The Looks

As this Ressurection Day approaches, I have received some looks.  They are confused looks.  Looks of wonder and shock.  Looks that say, "what kind of mother are you?"  But, I don't care.  Let them say what they want.  But this is the biggest day of the year and I'm not going to puff it into something that it isn't or confuse my kids knowledge and belief of everything I have taught them all year long. 

What I speak of is the hunting of eggs and the Easter Bunny's visit to our house.  I have not actively sought a public place to seek for eggs.  I have not pulled out the plactic replicas for them to hide and hunt.  We haven't even dyed eggs....yet.  (It may happen tomorrow morning before church.)  But again, we will do real eggs, not the plastic, no-new-life kind.  There was no posing with the Easter Buuny.  It's pagan and completely unrelated to Christianity and what Christ did for us on the cross.

Now that being said, the boys did have a "hunt" at school which I found out was not really all that exciting and was more educational than anything.   And, last night we were invited to my sister's sister-in-law's house and had a bit of fun with finding eggs.   Like I said, we may have time to dye some tomorrow, but be assured we will discuss the fact that it is like the tomb that Jesus was laid in, but after 3 days, he was risen and had new life. 

I also made them Easter baskets, but they will know that the contents were from Mom and Dad and Grandmama, but will be reminded that all things come from Him.  To add a bit more fun to the mix, each kid has a rubbery rabbit at their favorite place on the island which is pointing to where the basket is hidden.

Contents:
A lamb cookie: to remind them that Jesus was our sacrificial lamb.  Rev. 5:12
 In a loud voice they sang:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"

Flip-flops and a foam sword:  To arm ourselves in His righteousness.  (ok, so flip-flops aren't that protective, but they needed them.)  Eph. 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Monogram stamp:  because He personally prayed for you and me and gave His life so that we may be saved.  Just try substituting your own name for the  "thems and theys" in the next passage. 
 
John 17:20-26  My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
 
Isaiah 53:5   But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

A slinky- for faith (this is a bit of a "stretch")  Matt. 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

And also because he strecthed his arms to reform us.  Luke 23:44-46  It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

And the token plastic egg filled with M&Ms: because his love for us is so sweet and we should share it with others. I John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

The God-incidence was, I just went to Target and looked in their dollar bin for stuff.  This is what I came out with with nothing in mind.  It was a lesson for me and He gave it to me along with the second slinky verse from my BSF friend, Becky. 

Praise God for giving us His Son that we may have eternal life.