Children's Easter...well and Grown ups too :D

To start out this time of Lent and leading up to Christ's Ressurrection, here are some of my personal recommendations for children's and adult easter books to read along with some books that I've heard can be of use.

Kids books/dvds

Books/dvds for Grown ups



40 days

Drawn to the aticipation of Celebrating Christ Jesus' Death and Ressurection, LENT is a time to reflect upon many things and drive one's focus primarily on Jesus the Lord. 

Lent lasts for 40 days- like the symbol of Jesus spending 40 days in the desert, and Israel waiting 40 years in the desert.  We are given the opportunity to turn our daily focus of ME into a daily focus of the RISEN SAVIOUR

Enjoy this music video focusing on the 40 days.

Note:  Lent starts this week if you want to participate.

Journey that Helps you grow

We are all on a journey

a journey that Helps you grow

so you may know

Shalom

But where does it start

in the heart?

yes indeed

please heed

what the Creator

is saying to you.

Follow Him

climb that mountain

and maintain

the stamina

to go on

Keep climbing up

up to the top

and when he says stop

you listen again

crawl through that valley

if He says so

because He goes

too

And in this journey high and low

you know

that Shalom

you seek it

you find it

in the LORD.

So the journey you take

is the peace you make

grow more

as you

journey more

And your ventures through thick and thin

lets you begin

the outward spiraling of PEACE

and you grow

as you KNOW

the LORD more and more each day

A Memory to share

A memory to share... we love sharing about our past, or cool adventures we've been on.  As I sat here thinking of what this BAREFOOT CHILD would share, I thought of nothing... but earlier this evening I was talking with a girl in my church that's about 7 or 8. 

She started telling me cool stories of her times on vacation, and randomly jumped into exciting details about what happened at school last week.  She mentioned something about P.E. and I asked if she would participate in "field days" (where classes are teams and there are fun games all day long during the school day.).  she said yes and with that I told her I used to also.  She got excited and we started sharing the games that we would participate along with other great memories.

We had a great conversation!  And what was fun about it is that we both got to share our memories and got excited talking about it.

Share a MEMORY with someone!  Don't just tell a memory, but share, ask what their similar memory was.

I'm not who I was

This is a great expression of how we feel after saying YES to the LORD and declaring our change.

We are still our same person, but at the same time we have been changed... we have been transformed.

Sometimes others around don't realize that change... maybe you have wronged somebody long ago and now you have changed.  Brandon Heath expresses situations such as these in his song.. saying "I wish you could see me now, you know I'm not who I was"

Enjoy... and comment your thoughts

I'm Not Who I Was by: Brandon Heath

Connect with Creation

There is this app I have on my phone called "Creation Moments". I came across it on the radio on 89.7 Power FM and there is a gentleman, Ein Taylor, who talks about nature, its mulecular structure, space, why girrafes have long necks, the language of bugs, the generousity of God through his designed creation, etc..  Its amazing the many things we don't know.  From the time we walk outside and then get in our cars and drive to work, or shopping.  There are things you see in your own backyard that are happening to glorify God, and functioning to bless you.

I say we start now by "connecting with creation". (and please don't take this out of context)  When you sip on your coffee, go on your porch and watch the sunrise, thank your Creator for His splendor.  When you walk through a park, look at how the trees provide shade for you, fruit for you, and homes for the birds and squirells.  When you take an evening walk or drive, glance at the stars and ponder on the thought that the stars are endless, and God placed them in a certain pattern to direct us with time, harvests, and direction.

I could go on.  Connect with HIS creation and say thank you. Enjoy it!

1,000 piece Puzzles

Growing up, it was me, my sister, and my grandmother at home.  When my grandmother was at work, my sister and I would play "queen and servant" or pass notes from underneath the door to each other like it was a secret or something (don't ask).  But when it was all three of us, we would have time mostly on the weekends if possible and take time to put together a 1,000 piece puzzle, it was more like a billion piece puzzle to me... maybe because I was young.

We would group the colors together, and then we would group the edges together.  My favorite thing abou this time is that we would just sit in quietness working together on a project with the same end set goals.  Another thing I loved was that we could interact with each other and not have to wait until commercials to talk.

Maybe we incorporate something "unplugged" with our families.....