Jelly Beans and Jesus

I firmly believe that if jelly beans were around in Jesus' time, he would have adored them.

"Let all the children come to me.  I've got jelly beans and love and hope!"

He would for sure have had a jelly bean parable or two.  "The kingdom of God is like a jelly bean, smaller than any other delectable treat, but full of juicy, colorful goodness that you can't even imagine until you bite into it..."

In the absence of any official words from Jesus about jelly beans, I'm filling in the blanks with inspiration from various sources around the Internet, all starting from the original Jelly Bean Prayer by Shirley Kozak.

So, without further ado, here's a post about putting some theology into the kiddos' Easter treats with just a few easy steps.  Print something here, grab some beans at the store, find some jars in the cupboard, and you are ready to roll.

print me!

Now, I'm all for a prayer and a fistful of jelly beans.  But I like to add an extra, devotional angle to this.  Here's how the jelly bean prayer works at our house.  (If you want to join in the fun, you can click on the card images to download and print them, assuming the technology works...)

We have a big ol' jar of beans decorated with the Jelly Bean Prayer.  On the back of the prayer card is a list of Jelly Bean Activities.

Each morning the kiddos read the prayer card aloud.  Then they each pick out a jelly bean from the jar and place it in their individual jars.  The color they picked determines the Lenten activity for the day.  (They work really hard to keep a balance of colors going.  It's one area of their lives where they practice fairness with admirable consistency!)

print me, too!

Then they look for opportunities to do their Lenten "assignment" during the day.  We usually report back during dinner or before bedtime prayers.  It makes for a great platform for discussion where we saw God in our day.  It's like a Lenten "show & tell."








And because I rarely do anything the same way twice, this year I'm adding a Bible verse component.  We read a verse that relates to the line of the prayer and/or the activity.  Nothing like filling them up with some verses to go with those candy beans.

print me, three!

Wait.

This IS all about candy, right? 

When do they eat the jelly beans?

I'm so glad you asked.  Because this is one of my favorite parts of this activity.

They don't eat the candy until... wait for it...

Easter morning.  It's a delicious practice in delayed gratification.  In seeing how their faith-filled actions pile up.  In witnessing how God fills them with love and grace. They are the empty jars.  And when they tune into God, he fills them with bright and juicy goodness.

Now, I sense you are shaking your head in disbelief.  "My kids will never, ever, not in a million years WAIT to eat those beans."  Did I read your mind?  No, I don't have ESP.  (I wish!!)  I just thought that very same thing when we started this at our house.  But those darling kiddos, they surprised me.  Even my sweet-stashing daughter didn't snitch an early jelly bean.  Not one.  She even counted them all at the end to make sure she didn't miss any days.

I chalk it up as one of God's modern day miracles.  That's the way God works in us and on us.  In our weakness his power is made perfect.  In our jelly beans he shows us his love.

All I Want for Christmas...

You know the song; sing along...

All I want for Christmas is my sanity, 

some peace of mind, 

God's peace in my heart. 

All I want for Christmas is the grace of God, 

all wrapped up in a humble babyyyyyyyy...

But here is what I'm getting myself into so far this Christmas season:

• Special orders (thank you God and generous customers!) that are coming together more slowly than I'd like
• Christmas concerts in triplicate (yay!  Can't wait for "Peace, Peace" and the annual tears of joy and humbled, quaking, grateful heart)
• Visions of cookies to bake + worries over when we'll make them and deliver them to neighbors and friends (yummm...)
• Gatherings and fellowship at church and away times five and counting (I've got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart!)
• Familial gatherings with loved ones and carols and big happy hugs times five and counting (does it get any better than this?)
• Crochet and sewing and knitting projects in progress (one down, three on needles, two to go)
• Christmas cards in transit, pens in waiting for personalized messages (yes, we are stubbornly holding on to this old-fashioned and increasingly rare tradition out of love and affection for our family and friends)
• One box of Christmas village decorations still waiting to adorn the piano (but the tree is up and decorated!!)
• Nerves stretched thin and "to do" lists littering the house (Aiyiyiyiyiiiii!)

I thought I'd jot all that down and get it off my chest so I can release a little yuletide anxiety.  It's going to take more than that.  Time for prayer!

Oh, Lord.

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy.  Are you laughing at me yet?  How I always say I'm going to do less to make Christmas more in my heart?  And here I am, as busy and frantic as ever?  What a fool I am.  A foolish Christmas fool. 

Here's the only explanation I have: I am nutty in love with Christmas, and not just the trimmings and trappings and carols and cookies.  I am totally gaga over your gift: a little babe, born in a rustic stable, laid in a lowly manger.  Humble.  Vulnerable.  Coming to the world not in a burst of pomp and circumstance, just wrapped in love and miracle and hope.  Not for the leaders and the elite and the intelligentsia, but for everyone.  Every one of us.  Coming not to wield political power or military might, but to forgive, to love, to save.  Not for an earthly kingdom, rich and royal, but for a heavenly home, doors wide open to every believer.

It makes no sense.  You, God Almighty, coming into the world as a poor but perfect human, to walk with us and live with us and love us no matter what.  There is no other story — no other truth — that moves my heart and builds my faith like this one.

So forgive me for spinning crazy on Christmas.  Slow me down and center me, so that I can thoughtfully, meaningfully share this good gift of yours with my loved ones.  When I get nutty, nestle me in your peace.  When I'm going giddy gonzo, rest me in your grace.  When the words of the world — the "I should"s and "I need to"s and "Aiiiiyiyiyiiiii!"s — cloud my brain, clear my thoughts with your living Word.

These verses, in particular, give my heart a place to rest this Advent Season.  Thank you for putting them right in front of my eyes and writing them on my heart.

Amen.

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 

Titus 2:11-14

God's grace

It is a free gift, no strings attached.

offers salvation 

He saves us, redeems us, fills our wholes and makes us holy.

to all people

He comes for every one of us, no matter how battered, how badly behaving, how ignored or endangered.

teaches us to say "No" to worldly passions

This includes the hustle and bustle and buying and busy-ing of contemporary Christmas.

It is time for self control!

to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age

Christmas is not for me to control or orchestrate; it is God's and God's alone.  My role is that of self-control, to limit what crowds out God so that come Christmas Eve there is plenty of room in the inn of my heart for the Christ child to reside and renew my soul.

while we wait

If I fill up my time and space with Christmas activity, am I really waiting?  I need some moments of stillness and silence, moments of empty before Christ fills, as only he can.

the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ

This captures Christmas for me — God appears on Earth, here with us, in human form as Jesus Christ.

who gave himself for us

And here we look to Easter, the second part of God's gift.  His presence among us on Earth is eclipsed only by his death and resurrection for us so we can abide eternally with God in Heaven.

to redeem us from all wickedness 

He saves us from all our faults and imperfections.  We can't do it, but he can, and he wants to, and he does.  Every day.

to purify for himself a people that are his own, eager to do what is good 

So, God, keep filling me with this eagerness, and provide me with the discernment to see the good that I should do and avoid the nice-but-not-necessary that clutters my Christmas heart.  Help me to respond to your good glory by glorifying you with good works... today and every day.  Again, Amen.

18 | The Gift of Kindness

I just spent the day subbing in the middle school I attended a long, long time ago.  I rounded a corner into the un-updated portion of the building, and 8th grade was staring me in the face.  Remember the awkwardness?  The social distress?  The nearly constant fluttering of nerves and insecurity?  I nearly had to check to see if I was wearing the "right" brand of jeans.  (Hmmmm.  I don't think I'd cut it in any clique wearing my "Tarjay Boutique" trousers.)

I can think of all kinds of spaces and places where we need to slather kindness.  Middle school is at the top of the list.  Which got me praying about this...  (Won't you join me?)

Let love of the brethren continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:1-2

Dear Lord,

I'm dreaming of a world where there's a lot more kindness.  (I'm guessing you've got a dream like this, too.)  It's a world where kids don't bully to compensate for their own insecurities.  Where the label "stupid" doesn't exist.  Where drivers don't rage against the machinery of traffic.  Where colleagues don't undermine each other in the name of professional advancement.  Where siblings don't squabble incessantly.  (Can we start with my kids, please?).  Where selfishness doesn't suck the nice out of us.  (Ooops.  Scratch that request about my kids not squabbling, God.)  

It's a world where honor abounds.  Thoughtfulness thrives.  Blessings blossom.  Where we see the angel in everyone, and act accordingly.

This is the world I want my kids — all kids — to grow up in.  But am I always kind?  Hardly!  Am I succeeding in coaching my kids to constant kindness?  Not likely!  Am I equipping them to respond to meanness with resiliency and forgiveness?  Hopefully...

Lord, it's hard work, this kindness coaching.  Can you forgive may many unkind sins?  Can you give me a good example, so I can model myself on someone who has done a better job?  What'd you say?  Been there, done that?  Oh, yeah...

Jesus.

Look at all he did in three years of ministry.   Healed hundreds.  Fed thousands.  Taught slow-to-understand knuckleheads (Sorry.  Name calling.  I meant to say "disciples.")  Listened.  Forgave.  Touched.  Practiced patience.  Saved wedding parties when the wine ran dry.  Hung out with anyone and everyone, whether they were in his clique or not.  Forgave some more.  Patiently taught again... and again.  Took on all our sins.  Suffered graciously.  Conquered death.  Rose victoriously — for each and every one of our undeserving souls.  

God, you are really good at this providing examples thing. 

Is that a fair example, though?  I mean, Jesus is Jesus, and I am so, SO human.  Flawed, with a big fat "F."  I think it helped Jesus to be your kid when he was doing all that nice stuff.  The gene pool must have given him a big boost.  Guess I should just throw in the towel now.  Wait...  What's that you say?

I am a child of God, too.  Huh.  Named and claimed as one of yours in baptism.  Poured full of the Holy Spirit, if I'd just tap into that Godly grace.  

Can it really be that simple?  Well... NO.  God, I'm bound to get it wrong as much as I get it right.  But I know you have promised to be by my side as I try to walk your chosen way.  Thank you for being my Heavenly Father, for nurturing me, loving me, and forgiving me.  Thank you for showing me your kindness, even when I least deserve it.  I know in my heart you will refresh and restore me when I feel too weary to be kind to others.  You will point out the weary who need kindness when my cup is full.  Let your kindness gene be strong in me, so others see how nice it is to abide in you.

Amen.

May God's kindness brighten your corner of the world today, and may you radiate his kind light to others.

P.S.  Even though October is more than half over (how'd that happen?), you can still jump in on 1000 Acts of Kindness.  Check it out...

15 | Working for Goodness' Sake

 Photo: Alfred Eisenstaedt

Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

Jan 01, 1959

TGIF!  (Yeah, I'm cheating a little by posting twice today and getting a jump start on Saturday.)  The end of the work week.  The start of an indulgent weekend, which for this lady means a sewing bonanza with my sister and our friend while Mr. and the kiddos are out of town.  Wheeeeee!  (See why I wanted to work ahead?  More time to sew and socialize!  Yippeeeeee!!!)

As we unwind from our typical weekday work, let's pray about the wondrous work God has in mind for us.

We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Lord, you have put me here on earth, in this family, in this corner of the world, to do some good.  I trust in your plan, though I don't see it clearly.

God, this world is littered with messages, ads, bulletins...  I'm trying to tune into your channel, to focus on your message.  Grant me your benevolent perspective.  Help me to see the needs of others before I see my own.  Show me how I can administer to the needs of others — how I can be your hands, your heart, your words.  I want to empty myself of my limitations and mistakes, and open myself to being a reflection of your peace, joy, and love.  But I cannot do this on my own.  Lead me with your Spirit, and show me the good works I can do to glorify you today.

I'm slowly realizing that your good works aren't always BIG works, but little things done with your super-sized love.  

Sometimes the works you have prepared for me seem menial, mundane.  Tending the home fires, the dishes, the laundry.  I am trying abandon my habit of doing these things in a grumbling, resentful fashion.  When I am in faithful frame of mind I count the blessings of active, creative children as witnessed in grass-stained jeans and paint-splattered shirts.  I praise you for the bounty of good food we eat as I scrape dishes and scrub pans.  I pray as I vacuum and dust and declutter, grateful for the comfortable home you have entrusted to us.

Sometimes the works you have in mind for me look and sound more like interruptions.  A daughter who NEEDS!!!!! some fabric scraps for her latest creation (and a little Mom Time & Attention in the crafty corner).  A son whose angry meltdown is a cry for some snuggly love that he's afraid he might be outgrowing.  A friend whose phone call is more than a social check in, but a plea for a accepting, listening ear.  Help me to see these interruptions as your nudge to do loving work in my family and among my friends.

Sometimes the works you have planned for me seem big, intimidating, even scary.  Like your call to pray publicly for 31 Days.  Your direction pointing me to teach in an inner-city school for six years. And then your redirection for me to be a stay-at-home mom.  Each time you supply the means and the encouragement right along with the mission.  I hear you in the positive comments from new and old friends who check out this blog.  I hear you in the mentors you have wisely placed along every daunting journey.  I hear you in my friends' nodding-bobble-head commiseration of I-too-understand-the-dark-and-frustrating-days-of-motherhood.

Thank you for the good works you have prepared for me to do.  I feel blessed that you have created a specific plan for me to share your light and your love in my corner of the world.  And I am grateful for all the help you provide along the way.  Make me an enthusiastic and successful executor of your good works.

Amen.

"We have not been saved by our works—we have been saved for His works!"

Beth Moore, Living Beyond Yourself

I hope you delight in doing God's good work today!

9 | Nurture Thy Self

I love that this topic falls on a Sunday, on our day of rest.  Today—every day—I need God's help to be still, to listen to my heart, and to feed my soul.  Join me in this prayer and this effort to nurture our individual selves so that each of us may be the person God intended us to be, and to share that self abundantly with those in our midst.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

 

Dear Lord, 

You know my needs before I even speak them.  You know my heart like no one else.  You know what you, in your omniscience and omnipotence, have in mind for me on this earthly journey.  I matter to you.  I have weight, importance, and significance in your eyes.

As I write this, tears well up in my eyes.  Why do I forget that I hold value?  Why do I put everyone else above me when I prioritize?  Why do I let my cup run dry when I am so frantic to fill the cups of everyone else?  This is so clearly NOT what you have in mind for me.

Forgive me for forgetting myself.  As I nurture my faith in you, as I nurture my husband, my children, and all those you have lovingly placed in my midst, remind me to nurture my self.  I know in my head that there must be good currency in the Bank of Liz before I can invest in others.  Help me to live out this truth.

Help me to make regular deposits love, rest, exercise, positive people, and satisfying activities that make my heart sing.  And when the necessary routine of life depletes my personal holdings — when the laundry and dishes and schedules and work wear me down — help me to re-frame my responsibilities and see how they can add joy and contentment to my life.

Help me to maintain that important balance of nurturing myself and sharing myself with others.  When I tip too far toward my own needs, give me that craving to serve others.  When I tilt too far toward giving my all to others, urge me to find my own slice of wilderness and retreat with you. Show me how to do the things I love in accordance with your higher love.

My best days are those when my soul is full, my heart holds joy, and I am doing your good works.  Nurture me with contentment and peace so that I may always be ready, able, and eager to follow your will and your way.

Amen.

"These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."

John 15:11 (NASB) 

I pray that you are overflowing with the love and joy that comes from nurturing yourself with God's goodness.  How can you invest in yourself today?