How do we talk to our children about Easter?

So how do we talk to our children about Easter? 

It is so much easier talking to our children about Christmas, isn’t it?  Especially when we rush over the virgin birth part ;)  Talking about a little baby, the joy of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and angels and wise men, is fun.  But when we talk about Easter we can’t speak about it without speaking of death and that can be more nerve wracking.

Probably because of that, Easter, the key experience of the faith which is about new life, an empty tomb, forgiveness and resurrection so often becomes more about pastel coloured eggs, Easter egg hunts and the Easter bunny.  Don’t get me wrong, those are all fun, and to be perfectly honest, we still have an Easter egg hunt at our house (and I have adult children!).

Here’s the thing, one of the most important responsibilities we have as Christian parents is to teach our children about Jesus.

Deuteronomy 6: 7-9 says,  “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”.

So after our big Easter egg hunt, when the children were little, we would talk about the eggs representing new life.  Like the new life we have in Jesus.  That talk was never as engaging as when we made Resurrection buns on Easter morning to illustrate the empty tomb.  Check out the easy recipe here.

These yummy buns were a great way to talk about how the empty tomb was the ultimate victory of the good guys (God/Jesus) over the bad guys (Judas, the priests, Pilate, the soldiers). I would tell that kids that on Good Friday the bad guys thought they had won. They killed Jesus and sealed his body into a guarded tomb. On Easter morning God/Jesus blasted right out of that tomb and proved once and for all that God is more powerful than even the worst of the worst. And then we would cheer "Hooray for Jesus!". Easter is about celebrating that we belong to God who is the most powerful power in the universe!

As we talk about Easter with our children (or grandchildren) it’s important to remember that Easter is bigger and more complex than any of us can fully understand. And, we don't have to have all the answers. So pray, and then go ahead and talk about it with your children.

I think we probably do more harm when we don’t talk about it for fear that we’ll not get it right.

Share the Easter story with your children.

Share your faith with your children.

If you are looking for some resource materials to help you, don’t hesitate to contact our Family Ministry Director, Nancy Varga.  She’d be happy to help you!

As we enter into the Easter story this week, know that this man of power and presence – Jesus the Christ – came not only for those in the crowed streets of Jerusalem, but He came for you and for me.

This Palm Sunday, come with an expectation of being blessed and being a blessing!

The divine artist

My husband Brian is a talented artist. You may know that he plays the guitar and leads the worship band at Amberlea but he is also a gifted painter.

Recently, Brian’s brother found several of Brian’s paintings in storage.  These were paintings done “before my time” (hard to believe that he had a life before me, but apparently so; )

As I pulled each one of the oil paintings out of the box I was increasingly more impressed. They are beautiful. Of course, Brian is quite modest about his art, “they are not that good” and “just toss them” he said.

No way, I needed to hang them up!

Brian’s works are proudly displayed on the walls of the cottage so all can see them. They are beautiful landscapes that reflect and declare the beauty of God’s creation as interpreted through the artist.

In 1 Chronicles 16:24, the writer calls God’s people to do the same.

Declare his glory among the nations,

His marvelous deeds among all peoples.

This verse is part of David’s song of praise and thanks after God gave victory to the Israelites over the Philistines, and the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem. After experiencing a tremendous victory, David was urging his people to go and tell what the Lord has done.

In this verse David is making a distinction between two separate groups of people — those who did not worship God and those who did. David is saying tell everyone who does not know God about his power and might and salvation, and remind those who do know God, that God is still powerful, and mighty and God is still declaring victory over their enemies!

The same is true today. No matter what battles you have fought or storms you are currently facing - whether you know God personally or not, know that God is powerful, and mighty even when we don’t understand God’s ways or timing.

I love seeing Brian’s works of art displayed on the walls for all to see.

You and I are called to display and reflect God’s greatness and glory through our own lives, through our words and actions, so others may know the divine artist — God the creator of the universe.

So go, and declare his glory, God is worthy to be praised!

Have you ever been afraid?

Have you ever been afraid? I 'm not talking about a friend jumping out and surprising you with a "boo".

I mean truly afraid. Afraid, waiting for medical test results; afraid for the well being of a child or loved one;  afraid for your financial future, perhaps wondering ‘how will I make ends meet?’.

There are so many ways we can respond to that fear, aren’t there?  We can panic, stress, get overwhelmed, or overthink every worst-case scenario (I am super talented at that one). And, of course, we can attempt to numb our anxiety-inducing situation in any number of unhealthy ways, OR we can echo David's words:

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you! (Psalm 56:3)

This is a resounding cry throughout scripture. When I read this short, yet mighty verse I think of King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles when this great hoard is coming to get him and he says to the Lord, "I don't know what to do but I put my eyes on you.”

I think of Job, when he says of God, “Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him." (Job 13:15)

I think of David who, over and over again, says when “I am afraid I will put my trust in you,” (Psalm 56:3) even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I am going to be okay because you are with me”. (Psalm 23)

In the past months, I have found myself in and out of this season. And let me tell you honestly, during those times I cling to God because I know I don't have the goods to walk into the day and do the things on my own — but God does!  So, I have said to the Lord, almost like a mantra, ‘when I am afraid, I put my trust in you’.

If you believe that God is with you. If you really believe that you are God's child then you are going to be okay! In fact your are more than okay, your future is so bright, in the Lord! You will be able to say confidently...The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. His goodness and mercy are going to be right beside me, for God will never leave me, never forsake me.

So be encouraged:  when you are afraid, put your hope in God!