Remembrance and Celebration - Day 9

Matthew 27:34 "they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink."(NAS) Some translations say vinegar instead of wine. I have never studied biblical languages or theology, but I have heard it said that "gall" refers to anything bitter. It was most likely myrrh, but Matthew possibly didn't want to write that because he had already written that myrrh was a gift to Jesus as a child - and this was NO gift. This was mean spirited and torturous. Today, I put vinegar on a sponge and had the kids taste it. We talked about times when we have been really tired. (yard work; a day at Six Flags!; long days of travel; the heat of the summer) We discussed that our bodies need water and how sweet water tastes when we are really thirsty. However, we spent most of our time contemplating what it means to have mercy on others. How can we practice mercy with each other, our fellow American friends, our local friends, the people in our neighborhood and the countless homeless & beggars that we see everyday? In the sermon on the Mount, Christ teaches us that: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted; Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth; Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for the shall be satisfied; Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy; Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God; Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God...." (Matthew 5:3-9) Where do we receive satisfaction? Christ not only tells us but shows us in His life and death that satisfaction comes from a hunger and thirst for righteousness. How do we receive mercy....by being people that show mercy. May we be found today walking in light of what we have learned. AT

Remembrance and Celebration - Day 8

I am reminded today of the old hymn, "The Nail-Scarred Hand" by B.B. McKinney For some reason it came to mind today as I was reading and meditating on the scriptures for this lesson. I couldn't recall the full melody or words to the song, but what I remembered kept playing over and over in my mind. I hope the words minister to you as you read...Verses: Have you failed in you plan of your storm tossed life? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; Are you weary and worn from its toil and strife? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand (2) Are you walking a long thro' the shadows dim? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; Christ will comfort your heart, put your trust in him, Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; (3) Would you follow the will of the risen Lord? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; Would you live in the light of his blessed Word? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; (4) Is your soul burdened down with its load of sin? Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; Throw your heart open wide, let the Savior in, Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand; (refrain) Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand, Place you hand in the nail-scarred hand; He will keep to the end, he's your dearest friend, Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand. (Click here to listen if you are not familiar with this chorus.) The passages of scripture for today are: John 19:18, 37 & John 20:25-29 In the country where we live, many people believe that Jesus did not really die. They believe that He was replaced with someone else. Someone else had to carry out the "punishment" for which Jesus was convicted. Praise the Father that in his amazing plan He allowed Christ to show himself, fellowship and minister to over 500 people in His ressurected body. He still bares the nail-scarred hands/feet and sword pierced side as proof that He truly choose to suffer and die the painful death of the cross. Today, the kids held nails, felt the sharp points and pondered the pain of the cross. We taped the nails on a paper cross as our physical reminder on our count down to Resurrection Sunday. AT

Remembrance and Celebration - Day 7

Today was another sobering reminder of the humiliation that Christ suffered on our behalf. We talked about how Christ fulfilled all of the prophesies from the Old Testament. John 19:23 "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be'; this was to fulfill the scripture: 'They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.'" The kids cut out garments from an old sheet. We rolled dice and talked about "casting lots". Remembering and Celebrating what the Savior did for Us - AT

Remembrance and Celebration - Day 6

John 19:2 "And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him." This is really one of the passages that brings me to tears. For some reason knowing that Jesus suffered the pain of the cross is less difficult for me to grasp than knowing that Chist was mocked, spit upon, taunted, disgraced, etc. etc. I rejoice in knowing that the soldiers may have placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head, but HE choose to suffer for us and He has been exhaulted: "He humbled Himself (Man DID NOT humble Him - He willingly submitted to the Father's plan!) by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." WOW! In that I rejoice; however, I am also convicted again over my need to be a light and witness to those around me. Today, we made crowns of thorns and discussed that we too are guilty of sin. Christ was disgraced, suffered and died for all of mankind - our family included. We individually need to humble ourselves, confess and repent of our sins and profess Him as Savior and Lord. AT

Remembrance and Celebration - Day 5

Matthew 16:24-25 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'" Wow, that's a pretty stiff instruction! Luke records Christ's comand as: in order to be Christ's "disciple" we must take up our cross and follow Him. What does it mean to take up our "cross"? What does it mean to be a true disciple? John 19:17 tells us that Jesus carried the cross. He did not give us an instruction that He Himself did not do. He willingly boar the cross. He took on its physical, spiritual and emotional suffering. Why?...Because, He knew that it was the only way for us to be in right relationship with the Father. He knew that man was sinful with no hope of salvation. Christ's act of carrying the cross for us was fully complete and fully satisfied the Father's wrath against sinful man. Why then are we told to carry a cross? We are not trying to work to gain salvation. Chist is all sufficient. Our cross is one of obedience and witness. The cross symbolizes pain and suffering. We are to deny ourselves and take up OUR cross. As disciples (followers of Christ), we are all called to the same things (denying ourselves, following Him, sharing the gospel, etc.); however, my cross is different than yours. How we live out our individual callings looks different for each believer. Some are called to go to another country; some are called to full-time ministry in their home country; some are called as lay people faithfully being lights in their businesses, families and neighborhoods......the list goes on!! He has a master plan for each of us and no one plan is greater or more significant than another. I am so thankful that he chooses to use us. I praise Him that where He calls us - He has already gone before us. He does not give us more than we can endure. Our "cross" will challenge us; we are promised suffering; we are promised heartache; and often we will feel weary under its load. However, as His disciples carrying our cross is also where He grows us; teaches us; and reveals more of Himself to us. Under this burden is where we will find peace and hope. Choosing daily to pick up my cross and follow Him, AT

Remembrance and Celebration - Day 4

Matthew 27:3-10 - The betrayal of Jesus can be a hard subject to discuss with children. However, it is a good teaching opportunity on seeking true forgiveness. It is normal for a person to "feel sorry" after they have been "caught" doing something wrong, but most often this a "sorry" that they did not get away with what they had done or that their actions did not end up benefiting them. Most of the time the feeling of being sorry is not true regret or repentance over actions or attitudes. It says in the book of Matthew that Judas "felt remorse". Judas is quoted as even going so far as to say, "I have sinned". However, he never sought forgiveness. Tonight, as a family, we decided to write down areas in our lives in which have betrayed or sinned against God and had not yet asked for forgiveness. After, we each made our own list, we prayed individually; colored over our sins with red and then cut out a cross with the paper. I am so thankful that because of the shed blood of Christ our hearts and lives are made clean. "What can wash away my sin - Nothing but the blood of Jesus!" AT

Remembrance and Celebration - Day 3

Matthew 26:17-28 - Today we are reading and discussing the Passover and the Last Supper that Christ had with His disciples. What a powerful time as Christ clearly laid out for them what the coming days were to look like. I wonder how many times I hear the Lord speaking but I am just not listening to what He is really saying. I wish that I had the faith of Samuel to simply say, "Speak Lord for your servant is listening". (1Sam.3:10) Most of the times I confess I say, "speak Lord because I need an answer, and I have to move on to the next thing in my day in 15 minutes." I know I need to be diligent to carve out time in my morning to simply be quiet before the Lord and listen. I need to be spending more time in simply worshiping God for who He is and for all that He has done. I know in times past that it has been easier for me to hear and understand the voice of the Lord because I have been continuously cultivating a heart of thankfulness and contentment. May it be that this season of Remembrance and Celebration bring me back to simply being quiet before the Lord and reflecting on His goodness! Today, we used playdough to "recreate" our idea of what the Last Supper might have looked like. As we did this, we discussed Scripture's instructions that were given to us to continue remembering Christ's sacrifice through "The Lord's Supper"/Communion. Blessings to you today as you get in a listening posture before the Lord. AT