Family Fun Christmas Ideas

Tis the Season!  The holidays are upon us…and so is the hustle and bustle that comes with them.  That’s why this post will be short and sweet!  This year, I want you to take time to SLOW down and really enjoy this holiday season with your family.  A blog post I read the other day reiterated this same sentiment and I thought it was worth reading…hopefully you will too!  If you have the time, check it out: http://www.vitafamiliae.com/to-the-mamas-of-littles-during-the-holidays/.  In the meantime, here are just a few ideas to add a little sparkle to your holidays!

T  Make gingerbread cookies or a house and have fun decorating with frosting, sprinkles, and candy…it’s messy but fun and yummy too!  If you and your family aren’t too keen on gingerbread, mix up some regular sugar cookie dough (I hear Betty Crocker has a great mix J).  Break out the Christmas cookie cutters and let the fun begin!

T  Make a snowman ornament out of Styrofoam.  We made these one year for parent gifts when I was teaching.  I loved how easy and fun they were for the kids…plus they make wonderful little gifts or you can keep it for your own tree! 

*You need Styrofoam balls of a size of your choosing (we used a 2 ½” one).  Children can simply use markers for the eyes but glitter glue or googly eyes are super fun too!  Tiny pom poms, pipe cleaners, felt or other material can be used for the nose.  The mouth can be created using markers, glitter glue or yarn.  Finally, for the hat, use an old sock.  Cut off a section and roll back one of the cut edges to make a rim.  Secure by gluing onto the ball. To decorate the hat, simply tie a ribbon around the top.  For a little added fun, slide a small jingle bell onto the ribbon before tying.  Instead of a hat, make earmuffs for your snowman by gluing a strip of fabric or ribbon across the top of his head and adding pom poms over his “ears.”  Below is a sample picture (and no, our 2 ½ year old did not make this one!).  

T  Discuss different Holidays Around the World and how other countries celebrate (or don’t celebrate) Christmas and the New Year.  Many other countries celebrate with unique traditions, foods and crafts. 

For many, the holidays are a joyous and celebratory time but I recognize this isn’t the case for everyone.  No matter what your circumstances are, my prayer is that you and your family can find a little joy…a little light this holiday season.

Happy Christmas to all!

Julie Collett

Advent...an exercise in Discipling

Cover of Waiting for the King 
Copyright 2008 Crossroads crossroads.net

As I look around at the busy store aisles crammed with holiday decorations, displays emblazoned with words describing this year's "it" gifts, and brightly colored lights and garlands hung from every possible surface I wonder how I can give my kids a taste of the true holiday behind the glorious madness.  How can I teach them what we are really celebrating?  How can I give them strong roots in our faith so they may one day branch out and teach their own children the truth nestled in the midst of the fluff?

I believe that celebrating the season of Advent as a family is an exercise in discipling that can strengthen those roots in me and help them take hold in my kids so they have a connection to hold on to as they grow and branch out in the future.  In Building a Discipling Culture by Mike Breen and Steve Cockram there is an excellent chapter on "What It Means To Learn" (Ch. 3).  They point out that, "the Greek word for 'disciple' (is) mathetes," which directly translates as learner.  And discipleship on some level means we are "orienting our lives around becoming lifelong learners of Jesus."

The chapter goes on to discuss a bit about how we learn.  Essentially there are three main ways we learn.  We may each have one way that speaks to us more than the others, but as Breen and Cockram put it, "we learn best when there is a dynamic interplay between all three at one time."  First you have the traditional classroom or lecture style which involves a teacher "passing on facts, thoughts, processes and information" to a student.  The second way is through an apprentice-type relationship - learning from someone who knows (and was once a pupil themselves).  In other words, watching a knowledgeable person work with or implement the knowledge you are trying to acquire.  In discipling relationships (as with other apprenticeships) it is about investment.  "Someone invests their time, energy, skills and life into ours, teaching us to do what they do."  The third way we learn is through immersion - when you learn almost passively by being surrounded by a particular environment, setting or culture and picking things up through experience.  "The key to immersion is having access to the culture you are hoping to shape you." Celebrating Advent as a family can employ all three learning methods, helping to strengthen the roots of our faith.

The word advent comes from a Latin word meaning "coming."  We have an opportunity to refocus a bit during the four weeks leading up to Christmas... to anticipate the celebration of the coming of the Christ child by learning about where he came from.  This Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent and many of our kids made paper plate advent wreaths (though my son's immediately became a crown which he wore all the way home).  There was also a handout detailing an activity (lighting a candle (or candles), reading a scripture passage, and saying a blessing) to do as a family each Sunday of Advent.

If you would like ideas for creating an Advent Wreath look back here at our Advent post from last year.  With your Advent Wreath (or circle of candles, etc.) and the handout you have all you need to do your weekly Advent activity!  This first Sunday in Advent you light the first (purple) candle - the Candle of Hope which reminds us that God foretold the coming of His Son.  Read Romans 15:12, 13, "And again, Isaiah says, 'The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.' My the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Say the blessing, "Oh, Lord, fill us with a longing for You. Help us all to be open and eager, as we wait for Your coming with joy and excitement. In the busy days ahead, keep us in Your sight. Let us remember that it is You, our Lord, for whom we are preparing. In our fervor to welcome You in the royal way, it is so easy to forget how warmly You wish to be greeted. Oh, sweet Jesus, thank You for loving us. Amen."

If you would like to dive a little deeper into the "coming" of Jesus a Jesse Tree is a great way to learn more about "The Root of Jesse."  The tree is "named after the Jesse who was the father of David, the first royal branch in the tree of the Messiah to come." (A Jesus Advent Celebration by Ann Voskamp, 2010)  Each day during Advent there is a scripture passage to read, sometimes a prayer or discussion, and an ornament to hang that corresponds to the scripture read.

There are many resources out there for Jesse Tree devotionals and ornaments to print, make, or buy.  Ann Voskamp came out with a new book this year, The Greatest Gift, that leads adults (and older kids) on the Jesse Tree journey (when you buy the book you have access to beautiful printable ornaments to put on the tree each day).

If you have small kids a hands-on option with crafts (and optional printable ornaments if you don't want to do all of the crafts - or are like me and get behind and almost give up...just me?) is Truth in the Tinsel (An Advent Experience for Little Hands) by Amanda White.  Go to the website, purchase the e-book and you will have a daily Clue, Scripture, Ornament, Talk, and opportunity for More.  Again, if you are like me and maybe not ready for a daily activity there are alternate schedules included that focus on different things (Just the Basics, By Books of the Bible, Characters, Prophecy).

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love technology.  If you lean in that direction and ebooks and websites are more your thing, head over HERE for an online Advent calendar with links, videos, ebooks, etc. to help you and your kids celebrate Advent.  Crossroads is the church my family and I were a part of when we lived in Cincinnati and I love, love, LOVE these resources.  The video for day 1 is one of my favorite depictions of the story of Jesus' birth.

However you journey through the Advent season, use it as an opportunity to disciple your kids.  Tell them the stories, read the scripture, show them how to set up the Advent Wreath or the Jesse Tree, let them help with the activities so they are learning by doing, make (at least some of) the crafts or ornaments together so they are immersed in the journey through Christ's roots.

- Katrina K.

Love

Photo by Didok

Love is a topic that can be discussed and thought about for hours upon end.  Here are a few quotes and scriptures on love:

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
― Elbert Hubbard

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”
― William W. Purkey

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

1John 4:8 “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Jeremiah 31:3 “The Lord appeared to us in the past. He said, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. I have kept on loving you with faithful love.” 

We have just been asked to really think about what we are chasing.  And we have learned that, no matter what, Jesus chases us.  He says in Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If any of you hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me.”

What are you chasing?  Is this something you’re still asking yourself at the end of our study?  I chase many things.  I will look online for the perfect purse or camera, the perfect Christmas gift for my Mother-in-law…it can get out of hand, trust me.  

Though he pursues me, I cannot say that I always chase Jesus back, or allow him to continually “be” with me. There are times that my day will stop flat in it’s tracks because of the news of a loved one’s loss or suffering and I am chasing God with prayer.  What I have realized is he is right there, chasing me, and all I have to do is turn toward him, and he’s ready and waiting and willing.

This week, I had devastating news about one of my beloved friends.  At first, my heart was so broken; all I could do was cry.  But, I began to pray for her, and asked God to allow her to feel the prayers from everyone who was praying.  I heard from her last night, and she literally said, “Prayers are holding me up.”

So I ask you, as we go into the craziness of the holidays with the turkey, ham, and casseroles, the planning, and the searching for the perfect _______, don’t forget to allow Jesus to be with you.  His peace is a breath away, and we don’t have to do anything alone.  Even the seating arrangements!  

Here is a song that goes with what I am trying to get across through today’s blog.   There is a link below to the song.  It is by Tenth Avenue North, a Christian band.  Listen to it, and allow Jesus to catch you today.  Turn from whatever it is you are chasing, and turn to him.  

Below are the link and the lyrics (they are on the video with the song as well).

Blessings to you as we begin the “Most wonderful time of year.”

- Jennifer G.

Photo by rob_gonyea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CUGTIWCFyo

"Beloved"

Love of my life

Look deep in my eyes

There you will find what you need 

And give me your life

The lust and the lies

And the past you're afraid I might see

You've been running away from me, yeah 

You're my beloved lover

I'm yours

And Death shall not part us

It's you I died for

For better or worse

Forever we'll be

My love it unites us and it binds you to me

It's a mystery 

Love of my life

Look deep in my eyes

There you will find what you need 

I'm the giver of life

I'll clothe you in white

My immaculate bride you will be

Oh, come running home to me, yeah

You're my beloved lover

I'm yours

And Death shall not part us

It's you I died for

For better or worse

Forever we'll be

My love it unites us and it binds you to me, yeah

You've been a mistress, my wife

Chasing lovers that won't satisfy

Won't you let me make you my bride

You will drink of my lips and you'll taste new life

You're my beloved lover

I'm yours

And Death shall not part us

It's you I died for

For better or worse

Forever we'll be

My love it unites us and it binds you to me

It's a mystery

We Serve Because

Thanksgiving is upon us.  I hope this is a year you're anticipating a warm meal shared with family and friends. I hope traditions run rich and prayers of thanksgiving come easily.  However, I know that is not the case for all of us.  Maybe this year is a first for you: a first without a special loved one, a first with not enough funds for traveling, a first with a new baby, a first with a new job, a first without a job. My prayer is that the love of God overwhelms you wherever you are this holiday season.

 Perhaps this year is different because this is your first year celebrating Thanksgiving with Jesus.  This year everything feels different because this year you know to whom you're giving thanks and you want to shout it from the rooftops.  Psalm 107: 1 says, "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"  In Mothers Together we get excited about opportunities to serve others. Why? Because thanksgiving and serving go hand-in-hand.  We've been given the ultimate gift of eternal life in Jesus and it's a privilege to serve in His name. Our mission in Mothers Together is to be a community of women with hearts open to the Lord, one another, and a world in need.  As we come together this week let's remember why we serve and more importantly, Whom we serve.

We serve because...

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4: 10-11   

We serve because...

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.  Luke 6:38

We serve because...

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  Galatians 5: 13-14

We serve because...

And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  Mark 10: 44-45

Heavenly Father, you are worthy of all of our thanks.  Give us hearts bent in a posture of humble thanksgiving and hands open to serve.  Overwhelm us with your love and show us how to see every relationship, every event, and every word as an opportunity to honor and represent You.  May Your kingdom come and Your will be done.  Amen

Jena M.

Working from Rest

Facebook. Post after post. Picture after picture. Television. Commercial after commercial. Worthless show after worthless show, especially if you don’t have cable. Cell phone, book, email, magazine, bed. Exhausted and seeking rest. 

Tonight, I am exhausted. Last night, I was exhausted. And tomorrow night, you guessed it, I will probably be exhausted. And yet tonight after putting my son to bed and before writing this post, I opened up Facebook. Will this give me rest? Will I find the rejuvenation I am desperate for to fuel me for another day of laundry, cleaning dishes, vacuuming, loving my son, cooking, running errands, game playing, diaper changing, serving my husband, picking up toys, walking the dog, and all the projects I currently have begun with no end in sight of finishing? What does it mean to truly rest? 

As women, this is difficult for us to know, to rest, especially if we have children. We believe we need to sacrifice every little bit of ourselves for our children. Our children are better for it, right? Ironically, this feeling of “need to sacrifice” interrupted a night of rest I had planned. Tuesday night. My night of rest.  A blessing and gift from my husband begun in the form of a question, “Babe, what would give you rest on Tuesday night?”  My answer landed somewhere between confusion and my to-do list as I thought about an evening without cooking dinner, doing dishes, bath time, and bedtime routine. Confused because I had just spent a weekend of rest with my girlfriends at the lake, and I feel rested and rejuvenated. Answers flowed inside my mind. I needed to write this blog post. I needed to fold a load of laundry. I needed to unload the dishes from the dishwasher. I needed to send out a few emails. I wanted to get my nails done. I wanted to take a warm bubble bath and read. I wanted to get a massage. I wanted to lay drenched in suntan lotion (uh, I mean sunscreen ha!) on a warm beach somewhere. Hmmmmm. “I don’t know,” I answered him. Upon further discussion and searching, I was reminded of a sermon one Sunday about working from our rest. Backwards thinking in my mind. Strive and strive and strive and then rest, right?  No. Rest then work. God created Adam and Eve on the sixth day and on the seventh day, the first full day of “our” existence was a day of rest. God rested. Adam and Eve rested. “God saw all that he had made and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning- the sixth day….and so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” Genesis 1:31-2:2. We are to work from our rest. And my husband was pointing me towards building a rhythm of doing so. Building time into my schedule for rest daily, weekly, monthly in order to avoid working on overload all the time and arriving at a point of desperation for rest. Hence, my Tuesday night.

The place? Barnes and Noble. The purpose? Finding a new novel. God’s plan? To wrestle and be unsettled about taking this time for myself in order to have material for this blog post. Ha! A struggle to look forward to my evening with joy and not doubt. A battle to resist every excuse to stay home and care for my son. I even called my husband to express this weird feeling of selfishness I was experiencing which was keeping me from the joy I knew God had for me. This would feel weird since I’m not used to a rhythm of rest, but a schedule of doing and doing and doing and crashing. So, what gives me rest? Life giving rest. What will give me life? 

Knowing the answer to this means knowing myself. Television: escape. Reading and writing: rest. Facebooking: escape. Worshipping and praying with scripture: rest. Figuring out what gives me rest means I have to identify things that make me think I am resting (Facebook). Examine what gives me energy and sets my heart on fire. Recognize what depletes my energy leaving me empty and worn out. Distinguish between a good idea and a God idea by creating a stop doing list. Stop doing? What? I have no time for that! Ha! Many things in life are great ideas, but not God ideas and could imprison us from what God has planned. Yes, we are called to be fruitful. And God wants us to do it from a place of rest. “…Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day to the Lord your God.” Exodus 20:9-10.

And so my Tuesday night of enjoying God’s written word first and then His creative artwork penned by fabulous authors on the bestseller’s list, empowered me for the next day to follow His lead even in folding a pile of laundry. And I continue daily to rest with God and be filled with His spirit because every day can’t be a “Tuesday night”. We have to build in a rhythm of rest. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. And all throughout the gospel, Jesus made rest a priority.  Before he began his ministry, he retreated to the desert for forty days to be with the Father. A priority for Him. To rest. And we are to follow Him. Right?

 So what gives you rest? And how can you build rhythms of rest into your day, week and months?  

- Tami I.

November Family Fun

As I mentioned in my last post about fall, it is my absolute favorite time of year.  I LOVE how beautiful the trees are right now and the crisp, cool days.  Hopefully you were able to try one or two activities from my October post, but if not, no worries as I have more for you this month!

• Chocolate chips went on sale for the first time on November 16, 1939 so bake up a little chocolate chip treat to celebrate

• Make November a No TV Month…or if that fills you with complete and utter panic, at least pick one night a week to be tech free.  No phones, TV, computers, Ipads, etc.  Break out a good ‘ol fashioned game of Uno or Parcheesi and enjoy a little family friendly competition.

*If you’ve never played or heard of Parcheesi, you gotta check it out!*

• In honor of the Pilgrims, churn up some homemade butter.  This was often a chore that Pilgrim children had to do along with fetching water and caring for the animals. 
• Pour one cup of whipping cream into a clean, sturdy jar, such as a mason jar.  
• Put a clean marble in the jar to act as the “churn” and seal with a lid. 
• Let your child or children take turns shaking the jar until a lump of butter forms (this can take a while, approximately 15-20 minutes).  
• In the meantime, whip up some cornbread or muffins (from scratch is applaudable but a box of Jiffy is great too!) and spread your freshly churned butter on top…yum!

• Trace your child’s hand on paper and have them write one thing they are thankful for on each finger.

• Design a tortilla teepee.  Using a small flour tortilla, wrap it into a cone shape (like a party hat), making sure to leave a small hole in the top (the pointy end).  Secure the seam with a line of hot glue.  If desired, cut a door flap for the teepee using kitchen shears or regular scissors.  The flap of the door can be left open by securing it with a bit of hot glue as well.  Have your child gather a few small twigs (I usually use 3) that can be placed up through the top of the teepee opening (again, secure the twigs with a bit of hot glue to hold them in place).  After the teepee dries/hardens, allow your child decorate using tempera paints.  You could even Google Native American symbols for your child to recreate on the sides of the teepee!

• Remember that leaf walk?  Maybe you never had the opportunity to go…well here’s your second chance!  Go grab some leaves with your children and bring them back to make a leaf turkey!  I did this last year with my son, although I had to do most of the work (he was only 20 months at the time), he was able to position the leaves on the paper.  Here is a sample picture of what it might look like: 

Happy early Thanksgiving to each of you!

Julie Collett

Living Chosen

Join us this week over on the blog of our lovely Nanette Making Me New as she beautifully shares her heart and explores what it means to live as one chosen.

She asks the questions: Am I walking confidently in who He’s created me to be?  Walking in His holy confidence?  Are you?