Easter Scripture Calendar

In recent years I have thought more about using my time wisely to invest in things that will matter in eternity. How can this apply to my enjoyment of craft projects? I realised that I could use my enjoyment of paper crafts to make things for our family that would turn us to the Scriptures or record God's providence in our lives. These paper projects themselves are easily destroyed and probably won't be around in 100 years . . . but if they have been used to point us to the realities of God and His ways, their effect may last much longer.

Compose

I enjoyed creating a calendar to use for family devotions over Easter next year. I cut out lots of pictures of God's people across the world from aid publications (Compassion, Open Doors, Barnabas Fund), which would otherwise have been thrown away after reading.

I used the pictures to make little windows under which I placed a Scripture which can be folded out and read. The Scriptures relate to Jesus' death and resurrection. There are about 30 little windows over four pages. This project was made entirely from what I had on hand, including scraps of coloured paper and cardboard from packages of scrapbooking materials.

Read more...

More family devotion ideas

My sister suggested that I post some more of the family devotion ideas that I've been coming up with. For the start of our week on humility, I used a measuring jug to give each person a different amount of juice, illustrating Romans 12:3.

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3, New King James Version)

The rest of the verses I've found on humility are harder to find tangible examples for, but at least the first day of our new topic had a fun illustration!

Next time we do our holiness week, I want to illustrate 2 Peter 3:10 - 13 by printing out a picture of the earth and burning it up outdoors!  

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,  looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:10-13, New King James Version)

The next two ideas are from our week on generosity. We've all got rusty and old things hanging around, no matter how hard we try to declutter or keep our tools in tip-top shape! These less-than-perfect possessions can make a perfect centerpiece to illustrate Matthew 6:19 - 21.  

  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21, New King James Version)

 Just one more idea!  Illustrate Matthew 10:42 with cups of iced water for each person at the table.

And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42, New King James Version)

If you have other ideas for making these passages "tangible", I'd love to hear them!

Read more...