Easter Holy Week: A Great Time to Teach your Children

Hi Everyone!



This morning, as my children were eating breakfast and getting ready for Worship, we had a wonderful conversation regarding Holy Week. I hope you will take time this week to talk to your kids about the significance of Holy Week in the lives of Christians. A great Kingdom Kidz Club bible memory song to coincide with Easter is on Volume 2 and is John 3:16-J-Man. So many times, there is a disconnect between Jesus and the actual holiday we are celebrating. Here are some quick conversation starters.



Holy Week is the last week of Lent and the week preceding the celebration of Easter.



Today, Sunday April 5th--Palm Sunday --John 12:12-17 Palm Sunday is when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The dusty streets were crowded with people waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!" Reading the passage in John is a great way to help your children visualize what it must have been like.



Thursday, April 9th--Maundy Thursday

Not all churches celebrate Maundy Thursday. I was fortunate to be in a congregation that placed emphasis on this special time in Holy Week. Our Maundy Thursday services were a time to partake in communion, wash feet and worship together. This year, our family is having our own Maundy Thursday time at home. We will worship together, wash each other's feet and eat dinner together. So what is Maundy Thursday.

The Voice says, According to the Book of John, as Jesus and the Disciples were eating their final meal together before Jesus’ arrest, he washed the disciples' feet to illustrate humility and the spirit of servanthood. After they had finished the meal, as they walked into the night toward Gethsemane, Jesus taught his disciples a "new" commandment that was not really new (John 13:34-35):
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, you also ought to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Friday, April 10th--Good Friday --This is the day we remember all of the pain and weight Jesus carried on his shoulder's when he was beaten and nailed to the cross. Many churches celebrate Good Friday. Here's what we will do at home. We will take time to read Mark 15. This is a very sobering passage. If you have small children, you will need to gauge whether or not they are prepared for this passage. I have a white pillar candle that signifies Jesus as the Light of the World. This candle will be lit throughout the week when we are home to remind us of this Holy Week. After reading this passage, we will have a time of prayer and end by blowing out the candle. Extinquishing the candle represents Jesus' death-the Light of the World is now gone. That begins our 3 days to wait on our Savior.

Saturday, April 11th--Holy Saturday--This is a time where we meditate on the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Our candle will not be lit--we will also remember those people in our lives who have died.

Sunday, April 12th--Easter Resurrection Sunday--Jesus came back to life! He took off the burial cloth and moved the stone! He began to appear to those whom He loved! He became the Light of the World forever! We will do all of the Easter type of things you do on Easter, but we will also re-light our candle and go to worship celebrating that our Savior conquered the grave and with it became our Key to the Kingdom of God!

This week, take time with your family. The simple things mentioned above can make an huge impact on how your family views Holy Week and the price Jesus paid for our sins.

Happy Easter...

Kim Norton

I know...long time no hear from...:)

Hi everyone!

Just a quick note: Many Kingdom Kidz Club families know that I was diagnosed with Lupus in 1999. It was very severe and took a year of steroids to put it into remission. I have had occasional flare-ups over the years, but since January 2009, I have had a full fledged flare up. I would simply ask that you pray for wisdom and healing. I will attempt to post more regular updates in the weeks to come.

Keep growing and following hard after God...

Kim Norton CEO
The Kingdom Kidz Club

360 Relationship

Good Morning Momsters!

With declining record sales, in the music industry now you hear a lot of buzz about the "360 Deal." That means that when an artist signs with a record label, the label doesn't get limited access to that artist. They not only want their share of sales at retail, but also on their website and at venue. They become their label, manager and booking agent. In essence, they want to be involved in absolutely everything that touches that artist. I can hear you now saying, "What does that possibly have to do with a follower of Christ?" Well, that is a very good question! I was recently singing a worship song that included in the lyrics, "Be my Everything." That is a 360 deal. I know that in the past I've said those three little words to God, but didn't really comprehend the totality of that request. In reality, I wanted Him to have limited access to my life. I wanted to give over the easy, somewhat comfortable areas and leave the more private and painful areas to myself. To truly allow God to be my Everything, it means letting Him examine the hang-ups, addictions, failures, wounds and scars. It means risking everything with the hope of gaining everything. It means being truly naked, uncovered and uncomfortable. Is it worth the exposure and potential embarrasement? I think it is. I want to fall so deeply in love with God that I can't do anything except give Him every piece of my being. I want to feel His Holy Spirit with me all of the time. I want to fall asleep at night knowing that I am resting in His shadow. I want to be able to say, "You are my 360." That's all.

 

Getting Lost in God

Hi Momsters!



I'm so excited about this ongoing converstation because I am hungry to keep growing and stretching with God! Today, I want to propose that we get lost in the greatness and magnificence of God. I think everyone thinks of God in a unique way. For some, it is a fear-based relationship and others it is a full-on love relationship. Some feel like God in more of a military chain of command way and others have a very disconnected "he's way up there" view.

Since I'm a musician, I think in songs...and lyrics. I love a recent Faith Hill song, "Lost" because it so describes what God wants in a relationship with us. (He is the Bridegroom!)

Lost

Is it obvious to you
When you walk into a room
Your face is all I seeAnd my heart races so fast
I never knew a rush to feel like that
Everytime you're touching me
I never did believe in anythingI couldn't hold between my fingers
But the way you make me feelIt's just so real the way it lingers
I get lost inside your stareLost when you're not there
And everything I have Doesn't mean a thing if it's without you
If it's a dreamDon't wake me up
I'll scream if this isn't love
If bein' lost means never knowin' how it feels without you
I wanna stay lost forever
I wanna stay lost forever.. with you.

No this feelin' doesn't end
It's with me everywhere I am
Hope it never goes away
It's like defying gravity
I'm losing all control in bein' free
And I always wanna stay
I never thought that I'd let go long enough
To fall for someone deeplyWho had the power to erase my fears
And find me so completely
I get lost inside your stare
Lost when you're not there
And everything I have
Doesn't mean a thing if it's without you
If it's a dream
Don't wake me up
I'll scream if this isn't love
If bein' lost means never knowin' how it feels without you
I wanna stay lost..

Don't tell me where we're goin'
I don't wanna know
I like the mystery
I can't believe we've come this far
So far away from where we started off
You found me when I wasn't lookin'
You found me..And now

I'm lost inside your stare
Lost when you're not there
And everything I have
Doesn't mean a thing if it's without you
Without you..If it's a dream
Don't wake me up
I'll scream if this isn't love
If bein' lost means never knowin' how it feels without you
Yeah..If bein' lost means never knowin' how it feels without you
Oh..If bein' lost means that I'm never gonna be without you..
I wanna stay lost forever..I wanna stay lost forever..With you.

Chew on that for a little bit...better yet download the song and spend some time alone with God and listen. Is this your view? Do you want this to be your view? Let's talk!

Your Friend and Fellow Momster...Kim

Starting off the day RIGHT!

Hey Momsters!
In the next few days, we are going to explore some tangible ways we can connect our kids with God! As we move through this, please feel free to contact me at kim@kingdomkidzclub.com! I can't wait to hear from you! In the meantime, please join me in praying that God will give us all insight on how to grow our children!

What is a Momster?

So, what prey tell is a Momster? So good of you to ask! A Momster is a mom on a mission--an undercover agent of change! A mom on a mission to raise kids who are passionate followers of Jesus Christ! Moms who understand that every day they have an opportunity to invest in their child's eternal savings account! In fact, I've written a manifesto that best describes what I'm talking about:

What if… A Momster Manifesto

Ø My children not only understood the Ten Commandments, but found joy and freedom in following them daily?

Ø My children experienced love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in ever increasing measures as they walk with Jesus?

Ø My children got up each day and as they dressed, willingly put on the Armor of God because they understood that it protected them from the fiery darts of the enemy?

Ø When faced with a difficult situation, my children called out NOT to me first, but to GOD knowing that He is more than able to handle anything?

Ø My children chose to follow the desires of their Heavenly Father over their own?

Ø My children could know and understand that love, in its purest form is patient and kind. It does not envy or boast. It is not rude or proud; self-seeking or easily angered. It keeps no record of wrong. It doesn't delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. Love NEVER fails?

Ø My children could know the expansive liberty and freedom found through asking Jesus Christ to be their Savior, Redeemer and Forever Friend?

Ø My children could truly fall in love with the Bible; hungering and thirsting for it like a hot slice of pizza and a cold Coke?

Ø Moms got up each day and prayed over their children; asking God to bless and protect their day?
Ø Moms used their "drive time" to have God moments with their kidz?

Ø Moms became their children's BIGGEST SPIRITUAL FAN; cheering on their spiritual growth with the same intensity as a Saturday morning soccer game?

Ø Moms used the same "drive time" to have a GOD MOMENT together; "spying" and sharing about where they've seen God at work

Ø 1,000,000 families began to memorize the Bible together in their cars all over the continent and around the world?
I am one woman with a vision.
I am a wife to a loving husband and a mother to two incredible girls.
I am a Christian; a follower of Jesus Christ.
I am committed to serve at the request of my Heavenly Father.
I believe with every fiber of my being that God's Word is TRANSFORMATIONAL and He has a specific plan for every person’s life!

Does anything above stir your heart? Would you like to join me? If so...join my blog and email me at kim@kingdomkidzclub.com! More to come!