LAUGHING WITH THE SAINTS

I was reminded the other day...right here on this blog...by a dear friend from Twitter...that ours should be a joyful faith. Sometimes, though we get so bogged down in our own struggles of being in the world but not of it...in our own Good Friday-like experiences...that we lose sight of the fact that without the pain of Good Friday...there is NO joy of Easter Sunday Resurrection.

For some time now, I have been enduring a personal Good Friday. My faith and my hope in Christ help me to know...unreservedly...that my own personal Easter Sunday-like resurrection is on the horizon. In the meantime, rather than wallowing in the pain and darkness, I have chosen to Laugh With The Saints!

I hope these videos give you a laugh or two...or, if you are enduring a personal Good Friday of your own...I hope they give you a few moments of respite.

And...the whisper of a promise...that your own Easter Sunday-like resurrection is on the horizon, as well!

God Bless, You!!

RESURRECTION COOKIES

Here is a great way to share the story of Easter with your children. There are several different recipes out there but I like this one the best. Make them on Holy Saturday Evening.


Ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
ziplock type baggie
wooden spoon
masking tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place pecans in ziplock baggie and let children beat them with a wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Set aside.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into a 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 the vinegar. Eggs represent life.

Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Add a pinch of salt to the mixture.

Explain that the salt represents the salty tears Jesus' followers shed after his death. Read Luke 23:27.

Add 1 cup 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 Galatians 2:20.

Beat all the ingredients except the nuts with an electric mixer on high speed until the mixture forms stiff peaks. (12-15 minutes).

Gently fold in the broken nuts.

Drop by measuring teaspoonfuls onto a waxed paper lined cookie sheet.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF.

Seal the door with masking tape.

Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

Now go to bed!

You may be disappointed leaving the cookies in the oven overnight. That's how Jesus' followers felt when he died and was buried.

Read John 16:20-22.

On Easter morning, open the oven door and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and hollow center. On the first Easter morning Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Jesus is ALIVE!

Read Matthew 28:1-9.

Explain to the children that now it is up to us to share the Good News!!