Sabbath

     I recently read an article from the "Signs of the Times" about Sabbath.  Here are a few of the excerpts that I found particularly interesting:

      As Sabbath begins, the mother is the one who officially receives Sabbath by lighting candles.  Many times one candle is lit for each member of the family.  The mother then offers a prayer asking God to bless her family.
  
      "Candlelight represents the Sabbath blessing that still shines from creation.  One can light a whole roomful of candles from a single taper without diminishing the luster of its light.  Just so, the rich blessing God intended for us on Sabbath has not diminished since He blessed the first Sabbath day."
  
      The father then takes his children in his arms or puts his hands on their bowed heads and recited a blessing for each one.  To affirm his wife's place of honor on the Sabbath and her important position in the home, the husband sings a love song from Proverbs.

    Throughout the evening they pause to sing joyous table hymns that reflect the jubilant mood of the Sabbath.

    Can't say that we will adopt all of these traditions but I did find them interesting.   I particularly like the candles and the father's blessing on the children.


                 For more information:    "Sabbath is for Love." Signs of the Times August 2010:  pages 43-46

Service

I grew up delivering May Day flowers to our neighbors.  I approached the door timidly with a little knot in my stomach.  As I rang the door bell, my heart raced as I tore away in the hopes of not being discovered. 

Now we will start the tradition again and use it as an excuse to share more than just flowers with our neighbors.  We desire to share the joy and hope we have found in Jesus.  You can go here to order tracts.  

This is how we are making our "baskets":

Have a happy May Day  :)

How I grow in Jesus

We did an activity to compare how we grow in Jesus to the way a seed grows.

Julie Craig's pictures

This was done with pots but we will continue the lesson when we start a garden.

 I made a little "book" for each kid so they could refer to the lessons as their seed grew.  It is nothing special, just a series of pictures tied together.  

"The garden of the heart must be cultivated.  The soil must be broken up by repentance.  The evil growths that choke the good grain must be uprooted.  As soil once overgrown with thorns can be reclaimed only by diligent labor so the evil tendencies of the heart can be overcome only by earnest effort in the name and strength of Christ."  Child Guidance pg. 57  

There are more explanations and resources on this topic in Child Guidance on page 56 (and throughout the book).

Praise

This Sabbath I needed my own uninterrupted, extended time with Jesus.  Matt took Calissa to Sabbath school and left me at home to have the hours I needed with Jesus.  Jesus got right to the point and changed so much in those few short hours.  I am going to share a few of the quotes that have helped me regroup and refocus.  I know this doesn't directly relate to the kids but thought I would share just in case it could be a blessing to anyone else.  :)

All of the quotes are from the book "The Ministry of Healing" and from the chapter Help in Daily Living. 

Hikers struggling up Mt. Shasta in bad weather

      "Many who sincerely consecrate their lives to God's service are surprised and disappointed...  They pray for Christlikeness of character, for a fitness for the Lord's work, and they are placed in circumstances that seem to call forth all the evil of thier nature.  Faults are revealed of which they did not even suspect the existence.  Like Israel of old they question, "if God is leading us, why do all these things come upon us?
 
      It is because God is leading them that these things come upon them.  Trials and obstacles are the Lord's chosen methods of discipline and His appointed conditions of success.  He who reads the hearts of men knows their characters better than they themselves know them.... In His providence He brings these persons into different positions and varied circumstances that they may discover in their character the defects which have been concealed from their own knowledge. " p. 470-471

      "We need to beware of self-pity.  Never indulge the feeling that you are not esteemed as you should be, that your efforts are not appreciated, that your work is too difficult.  Let the momory of what Christ has endured for us silence every murmuring thought.  We are treated better than was our Lord." p. 476

       "His love is as far above all other love as the heavens are above the earth.  He watches over His children with a love that is measureless and everlasting." p. 482

    These are a couple of the quote that really helped me to look at things from a different perspective.  The things I was upset about are the same for which I am now praising Him.  He is doing a good work and I can trust Him to do it.  I praise God for 'trials' now, hopefully I don't forget too quickly! 

Easter

 A friend on facebook recommended this book.  It is available in book format but it appears that the kindle version is free.   I just ordered my own copy of the book for $1.99 

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Worship

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful to him, and bless his name."  Psalm 100:4

 These hymn books could be used during family worship.  

Photos from Barb Holm

Easter

Julie Craig, a good friend, is a mother of two children, Thomas (4) and Emily (20 months).  She was a kindergarten teacher before having her own children.  She has some great ideas! 

She says:  
"We will begin our Easter hunt for Jesus nearly two weeks before Easter.  I have bought two sets of The Resurrection Eggs for the kids and an Easter tree to hang them on.  Every day they will look for their egg to hang on the tree.  When they find it they can open it up and see what’s inside.  And then we will read about why that object is important in the Easter story. 

There are several books that can be used to help explain each object.  A book comes with the eggs and it gives references in the Bible.  We’ll also use The Bible Story (vol. 9) and Character Building Stories (vol. 2).  Another book that goes along with the eggs is Benjamin’s Box.  It’s a fictional story but told from a child’s perspective.  

In addition to the eggs, we will make some special cookies on the Friday before Easter.  They are called Resurrection Cookies." 

You can check out her blog if you would like more information.  https://jrcraigphotography.wordpress.com/ 

We are going to use the resurrection eggs with Calissa too, thanks Julie for all the ideas!  Easter Sunday will be a big celebration!!  

The best thing I can do for my child

Coach Schwartz, one of my high school teachers, shared this quote.  It is talking of mothers but I think the word parents could be substituted.  :)

"Let mothers come to Jesus with their perplexities. They will find grace sufficient to aid them in the management of their children. The gates are open for every mother who would lay her burdens at the Savior's feet. He who said, 'Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not,' still invites the mothers to lead up their little ones to be blessed by Him. Even the babe in its mother's arms may dwell as under the shadow of the Almighty through the faith of the praying mother. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth. If we will live in communion with God, we too may expect the divine Spirit to mold our little ones, even from their earliest moments." {Desire of Ages p 512.3}
                                                                             

I am again faced with this fact: The greatest of my needs is time with Jesus!  If I am communing with Him, I can "expect the divine Spirit to mold 'my' little one, even from her earliest moment."   I greatly desire this!  My time with Jesus should be motivated by my love for Him but this adds even more motivation.  What a wonderful and loving Father we serve, He promises so much!

Sabbath is special

We have been looking for and implementing ideas for making Sabbath a very special day.  We have found a few ideas that we have enjoyed these past few Sabbaths.
Here are a few of them:

Erin Houghton has been doing the cutest meals for her kids and we have adopted the idea for Calissa's Sabbath breakfast.  I must say Erin is much better at it than I am but our daughter still loves it!  :)

Erin Houghton 's photos

We have also decided to do things differently to start Sabbath.  I am usually pretty ragged at the end of Friday after all the cleaning and such so we decided we would dress up a little more than usual to start the Sabbath.  Neither of us dress up much... so it is something different than the rest of the week.  In families where they dress up a lot it might be nice to get comfortable...  Then it is time to sit down to welcome the Sabbath.

The dinner table is also special with a table cloth, candles, nice dishes, flowers/plant, and music.    After dinner there are special Sabbath toys that are greatly looked forward to each week.  Felts are used at times during the week but only on Sabbath is Calissa allowed to play with them.   Still, the ark is her most anticipated Sabbath toy.

Bath time is extra special with bath crayons and lots of bubbles but still considering the idea of having bathing done before sundown.  In order to get everything done I am having to start the on Thursday but it is so special that it is worth the effort!  :)

The special Sabbath PJ's

 Thanks to all the ladies who work so hard at church to make Sabbath school really good!!  Our daughter loves Sabbath school and is excited to get there every week.  Sabbath is truly a very happy day!   :)

We are looking for more ideas!   If you have any thoughts on this topic,  please contact me!  :)