Helena says... (Part Two)

Recently at a children's Bible study, Helena learned the story of Abraham and God's promise to him. We went over the story with her, and we connected the story to her memory verse from the study: "I trust in your word" (Psalm 119:42). God promised Abraham that he would have lots and lots of kids (as we put it), and Abraham trusted God's word; he trusted that God would do what he promised. And, of course, he did.

I also taught Helena the "Father Abraham" song (Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had father Abraham. I am one of them, and so are you, so let's all praise the Lord.). I like to change the word "sons" to "kids," to include daughters like Helena, and because its a better rendering of what God promised to Abraham anyways.

The other night at bedtime, I sang the Father Abraham song to Helena. Lying there in the dark, I tried to make the connection again for Helena. "Abraham trusted God's word."

To this, Helena promptly responded, "You didn't trust God's word, Daddy."

I was a bit taken aback by this bold assessment.

"I didn't? Why not?"

"You only have two kids."

Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal

With all our travels, we've been in a lot of old churches.  Most are, "Wow, that's beautiful" and you move on.  The Basilica of Notre-Dame in Montreal, however, is not one of those.  It was breath-taking on the inside.

The outside is stone but the inside is all carved out of wood.  The wood has been painted with these beautiful deep colors.

The blue lights at the front just make the place feel majestic.  It made both of us immediately think of heaven and what it may look like.

This is the pulpit.  It didn't have a circular staircase like all others we've seen but rather the staircase twisted and turned around and the back.  How would you like to preach in that, Dad?

We had a half hour wait before our tour began, so there was plenty of time to practice our photography. 

Happy Easter!

One thing John and I both love is traditions, so we're trying to get our family's traditions started now that Helena is two.  In thinking today, I realized that Easter is a holiday that allows for many traditions that do not take a lot of prior preparation and that are a lot of fun.  

Tradition #1: Really, what could be more traditional than dyeing Easter eggs?  Baked eggs, a little vinegar, a little food coloring - and we're set!

Tradition #2: Resurrection Rolls. Marshmallows dipped in melted butter then rolled in cinnamon sugar and then wrapped with crescent rolls.  Bake.  They tell the story of Jesus (the marshmallow) being put in the tomb (the crescent roll) and then after they're baked, the tomb is empty!  Helena caught on to this analogy immediately.  Yet with her attention to detail, every time we said the tomb was empty she added "except [for] angels with big wings"!

 

Tradition #3: Easter egg hunts.  Ultra un-original, I know, but I grew up searching for eggs countless times during the week leading up to Easter (which has been a very new idea to many friends I've shared it with). Sometimes my mom would put a snack in them but most of the times the eggs were just empty - but we didn't care at all because it was so much fun!  Helena and I have hidden eggs countless times in the last few days and she always loves it.  She likes to hide them as well - often the exact same colors in the exact same spots each time, like all four pink ones next to the surge protector - and then of course to help find them. Today we hid them in a park and Helena found them - with peanut M&Ms inside.  Great fun.  Definitely need to do that with friends next year.

Tradition #4: Rice Krispie Birds' Nests - Rice Krispie treats in the shape of a nest with M&Ms for eggs and a Peep on top.  Then we take them around to neighbors or friends and say "Happy Easter!"

Tradition #5: Easter Family Photo - really just wanted an excuse to put this photo up :)

Happy Easter to you all!  Celebrate that the tomb was empty so many years ago...

except for those angels with big wings.

And if any of you have traditions you wouldn't mind sharing, I'd love to hear what they are!

Church Retreat

Last month our church had a weekend getaway together to a Hungarian Baptist Camp.

Can you find us?

It was a lot of fun and a great time for connecting.

A Great Resource

In my days at Northwestern College, I took two Bible courses from Dr. Daryl Aaron. Neither of them included fun games or fantastic personal anecdotes. Rather they both were focused on what the Bible tells us. I really enjoyed both of the classes, as Dr. Aaron had organized the class material in a very managable and understandable fashion.

So last month when Bethany Publishing House asked if I'd like to do a book review of one of his books, Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day, I jumped at the opportunity. Reading through his book was a great refresher course of what I had learned in his Christian Theology class back in 2006.

Each chapter focuses on a different theological issue, such as “What are Angels and Demons?” or “How can Jesus be both God and Man?” or “Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?” I found that each chapter provided a thorough explanation of the different theological sides of the issue and numerous Bible verses that relate to the issue, all while remaining very understandable. While Dr. Aaron does include his own opinion in some instances, he does a good job at presenting both (or all) of the different thoughts.

I would recommend this book to any one who is looking for answers about the Christian faith. I know this is a resource book that we will keep on our shelf for a long time.

*I received a free copy of this book from Bethany Publishing House in exchange for an honest review.

The Love of God

I was introduced to this hymn awhile back, and the words still strike me with their amazing poetic truth,  especially the second verse.  (There is a modern addition to the song that starts at 2:00.  I like it best before that part, but to each her own, right?)

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Small Group Friends

John & I have been incredibly fortunate to be involved in wonderful small groups ever since we got married.  For most of the last year we have been hosting one at our apartment every Wednesday night.  There are seven us, four being two engaged couples.  We were privileged to go to one of their weddings this past weekend and are going to the other's wedding this coming weekend!

Jesse, Andrew, Emma & Maria

I just love weddings, always will and always have.  They're such joyous occasions.  

 

Check out their wedding favors - M&Ms with not only words but their faces!

Photo taken by Christa

It was fun to be out all afternoon & evening with my hubby - brought us back to the good old days of college!  Helena got to spend the time with her good friend Holly.  Aren't they adorable hanging out in the ottoman together?  The day was full of giggles for the two of them!

Happy Easter!

It's interesting how having a child causes you to read the Bible differently. I've always thought about how hard it was for Jesus to have his Father not answer him when he called out on the cross. But on this Good Friday I was struck with how hard it was for God to not answer him.

God saw Jesus's disciples fall asleep, even though Jesus had asked them to pray because he was "sorrowful to the point of death." Then a disciple turned him in for money, all the other disciples abandoned him, and then the crowds that cheered a week earlier called for his murder. And then He, Jesus's Father, had to not answer when Jesus called out in wonder "Why have you forsaken me?"

I have a hard enough time not picking up Helena from the crib when she first whimpers! God's action, or perhaps better put lack of action, really shows the importance of what was happening and His love for us.

Little Ones & Prophesies

Look at her.


She's cute. She's little. She's (almost) harmless.

Is it not absolutely amazing that Herod was terrified of a little one like her?

"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel." Matthew 2:6

He heard this prophesy and became so scared that he eventually ordered all boys under age 2 to be killed. All because of some words!

This dumbfounds me. That a person would believe a Jewish prophesy, when he's not Jewish, so much that he resorts to murdering hundreds of meek babes. Sure, it was because he didn't want to lose his power, but these were words that made him do it, not a huge army coming towards him.

Do I believe that the prophesies of the Bible are going to come true as much as he did?

A Rough Start to the Year

Back in college there was always some theological question coming up that made me rethink my faith. Just a few weeks ago I was telling a friend that I feel like I've moved past that point in life. Sure, there are still lots of faith-related questions that I don't have an answer to. Yet God has shown Himself to be faithful and true so many times in my life that when a tough question comes up, my thought is "I'm not sure about that but I know God is real. That's enough for me."

Funny how feeling confident in God causes curve balls to come! The year 2011 started off quite rough for us (no, nothing so far with Little Critter). I haven't been questioning whether God is real and true, but I have found little comfort in Him. Interesting how my question has gone from "Who/what is God?" to "Where are you God?"

While the Bible has been hard to crack open, the songs of Audrey Assad have been helpful to listen to over and over again. Introduced to her this November, John & I are now hooked. She reminds me of Sara Groves. Here's one of her songs that is currently resonating quite a bit:

The Apple Tree

We started Advent this year by going to An Advent Procession of Lessons and Carols held at The Cathedral Church of St. James (the church the Queen visited when in Toronto). It was beautiful. One great thing about visiting Anglican churches is the songs that are new to our ears.

The words of "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree" were full of meaning for me on Sunday. It is a beautiful song that commands some thinking. In case you're interested, click here to listen to the song. The lyrics are posted below.

1. The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.

2. His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.

3. For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

4. I'm weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

5. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.