Going to try this tonight

EASTER STORY COOKIES

To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:

1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. (Read John 19:1-3.)

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. (Read John 19:28-30.)

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. (Read John 10:10-11.)

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. (Read Luke 23:27.)

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. (Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.)

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. (Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.)

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. (Read Matt. 27:57-60.)

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. (Read Matt. 27:65-66.)

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were sad when the tomb was sealed. (Read John 16:20 and 22.)

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! Explain that on the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. (Read Matt. 28:1-9)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

He lives. Song from the Lion King

click for music

The Stone is rolled away, The tomb is empty! Rejoyce! He has Risian!

Good articale about the empty tomb

The egg reminds us of the stone, The angels rolled away. "Our Savior, Christ, has risen!" Is what the world should say.  

 Now when YOU see an Easter egg, It's a reminder to spread the word. Tell everyone, throughout your life, Untill all the world has heard,  

 Jesus Christ has risen for us, He paid the price for sin. He gve His blood upon that cross, Our salvation He did win!  

 Author: Carole Snee  

"Mom I want to fast for you"

I hope you enjoyed those last two posts.  The music didn't turn out as well as I would of liked, but you get the sentiment behind them.  I think it was good to read Isaiah 53 and see how God pulls it all together, how he forteld of Jesus being the lamb thaken to the slaugher for our sins and all the other prophecy in that chapter.  Before anyone ever told me that chapter was speaking of Jesus, I had read it and it screemed out to me saying LOOK, see how I have ordained this, and how he fullfilled everything.  Reading that chapter and then reading about Jesus's going to the cross and all that happen before and during and after really ties it together I think.  Tommorrow I probly will post on the Resurectioin to finish off this series of posts in honor of this time of rememberance.  Not that I dont think of him daily and write freely of him in here, but I thought maybe those who would not normaly read that part of me would take a moment to honor the Holiday and maybe be touched.

Last night at the dinner table before we took the kids down to the grandparents Zane was talking about what he was reading in his Bible (yes my boy reads on his own and always comes up with the greatest questions)  He was telling me how he was reading in Danial and about the Beast coming to power.  He said it was some scarry stuff and he isnt sure he wants to keep reading about the end times.  I told him how I understood what he ment, because that stuff freaks me out sometimes too but I also told him we have nothing to fear and that is why God had told us of these things before they happen, so that we can be expecting it.  (Rev.3:1)God told us blessed are those who read and understand the sayings in this book  I told him what I felt I understood about the endtimes and we had a nice dissucsion about it. My son is only 9 and he talkes about these things! Then we was talking about this Sunday and how the service may be special, how some are fasting and praying in prearation and we also told him that we was going to have communion and what that ment.  Then he goes into all these questions about what is fasting and how do you do it and why. Josh explained to him that fasting is obstaing from something, it can be food or something like tv but you pray and draw closer to God during that time you would normaly be doing that activity.  Then on the way to the grandparents Zane was sitting upfront with me and Just as I lite a cig he gives me this look and says "Mom, can you go on a fast for someone else? I want to fast so you will quit smoking" OHhhhhhhhh my eyes welled up with tears you know and I half hugged him as I was driving.  My sweet sweet little boy!  Just another way God is dealing with me.  For alongg time God has told me he wants to give them up, and it is so hard for me. So he enlists my son, the one thing he knows I cant say no to!  I may be going into a fast and praying over that.  If I do, I wont be speaking of it here, because that is one thing, when you are on a fast, it is suposed to be private, and you are not to boast about it.

Jesus going to, on and just after The Cross (taken from all the Gospels)

Matthew 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band [of soldiers].John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged [him].Matthew 27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put [it] upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify [him].Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own [home].28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.John 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put [it] upon hyssop, and put [it] to his mouth.30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished:Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and [that] they might be taken away.32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.35 And he that saw [it] bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.John 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.Matthew 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a greatstone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.Matthew 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make [it] as sure as ye can.66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Isaiah 53 Prophcy regarding Jesus

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.12 Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors

Didn't make the top 5 but happy for those who did

The other day I got an e-mail saying my journal was being considered for the Editors pick and yadayadayada send them a pic.  And I did, and I just asumed I would be on that list, because anyother time I got such an e-mail I was on the list. I was laughing about it because I told Josh it seems when ever I have a big tantrum about him the editors notice. The thought of being on the LIST is what inspired my last entry.  I wanted ppl to see what J~Land ment to me and what it could be for others.  So if anything a really great entry was inspired.  I was thinking maybe they was going for a Christian theme for Easter but looks like the editors went a differnt way.  No big deal.  I admit I am a bit disapointed, but I will shake it off.  There really isn't any rhyme or reason on how they pick for the list, mostly I have noticed they go for a differnt theme each week.  I look each week to see who is up there because sometimes I can find some new intresting journals to add to my ever growing list.  I was very happy for Peachy last week.  She is an awesome writter and has skill with putting down what she thinks. I still need to make my rounds to the list this week and send congrates over to them and see if they are my list worthy lol.

Spring break is almost over! Yaaaaahhh! lol Today I am to take the older ones over to Josh's parents and they will stay the night and take them out shopping for Easter clothes.  This is good cuz I surely cant afford to get them anything new for Easter this month.  We still havent made rent and we are way over drawn at the bank, and 2nd notices have rolled in due next week.  What are we going to do?  I don't know but God always seems to find a way.  It is spring and Josh's work has not picked up as much as it was supossed to.  He worked one day last week and maybe two this week. He did get a side job for a friend from church who also happens to work at his work too (differnt position) also they want him to be up at church as much as possible this week so they all can finish up the improvments they have been working on before Sunday. I really feel bad about my last tantrum in here and must apologies about that part about him never hearing from God.  He has really been seeking him lately and just hasnt made a big show of it to me.  It was so touching the other night, we actualy goton our knees together and prayed together.  There is nothing more special than that, more loving than that.  We defently must make that apart of our regular routine.  God knows that is one of my biggest desires is for my husband to be more of the spirutal leader of our household.  I can see how he has been working on Josh little by little, as he does with me too, and changing us both into new creations.  Praise God!