Christian Parenting Handbook: Coming April 29 - Special Offer of over $400 in Parenting Resources

by Lois Breneman - 2013 - Heart to Heart Newsletter

I've been privileged to have been asked to be on the Launch Team for this very practical parenting book, based on sound biblical principles.  The authors are Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller.  

Quite a few articles by these two skilled authors have appeared in the Heart to Heart Newsletter in the past and have always been excellent biblical advice.  Just do a search for "Parenting" to find many of their articles.

In reading over the advance electronic copy of this new book, I am excited to get a copy for each of our children as an early Christmas gift (you girls didn't see this, did you?)  What a terrific and meaningful gift!  You will find parenting advice for children of all ages, including teens. 

Don't miss this amazing offer for parents!  If you purchase this new book during launch week, beginning April 29, you will receive more than $400 in parenting resources.  Here's the info: http://www.biblicalparenting.org/parentingshifts/tcph.asp

Teaching Kids to See What Needs to be Done & Do It

National Center for Biblical Parenting - www.biblicalparenting.org

This parenting tip is taken from the book, "Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids," by Scott Turansky/Joanne Miller - Used by permission

One of the parts of our honor definition is that we do more than what's expected. That means seeing what needs to be done and doing it, and solving problems instead leaving them for others. One family had a sign in their kitchen that read:

If it's broken, fix it.
If it's empty, fill it up.
If it's open, shut it.
If it's out, put it away.
If it's messy, clean it up.
If you can't, then report it.
That's honor.

Take time to teach children that they don't have to be asked in order to do a job. Honor means that we are all contributing to family life. In fact, you may ask a child to go around the house and look for one job that needs to be done and do it, then report back to you.

These kinds of discussions and exercises will help children think outside of their little box and discover that they have a responsibility to the family. They can contribute to family life by just seeing something that needs to be done and doing it.

Of course, that's what makes a valuable employee so you can teach your children something more important than just how to get along better in your family. You may be preparing them to be outstanding employees as they get older.

Free Christian Stories & Music for Children at Play

You can stream wonderful stories and music for your children from http://www.bbnradio.org, even if you can't get the Bible Broadcasting Network on your radio (98.5 FM in our area).  Every day at 4:00 PM (Eastern time) the Captain's Club has a dramatic story during the half hour broadcast about 4:15 - just the time when "Arsenic Hour" is about to begin, if you moms know what I mean!  Odyssey is on at 7:30 PM (M-F) as well as 10:00 AM on Sat.  Listen in!  Your kids will love it!  This is just one great way to pour good things into your children's minds and hearts!

Go to http://www.bbnradio.org to see if BBN can be heard where you live, but if not. listen online!

Lots of Easter Inspiration, Ideas, & Recipes

(One the two "Heart to Heart" Blogs)

Twelve Entries: http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com/search/label/Easter

including Resurrection Eggs: http://www.heartfilledhome.blogspot.com/2010/12/another-method-of-resurrection-eggs.html

and Easter Story Cookies:
http://www.heartfilledhome.blogspot.com/2013/03/resurrection-cookies-directions.html

Easter Dinner Recipes: http://heartfilledhomerecipes.blogspot.com/2011/01/easter-recipes.html

Make a Paper Cross with One Tear

This would be a meaningful family devotional time!  Set your DVR to record Mary Rice Hopkins weekly children's show using wonderful puppets.  You will find her show on TBN each Saturday morning at 11:30 Eastern time (and going all across the USA, of course)!

Click HEREto see the Cross with One Tear television episode, instructions for making, and accompanying story.

http://maryricehopkins.com/cross-with-one-tear/

Organizational Craft: A Scarf Hanger

http://www.onlyhangers.com/163/free_pdf_download:_crafts_from_the_closet.htm

Used by permission

Only Hangers has developed an e-book that puts your old hangers to use for decorations around the home as well as helping to get you more organized.  One of the crafts from the book is a scarf holder. It takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish and all you need is a plastic coat hanger and shower curtain rings. This craft is perfect for those who have limited space in their closet and have a lot of scarves that they would like to keep separated and easily visible for choosing one to wear.  Anyone can do this, because there is really only one step.  You simply clip on the shower curtain rings to the bottom of the hanger and you are all set to hang your scarves from the hanger.  Some other craft ideas in the book include a picture hanger, necklace or belt organizer. To get the free e-book, Crafts from the Closet from Only Hangers go here

 

How a Young Mom Feeds Her Family with Nutrition in Mind & Cooking with Beans

Elizabeth Tromm is a young mom with two daughters and a son, ages 6, 4, and 2.  She beautifully illustrates this post with colorful photos of her food choices on her blog, http://babytromm.xanga.com/772117491/what-we-eat/

What We Eat
by Elizabeth Tromm - Used by permission

I wrote a post a year and a half ago about the way we eat and about my grocery budget, but I have had several people ask me to write another one about our meals and snacks. I do feel really strongly about healthy eating because I believe that it plays a huge role in how often we get sick and/or how we feel, but I try not to throw it into other people's faces. So here is what we eat.

 

We eat a ton of dried beans. Black, red, navy, chick peas, pinto, etc... Our all time favorite meal, winter, spring, summer, fall, is black beans and rice. I use brown rice and I always buy the beans dried. At the beginning of the week I will soak and cook a pot of black beans and usually another pot of a different variety. That way they are ready when I am ready to use them during the week. We put the black beans on top of the rice and then I put chopped peppers (red, yellow, or orange), tomatoes, and cucumbers on top of that. I will also put the cucumbers in sour cream and add garlic and cumin. Over all of that I put brown apple cider vinegar. It is the best meal ever!! Mia often requests it for breakfast.

 

Another favorite meal is grilled marinated chicken. I marinate it for at least 24 hours in zesty Italian dressing and slowly grill it. Depending on the season we have a different variety of veggies. In the summer I usually grill squash, onions, tomatoes, and  peppers along with the chicken. Other times we have baked "french fries." I slice the potatoes into wedges and put them in olive oil and four to six different types of spices and herbs, depending on what flavors I want that day.

 

Of course, I love a good hamburger. My recent and most favorite to date is a grilled burger topped with this AWESOME locally made hot wing sauce, jalapeño peppers, grilled onions, and minced garlic. It. Is. So. Good!! With that we will do the baked potato wedges, and cole slaw, or green beans and corn on the cob in the summer.  Tacos with loads of veggies is another meal that is loved by everyone in our house. Pasta. Any pasta covered in sauce is a good meal to my family. Eva and I love chick peas, Mia and Carter eat them but they don't request them like Eva does. My favorite way to fix chick peas is to heat them to room temperature, add grape tomatoes cut in half, chunked avocado, a pinch of salt and fresh lime juice over everything. It is so yummy. 

 

I always try to have fresh raw veggies and cooked vegetables at all of our meals along with meat when Rob is home. We usually eat fresh fruit for dessert. I love bread but my girls are not fans. So I usually fix a loaf or two each week to eat with our dinners.

 

Our lunches consist of mostly leftovers. If those are not available I give the kids an option of beans or sandwiches. Mia usually goes for beans and the other two like a sandwich.

 

For breakfast I fix them oatmeal with my canned peaches or frozen berries that we put up in the spring and summer.  Other days we might have Greek yogurt, sausage and gravy with biscuits, or eggs. Sometimes I have granola that they can eat. We stay away from store bought cereal because of all the added sugar and enriched ingredients. I always fix a 20 oz green smoothie for myself and about 4 oz for each of the kids. On days when Rob eats breakfast with us I usually fix bacon or sausage to go with our eggs.  We love some bacon in our family!

 

Snacks are the biggest struggle. Even though we eat lots of fiber and whole grain my kids are always starving. Growing up I don't remember snacking a lot but who knows. I have decided that as long as it is more than an hour before a meal the kids can eat as many snacks as they want, within reason.

These are the snacks they are allowed to have:

1. Oatmeal

2. Fresh vegetables. I always keep peppers, celery, and broccoli cut-up, and in the veggie drawer. I also have carrots and small cucumbers in that drawer. On the counter there is usually a container of grape tomatoes.

3. Fresh fruit. I keep seasonal fruit for the most part. Pineapple, oranges, and bananas have been around my house lately. In the summer it is berries, peaches, and pears. In the fall we eat a lot of apples. I throw in grapes here and there as they go on sale. 

4. Nuts and dried fruit. I usually have pecans and almonds. Sometimes we roast them but the kids prefer eating them raw. They also like dried fruit - prunes, raisins, apricots, etc.

5. String cheese or cubed cheese

6. Greek yogurt

7. Popcorn. They are half Fenzel and we all know how the Fenzel clan loves their popcorn.

The kids usually tell me when they are hungry and if we are not in the middle of school or some project, I tell them to go and pick out what they want and sit at the table. Since I keep everything sliced and prepped they are able to get what they want by themselves.

Cooking Beans for Easy Digestionby Lois Breneman - 2012 - Heart to Heart Newsletter

Satisfying, versatile, and very inexpensive  - about $1 per pound - at a time when budgets need to be stretched to put gas in our vehicles!   I just cooked another 4 pounds today!  Beans freeze very well!

A few months ago I shared how to cook beans to be easily digestible.  A nutritionist told me to soak grain overnight by adding 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar for every cup of grain.  However, I adapted this recipe and found it works just as well without the beans soaking up so much vinegar.  There is no vinegar flavor with the following directions.

This is what I do:

Soak the following overnight in a large Dutch oven or cooking pot:
4 pounds of dried beans, washed thoroughly in a colander (Great Northern or pinto beans are very good)
1 gallon of distilled water (or enough to fully cover soaked beans)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

Note: DO NOT add any salt at this point!  Salt will prevent the beans from getting tender.  Salt and season later.

After soaking overnight or at least 8 hours, drain and rinse the beans several times.  Cover with more pure water and bring to a boil.  A foam may cover the top after they come to a boil.  Skim off the foam with a large spoon.  I hold the lid in my left hand and spoon the foam into the lid, then pour it down the drain.  This needs to be done until the foam is about gone (5 minutes or so).  Simmer beans for about an hour or more until the beans are tender.  I drain the beans unless I plan to make bean soup.  You can season at this point or wait until serving.  Spoon some of the beans into containers to freeze.  Save some with the liquid for bean soup, and make hummus with the remaining beans for dipping carrots, celery or crackers into this high protein snack.

Complete protein:  By eating a grain with beans, you will have a complete protein (a meat substitute).  Whole grain bread or crackers, rice cakes or crackers, or a bean and rice dish will suffice.

 

 

 

If Only I Had a Maid

by Martha Matthews - Used by permission - Repeated from a 2006 Heart to Heart Newsletter

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Luke 10:40 (NIV)

Have you ever felt like Martha? You look at all the things you need to do and think, "How can I get this done by myself? Oh, if only I had a maid!"

If you've looked at the woman in Proverbs 31 you have no doubt seen that she was someone who accomplished a lot. I remember thinking to myself, "How is she able to get so much done? She has the same 24 hours in a day that I do. How come she is able to be so productive?"

After many years of studying the Proverbs 31 woman I can tell you that there are five things she does that guarantee her success. Let's take a look at a few of the passages pertaining to the Proverbs 31 woman to see what we can learn from her.

1. She Worked Early.

"She rises while it is yet night and gets food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks." Proverbs 31:15 (Amplified Bible)

Yes, that's right. She was up early in the morning. Not only was she up early, she was working early. Notice that she was busy preparing breakfast for everyone in her household. In today's world we don't have to get up before dawn to make breakfast, but there is much that we can accomplish when we get up early.

Oh, I can just hear some of you moaning, "I'm not a morning person." Well, I understand how you feel. I felt the same way myself. Then I realized that God thought it was so important that He put it in the Bible. This is the kind of thing you have to put into practice before you have a change of heart about it. It was that way for me. The Lord had to show my stubborn heart over and over that I need to get up early before I understood its benefits.

Now, I get up early with a joyful heart. I am able to have my quiet time with the Lord, shower and get ready, put in a load of laundry and get organized for the day. When I do these things early I am ready for just about anything that comes my way that day because I have prepared my heart and my mind.

2. She Worked with Strength

"She girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms." Proverbs 31:17 (NKJ)

The Proverbs 31 woman was no couch potato. She understood that in order to do all that she had to do, that she must be in good physical shape. She knew that her family depended on her and therefore her health was important to her.

It is easy to get busy with taking care of your family and end up neglecting your own physical well-being. Making sure that you are eating right and getting enough exercise is important. How else are you going to be able to pick up your crying toddler, vacuum the house, clean out the car, play with your children and still have energy left to have a romantic time with your husband (if you get my drift)? You have to be in good physical shape.

3. She Worked Smart

"...and assigns her maids their tasks." Proverbs 31:15 (Amplified Bible)

I remember when it hit me that the Proverbs 31 woman had maids working for her. I thought, "How unfair it is that she had maids and I have to do all this work on my own (pout, pout)."

Then the Lord opened my eyes. He helped me realize how many maids I actually had! There was the washing machine and dryer, the vacuum cleaner, the dish washer, the microwave, the slow cooker, the oven, the toaster, the coffee pot and my favorite -- the bread machine. When I stopped to think about it, all my appliances were performing services just like the maids of the Proverbs 31 woman. No more pouting for me!

Now I use all my maids, I mean appliances, to their full potential. I finally realized that I needed to work smarter, not harder. Delegation was the key. After all, the Lord had blessed me with these machines. Why was I not using them as I should? Now, on any given day you will find that I have my bread machine, slow cooker and my washer and dryer going so that I am free to be productive in other areas of watching over my home.

4. She Worked Carefully

She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness. Proverbs 31:27 (NLT)

This was a woman who was on top of things. She understood that what went on in her home was her responsibility. She carefully watched over everything and made sure that whatever needed to get done got done. She didn't let anything distract her. She had a plan and she worked her plan.

5. She Worked for the Lord

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

The Proverbs 31 woman did have one secret weapon in her home management arsenal. Today, that secret weapon is available to all Christian Home Managers. What was her secret? She had a healthy fear of the Lord.

She feared the Lord not because she was afraid that she might make a mistake or displease Him. Rather, her fear of the Lord came from a healthy respect and a submissive heart. She wanted to do what is right in His eyes because she knew that His way was the best way. What she did, she did for the Lord.

She also knew that she could rely on Him to help her with all that He had asked her to do. This woman didn't run around fretting about getting things done or complaining that her load was too great. She got her strength from the Lord.

We all have times when we feel overwhelmed by our responsibilities. Many times I have thought how nice it would be to have someone come in and take care of things for me. But that is not what managing a home is about. If we take the time to learn from the Proverbs 31 woman we will see that although she had a lot to do, she was wise about how she did it. We can all be as productive as the Proverbs 31 woman if we put these five principals into practice.

About the author: Martha Matthews is the Executive Director of Christian-Homemaking.com
Helping Christian homemakers organize and manage their home.

Announcing Our New Granddaughter's Birth

by Lois Breneman - 2013 - Heart to Heart Newsletter

Thanks be to the Lord for such a sweet and precious gift to our family!  I am so excited to tell you about our fifth grandchild, a granddaughter, Raelle Elizabeth (pronounced "Ray-L").  She is the first child of James and Emily!  They had decided not to find out if they were having a boy or a girl, and the suspense was killing me, especially with that technology available!  Our only granddaughter, five year old Ryan Elizabeth, and I were rooting for a girl since we both felt we needed more girls in our family.  Ryan is thrilled to have a girl cousin, also with an "R" name and an identical middle name!

When James called me an hour after Raelle's birth at 1:30 on the morning of March 4th and told me they had a daughter, I couldn't contain my excitement and let out a shout, waking up John, who said to me, "I assume they had a girl?"

Before we were able to see Raelle in person, we saw pictures that took my breath away, because I felt like I was looking at her daddy as a baby!  I could see our other granddaughter, Ryan's sweet face in hers as well!  James tells me that Emily's parents said the same thing - that she looks just like Emily did as a baby.  In some of the photos she does look more like her mom, which is they way it should be - to look like both of the parents, right!  One thing for sure, this adorable little girl will be a blonde, since both of her parents were tow heads as children and her mom is still a genuine blonde.  It's fun to see other family members in this new little one's face!

We're so proud of the way our son, James, pitches in by changing diapers, cuddling and consoling his precious little girl, as well as helping around the house.  From the beginning he even insisted on getting up to feed Raelle a bottle of pumped milk during the night so Emily could sleep!  What a wonderful husband and daddy!  One picture he e-mailed us is of James, Raelle, and their Golden Retriever lying side by side on the living room floor on the baby quilt I made for her, with the baby in the middle.  All eyes were closed in slumber except Cody's, the dog, who is so protective of this new little housemate!  So cute!

Before too long hopefully Raelle's "Precious Gems" will appear in Heart to Heart!

Precious Gems

Yesterday afternoon, Samara (3) was playing with her little dollhouse as I was doing some paperwork in the office, right next to her. I heard her having the dolls each take a turn praying together. When the daddy said Amen, she had the baby say, "Yay! We prayed together as a family!."  These are moments that I just savor!!! ~ Diane in Montana 

 

Our grandson, Daniel, who just turned 5, absolutely loves his robots!  He has never ever said he's tired, even when asked, because he doesn't want to admit it and have to go to bed.  Somehow he reasons that if he isn't tired, he doesn't need to go to bed.  The other night, his mom told me how Daniel was SO TIRED, and was yawning and rubbing his eyes. Then in a slow motion robot voice, he said, "Powering down ... P-o-w-e-r-i-n-g   d-o-w-n!" ~ Lois

I wanted to share a sweet conversation between my daughter and our three year old grandson.  His bedroom is upstairs, while theirs is on the main level.

Mom: Good morning, Brayden! Did you sleep well and have good dreams?

Brayden: Yesh I did. Jesus was in my room holding me and keeping me safe.

Mom: Really? that's pretty cool. Was it because you were scared?

Brayden: No, I wasn't scared of anyfing, but he was just keeping me safe when you and Daddy were downstairs sleeping.  ~ Sue in Georgia

 

Patrick (4), said this, on one spring-like February day:  “I have a summer headache!” ~ Grace in Pennsylvania

 

I was cutting her grandson, Landon's, (1st grader) hair the other day and he asked me, " Who will cut my hair when you die?" ~ Beth in Virginia  

 

Our grandson, Daniel, 5, was asked a question by his mother, but he couldn't tell her the answer just then.  He came up with a great answer though, telling his mom that his memory card was already full! ~ Lois

 

Wes asked Malakai to stop singing while in a store. Malakai's response: "I'm just trying to praise Jesus, Daddy." ~ Danielle in Alabama

Amiya laid her head on Miles (our cat).  She said, "Oh, I can hear his beep.  It beeps vewy good!  Do you have a beep, Mommy?"

 

We lost power for a few seconds and Ryan Elizabeth says, "It's a good thing my blue eyes can see in the dark!" ~ Joy in Georgia

 

Amiya came home from school and planned her whole wedding.  From two flower girls to the pink castle she's going to live in. ~ Danielle in Alabama

Glad my kids are outgoing but sometimes I just don't know what to do with their comments.  We were in a store for five minutes and the sales associate was asked if he had a kid named Malakai, told to shave, and that he has a good lookin' suit. ~ Danielle in Alabama

 

Our five year old granddaughter, Ryan Elizabeth, was asked by her teacher what her favorite color was.  "All the colors in the rainbow!" was Ryan's reply!  Just like her grandma! ~ Lois
 

        There was a knock at the door.  It was a small boy, about six years old. Something of his had found its way into my garage, he said, and he wanted it back.  Upon opening the garage door, I noticed two additions: a baseball and a broken window sporting a baseball-sized hole. "How do you suppose this ball got in here?" I asked the boy.
        Taking one look at the ball, one look at the window, and one look at me, the boy  exclaimed, "Wow! I must have thrown it right through that hole!" -- Cited on ArcaMax.com 

 

Quote of the Month

Thanks to Jalisa Wenger in Pennsylvania for sharing this with me!  I needed this!

"The present circumstance, which presses so hard against you,
if surrendered to Christ is the best shaped tool in the Father's hand
to chisel you for eternity.
Trust Him, then.
Do not push away the
instrument lest you lose its work."
--Author unknown

Resurrection Cookies: Directions & Printable Recipe

Ladies, this recipe was included in previous Easter newsletters, but a subscriber and I haven't been able to locate it on the blog, so here is a great printable copy from Stacie Nelson.  This recipe is also known as Easter Story Cookies.

April 3, 2012 by Stacie Nelson

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I’ve had this recipe for Resurrection Cookies in my Easter file for a while, but this is the first year I felt my girls were ready for them.  (The last few years we’ve made Resurrection Rolls — just because I felt the simpler approach to the death and resurrection of Jesus was more age-appropriate for younger preschoolers).
I would suggest reading the Bible story of Jesus’ death and resurrection aloud to your children before you begin making these cookies.  I particularly like the version in The Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos for older preschool and elementary-aged children.

Resurrection Cookie Recipe

Supplies:

• 1 cup almonds (or pecans)
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup sugar
• Zipper baggy
• Wooden spoon
• Mixing bowl
• Mixer
• Cookie sheet
• Spoons
• Tape
• Bible

1)  PREHEAT OVEN TO 300 DEGREES.  Place one cup nuts into a baggy.  Beat the nuts with a wooden spoon until broken into tiny pieces.  Remind children Jesus was beaten by the Roman Soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3

¹ Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ² The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe ³ and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
I also included Isaiah 53:5:
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

2)  Allow each child to smell the vinegar.  Pour a small amount into a bowl and allow them to taste it.  Explain that vinegar was given to Jesus to drink when he was on the cross.  Add 1 tsp. vinegar into a mixing bowl.

Read John 19:28-30

 ²⁸ Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

3)  Add egg whites to vinegar.  The eggs in this recipe represent life.  They remind us that Jesus gave his life to give us life abundantly.

Read John 10:10-11

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  ¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

4)  Put a pinch of salt in your child’s hand.  Allow them to taste it.  Add a pinch of salt to to the eggs and vinegar.  The salt represents the salty tears cried by the women who followed Jesus.

Read Luke 23:27

²⁷ A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him

5)  Place a pinch of sugar in your child’s hand.  Allow them to taste it.  Add one cup sugar to the mixture.  Up to this point, the ingredients have been very  bitter, but the sweetness in the recipe comes from the sugar.  The suffering and death of Jesus are bitter, but the sweetness is that Jesus died because He loves us.  Oh, how He loves us!

Read Psalm 34:8

⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Read John 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

6)  Beat the mixture for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed  (I recommend setting a timer — it’s important to beat the mixture well).   The whiteness of the mixture reminds us of purity and the cleansing of our sins because of Jesus’ death.

Read Isaiah 1:18:

¹⁸ “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

7)  Stir in the nuts.

8)  Drop the dough by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet.  The mounds represent the tomb where Jesus was buried.

Read Matthew 27:57-60

⁵⁷ As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

9)  After the oven is preheated, put the cookie sheets in the oven.  TURN OFF the oven.  Allow your child to place pieces of tape and “seal” the oven door.  Jesus’ tomb was sealed with a large rock.

Reread Matthew 27:59

⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

10)  Leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Your child might feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight (they were probably expecting to have a yummy treat soon – at least mine were).  Jesus’ followers were very sad when the tomb was sealed.

John 16:20-22

²⁰ Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.²¹ A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.²² So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

11)  In the morning, open the oven and have some cookies!  The cookies should be hollow inside.  Remind your child that the tomb was empty.  Jesus is risen!

Read Matthew 28:1-9

¹After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

Although these are personally not my favorite cookies (two of my girls loved them — one did not!), they are a great way to learn about the crucifixion and resurrection in a hands-on way for kids.  If you would like these directions in a printable form, please feel free to download the sheets I’ve put together with the Resurrection Cookies Recipe.
**I am unable to locate an original source for this recipe.  If you know the original creator of this Easter cookie recipe, please send me an email so I can give proper credit!  All Scripture references are taken from the NIV translation.

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