Lent for Kids & Adults - Ideas?

Last year, I felt very prepared for Easter. I personally was reading Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers which takes you into the lives of people in the line of Jesus. And to my children I read Amon's Adventure, a story of a young boy during the time of Christ. I'm pretty sure my pastor was in the book of Matthew as well. A fantastic combination!

I feel a little empty handed this year. When I heard people talking about lent on Facebook, I thought, "Oh no! Already?" I know of some activities we can do the week-of, but I'd like something fun and different to prepare my heart - and my children's - for this special, but often over looked, celebration.

So do you have any ideas for preparing for Easter?

I know it's a classic, but...

Is it sacrilegious to poke holes into a book that is known as a literary classic?

I just finished reading Little House on the Prairie to my kids. It's the first time I've ever read it. Somehow, though, I thought I knew all about the book series, having seen random episodes on TV of the family. I couldn't wait to dive into this classic!


We are studying about the pioneer's westward expansion. Laura and her family captured the attention of all of us as we lived the days with them, listened to the wolves howling outside of the cabin, sweated with pa as he worked so tirelessly day in and day out, and shivered with Laura when the Indian War Cries rang in the night.

Then, this afternoon we read the last two chapters.

My girls just stared at me like, "What? That's it?"

So basically, they pack up, move, and everything we just read was as if it never happened. We thought it was quite a let-down! I could hardly believe it.

So, in light of this, we eagerly went to the shelf and grabbed the next book in the series, hoping to find out what the brave, hard-working family does next. But unfortunately, it's about another boy, in another city entirely. We all just sighed and put it back on the shelf.

I know, I know, she marries that farmer boy. But I think we need to let the strange end of this book settle before we dive into the life of another young person.

Some good Valentine's Day Readings

Here are two blogs I really enjoyed on this heart-filled day. :)


The Real Story Behind Valentine's Day.  In case you wondered! I didn't know this history.

Happy Valentine's Day? A Single friend's awesome perspective on this day filled with the ultimate gift of love.

If the Christian Life Were a Board Game...

Free parking. Millionaire Acres. Checkmate. All-play. 

What do these words have in common?

They’re related to games I like to play. I think games should be the sixth Love Language. It’s no wonder that while unable to sleep due to a really strong cup of coffee my kind friends made me, and while thinking through the stuff of life, my late night creativity started relating it to none other than a board game.

I call this game “The Christian Community.” 

Each player is dealt two cards, but is not allowed to look at them. As we take our turns around the board, we land on life tiles – scenarios to be solved – and we choose which player to go to for help with these life tile items. They will then play a card on us. As we learn what cards the players have, we begin to make choices along the way of who we go to based on the specifics of the life tile combined with the cards in the players' hands.

The crazy thing is that the players are not able to look at the cards they are playing on us. They can read everyone else’s cards, however, and upon careful thought, they can figure out their own cards. Once they learn the identity of their own card, they can choose to turn it in for another card or keep it.

The Goal:

Collect life tiles from other players when they choose to come to you. To do this, it is best to figure out your own card, so you can choose to turn it in for a new card or play a different one. If you learn and turn in three cards, you are eligible for the gold card.

Life Tiles:

These can be anything from broken water heaters to baseball scores, toddler tantrums to troubled teens, cancer, cold sores, and everything in-between.  

The Cards:

What are the cards? There are so many, but here are a few that you will encounter as you move your pawn across the board, landing on life tiles:

FIX IT CARD. This card wants to take action at once to solve the problem. A step-by-step plan will be set-up immediately, and if you follow this program, you are guaranteed to win the game, or so they claim.

JUDGEMENT CARD. When you come with an issue, you will be weighed, measured, and found lacking. There is an air of authority and harshness here. It might be based in reality, or it might not, but you are not given the benefit of the doubt.

BIBLE CARD. This card comes complete with a Bible verse for every problem. Similar to the fix-it card, but more spiritual, this player will often not take the time to hear the scenario fully before a Bible verse is dispensed.

YOU’RE STUPID CARD. When you present your life tile, this player thinks you’re stupid for having this problem to begin with. You are dismissed as being an idiot in their eyes. Though this is an unfriendly card, people may still choose this player based on their life tile because of the knowledge or experience that comes with this card.

PRAYER CARD. This player prays on the spot with you. No further action is taken, but sometimes, depending on the life tile, action is not desired.

LISTENER CARD. The player holding this card will listen and ask good clarifying questions to be sure they understand, and they will try to help you come to your own conclusions about the life tile.

PASSIVE CARD. This player will take no action when the life tile is given, one way or another.

EXPERT CARD. Similar to the “you’re stupid” card, but less severe, this player is an expert on everything. You will walk away with loads information, wanted or not, about any topic given.

WORRY CARD. This player will tell you every possible scenario that could go wrong with your life tile.

SWITCH CARD. When this card is played, it is no longer about your life tile, but theirs. The player with this card will immediately play their own life tile, complete with all the details, and your life tile is ignored.

CHEERLEADER CARD. This player will cheer you on, regardless of the life tile. You may not receive any help for your tile, but you know that someone is on your team in the game.

FUN CARD. Your life tile itself is ignored as this player escorts you swiftly to more fun and entertaining areas of the board game.

GOLD GRACE CARD. Often seen as the most desired card in the pack, it is colored gold. It can only be drawn after a player has figured out at least 3 other cards that he has been holding and has turned them in. When you go to someone with this card, the player will listen completely to the description of your life tile, ask good questions to clarify the scenario, and offer help based on the individual need. Often, the help may look like other cards, but that is what give this card its value – it can change based on the current need of the person and tile given.

______________________________________ 

What other cards have you encountered in this game?

______________________________________

As I move around the board, I’m trying to learn what my cards are. I can look back at past life tiles given to me to see how people responded. When faced with another choice, did they come to me again? I can also seek help from people on my team, but of course I’ll probably hear different responses based on the cards that they’re holding in their hands.

However the game plays out, I want to follow the goal of learning my cards and turning them in, so that in the end, I’ll be left with the grace card. Don’t you?

______________________________________  

Husband Prayers: Day 20

Day 20: Praying for His Attitude

Lord, you care about every aspect of my husband, even his attitude, which is a reflection of his heart.  You say, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matt 5:8)  And “out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45b)  You aren’t looking for a superficial attitude change, but a heart change that comes from faith in you.   

Teach my husband to be content in all circumstances (Phil 4:11) and to be filled with your love, which bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.  (I Cor 13:7)  Help him not to be worried or anxious about anything in his life.  Instead, cause him to bring it to You in prayer, thanking You for Your faithfulness.   

Then, Lord, fill him with Your peace that is beyond comprehension, that guards his heart and mind in Christ Jesus.  (Phil 4:6-7).  Even today, may he enter your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise, giving you thanks and praising your name!

 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
       but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

All the days  of the afflicted are bad, but one with a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

 Proverbs 15:15

Praise the LORD.  Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45

Husband Prayers: Day 19

Day 19: Praying for His Past

Lord, there are times when I wish we had a rewind/erase button for our lives.  But what has been done cannot be undone.  There are things in my husband’s past that he regrets and wishes he could change.  There are things that happened to him that left scars that affect who he is today.  There are habits he has formed that are difficult to break. 

Lord, you provide so much hope!  You say that when we are in You, we are new creations - the old has gone, and the new has come!  You’ve created all things new!  (2 Cor 5:17)  Release him from any bondage and that comes from his old way of life and renew his mind with Your Spirit.  I pray my husband would be a new man who walks in true righteousness and holiness.  (Eph 4:22-24)  Help my husband forget all the things that are behind him, and instead, reach out for the things ahead of him.  Specifically, give him a focus of his future goal, things yet to come, rather than the past.  Help him fix his mind on You, Jesus, and Your return. (Phil 3:13-14)

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Phil 3:13-14

Husband Prayers: Day 18

Not all of us have children, but we can pray for the fathers we know, our own father, or even the father we want our husband to be!

Day 18: Praying for His Fatherhood

Dear Lord, I pray for my husband as a father.  Help him to grow close to you, his Heavenly Father, so that you are his example of how a father should be.  May the fruits of Your Spirit be evident in his life, especially by his children: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control. 

Give him wisdom in disciplining our children correctly.  I pray that he doesn’t avoid discipline when it’s needed, but instead is diligent in disciplining.  Please keep him from the other extreme, constantly provoking his children to anger.  Please guide him in raising them up in the discipline and instruction of you. 

Help him balance his life between work and family time, not going to either extreme.  Show me where I can help in both areas, not demanding or nagging, but by prayerfully coming to you in prayer. 

If there is division or anger between the kids and him, please bring healing.  Give my husband a humble heart to admit when he has been wrong and a strong Spirit to stand firm with what he knows is right.  I specifically pray for this situation _________.

Thank you, again, for being our perfect example of a father.  You are merciful, loving, just, true… show us the way to follow in your steps.

Eph 6:4  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 3:12  For the Lord disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 23:24  The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him.

2 Cor 8:18  “and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.