Bible Egg Hunt

Our Easter egg hunt this year was very simple. BUT it was still fun for the kids. We didn't want to do a traditional hunt for eggs filled with candy. I've always tried to come up with something different each year to remind the kids it's not just about finding candy. I like to use every opportunity I can to point my kids back to Jesus. And Easter is a perfect time for that! After all, Jesus is the reason we celebrate.

For our egg hunt we had a present for each kid. You could also do a basket of candy. This was the ultimate goal they would be searching for. To get to the goal, they first needed to find 12 eggs of their own color. We always have a color assigned to each kid to make the hunt fair. I've seen way too many kids have a greedy monster come out of them in an egg hunt, so we eliminate that by having equal eggs hidden to their own abilities. The younger they are, the easier their eggs are to find.

The eggs were not filled with candy. We found a different Bible verse for each kid. It was used as a clue to point them to their final gift destination. We wrote the Bible verse out on a sheet of paper, and cut the paper in twelve pieces. This would be a puzzle for them to put together later. We tried to cut odd shapes instead of just straight squares or rectangles. Each egg contained a piece of the puzzle.

Once they ALL found their 12 eggs hiding in the backyard, the kids had to come inside to open the eggs and put their puzzle together. We adults used this opportunity to go back outside to hide their gifts. We didn't want to risk them finding their presents before they were supposed to.

We planned and prepared the entire egg hunt in about 30 minutes. The Bible verses were a lot of fun to come up with. We tried to be creative, but at the same time easy enough for the kids to know exactly where their prize was located.

CLUE:
“O Israel, stay away from idols!
I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you.
I am like a tree that is always green;
all your fruit comes from me.” Hosea 14:8

ANSWER: Evergreen Tree

CLUE:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
ANSWER: Cross

CLUE:
“So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up to [Zech] and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Luke 19: 4-5

ANSWER: Sycamore Tree

CLUE:
““No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.” Luke 8:16

ANSWER: Lamp Post

To have even more Easter fun, discuss what the Bible verses mean that you chose for clues. Talk about how you can apply them to your life.

If Jesus hadn't risen from the dead, He would have just been another nice man willing to give His life for others. It is because of His resurrection that we have forgiveness for our sins.

"And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless...And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins...But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back." 1 Corinthians 15: 14,17, 23

Because of Jesus we have Hope!
Happy Easter!

The Difference

I ordered a couple movies with the site to store option at Walmart. When I tried to pick them up, a sign was displayed that said, "See an Electronics Associate for help." I found the appropriate man and asked for assistance.

When we got back to the counter, another customer had arrived and was waiting. The employee asked if we were together. I answered, "No," and he began to help the other customer.

I was angry.

I was clearly there first. I followed the rules and found help. It was while I was finding service, the other man found the line. I saw him on my walk to get help.

The employee should have been assisting me first. 

And what was wrong with the other customer? He knew I was before him, and he didn't care. What happened to being a gentleman?

I was kept waiting for quite some time. I had plenty of time to stew, and I was furious. I kept biting my lip to keep from spewing my anger.

Finally it was my turn. There was no thank you from the other man, no apology. Nothing. Just felt he was important enough to be served first.

It took everything in me to hold back and only give my order number. I wanted to give him a piece of my mind! At this point, Zechariah was getting restless which didn't help my frustration level. I told him to stop messing with something.

In response the man said to me, "Zechariah. I like that. A Christian name."

My anger immediately fizzled out and I was ashamed of my attitude. I was representing Christ.  I was in no hurry. In fact I was there because I had extra time before an appointment. My attitude was all because I thought I wasn't getting the attention I deserved. I had puffed myself up so big I couldn't see the floor beneath my feet anymore. His response made me feel two inches tall.

What kind of an example would I have been if I yelled and demanded service? I can tell you what kind. The kind that looks exactly like the rest of the world.

One of my favorite quotes says it best, "If they can't tell a difference, what difference is there?"

Crochet

Yesterday I learned to crochet! I was so frustrated. I wanted to give up. I couldn't understand it. It was confusing and difficult.

I watched my mother's hands for what seemed like hours. After failing so much, I didn't want to try again. She left me for a minute and told me to practice.

I was afraid. I didn't want to fail again. She had expressed her faith in me. I could do it. I took a step of faith, and gave it one more try. This time after patiently watching her for so long, I got it.

Something clicked and it was no longer a mess of string, going every direction. It had order and made sense. It had purpose and transformed into beauty.

I was crocheting. I learned how.

Many times our lives feel confusing and chaotic. They don't make sense and they are too hard. We want to quit and give up.

But... if we keep our eyes on the Master, patiently watching and waiting, it might start to make sense. Where we see disorder and pain too difficult to bear, God sees purpose and a plan.

He has a beautiful, intricate design for our lives. We can't give up before the beauty emerges. We must patiently pursue. One day it will click, and we will see our lives as a masterful work of art.