Resurrection Countdown - Day 5 & 6

Well, we ran non-stop this weekend and had to open eggs 5 & 6 tonight. Due to "Children's Day" (celebrated all around the world - except America??), our church decided to move Easter weekend to this weekend rather than next. We gathered for prayer, breakfast and cleaning of the church on Saturday morning. Then we had the kick off to our "summer" children's program. (During nice weather months, the church ministers to the local street children.) We practiced for Sunday's big program all afternoon; then we had a family from a neighboring city stay with us. The program was excellent. I am so proud of the children, youth and young adults. They shared their faith with boldness. We are also very humbled that some of our neighbors decided to attend. SOOOOOO tonight we found in our eggs a leather whip and a crown of thorns. We read scriptures from John 19:1-15; Matthew 27:26-31; and Matthew 27:29-31. As you can imagine, these are some of the passages describing the sufferings of Christ. Our family thought for the weekend is: What am I willing to sacrifice for the sake of others? What will I lay down so that others can meet the one true God? Because of Him, AT

Resurrection Countdown - Day 4

Throughout the gospels we read over and over the importance that Christ placed on prayer. It was not just a sermon He preached. HIS life is the example. Today we opened the egg containing "praying hands". They are to remind us of the time that Christ spent in the Garden of Gethsemane. Our scripture for the day is Mark 14: 32-42. Christ prayed and asked for the Father's strength. Our family thought for the day is: Am I trying to do things in my own strength? How much time do I devote to prayer? Do I consider time with God the most important part of my day? Remembering YOU today - AT

Resurrection Countdown - Day 3

Today, we opened our third egg. Inside we found a tiny goblet representing the "Passover cup" or the cup from the "Last Supper". Our scripture was Matthew 26:17-19, 26-28 along with Exodus 12:23. Growing up I had the privilege of participating in worship in many different denominations. Always one of my favorite times in each service was the time of remembrance and reflection - The Lord's Supper. (Unless, of course, I happened to be at a Baptist church and then it would be the luck of the draw if I attended at the beginning of the quarter! ... all my Baptist friends will laugh at that!) More than the songs; more than the sermons; more than the special music, stories and media...this time made me think and ask myself the serious/important questions of life. In the local Protestant church we attend currently, The Lord's Supper is offered weekly. Members take it very seriously. It has been personally growing for me to watch them weep, pray and pass on the elements or smile, look on them thankfully/lovingly and rejoice. Our family thought for the day is: Are we drinking from the cup that HE has poured out for us or are we choosing a cheap glass that will never satisfy and quench our hearts' desires? Drinking of His love and goodness today!! AT

Resurrection Countdown - Day 2

Silver Coins - Today we read from Matthew 26:14-16, 46-50; 27:1-5. Jesus was betrayed by Judas for 30 pieces of silver. Doesn't it make us feel better to point our finger at Judas? It is easier to pass judgment on Judas than to consider ourselves as the betrayers of Christ. However, the truth is, Christ went to the cross for each and every one of us. The actual betrayal of Christ for money was only just one sin. The Resurrection Eggs book we are reading says, "And this is what sin is - living in disobedience, or saying "no" to God and His commandments. Sin is when God tells us to go one way, but we go the other" Judas' mistake was that he did not seek forgiveness from the Lord. Christ would have willingly forgiven him just as He forgives us. Our family thought for the day is: Do we have areas we are not being obedient? Are we seeking forgiveness and choosing daily to live in Christ?
May we all choose to walk in FREEDOM today! - AT

Resurrection Countdown - Day 1

If you follow our blog, you will remember last year we did a big countdown with "hands on" activities and wall art. (click here if you want to read the blogs) This year we are having a hard time getting into the "Spring Fever" since it still feels like winter and we are freeeeeeezing because it is past the time for our building to be legally allowed to burn coal.....HOWEVER.....we are trying to make our own fun inside and begin the countdown to the most important holiday of the year! Matt's family sent us "Resurrection Eggs". Many of you may use these. They are plastic eggs that each contains a special "object". Each day we will open an egg and discuss the object and its relevance to the holiday. Today we found a donkey in the egg. The scripture with it was Matthew 21:1-9 This is the account of Christ riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people proclaimed him Prince of Peace. "Hosanna, Hosanna - Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" The text that came with the eggs asks the question, "Did you know that when things seemed to be going well for Jesus, it was easier for people to love and follow him? But when the Jewish leaders challenged Jesus by saying He was not the Son of God, the people began to be afraid." Our family thought for the day is: 1) When is it hard for me to follow Christ? 2) When should I proclaim, "Blessed is He"? May you be richly blessed today and find true peace that only comes from Christ. AT

the impact of one...

Some of you may remember a blog that I wrote when we first arrived on the field about an incident at a grocery store . (click here if you want to read) At the end of the blog, I shared that God lead us to a new store with a helpful butcher and friendly attendants. The name of the store was Kiler. Sounds strange in English, but it is music to my ears right now because we are getting a Kiler in my current city....well, not just in my city, I can see it from my kitchen window!!! I am SUPER EXCITED!!! We have watched for several weeks now in anxious anticipation, and finally, they announced its opening! I know it is the little things in life that make me overjoyed these days (like the 1 Dr. Pepper I still have in my fridge sent from the terrific Mrs. Shifflette), but why when I have a perfectly good grocery store, am I so thrilled about Kiler? I think it comes down to relationships. Kiler was the first place overseas that I felt welcomed and wanted. I felt safe and comfortable inside the store, and despite my pitiful language, I was able to communicate. Now, before I start singing the theme song to "Cheers" (okay, too late), I do realize that my experience at this new Kiler may be totally different. I could actually hate the store and never shop there. Why? Because really, my excitement about the store is about the friends that I had and hope to have again. Isn't it amazing the impact that we have on the people around us!! Over the weekend, our apartment was put on the market and sold all in one day. Evidently, our apartment owner has some debt he wants to pay off and decided to sell our flat to a business aquaintance. Our doorman gave us 45 min. notice to have the apartment ready for our owner to show. As it turns out, the man that bought the apartment "really liked us". The kids and I mostly stayed out of the way, as it was all men looking at the apartment, but Matt was able to chit/chat with the new owner. He was impressed that we have all "learned the language" (are learning I would say!!) He also asked if we knew a man named "E". "E" was an American here doing the "main thing". He has been back in the States a number of years, but the crazy thing is this was not the first time someone has asked us about him. I know we are one of 4 foreign families in a city of 1.5 million so we kind-of stick out, but to come across people that have met this other foreigner seems strange....well, no it seems like a God thing doesn't it!! We have no idea what "E" said to our new landlord. He said enough to have made an impression, and from what we know of his legacy he shared the main thing everywhere he went. Wow, he will likely never know the impact he made on this land, but PTL he was here before us paving the way. May we continue in his footsteps! We pray God continues to give us those "chance" encounters. Throwing out the seed, watering and harvesting....AT

Which Bible Should I Read?

I have always found this question to be an interesting one. I know it is highly debated among English readers and biblical scholars. As mentioned in a previous post, (click here) I do have an opinion that I will detail out for you, but my short answer is, "Read ALL of them." It has been an almost 20 year journey, but I think that I have finally found a peace. (Some of you know I can be really slow and hard headed!) Starting in my pre-teen years, I attended a very conservative/traditional church. The King James Version or the NKJV were the approved/acceptable copies to use. I love the poetry and rhythm of these versions. I find the KJV & NKJV easier to memorize because of their literary beauty. I use these often with my kids during school. However, when I moved into my college years, the "in thing" became the New International Version. To tell you the truth, despite the fact that this is probably the most widely used version in America right now, and I have studied quite a bit from it, I have never read it through in its entirety. It has never really appealed to me to do so, but I am putting it on my "need to do" list simply for the fact that I don't want to limit God. Like most people, my university years were a time when many things in life were debated. I listened to strong opinions on the inaccuracies of the NIV and in turn the stanch opinions on the "out datedness" of the KJV. These debates led me to begin researching "translations verses commentaries". Translations meaning versions of the Bible that more accurately state what was originally written. Commentaries being versions of the Bible that expound on the scriptures in an effort to make them 1) more readable in common English, 2) culturally connected and 3) often more "devotion like" leading a person to deeper meditation. Now, that being said, I don't want to offend anyone by taking individual versions and giving my opinion on which of the 2 categories each falls because my true opinion is that it is not "that important". It is my goal to read them all. By the end of my college years, I ditched the hype around the NIV & KJV and I found myself with a copy of the New American Standard. I truly love the wording in this version. I find it easy to read and yet it challenges me to think and pray. I used my first copy until I had so much highlighted and written in the margins it was literally falling apart in sections. The NAS is still the version that I use most. I am comfortable with it, and I don't know how else to describe it but that it "suits" me. I think that it is important to find a copy of God's word that you hunger to read, you delight in spending time in and you can be faithful to know well. I also feel strongly that God desires to speak to us daily. We need to be constantly growing. We should never be "content" with where we are in our spiritual lives. What I mean by that is that we should always want "more of Him". I recognize that each person will reach for that "more" differently because we all "connect" with Him differently. I believe that we can hear, feel, smell, see, taste and know God. Reading His Word falls more in the column of "knowing" Him. Why would I want to limit myself to simply one version of knowing HIM? Again, I do not want to debate accuracy. I think that if you are debating theology, making a family or a personal mission statement, needing hard facts with wording, time, etc., you should go to "original texts". I am simply throwing the idea out there that perhaps reading multiple translations and commentaries could widen my understanding and even allow God to speak new truth into my life. (i.e. lead me down the path of KNOWING HIM MORE )I am finding it to be true in my life this year because I have started reading a copy of scriptures outside of my native tongue. I read a section in English and then the same section in Turkish. Then during my daily time with my tutor I read and talk about what God is teaching me. It has been wonderful to look at "new words" and study passages in detail. Recently, during a prayer time with Matt's mom and sister, we sang the old hymn, "More About Jesus". (Why is it as Baptists that we always skip the 3rd verse? They are usually SOOO good!) The 3rd verse of this hymn says, "More about Jesus in his Word, Holding communion with my Lord; Hearing his voice in every line, Making each faithful saying mine." Yes, this is what I want: Chorus = "More, more about Jesus, More, more about Jesus; More of his saving fullness see, More of his love who died for me." Open to reading them ALLLL! AT