Desire for Acceptance

I think the desire to belong is inherent to human nature.  Likewise, feeling like we don't belong can be devastating.  This week I experienced such a devastating blow. In a matter of minutes, a few critical comments piled up into an insurmountable pile of emotional baggage, leaving me to feel unwelcome where I once felt welcome, unaccepted where I once felt accepted, and unloved where I once felt loved.  

Most people possess a stronger sense of determination to fight, but, in the presence of this emotional enemy, I completely wilted. I was so taken aback when heretofore friends turned to seeming foes that I quickly spiraled downward into a very deep slough. The situation went over and over in my mind again and again, with heightened pain at each recurrence. It was as if I could not think of anything else. I had trouble accomplishing even the basic tasks necessary to maintain my household, like cooking, cleaning, and laundry.  I frequently snuck away to my bathroom to cry hoping my kids wouldn't notice my red swollen eyes and tear-stained cheeks. I lost interest in things that I typically enjoy like running or taking my kids to the park and threw the diet I ordinarily follow so conscientiously out the window. Whenever David was available, I took advantage of the opportunity to "nap" or rather to lay in bed crying bitterly until I finally fell asleep. Feeling more and more like the situation was completely hopeless, I began to protect myself from any more pain by withdrawing more and more from others.

Needless to say, it was very difficult for me to go to church today. I was such a mess of pain and confusion, but I've pretty much mastered the art of disguise over the years. I was pretty much able to keep the sermon at arm's length until the point of application.  Pastor Peter asked us to reflect on what the resurrection means for us. He shared how he had moved around so much and never belonged anywhere until he met Christ. Then, he knew where he belonged: he had become a citizen of heaven. Suddenly, I realized that the agony and torment I had been experiencing were because I was looking for acceptance in the wrong place. When I put my faith in Christ, he transferred me from the kingdom of this earth to the kingdom of heaven. I do belong in Christ's kingdom, and He will never leave me or forsake me. 

I am not placing my hope in the approval of others. Instead, I am placing all my hope in the inheritance described in 1 Peter 1: 3-5:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

And, lastly, I just want to close with the words of a praise song that came to mind as I was reflecting on this desire for acceptance today:

I will change your name 

You shall no longer be called

Wounded, outcast 

Lonely or afraid

I will change your name

Your new name shall be 

Confidence, joyfulness 

Overcoming one 

Faithfulness, friend of God 

One who seeks my face.

Happy Easter!

Easter is THE holiday for Christians. Jesus left his home in heaven and came to live on this earth for one singular purpose: the cross. Jesus, though he did no wrong, willingly went to the cross where he experienced the full wrath of God in body and in soul. Jesus suffered agony and torment on the cross, God's punishment for sinners, for those who think, do, and say what is wrong and those who fail to think, fail to do, and fail to say what is right. Jesus' death on the cross was to pay the penalty due us for our sins against a pure and holy and just God. After Jesus died, they took his body and anointed it with oil and spices and placed it in a tomb with a stone covering the opening. Three days later, the stone was rolled away and Jesus' body was no longer there. An angel declared, "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." After that, Jesus appeared to many of his followers.

Faith in Jesus' death and resurrection in our place is the basis for our salvation from our sins. It is what brings us back into fellowship with God. It is the source of the hope that Christians have of one day being reunited with Christ in Heaven. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:16-19,

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who have also fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

For this reason, we have tried over the years to establish meaningful Easter traditions to celebrate the salvation and hope that Jesus accomplished for those who trust in Him by His death and resurrection.  I pray that one day each of my children will come to trust in Jesus savingly and live their lives to bring Him glory!

Scriptural Stations of the Cross

Two problems with this picture: (1) Josiah refused to be in it and (2) these boys move too much and too fast!

To go over the Scriptural Stations of the Cross, I colored these little wooden crosses with Sharpies and glued the name of one of the stations on the front. On the back, I wrote the Scriptural reference. We went through all fourteen stations in one sitting.  Yes, that was kind of difficult for the little ones who can't/won't sit still for very long.  Note to self: next year, spread this out over two weeks.

The stations are as follows:

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane 
2. Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested 
3. Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin 
4. Jesus is denied by Peter 
5. Jesus is judged by Pontius Pilate 
6. Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns 
7. Jesus bears the cross 
8. Jesus is helped to bear the cross 
9. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem 
10. Jesus is crucified 
11. Jesus promises his kingdom to the thief 
12. Jesus speaks to his mother and John 
13. Jesus dies on the cross 
14. Jesus is placed in the tomb

Resurrection Eggs

My not very impressive resurrection eggs.

Resurrection eggs are pretty easy to pull off.  I just got 12 plastic Easter eggs from the store and filled them with the symbols collected from around the house.  I have the kids take turns opening an egg and discuss the account of Jesus' death and resurrection using the following symbols and Scriptures:

1. Bread (Matthew 26:26)
2. Silver Coins (Matthew 26:14-15)
3. Purple Cloth (Mark 15:17)
4. Thorns (Matthew 27:29)
5. Piece of Rope (Mark 15:15)
6. Cross (John 19:17-18a)
7. Nails (John 20:25b)
8. Sign (Luke 23:38)
9. Sponge (Matthew 27:48)
10. Spear (John 19:34)
11. Rock (Matthew 27:59-60)
12. Nothing (Matthew 28:6) 

Resurrection Rolls

Five kids eagerly anticipating resurrection rolls!

 

I think this is pretty much my kids' favorite Easter activity.  It's really easy and impressive, especially for preschoolers.  Mind you, this is the only time of year that you will find crescent rolls and marshmallows in my house.  Separate and unroll the crescent rolls onto a baking sheet.  This is the tomb.  Take a marshmallow, which represents Jesus' body, and roll it in butter and then a cinnamon-sugar mixture.  You just anointed Jesus' body with oil and spices.  Then place the anointed Jesus (a.k.a. cinnamon-sugary marshmallow) in the tomb (a.k.a. crescent roll) and wrap it up.  Be sure to seal the edges really well or the lesson will backfire.  Bake the rolls according to the directions on the package.  While baking, the marshmallow will melt inside the roll.  After the rolls have cooled a little, you can break one open and the kids will be shocked to find Jesus' body is no longer there!  This is a very illustrative lesson to explain that Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb because he went to Heaven.

Devotional with Magnets

Josiah playing with the magnets!

The last activity that I did with kids in anticipation of Easter Sunday is a six-day devotional activity published by a local church.  A friend gave this to me before Easter two years ago.  Each day, we read a devotional and place a magnet on the board which forms the cross you see in the picture above.  The topics of the devotions are:

1. Praise (Matthew 21:6-10)
2. Service (John 13:1-20)
3. Prayer (Mark 14:32-35)
4. Love (John 3:16)
5. Sacrifice (Luke 23:33-46)
6. Victory (Matthew 28:1-10)

I really like this devotional material because I feel like the other activities focus on historical facts, but this devotional material is intended to affect the heart, as I think is evident from the topics.  For more information, please contact Compass Bible Church.