Great Inspiration!

Anxiety weighs down the heart, 
    but a kind word cheers it up.

“A live body is not one that never gets hurt, but one that can to some extent repair itself. In the same way a Christian is not a man who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent and pick himself up and begin over again after each stumble - because the Christ-life is inside him, repairing him all the time, enabling him to repeat (in some degree) the kind of voluntary death which Christ Himself carried out.”

Maya Angelou once said:
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”

May love & strength be in your hands

May love & courage be in your heart

May love & wisdom be in your mind

May God go with you, and work through you, today and in all days. Amen

This year we will be in London on Easter Sunday. I didn’t want to miss out on the true meaning of Easter, so we will be doing activities for the 12 days leading up to Palm Sunday. In the future, I will do something like this but leading up to Easter Sunday. There are some great websites that have ideas. My pinterest has some great ideas.

Easter 2012

March 21: The name of Jesus. Read Luke 1. Name of Jesus. Intro bunny

March 22:  Jesus feeds the 5000. Read Matt 14. Cut fish & loaves

March 23:  Jesus calms the storm. Read Matt 8. Make storm in bottle.

March 24:  Jesus heals the blind man. Blindfold. Read John 9. Reaction and how should we react

March 25:  Jesus washes feet. Talk about royalty. John 13. Wash feet?

March 26:  Mary Magdalene & the perfume. John 12. How can we give offerings to God

March 27:  Giving/rich young ruler. Give each 4 quarters. Read Matt 19. Better to give than to receive. What should we do w/$. Intro the Bunny Service Jar

March 28:  Jesus visits Zacchaeus. Read Luke 19. Think of people that need us to pay extra attention to them. Make a plan.

March 29:  Jesus loved children. Mark 10. How do we show love to each other. Everyone make a love coupon for one another.

March 30:  Jesus Wept. John 11. Jesus was sad but never lost hope. When have we felt sad? Jesus is our hope.

March 31:  Jesus Died for Us. Matt 27. What was it like to love Jesus and be there at crucifixion?  Write word on paper and put in egg until tomorrow. Make the  resurrection rolls

April 1: Palm Sunday. The tomb is empty. Read Matt 28. Jesus died for us, not because we deserve it, but because of His great love for us!

1.      Say Please.

2.      Say Thank you.

3.      Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency.

4.      Say excuse me.

5.      Ask permission first.

6.      Keep negative opinions to yourself.

7.      Do not comment on other people’s physical characteristics unless, of course, you compliment them.

8.      When people ask how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.

9.      Thank people for allowing you to spend time at their house.

10.  Knock on closed doors, and wait to see if there is a response, before entering.

11.  When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.

12.  Be appreciative and say “thank you” for any gift you receive.

13.  Never use foul language.

14.  Don’t call people mean names.

15.  Do not make fun of anyone for any reason.

16.  Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.

17.  If you bump into somebody, immediately say “Excuse me.”

18.  Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don’t pick your nose in public.

19.  As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.

20.  If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say “yes,” do so — you may learn something new.

21.  When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.

22.  When someone helps you, say “thank you.” That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!

23.  Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.

24.  Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.

25.  Don’t reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed.

I am in the middle of the third book in The Hunger Games series and I just love these books! They challenge your thinking and keep you on the edge of your seat! Check them out!

http://www.thehungergames.co.uk/

God’s Promises for Boys is a small cute inspirational book for young boys. The illustrations are done well and make the book appealing to young boys. There are many different topics throughout the book that provide quick bits of insight and encouragement, along with Bible verses as well. It is a great way to begin having daily devotionals with your young boy!

I. We confuse our priorities.
II. The priorities we all believe, but struggle to put into action:

1. God

2. Marriage

3. Children/Grandchildren

4. Other/including vocation

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

III. The problem: Over-committed and Under-Connected

• We must be intentional with our connections.
• Kids need emotional connection
• We get into crisis mode living and marriage

IV. Repair the past

• Be ruthlessly honest about your brokenness
• Focus on your stuff, not his/her stuff
• If the tooth is infected, pull it. Ask is it (schedule, rule, expectation) working? Get rid of the bad.
• Seek forgiveness and give forgiveness

V. The goal: The Ephesians 5:21 marriage. Mutually submit to one another

VII. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up