start now.

meg from whatever reminded me about something i have been meaning to do forever.
and that is to start on my operation Christmas child boxes EARLY.
this year my boys are really old enough to understand (or start to understand) how very fortunate they are and to begin to help them learn how to focus on others at Christmastime and all year round.
this year I plan on helping them each put a box together.
talking about misfortune and poverty with them.
and explaining to them how this box of gifts may go to a little boy just like them who has never gotten another gift.
i plan on letting them choose an item each time we go to target...or every other time at least, so that come November all the shopping is done.  no stress.
and we would have been talking about and praying for the recipients for months.
my goal is for it to be more than a box of stuff...but a blessing to another and the beginning of shaping my little boys hearts to be sensitive to the needs of others.
we started our boxes with markers and crayons from target.  at insanely cheap prices.
.99 for markers and .40 for crayons.  i am putting them in an area of the house where i will see them all the time so i won't forget.  won't you start with us?

and speaking of my little characters.
here they are.
donning new disguises for their annual production of a birthday song for their beloved bop bop.
moses wore his for our entire shopping trip.
they were worth buying for all the grandmas he made smile.

for your viewing pleasure, here's the video we sent him.
at the end moses exclaims "yoooouuuur 84!!!" which he is not.  but it's funny.

happy birthday bop bop!

that's my King.

my heart is heavy this Good Friday morning.  heavy for my share of the sin that placed Jesus on the cross.  but i tell you what...no gift has ever been more precious to me. 

every blessing in my life and yours is from Him.   will you think of Him today with me? and thank Him for loving you enough to die for you? a horrible painful death that is far too glamorized.

i'll share with you one of my all time favorite videos...but here are the words first.  let them sink in.

The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews. He’s the King of Israel. He’s the King of Righteousness. He’s the King of the Ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of Glory. He’s the King of kings, and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King.

I wonder, do you know Him?

My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful.

Do you know Him?

He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s Saviour. He’s the centrepiece of civilization. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He is the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour.

I wonder if you know Him today?

He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captive. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautifies the meek.

I wonder if you know Him?

He’s the key to knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory.

Do you know Him? Well…

His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. And His yoke is easy. And His burden is light.

I wish I could describe Him to you. Yes…

He’s indescribable! He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hand. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him.

Yeah! That’s my King, that’s my King.

Amen!