Christian Music for the Family

          The other day I found myself unknowingly singing the lyrics to a song that had been on the radio earlier in the day. It struck me as strange because it was a song I had only heard on a couple of occasions, yet I knew it well. This event got me contemplating the great power music has in our lives and how we can cultivate that power to be beneficial to our faith. 

I have been a fan of Christian music/radio for many years because I generally feel happier and more excited about life when I listen to music that is positive and encouraging. However, I have also come to realize how formational Christian music can be, for children and adults. Charles Wesley penned many of the hymns Methodists sing today as a way of teaching about the Christian faith to those who were joining the Methodist movement. 

Christian music, whether contemporary or traditional, offers a space for us to learn about God’s love and action in the world in a less formal way, but in a way that can impact our understanding of faith greatly. In moments of struggling I have often found the words of Christian songs speaking to me and offering hope. Words such as, “…when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul” remind me of the ever present love of God in my life. 

We are blessed with a variety of resources for Christian music today and I would encourage your family to try to incorporate Christian music as a part of your family’s routine. This does not mean your family has to listen exclusively to Christian music, but set aside some car time you would normally listen to other music to turn on Christian radio or pop in your favorite Christian cd. There are several groups that make Christian music geared towards children that can be found in stores/itunes such as Hillsong Kids, Veggie Tales, Crazy Praise and Praise Baby (for infants and toddlers).  For older kids artists such as Chris Tomlin, Fee, Hillsong and David Crowder are wonderful options.

  I can only imagine how powerful it would be to hear families singing songs of praise in the car instead of songs about things with little substance. Challenge yourself this week to incorporate Christian music into your family’s daily routine and see what difference it can make!

He Gave it All

 

My husband wrote this song for Good Friday last year...the video above is his band, Twelve Ounce Jar, performing "You Gave it All." It is quite beautiful!

Good Friday...I often marvel at the irony of the name.  We term a day "good" in which such great suffering, pain and death occurred on our behalf.  Yet, while seemingly inaccurate, good becomes the most appropriate term for this day. 

Alexander Schmemann says it this way, "In him death itself has become an act of life, for He has filled it with Himself, with His love and life."

On this day where we remember Christ's death, we remember that death is transformed and overcome in Christ.  In Christ's death we have new life...not just eternal life, but a new and transformed life in the present.  This is the joy and the good we celebrate on this day. 

Butterfly Activities

As promised yesterday, here are several additional activities to build on your family's viewing of The Butterfly Circus.  This short film is amazing and I hope your family will set aside a few minutes to watch the film (at the link above) and engage in intentional faith building.

Get Outside!
The weather is beautiful!  Take a trip to your local park and go on a nature walk.  While you are on your walk, keep your eyes open for caterpillars and butterflies.  Also, look for other symbols of new life you see.  This could be anything from flowers, to a bird's nest, to a pregnant mother.  As you find these symbols, talk about why they remind us of Easter.  To add some competition, try framing your search in the terms of "I Spy" by seeing who can spy the most symbols of new life!

Reading Corner

 

Hermie a Common Caterpillar by Max Lucado is a wonderful story about a caterpillar that is transformed into who God always designed him to be. 

If your library does not have Hermie fall back on Eric Carle's classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Collect your scissors and glue...it is time to craft!
So in case you have yet to realize it...I love crafts...especially crafts that can be done with supplies everyone has laying around! As a children's minister I am always on the lookout for cheap and unique crafts for my kiddos to enjoy.  Here is a cute craft options done with supplies everyone should have on hand.  All you need is coffee filters, paint and pipe cleaners.  I love to hang these on the windows once they have dried!

Check out Amanda's instructions here