Last Sunday we were in Belton (after Trooper working in Austin on Friday) for church. They had 3 donkeys in honor of Palm Sunday. We are not surprised with Paige, but Parker we are shocked! It is not like him, but then again, the past 2 months has has hod better with Grumpy's (Jami's dad) chickens. Enjoy Easter tomorrow! Oh...below the pictures there is also a recipe for an Easter cookie that you can do with your kids to explain the Easter story...again Enjoy!
Easter Cookies
Make these cookies just before bed the Saturday night before Easter Sunday. Encourage your children to participate as much as they are able as you make these together, reflecting on Christ’s love for us.
Adapted from a forwarded email received in 2006
You will need:
1 C whole pecans
these recipe cards
1 t vinegar
zipper sandwich bag
3 egg whites
wooden spoon
pinch salt
tape
1 C sugar
wax or parchment paper
1 t vanilla
Step 1
Preheat oven to 300° degrees. It is important to do this now. Don't wait until you’re halfway through the recipe.
Step 2
Place the pecans in the sandwich bag and seal. Instruct child to break the pecans into small pieces, using the wooden spoon to beat the bag.
Say:
After Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him. John 19:1-3 says, “Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. ‘Hail! King of the Jews!’ they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.” NLT
Step 3
Encourage child to smell the vinegar.
Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into a mixing bowl.
Say:
When Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given a vinegar-tasting drink. John 19:28-30 says, “Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.” NLT
Step 4
Add egg whites to the vinegar.
Say:
These eggs represent life. Jesus gave His life, so we can have life. In John 10:10-11 Jesus says, “A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.” CEV
Step 5
Sprinkle a little salt into child’s hand.
Let child taste it before brushing the rest into the bowl.
Say:
This represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers. Luke 23:27 tells us, “A large crowd was following Jesus, and in the crowd a lot of women were crying and weeping for him.” CEV
Step 6
Add 1 cup of sugar and 1 heaping teaspoon of vanilla.
Say:
The sweetest part of Easter is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” NLT John 3:16 says, “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.” NIV
Step 7
Mix on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks to form.
Say:
The color white represents, the purity (in God’s eyes) of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. In Isaiah 1:18, the Lord says, “Come now, let’s settle this. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. NLT
John 3:1-3 tells us, “There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. ‘Rabbi,’ he said, ‘we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.’” NLT
Step 8
Fold in the broken nuts.
Drop by teaspoonful onto paper lined cookie sheet.
Say:
Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Matthew 27:57-60 tells us that, “As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.” NLT
Step 9
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, and turn the oven off.
“Seal” the oven door with a small piece of tape.
Say:
Jesus' tomb was sealed. In Matthew 27:65-66 “Pilate replied, ‘Take guards and secure it the best you can.’ So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.” NLT
Step 10
Go to bed.
Say:
We may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were sad, too, when the tomb was sealed. In John 16:20, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.” NLT In verse 22, Jesus says, “You are now very sad. But later I will see you, and you will be so happy that no one will be able to change the way you feel.” CEV
Easter Morning
Open the oven and give everyone a cookie.
Say:
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. Matthew 28:1-9 says that, “Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Continues on next page
Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.’ The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.” NLT
Take time to thank God for the gift of Easter.
