Sunday, April 28, 2013

Day 25: A recipe

This recipe is really good to make for Easter. They are called Resurrection cookies. The cookies is really for the kids, but the taste is definitely for everyone.



Resurrection Cookie Recipe

Supplies:
  • 1 cup almonds (or pecans)
  • 1 tsp. vinegar
  • 3 egg whites
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • Zipper baggy
  • Wooden spoon
  • Mixing bowl
  • Mixer
  • Cookie sheet
  • Spoons
  • Tape
  • Bible
1)  PREHEAT OVEN TO 300 DEGREES.  Place one cup nuts into a baggy.  Beat the nuts with a wooden spoon until broken into tiny pieces.  Remind children Jesus was beaten by the Roman Soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3

1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
I also included Isaiah 53:5:
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

2)  Allow each child to smell the vinegar.  Pour a small amount into a bowl and allow them to taste it.  Explain that vinegar was given to Jesus to drink when he was on the cross.  Add 1 tsp. vinegar into a mixing bowl.

Read John 19:28-30

 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

3)  Add egg whites to vinegar.  The eggs in this recipe represent life.  They remind us that Jesus gave his life to give us life abundantly.

Read John 10:10-11

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

4)  Put a pinch of salt in your child’s hand.  Allow them to taste it.  Add a pinch of salt to to the eggs and vinegar.  The salt represents the salty tears cried by the women who followed Jesus.

Read Luke 23:27

27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him
5)  Place a pinch of sugar in your child’s hand.  Allow them to taste it.  Add one cup sugar to the mixture.  Up to this point, the ingredients have been very  bitter, but the sweetness in the recipe comes from the sugar.  The suffering and death of Jesus are bitter, but the sweetness is that Jesus died because He loves us.  Oh, how He loves us!

Read Psalm 34:8

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Read John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
6)  Beat the mixture for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed  (I recommend setting a timer — it’s important to beat the mixture well).   The whiteness of the mixture reminds us of purity and the cleansing of our sins because of Jesus’ death.

Read Isaiah 1:18:

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

7)  Stir in the nuts.
8)  Drop the dough by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet.  The mounds represent the tomb where Jesus was buried.

Read Matthew 27:57-60

57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
9)  After the oven is preheated, put the cookie sheets in the oven.  TURN OFF the oven.  Allow your child to place pieces of tape and “seal” the oven door.  Jesus’ tomb was sealed with a large rock.

Reread Matthew 27:59

59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

10)  Leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Your child might feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight (they were probably expecting to have a yummy treat soon – at least mine were).  Jesus’ followers were very sad when the tomb was sealed.

John 16:20-22

20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

11)  In the morning, open the oven and have some cookies!  The cookies should be hollow inside.  Remind your child that the tomb was empty.  Jesus is risen!

Read Matthew 28:1-9

1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
When I was younger, our family used to make these every year. We thought they were the most amazing things.


Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love

A movie I like is Barney's Great Adventure: the movie. I like this movie because it has great songs great plot, and great actors and actresses. Also, the kids are really sweet. Finally, It shows how kids love to use their imaginations. Here is a link to the trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=veUupCO9b-I

Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered

I want to be remembered as the girl who was named Olivia Kaitlin to live for two little girls. Before I was born, my mom was watching a show about a true story in which a new born baby named Olivia needed a heart transplant. Far away, Another newborn girl named Kaitlin died because of a brain defect. Kaitlin's family heard about Olivia and donated Kaitlin's heart. After the heart surgery, Olivia only lived for two months; Olivia's parent said that they were happy that they got to spend that precious two months with their daughter. So I was named Olivia Kaitlin May to live for those two little girls.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Day 22: A website

There is a really cool website called God Tube. This site works like you tube, but its all family friendly in a Christian atmosphere. All the videos are wonderful, but I particularly recommend Tim Hawkins videos and fine arts human videos and dramas. Here is a link to the site: http://www.godtube.com/

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Day 21: Something you do differently than most people

I realized this recently, when someone tells me a joke or a riddle, I never ever forget it. for examble: Someone told me this riddle four years ago: What is more powerful than God, more evil than satan, the poor have it, the rich need it, and if you eat it, you'll die? and the answer is nothing!

Day 20: a hobby of yours

I like to collect key chains. I started less than a year ago, and I already have ten of them. Something else  I want to do is collect all 56 adventures in odyssey albums. If I do, I can share each and every one with my children someday. So far, I have album 1,2,16,20,30,55, and 56 (seven albums). Plus, I will soon get three more.

Day 19: a talent of yours

A talent God has given me is writing stories. For fine arts, I wrote a short story that made it to nationals. My story is called "The Witness" Its about a 15 year-old girl named Hannah, and she... well, I think I'll just show you.


When I heard a knock on the door, I knew that it was my granddaughter, Millie. What I
did not expect, was for my usually happy, cheerful granddaughter, to come in with a
frown bigger than the St. Louis Arch.
            “What’s wrong Millie?” I asked, with concern.
            “I tried to witness to a girl from school and she told me Jesus was for wimps. It was so
 humiliating! I’m never going to witness again!” cried Millie.
            “Well, in that case, I have a story that will help you,” I said.
            “Really?” Millie asked, curiously.
            “Yes, it happened way back in 1976…”
            "Hannah, have you finished unpacking the boxes in your room?" called Hannah's mom.    

            “I just finished the last one," Hannah said as she walked into the kitchen. "I can’t wait to

see Lacy! I hope I get to tell her about Jesus soon, too.”

            Later that day, Hannah went over to her cousin Lacy’s house and when she answered the

door, Hannah smiled and said, "Hi, Lacy!”

            "Hannah! I still can't believe your here!" Lacy gasped and hugged her cousin.

            "I know! It’ll be so great to go to school together and see each other whenever we want!”

said Hannah. Then they went up to Lacy’s room to hang out.

            The next day after church, Hannah and her parents went over to read the bulletins. One of

them was asking for teachers for first though sixth grade classes.

            "Do you think you would like to do something like that?" asked her Dad.  

            "Yes, I think I’d like to teach 5th grade,” answered Hannah.

            The following week, when Hannah got to church, she went to her classroom and began

setting up. By the time the class started, there were ten kids sitting at desks looking at Hannah

curiously. Hannah read from Romans 3:23 ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of

God’ and 1 John 1:9 ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins

and purify us from all unrighteousness’. Then she talked about the ABC's of salvation: Admit

you are a sinner, Believe that Jesus died and rose again in order to save us, and Choose to trust

Jesus as Savior. She read many other verses and told about how Jesus has helped her in her own

life. She then asked if anyone wanted to pray to become a Christian. Hannah was so

happy when all ten children raised their hands and proceeded to say the life changing, life saving

prayer. On the way out, Hannah gave each of them a Bible.  
                                                   
            The next day, on the school bus, Hannah sat next to her cousin, Lacy. "Hi Lacy," said

Hannah.          

            "Hi, how was your weekend?" Lacy asked.

            “Well, I went to church and volunteered for a Sunday school class," answered Hannah,

happily.

            "That's cool" said Lacy.

            After school, Hannah and Lacy got off the bus at Lacy's house and went in. "Hi girls,"

said Lacy's mom. Hannah and Lacy went to Lacy's room to hang out and Hannah told her about

Jesus.
            "So, Jesus, who was perfect, was crucified so we could go to heaven; and even though all

he would have to do was call his angels and they would save him, he didn't?" asked Lacy.

            "Yeah!” answered Hannah.   

            “All you have to do in order to be with him forever is ask?" asked Lacy.

            "Yes, exactly, so do you want to ask?" Hannah asked hopefully.

            “Yes, I think it’s amazing that Jesus gave up his life for me,” said Lacy. Hannah was so

happy to say a prayer with her cousin.

            The next day after school, Hannah and Lacy went to Lacy’s house and there was a police

car pulling out of the driveway. They ran into the house and found Lacy’s mom crying. “What’s

wrong?” Lacy asked.

            Lacy’s Mom looked up at her daughter and said, “Your father has just been arrested.”

            “No, that can’t be!” cried Lacy.
           
            “I’m sorry, sweetie, but he confessed,” answered Lacy’s Mom.

            Lacy went running up to her room and Hannah followed her. Hannah said, “This is the

time when you need to trust in Jesus to help you get through this.”

            “You are right, Hannah. It’s really hard and I’m so scared, but I will try to trust him.”

Then Hannah sat down next to Lacy and prayed with her.

            On the way home from Lacy’s house, Hannah was hit by a car, and then everything went

black.
            Hannah opened her eyes and she was in a hospital. Hannah looked around for her parents,

and she saw them talking with a doctor out in the hall. They came into the room and Hannah’s

Mom asked her how she was feeling.

            "I’m really tired," answered Hannah slowly.

            "Unfortunately, we found some extensive internal bleeding," said the doctor. "I don't

think there's much we can do. I'm sorry."

            Later that day, Hannah was resting when her mom came into the room. "Hi sweetie, I

have a note for you; from Lacy."

            "Oh, thanks," said Hannah, taking the note.


Dear Hannah,

     I’m so sorry to hear what happened to you. I’m really glad you told me about Jesus. I don’t

know what I would do if I didn’t have Him to trust. You can never imagine the impact you had

on my life and the lives of others. I can't say goodbye to you because this isn't goodbye. I will

see you someday in heaven. This is just farewell until next time; you will be forever in my

memories.
                        Love,

                           Lacy

     Hannah held the note close, knowing that her life was complete. She sighed and drifted off to

sleep.
            “Then what happened?” asked Millie.
            “That’s where the story ends, Hannah dies.” I answered.
            “Hannah dies?! But, what’s the point of the story?” cried Millie.
            “The point is that witnessing can change many lives. Hannah knew that her work was
 finished on Earth. It says in Acts 20:24, ‘But I do not account my life of any value nor as
precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord
Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.’ Hannah earned an unimaginable reward in
 Heaven,” I answered.
            “Wow, thanks, Grandma. I don’t feel humiliated anymore. I think I will try to witness
again,” said Millie.
            “That’s wonderful, Millie, and remember, you can also witness by having a good
Christian attitude,” I said.     
            “You’re right. By the way, where did you find that story?” asked Millie.
            “Well, I was a part of the story. I was Lacy’s mother,” I said.
            “What?! So, my mom is Lacy? Hannah was my second cousin?” asked Millie.
            “Yes, Lacy was her middle name. Now she goes by her first name, Heather. Just think, if
Hannah hadn’t witnessed to Lacy, you might not have been raised in a Christian home. Your
mother later witnessed to both your grandfather and I and we also became Christians. You never
know who you may impact, even those who are currently nonexistent.”