The wonder of the cross...

Making Easter a big deal is a big deal to us.

There are many "traditions" we are trying to implement in our young family, and one of my favorites is our dough scene. The kids shape a garden, hill and tomb and after it is baked we paint the landscaping on. They use their Playmobile characters and "act out" the story of Easter day by day. Jesus praying in the garden with his disciples sleeping nearby, the crucifixion on the hill, and then his burial. On Sunday morning I remove the giant stone in front of the tomb, unwrap the figure of Jesus and neatly fold his grave clothes. The guards are knocked down and Jesus is placed triumphantly over the grave! Then we wake the kids. This part makes me cry every year...as they come running to the scene and are delighted to find Jesus risen!

This year was extra special.

This year we were able to share Easter with J*.

It seemed to us that he didn't know the true meaning of the holiday. Each day he listened intently and he was very aware that Jesus had died. The days that we didn't play with the scene (while Jesus was in the grave) he kept walking by saying, "Jesus is dead." And his eyes were wide on Sunday morning when Jesus wasn't in the tomb. He asked a several times that morning, "Jesus isn't dead?" and it was a joy to be able to tell him again and again how Jesus was more powerful than death because he is God...

The "official" holiday is over, but we still have the scene sitting on the table. Throughout the day J will pick up the folded grave clothes and tell me, "Jesus isn't dead! He is alive!" It is so new and exciting to him...you can see it in his eyes.

As I thought about J and how he is hearing about Jesus for (what seems) the first time, I was very convicted. That is how I want the Gospel to be in my eyes as well...

Fresh and new.

Exciting and awesome.

O precious sight my Savior stands
Dying for me with outstretched Hands
O precious sight I love to gaze
Remembering salvation's day
Remembering salvation's day

Though my eyes linger on this scene
May passing time and years
Not steal the pow'r with which it impacts me
The freshness of its mystery
The freshness of its mystery

May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross

Behold the God-man crucified
The perfect sinless Sacrifice
As Blood ran down those nails and wood
History was split in two
Yes history was split in two

Behold the empty wooden tree
His Body gone alive and free
We sing with everlasting joy
For sin and death have been destroyed
Yes sin and death have been destroyed

May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost
Undone by mercy and left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross

2007 Thankyou Music

*Using only his initial because this is a public blog. :)

Moment by moment...

I am not a saver.

I'm a pitcher.

Don't use it?

Pitch it.

Don't need it?

Pitch it.

Don't want it?

Pitch it.

Or give it away. I'm fine with that too.

Just do it promptly.

We had to go through everything we own when we moved into our little apartment and there was a lot of pitching going on (and a lot of giving away as well, don't panic). One of the hardest parts of this process was going through the kids junk...I mean stuff...I mean TOYS. I think about a quarter of our boxes were filled with their toys, and I'm not even joking.

For a few days the kids and I went through them all, toy by toy.

Keep it?

Throw it away?

Give it away?

After this there were still too many boxes, so the process would start all over again.

I have to admit, I'm proud of my kids. They gave away a lot of toys. But there was one very peculiar moment...

Bryan Paul said he was ready to give away his Thomas the Tank Engine toys. This was a big deal because for a few years he ate, slept and drank Thomas...he knew all the characters - and everything about them - by heart (kind of like the Star Wars thing we're working through now...). He was absolutely shocked when I said, "How about we keep them for a little while longer?" For that matter, I was absolutely shocked when I said that as well! I had no reason for keeping them and I cannot explain why I wasn't ready to pitch 'em. So, we took the Thomas bin and put it in the back of the closet...

We picked up sweet "J" on Thursday to stay with us for three weeks. We are strangers to him, and he was a little apprehensive and scared when he first came into our home. Until someone said, "Would you like to play with Thomas trains?" His face lit up and off he ran with the kids. The three of them have been playing Thomas the Tank Engine for days. "J" loves Thomas...just like Bryan Paul did. The two are able to talk for hours about Spencer and Toby and Emily...

And I was able to see a little piece of a bigger picture.

The Lord cares about each moment and directs all the events of my life.

He is the reason Bryan Paul enjoyed Thomas so much to begin with.

He is the reason we still have Thomas toys.

He is the reason we got "J."

He is not surprised at all at these events.

These are HIS events...

HIS moments.

Busy, busy, busy...

It has been a busy couple of weeks. But really wonderful ones as well!

First, we went to Michigan to be with my family and see my beautiful sister Yvonne dance and sing in a fabulous production of Brigadoon!

Next, we spent a few days in the city (I always assume everyone knows I'm talking about Chicago...) at The Gospel Coalition. I'm always amazed that being reminded of my helplessness, hopelessness and shame makes my heart rejoice and my spirit glad. This is only because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - I know that MY REDEEMER LIVES! Glory! Hallelujah! Listening to preaching of Christ in the Old Testament for three days (along with various sub-themes) was amazing and has helped me focus again on the cross. Please take time to listen for yourself to the various fantastic messages.

Lastly, we saw the providential hand of God so clearly as while we were in the city we got a call about some urgent needs for children who were nearby. We are now being able to share the love of Christ with "J" who will be in our home for 3 weeks. He is a sweetheart and we have enjoyed him already!

March reading...

I had every intention of reading two books in March. But I didn't. I read one book and a ton of magazines...how did that happen?! But the book I read was fantastic.

Don't Call It a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day edited by Kevin DeYoung with contributions from lots and lots of men (that's not really what the book says, by the way...)

I really enjoyed this book! Of course, I haven't come across anything DeYoung has put out so far that I don't like, but this is a book I highly recommend. As one reviewer put it "It's great for newbies." And it is. But it is also good for oldies - maybe you have a new curiosity for digging deeper in your faith or are looking for good discipleship material to go through with someone else. This book is informative, insightful and in depth without being an overly challenging read. Again, as I have done before, I refer to this review that I wish I wrote...

Also, check out this series of interviews that Kevin DeYoung did with the many contributors of the book. While you're there, subscribe to his blog. It's one of my favorites (besides, his Monday Humor is always good for at least a chuckle).

Happy Spring Reading!