Ash Wednesday

That's TODAY! Ash Wednesday! 40 days before Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Hmmm...what does that mean to me? What does that mean to you? Well from the research I have been doing apparently for the last 2000 years Christians have practiced Lent. Lent is a 40 day season to prepare our hearts for Easter. To remember what Christ did for us on the Cross. Lent means Fast. Why 40 days and why fast you may be asking. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert, so the season of Lent represents those 40 days where he was tempted, fasted and prayed. Lent is a time where we can examine ourselves, and give up something of value something that is important for those 40 days, in remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. He spent 40 days in the desert preparing for His ministry and to face temptation. (Matthew 4)

From what I can tell from researching, the 40 days does not include Sundays because Sundays are a mini celebration of the Resurrection, a celebration of Jesus victory over sin and death. So the season of Lent is actually 46 days. I like that idea!

All week I will be thinking about my Jesus every time I am tempted for a Tea. YES I said tea! I have a wonderful green tea with pomegranate or mango every day with a tbs of honey. Mmmmmm!!! Sometimes I have two! So for the season of Lent I am going to fast my tea, in order to prepare my heart for Easter. And on Sundays I think I will have a tea and celebrate with my family that the Resurrection day is coming! What a wonderful way to get excited about the work Jesus did, about his ministry, about his sad and devastating death, and about the celebration of the empty tomb, His precious blood that washed me clean, and His amazing love for the Father and for ME!

I want to show my children that they too can seek the Lord and will find Him. They can participate in Lent with mommy, and we can celebrate together too!! My heart longs for them to really know Him at an early age.

I encourage you to search your heart and ask the Lord what you may sacrifice for Him, because He has sacrificed so much for you. May you be blessed as you seek Him, and find Him. May he wash His amazing love over you. May you find JOY in celebrating with Christians everywhere this season of Lent. May Jesus soften your heart and fill you to over flowing as you give time to Him and prepare for Easter.

Then Jesus was lead out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil. For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. then the Devil came and said to him, "if you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread." But Jesus said "NO! The scriptures say, People need more than bread for their life; they MUST feed on EVERY WORD OF GOD". Matthew 4:1-4

Happy Ash Wednesday!

Jevan

Today was a great day! It was a very Christmasy day filled with tradition! My mom came over this morning early and we together made our favorite Christmas cookie...whipped shortbread. We made red and green and yellow icing...green to put between the trees, red to put between the holly, and yellow to put between the star cookies. They are a whipped melt in your mouth shortbread that is a must have christmas tradition for our family.

We made the hand puppets that came in the Christmas bag from Santa that the kids got at the Jespersen Christmas party, another tradition. They were involved, and the glue didn't stick so well, but we did it! A dog, butterfly, ladybug and frog are all sitting on the table drying over night tonight so the kids can pretend and imagine with them tomorrow.

Then we pulled out the good old Costco gingerbread house kit (the gingerbread house being the tradition...not the Costco part). My mom was NOT impressed. She was famous for her gingerbread houses when I was a kid. She mentioned today that she has probably made OVER 100 of them...and as we put together the hard peices of the cookie cutter gingerbread house...she mused over ideas. How about we make 5 from scratch next year she said. 5! Yes, one for each of the kids classes, and 1 for you here at home. I will teach you, and we can do it together. We can make homeade icing Santa's to go down the chimney, and little gingerbread men to make a fence all around the house or pretzels...and crushed candy cane for the roof...

I said ok mom...sounds like fun as long as we do it together. I am sure this will be a tradition now.

Later tonight we rented a Christmas movie, watched it with the kids and I just tucked them all in.

As I got to Cole who is 6, and I told him to hurry up and get in bed cause tomorrow is Christmas Eve, I said isn't it great that Jesus came as a baby? He said "ya but Jeven doesn't believe in him". (this is a kid in his class) I said well we have to tell him! Cole said "oh he knows about Jesus mom". (they go to a school with a Christian program). He just doesn't believe in him. Lets pray about I said..."ok mom"...you start Cole..."Dear Jesus, help Jeven to change his mind about you...your turn now mom...(tears running down my face at this point) And Lord help him to know you, so he can tell his family about you..."mom pray I don't get sick to ok?"...and help Cole not to get sick Lord. Thank you for your birthday and that you came to save us. In Jesus Name we pray Amen Good night Cole

What does tradition matter with out Jesus? What do gingerbread houses mean? And shortbread? What does Bing Crosby's Melakameekemuka or what ever it is mean if you have no faith?! What IS Christmas with out the baby in the manger? What is Christmas with out your momma praying for you? What is Christmas with out the glue that holds us together...this song spills from my heart now and to me says it all...You are Lord of Lords You are King of Kings You are mighty God Lord of everything You're Emmanuel You're the great "I AM" You're the Prince of Peace Who is the Lamb You're the living God You're my saving grace You will reign forever You are ancient of days You're the Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End You're my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and friend You're my Prince of Peace and I will live my life for you.

Thank you for Jeven this Christmas Lord...help him and his family find You...thank you for special traditions, and Christmasy things that mean so much more with You in them. Thank you for the faith of my son and that he knows You even at a young tender age.

You Are Holy (Prince Of Peace)

LyricsArtist(Band):Michael W. Smith

You are holy (You are holy)

You are mighty (You are mighty)

You are worthy (You are worthy)

Worthy of praise (Worthy of praise)

I will follow (I will follow)

I will listen (I will listen)

I will love you (I will love you)

All of my days (All of my days)

I will sing to

And worship

The King who is worthy

I will love and adore Him

And I will bow down before Him

And I will sing to and worship the King who is worthy

And I will love and adore him

And I will bow down before Him

You are Lord of Lords

You are King of Kings

You are mighty God

Lord of everything

You're Emmanuel

You're the great "I AM"

You're the Prince of Peace

Who is the Lamb

You're the living God

You're my saving grace

You will reign forever

You are ancient of days

You're the Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End

You're my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and friend

You're my prince of peace and I will live my live for you