Pick Up Your Cross and Follow Me ( Verse of the Week)

Last night my husband and I took the kids out to dinner and as we sat waiting for our food, as well as while enjoying our meal, my husband and my teenage daughter began asking me questions in regards to the Bible, faith and God.  While I will never profess to be a master at knowing all, I was very grateful to have actually began the process of digging into the scripture and I felt like God provided me the words to speak to them. I even had my husband stating he would be interested in learning Theology :)  

Anywhooo, the kids are currently working on their fourth memorization verse which comes from the book of Genesis.  Once again, the wording is coming from the NIRV from Garrett's Faith Builder's Bible from Zonderkids. 

Then the Lord God formed a man. HE made him out of the dust of the ground. God breathed the breath of life into him. And the man became a living person.    Genesis 2:7

I gotta say, I'm pretty impressed with these two lil kiddos as they have done really well memorizing each of the verses we have done so far.  And they have progressively gotten longer each week, yet they didn't bat an eyelash :) 

As for my own Bible studies:  As I mentioned last week, I've been working through three different studies.. This week, my verse is coming from one of the lessons in "Into The Word" by Anne Graham Lotz (whom I only recently discovered and I am finding that I REALLY like).    The verse I'm picking for the week had me thinking more than I had in the past. It's a verse I've read before but I guess my mind misinterpreted it or I just wasn't ready for the meaning behind it, or maybe I just looked at it on a deeper level..  But suddenly I saw it in a different way.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 

              Matthew 16:24          (NLT Translation  from BibleGateway.com)

For whatever reason, I always just felt this verse was about the fact that people would not like Christ's followers, as they despised Christ himself, and so he was saying for them to accept that fact and follow him, the "Cross" in this case being picking up the humiliation and the rejection in order to be a follower.. But as I looked at other verses such as 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Peter 2:24, and Romans 8: 12-14, I started to see there was more to what Christ was telling his followers than what meets the eye (which, honestly, is pretty typical of Jesus)..

I now see this verse as Christ telling us that HE paid the price for our sins on the Cross. He had the nails through his hands and feet, he wore the crown of thorns, and he suffered and endured a pain none of us will ever have to feel. He paid the price but that cross he hung from was OURS to bear, it was our sins he was paying the price for, not his own.  

I started to see that "taking up the cross" in this sense actually meant honoring that sacrifice by leaving behind our sinful ways and choosing to live by the guidelines Christ set for us.  We should follow the example Christ set for us.  

It amazes me how I can read the same verse on multiple occasions and suddenly see it in a different light.  Maybe it's because the more that I read, the more open I am to Jesus and the lessons he left for us.  

Now it's your turn.  Do you have a verse that you're working on this week in your homeschool or in your life?  If so, please feel free to join our weekly linkup.  We only have a few small rules for you:

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What Am I Reading: Devotional Edition

This week, I wanted to focus on a few devotional books that I will be reading and working through this year.

I like devotionals because even when you are rushed for time or about to fall down exhausted, they are short enough to allow you that little extra time with God.  I don't use devotionals as a substitute for my actual Bible study and prayer time but just as an easy way to begin the day on the right foot and to end the day with the Lord on my mind and heart.

The devotional I've been starting my day with  is Too Blessed to be Stressed: 3 Minute Devotionals for Women. I was lucky to be provided with an advanced copy of this book prior to the year and have been using it since January 1st.

Not to be confused with the book Too Blessed to be Stressed by the same author, this three minute devotional is a collection of 180 uplifting readings from author Debora M Coty that provide enouragement, humor, inspiration and comfort to start your day.  These devotions start with focusing 1 minute on the provided scripture, 1 minute on the devotional reading for the day and then 1 minute in prayer with the Lord.

I really like that this particular devotional is very lighthearted.  The author is very uplifting and the writing is cheerful but very poignant at the same time.  For example: " Living life, after all, is a series of conscious decisions, an act of the will. So it's up to us to choose to slow down enough to enjoy snapshots of the beauty - like improptu violin concerts, spiderwebs, sunbeams, and puppies - that bring rest and peace to our weary souls".     This particular writing made me realize that one of my son's autistic quirks allows him to do exactly that - he appreciates the beauty in things I totally ignore, like spiderwebs and rainbows cast on the floor from light refracted by our aquarium in the afternoon.  He takes such joy in these little things and I realized reading that God probably smiles down on him for appreciating his creations.    


The second devotional I have been enjoying this year is  Daily Wisdom for Women 2016 Devotional Collection.  This is a collection of 365 devotionals for each day of the year that are encouraging and inspirational.

This particular devotional, which is compiled from various writings by the Barbour Staff, is a bit more serious in tone then the previous devotional but just as uplifting.    It begins each of the daily readings with a scripture selection, followed by a really nice writing and then closes with a short prayer.  The writings include personal stories, scripture interpretation and reflection, and encouragement for both spiritual and personal growth.   Whether it's challenging you to ignore the images on the cover of magazines and appreciate the beauty God has given you or encouraging you not to give up when you fail, each of these writings offers something any woman can relate too.

I look forward to utilizing this book throughout the entire 2016 and I'm sure the 2017 edition will be beside my bed as well.

My night time devotionals are much different from my day time devotionals. Since I tend to read these devotionals after completing my Bible study, I tend to prefer a much more Scripture/Bible centered devotional at night.  One particular devotional that I am working with for night time reflections would be God So Loved You: A 40 Day Devotional by Max Lucado.

You should already know that I am a huge fan of Max Lucado's teaching and many might thing I am a bit too predictable when it comes to always grabbing a new Lucado book.  This is true and I am working on expanding my horizons, so to speak, with others such as Mark Batterson, Francis Chan, John Maxwell, Pete Briscoe and Andy Stanley. However, I haven't found anyone who explains actual scripture in such a way that I understand it clearly as Max Lucado does and that's why I continue to be drawn to him.


This particular gem is a collection of 40 short devotionals that help you to reflect on the different aspects of God's love for us.  Max has such a knack for putting his teachings into such personal examples that really relate to the reader and puts things in perspective and this book is no exception.  I ended up choosing this particular book, however, as a nighttime devotional because I'm reading it out loud to my husband who is on the precipice of becoming a follower of Christ himself and Max is a great teacher to help my husband make an informed decision.

While not a devotional, another great book on my Kindle that I have been reading at night is Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman.

 This particular gem was brought to my attention by what I can only feel was a bit of divine intervention, to be honest.  I found this absolutely marvelous six part production entitled The Christmas Experience on RightNow Media.  (Have I mentioned how much I absolutely LOVE RightNow Media??)  We watched this together and all enjoyed Kyle Idleman's laid back approach to spiritual teaching. When I find a teaching style I enjoy, I end up researching other works that person has done - in this case I found another 6 part presentation with Idleman on RightNow entitled Not A Fan.  The synopsis caught my attention and so I watched it over the course of a few days.  I found it VERY informative, especially coming from someone who (as mentioned in a previous post) basically was told you say a quick prayer and you're saved and that's it.  When I found out that the 6 part series was actually an accompaniment to the book by the same name, I purchased it for my Kindle and have been enjoying it very much.  I tend to read a chapter before I hit the sack.

Now, here's why I believe there is some divine intervention involved here. As I read through it, I knew that my husband would be able to relate to Idleman's style of teaching as well but not this particular book.  I mean, he needs to be convinced to be a follower of Jesus in the first place. So another title of Idleman's caught my eye based on the description.  I went looking for information and found where Family Christian was having a contest ending within the hour for a copy of that particular book. I entered and GUESS WHAT?  I won.. So now, I have a copy of AHA 40 Day Challenge Devotional on my nightstand that I'm about to start with Charlie as soon as we're done with the Max Lucado.  GOD IS GOOD!!!!

Alright, one more book...

The final book I've recently added to my nightstand (Okay, I don't have a nightstand. I have a bookshelf beside my bed that has ALL my spiritual books so I have no excuse when I'm in bed).  This was another book that I received a copy of from the publisher but will be forever grateful to add to my bookshelf.

Prayer Points: Praying God's Promises at Your Point of Need

What a beautiful book, from the soft immitation leather cover with trees and Psalm 145:18 ("The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.") embossed into it down to the silken book mark, this is such a lovely book. It is very small and could easily be tucked into your purse. But the real draw of this book is the topics of prayer enclosed in the pages.

Say for example, life is starting to bear down on you and you are feeling overwhelmed but you are at a loss for words as to what exactly to pray for.   An index in the back will point you to a page in the book with a prayer written especially for how you are feeling. Whether you're dealing with emotional abuse, addiction, depression, church problems, conflicts in your marriage or your kids are driving you nuts, there's a suggested prayer as well as scripture suggestions to provide encouragement.

This is a book perfect for a newish believer like myself who finds prayer both difficult and somewhat awkward.  While I'm working on my communication with God, I feel grateful to have this tool when I know I need some guidance and suggestions when praying for the really important issues in my life.

The Chrismon Tree

When I was young one of the things I looked forward to each holiday season was our church's Chrismon Tree. It was a beautiful tree, towering about 15 foot tall, covered with white and gold ornaments and lit brightly with white twinkling lights. Each year the tree would be on display inside the main sanctuary for the Advent season but without a doubt one of my favorite memories was seeing it glowing bright one last time during our Christmas Eve Candlelight services.  

Chrismon trees typical are put on display during the four weeks of the Advent seasons and are removed following Christmas day. The term “Chrismon” is a combination of the words “Christ” and “Monogram” and literally means the monogram of Christ.  Some people might refer to the Chrismon tree as the Tree of Christ.   Chrismon refers to the special ornaments that are placed on the tree rather than the actual tree – the Chrismon tree being a tree with the Chrismons on it. First displayed in 1957 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia, each of these Chrismons are symbolic to the life of Jesus Christ. The ornaments are always white and can be made with felt, foam, beads or cloth with gold embellishment such as ribbons, glitter and bead work. Often handmade, Chrismons can be made in a variety of crosses, shapes, objects, letters and numerals.

Foam Chrismons make for a great 3 dimensional look

There are roughly 50 symbols that are used as Chrismon ornaments although some trees might have more or less.    There are many books and websites that provide ideas and patterns in making your own ornaments and what each one represents but with a bit of creativity it would be very simple to design your own.   Many people use beads of white and gold threaded on wire to form each shape. I personally love the look of the foam ornaments as they have a really nice 3D look to them.   You could even craft them with salt dough, which the kids will be doing later this week.  No matter how you decide to craft your ornaments, it's a great activity to bring the entire family together while learning about the symbolism each ornament represents.

While it would be hard to list all of the ornaments, there are many books as well as guides online that can help you visualize each of the various ornaments. However, here are a few of them as well as what they represent.   

The Alpha and Omega

The Alpha and Omega represents Christ who said “I am the beginning and the end, the first and the last”

The Triangle – represents the Trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Three Intertwining Circles – the eternal quality of the Trinity with no beginning or end.

The Latin Cross – represents the cross that Jesus was crucified on.

The Calvary Cross – represents the Latin Cross standing on a three step platform. The three steps represent Faith, Hope and Love.

The Cross Crosslet – Representing the spreading of Christianity to the four corners of the world.

The Anchor Cross – represents a time when Christians were prosecuted for their faith and used this symbol to avoid persecution.

The Kingly Crown

The Cup – represents Christ's suffering as referred to in Matthew 26:39 “If possible let this cup pass from me”

The Kingly Crown – The kingship of Christ and his victory over sin and Death – The King of Kings.

The Shell With Drops of Water – symbolizes Baptism.

The Maltese Cross – The eight points symbolize the Beatitudes while the cross itself is an emblem of John the Baptist. It is formed by four spearheads with the points touching the center.

The Trefoil Cross with Dove -Represents a new believer with the dove representing the Holy Spirit

The Sand Dollar - known as the Holy Ghost shell. The markings recall events in the life of Christ.

The Cross and Crown - symbolizes the rewarding life for Christians after the death of the body. And also symbolizes that Jesus is King of Kings.

Crown of Thorns and Nails

The Crown of Thorns and Nails - Symbol of the crucifixion of our Lord

The Lamb - the symbol of Jesus Christ.

Three Fish United to Form a Circle - reminds us that all three persons of the Trinity contribute to our salvation.

Triquetra and Circle

The Son of Righteousness symbolizes that like the sun, Christ the Son of God is the source of light and life to those who believe in Him.

The Triquetra and Circle. The endless circle suggests eternity. The triquetra—the figure composed of three separate and equal arcs— symbolizes the One God who showed himself to man in three separate and distinct persons.

The Angel of God – Symbolizes the angelic announcement of both the birth and the resurrection of Christ.

The Heart – the symbol of charity.

Descending Dovw

The Butterfly – a symbol of the resurrection and life everlasting for the believer.

The Ship – Symbolic of the Church as it was opposed by persecution in early Christianity

The Christmas Rose – The Nativity of our Lord

The Lyre – represents the joy in praising the Lord.

The Descending Dove – symbolizes the Holy Spirit as it descending upon Jesus

The Ark and the Rainbow – Symbolizes God's promise  

Next year, I hope to have a second tree for the inside of our house dedicated solely to the gorgeous Chrismons while the kids have fun learning what each of the beautiful ornaments represent. And maybe they will remember that tree with as much fondness as I still hold towards the one that graces the chapel at First Christian Church in Port Arthur, Texas.   If your ever in that area during the holidays, go take a look at it.  Maybe you'll be even be tempted to add this tradition to your holidays as well.  

Book Review: The Friends of Jesus

"What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! "

So many times when I was young, we would sing this hymn during worship service. I never really gave much thoughts to the words back then, being a young teenager who was worried about so many more things going on in my life.  However, these words came rushing back to me many times while reading Karen Kingsbury's latest publication "The Friends of Jesus".

 Karen Kingsbury is without a doubt one of my favorite authors and she didn't disappoint with this latest addition. Karen is a true master of bring a story to life and she has been given such a wonderful gift to bring stories of faith to her readers. "The Friends of Jesus" is the second book in the "Life Changing Bible Story" series, the first being "The Family of Jesus" which is equally wonderful.

 Much like the first book of this series, Karen takes Biblical characters and weaves a story together that really digs deep into who each of these characters were and how their lives intertwined with Jesus.  While she takes many liberties in doing so, she adheres to Biblical facts and doesn't change what the Bible tells us but instead builds a story revolving around what we already know.

This particular volume covers the stories of 6 well known people - Simon the Leper, Martha (sister to Lazarus), Jarius (the Leader of the Galilean synagogue), Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John.  Each narrative lays out these peoples faults for all to see, only to turn around and show how Jesus's compassion and friendship with each one changed their lives. The love that the Savior had for each one of these people, each whom he held dear to his heart, displays the love he has for each of us even thought we are all flawed, just as they were.  You can't help but be able to identify with at least one of the characters when reflecting on your own faith.

If you love the Bible and want to dig deeper, this is a great way to immerse yourself. There is also a Bible study at the end of the book for personal reflection or to provide a launching pad for a group study that coincides with each character.