Thanks to everyone who sent in pictures of their Hill of Calvary. Sorry it's taken me so long to post. It's been one of those months that I've been so busy projecting, gardening and mothering that I haven't taken the time to actually document any of it.
So without further ado, here are you fabulous hills. I love how everyone used their own unique ideas and supplies. Check out the links and pin ideas for next year.
This is Pearl's Hill of Calvary. Check out her paper mache tomb.
This is the Van Kooten's hill. It got a little hairy! Love it!
Melissa translated my instructions into German and used them with in women's Bible study (along with Resurrection Eggs in German), as a way to encourage the moms to do something Christ-related with their families. How cool!
On Good Friday, I am reminded that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Who did Jesus die for?
For me.
Because of me.
For my sins.
Because he loved me.
We got this idea a few years ago from my friend, Wendy. Using a permanent red marker, make a red dot on the back of each hand. (If you do it on their palm, it washes off too easily.) Then, write your child's name over the marks.
Think it's too gruesome to tell your toddler that Jesus had nails driven through his hands for them? It is gruesome. It was painful. It was true sacrifice.
Your kids can handle this detail. They can. And they will be even more in awe of what Jesus did for them on the cross.
One year, Jack insisted that I mark his feet, too. I love it when my kids remember the details of God's truth. "They put nails in his feet, too, Mama."
Throughout the day, ask your child, "Who did Jesus die for?" They can respond, "For me!" Then, rejoice and thank God for his amazing gift of grace.
Have you met Amanda at OhAmanda? If you haven't you need to mozy on over to her place. Amanda has a passion about sharing Jesus with her kids. And not just sharing, but helping them experience Jesus. Amanda and I also share a passion about Easter:
"They believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy and Mickey Mouse with a simple nod from you. Why not help them believe in the power that brought Jesus back to life? Why not lead them to belief in Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection? Why not bring them to maybe not a full understanding--but to full belief in what Jesus did for them on the cross and in that tomb 2000 years ago?"
And what is one of the best ways of teaching our kids? Using hands-on, experiential activities.
A Sense of the Resurrection is Amanda's e-book that helps you help your children experience Easter using their 5 senses. There are 12 simple activities to be done before Easter. You’ll experience Jesus’ anointing, the Last Supper, Peter’s denial, the cross, the empty tomb and more. Memories will be made as your family uses their five senses to understand and believe the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Amanda's book includesstep-by-step activity instructions, printables, scriptures, talking points and more. And until Friday, you can save 20% off, using the code OHEASTER!
So you've read my "soapbox" and recent posts, but now you might be thinking, "What exactly is Lent?" "Isn't that something you do if you are Catholic?" Good questions.
I grew up in a small Baptist church, and other than Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, I don't recall celebrating the "season" of Lent. My first introduction to Lent was my brother's friend, Rocky Matoso. After riding BMX bikes on Friday afternoons, sometimes Rocky would stay for our family pizza night. But Rocky had to pick the meat off his pizza.
Me: "Why can't you eat meat?"
Rocky: "Because I'm Catholic and can't eat meat on Fridays until Easter."
Me: "Like, no meat at all?!"
Rocky: "Well, I can eat fish."
Me: "Isn't that meat?"
I was intrigued...and confused.
About seven years ago, I did some investigating, reading, praying and planning. Now as adult, I have found great significance in this important time. Here are a few more facts about Lent. (Remember, I'm not a theolgian or expert....just a mom sharing some information.)
Lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. The word “lent” is from the Anglo-Saxon word "lengten," which means spring. Lent, is never mentioned in Scripture and is not commanded by God. Christians are free to either observe or not observe it.
Technically, Lent is 46 days, but since all Sundays—and not simply Easter Sunday—are days to celebrate Christ's resurrection, Christians are forbidden to fast and do other forms of penance on those days.
Forty days is a traditional number of discipline, devotion, and preparation in the Bible. Moses stayed on the Mountain of God for 40 days (Exodus 24:18 and 34:28), the spies were in the land for 40 days (Numbers 13:25), Elijah traveled 40 days before he reached the cave where he had his vision (1 Kings 19:8), Nineveh was given 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4), and most importantly, prior to undertaking his ministry, Jesus spent 40 days in wilderness praying and fasting (Matthew 4:2).
Today (March 5) is the first day of Lent. My Catholic sisters will probably attend an Ash Wednesday service today and have their foreheads marked with ash in the shape of the cross. "For dust you are and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). This is what God spoke to Adam and Eve after they had eaten of the forbidden fruit and fallen into sin. The ashes remind us of our sinfulness and mortality, and, thus, our need to repent. The cross foreshadows the end of Lent--Easter Sunday--that through Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection there is forgiveness for all sins, all guilt and all punishment.
Some people also vow to “abstain” from something until Easter (often food-related). For me, as a mother of young children, I'm not comfortable asking them to give something up—or maybe it would be nice if they gave up whining, eating their buggers and walking in on me when I am on the toilet....but I digress. My main reason for this is because my Catholic friends have said that their childhood memories of Lent were negative because they had to give up something like candy, without really understanding why. With my children, I want to foster a love and anticipation of Easter--not a sense of dread.
Still, there is something to be said for leading by example. For me, however, Lent is not a time just to "give something up." But rather a season for purification. This is something I hope to model to my sprouts, remembering that the things that are important to me, will also become important to them.
“Lent is traditionally associated with penitence, fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. It is a time for 'giving things up' balanced by 'giving to' those in need....It is time to let go of excuses for failings and shortcomings; a time to stop hanging on to whatever shreds of goodness we perceive in ourselves; a time to ask God to show us what we really look like.” -Bread and Wine, Readings for Easter and Lent
In anticipation of Lent, the last two weeks I've been purging and reorganizing each room of the house. As I cleaned, I prayed that God would reveal to me the things in my soul that need to be repented, forgiven and transformed--the yucky things that no one may see, but are definitely not of God. Attitudes. Grudges. Pride. Indulgence.
In preparation for his ministry, Jesus went away for 40 days in the desert. As mother, we too may need 40 days to become more effective in the ministry God has given us. Namely, our families and children. There may be some things impeding our effectiveness and impact as mothers. This Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent, ask the Lord to reveal to you things of which you may need to purify yourself.
Creating your own Hill of Calvary is a meaningful Easter activity that will teach the true meaning of the holiday. This grass garden features the hill where Jesus was hung on the cross and a small tomb where he was buried and rose again. It makes a very symbolic centerpiece for your Easter table and its an incredible teaching tool for your little sprout.
Note: It's best to start your Hill of Calvary at least 2 weeks before Easter.
Supplies:
Potting Soil or Jiffy Mix--I do suggest picking up a bag of this. Wal-Mart carries it and it is super cheap. It is used to start seeds and has a good "mulchy" consistency that holds moisture well.
Gravel
A few small rocks
10-inch terra cotta dish
4-inch terra cotta pot
4-inch terra cotta dish
Wheatberries for the grass--make sure they are organic and untreated. I got this big bag for under 2 bucks at Vitamin Cottage.
A good spray bottle
Sticks (for crosses)
Hot glue gun
Raffia or twine
Step 1: Lay the 4 inch pot on its side in the 10 inch dish. Use smallish rocks to hold the pot in place.
Step 2: Pour in a small layer of gravel for drainage.
Step 3: Make mud! The best way to apply the soil/dirt is by first making mud in a separate container. Just put your soil and water in a bucket of some sort and mix it up. Your kids will love the mud pie batter.
Step 4: Take handfuls of the mud and pack it all around the pot and in the dish. You will want to create a nice rounded hill.
Step 5: Spread a thick layer of seed over the ENTIRE soil area. You may have to kind of push it into the soil a bit on the steep sides. This is very important: Don't be stingy with the seed. If you want nice, dense grass, the seed needs to completely cover the surface of the soil. (Don't just sprinkle it.)
Step 6: Cover seed with a very thin layer of your mud mixture.
Step 7: Bring your dish garden inside and put it in warm sunlight. I put mine on a metal TV tray next to our sliding door. Having it up off the ground is a good idea when you have little tots running around. Remember, the terra cotta is porous so it's going to leak some moisture. Don't just set it on your coffee table! Put a tray, plate, etc. underneath it.
Step 8: WATER! For the first 3-4 days you will need to spray and water your hill three times per day. So if you are heading out for the weekend, wait to do this project until you get home. Before the seeds take root, the soil will run off pretty easily...(think erosion) so at first you will mainly need to rely on using a spray bottle to irrigate...
Once the grass takes root and matures, you'll be able to slowly drizzle water on it, without losing your hill. Now that my hill is fully mature, I stick it in the sink, turn the water on VERY low and then use my little sprayer hose to water.
Also note that when the seed first starts to grow, it will actually "push up" some of the soil as seen here. Check out the crack above. Just drizzle water, spray and gently press the soil back down. You don't want it to dry out and just fall off.
Step 9: Watch it grow! Within 2 days you will probably see small white roots shooting out.
Step 10: Make three crosses out of collected sticks. I used hot glue to hold them in place and then wrapped raffia around to secure it and hide glue. Note that the grass will grow faster and higher than you think. Make your crosses a little bit "jumbo" sized because they will need to be nestled down in the grass and yet, you still want to be able to see them.
Where is Jesus?
He has risen! He has risen, INDEED!
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Lessons from the Hill of Calvary:
As you work on creating the project, watering, etc. talk about the Easter story with your child. This is whole Mustard Seed thing in action--planting God's truth--while you are literally planting.
Anne and I had a particularly good conversation as we made the crosses. She wondered why there were three crosses instead of just one for Jesus. We got to talk about how there where two other men who died on the hill with Jesus, but they had actually done some bad things. Jesus was pure and did nothing wrong. He died on the cross for OUR sins.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
Other questions followed:
Anne: "Why he didn't just get down? I would have helped him get down."
Me: "Well, he did it just for us. He knew what we couldn't be with him because of OUR sin, so he died on the cross for OUR sin."
Good, profound truth happens when you are gardening.
I've read this post several times over the last couple of weeks. It's challenged me to think differently about the "little neighbors" that live down the hall from me.
It's taken some time for the me to complete the final chapter of my Psalm 31 Journey blog series. Not sure why....other than the fact that I've been reflecting on what to share. Here goes.
It's been a little more than a year since I fell head deep into the pit. I feel so thankful to be at a completely different place now. In the last few months I feel like God has brought me full circle. I knew that God told me to not worry about "paying people back" and to just "receive." Yet, I was filled with joy when I recently realized that I had been able to serve those who had served me so much during such a difficult time. I was able to give back to them through childcare, time, meals. Not because I felt like I had to. In fact, at the specific moments of need, I didn't even connect the two situations. I did it because I was "full" again. I had the energy and joy and love to give away once again. The Lord healed me and brought me full circle to fill up others in their time of need.
And I am so, so thankful for that fact. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for seeing me through the fog. Indeed, "My lips will shout for you when I sing praise to you, I whom you have delivered.."
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Last December, slightly before Christmas....the Lord gave me a message. There have been times in my life when I feel like the Lord has very specifically spoken to me. Usually at these times, he not only tells me, but confirms it two of three other times....through a song, a sermon message, a friend. And that's what he did last Christmastime.
His message: "I delight in you."
A woman at church stopped me out the blue to tell me that God told her to tell me, "God wants you to know he DELIGHTS in you."
A few hours later, I got a text from another friend reminding me that "God is delighted with you, Janna."
Okay...I'm seeing a pattern. Then, it was confirmed in His Word.
"He delights in me." Psalm 18:19
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every details of their lives.” Psalm 37:23
"The LORD your God is with you, 'he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph. 3:17
Over the next few days and weeks. The message kept rolling around in my head. It was like a soothing balm on my journey to healing.
He delights in me. It made me feel a little giddy inside, kind of like the feeling you get when you find out a boy likes you.
He delights in me--the one he created. He completely understand me--and delights in it. He smiles at me. Not because of what I accomplished during the day. But just because I am me. He doesn't care if I haven't showered, if I didn't work out, if I let my kids watch 4 episodes of Shaun the Sheep. He simply delights in me.
It also brought a sense of peace--that HE sees me, and HE understands my heart. He knows what I pray and ponder. He knows my motives and secret thoughts (both beautiful and ugly). Even when my husband or dearest friends don't quite "get it," HE does--and he delights in me.
Maybe someone needs to hear that today. So LISTEN UP! The Lord DELIGHTS in you. Read that again--out loud: The Lord delights in ME. Absorb the truth of those words. Whisper it throughout the day. And feel the security, peace and joy that it brings.
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:14-19
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 5:13-14
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Ephesians 4:29
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