BERENSTAIN BEARS

Our family loves the Berenstain Bears! Papa, Mama, Brother, Sister, and little Honey have been a part of our family for generations. Our grandkids love the show and books, our kids loved the show and books, and growing up I loved the books. In fact, I still have many of my Berenstain Bear books from the early 80s!

The Bear family teaches lessons on faith, love, kindness, forgiveness, honesty, and much more. Today I want to share three Berenstain Bear books we are currently loving. The Berenstain Bears The Very First Easter is a precious book that helps readers celebrate Easter with the Bears family as they share the story of Jesus’ final days on Earth and His glorious resurrection. The Berenstain Bears and The Easter Story helps children discover that Easter is more than candy and egg hunts; and fun stickers are included.

Then, the The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search and Find activity book lets kids search and find their way through Bible stories with familiar scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Kids love exploring each and every page of this interactive board book and discover all the carefully hidden objects in each scene. The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search and Find helps kids experience Bible stories in an interactive way and find the true meaning of the Easter season: Christ’s death and resurrection.

These Berenstain Bear books, as well as others, would make a great addition to your child's Easter basket this year!

For more on these two books and other great Berenstain Bear books, click HERE.

THE CHOSEN :THE LAST SUPPER {GIVEAWAY}

I am new to The Chosen. I am not a big TV watcher so I had just never taken the time to watch The Chosen, but recently began season 1. It is so incredible to see the Bible come to life in this way!

The Chosen is back for Holy Week, this time in theaters and in 3 parts. Part one (episodes 1-2) releases on March 28th; part two (episodes 3-5) releases on April 4th; and part three (episodes 6-8) releases on April 11th.

I just finished part one and it was so good. It makes you feel as though you are right there in the middle of what is going on.

Whether you have been a long time fan of The Chosen, are a new watcher like me, or have never heard of it before, this series is a must see and I highly encourage you to take the time out to head to the theater and see all three parts of The Chosen: The Last Supper.

Shot in a beautiful cinematic format, The Chosen: Last Supper brings the most pivotal week in history to audiences in this special three-part theatrical release. To find out more on where you can watch, click HERE.

Giveaway:
To enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card, please leave your name and email address in the comments. One winner will be chosen at random and emailed from jenifer@jenifermetzger.org on Monday, March 31st.

FINDING JESUS EASTER ADVENTURE

Last year at Christmas our family found Finding Jesus and loved it. This precious Advent kit for families was the perfect way to help kids keep their eyes on Jesus during the holiday season. I am pleased to share that Finding Jesus now has an Easter kit too!

The Finding Jesus Easter Adventure is a journey from the cross to resurrection. It helps your kids learn what Easter really means and why we celebrate this day. While Easter baskets, pretty dresses, and candy hunts can be fun, that isn't what Easter is about. It's important to teach our kids what the day truly means to us. Finding Jesus helps us do that.

The Finding Jesus kit is a 25 day adventure and comes with the sweetest Jesus doll -this is my two year old grandson's favorite thing, a Scripture book for each day, a puzzle box with a puzzle piece for each day, the keepsake box that doubles as a frame for the puzzle, and an envelope to open on Easter morning.

The Jesus doll has a little pocket in the back to hold a puzzle piece. Each day you can add a piece of the puzzle to the doll and place it somewhere for your child to find it. Once they find the doll and puzzle piece, you can open the Scripture book to the correlating day and read the Scripture passage. Then place the puzzle piece on the frame. Continue on until Easter Sunday where your child will find not only the Jesus doll, but also the purple envelope for a special surprise.

The kit is flexible to fit your family's needs. You can begin 25 days before Easter, this year that would be March 27th, and do one puzzle piece a day. You can begin on Palm Sunday and do three puzzle pieces a day, ending on Easter with the final three pieces and the purple envelope. Or you can do everything on Easter day, using 24 plastic eggs to hide your puzzle pieces.

The kit is affordable at only $39.99 and worth every penny! Not only will you spend this Easter sharing the true meaning with your kids, but you can make it an Easter tradition, year after year.

Order your Finding Jesus Easter Adventure kit today and help your kids learn about Jesus this Easter season. Click HERE.

FORTY-SEVEN DAYS WITH JESUS {GIVEAWAY}

This Easter season, I have a great movie for you and the family! Forty-Seven Days with Jesus brings the Easter story to life and reminds us of the Gospel's enduring impact.

Forty-Seven Days with Jesus, staring Yoshi Barrigas and Catherine Lidstone from The Chosen, is the story of a disconnected family, a work obsessed man, and a sick grandpa. Through it all they find hope and unity as they retell the story of Jesus' final 47 days on Earth.

In the days leading up to Easter the family takes turns telling of the final 47 days of Jesus' life. I love how we see the family taking turns sharing the story in detail and how the kids are interested and anxious to continue the story! As we see the story of Jesus unfold, it does so in a musical form, which I loved.

Forty-Seven Days with Jesus is a wonderful movie and I highly recommend it for your family this Easter season.

Forty-Seven Days with Jesus is only in theaters March 11th, 12th, and 14th. You can find a theater near you HERE. You can find  out more about the movie HERE.

Giveaway: To enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card, leave your name and email address in the comments. One winner will be chosen at random and emailed from jenifer@jenifermetzger.org on Friday, March 16th. You must leave both your name and email address to be entered.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Reel Big Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review.

Opinions are 100% my own.

HELP THEM HAVE A MEANINGFUL EASTER

Easter is just a couple weeks away. Everywhere our children look they see chocolate bunnies, yellow chicks, eggs, candy, and all the glitz that draws their attention. We need to help our children understand what Easter is truly about. We need to make Easter meaningful.

Here are a few ways you can make Easter meaningful for your family this year.

Read books that share the true meaning of Easter and Jesus. A few books we love are Twas the Season of Lent, Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story, The Easter Story, and I Am. And of course, read the story of the crucifixion and resurrection from the Bible.

Resurrection Eggs. This dozen of eggs is a fun, interactive way to go through the true meaning of Easter. Each egg has a token to symbolize something of Easter inside, such as a donkey like Jesus rode on or coins to represent when Judas sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. The eggs come with a teaching booklet to help guide you along.

Resurrection Garden. A resurrection garden is a wonderful way to teach about Jesus and incorporate nature. My friend Sarah Geringer gives a step by step guide to creating a resurrection garden HERE.

Choose their Easter basket treats wisely. It can be easy to stuff their baskets full of candy and toys. Instead, fill their basket with a new children's Bible, Write the Word Journals for Kids, crayons or colored pencils, stickers, one sweet treat (one treat is okay, fun even), and a small stuffed animal (perfect for a Bible reading buddy). If you have teens, you can still create a meaningful basket, just use a new Bible, Write the Word Journal, faith stickers, cute pen, and a sweet treat. I share more about a meaningful Easter basket and have a giveaway HERE.

Wear Holy Pals PJs. Holy Pals PJs are pajamas with meaning. Each pair of pajamas is not only soft and made with incredible and lasting quality, but the also have cute pictures of the true meaning of Easter and have a Scripture reference of the Easter story sewn on the sleeve. Each night as your child gets ready for bed, you can read the Scripture reference on the pajamas and discuss what Easter means. And as they wake up on Easter morning, you have a beautiful reminder right there of what the day is all about. Our family loves Holy Pals PJs because they super cozy but more importantly, they are a wonderful reminder of the Word of God. You can shop Holy Pals PJS HERE. Use code JENIFER10 for 10% off.

Let's make this year the year we help our kids grow in Jesus and learn the truth of what Easter means.

EASTER BASKET IDEAS FOR TEENS

While our primary focus at Easter is and should always be the death and resurrection of Jesus, it's also fun to bless our children with little goodies. We always loved filling our kids' baskets with things like bubbles, sunglasses, kites, sidewalk chalk and frisbees. All the fun stuff to do outside now that spring has arrived. But as our kids grow, finding things to put in their Easter baskets isn't always easy. Today I want to share with you a few items that are perfect for your teens. Not only are they great to add to their Easter basket, but they have meaning behind them.

This Fire and Grace - Insulated Tumbler is perfect for your girls! I am always pushing my kids to drink water. One thing that helps is to have a special cup that is only for water. This beautiful tumbler holds 22 ounces and has a great message "She has fire in her soul and grace in her heart." Only $13.99.

Music is a big part of our family. My oldest daughter is a drummer and my younger daughter plays piano. So this Make a Joyful Noise - Sterling Silver Necklace is a great choice for my girls. On the music note is Psalm 100:1, "Make a joyful noise until the Lord." This necklace is $58.00.

What better way to express your faith, especially at Easter, than with a cross of nails? This Nail Cross - Pewter Necklace is only $19.99 and is a great addition to your teen's Easter basket. This necklace is going to my boys! My oldest son will likely hang it on the rearview mirror in his car, like his dad did with his.

The Shield of Faith - Pewter Necklace is another one going to my boys. One thing we try to instill in our sons is to be strong and courageous, and that is what this necklace is all about. On the back of the shield is Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Only $12.99.

These are just 4 great items Dayspring offers. There are also mugs for your coffee loving teens, calendars to help organize your teens, journals for your writers, and much, much more.

Bonus! Many of their Easter items are on sale! To see more that Dayspring offers, click HERE or the image below.

An Easter Basket Idea for Your Princess

Are you looking for something special for your girl this Easter? Take a peek at this cute princess sticker book! Princess Hope Sticker and Activity Book, 1 in a series of 5, is the adorable activity book for your little princess. Bringing parables to life with bright colors, reusable stickers, and activities for girls ages 4-7. This activity book is the perfect addition to an Easter basket or a just because gift.

Check out Princess Hope Sticker and Activity Book!

Counting My Easter Blessings

Men aren't always as romantic as we may want them to be. And sometimes that can hurt our feelings or even offend us. Today at Woman to Woman we are talking about what to do When He Isn't Romantic. Join us!

Continuing to count my blessings...

1481. Resurrection Day: Easter.

1482. The beating and crucifixion my Jesus took for me.

1483. The resurrection! Jesus may have been crucified but He rose again and He's ALIVE!

1484. Ministering to a needy community through an outreach with my church.

1485. Seeing hundreds of people hear about Jesus through puppets, an object lesson, and Christains serving.

1486. Easter devotions and prayer with my husband and children.

1487. Easter service at church.

1488. Easter celebration and get together with my family. I love having the whole family together!

What are your Easter blessings? Share with us in the comments!

Linking with:
A Holy Experience 

The Legend of the Three Trees

If I could hand pick a talent or line of ministry I would be in, it would be music. I love music. Music touches me and ministers to me in ways nothing else can. Music ushers me in to the presence of God. It helps me feel His presence even in those dark times. I love to sing and even more, I love to worship. Worship music is playing almost constantly in my home. As a teenager I took piano lessons and I love playing and couldn't wait to learn worship songs. {Sadly, after too many years of not playing, I have forgotten how.} So, my choice of talents and ministries would be music.

But that is not the path God has for me. Even before I was born, as I was being knit together in my mother's womb, God had a picture perfect plan for me. His plan is far greater than my plan.

While I am not qualified to lead a beautiful worship service through singing and piano, God has brought me to minister to kids. To lead them and teach them all about our wonderful Father in Heaven. And I couldn't be happier. And, I even get to sing with these cool kids and they don't care if my singing is less than perfect. {smiles}

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord...

Jeremiah 29:11

God's ways are higher than our ways. He has a picture perfect plan for you. Even if it isn't what you once thought or dreamed, God's plans are far better than anything we could ever imagine.

Review & Giveaway:

The Legend of the Three Trees is a beautiful story of three trees who had grand ideas of what they wanted to be. But once cut, they were not living out their dreams. Until one day they realize that not only were their life was far beyond what they could ever have imagined. Not only would this DVD make a great addition to your child's Easter basket, but would be a wonderful tradition to start as you watch on Easter day.

To enter to win a copy of the Legend of the Three Trees DVD, complete each task in the rafflecopter below.

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God Bless Our Easter

God's beautiful blessings are all around us. All we need to do is open our eyes and see them.

In the trees budding for spring. In the birds chirping early in the morning. In the spring rains. In the butterflies flitting by. Every where we look, we can see evidence of God's amazing creation.

Not only do we need to be aware of God's beautiful blessings, but we need to teach our little ones to be aware as well.

God Bless Our Easter teaches our little ones about God's blessings at Easter time with charming animal illustrations and sweet rhyming text. And it makes a beautiful addition to Easter baskets.

To win a copy of God Bless Our Easter complete each task in the rafflecopter below.

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Monday Blessings & Giveaway

Health is a serious issue.  God wants us to be healthy.  When we are physically health, we are able to do the work He has called us to.  

Now sisters, I am not here to nag you about your eating habits.  My weakness for all things chocolate would make me a hypocrite if I nagged you.  {smiles}  But I am going to talk about exercising.  I do not like to sweat.  I hate it.  Hate it with a strong passion.  I also do not love exercising.  But when I am done, I always feel so good.  I have a short twenty minute workout dvd that I do several times a week.  I also love to go walking, whether a nice leisurely walk or some hard core walking.  {I just try really hard to not sweat.}

To read more, head over to Woman to Woman Ministries for Marriage Monday!

Continuing to count my blessings:

988. Spring break.  A week to relax.

989. Watching NCAA games with my husband.

990. Staff meeting with my fellow pastors.

991. The incredible turn out our church had to walk around in the freezing cold and pass out flyers for an upcoming outreach.

992. My sister and brother taking the kids for an evening.

993. Dinner out with my parents.

994. A quiet night home alone with my husband.

995. Dinner and fellowship with my large, crazy family.

What are you praising God for today?  Comment with five things!

I love Easter time!  For one, it is the time when we celebrate our Risen King!  And two, because I love spring time and Easter is the start of spring.  Because of my love for Easter, I want to do an Easter giveaway!  

Show Offs Art, one of our fabulous sponsors, has new journals.  The cover of their journals are from some of their beautiful canvases.  I recently purchased the Tree journal, on the cover is Joshua 1:9.  I also purchased the matching tin can candles. I love Show Offs Art.  They are so wonderful to work with and their products are incredible.

One blessed winner will receive the Tree journal and two matching tin can candles, with Joshua 1:9. To enter simply complete each task in the rafflecopter.  Winner will be contacted this Friday.

To check out their other journals and much more, click HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking with:
A Holy Experience

Word Filled Wednesday

"He is not here, 

He has risen just as He said."  

Matthew 28:6

Being raised in the church and in a Christian family, Easter was always a special time for me.  But a couple of years ago my relationship with Christ took a more intimate turn.  It was no longer about what Christ could do for me.  It was no longer about a Sunday morning/Wednesday night "thing."  It was now about a deep, personal connection with Christ.  

Since then, Easter has taken on a whole new meaning for me.  It is about a true, unconditional, passionate love.  This week leading up to Easter, I encourage you to take time out of your meal planning, egg dying, church play practicing, fancy dress shopping, and all of those other things we do for Easter, and just spend some precious time praising the Lord for what He did for you.  This morning as I was praying I was thinking of all of the reasons why I do not deserve His sacrifice, but the reasons don't matter.  He loves me enough, even before I existed, that He was beaten and bruised for me. He was killed for me.  I was on His mind as He was being beaten and died.  You, my friend, were also on His mind.  He loves you so much that He was willing, He wanted to die for you.  

Spend time thinking about that this week.  Praise Him for what He has done for you.

 

Sweet Blessings~

Linking with:

Living Well Wednesday

Word Filled Wednesday  

Works For Me Wednesday 

Winsome Wednesday