Easter often sneaks up on us. Maybe it’s because, unlike Christmas, the date changes each year. We never get blindsided by Christmas. Oh, we might not have all our shopping done early or cookies made until the last minute, but we are ready! And our kids are ready!
But not so Easter. Stores remind us by putting out Easter candy to purchase the day after Valentine’s Day, but we put off buying it. Our hearts are usually not “in tune” with Easter until the week before. It’s only then that we reach for the Bible to read about those last days of Christ’s life on earth. We prepare to be sad on Good Friday and happy again on Easter (Resurrection) Sunday!
Some church traditions actually do prepare for Easter 40 days in advance of Resurrection Sunday. For those churches, this is the season called Lent. Lent is the name of the time before Easter that we use to get ready and remind ourselves why Good Friday and Easter Sunday hold so much meaning for our lives.
Won’t you take some time during these next weeks in March to prepare your heart and the hearts of your children to walk with Jesus on the road to Calvary?
Here are some ideas:
1.Read and pray through Psalm 51.
Use this reading guide:
Feb 17 (also known as Ash Wednesday in some churches) verse 1a– have mercy on me O God
Feb 21 – verse 1:b according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions
Feb 24 – verse 4 – You are justified when you judge
Feb 28 – verse 6 – You taught me wisdom
March 3 – verse 7 – cleanse me with hyssop
March 7 – verse 10 – create in me a pure heart
March 10 – verse 10 – renew a steadfast spirit within me
March 14 – verse 12 – restore to me the joy of your salvation
March 17 – verse 15 – my mouth will declare your praise
March 21 – Psalm 8:1 – how majestic is Your Name in all the earth
March 14 – Psalm 23:6 – surely your goodness and love follow me
March 28 – (also known as Palm Sunday) Matthew 21:9 – Hosanna to the Son of David
March 31 – Psalm 107:1 – Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and his love endures forever
- Use the hand-writing of the Gospel of John to lead you to the cross in time for Resurrection Sunday. Listen as Jesus speaks of his impending death and resurrection throughout this gospel.
- Be creative. Follow FellowshipKids on Pinterest and find creative ways to tell the Easter story to your kids. Lots of new ideas will posted there throughout the month of March. Keep checking back.