Kerry Beck's Blog

Steve & I spent Saturday evening at our property, the Lazy B.  It’s about 20 minutes out of town and terrific relaxing place.  Steve loves to go out there for target practice.  But the last few months our dog gets scared when he shoots and runs away.  So Steve has not taken him out there.  Since I was going with him, we took Midnight and my job was to keep Midnight from running away from our 30 acres.  (And keep her calm)  Midnight loves the water and looked like a pig when she got out.  I wish I had the camera after she rolled in the dirt.

For the most part, I settled in by our pond, read some books & did some thinking.  It was so relaxing!

This is brand new to me and it looks like a great evangelical tool with kids.

Place jelly beans in a snack size ziplock bag and attach the following prayer:

Red is for the blood He gave,

Green is for the grass He made,

Yellow is for the sun so bright,

Orange is for the edge of night.

Black is for the sins that were made,

White is for the grace He gave.

Purple is for the hour of sorrow,

Pink is for the new tomorrow.

A bag full of jelly beans,

Colorful and sweet,

Is a Prayer…is a Promise… Is an Easter treat!

taken from: http://www.catholicmom.com/jesus_jelly_beans.htm

I wrote this article a few years ago, but want to share it with you again.  Hope it is encouraging!

The death of Christ on Good Friday and the resurrection of Christ on Easter morning go hand-in-hand.  You can’t have the resurrection without Jesus’ death.  The resurrection presupposes death.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

Christ didn’t just merely die; He endured a miserable death on the cross with all of mankind’s sin poured on Him.  God poured out judgment for all of our sins onto Christ.  You see, all sin (even a tiny sin) must pay the penalty of death.  Not only did He endure the cross, He despised the shame of being crucified with other criminals.  You may wonder why did He suffer so much for me.  The author of Hebrews tells us that the reason He endured this horrible death is a future joy.

Christ was not conquered by death, instead He joyfully conquered death Himself.  Since He overcame death He is alive today with the Father in heaven.  That is true joy . . . being in heaven with God Himself.  Another type of joy that Christ knew would come after the cross is a future reward.  The Father rewarded Christ for His obedience and suffering.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:8-11

Since Christ obeyed the Father and overecame death, the Father honored and exalted Him.  All mankind will one day bow to Jesus as King of the world.  He is Lord now and forever!

As I think about this season of celebrating Christ’s death and resurrection I am reminded how hopeless I would be without Him.  Without Christ’s death, there can be no resurrection.  Without Christ’s death, there is no salvation for man.  Without Christ’s death, there is no freedom from sin.  Without Christ’s death, I have no Savior.  Without Christ’s death, there is no redemption for my sin.  Without Christ’s death, there is no salvation for anyone.

But remember Christ’s death and resurrection go hand-in-hand.  Without the resurrection, there is no hope.  Without the resurrection, there will be no eternal life for you & me.  Without the resurrection, there is no glory for God.  Without the resurrection, there is no joy.  Without the resurrection, there is no future reward.

Christianity is the only religion that has power over death.  Christ is the only one who has ever risen from the dead and lives today.  He died on the cross so you would not have to die for YOUR sin.  If you have never believed that Christ died and suffered for you, I urge you to do so today.  Once you believe, you can join other Christians in their hope.  Not just a wishful hope, but a full expectation of joyfully living with Christ forever.

When Steve was in seminary, I learned alot of Passion Week that I wasn’t taught growing up in the southern Bible belt.  Maundy Thursday is one of those items.  Although this is traditionally Catholic, I think it is good for us to remind our kids what was leading up to the resurrection of Christ…our celebration of Easter.

I’ve included the meaning of Maundy Thursday, traditions from this day and family activities for you to use.

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter where we celebrate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples.  It is normally celebrated in the evening, when according to Jewish tradition Friday begins.

Traditions from Around the World

In Germany, Maundy Thursday is known as “Green Thursday” (Grundonnerstag), and the traditional foods are green vegetables and green salad, especially a spinach salad. In Latin countries, Jordan almonds (”confetti”) are eaten today and also throughout Eastertide.

Back when Kings and Queens of England were Catholic, they, too, would wash the feet of 12 subjects, seeing the footwashing rite also as an example of service and humility. They would also give money to the poor on this day, a practice is said to have begun with St. Augustine of Canterbury in A.D. 597, and performed by Kings since Edward II. Now the footwashing isn’t done (it was given up in the 18th c.), but a special coin called “Maundy Money” is minted and given to the selected elderly of a representative town.

Activities for Your Family

1.  Create a family centerpiece for the week using Sunday’s palms from mass as the focal point.  Have a special family dinner together on Holy Thursday and think of ways to, as a family, “wash the feet” of people in need in your parish or community.

2.  Memorize the names of the 12 disciples.  Here’s a fun activity/rap to learn them.
12 Disciples Activity

3.  Discuss the meaning of the Last Supper. How Jesus came to celebrate Passover, but it became the beginning of our Communion.  This might give you some ideas:
Last Supper Activity

If you have other ideas, please share.

I’ve shared this in the past, but realized it’s been years since I posted it to my blog.  Another yummy object lesson to use with your kids.

To be made the evening before Easter
You need:
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’ s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66. GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9

(special note) Great to use for a Sunday School Class or Vacation Bible School too… Cookies can be left on a very very low temp…like 250 degrees. and be ready in a couple of hours…when surface of cookie looks dry and cracked….they are ready to eat!!!!!

I share this tradition every year.  I love it . . . and so do my kids.  I’m sending it now so you have time to get the supplies 

We have our traditions at Easter time, as I’m sure your family does.  Each year we make Resurrection Buns on Saturday evening.They rise overnight and are ready for breakfast.  The cool thingabout these buns is that the marshmallow you use on Saturday isgone after you bake them on Sunday.  The first time we baked these, my kids were fascinated.  They sure look forward to these each year.

RESURRECTION BUNS

biscuit dough (homemade or popped out of the can)
large marshmallows
melted butter
cinnamon sugar

Roll out lumps of dough into 4 inch circles.  Wrap each dough
circle around marshmallow & close tightly.  Roll the dough in
melted butter and then in a cinnamon & sugar mixture.  Place
in well-greased pans.  Let rise overnight.  Bake at 350
degrees until golden brown.  The marshmallows will melt and
leave a sticky (& yummy) syrup in the buns.

Enjoy…and inspire your kids to learn more about Jesus Christ’s
resurrection!

I found this cool project last year at my Mom to Mom Bible study at church.  Even though my kids are older, we made an Easter garden.  I pulled mine out last night to display this year.

This is a great project to remind your family of the events of Passion Week.

————-

Materials:
Shallow tray or dish
Garden soil (or green styrofoam for the fake flowers)
Moss, cut grass or sand
Dried twigs
Sewing thread
Small Pot
Flat stone large enough to cover mouth of pot
Egg cups (or other small containers)
Small flowers
Gravel

Directions:

1. Fill the tray with soil or potting compost (or place styrofoam where flowers will be)

2. Arrange it to make a hill on one side of the tray

3. Cover the soil with moss, grass or sand

4. Make three crosses with dried twigs tied together with sewing thread & place on hilltop

5. Press the small post into the hillside ot make a cave like the garden tomb. Place the stone over the mouth of the tomb.

6. Press egg cups full of water into soil around the garden and fill with flowers. (Or put artificial flowers into styrofoam)

7. Make a path coming from the tomb with gravel, to show how the disciples ran to the tomb on Easter morning

8. Early on Easter morning, move back the stone from the tomb – showing that it is empty.

If you make one, feel free to post a pic.

It’s been awhile since I’ve given away some Blog Candy.  Since it’s the first of February, I want to give you something that gets you ready for Valentines Day.

I’m giving away an assortment of ebooks about February and Valentines Day.  See what you can win.

Valentine Recipe Books:  Dinners, Desserts, Drinks

Ideas for Romance as a Couple

February School Ideas…or Homeschool Ideas

Valentine Celebrations

If you want to enter to win ALL of these books, please leave a comment on my blog telling me how you enjoy celebrating Valentines Day.   I’ll pick a winner on Friday, Feb 12.  Enter now

You can watch the video or just surf on over to this recipe.

30 Minute Chili Video

Recipe

Work off last week’s binge by starting a new exercise regimen.

Need inspiration?

Consider this:  The average American consumes more than 2000 calories during Thanksgiving dinner alone.  Try a 30 minute walk or Nordic walking.  It’s like cross-country skiing on the ground.  Sounds like fun to me!

(adapted from Sprint Magazine, Nov 2007)