Summer, almost over?!

Wow! Where did the summer go?! It has been a very busy, yet very good summer for us! Last time I posted, our school year was coming to an end, now our school year is getting ready to begin again. In between this time, we have visited with old friends; my sister has moved close(er); and we have had one activity after another.

Best news first, both of our boys made a decision to get baptized! We are so proud of them!!

On July 4th, we enjoyed time spent with my sister and her husband. We had a BBQ and enjoyed some impromtu fireworks. Surprisingly, our neighbors put on a pretty good show, too. :)

At the end of July, we were very busy with Missions Conference and Vacation Bible School at church. It was a great time of Christian fellowship, and making new friends.

In August, we took a trip down to Virginia to visit with my sister and her husband. There was an agricultural fair with rides and plenty of animals to see and pet!

A busy summer, now is starting to come to a close. We hope to begin school this week is Mom can get the lead out and stop stalling. HAHA!

Resurection Cookies

We finally got around to making those neat Resurrection cookies for Easter Sunday.

The night before Easter, we made these cookies while reading from the Bible of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection.

I managed to snap a few pictures while we were making the cookies.

Elizabeth, beating the nuts symbolizing just as Jesus was beaten.

The boys watching the batter being whipped up (they're basically meringues)

The white is for purity.

Placing the cookies onto the cookie sheet...

...and into the oven.

We then sealed the oven - just as the tomb was sealed - and went to bed.
In the morning we woke up, unsealed the oven and took a bite of our cookies. Unfortunately, I dont have any pictures of this because we were busy in the morning getting ready for church too. The cookies, though, were hollow in the center like an empty tomb. Unfortunatly, our cookies didnt turn out so well, I think I need to tweek some oven temperatures or cookie sizes when we try it next year. :)

Here is the recipe and Bible Verses that were read along as we made the cookies... it's a great lesson to do anytime of the year, not just Easter.

Ingredients:

• 1C whole pecans (we used almonds)
  
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1C sugar
• zipper baggie
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

Instructions:

Preheat Oven to 300 F. (Note: Do this first, don’t wait until you are half way done with the recipe!) Place pecans in Ziploc bag and let your children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

• Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

• Read John 19:1-3.

1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, 3 And said , Hail , King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.

• Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.

• Read John 19:28-30.

28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished , that the scripture might be fulfilled , saith , I thirst . 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said , It is finished : and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.

• Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

• Read John 10:10-11.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal , and to kill , and to destroy : I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.

• Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

• Read Luke 23:27.

27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 c. sugar.

• Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us, He wants us to know that and He wants us to love Him as well.

• Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

John3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have everlasting life.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.

• Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

• Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Isaiah 1:18 Come now , and let us reason together , saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

John3:1-3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest , except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.

• Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.

• Read Matthew 27:57-60.

When the even was come , there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple : 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered . 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.

• Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.

• Read Matthew 27:65-66.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way , make it as sure as ye can . 66 So they went , and made the sepulchre sure , sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

GO TO BED!

• Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

• Read John 16:20- 22

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament , but the world shall rejoice : and ye shall be sorrowful , but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come : but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice , and your joy no man taketh from you.

On Sunday morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On Resurrection morning, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

• Read Matthew 28:1-9.

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold , there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake , and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified . 6 He is not here: for he is risen , as he said . Come , see the place where the Lord lay . 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold , he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo , I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word . 9 And as they went to tell his disciples , behold , Jesus met them, saying , All hail . And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

My Testimony

This is my testimony of salvation that occurred on Sept 28, 2004. I pray that you will take time to read it, I know it is long but I also pray that maybe it will help you in one way or another through my experience.

Before the Lord saved my soul I completely denied him. I claimed to be "spiritual" and thought I knew quite a bit about all things "religion". I paid attention in Sunday school as a child (the few times I went), thumbed through the Bible, even studied other religious philosophies. It was my passion. I was seeking truth. I thought I found it. I bought into the worldly idea that everyone has a little bit of the truth in them; evil is just the wrong perspective on things; hell doesn't exist. I dabbled in all sorts of ideas trying to find God, peace and understanding, from crystals and meditation, Buddhism, reading books on Native American practices, shamanism, animal and nature spirits, angels, the list goes on. In none of these I found peace. The only thing I received was a temporary feeling of accomplishment of my own doing, relying on my own "power". My life was... well the best word I can use to describe it is "lost", though I didnt know that until I was "found". I was like a person a drift at sea in a dingy landing on island after island hoping that it might be mainland but only finding desert. Finally, one day the Lord took mercy on me and pulled up like a giant rescue ship to pull me out of my drifting dingy.

The summer of 2004 my husband was deployed for his second time to Iraq. I had a 2 and 4yr old, living in North Carolina and we were getting hurricane after hurricane every 2 weeks or so. To some this isn't a big deal but I had grown such a fear of storms that I was living in non-stop terror with no one to lean on for support. I had no friends that lived even within the state, having 2 toddlers didn't leave me time for socializing. Family was too far away and my husband was busy defending freedom. I felt like a wild animal caught in a cage.

During all of this, the movie The Passion came out on DVD. Being always interested in all things "religion", I bought it. I always loved those Easter stories and I fully expected to entertain myself by pointing out all of its "false truths". As I watched the movie, I thought many times, "wow I didnt know that!" Now, we know that Mel Gibson did take some liberties in the story but it peaked my interest to see how much of that was actually said in the Bible. No sooner was the movie over, I went up to our storage closet where I knew we had one Bible buried in the boxes. I cracked that book open and began to read, starting with Matthew, fully convinced that Jesus was just a prophet, a good man, never claiming to be God.

It didn't take long before God gave me my first revelation. My Bible had reference notes in the margins where it would show where the subject could be read about in other parts of the Bible. In Matthew chapter 1 verse 22 and 23, after telling about Mary receiving the news of her coming child, it says that all this was foretold by a prophet - referencing the book Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14 and chapter 9 verses 6 and 7. Being the diligent student, I turn to that part and low and behold details being described accurately of what would eventually be the Christmas story we all know. I check when Isaiah was written, what? 20? 50 years before Christ was born? No, about a whopping 700years before it even happened! I was amazed! I faithfully looked up each reference to the Old Testament as I read through the Bible, getting amazed over and over again. Everything was foretold hundreds of years before, from His miracles to how Christ was crucified. By this point I was convinced this is no ordinary book. I couldn't get enough. The only thing I wanted to watch on TV was something about Jesus, the only thing I wanted to listen to on the radio was something about God and the only thing I wanted to read was the Bible. As soon as the boys went to bed I opened my Bible and would read and study until it was 3 or 4 in the morning.

Though I was enthralled, though I was interested, I was still convinced no where did Jesus claim to be God. Nothing I had read (through my own understanding) said so otherwise, that is until I came to the Book of John, chapter 1 no less. Verse 1 says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." And then I got to Verse 14: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." So verse 14 it says the Word was made flesh and then in 1 says the Word is God. I realized John was talking about Jesus, He is the Word and that means John says Jesus is God. Huh! "Oh," but I think, "Jesus still hasn't said anything about him being God, that's just John's opinion." So I continue to read on until I arrive at chapter 14, where my entire life was changed. Jesus is speaking to his disciples and they ask him to show them the Father, God the Father, and Jesus says in verse 9: "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" and in verse 10:" Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me?"

There He said it, my world stopped.

I had to stop and think.

There's no turning back now, I had a choice to make.

I knew the truth now and I had to decide, was I going to accept it? Was I going to be able to let go of my pride, eat crow and be able to say all those things I once believed are completely wrong. I really actually sat there and thought on it for a while. Fear of what my husband would think (that was a big fear), fear of what friend and family would say began to come up. Then it occurred to me, if these things did happen, if Jesus is God, that means there is a Heaven and there is a Hell. Was I willing to risk Hell for my pride? That didnt take long to answer. I was on my knees praying and accepting Jesus as my Lord over my life. More things happened after that, I could probably write a novel. My life was completely changed and the Amy that once was, the one that most of you knew, no longer exists. The image of using a caterpillar turning into a butterfly to describe salvation does that better than any words that I have. That life crippled with fear I described above was gone. I became overflowing with peace. I assure you when God blesses He never blesses just a little bit, it is always in abundance! My world had changed!

There are times when my stubborn mule, prideful self shows up again and I try to cross my arms and turn my back thinking I know what's right; you cant tell me anything; I know it all. But when I uncross my arms and say OK I'll give it a try, that's when God meets me ALL the way and amazing things happen. Imagine a little boy who won't walk across a bridge, turning his back on his father shouting, "no! no! no!" Instead he peeks over his shoulder and softly says "ok, but I'm just taking one step." Before that boy barely puts his foot forward his father swoops him up and joyfully rushes him across. God doesn't expect us to do anything, just to have a willing heart and to trust Him. He has given us the answers now we get the choice, are we going to turn our back and says "no! no! no" or are we going to give a peek and a try?

I wrote all of this because I love you, because I want to share this great gift that God has to offer with you.

Thank you for reading my novel. (haha)