Rosilind Jukic's Blog, page 96

Happy Easter!!

The Freedom of the Cross

What must have it been like to only have your sins covered?  To have to bring the right sacrifice for the right sin?

What must it have been like to not be able to have a direct relationship with God, but to have to depend upon sinful man to go before God for you?   To remain in the courtyard while the priest was able to meet face-to-face with God?
What must it have been like that day when the veil was torn in the temple, signifying that common man - you and I - could come before Almighty God face-to-face, too?

When the first person had their sins forgiven - not just covered, what did they feel? The woman who washed Jesus' feet with tears and wiped them with her hair was so overwhelmed with gratitude that she broke open a bottle of very expensive ointment and poured it out on him. She didn't even count the cost - which would have provided for her for the rest of her life. The cost wasn't too great for her because she finally knew what no one up to that point had ever known...
...freedom.
Death brought life. Blood bought freedom. 
The freedom to approach the throne of grace at any moment at any time.
The freedom to choose to do right.
The freedom to live for Christ.
The freedom to deny self and sin.
The freedom to love the unlovely and forgive the offender.
The freedom to walk in joy in the midst of pain.
The freedom to give to others from our own recesses.
The freedom to live free, though our body may be bound.

The cross set our soul and spirit free!

Today as we remember Jesus' torturous death on the cross and the freedom He purchased for us...
...may we take a few moments to thank Him for sacrifice he paid for us.  And may we make a conscious choice to walk in that freedom, resist the chains of sin, refuse to all it to reign our life...
...for the cost of freedom was far too great a price to be traded for momentary pleasure.

I'm free from the guilt that I carriedFrom that dull, empty life I'm set freeFor I've traded my shackles for a glorious songI'm free, praise the Lord, Free at Last!


Linking up with these blogs: M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Today Is Monday, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Tell Me A Story, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Th: Thoughtful Thursday , Thrive at Home, Life In the Comments;  Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday 

The Message of the Cross

I come from a long line of hard workers. My grandpa built a drywall business from the ground up. Hard work and a handshake that was more difficult to break than a contract secured him the best clientele in the city. He retired more than once and only his failing health forced him to sell his business for the final time, not long before the Lord called him home.
I grew up admiring him, and the work ethic he displayed shaped my father's sense of responsibility and desire to work hard, which was passed on to my siblings and me. And this has become a double-edged sword for me, because while I work hard; rising before the rest of my family and going to be long after I have put the kids down to sleep, I never feel like I do enough.

Last year, while listening to a series of sermons by my dad, I realized that I was identifying myself with the wrong person! My identity was secure in who I was:
Hard working
Reliable
Not dependent on anyone else
Determined

But much of this was rooted in another side of me that isn't so admirable:
Pride
Refusal to ask anyone for help.

I was proud of my unique character mix of sanguine/melancholy :: introvert/extrovert. Fun loving and yet introspective. Always ready for a good laugh and yet easily wounded. A people lover and a lover of solitude. The “up” side of me makes me fun to be around and the “down” side of me (the side where “introspection” can literally cause me to contemplate myself into oblivion) makes me creative.

But Jesus came to set us free from these identifiers. In Luke He told us that if we want to be His disciple we must allow ourselves to be so completely swallowed up in Him that we lose our earthly identity and become exactly like Him.
So that we no longer identity ourselves with being German, Italian, Irish or Scandinavian...we identify ourselves with Jesus!!
We no longer identify ourselves as being a victim of abuse, a former addict, or a self-made man...we identify ourselves with Jesus!!
We no longer identify ourselves by our careers, our earthly heritage or our past wise or unwise choices 

Because the cross changed all of that!


That is the message of the cross.

Freedom
A new identity
A new name
A new heritage
A new start

But in order to experience the freedom of the cross, we must learn to carry our cross.

But what does this mean?

The cross can be summed up in one simple statement that Jesus taught us:
Not my will, but thine be done.




If we want to live in the freedom of a new identity, we must be willing to sacrifice our own will and identity. We must be willing to die to ourselves, lay down our lives, so that we are able to receive the new identity Christ has for us – in Him.

As Good Friday quickly approaches, may we look to the cross as a symbol of not only death, but freedom and may we make the choice this year to crucify our earthly identity, bury it with Christ, so that He may cause a His life to rise in us so that with each passing day we become more like Him!

I Link Up At The Following Blogs
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Today Is Monday, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Tell Me A Story, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Th: Thoughtful Thursday , Thrive at Home,  Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday 

The Weight of the Cross

I sit here at my kitchen table and look at all the piles of stuff around me.  It's unnerving because there just isn't room for everything.  Our home is only 750 square feet and there are four of us living here. The kitchen spills into the hall. The toys spill into the living room, the books spill - well - everywhere.  And what doesn't fit in the house sits in the garage.

What's sad is that before we moved I did a bunch of cleaning and tossing out. But we still have too much.

I keep thinking: I might need that someday.


But all of that stuff has become a burden. A burden I have placed on myself and my whole family.   


The burden of stuff - a crushing weight.
And the reason we continue to carrying this around with us is because we don't own this stuff, it owns us. Something God never intended. 

His yolk is easy and His burden light.

In Luke 9 we see that Jesus actually commanded His disciples not to take anything for their journey.

The only weight they were asked to carry was the weight of the gospel.



The weight of the cross

This spring I plan to do a lot of cleaning out.

As I throw things out of my home and garage, I will also be throwing things out of my heart.  

Spring cleaning of heart and home.

Just like I have carried books and clothes; appliances and nick-knacks; and all manner of needless stuff around with me

so we all carry stuff around in our hearts.  Hurts and offenses, unhappy memories and baggage from the past.

And the burden of that stuff in our soul becomes a crushing weight that wearies and exhausts us.


Its time to let it go.


It's time to live with simplicity in heart and home

Hold our possessions with open hands.  Let that which is useful be useful, and that which is no longer useful find the trash bin.

Hold our memories with open hands.  Let that which is beautiful and inspiring remain, and let that which is hurtful and offensive fade away in forgiveness.

Life is too short to be burdened with earthly stuff


and unresolved soul-baggage

The only burden we are called to bear is the burden of the gospel.

The weight of the cross! (Tweet That)


Dear reader - this week I am blogging about the cross.  The weight of the cross, the message of the cross and the freedom of the cross.
As we look toward Good Friday and Easter Sunday - may the message of this holiday - the true message - fill our hearts and set us free!

I Link Up At The Following Blogs
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Today Is Monday, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Tell Me A Story, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Th: Thoughtful Thursday , Thrive at Home, Life In the Comments;  Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday 

Announcing Worship the Father {A Kindle Book}

The topic of worship is one that lays heavy on my heart.  Not just music, not just raising our hands or dancing when we sing...
...but living a life of worship.  
Did you know that everything you do - cleaning, cooking, playing with your children, caring for your family - can be worship to God?

This is what Worship the Father is all about - learning how to turn our everyday actions into beautiful and ardent worship!

Worship the Father is available on Kindle in celebration of my blogs
3rd BLOGOVERSARY!!
3 years ago I posted this post Robi's Happy Morning
Since that morning we moved twiceBought a homeHad baby #2and I have officially published my 2nd book!
It's been a wonderful three years
and I can't wait to see what lies ahead!!
I Link Up At The Following Blogs
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Today Is Monday, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Tell Me A Story, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Th: Thoughtful Thursday , Thrive at Home, Life In the Comments;  Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday 

Why No Easter Bunny + 8 Easter Family Activities

My children have never decorated Easter eggs and do not know about the Easter Bunny.  They have never received an Easter basket, and have never done an Easter Egg hunt.  Z and I have pretty strong feelings about this.  


I could sit here and write about the reasons why we will never do any of the above, but my dad (who has been a guest here at A Little R & R many times) clearly and brilliantly describes why. I know you will enjoy the video below.  He gives so much history and background to this element of the Easter celebration.



As Christians, however, we should celebrate Jesus resurrection - an event on which rests our very faith.  Without Jesus' resurrection we would have no forgiveness of sin.  We would be lost and destined for hell. We would live a life - and subsequently an eternity - separated from God.  Yes - we should celebrate Jesus! Celebrate that God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to take on Himself the punishment of our sins and the rose again victorious over death, hell and the grave!  That is reason to celebrate.

Here are 10 activities you can do with your children to keep their focus on the real reason we celebrate Easter.

1. Cross Bookmark :

Last year my son made me a pretty cross bookmark while staying at my sister's house. It is simple enough for children of all ages.  Simply cut a cross shape out of a piece of poster board. Let your children decorate it and write on it "He is Risen".  Cover it with clear contact paper. Punch a hole at the top and add a pretty ribbon.


2. Cross Sun Catchers . Materials needed: 1 old towel, old cheese grater, waxed paper, old crayons, iron, ironing board

a. Cut 2 cross shapes out of waxed paper.

b. Using an old cheese grater, grate crayon shavings

c. Unfold the towel on your ironing board. Place one cross shape on the towel and spread them over one of the cross shapes.  

d. Lay the 2nd shape on top.

e. Sandwich the entire project with the with the towel and iron.

3. Family Passover Seder on Thursday evening
Visit this site for how to do a Messianic Jewish Passover Seder.

4. Wordless Book

There are so many ideas on how to do a Wordless Book.  I have pinned a lot of them here. 

5. Cross Shaped Sugar Cookies

6. Make an Easter Book

Research each day of Easter Week and have your older children illustrate what Jesus did during the final week before His death and resurrection. 

7.  Jesus is Risen


Friday evening read the story about Jesus' death. Take a doll or anything you'd like to use to illustrate Jesus. Wrap it up and place it in a "tomb". Sunday morning, before your children wake, remove the doll. Before leaving for church, take a few moments to read the resurrection story and the have the children look for Jesus in the tomb.  "He is not here. He is risen!"

8.  Sing Easter songs.

Here are some great links to wonderful Christian Easter songs

Christian Easter Songs

Top 50 Classic Easter Songs

Easter Songs



I Link Up At The Following Blogs

M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Today Is Monday, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Tell Me A Story, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Th: Thoughtful Thursday , Thrive at Home, Life In the Comments;  Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday 

True Heroes

She has pretty much always been my example of what a wife and mother in the ministry should be.  I think the greatest thing she did was release a career where her creativity took wing; where she was able to extend her education and hone her leadership skills.  She did this for her children.It was a conversation with a friend of her’s who was homeschooling her children that grabbed her attention. The whole idea seemed odd to her. But she couldn’t stop thinking about it, about how this somehow fit the vision her and her husband had for their young family. Soon she left her career to stay home with her children and educate them.

You can read the rest of True Heroes at Simply Helping Him.


I Link Up At The Following Blogs
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Today Is Monday, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Tell Me A Story, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Th: Thoughtful Thursday , Thrive at Home, Life In the Comments;  Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday 

Worship the Father + One More Announcement

Can you believe that on Saturday A Little R & R will be 3 years old?  
My little home in cyberspace started off as a way to help people back home stay up-to-date on Robi's development as a baby (he was only 2 months old), but quickly grew into a random journal of my attempt to eliminate chemicals from our home and the benefits of raw foods.
Over the past 3 years I have pretty much run the gamot with recipes, preschool ideas, and random blogging that gave everyone a sneak-peek into family life each week.
As I struggled to find my niche, I realized there was a theme that colored everything I wrote about: encouraging women to embrace what God has created them to be!!
To honor this momentous occasion I am making my 2nd book available for purchase! 
I realize that the topic of worship is likely one that has been covered from every angle possible.
But this book isn't about music.
It is not about that 1/2 hour span of time between arriving to church and hearing a sermon.
It isn't even about your own personal time of devotion at home.
This book addresses the topic of living a life that shows the world how much we value and honor God through decision we make and every thing we do: whether playing sports, washing our car, cleaning our homes, caring for our families or serving our employers.
It takes the act of worship down to it's foundation and builds a new perspective of what true worship really is.
Worship the Father will be available on Amazon Kindle for $2.99 starting Friday!!!
Please be watching for more details on how you may purchase a copy for yourself!!


Are you interested in missions or know someone who is thinking about mission work?
Do you have a burning question about missions?
This summer I will be blogging about missions and I am taking questions about anything related to missions.
So feel free to ask away!!!
Send all your mission-related questions to: alittlerandr @ outlook. com
I Link Up At The Following Blogs
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Today Is Monday, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Tell Me A Story, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Th: Thoughtful Thursday , Thrive at Home, Life In the Comments;  Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday 

Baby Steps to Our Organic Kitchen

I'll admit - I don't have a clue about what I'm doing.

Okay - maybe a small one.  I have grown flowers from seeds a time or two (and succeeded, to my own pleasant surprise).

I am definitely...ummm...green (sorry for the pun).

So - here is a small glimpse at our first baby steps toward our organic kitchen.

First of all - here is what's currently growing.





Stop!  Do not congratulate me yet! My mother-in-law planted these shoots back in mid-October.  You are looking at 3 kinds of lettuce: butter, chrystal, and rucola, swiss chard and onions.


Here is what I've started.



This is what can be planted right away.
The seeds in the middle - in the plastic bag - are rhubarb seeds that actually came from from shoots from my grandma's rhubarb plant! Makes it sort of special!

This is what has to wait for warmer days

My markers

I was sort of excited about finding these biodegradable pots.  No transplanting. Just plop them in the ground!

Grow, grow, grow little seeds.
I do have comfort knowing that if I do not succeed with the seeds, that I will be getting more shoots from my mother-in-law.  My fallback plan!


Oh - and let me introduce you to Tiggar.
He is a wild cat that adopted us as his new family - and has quickly proven that he is in fact easy to spoil.  *grin*  Just so long as he keeps the mice population down.  So far he's doing an excellent job.

I Link Up At The Following Blogs
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Today Is Monday, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Tell Me A Story, Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Th: Thoughtful Thursday , Thrive at Home, Life In the Comments;  Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday