About two-thirds of the way into the church service each week, one of the pastors invites the children to join him up front. He presents a little object lesson or tells a story, then we recite the verse of the month together—a verse the entire congregation is memorizing.This week, the pastor held up between his forefinger and thumb something small and oblong.”Can you guess what this is?” he asked the kids.”Candy!” one of the kids called out.”It’s not candy,” he said. My family and I were sitting toward the back, so I leaned forward and squinted. Maybe a vitamin, I speculated. Then he can say something about how vitamins nourish us when we take them daily just like God’s Word nourishes us when we take it in daily. “Play-dough?” a kid offered.”No, it’s not Play-dough,” he answered, still holding the small item up for them to consider.I began to doubt the vitamin idea. Maybe it was a bullet? The room was quiet as the kids exhaled other possibilities in shy, preschool whispers that I couldn’t make out. We all wondered.Suddenly, without a word, the pastor popped it in his mouth.Is he going to swallow that? I wondered. How can he get it down without any water?*chomp*  *chomp*  *chomp*Oh, it’s a chewable vitamin, I reasoned.”Gum!” he exclaimed. *chomp*  *chomp*  *chomp*”It’s chewing gum,” he managed to say between chomps.“Gum!” I said out loud, my voice mingling with the murmuring crowd. People nodded as he explained that chewing gum is like meditating, because when you’re meditating, it’s like you’re chewing on something, thinking about it over and over just like you chew gum over and over. He said sometimes he would chew on the same piece of gum all day long. Adults gasped and giggled.That piece of gum was big, requiring him to open his jaw wide to work it around in his mouth and soften it up, so he would say a few words and then pause to chew.*chomp*  *chomp*  *chomp*His jaw working that gum, chomping, teaching, modeling. Of course. So simple.We recited the verse in unison:

Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)

Our pastor prayed for the children with that gum crammed in the side of his cheek and then, with a smile, he dismissed them to children’s worship, inviting the rest of us to turn and greet one another. And I remembered that gum, that chomping, that verse, all day long.

:::

I’m sharing this with Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday, hosted by Michelle Derusha and On, In, and Around Mondays, hosted by L.L. Barkat at Seedlings in Stone.

The post Chew On That appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

Last Sunday one of our pastors preached from Psalm 127, focusing in particular on the opening verses:

Unless the LORD builds the house,its builders labor in vain.Unless the LORD watches over the city,the watchmen stand guard in vain.

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.Regarding the Festival of the Shelters, at the end of harvest season, the Israelites were to worship the LORD for seven days, “for it is he who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all your work” (Deuteronomy 16:15 NLT). It is He who gives success in all our work. If we forget this, we labor in vain; if we seek to do it on our own, we labor in vain. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.In Isaiah 30, verse 18 (NLT), it says, “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help” (emphasis mine).Blessed are those who wait on Him for His help … blessed are those who let the LORD build the house.Blessed are those who……let Him be the foundation…let Him build it up…let Him do the work, the true work, the deep, meaningful, lasting work.If I try to do it myself or in my name, I toil in vain.Paul understood this principle. The pastor pointed us to 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NLT):

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. (emphasis mine)

Unless the LORD builds the house, we could begin to think, like the tower-builders of Babel, that we’re accomplishing great things by ourselves and for ourselves; in our own strength and in our own name (Genesis 11:4).Unless the LORD does it—whatever it is—we’re toiling away at it in vain.Unless the LORD builds the house… Unless the LORD raises the kids … produces the tomatoes … generates freelance income … recycles the cans … grows the ministry … shares the gospel … scores the goal … writes the blog …Unless I’m yielding to the LORD, all my efforts, all my phone calls, all my ideas, all my words—written or spoken—are in vain.I don’t know exactly what this looks like moment by moment, but I understand that until I see that He is the one who gives success—until I recognize, honor and worship Him for all He does do, can do and will do—I’m toiling in vain.I long for all that I am, do, speak, write, or think … to flow from Him as His work in this world … His kingdom come.May it be so. Today.Right now.Amen.“Entertainment District construction at night” photo by Paul Gorbould, available through a Creative Commons license via Flickr.

It’s easy to subscribe to annkroeker.com updates via email or RSS feed.Visit NotSoFastBook.com to learn more about Ann’s book.

The post Unless the Lord… appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

Final Progress Report (#4)This coming Sunday marks the end of Mega Memory Month January 2010.Now don’t panic. Don’t scramble to cram in whatever is left.This week, I urge you to simply stay focused and work steadily each day to add what you can and review what you’ve already managed to memorize. Take some time to relax and plan out your Final Celebration. Remember that? I encourage participants to come up with a final project to commemorate and celebrate this month-long memorization journey. You can recite your passage or project and upload the audio file, create a YouTube video of your recitation, type it up, write it out in calligraphy, or create artwork to accompany the words. It’s up to you.We’ll celebrate with you, no matter how close or far you came to achieving your MMM goal!For this week’s Progress Report, leave a note on your progress at the Facebook Event page I set up for Mega Memory Month (write your comments on the wall!) HERE. You can also summarize your progress in the comments of this post and/or link your own Progress Report post here via Mr. Linky.

Mr. Linky instructions:Click on the icon and a separate screen pops up. In one box, you type in your name and/or website; in the other box, paste in the url to your post. It’ll be saved and accessible by returning to this page and clicking on the icon again.I’ll return later in the day and embed the pop-up links into the text itself here for easy access.

Ann’s ProgressI’m getting to know Max McLean’s voice pretty well these days. I could hear his voice in my head when I was mentally reviewing Colossians 1: 1-23 on Sunday afternoon.I don’t even have verses 1 to 21 solid, however, let alone the entire chapter (which goes to verse 29). So this week, I intend to focus in on Colossians 1:17-23 in particular while reviewing the preceding verses, and that may be where I have to stop. I don’t think I can get the rest in a week.And I’m okay with that.Because I can get the rest eventually—verse by verse, week after week—even after MMM Jan 2010 comes to a close.This passage from Colossians 1 is what I’d like to leave you with today, not so much as practice or to report on my progress, but to encourage everyone involved…know that I’m:

asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…

May the Lord strengthen you during this final week with all power according to his glorious might…that you may have great endurance and patience. Amen.For your convenience, I decided to keep these memorization resources right at your fingertips each week:• Click HERE to read “An Approach to Extended Memorization” by Dr. Andrew Davis, an article highly recommended by Amy at Lavender Sparkles.• Click HERE for my mega collection of memorization tips and techniques.• Click HERE for more inspiration and practical suggestions for memorizing Scripture from Ann Voskamp of Holy Experience.

It’s easy to subscribe to annkroeker.com updates via email RSS feed.Visit NotSoFastBook.com to learn more about Ann’s book.

The post MMM Jan 2010 Final Progress Report (#4) appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

Progress Report #3Mega Memory Month January 2010 is over halfway through. Are you halfway through your project?Leave a note on your progress at the Facebook Event page I set up for Mega Memory Month (write your comments on the wall!) HERE. You can also summarize your progress in the comments of this post and/or link your own Progress Report post here via Mr. Linky.

Mr. Linky instructions:Click on the icon and a separate screen pops up. In one box, you type in your name and/or website; in the other box, paste in the url to your post. It’ll be saved and accessible by returning to this page and clicking on the icon again.I’ll return later in the day and embed the pop-up links into the text itself here for easy access.

Ann’s ProgressI’m behind. Dreadfully behind.The idea was to work on one verse per day. This would work if I’d keep up. But I haven’t.What’s motivating, though, is that as I catch up, I’ll be working on a powerful section that describes Jesus as “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” I especially want to know this part by heart.This section reminds me that “by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (verses 16-17).All things were created by Him and for Him.He is before all things.In Him, all things hold together.That’s big.I want to have those words inside of my head, inside my heart…So, to try to catch up, I decided to pull out every memorization tip and technique. For example, I realized I pick up things well through listening, so I decided to hunt down an audio recording of Colossians 1 (NIV). I found it. Who wouldn’t want to hear Colossians 1 read to them by Max McLean (complete with a smooth British accent)? To listen, click HERE. And thanks, Bible Gateway.Search for an audio recording of your own passage and translation at Bible Gateway HERE. (They offer Contemporary English Version, ESV, NIV, Today’s NIV, NASB and KJV).

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17)

Lord, hold these words together in my head.

For your convenience, I decided to keep these memorization resources right at your fingertips each week:• Click HERE to read “An Approach to Extended Memorization” by Dr. Andrew Davis, an article highly recommended by Amy at Lavender Sparkles.• Click HERE for my mega collection of memorization tips and techniques.• Click HERE for more inspiration and practical suggestions for memorizing Scripture from Ann Voskamp of Holy Experience.

It’s easy to subscribe to annkroeker.com updates via email RSS feed.Visit NotSoFastBook.comto learn more about Ann’s new book

The post MMM Jan 2010 Progress Report #3 appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

Progress Report #1We’re only four days into Mega Memory Month January 2010, so progress will be minimal. Still, you may have something to say about it.If so, leave a note in the comments and/or link your own Progress Report post here via MckLinky. I’ll come back later in the day and embed the pop-up links into the text itself for easy access.

Powered by MckLinky

Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

1. Erin at filling my patch of sky
2. Amy @ Lavender *Sparkles*
3. Stand and Consider

Ann’s Progress Report:Colossians 1 has 29 verses.January has 31 days.That equates to about one verse per day. If I stay on track, I’ll get two extra days to review the whole thing at the end of the month; if I get behind, I have a couple of make-up days for the verses I’m lacking.Perfect.I’m starting out with Dr. Andrew Davis’s method as recommended by Amy at Lavender *Sparkles* (Amy summarizes the method in this post.)• Click HERE to read “An Approach to Extended Memorization” by Dr. Andrew Davis, an article highly recommended by Amy at Lavender Sparkles.• Click HERE for my mega collection of memorization tips and techniques.• Click HERE for more inspiration and practical suggestions for memorizing Scripture from Ann Voskamp of Holy Experience.

It’s easy to subscribe to annkroeker.com updates via email RSS feed.Visit NotSoFastBook.comto learn more about Ann’s new book.

The post MMM Jan 2010 Progress Report #1 appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

For Mega Memory Month January 2010, I’ll be working on Colossians 1.The thought is (I admit this may be a bit idealistic—even unrealistic—nevertheless…) that I might add on to this chapter over time; that is, for future Mega Memory Months I could continue with Colossians 2, 3 and 4.For now, I’m going to focus on Colossians 1 without fretting about the rest. Colossians 1 has 29 verses, so that’s approximately one verse per day. Now, I know that’s a lot for my feeble mind to tackle, but surely it can be done.After all, “all things were created by him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). My mind, including its aging synapses, was created by Him and for Him. To use it for this purpose—to concentrate on memorizing a chunk of God’s written Word—seems right and good. There will be much to ponder and celebrate along the way. For example, this passage includes a long prayer, so that my memory work can take on dual purpose and meaning, breathing life into my own prayers:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14)

Toward the end of the month, if I make it through the entire chapter, I’ll arrive at this verse:To [the saints] God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

Christ in you.

I’ll cling to that this month, as I struggle through the paragraphs and stumble over phrases. It’s not just about the words in me … it’s about The Word in me.Christ in me.Now that right there puts the “mega” in this month.

Dove ornament photo © 2009 by Ann Kroeker.

To participate in Mega Memory Month, visit its Headquarters post HERE.

The post Mega Memory Month: Christ in You appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

Don’t miss a word: It’s easy to subscribe to annkroeker.com updates via email or RSS feed.

Visit NotSoFastBook.com to learn more about Ann’s new book.

The post Bring on the Questions appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

“What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the LORD said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” said the LORD, “is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.” (Exodus 4:2-5)

That is some stick. It was to show the people that the God of their fathers appeared to Moses.Apart from the LORD, I’m sure it was an excellent staff.With Him … it was a Stick of Renown.

Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, through all generations.(Psalm 135: 13)

But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.(Psalm 102:12)

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.(Isaiah 26:8)

Our Good Shepherd knew all about the importance of a good staff, and His staff is the only true Stick of Renown.

And His name and renown are the desire of my heart.

The post Stick of Renown appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

Write up a post, publish, then return here and click on Mr. Linky below. A screen will pop up where you can type in your blog name and paste in the url to your own Food on Fridays post (give us the exact link to your Food on Fridays page, not just the link to your blog).You can also visit other people’s posts by clicking on Mr. Linky and then clicking participants’ names–you should be taken straight to their posts.

Food on Fridays Participants

1. My Practically Perfect Life (Easter Cake)
2. Cooking during Stolen Moments (Chocolate Cherry Muffins)
3. Stretch Mark Mama (Cooking Ham in a Crock Pot)
4. To every meal there is a season (Easter Menus)
5. No Pattern Required (Vintage Recipe Hardboiled Eggs in Cream of Mushroom Soup & Ketchup)
6. Newlyweds (Angel Pie)
7. Better Is Little (Blueberry Yum-Yum Cake)
8. Beauty in the Mundane (Do-Ahead Make Potatoes)
9. This Pilgrimage (Dough Boy)
10. Trish Southard (Passover and the Angel of Death on Golfview Lane)
11. It’s All About Love (Breakfast of Champions)

Food on Fridays with AnnIt’s Friday. Good Friday.I’m thinking of making Hot Cross Buns from scratch, but I haven’t done it yet and have no pictures to share.Updated: No, wait! I have photos now that will convince you never to try making Hot Cross buns. They’re small, not very fluffy, and the crosses can barely be discerned. But they’re edible.Making these humble Hot Cross buns have me pondering Jesus, the Bread of Life.Check out this passage from John 6, beginning with verse 25 (I’m pasting this in from BibleGateway, which is why you’ll see all the verses numbered):

Jesus the Bread of Life

 ²⁵When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” ²⁶Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” ²⁸Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” ²⁹Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” ³⁰So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? ³¹Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” ³²Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴“Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” ³⁵Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. ³⁶But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

There’s so much in there.Some lines that stand out to me today:The work of God is to believe in the One He has sent.He says the Father gives the true bread from heaven…the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”Whoever comes to me,” He promised, “I will never drive away.”The Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life.He who comes to Him will never go hungry.The Bread of Life satisfies.His body was broken for us on a Friday many years ago.To remember, we break bread. We take, eat.And it is good. Very good. 

More Friday Carnivals

• Hooked on Houses hosts Hooked on Fridays
• Anne Glamore at My Tiny Kingdom is hosting Flashback Fridays
• The Inspired Room is hosting A Beautiful Life
• Amber at the run-a-muck is hosting Friday Funnies
• Frugal Fridays at Biblical Womanhood
• The Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap

The post Food on Fridays: The Bread of Life appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

Teach me your way, O LORD,and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. To walk in the truth, I need wisdom and guidance. I need to learn from the Master. In fact, I need the Lord Himself.Together, the kids, the Belgian Wonder and I are seeking Him, depending on Him, asking Him to teach us His way and give us an undivided heart. By His grace and leading, we hope to be walking in the truth.Our Boy wrote an e-mail to his grandparents in Belgium, asking about their favorite Bible verse. Grandma Kroeker wrote back that this has been one of her favorites since she was a little girl:

Trust in the LORD with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge himand he will make your paths straight.(Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

Dependency. I think that’s how we have a chance at walking in the truth—to depend on Jesus and trust in Him with our whole heart.

The post Walking in the Truth appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

Participants’ Progress Reports #3

1.  Ann Kroeker (see below)
2. Jennifer at Scraps and Snippets
3. Amy at Lavender *Sparkles*
4. Ruth at Caribbean Wordkeeper
5. Dea at For His Glory…By His Grace
6. Jennifer at PeaceLedge
7. Esther at Outward Expression
8. Pauline at Him in the Everyday
9. Joy at Bucket of Joy

 It’s okay if you’re inching along. There’s still time! You still have all of this week and most of next–it’s not too late for things to jell!Ann’s Personal Update:You all were so encouraging to me last week. You may recall that I compared my brain’s absorptive powers to a rubber ball–boing! John 14 and John 15:1-17 (and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening) just kept bouncing off my cerebral cortex and out into the air again. Thank you for your kind comments and creative ideas.I’m pleased to report that this week, by the grace of God, my brain was a little more like the spongy coral that has startled so many unsuspecting readers. I was able to retain and recall some of the words!I truly want to get into my head some of Jesus’ amazing words recorded in the Gospel of John. If I don’t bother to get them into my head, then they don’t have much of a chance to make a deeper, more profound impact. But if they are in there, then they are accessible.It’s just that they can’t stop there. Cramming words into gray matter is just the start:

The journey from head to heart is one of the longest and most difficult that we know. (Donald Coggan, former archbishop of Canterbury*)

I’ve got to do more than cram these words into my head; I must let these truths pierce my heart.Amy at Lavender *Sparkles* pointed out in this post (one of her MMM updates), that the words of Scripture need to make their way to the heart, slicing it open if need be, to change us. Amy advised:

It’s quite possible (ask me how I know) to repeat a text daily, to remember it perfectly, yet to not let it penetrate your soul. And that’s the last thing I want. “Knowledge puffs up” (1 Corinthians 8:1)–and I don’t need any help getting puffed up. So this month I’ve added a step to my memorization process, in an effort to slow down and really meditate on the text. Spending five or ten minutes repeating sentences requires little of me; interacting with the words in my journal takes me deeper.

What a great, practical plan: Slowing down and spending time interacting with the words in a journal–that takes it deeper.Still, getting the words into my head in the first place is a critical starting point–thus, the importance of a commitment such as Mega Memory Month. In order for an idea or truth to embark on the long, arduous journey from head to heart, it must actually make it into the head.I’ll type out (from memory) what’s been “sticking.”Please keep in mind that the first part of this was tackled in October for the first-ever Mega Memory Month. So a huge hunk of what I’m about to type is review:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.Believe me whenI say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name you may ask me for anything and I will do it, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask for anything in my name, and I will do it.If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you send another Counselor to be with you forever–the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you do know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.Before long the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. I am in you, and you are in me. Whoever has my commands and obeys keeps them, he is the one who loves me. Whoever does not have my commands does not love me. These words are not my own. They belong to the Father who sent me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father…(forgetting this next section. Let’s see where I can pick up again)Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said to him, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. obeys my command, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I, too, will love Him and show myself to Him. (Rats. I think this belongs up higher.)…Peace I leave with you; my peace I leave with give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I’m going to stop now. I have several additional chunks that I can spout, but it’s all out of order. I’ve got a plan for this coming week, however, to try to straighten it out.Pray for me, and I’ll pray for you (really)!Meanwhile, let me finish with a lovely poem by Robert Frost that was much, much easier to memorize:

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy EveningWhose woods these are I think I know.His house is in the village, though;He will not see me stopping hereTo watch his woods fill up with snow.My little horse must think it queerTo stop without a farmhouse nearBetween the woods and frozen lakeThe darkest evening of the year.He gives his harness bells a shakeTo ask if there is some mistake.The only other sound’s the sweepOf easy wind and downy flake.The woods are lovely, dark and deep.But I have promises to keep,And miles to go before I sleep,And miles to go before I sleep.

Ah, I do love that poem. That was typed out from memory, too. Thank you, Mr. Frost, for prefect rhythm and rhyme. * Coggan quoted on p. 41, Knowing Christ, by Alister McGrath, a Galilee book by Doubleday, a division of Random House, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY, 10036, copyright May 2002.

The post January 2009 MMM Monday Progress Report #3 appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

• One Year Bible online. You can choose the One Year Bible or the One Year Chronological Bible (left column). There’s a spot to select your preferred translation. Also on the left column, you can scroll down and click on the month. Then pick the date. It pulls up the readings for the day.
• Divine Hours online. At the link provided, you’re asked to select your time zone. Once you click on yours, the reading of that day and hour pops up. By the way, I can’t vouch for anything else on this site, and every once in a while there will be a poem or reading that makes me scratch my head. But the passages are powerful, simple words from Scripture. Those, along with hymns and biblically based prayers serve as “checkpoints” throughout the day–morning, noon, evening, and night.
• My Utmost for His Highest online. Each day’s reading pops up automatically, and archives are available on the left by clicking on whatever day you wish.
• Many more devotionals are available at One Place.com.
• Elisabeth Elliot’s are here.
• Other classics available at that same site include selections from Warren Wiersbe, Streams in the Desert, and Charles Spurgeon.
• UPDATED (from suggestions in comments): A.W. Tozer 1 and A.W. Tozer 2, and Daily Light on the Daily Path (providing a brief selection for both morning and evening)

I’m enjoying the practicality and convenience of both online and book versions of devotionals. Would that work for you? Are you an online devotional reader, or are you strictly a printed page person?For more WFMW ideas, hop over to Rocks In My Dryer.

The post WFMW: Online Versions of Devotional Books appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

Jesus, be the Lord of my life today in new ways.Change me any way you want.Wash me clean from every sin.Fill me with your Holy Spirit.Make me a channel of Your love and grace.Make me an instrument of Your mercy and justice.Bring glory to Yourself in me and through me.If it pleases You, use me today to lead persons into this sacred pilgrimage of exalting You as Lord, for all You are by sharing this prayer covenant with others.I pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen

As I began praying it, I thought about how radical this is–it’s utterly yielding one’s self to the Lord to have His way with me. “Here I am, Lord; I’m all yours.” Here am I. Send me!Today I read the story of the rich young man (Mark 10:17-22). The man runs to Jesus and falls on his knees asking, “Good teacher…what must I do to inherit eternal life?” After Jesus reviews the commandments that the man is sure he’s kept since his youth, Jesus says, “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”The man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.Could this prayer be similar–with me starting out as hopeful as that young man, eagerly running up to Jesus and falling to my knees, saying, “Jesus, be the Lord of my life…change me, fill me, use me…” Then, when He actually shows me something specific, will I walk away sad because I’m afraid to let go of the life I’m living? Will I be too weak to really let Him be Lord of my life in new ways? Will I be too afraid to let Him change me any way He wants?I feel like the father in the story in Mark 9. Jesus said, regarding the healing of the man’s son, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”I want You to change me, Lord; help the part of me that’s afraid to change!And I’m comforted by what Jesus told his disciples after the rich young man went away. “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27).If it feels impossible to yield completely, remember that with God all things are possible.Jesus, be Lord of my life in new ways…and help me let You be Lord of my life in new ways.

The post Jesus, Be the Lord of My Life Today in New Ways appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!By His stripes we are healed.What was horrible suffering for Him on that Friday thousands of years ago, brought total and ultimate good for us.It’s a strange way to save the world…but it is good. Very good.

The post Good Friday appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

The post My Life is Not my To-Do List appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

Sometimes I’m undisciplined and need more structure; other times, structure starts to feel too much like a to-do list and I’ve missed the point—that quiet time tools help me connect with the Savior and deepen my relationship with Him.

When I become too rigid, I allow for spontaneity and creativity in my moments alone with God. Having a lot of ideas on hand allows me to vary according to my current state.

I hope that this collection of Quiet Time ideas to try (a combination of the ones I’d pulled together yesterday mixed with the ones you added in the comments) serves a launching point for you to seek a richer and more meaningful experience with the Lord.

1. Scribing

Last Sunday at church, two guys in our class said that they are writing out the Bible by hand, word for word, beginning with Genesis. They feel that the act of writing slows them down and brings incredible focus, and they see things in the Scriptures that they never noticed before. They call this practice “scribing.” Susan, an artistic designer and lover of color, tossed out the idea of using colored pencils to add even more to the scribing process–I love that idea!

2. Less Ambitious Scribing

A friend in the class joked that she was doing something similar, but less ambitious, than those guys and said she’s writing out Matthew. Same motivation–to slow down, focus, and interact personally with the Lord via the text. She brackets things that stand out to her, to return to and spend time with in meditation and prayer. Others of you said that you wrote out whatever passage stood out to you in your broader reading plan.

3. Bible Reading Plans.* Lots of reading plans in one place

Check out these links for reading plans to find one that suits you.

• Read the Bible in 90 Days:  This accelerated reading plan was mentioned. I found this website link that I assume is related.*
• One-Year Reading Plans. There are a lot of these plans you can download to follow, reading through the Bible in one year using your own Bible, checking off passages as you go. Here’s one I found in a quick search that also offers the option of a three-year plan. And here’s another from Crosswalk that you can use online that just pops up the reading of the day when you go to the link. If you’re fixing breakfast and have your laptop nearby, you can even click on a “Listen” option and have it read to you.*
• One-Year Bible. This is a reading plan laid out in book form. It actually divides up and breaks down passages into daily readings that include a passage from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and a Proverb. The sections are dated, so it’s all physically laid out to easily follow–open up to today’s date and read. You can take it with you on errands to read while waiting for basketball or ballet practices to end, which makes it more portable than the online reading plan mentioned above that would rely on Internet access.*
• Search the Scriptures is a three-year Bible reading plan with study questions incorporated into it. It takes the reader slowly and meticulously through the entire Bible. The guy who told me about it meets monthly with a friend who is also on track with the same book to discuss what they’re learning.*
• Vary translations. Someone told me she reads through the Bible every year using a reading program, but chooses a different translation every time, to get a fresh perspective. Kristen M. mentioned that she has a Bible with two different translations side-by-side. 
• Psalter/Proverbs reading plan is a simple and basic discipline. If all else fails, if other plans fall apart, I can always fall back on this.

4. One Book Daily for a Month

Read one book of the Bible every day for a month. If you read the gospel of John or Romans every single day for 30 days, you’re sure to know it intimately—I imagine the original recipients of Paul’s letters pored over them like that, trying to mine them for all their worth. We have even easier access—you have your copy; I have mine. If we can find the time, this could be a powerful undertaking.

5. Ambitious Memorization

The Belgian Wonder’s grandmother memorized all of James and was working on 1 Peter at the end of her life. A friend of the family in Belgium memorized the entire book of Mark and did a dramatic recitation one time for a special evening that my in-laws said was very powerful. In college, I tried to memorize the Sermon on the Mount. I think I got up to Matthew 5:26 and ran out of steam.

6. Less Ambitious Memorization

For those who can’t embark on a massive memorization project, go ahead and tackle a few verses at a time. Helping my kids learn their verses for AWANA has beefed up my own repertoire. And then, when I’m out and about and don’t have time to read a lot, I can still repeat one of those verses and meditate upon their truth.

7. Dividing the Bible into Sections

I couldn’t figure out what to call this method that Prairie Chick explained. Here’s her description.About a year ago I sectioned my Bible off (with sticky page bookmarks) into 6 blocks (one for each day of the week omitting Sunday):* The law (Gen-Deu)* History (Josh-Esther)* Wisdom (Job-Sol)* Prophets (Isa-Mal)* Gospels (Mat-John and Acts)* Church/Epistles (Romans-Revelation)[updated—She reads a chunk daily from each section: Monday=Law, Tuesday=History, Wednesday=Wisdom and so on, with one day off.] She said that it has helped her see how everything ties together and has seen connections and links she might have missed otherwise.

8. Reading in Chunks

Joni found that reading chunks of Scripture at a time was very rewarding. I have also enjoyed reading an entire epistle, for example, in one sitting, and then going back over it in chunks the next few days (this is a less ambitious option than reading the entire thing every day for a month).  

9. Reading Scripture aloud to the kids.

Stretch Mark Mama tossed this one into her comment, and I’ve found this to be true in my life, as well—when we’re having a devotional with the kids and reading a passage of Scripture, God speaks to us, as well as the kids.

10. Quiet Time on the Go

Tootie said that she has enjoyed some great prayer time on the go as she runs. She focuses on a person or couple during each running session. Multi-tasking with a spiritual twist! I would add that this could be incorporated into any repetitive-style exercise (stationary bike, treadmill, rowing machine, walking, jogging, etc.) and even in the car. A good friend of mine told me that once a month, she has a long, one-hour commute for her job and commits to praying the entire time.

11. Quiet Time in the Shower

More than one mom knows that sometimes the only quiet times possible are in the shower (or bath), and even those are often, unfortunately, interrupted. One person pointed out that if her time of prayer and meditation gets emotional, there’s water and a towel on hand to dry her tears.

12. One Verse for the Day

Kristen described several things she has done, but mentioned that her husband prefers to simply meditate on one verse throughout the day. I wanted to include this idea, because it complements the other ones. After reading longs chunks or a devotional or whatever else we might do, taking just one verse from the broader passages allows us to absorb it and contemplate it (and I mean that in the active-thinking, basic sense of the word).

13. Journaling

Always a great tool for my prayer life. This probably has a thousand variations—perhaps you can offer ideas about how you use journaling in your quiet time?

14. A-C-T-S as a prayer plan

Pray first Adoration, then Confession, then Thanksgiving, and finally Supplication. When I learned that technique, the teacher added L to the acrostic, for Listening, even those “ACTSL” isn’t a memorable word. It sounds a little like “axle,” though, doesn’t it? Sorry. I digress. I’ve used the ACTS(L) method with a journal and also just verbally or silently without pen-to-paper. Here’s a simple explanation from a UK-based ministry.

15. S-T-A-R-T

Susan recommended another acronym.S- Scripture (jot down the scripture you read- either word for word or a summary)T- Thought: What is God saying to you via that scripture?A- Action: What action will you take in your life based on that scripture/thought?R- Requests: What requests do you need to make of the Lord in prayer?T- Thanks: What do you need to thank God for?This leaves out listening, and also the “adore,” but she said this works better for her as a guide to quiet time as a whole.

16. Ask Questions of a Passage

Here are some questions to pose while reading a passage of Scripture:* What is the subject of this passage?* When and where is this taking place?* What does this teach me about God?* What does this passage teach me about belonging to and following Jesus?* Is there a commandment to obey?* Is there an example to follow (or is it showing an example of how not to live)?* Is there a promise to claim?* What is the most meaningful verse in this passage (and why is it most meaningful)?I recommend writing down your answers in a journal. It’ll be interesting to look back on.

17. Devotional Books

These can offer a story or insight from someone, Scripture passages, and sometimes prayers. I’ve used old classic books as well as daily subscription types. Our Daily Bread is one that I used in college–it’s still available printed, but also online. My Utmost for His Highest is also available online, along with Streams in the Desert, and Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, among others. Anna added Daily Light.

18. Scripture-based Book Studies

Beth Moore’s books or Blackaby’s Experiencing God, or headier stuff like a survey of the Old or New Testament are Scripture-based books that can inform our quiet time. CBD has a list of Bible studies in various categories. Have you used any in particular that stand out?

19. Commentaries

Online Bible commentaries are handy, like the one you can find here. Lots of other places, too, if you do a quick search.

20. Get-Started Guides

Mariel Davenport offers Bible study encouragement. This post offers thoughts on finding the quiet, and here are her studies.

So many ideas!

May we all head off to our respective quiet places and spend time listening to the Lord by digging into His Word and pouring out our hearts to Him in prayer.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
(Psalm 62:8)

______________________________

Are the demands of motherhood keeping you from a rich relationship with God?

With ideas from mothers in all seasons of life, Ann Kroeker’s book offers creative, practical, and enjoyable suggestions to help you discover how a passionate relationship with God is possible in the midst of motherhood.

“The Contemplative Mom gives busy, loving, kid-centered mothers permission to rest, like a tired child, in God’s strong arms. An important book.”

—Rachael and Larry Crabb, authors and speakers

Buy your copy

The post 20 Quiet Time Ideas to Try appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

• Last Sunday at church, two guys in our class said that they are writing out the Bible, word for word, beginning with Genesis. They feel that the act of writing slows them down and brings incredible focus, and they see things in the Scriptures that they never noticed before. They call this practice “scribing.”
• A friend in the class joked that she was doing something similar, but less ambitious, than those guys and said she’s writing out Matthew. Same motivation–to slow down, focus, and interact personally with the Lord via the text. She brackets things that stand out to her, to return to and spend time with in meditation and prayer.
• Another guy in the group is going through a three-year daily Bible study book called Search the Scriptures that will take him slowly and meticulously through the entire Bible. He meets monthly with a friend who is also on track with the same book to discuss what they’re learning.
• I’ve mentioned my Psalter/Proverbs reading plan as a simple and basic discipline. If all else fails, if other plans fall apart, I can always fall back on this.
• Journaling. Always a great tool for my prayer life. This probably has a thousand variations–perhaps you can offer ideas about how you use journaling in your quiet time?
• A-C-T-S as a prayer plan, praying first Adoration, then Confession, then Thanksgiving, and finally Supplication. When I learned that technique, the teacher added L to the acrostic, for Listening, even those “ACTSL” isn’t a memorable word. It sounds a little like “axle,” though, doesn’t it? Sorry. I digress. I’ve used the ACTS(L) method with a journal and also just verbally or silently without pen-to-paper. Here’s a simple explanation from a UK-based ministry.
• One-Year Bible. A few years ago I picked up a One-Year Bible that actually divides up and breaks down passages into daily readings that include a passage from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and a Proverb. The sections are dated, so it’s all physically laid out for me to easily follow–open up to today’s date and read.
• One-Year Reading Plans. One doesn’t need to invest in a One-Year Bible to read through the Scripture in a year. There are a lot of these plans you can download to follow using your own Bible, checking off passages as you go. Here’s one I found in a quick search that also offers the option of a three-year plan. And here’s another from Crosswalk that you can use online that just pops up the reading of the day when you go to the link. I guess this is more like having an online One-Year Bible. If you’re fixing breakfast and have your laptop nearby, you can even click on a “Listen” option and have it read to you.
• Vary translations. Someone told me she reads through the Bible every year using a reading program, but chooses a different translation every time, to get a fresh perspective.
• Devotional Books. These can offer a story or insight from someone, Scripture passages, and sometimes prayers. I’ve used old classic books as well as daily subscription types. Our Daily Bread is one that I used in college–it’s still available printed, but also online. My Utmost for His Highest is also available online, along with Streams in the Desert, and Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, among others.
• Scripture-based Book studies, like Beth Moore’s books or Blackaby’s Experiencing God, or headier stuff like a survey of the Old or New Testament. CBD has a list of Bible studies in various categories. Have you used any in particular that stand out?
• Commentaries online are handy. There are a lot, like here, here, and here. Lots of other places, too, if you do a quick search.

I look forward to collecting some more ideas in the comments! Please share ideas and tools for how your time with the Lord has become richer and more meaningful.And then be sure to pop back over to Rocks In My Dryer to offer more great insights and ideas to people’s pressing questions today at Backwards WFMW.Oh, and feel free to browse my previous posts of things that have worked for me.

The post Quiet? Time? appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

A few years ago we bought a preformed Advent wreath at Michael’s. I wrapped some ribbons and beads around it, stuck some plastic red berries into the greenery here and there, and deemed it ready for service. It was hardly an example of artistic brilliance, but it would serve us fine. It was festive. It would hold the candles.

We’d never celebrated Advent as a family, so this was an experiment. The church we attended at the time didn’t observe a liturgical calendar, so we didn’t even have a traditional corporate Advent experience. We were on our own to figure out the meaning of the candles and unearth some appropriate Scripture verses and devotionals.

From time to time, I dream up ideas like this as a potential family tradition, but I never know if it will “take.” You know what I mean?

Sometimes I suggest some clever outing or activity, trying to force it to happen…then it turns out not to be right for our family. Or maybe the idea was fun, but nobody asks about it again. Then it just fades away—it might serve as a pleasant memory, but not a lasting tradition.

Then there are those times when it works.

It “takes.”

It becomes something to ask for, something to look forward to, something to count on, something that brings back memories and builds on them.

When that happens, it becomes a tradition.

The Advent Wreath Tradition

The Advent wreath turned out to be one of those things that worked. It “took,” and now it’s a tradition.

When we bring out that ribbon-adorned wreath and set it up in the center of the table, its appearance and presence for the next few weeks says, “Christmas is coming—time to reflect.”

I look forward to the hush that comes over the family when we turn off the lights and gather around the table. The kids who can read eagerly anticipate looking up verses to share. We take turns reading passages, listening for the key words. Sometimes we try some creative activity. Sometimes we try to sing a carol. Sometimes we have a good conversation about it, and sometimes we meander and get off on tangents. But three things are consistent:

• we light the candles
• try to bring it back to the Bible verses, and
• end in prayer.

Candles Create Quiet to Reflect

We light the candle and read the verses in the dim light. We all tend to speak softly because the soft candlelight encourages a quieter atmosphere. It’s a natural setting for prayer.

I love how it ushers in a quiet moment at the end of the day, so still, so reflective—a countermeasure to the hectic pace of the surrounding culture; an antidote for the poison of consumerism that dominates the Christmas season. As the years have progressed, I think it’s proven to slow us down for a few moments in order to focus on Jesus Christ and the Incarnation in particular.

The candles each represent something. I’ve seen several suggestions for what they can stand for:

• Week 1: Hope, or Prophecy/Prophets, or the Patriarchs
• Week 2: Peace, or Bethlehem, or the Prophets can be this week instead of the first, or the Holy Family
• Week 3: Joy, or Shepherds, or John the Baptist
• Week 4: Love, or Angels, or the Magi, or Mary

So …pick your favorite combination, I guess, unless your church traditions insist on a particular series.

Advent Week 1: Peace

This week’s candle could represent peace, Bethlehem, the Holy Family, or the Prophets. The Boy insisted that it was the Holy Family candle. His Sunday School teacher said so. I was hoping to focus on Bethlehem and Peace.

So I asked him, “Who is the Holy Family?”

“Joseph, Mary….and….the donkey?” he replied.

We talked it over and determined that while the donkey was very useful, he probably wasn’t considered family. We came up with a more appropriate family member to take its place.

I pointed out that Mary and Joseph were just a couple until they got to…brilliant segue here…Bethlehem.

Then that’s where Jesus was born, so that’s when they became a Holy Family.

In Bethlehem.

I was hoping to talk about Bethlehem and peace. All the verses I’d looked up were about peace. And there are a lot of verses about peace. We couldn’t get to them all.

Scripture on Peace

Here are some that we read:

• Isaiah 9:6-7  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
• Micah 5:5-6  He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace.
• Luke 2:14 (heavenly host appearing before the Shepherds praising God) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
• John 14:27  (Jesus speaking) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
• Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
• Colossians 1:19-20 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
• Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

As we read them, we listened for the key word: Peace.

Every time the kids heard it, they were to hold up their pointer finger like a candle.

*Peace*

*Peace*

*Peace*

There are so many important verses about peace. We missed some good ones. I think we should revisit the best ones and look up the ones we missed.

Songs on Peace

We remembered that this morning at church we sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” I love that song. We tried to sing a verse or two tonight as a family, but we’re not very strong singers. It’s too bad we couldn’t enjoy the carol, because the lyrics are so great. They tie all those possible candle concepts together:

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!

How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n;

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n.

No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

Where children pure and happy pray to the blessèd Child,

Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild;

Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door,

The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

You’ve got the Holy Family, peace, and Bethlehem, all wrapped up on into one carol.

I grabbed the lyrics from Cyber Hymnal in 2007, where they included a short detail about Phillips Brooks’ inspiration as he penned the lyrics:

Brooks wrote about his horse­back jour­ney from Je­ru­sa­lem to Beth­le­hem, where he as­sist­ed with the mid­night ser­vice on Christ­mas Eve, 1865:

I re­mem­ber stand­ing in the old church in Beth­le­hem, close to the spot where Je­sus was born, when the whole church was ring­ing hour after hour with splen­did hymns of praise to God, how again and again it seemed as if I could hear voic­es I knew well, tell­ing each other of the Won­der­ful Night of the Sav­ior’s birth.

“Again and again,” he wrote, “it seemed as if I could hear voices I knew well, telling each other of the Wonderful Night of the Savior’s birth.”

Repeat the Story with Advent Traditions, Year After Year

Again and again, year after year, Advent after Advent, generation after generation, we tell the story of our dear Savior’s birth.

Each year when we light those candles, we start the story again. Whatever passages we read or songs we sing, whatever we emphasize week after week during Advent, we’re basically telling the story to each other, passing it along–the truth of Christ incarnate, fully God and fully man. We keep passing it down along the long line of believers. For now, it’s our responsibility.

This morning during the offering, a musician in our church sang with his wife a song that he wrote. The message of the song was just that–the passing along of the story down through the generations, the story of Jesus Christ, of salvation, of the virgin birth, the cross, the resurrection, the Holy Spirit. Makes me think of two other hymns. They aren’t Christmas carols, but they are a good reminder of what this whole season is about: telling the story.

 I Love to Tell the Story

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;

It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

Refrain

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems

Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.

I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;

And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

Refrain

I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat

What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

Refrain

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.

And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,

’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

Tell Me the Old, Old Story

Tell me the old, old story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story simply, as to a little child,

For I am weak and weary, and helpless and defiled.

Refrain

Tell me the old, old story, tell me the old, old story,

Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in,

That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin.

Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon;

The early dew of morning has passed away at noon.

Refrain

Tell me the story softly, with earnest tones and grave;

Remember I’m the sinner whom Jesus came to save.

Tell me the story always, if you would really be,

In any time of trouble, a comforter to me.

Refrain

Tell me the same old story when you have cause to fear

That this world’s empty glory is costing me too dear.

Yes, and when that world’s glory is dawning on my soul,

Tell me the old, old story: “Christ Jesus makes thee whole.”

This Christ Jesus, born in Bethlehem, makes us whole.

May you enjoy the story this week, the truth, the Christ.

May you experience His peace.

______________________________

Are the demands of motherhood keeping you from a rich relationship with God?

With ideas from mothers in all seasons of life, Ann Kroeker’s book offers creative, practical, and enjoyable suggestions to help you discover how a passionate relationship with God is possible in the midst of motherhood.

“The Contemplative Mom gives busy, loving, kid-centered mothers permission to rest, like a tired child, in God’s strong arms. An important book.”

—Rachael and Larry Crabb, authors and speakers

Buy your copy

The post I Love to Tell the Story: How Advent Traditions Invite Us to Reflect, Together appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.

We bought pre-fab Resurrection Eggs made by Focus on the Family: Twelve eggs hold twelve items symbolizing some aspect of the Easter story, beginning with a little metal donkey for Palm Sunday.

Taking turns, the children opened an egg and read the appropriate portion of Scripture, then we talked about it.

As if experiencing Easter deja vu, we assigned the last egg–the empty egg–to The Boy, just as we did last year.

“I wonder what’s in it?” he says in a dreamy tone. Pop. “Awww. It’s empty.” He screws up his mouth in an exaggerated grimace and wrinkles his nose. Is he faking it for effect, or does he truly not remember? “What’s supposed be in this one?”

“It’s empty?” I ask.

“Empty. Look!” He holds them out for us to see total emptiness in the blue shadows of the egg’s interior.

“It’s empty!” I turn to the others. “Empty! Just like….”

“What else was empty on Easter?” one of the older sisters poses in a leading tone.

His eyes light up. “It’s empty…like…the tomb! ‘He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures!'”(Wow, do I love AWANA Bible memorization!)

We turned to each other and took turns saying, “He is risen,” so the next person could respond, “He is risen indeed!”

We read on through Doubting Thomas. I love the last few verses of that section:

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

I have not seen, yet I’ve believed. I’m so thankful that the words are written that I may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing I may have life in his name.

And so may my kids. It was a very simple Easter, but full of Truth.

Tomorrow I’ll move on to blog about writing and books I’ve read and other types of posts, but I wanted to wind down my Easter weekend on Easter Monday by sharing a piece of our family story with you.

The egg–the tomb–is empty, and we can, by believing, have life in His name.

The post The Last Egg appeared first on Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach.