Colored Eggs for Easter

We usually color eggs a couple of days before Easter just as something fun to do - making sure not to give it any major air time or significance in the life of our Easter celebrations. For obvious reasons, we do not want our kids to equate Easter with the coloring of our cute little eggs. We have several things we do to make sure the four little Linos understand and value the reason we celebrate Easter - the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We have added a set of colored eggs to our Easter festivities this year. We are using Family Life's Resurrection Eggs to supplement our family Bible time leading up to Easter. It is 'one dozen bright colorful eggs, meaningful objects, and a devotional booklet bring the story of the death and resurrection of Christ to life' and can be used in a number of different ways. We opened the first egg Saturday night over the course of dinner and Nathan recounted the story of Palm Sunday. As this week progresses, each of the objects inside the eggs will play a part in helping us impact the hearts of our children with the gospel message. This is just one way that we are trying to creatively (someone else's wonderful idea and not mine, of course) help them move forward in their comprehension of who God is and the redemption story. They are all very excited about the surprise in the eggs. They can't wait to see how many eggs we get to open tomorrow and what part of the story it helps tell. This is the set of Easter eggs that I want our kids remember.

Ten Life Commitments of a Woman of Truth

First, I take no credit for any of this. I recently listened to a recording of a talk from the most recent SBC Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. The speaker was Mary Kassian and I can tell you now, I like how this woman thinks…..about life, the Bible, womanhood and much more. At this particular event, she walked through Titus 2 and shared ten life commitments of a woman of truth – what it means to be a woman of truth. Most of these ten things fly in the face of our culture today and go against what many of us probably unconsciously ascribe to. She says this is the bible’s vision of a woman of truth – ‘in your face, raw, irksome, painful, liberating, life giving, life defining, counter-cultural, healing, peroxide in the wound kind of truth.’ Here they are:

A Woman of Truth……..

1 – has a radical devotion to God. Her life is not about her, but wholly about the glory of God.

2 – holds to sounds doctrine. She studies and accurately handles the Word of God. She has doctrinal convictions. She can correctly determine what is good-evil, right-wrong based on the objective truth of the Word of God.

3 – loves the family plan. She is a lover of husband and children. She treasures and values the family (single women, too). She does not undermine the holiness of marriage. She does not speak ill of men or criticize them. She honors the marriage relationships around her.

4 – lives intentionally. She has self discipline in how she lives and conducts herself as a woman. She builds bridges to get her where she wants to be (like routine so she doesn't neglect family or time with God; encouraging husband; joining a bible study) and barriers to keep herself from going where she doesn’t want to go (like deciding not to be alone anywhere with a man that is not her husband; restricting her internet access; not emailing men) in her life.

5 – has godly character. She is pure and holy and holds herself to a high standard. She compares herself to God’s standards and not those of her girlfriends.

6 – has womanly priorities. She creates and manages a welcoming home. She delights in her unique role as a home creator and devotes her best efforts and time to that which is most important in her particular circumstance and season of life. She has a heart for the home both physically and spiritually.

7 – has womanly purpose. She is kind. She is a helper and not a hinderer for her husband and in all relationships.

8 – has womanly disposition. She is submissive; has a gentle, quiet and deferent spirit. She has an inclination to bend.

9 – is a spiritual mother. She is a teacher of what is good; a life-giver; nurtures and cares for others.

10 – displays the beauty of the gospel. She does not revile the Word of God. She reflects the character and responsiveness of the bride of Christ and exalts the glory of the Lord Jesus.

You really need to hear her to get the full effect and passion of what she is saying. I was convicted on so many levels. The Holy Spirit continues to use this message in my life to mold me and change me. I will never be the perfect woman of truth found in God’s word but as she says in this message, the Holy Spirit can make more holy today than I was yesterday. I want it to be so.

PS – You can get a copy of the CD from http://www.sbctapes.com/ (go to the 2009 Pastor's Conference and Southern Baptist Convention link). There are also numerous resources on Mary Kassian’s website that deal with biblical manhood and womanhood. Great stuff!

Preparing for Shepherding

In anticipation of this weekend's parenting conference, I recently reread Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. I last read it before we had any kids. At the time, it was one of those books that you like and know has good stuff in it. Because I wasn't in this phase of life, I didn't have a sense of urgency over putting some of the application into practice in my own life. Four kids later, it's a totally different story.

From the publisher.....

Shepherding a Child's Heart is about how to speak to the heart of your child. Bringing deep biblical principals to the task of parenting and concentrating on what is going on inside a child rather than just their outside behavior.

This easy to read, 200+ page book was good for me. Biblical principles is what Nathan and I have always sought in the raising of our children so the content of this book was easy to agree with. This parenting how-to used Bible, Bible, Bible. If doing things the way of the Bible is not what you had in mind, then this is not for you. As with any self-help, how-to, instructional type book, there are a few things that don't jive with me but I could completely see myself doing and saying some of the things Tripp illustrates. I realized how I often am not looking into the deeper meaning behind the behavior of my children. True, I firmly believe they are all sinners - have been since they were born - but their behavior is portraying the condition of their heart and I far too many times do not connect those dots. This book has caused me to really evaluate why I react the way I do and how I can more effectively meet the spiritual needs of their hearts. There are so many instances that I just correct or discipline the behavior to suit my needs (otherwise known as sanity) instead of taking the time to bring them along in their journey to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul and mind.

Parenting is hard. Biblical parenting is really hard. Because we have four little currently lost people entrusted to us, I will continue to pour biblical principles into their lives despite how challenging and exhausting it is. I will strive to be more diligent and intentional in my parenting so that one day (prayerfully very soon and without much baggage) they will, as we tell them in their terms, 'make Jesus Christ the boss of them'. It's a hard job, but I am the one tasked with doing it for Toads, Girly Girl, Samoosa and String Bean. I am truly blessed to be able to be mom to these four. I love my job!

Right Before My Eyes

String Bean is growing up so much. So glad God gave us this fourth
precious one to parent and love.

Had To Do This

I had to do this in public (and yes, I already did in private) and this is the most public forum available to me. I must apologize to my husband for my bad attitude and vey unencouraging reaction to him. You see when he told me several months ago that he had decided to preach through Leviticus on Wednesday evenings, the first word out of my mouth was "really??". I know you can hear the tone of my voice in this, like 'are you kidding'. Many people are thinking the same thing and just glad it was his wife who said it.

I was not enthralled with the prospect of journeying through Leviticus. I was wrong. We have taken four weeks thus far to look at the opening chapters of the book that most people would like to just skim through. It has been incredible to see how the Lord has brought it alive and given it so much more meaning in my life of worship to Him. I look forward to seeing where this goes. Tomorrow night is the next step. You can find the series online or using itunes by searching for Nathan Lino. Leviticus....it's not what you think.

Great Time

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet together with women for the sole purpose of prayer. Don't check out on me yet. Prayer isn't something we all go running for - unless in a crisis in which everyone wants to pray - but it is something that enriches and enables daily living and should be what we run to. Yesterday I was with the staff wives. We don't gather regularly for anything but this prayer time on a monthly basis has recently become one of my favorite things to do. We pray. For anything. For the integrity of the church staff. For the NEHBC vision. For broken families. For our neighbors. For our husbands. For brokenness. For encouragment. For events. For renewal of hearts and minds. For mission trips. For healing. Whatever comes to our minds is what we petition our Heavenly Father for. We are trusting in His answers and provision. We had a fabulous time!

I love these women. They have hearts seeking righteousness and a desire to serve unselfishly. I thank the Lord for assembling a team of staff wives united in prayer and devotion to winning the lost and discipling the saved.

A Must Have for Little Guys

Probably the top vote getter for the best thing Santa left in our stockings a few months ago.......this CD for String Bean. 26 Alphabet Bible Verse Chorus Songs is in the Higer Learning Series by Thingamakid. Works like a charm....we hop in the van and everyone asks for String Bean's music. Moments later we are all singing along. 'Do, do, do, do, do all things; Do, do, do do, do all things....without complaining or arguing.' Even the two year old has it down. I am not sure they even realize it is a verse for each letter of the alphabet, but they know the verses. A fun, easy way to get Scripture in their hearts. You can find it online for under $6 and the long-term return is worth far more.

THE ALPHABET SONG & VERSE LIST

A-As For Me and My House

B-Be Kind to One Another

C-Create in Me a Clean Heart

D-Do, Do, Do All Things

E-Even a Child

F-For God So Loved the World

G-Go Into All the World

H-He Will Rejoice

I-I Can Do All Things

J-Jesus Said I Am the Way

K-Keep My Words

L-Love the Lord

M-My Sheep Hear My Voice

N-Not By Might

O-O Give Thanks to the Lord

P-Praise Him for His Might Deeds

Q-Quench Not the Spirit

R-Rejoice in the Lord Always

S-Seek Ye First

T-Teach Me Your Way

U-Unto God Is Born This Day

V-Verily, Verily I Say to You

W-Whenever I Am Afraid

X-eXceeding Great and Precious Promises

Y-You Are the Light of the World

Z-Zion Heard, and Was Glad