A Wee Little Man

  

Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

~Psalms 2:8 NKJV

"Father, would you plant a sycamore tree along the road from Jericho? There will be a man who will need that tree in a few years."

"Yes, my Son. It is done."

Fifty years later - A small man scurried about preparing to leave his house. All the money needed to be secured. The expensive goods needed to be hidden. All the while, he wondered how he, the shortest man in town, would be able to hear and see the great Teacher if he were trapped in the middle of the noisy moving crowd. Perhaps if he went ahead of the crowd, he would be able to see Jesus as He led the crowd out of town. 

Hurrying down the road, he noticed an old sycamore tree. Its heart-shaped leaves were already large. If he climbed the tree, the leaves would hide him from the crowd. They despised him anyway. He gained his riches from their taxes. Perhaps, climbing up the tree would be his best option. He would be able to see without being seen. 

As he settled in, the wasps annoyed him. He knew the figs drew the wasps needed to prick the fruit, allowing them to ripen. Otherwise, they were inedible. Still, he swatted. Didn't they know he wasn't a fig? There, just up the road, Jesus led the raucous crowd. He spoke to the people listening intently until the Pharisees interrupted with their questions. Jesus was drawing nearer. Now He stopped. Jesus looked up with a smile. Suddenly, the man felt very exposed. 

"Zacchaeus, come down. I want to go to your house today. " 

He nearly fell scrambling down the slick trunk. "You want to go to my house? Come, come this way. It's only a short distance."

The crowd murmured. They watched in shock that Jesus would go to the house of a sinner like Zacchaeus. He was a thief and a robber. "Jesus doesn't know what He is doing. He can't be the Messiah if he keeps company with a tax collector."  Many shook their heads in disbelief, but they followed Jesus to Zacchaeus's house. 

Zacchaeus's heart was pricked. He knew he didn't deserve to have Jesus in his home. But he knew Jesus cared about him. He had robbed many people and needed to be forgiven. He wanted to change his ways. "Jesus, I want to give half my goods to the poor. If I have wronged anyone, I will give them back four times what I have taken." 

Jesus looked about at the people. “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Each time Zacchaeus passed the sycamore tree on his way to the town, he looked up. "Thank you, Father, for planting this tree here just for me."

Have you ever felt like you were hiding from God? Zacchaeus wasn't the only one. Remember Adam and Eve tried to make clothes with fig leaves. Have you ever felt God pricking your heart so you could turn from your bitter sin and ripen into the sweet Christian Jesus wants you to be? 

Have you ever thought how Jesus planned to get the message of salvation to you? How he planned for everything to be in place at the right time just for you? We've all been Zacchaeus at some point. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for planning every situation for my salvation. May I continually thank you for the day you pricked my heart and brought salvation to my house. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

Have you ever climbed a sycamore tree? My grandmother called the tree a sycamine. I thought it was just her old-fashioned English, but when I did a little research through Bible Study Tools, it turns out that Zacchaeus's sycamore tree was actually a sycamine. It grows much like a fig tree in the Middle East and has inedible fruit unless the fruit is pricked. 

Use the Bible Study Tools link above to help you find out more about Sycamore trees and what trees we have that are similar. It could be you have eaten a fruit pricked by a wasp. I've eaten the fruit from a tree in my backyard. It's pretty tasty. 

Do you know the song "Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man"? Follow the link to hear the Cedarmont kids sing it on YouTube.

Heroes of 1776

 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. !II Chronicles 7:14

This year we celebrate 250 years of our nation, but how much do we know?

I recently watched an interview with Trey Gowdy and Judge Neil Gorsuch. Judge Gorsuch has researched the men and women who were instrumental in writing our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. He wrote Heroes of 1776 for children so they might know, be encouraged, and have the courage to be citizens our founders would be proud of.

Judge Gorsuch declares that often people confuse the Declaration of Independence with the Constitution. They are two separate entities, each with a special purpose. The Declaration of Independence focuses on the aspirations of the declaration: inalienable rights, created equal, and the right to rule ourselves. The writers declared these were given by God, and among those rights were life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Constitution is the separation of powers between the state and the Federal Government.

As the men met in Philadelphia to discuss the Declaration, they discussed not only the contents but also who should write the document. John Adams went to Thomas Jefferson to ask him to write. Jefferson locked himself away in a rented room for two weeks, writing the challenge to our forefathers and to us to make a better life for ourselves and our families. That's the true pursuit of happiness. Though the document was agreed upon in July, the signing did not take place until August 2, 1776.

After the writing, the document needed to be published and distributed to all the colonies to gain the endorsement of the populace. A trusted publisher who always signed publications, M.K. Goddard, was asked to print the Declaration of Independence. At the bottom, she wrote, Mary Katherine Goddard. The publisher was a woman! She, along with the signers, was willing to risk her life. The signers knew this document could cost them, and their families their livelihoods, their fortunes, and their very lives.

Judge Gorsuch poses challenges and questions to his readers as we celebrate and reflect on our nation's 250th birthday. How will we protect and preserve what has been bequeathed to us? Only 40% of the colonists wanted independence. Another 20-30% were loyalists. The rest stood on the sideline and watched to see who would win. Judge Gorsuch's other question is, are we willing to pay the price for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Just what would that cost be? To listen to the full interview, visit: https://radio.foxnews.com/podcast/trey-gowdy/

I've visited many of the Revolutionary battlefields in my area, but there are many I have yet to view. Perhaps this summer, my vacation plans will reflect my patriotism in visiting and learning more about the country I love. 

Father God, please grant us the understanding of our need of personal repentance as well as national repentance. Forgive us Lord, for we have sinned greatly. Please restore us to Yourself and heal our land. In Jesus' name. Amen

Our War Rooms

 

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. ~Matthew 6:6 NKJV

How's your prayer life? In our busy, rushed world sometimes we forget that we can come before our heavenly Father and tell Him all about our lives, our troubles, and our fears. Our prayer life is our war room. This weekend, we give thanks for those who served and gave their lives to defend our freedoms. We recognize and honor them through various memorials and by visiting their graves. But do we neglect our personal battlefields? 

The battlefield of the mind, the necessity of entering that battlefield through prayer, that's the war where we can give all. I was recently studying for my Bible class and ran across a booklet, the name of which I have forgotten, that described prayer in an acrostic. It was a good reminder for me of things I need to include in my prayers. Perhaps they will help you as well.

• Praise- Praise is a great way to begin our prayers because God created us for love. He wanted to show love. He appreciates love in return. We were created to show love to our Creator through praise. Jesus rejoiced as He thanked the Father. 

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. Luke 10:21

• Repent - When we open our hearts to praise we also open them to the understanding of our sin. As we pray repentance is a key factor. 

And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ Luke 18:13

• Ask - Ask for the needs of others. True joy comes in putting Jesus first, then Others, before You. A true servant focuses on others first. 

Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. Luke 7:7

• Yielding - Finally, enter into God's counsel and carry out his purpose. Jesus withdrew Himself and asked counsel of the Father about the crucifixion. 

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:41,42

Heavenly Father, thank you for all the ways You care for us. Forgive us Father for neglecting to give You praise before others. Father, show us how we can meet the needs of others while giving them the message of Your salvation. Direct us as we war against principalities in high places of the spiritual realm. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

Have you noticed how there is the message of the gospel hidden in almost all literature? It may seem a little strange to think about the Grinch here in the summer, but I think he's a good example of what I'm trying to say about the difference praise in our prayers can make.

• The Grinch's heart was two sizes too small. He was selfish and cared nothing for others. 
• He thought he could stop others' joy by taking all the things he thought made Christmas. 
• He found that Christmas was more than presents and decorations and feasting. 
• When he heard the praise his heart grew. It was opened to the truth.
• He realized he was wrong and gave back the presents. Kinda sounds like Zacchaeus.
• I think he may have asked to join the celebration or maybe he was asked to join. 
• Finally we see him serving, literally carving the roast beast.

Though the true Christmas story was never mentioned, we can still see message that can be used to tell others about God's love in sending His Son that first Christmas and the difference Christ makes in our lives. 

How can you show Jesus to those you meet? 

Rededicate250,Thoughts on Moving Forward

 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land. ~II Chronicles 7:14 KJV

Many people have prayed, I among them, and agonized over the condition of our country. Many breathed a sigh of relief and felt the answer to those prayers after the last election, but friends, prayer warriors should not let down their guard. We cannot say, "Oh, the battle is over. We can relax now." On the contrary, there is yet much work to do and prayers to be prayed. 

One of the things the Lord has laid on my heart is a return to reading God's word—not just reading but studying it so that we know how to humble ourselves and pray for God's forgiveness and direction for our nation.

This week I offer a short reading on which you can easily expand, a thought and a prayer for each day.  This week may we truly rededicate our nation and ourselves, It's a great time to start reading and studying our Bibles, humbling ourselves and rededicating ourselves as well as our nation, thanking Him for all His blessings on our families and our nation and asking forgiveness of our transgressions that grieve His heart. 

As you study, make a few notes about the things God is revealing to you.

Monday Reading:
      Exodus 36:5,6 The people were so excited about the work of the Tabernacle that they brought in more than was needed. Moses had to give a command to stop bringing things for the Tabernacle.

What a wonderful situation to find ourselves in. When has the offering ever been too much? When has a congregation been so excited about God's work that they had to be told their gifts were enough?

Heavenly Father, at this time of rededication, may our thankfulness for all you have done be demonstrated in the enthusiasm we show in working for Your kingdom. May Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Tuesday Reading
       Exodus 37:1, 10, 25, 29 These verses demonstrate the responsibilities of Bezaleel. God chose him to do a mighty work but he is actually an unknown figure. His faithfulness to his calling has affected the understanding and worship of God for millions of people for thousands of years.

Can others look at my work and see my faithfulness to God's calling? How is my faithfulness or lack thereof affecting others? Surely everything we do affects others.

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me a work to do. Help me to be faithful to Your calling regardless of how much or how little credit I receive. You must increase and I must decrease. Be glorified, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday Reading:
      Exodus 38:8 The women brought their brass mirrors to make the brass laver, a place for the priests to wash their hands. Have you ever noticed women when they pass by a mirror, even in a store? We have to stop and check ourselves.  Beautiful hair, clothes, and make-up can all be a mess if a woman doesn't have a mirror to check herself. The women of Israel gave their most prized possession. They humbled themselves before God, putting aside their vanity for the building of the place of worship.

Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to the things I put before worship, before praise, before witnessing. Help me to humble myself for Your work. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Thursday Reading:
       Exodus 39: 18. The names of the tribes of Israel covered the priest's heart. His shoulders bore the weight.

Are God's people on my heart? Are the lost on my heart? Do I have a burden for people, or do I just complain about the situation?

Heavenly Father help me carry a burden for repentance among Your people and a burden to see the lost saved. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Friday Reading:
      Exodus 40:34. The people had followed God's directions. They had set up the tabernacle in God's order. He had descended on it. He guided their way day and night.

When our lives are clean God abides and directs our way. When we allow sin to enter in the Spirit departs until our lives are clean - forgiven. I John 1:9. We cannot do a work for God if we harbor sin.

Heavenly Father, direct my path that I might walk in Your way. May my life be pleasing unto You. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Saturday Review

    Pray. Review your notes. Is the Lord leading you in a specific direction? Has He revealed a work that needs strengthening or a new work to begin? Pray again. Choose a direction for next week's readings.

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 

Numbers 6: 24-26

In Jesus' name. Amen.

The Potting Bench

 

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5

It's such a beautiful spring. The trees have leafed out. The flowers are blooming. Oh! You haven't slowed down enough to notice? It's time to go out and soak up the sunshine and observe God's beautiful creation. 

The Lord gives us examples of our relationship to him with daily visuals through His creation. My friend, Beth King Fortune loves gardening and she loves the Lord. This spring she published The Potting Bench, 60 Daily Garden Devotions with the Master Gardener, available on Amazon or at her local book signings. Each devotion is divided into four short section, an example of her gardening adventures, a Prayer, a Digging Deeper section that gives application and Over the Fence, her gardening tips. A beautiful photograph, which she took, accompanies each devotion with an appropriate scripture.

Beth titled Day 11, Abiding. Her key verse is John 15:5. Her example was pruning her clematis. She kind of overdid it. Her prayer was one of thankfulness that Jesus is our life source. Her digging deeper section was how she severed the branch from the vine and the vine wilted. Just as we must stay connected to the Lord daily to receive the spiritual nourishment we need to bear fruit as the Lord intends.

Her Over the Garden Fence is about the planting and care of clematis.

Each devotion is a quick reminder of how we can be planted in the Lord's garden and bear fruit for Him.

I recommend Mrs. Fortune's devotional for that quick reminder before we start out the door into the fields that are ripe, ready for harvest.

Heavenly Father, please keep me connected to You and make me aware of how I might bear fruit for you. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Giving up our Children

 

Photo by Aditya Romansa

Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. ~I Kings 3:27

In the story of King Solomon, two new moms who were prostitutes brought their babies to the king. One mom had lain on her baby in the night and smothered it. She had taken her dead baby and swapped it for the other mom's living baby. Now they argued before the king.

King Solomon sounded cruel when he asked for a sword to divide the living child in two but in reality he was revealing the heart of the true mother. She was willing to give up control of her child's life to save her baby. King Solomon returned the child to her because he knew only a real mother would be willing to give up her child for its life. 

As moms, we give up a lot for our children, even our own bodies. We, to protect our babies, give them everything life has to offer, and hold them close, but are we willing to give them up for the sake of their lives? for the sake of their souls? We must give them up to the king, the King of kings if we want life for our babies. What would that look like? 

• Are we too tired to read a Bible story to our children each night? 
• Are we praying with them and for them?
• Are they involved in activities that would take them away from church, activities we feel would give them a better chance in life? 
• Are we willing to have less so we can raise our children instead of giving them up to others?  Prov 22:6
• Are we giving them our undivided attention when they want/need to talk to us? Deut. 11:19

We may not be the best mom just as the mom in our story wasn't the perfect mom. She wasn't married. Other moms probably wrote her off as unworthy of their company.  She lived as a prostitute but she was willing to give up her baby if it meant giving her baby life. 

Can we do better? How can we give our children to the King of Kings even when it means sacrificing the things we think are important to us? 

Maybe your toes feel stepped on. I know mine do. Maybe we feel like it's too late. It's never too late to give our children to the King of Kings. 

Heavenly Father, may I be willing to turn loose of control and let you have control of my children. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Dandelions in the Kingdom

 

picture by Manfriedrichter

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. ~Malachi 4:2

As children, we lay in the fields and picked dandelions, blowing the puff balls across the field or making crowns with the yellow flowers. As adults, we try to rid them from our lawns and gardens, calling them weeds. Weeds indeed! The deep roots plow through the soil, loosening it to let the rain reach the grass and garden plants. We deprive our children of lazy days of enjoyment in nature while learning the natural way of seed distribution and plant reproduction. Ah, but to the point. Dandelions are another reminder that creation speaks of the Creator, and they speak of us. 

Rooted and grounded deep in the soil, the dark green leaves show off the single orange flower head, whose stem is hollow to uptake water and nutrients in the soil. The flower soon changes to a ball of fluff whose seeds are carried by the wind across lawns and fields to bring a rebirth of the flower in another place. So what does that have to do with you and me? 

• Deeply Rooted - We need to be deeply rooted in God's word. The Word gives us the nutrients we need to grow as Christians. It is the Water of Life. 
• Yellow Gold - The yellow gold flower head in the middle of the whorl of dark green leaves speaks of the King's crown, in the center of our lives. We are the living body of leaves surrounding our hearts, which carries Jesus as the center of our lives. 
• Seed Distribution - As the flower matures, it shoots up a hollow stem that carries water and nutrients to the seeds that form around the center of the flower. The seeds grow and mature until they are blown away to another place for another time, just as we should be maturing and raising our children to be the seeds transplanted to another place and time. A place and time to raise another godly generation.

Sometimes we may feel that the seeds have flown without their purpose, but remember that not all flowers bloom at the same time. The living word you have implanted in those children will not be forgotten. In God's time, they too will produce another generation for the Lord. 

Heavenly Father, help us keep You at the center of our lives. Help us show Jesus to our children in our daily living. Help us implant Your word in their minds so their thoughts, their deeds, their ethics are demonstrations of You. May they see these same examples in our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Raising Kids to Follow Christ

 

 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: ~ Psalms 78:6-7

Children have always been my passion. I taught 4K for most of my 30 years of teaching. I look for information and books to stretch my ability to help children learn, to learn the three Rs and to learn about Christ. My friend, Lee Ann Mancini, has written  Raising Kids to Follow Christ.  I wish it had been written when I was raising my children. The chapters are conversational. I felt like Lee Ann was sitting there encouraging me as a young parent. Encouraging is the right word here. She isn't high-minded or judgmental but rather takes us through useful information every parent can use.  She incorporates scripture with each recommendation, so it's not her that speaks, but God's Word. Each chapter builds on the previous with good instruction beginning with building a spiritual foundation for our children and taking that instruction through the years. 

I really like the way each chapter is broken down into small bites. As a busy parent, I needed small bites of information I could ponder while changing a diaper or fixing a meal. These are meaty small bites such as Praying Over Our Children (even while they are still in the womb), The Ten Commandments (memorizing them by living them out before our children), and Tell the Next Generation (instilling allegiance to God like we show allegiance to our sports teams - go all out). 

Some of the chapters address character development and building a strong Christian foundation. She offers practical methods for connecting children to Jesus and cultivating trust in God. One of my favorite chapters is Helping Shape a Godly Worldview. To me that was always a hard concept but Mrs. Mancini breaks it down so it's a natural process of everyday life. 

I often hear people say "Kids are mean." Lee Ann has a chapter that helps us instill virtues in our children. She helps parents realize virtues are caught, not taught. There's also a chapter on the fruits of the Spirit. Every chapter is built on the idea that we must demonstrate not tell our children how to live godly lives.

At the end of the book is chapter by chapter questions. I love this because I can reflect on what I've read and if I have a question about how she recommends handling something I can easily find the chapter. 

Mrs. Mancini's conclusion is "Raising kids to be followers of Christ is all about the salvation of our children." We want to know that one day we will sit down in heaven and our children will be sitting across the table from us. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us writers who point us to the ultimate instruction book, Your Word. Thank you, that you've given them the gift to break down the scripture in such a way as to increase our understanding. Father, help us follow through with the concepts in Your Word to raise our children to be followers of Christ so that we may spend eternity together in heaven. In Jesus's name, I pray. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

Do you have a devotional time with your parents?

Are you asking questions? 

Are you expressing your thoughts about your family life, church life, and school life? 

Can others see Jesus in you? 

As you ponder these questions, what do you notice you are doing right? What are one or two things you could work on? You may want to place a sticky note somewhere obvious to you as a reminder of the great things you're doing and the work yet to be accomplished. 

Easter Eggs

 

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, ~Matthew 28:5-7

Let's see, it's Easter 1960. Grandma and Mama have sewn our Easter outfits. Mama and I have purchased our hats and gloves. Everything is ironed and laid out for Sunday morning. Only the Easter baskets are left to prepare. 

Mama brought out the vinegar and dye tablets, a coffee cup (not a mug) for each tablet, a spoon and an old towel. Leftover baskets with fresh plastic or paper grass were placed on the table beside the towel. The Easter bunny didn't leave our baskets. We helped dye the eggs in the stinky colored vinegar. We were excited to balance the hardboiled eggs on our spoons and dip them in the cups. Sometimes there was a wax pencil to draw designs before we dyed the eggs. The dyed eggs were gently lifted from the cups and placed on the towel to dry. Then we decorated our own baskets with eggs and candy wrapped in colored foils. But never were we told anything about how eggs were related to Easter. 

When my own children were small, we often visited my grandma, who was nearing 90 at the time. The discussion came up about dying eggs with my babies. Somehow, we worked around to the subject of how eggs have anything to do with Easter. I had no idea, and she was shocked. 

"Why, the shell represents the tomb!" surprised no one had taught me that. "There's unseen life inside an egg. When it's ready, the chick will burst forth like the resurrection." 

Well, that made perfect sense. Why hadn't I even thought of that? Of course, our hard boiled eggs had no life left in them, but a fresh egg certainly could, especially the farm eggs Grandma was used to gathering. 

There are several ideas as to the origins of colored eggs and spring celebrations. We too can derive some meaning for today's children. So what can we say about Easter eggs? 

• Fresh eggs encapsulate life with the appearance of death, just as the tomb, in death, held the answer to eternal life in Jesus.
• Eggs need 3 weeks to hatch. Jesus lay in the grave 3 days before he was resurrected.
• The hatchling uses its beak to crack the shell and come out. Jesus used his voice to call Lazarus from the tomb.  A great earthquake and angels announced Jesus's resurrection.  One day, His voice will call us from the grave as well.  
• Easter eggs are dyed or painted in a variety of colors. Jesus died for everyone of every color. 
• We hunt for eggs hidden all around. Jesus goes wherever people are found to bring salvation to anyone who will believe on Him.
• We gather the eggs in a basket. Jesus will gather us and take us one day to our heavenly home. Until then, we gather in our churches to worship the One who has overcome death and the grave.

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ~Romans 10:9

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. Thank you for sending reminders all around us that you are the giver of life eternal through Jesus.  Help us remember to tell our children that you are the Creator God and that everything and everyone has a purpose in worshipping you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Hey Kids: 

Easter egg hunts are usually for the little kids but you can play a part as well. 

• Help little ones learn to dye eggs. Search out natural dyes, and use brown eggs instead of white. 
• As you dye the eggs, relate the Easter story to younger children who may not yet know or understand.
• Relate to the little ones how the shell is like a tomb, and a baby chick grows inside the shell when left for the hen to keep warm.
• Let the little ones know Jesus loves all the children of the world.  Sing "Jesus Loves the Little Children." 
• When we hunt for eggs, we are like Jesus, who looks for people who love Him and want to belong to Him. 
• We put our eggs in our baskets. When we gather in our churches to worship, we are gathered together like eggs in a basket, every color and every nation. 

R is for Risen

 

 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 

~Matthew 28:6

I love alphabet books. They often offer so much information on a subject, but usually the information is a mishmash of things so the author can get the information to match the alphabet. Not so with author Crystal Bowman's new book, R is for Risen. The book is written with rhythm and rhyme that will keep the little one's attention. 

Mrs. Bowman's new book is centered around the week's events leading up to the crucifixion and on through the resurrection with instructions for the future. It begins with A is for Arrived. Jesus arrived with his disciples to celebrate the Passover. B is for Branches. This page is about the palm branches laid in the street and the announcement of the King's arrival. Each page is sweetly illustrated to attract young children. Each letter represents the next event in the holy week. 

The ending of the book helps children understand that N is for Nails is not the end of the story. Mrs. Bowman takes us through T is for Tomb and U is for Understanding. The disciples needed to understand what had happened with the resurrection. Last of all Z is for A and Z because Jesus is the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Each page has scripture to support the story. Several versions are used to make the understanding as simple as possible. 

Ways we can use this book with our children:

• Help children understand the events of Holy Week
• Use of the alphabet to help remember those events.
• Sing "Jesus Loves Me"
• Memorize John 3:16
• Older children may research why Jesus chose a donkey instead of a horse.
• Take a trip to a farm that has donkeys. What do you notice about the donkey's coat? (the shape of the cross)
• What other "letters" are often used for beginning and ending? 

Heavenly Father, help us show our children your plan to bring us salvation. Help us know how to implant the events into their hearts and minds so your plan will never depart from them. In Jesus's name. Amen.