and Moving Across the Country
I’ve been reading and thinking a lot about the Exodus lately. What must the Israelites have been feeling as they left behind the bondage of slavery, which was all they knew for a freedom they knew nothing about? — A freedom which was desperately desired, divinely promised, diligently prayed for and finally attained.
Celebration, elation, exuberance!!
I just wonder if there were any feelings of ambiguity in the hearts of the Israelites even during this time of deliverance? In the midst of the celebration, could they have been feeling torn, scared, and even a little angry at the change happening all around them?
Last week my family moved across the country from Orange County, CA to Nashville, TN. I’m not comparing my move to that of the Israelites {not exactly, anyway}. I don’t want my California friends thinking I’m comparing Goshen to the OC, because I’m not. I’m merely looking at the hugeness of picking up a family from all that they are familiar with {good, bad or indifferent} and following what appears to be a directive from God.
Exodus is a huge, historical account. It teaches us about liberation, journey and establishing the Covenant. Here’s Chuck Waggin’ singing about it in DVD 2.
[video_vc type="youtube" id="aPaPjM6hLkw"]
Exodus also outlines how the Israelites, even after witnessing MANY miracles at the hand of God, had issues with faith. They doubted they would be delivered from bondage (14:10-12); Once delivered, they continually complained as they journeyed from the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai (15:22-27; 16:1-3; 17:1-7); Then at Mt. Sinai, against God’s specific commands against idolatry, they forged the golden calf and worshiped it (32:1-8).
The question of course is why would God’s chosen people, who had lived through His deliverance of their nation, have faith issues? Not being a Bible teacher, my only rational answer is that they, like us, were imperfect and fallen.
Do you ever wonder why God puts up with us when we act the way we do? We say we trust Him, yet many times find it difficult to follow His will in our daily walk. At least I do.
Exodus teaches us a couple of other things, too. First, God was always faithful to His people! He continually showed them {undeserved} mercy. This book also foreshadows Christ’s own sacrificial act of redemption for His people. The slaughtered Passover lamb’s blood being used on the door post being the one thing that would spare the household from death.
Reading about God’s plan, while knowing how the story comes to fruition through Jesus, is amazing!
I know that my eight year old has had issues with the move. His perceived lack of control in “losing” all things he’s familiar with {even though he has ALREADY been blessed with new friends and better surroundings} has caused him to ramp up some rather unflattering behaviors. But I get it… I’m his mom. I know him. It will take time for him to trust his dad and I in this huge, life-changing event that has just occurred.
Yes, I bet there was a bit of ambiguity in the hearts of those newly delivered Israelites. Trust is hard. But God, the loving Father that He is, knew them. He showed them abundant grace, because He loved them. Thankfully God knows us that well, too!
His plan IS perfect!
Do you have stories about moving, that you’d like to share? Maybe your kids also had trouble adjusting at first, too? What did you do to help them?
You can follow Lisa on twitter @lisastrnad and she blogs regularly at talkinglikeagirl.
