Preparing Your Heart For Easter!!



It has a been awhile, but I am glad that I am able to post something.  I pray that you are blessed and encouraged by it.

This is one of the most favorite times of the year for me and my family, along with Christmas. To remember

what our Lord and savior did for us, He gave His life for us so that we should not perish but have everlasting life {John 3:16}.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

This is also a great time to reach out to the unsaved in our lives. Invite them to church, they are usually more open to going on Easter and Christmas. Be in prayer about who the Lord would have you invite to church.

A few things we try to do every year is give up something until Easter, {ie..tv, computer, social media, hobby, something that maybe takes away your focus from God}. Yes, it can be hard, but you can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives you strength -Phil 4:13. It is a way to prepare our hearts in rememberance of Jesus Death and Resurrection for us. Jesus gave His life for us, it is the least my family can do during this time. Sometimes we extend the lent until after Easter, but be in prayer about that and see if that is what He has for you and your family. During this time we are remembering the lowest points of sin and the highest peaks of what God has done for us through Jesus. We have a way, the only way, to the Father through Jesus. That's worth celebrating!

During Holy Week, the week before Easter Sunday, we will read every day {if we can} the events that took place during Holy week. We were blessed a couple years back, by some precious friends, with a book called "He is Alive". It's a great book that recounts the last days of Jesus on earth and the first days after His resurrection. It has such beautiful captivating illustrations, it's so-real. In reading the scriptures and reading the book it helps my children to develop a deeper understanding of the truth that Jesus is Alive!! And He is alive in us and because of that, we can live victoriously!!! And spread His love to others. Amen!!

Here is what our reading for Holy Week looks like, we also gather the items{optional} so that it's more hands on:

HOLY WEEK

Sunday: Palm Sunday - Matthew 21. A palm branch.
Monday: Cleansing the temple - Mark 11. A whip.
Tuesday: Jesus anointed - John 12. A small beaded box.
Wednesday: Judas plots - Matthew 26. A bag with silver coins.
Thursday: The Last Supper - Luke 22. A loaf of bread and a cup.
Friday: Crucifixion - Luke 23. A cross.
Saturday: Mystery Saturday - I Peter 3:18-22. No ornament.
Sunday: HE IS RISEN! - Mark 16. A clay tomb - empty.
Monday: The marriage supper of the Lamb - Revelation 19. A placemat with golf silverware.

I would have loved to have started the 42 days before, but I was not lead to do so. I do have the scriptures for the 42 days, if you would like for me to send them to you just leave me a comment and your email address.

During Holy Week we also attend our church services starting with Palm Sunday, Midweek Svc, Good Friday Service and Easter Sunday. Our Pastor does amazing services that prepare our hearts throughout the whole week leading up to Easter. I strongly encourage you to attend any services your church offers.

A few recipes we have used throughout the years to also celebrate. One is Resurrection Rolls, it has a great meaning behind it, not only the making of it but that it symbolizes what He did. See below also I found this video {click on video <---}that explains how to make these too.

Ingredients:

1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough
8 large marshmallows
Melted butter
Cinnamon
Sugar

Directions:
Give each child one triangle shaped section of crescent roll. This represents the tomb.
Each child takes one marshmallow which represents the body of Christ.
Dip the marshmallow in the butter and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture. This represents the oils and spices the body was anointed with upon burial.
Lay the marshmallow on the dough and carefully wrap it around the marshmallow.
Make sure all seams are pinched together well. (Otherwise the marshmallow will "ooze" out of the seams)
Bake according to package directions.
Cool.
Break open the tomb and the body of Christ is no longer there!!
Celebrate God's love!

This is a fun way to share the resurrection with your children. We will eat these Easter Morning before church. Yummy!! Woman Living Well has shared this recipe on her sight as well with pics, so you can get an idea of what to do. I'm a visual person and need visuals.

Another Recipe that I will be trying this year, that I didn't get to last year, is the Easter Story Resurrection Cookies. It has a lesson that goes along with it with scriptures, these you make the night before. Go to Easy Fun School to check out the full story and recipe. Let me know how you like it. I love your comments by the way.

Another way to reach out is have a Resurrection Egg Hunt at your house or a park and invite family, friends, neighbors {Prayerfully of course}. It's the alternative to the Secular Egg Hunting, there is meaning behind it. You can make your own resurrection eggs or by one at your local store, I've seen them at craft stores too. Check out Easy Fun School to make your own and watch this video she also explains it really well at Cullens ABC's. I'm a DIYer so this is always fun for me and the kids every year to get them ready. I've been using this for a couple of years now, great for your Sunday School Class too {of course get permission first}.

I pray this will bless you. These are just some of our family traditions that we do every year that help to draw us closer and get a better understanding of what Jesus did for us. Feel free to use these, if you feel lead to do so. 

May the Lord bless you and keep and make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.

God Bless You, and I pray that you and your family have a blessed Easter.

It's not about the Easter Bunny, it's about JESUS.......He is Risen.......He is Risen indeed!!!

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