Happy Easter!!!!!!

Happy Easter MOPS leaders!

Here are some fun ideas to do this weekend to help your child celebrate and understand the Resurrection story.

HE IS RISEN!

RESURRECTION COOKIES

This is a great recipe to teach your Children the REAL story of Easter. That the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior is not dead but has Risen. We serve a Risen Savior......

You will need:

1 cup whole pecans

1 teaspoon vinegar

3 egg whites

a pinch salt

1 cup sugar

a zipper baggy

1 wooden spoon

scotch tape

Bible

Instructions:

These are to be made the evening before Easter. Preheat oven to 300F.*** (this is very important --- don't wait until you are half done with the recipe).

Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read: John 19:1-3
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegarto drink.

Read: John 19:28-30
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His lifeto give us life.

Read: John 10:10&11
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the restinto the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers,and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read: Luke 23:27
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that thesweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us toknow and belong to Him.

Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sinshave been cleansed by Jesus.

Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read: Matthew 27:57-60
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.Explain that Jesus tomb was sealed.

Read: Matthew 27:65-66

GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read: John 16:20&22
On Resurrection Sunday (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read: Matthew 28:1-9

Resurrection Rolls

You Will Need:(each item represents how Jesus' body was prepared for burial)

Large Marshmallows

Melted Butter

Sugar/Cinnamon mixture

Can of Crescent Rolls

Instructions:

1. Open can of crescent rolls and separate into triangles. The rolls represent the linen wrapping used in covering the dead.

2. Dip and roll one marshmallow (representing Jesus' body) into melted butter The butter represents the oils used in anointing the dead body.

3. Roll the marshmallow in the sugar/cinnamon mixture. The mixture represents the spices used in burials.

4. Place the marshmallow in the center of the crescent triangle. Fold and pinch the edges tight. Put each crescent-wrapped marshmallow on a slightly greased cookie sheet.

5. Bake the rolls as directed on he package. The oven represents the tomb. When cooked, the marshmallow melts leaving only the puffed crescent roll. This demonstrates how Jesus rose from the dead. All that remained in the tomb were the linen wrappings.

These are surprisingly tasty.

ENJOY!!!

Jesus loves you!

Have a blessed Easter!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to Christy Molnar

Christy Molnar Council Coordinator for Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton will be receiving the WAEB radio, Gebhardt's Someone Special Volunteer Award. It will be announced tomorrow on Bobby Gunther Walsh's morning show. We are so proud of Christy and thankful for all she does for MOPS. Please send her a congratulations!

Following the Father's Commands

It's that time of year when we are bombarded with things that need to be done. At MOPS we're getting ready for the Leadership For Life Summit, nominating and interviewing new Steering Team members, planning Tea and Testimonies and seeking to end well. Some of us are involved in end of the year school activities, spring sports, recitals, spring musicals, and field trips. At church we're planning VBS, summer events, teaching Sunday school, on the praise team, women's bible study and more.

How do you know what you should be doing? There are so many opportunities for ministry and service. The following article from Prime Time With God was really helpful in pointing me in the right direction....


Following Only the Father's Commands
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." - John 5:19Have you ever thought about a typical day in Jesus' life? Perhaps He might have had questions like these, "Who am I going to heal today? Who will I visit today? Which person will I deliver from demons this day?" etc. The demands on Jesus' time were great. Yet we see that Jesus allocated His time very deliberately. We don't get the idea that Jesus was flustered or stressed from the activity He was involved in. He often sought times of prayer and reflection away from the disciples. His life appeared to have a balance of quiet moments and active ministry into the lives He came in contact with.

How do we determine what we will be involved in each day of our lives? What keeps us in sync with the will of our heavenly Father for the daily tasks He calls us to? Jesus tells us that He was only involved in those things the Father was involved in. Nothing more, nothing less. So often we determine our participation in an activity based on whether we have the time to do it or whether we desire to participate. The real question we should ask is, "Does the Father want me to participate in this activity?"

To read the rest of the article go to.....
http://www.churchgrowthmail.org/web/pageid/30781/pages.asp

I Stand by the Door

Dear Sisters,

I wanted to share this poem with you. Elisa read it to us at our Field Leader training in Dallas and I thought it was really meaningful. It took me awhile to find a copy of it, but here it is. Please share it with your Steering Team Leaders and DGLs. Thank you for all you do standing at the door so mothers can find the entrance to the glorious house of God. This Thanksgiving I am thanking God for you, the door keepers, and praying that He will bless you abundantly.

Joyfully,

Barb

I Stand by the Door by Sam Shoemaker

I stand by the door. I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out, The door is the most important door in the world- It is the door through which people walk when they find God. There's no use my going way inside, and staying there, When so many are still outside and they, as much as I, Crave to know where the door is. And all that so many ever find Is only the wall where a door ought to be. They creep along the wall like blind people, With outstretched, groping hands. Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door, Yet they never find it ... So I stand by the door. The most tremendous thing in the world Is for people to find that door--the door to God. The most important thing any person can do Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands, And put it on the latch--the latch that only clicks And opens to the person's own touch. People die outside that door, as starving beggars die On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter— Die for want of what is within their grasp. They live, on the other side of it--live because they have not found it. Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it, And open it, and walk in, and find Him ... So I stand by the door. Go in, great saints, go all the way in-- Go way down into the cavernous cellars, And way up into the spacious attics-- It is a vast roomy house, this house where God is. Go into the deepest of hidden casements, Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood. Some must inhabit those inner rooms. And know the depths and heights of God, And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is. Sometimes I take a deeper look in, Sometimes venture in a little farther; But my place seems closer to the opening ... So I stand by the door. There is another reason why I stand there. Some people get part way in and become afraid Lest God and the zeal of His house devour them For God is so very great, and asks all of us. And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia, And want to get out. "Let me out!" they cry, And the people way inside only terrify, them more. Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled For the old life, they have seen too much: Once taste God, and nothing but God will do any more. Somebody must be watching for the frightened Who seek to sneak out just where they came in, To tell them how much better it is inside. The people too far in do not see how near these are To leaving--preoccupied with the wonder of it all. Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door, But would like to run away. So for them, too, I stand by the door. I admire the people who go way in. But I wish they would not forget how it was Before they got in. Then they would be able to help The people who have not, yet even found the door, Or the people who want to run away again from God, You can go in too deeply, and stay in too long, And forget the people outside the door. As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place, Near enough to God to hear Him, and know He is there, But not so far from people as not to hear them, And remember they are there, too. Where? Outside the door-- Thousands of them, millions of them. But--more important for me-- One of them, two of them, ten of them, Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch. So I shall stand by the door and wait For those who seek it. "I had rather be a door-keeper ..." So I stand by the door. Sam Shoemaker, founder of Faith At Work at Calvary Episcopal Church in New York City, in 1926, was also one of the spiritual leaders who helped draft the 12 Steps of A.A.

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MOPS International's MOM-E-Mail, October 10, 2005

Mothering Maxim 'Walk the walk' matters. Children learn what they live. They learn from what they see and hear their parents do - how parents make things work, how they solve problems, what behavior is acceptable or not, what types of cues and words win positive responses. Parents can and do mentor through their everyday actions and words. (Craig & Sharon Ramey) Mom Moment Mom Influence By Barb Vogelgesang, Area Coordinator I don't know how other moms look at their children, but I was still seeing mine as a bunch of exuberant, silly little kids until recently. My oldest son, who is now 13, has begun working on his Eagle award for Boy Scouts. I got to spend some time with him at a scout event and saw how the younger boys looked to him for approval and direction. The older scouts respected his opinion and easily gave him responsibility. He knew when to seek counsel on decisions and which incidents he could just deal with. It dawned on me that this "boy/man" with a sometimes squeaky, sometimes deep voice is a leader. Wow! As I watched him direct a small army of boys setting up camp I wondered what influenced his development from the little guy who loved to give his mom sticky kisses and needed the light on to sleep, to the young man I see before me. When I asked him how he learned to be a leader he said, "By watching the woman who's led me all my life...you!" I had never really thought about mothering as a leadership position. A leader is someone who has influence over others. A mom definitely fits that definition. That revelation has made me more aware of how I lead my children. I still have many years to continue teaching him and his sisters and brother. It has also made me realize that I was chosen by God to lead these children, and I need to depend on his direction in order for me to do a good job. Oh, and by the way, my son doesn't need the night light any more, but I still make sure I get the kisses. Prayer From a Mother's Heart Dear God, help me to be an influence for you in the lives of my children, a beacon pointing them to your saving grace. Thank you to Antiquities for sponsoring this MOM-E-Mail. Each year, Antiquities photography studios capture thousands of young smiles and bright eyes. Offering families a chance at a creative and unique old-fashioned portrait complete with props and clothing, the Antiquities trend continues to gain momentum. Another benefit of the Antiquities program is the fundraising opportunity it offers the sponsoring organization. For more information about Antiquities, call 1-888-525-4453 or visit their Web site at www.antiquities-studios.com. Copyright © 2005 by MOPS International, Inc. This message was sent to: joyousheart@enter.net This is a recurring e-mail; MOM-E-Mail is a benefit of the MOPStoMom Connection. If you would prefer not to receive future MOM-E-Mail messages, or would like to change your email address please use this link . Click here to contact us. MOPS and MOM-E-Mail are registered trademarks of MOPS International, Inc. http://www.mops.org/ MOPS International, Inc. · 2370 S. Trenton Way · Denver, CO 80231-3822

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