Lent for the Littles.

As usual, I am way behind in posting about things that could be currently helpful...but such is my life these days.  So, while Lent started last Wednesday, and we are now five days into the season already, I shall continue to embrace my "it is what it is" motto of life...and share with you a really cool "Easter Prep" of sorts that - if you like - you could either put a rush order on it to use for this season - albeit a few days late - or simply "bookmark it" as a potential idea for next year.

My apologies.
It is what it is...

Anyway, my Mom actually is the one to thank for this super sweet family devotional activity. It is called "The Messiah Mystery - Uncovering the Meaning of Lent."  Family Life is the company who came up with the idea, and Barbara Rainey - mother of six, by the way - is the author of this devotional.

Here's what I love about it.  She makes it super simple and only as involved and as interactive as you want it to be.  There is virtually no "work."  I hate work.  She has different sections highlighted in bold - and if your children are eight years and younger, you just read those sections....and she has other parts with much more detail - if your children's attention spans are longer.  Perfect for a wide gamet of ages, and I love that.

Growing up, my family personally never took part in Lent - although I think the idea is great.  In recent years, there have been some super sweet ideas floating around - several of which we have used like the "Resurrection Eggs," the "Resurrection Rolls," and the "Jelly Bean Jars" where kids can put different colored jelly beans with different meanings behind each color all throughout the Easter Season....and then on Easter morning, they will find the rest of the jar filled right up to the top with white jelly beans - symbolizing God's grace that covers our sins etc. etc.

All awesome ideas.  And many of which I will probably use again this season.  I love things like this - things that cement teachings into our children's hearts and minds but that are also super fun and interactive.

So, this is just another one of those things - another countdown of sorts - one that focuses on setting the stage, and preparing our hearts....following Scripture from clear back in the Garden of Eden to help us all remember our need for a Savior and to anticipate the greatest miracle of all time.

And I love that she makes this so super simple.  I am wretched at follow-through.  I love ideas, I love grand plans....but so rarely am I able to make it all the way from start to finish with something if it is too overly detailed.  Rockin' Mrs. Rainey knew this, so she wrote only six sessions - meant to be read every Wednesday before Easter...but with flexibility like that...one has an entire week to make sure they get it done!  So, this morning, for example, we did the very first session....that was intended for last  week - "Ash Wedesday," by the way.  But, no big deal.  I like this!

 Setting the stage....

Because the kids are supposed to pretend to be clue-finders, to set the stage, I sent them on a little scavenger hunt all around the house - with clues written in the tiniest of fonts, so that they would have to use the included magnifying glass to read them.  I had a tiny little prize at the end, Daddy read the first devotional, and then there is a paper chain you can make that's included in the package, to rip off one day at a time and add to a poster that you put up on the wall.  Each day we will fill in the picture a little bit more....and get ever closer to solving "The Messiah Mystery!"

So super cool.
And the kids love it.

"God's story in the Bible is actually a series of clues...one of the most mind-boggling mysteries of all time.  You see, with God, nothing is random.  Every detail is ordered with purpose, so His clues aren't haphazard or let behind accidentally.  They are purposeful and perfectly orchestrated.  In the Old Testament, written thousands of years before Jesus was born, God used real people's lives and things that happened to them to tell the world who Jesus would be.  These people's lives were living clues!  God was carefully, brilliantly giving the world directions to find Jesus.  Like a long, red ribbon that we can follow through the years, these signs lead us to God's Son.  The clues seem to say:  Here's what He will look like.  Here's what He will do...."  

 "...Watch for Him.  Pay attention.  He is coming!"

And so we are watching.
And we are waiting.
And we are counting down...

For more information:
1-800-FL-TODAY
FamilyLife.com

"...to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things." ~ Ephesian 3:9