Celebrating Ascension

It has been 40 days since Easter, the day traditionally used to mark Jesus' ascension to heaven as recorded in Acts.  I am sharing below a post from two years ago (I can't believe how little my girls look!).  I hope this simple and sweet way to mark the day helps your family remember that Easter Sunday isn't the end of the story.   If you are in the midst of the end of school like we are, and just trying to drag your family over the the end-of-year finish line, tuck this idea in the back of your mind and pull it out in July for a family devotion.  We are not people living under the law, any day is a good day to train our children in the Word of God.  

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Last Sunday was Ascension Sunday when we remember Jesus ascending to Heaven.  Jesus had been with the apostles for 40 days since His resurrection.
“…he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”  Act 1:9

 When I saw this cute idea on Cultivated Lives, I knew my girls would love it.  The blue Jello and Cool Whip clouds are such a fun visual reminder of Ascension.   

Last night I surprised Pete and the girls with their Ascension desserts.  (You can see mine were not nearly as cute.  Reddy Wip from a can does not hold up like Cool Whip!)   I added a strawberry cut into the shape of a heart to represent the promise of the gift God would send after Jesus' ascension. 

Our family has been reading the Book of Acts each morning since Easter, so instead of reading the biblical account of Jesus' ascension, we played "Ascension trivia."  Emily (6) surprised us all by having all the answers.  She of course thought that deserved a reward.  You can guess it where this lead....

The joy of watching the girls enjoying their blue jello (I don't serve a lot of blue food around here.) and just spending a few extra minutes at the dinner table together, was such a great reminder to me that raising faith in our children doesn't have to be serious or difficult, we don't have to have the perfect devotion guide or a seminary degree.  It can be as simple as some blue jello, a can or Reddi Wip and the time to talk about our great and loving God.

As for the little strawberry heart... Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift God would send.  They waited 10 days, and then received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This is marked by Pentecost in the church calendar.  My girls are marking off 10 days on our chalkboard.  Next Wednesday night we will celebrate it.  I will share ideas for celebrating Pentecost and the church's birthday next week.

Family Fun Night at Bay Leaf Baptist Church

Last night was our church's first Family Fun Night of the summer.  It was "Leap of Faith"  night.  We had about 225 people come for dinner, family devotion activities, and worship. It was a great night of showing what the church should be for families - a partner that says, "hey, let us walk alongside you and help you learn to lead your own kids."  It has long been Pete and I's passion to see church activities where you don't drop off your kids at their program and go to your own.  It was so exciting to see this idea come to life!

Our family had great conversations as we played outdoor games, did indoor activities, and explored themes of faith, salvation and God's holiness in His Word.  The night ended with worship.  If you are in the Raleigh and would like to join us - there are two more Family Fun Nights coming up.  There is no cost - you can register here. 

The girls playing "Mr. Clean" an activity about God's holiness - our favorite of the night! 

Dinner.  We played bible trivia during dinner - congrats to the Reed family who won! 

Closing Worship. 

Families outside for Mr. Clean and Reach the Goal games. 

This morning I have been working on next week's Family Fun Night - and it is going to be great! The theme is "Power of Words."  There are tongues, and fire, and toothpaste involved - and that's all I can share with you! I hope you'll join us if you are in the area.

Seeing Our Children

Last weekend I had the sweet privilege of speaking at Bay Leaf Baptist Church's Spring Tea.  It is a wonderful church tradition that brings together women of all ages - 6 years old and up - to celebrate the women in our lives.  I have spoken or taught at about 30 classes, workshops, and women's events this year, but this one will stand to me for two sweet reasons....  Sarah and Emily.

It was the first time them have seen me speak (although as Sarah pointed out, I speak everyday to her).  I wasn't speaking on my normal topic of spiritual parenting, but instead had the opportunity to speak about three women who have revealed God to me this year through the lives they live.  The first woman I spoke about was my grandmother's 91-year-old friend.  (I will share her story in another post.)  The second woman I spoke about was Sarah. The third was Emily.  I wish I could tell you what their faces looked like when I shared the amazing ways they are allowing God to uniquely use each of their lives - but I can't, because I couldn't look at them, because I was trying REALLY hard not to blubber.  Blubbering into a mic is really unattractive.

It was such a blessing to the girls and I to have a moment to say, "I see you."  Often in our negative, sarcastic Facebook society it is cooler and easier to make a dig at your children to get a laugh or 32 likes on your posting, than it is to celebrate your child.   Celebrating who our kids are, and especially the way God is moving in their lives, is critical to building up confident kids who believe in themselves and the role they have as redeemed children of God.

It is tough being 11.  Sarah is too tall.  She has acne.  She now wears a torso brace.  Girls are mean to her at school.  But...  I see a girl who is passionate about righting wrongs, who is hilarious, who loves her family, whose mind is a big old sponge. I see God on the move through her in mighty ways.

It can be tough to be Sarah's little sister.  Sarah is in the newspaper.  She gets to do all sorts of bigger kid things.  Emily is my baby, but she needs to hear that I see her growing up.  I see her immense compassion. I see her love for her friends and family. I see the way she finds small, sweet, consistent ways to bless everyone around her.  I see God's love in her and it makes me a better person.  

It is rare that one gets given a stage and mic to speak about your kids in front of 150 others, but I don't think that is what our kids need (I think I nearly killed Sarah from embarrassment). Our kids just need us to take five minutes at the end of the week when the world, and recess, and final exams have beaten them up, to take their sweet faces in our hands, look them in the eye and tell them..

  "I see you, and you are incredible."