OUR FAMILIES LENT PROJECT

OUR JOURNEY TO THE TREE...


Family Easter Tree

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ Ann Voskamps POST ON LENT.SHE HAS INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THIS TREE!  
WOW, SHE INSPIRED ME TO EMBARK ON NEXT 18 DEVOTIONS THAT WILL LEAD TO EASTER DAY!
ANN'S POST WILL INCLUDE EACH OF THE 18 DEVOTIONALS ALONG WITH A CUT OUT PICTURE FOR YOUR PERSONAL FAMILY EASTER TREE..

EACH PICTURE TAKES YOU ON A JOURNEY WITH JESUS TO THE TREE AND THEN THE FINAL VICTORY ON EASTER SUNDAY.

JESUS WANTS THIS JOURNEY TO BE ALIVE AND PERSONAL IN YOUR LIFE!

AS A FAMILY WE WILL TAKE EACH DEVOTION AND LISTEN TO HIS WORD AND LINGER OVER THAT WORD DURING DINNER. YES, OF COURSE WE HAVE A BUSY LIFE WITH EVERYONE'S SCHEDULE BUT WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN SOMETIME DURING THE WEEK!
MOM CREATES THAT MOMENT! LOL!  
WE THEN LIFT UP THAT SPECIFIC WORD IN PRAYER AND CHALLENGE EACH OTHER TO TAKE THE WORD AND THINK OF A WAY TO LIVE IT OUT THE NEXT DAY.

WE HAVE 18 DIFFERANT PICTURE SCENES THAT MATCH A VERSE OR PORTION OF SCRIPTURE FOR THE TITLE OF THAT DEVOTION. ONCE WE HAVE DISCUSSED THEM WE HANG THEM ON OUR EASTER TREE. LAST YEAR WE ONLY COVERED 9, SO THIS YEAR WE WILL FOCUS ON THE OTHER HALF!

I THEN WRITE THE VERSE AND THE TITLE ON OUR FAMILY CHALKBOARD IN THE KITCHEN SO WE CAN SEE THE "TRIAL TO THE TREE"

I WILL POST OUR LENT DEVOTIONS ON THIS BLOG DURING THIS SPECIAL SEASON WITH HOPES TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SEE GODS AMAZING GRACE, EXPERIENCE HIS PRESENCE AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO LIVE OUT HIS WORD AND FEEL FULLY ALIVE THIS EASTER!

I PRAY GOD SPEAKS TO YOU AND REVOLUTIONIZES YOU IN AMAZING WAYS!

TODAY I MADE ANOTHER ENTIRE COPY OF THIS 18 DAY EASTER DEVOTIONAL AND PLACED THE COPY IN MY GIRLS TREASURE BOXES SO THEY MAY DO THIS WITH THEIR FAMILIES SOMEDAY.

THE DEVOTION AND BOOKLET

BEFORE GETTING STARTED ON TODAY'S DEVOTION I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THIS UNIQUE BLOG WHICH I WROTE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. THIS POST SHARES OUR FAMILIES VIEW AND IDEAS FOR A GREAT TIME OF FOCUS DURING LENT.


TODAY WE WILL READ: GENESIS 22:1-14

KEY POINT:"THE RAM IN THE THICKET"


TAKE MINUTE AND READ THE WORD ABOVE, A LINK HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVIENANCE
LISTEN TO THE WORD ABOUT THE "RAM IN THE THICKET" AND LINGER OVER WHAT GOD MAY WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU.

God's provision is always there.

The longer we live the Christian life, the more we tend to see His faithful answers in the midst of hard situations.

He will never fail the person who puts his whole trust in Him.
Romans 10:11 promises us, "Whoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed."Getting through difficult circumstances is almost always costly to our faith.
It often seems as though we are hanging on by our fingernails, and it is a very uncomfortable feeling!

Abraham must have felt like that.
Think about His fear and anxiety as he walked His son to the alter to sacrafice in obedience to God. God may call us to steep and difficult demands but He will always provide beyond our understanding!

But he chose to believe the promise God had spoken to him. Hebrews 11:17-19 says of him, "It was faith that made Abraham offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice when God put Abraham to the test. Abraham was the one to whom God had made the promise, yet he was ready to offer his only son as a sacrifice. God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that you will have the descendants I promised.' Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac from death …."God came through for Abraham by providing a ram in the thicket.

What will He do for you?

Trust Him to "see to it," and He most assuredly will provide your answer, too.

GOD HAS A PLAN, STAY FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT MY FRIEND. GOD SEES YOUR FEAR AND ANXIETY. CHOOSE TO LAY IT DOWN AND KEEP POSITIVE BECAUSE GOD WILL PROVIDE A RAM IN THE THICKET FOR YOUR SITUATION,

BLESSINGS,

DO NOT GIVE UP

STAY FOCUSED AND DON'T FALL OFF THE HORSE!

C O M M I T M E N T moves past the mind and emotions and goes stright to the will.

Life gets challenging for me and I have a hard time staying committed, if you feel the same then I promise you will be given great tools today to stay focused!

in the book of Acts we see STEPHENS commitment in his words and attitudes.
Stephen had the presence of God in his life, based his commitment on biblical foundation, he saw error in past thinking, spotted resistance, kept his eye on Jesus, the truth and maintained perspective!

I want to be more like Stephen because he was determined to experience the WILL of God for his life and displays an unwavering commitment no matter what!

The "WILL" of man is like a cart pulled by two horses. Their names are MIND and EMOTIONS. You must get both horses moving in the same direction to move the cart forward. COMMITMENT results when your mind and emotions move forward, whatever the cost!

I have been examining my commitment in certain areas the past few weeks. Let me share a few

Examining my commitment to running and exercise goals
Examining my commitment to marriage and my spouse no matter what!
Examining my commitment to ministry dreams
Examining my commitment to Godly parenting
Examining my commitment to a Godly lifestyle

I truly desire to understand and stay on the path of Gods plans for my life...
But often my mind and emotions can begin to go in many other directions.

Am I the only one?


I have several friends come to ask me all kinds of questions like...

What is Gods plans for me? How do I even get moving forward in the plans?

I wonder who God has for me as a mate and when I will find him?

What will I be when I get older?

What is going to happen with our finances?

My husband was just diagnosed with cancer what will the outcome be?

I hope to find the perfect job?

Our marriage is struggling and not sure that I can continue on

I lost my job

C O M M I T M E N T IS THE ANSWER
I believe our answers will come together when we focus on the mind and emotions, our two horses!
We have to train these horses my friends!
Now as we all know horses are very strong animals, yet very trainable.
So in the same way is our minds.
1 peter 1:13 it tells us to gird up our minds. We have to discipline our minds by taking all loosely flowing thoughts, speculations and opinions and train them to be in the same MIND which was in Christ Jesus.




Many times a HORSE must be harnessed with bit and bridle controlling the horse to move forward. It is used to put pressure points on specific areas of the horse so the direction of the horse can be controlled. The horse then moves in a forward direction as the rider pulls on the reigns!


I am so in need of the bit and bridle to train my mind!
One pressure point is in the mouth and it helps the horse to stay moving with control in a forward motion. The word of God to me is a huge pressure point to keep me moving forward.
I feel the reigns tugging at my heart and adjusting me accordingly, so I stay moving forward with HIS thoughts and plans. The bridle on my head, another pressure point helps me stay focused.
I am often lead in different directions from family, friends, old habits, attitudes, emotions and more.
Just as a horse can get SPOOKED so can we!

Things come in our pathway daily that make us question life sometimes, we can have that fight and flight mentality too! BUT WITH GOD pulling on our reigns we regain control!
We need to trust the rider of our life.
A horse learns to gain trust in their rider . Just as we need to gain trust in the plans God has for us. Many just need to understand that God really has a great plan no matter how messed up life may be.


Stay COMMITTED and trust your rider! If we cannot begin to trust and grow in a relationship with Jesus our rider and owner, we will never move forward into the DREAMS God has for our lives!


Do you desire to move forward into Gods great purposes?

The questions on the pathway of life that we don't understand will SPOOK us but remember to train your minds to trust the owner!

Ephesians 4:23 "be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the NEW man which was created according to God."

Let me share 6 principles for developing commitment

1. Commitment starts in the heart
Look deep inside and examine where your heart is committed

2. Commitment is TESTED by action
Talk is cheap and action is expensive

3. Commitment opens the door for accomplishment
Once you commit yourself, all kinds of resources and help will come your way to help you succeed!

4. Commitment can be measured
Look over the day a see how you stayed committed

5. Commitment enables you to make decisions and SET BOUNDARIES
Gods word will help with decisions and boundaries.

6. Commitment flourishes with public accountability
Go public with your commitments, then you will have incentive to follow through.
Blessings

DISBELIEF IS LACK OF SUPPORT! "MOVE ON"

Have you ever experienced a time of struggle because of others disbelief?

Do you desire to be positioned in the best place possible in 2013 in order to possess all the promises God has purposed for your life?

Gods destiny for your life will be COMPLETE, PERFECT, SATISFYING AND FULL IN 2013!

However, a time will come in which God needs to reposition you so that he may COMPLETE and PERFECT your destiny.
God desires to keep you satisfied and full in your season, lacking nothing until He completes His perfect work.



A sign or symptom in your life that represents a possibility for the need to move or change is UNBELIEF from others.

We can have off seasons in our marriages, relationships, families, jobs and ministries. During those seasons God may want to reposition you amongst NEW FACES or NEW PLACES.
When I say reposition it does not necessarily mean He is taking you completely out or away from your circumstances (like your marriage for instance) but placing you in NEW environments that stretch you to see His promises from another view.

Many times we stay in the circumstance or situation and its surrounded by disbelief.


DISBELIEF is LACK OF SUPPORT and many times others will "not support" the faith we need to have.

Lets look at today's word: Matthew 13: 58


Jesus said "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and his own house, Now He did not do mighty works there because of their unbelief."



The people closest to Jesus in His hometown including family and friends did not believe in Him or His powers to heal and perform miracles. Jesus needed to move away from that environment.


Others disbelief and lack of support can and will distract us from allowing God to fullfill His calling in our life.

Disbelief is a STUBBORN refusal to believe, a REJECTION to believe God is up to something wonderful in which He placed in your heart.

When we are surrounded by people with disbelief it hinders the work of faith in your personal life.


In this passage of scripture the others lack of faith hindered Jesus and He did not perform because of their unbelief.

Did Jesus stay in that place of unbelief or did He leave and join God where He was at work?


If you look at Mark 6:6 it states that Jesus MARVELED at their unbelief and THEN... HE LEFT AND WENT ABOUT TO OTHER VILLAGES in a circuit of teaching!


WOW what a lesson we can learn!

Jesus did not let others disbelief keep Him while missing the miracles God wanted to perform through Him.
Jesus was sure of what He hoped for and certain of what He did not see.


Friends don't let allow your circumstances and the lack of others support dictate your destiny!

MOVE ON!


If you stay stuck in the ordinary it will be impossible to experience the extraordinary powers of God.

Disbelief of others will HOLD YOU BACK.


STEP AWAY and realize God has a grand plan. Trust Him and allow him to REPOSITION you.


Maybe God has a new group of friends for you this year?

How about a New church home?

Possibly a new small group instead of the same friends closest to all the details in your life?


When we move to NEW places God arranges NEW revelations that will SUPPORT what He has already planned.


Do you ever get with family or friends that have disbelief in what Christ is doing in your life?


Do you have others that experience fear around you because they are not comfortable with how God is working in your life?

Do others get jealous and push you away?


DO YOU MARVEL AT OTHER UNBELIEF YET KNOW GOD HAS PROMISED YOU SOMETHING SO SPECIAL?


Friends, please do not give up and doubt Gods powerful work in your lives. Allow Him to reposition you.


After REPOSITION comes more POSSESSION.


If you do not allow Him to transition you, it may be the difference between experiencing a DEAD END or a fulfilled DESTINY.


He has a plan for all your DREAMS!


Jesus moved passed the disbelief and God took Him into many NEW PLACES with NEW FACES.

Take a moment to journal your prayer, plan and praise from today's reading.

Blessings,

HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEW YEAR AS A FAMILY

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

 

 

 

BENJAMIN WRITING

 

 

BRITTNI BUSY WRITING

 

 

ALIVIA PEN AND PAPER IN HAND

 

 

ALIVIA'S GOALS/PLANS FOR 2013!

 

BRITTNI PONDERING HER GOALS

 

 

MY SUMMARY OF THE LAST FEW YEARS BEFORE I START THIS NEW YEAR!

 

 

2013

 

ONE DOOR CLOSES...ANOTHER OPENS!

 

I pray God leads the Baxter family to the edge of some cliffs this year. We need to learn to trust Him fully and let go!

 

I also pray the same for you!

 

I have always instilled into my family that the Lord has a huge plan for us as a family and for us individually.

 

God desires for us to DREAM= a desire in your heart for more of what God has for you!

 

God has a longing for each of us. When we just take the time to write goals and visions for the year we allow God to help us organize our thoughts... which are really His thoughts.

 

Then when the time is divine we can embrace and pursue the open doors through out the New Year.

 

God has placed within our hearts a perfectly-fit God sized dream and this is part of our life purpose. This purpose will lead to more joy, meaning and hope in our lives.

 

I tell my family that everyone has a GOD-SIZED dream. If you think you don't you just haven't discovered it yet.

 

I think its important to keep a log of goals and desires as a family. This allows us to communicate with one another and most importantly God.

 

Communication opens the doors to New opportunities.

 

This past weekend every family member had a chance to share some goals and visions they desire in certain areas of their life.

 

My husband and I still stand amazed at the opportunities and needs that became very clear after this vision meeting time!

 

The Lord showed us needs, desires and plans to grow more successfully into His will as a family and individually in 2013.

 

My son shared a desire to really know God more this year and not just go through the actions but to experience God in very real ways for himself. My husband  decided that night that they should start a weekly bible study together to help them grow together in this new season of desires for Ben.

 

I was able to share my personal goals of writing and publishing my first bookstudy for women by June 2013. I was also able to discuss more of my ministry visions to the family. Sometimes they only see mom doing the "mom things" but never understand what goes on with my own personal desires. I am excited for my kids to see more opportunities open for me as I travel and speak more in 2013 at my church and many other churches and or events.

It feels good to speak this to the family.

 Especially on days when I am writing silently all day for this book to come to pass! I am glad I shared the vision because the celebration will be that more exciting as a family.

 

My husband shared his desire for us to pursue the Financial Peace class as a family to learn to budget and handle our gifts of money better in all areas of our life. This class will start end of January!

 

My daughter Britt shared her desire to RUN more this year! I pushed her to run 3 miles with me this past weekend!

Oh of course when you share goals we then as a family can push each other toward a plan of action!

 

Alivia shared her favorite bible verses from 2012 and also many favorite memories and ended with her goals and challenges for 2013.

 

Lastly, we discussed how to LOVE better as a family! We tend to get a bit harsh with each other so we decided to try to relate and take a bigger part in each others lives this year and really care for that persons needs instead or our own.

 

My Pastor Brad Powell stated this:

 Without unity...marriages, families, businesses, communities, churches, nations...fall apart. Sound familiar? This seems to be the norm in our world today.

Unity requires unselfish commitment...the willingness to surrender self-interest for the good of others...for the good of the whole. No wonder most relationships in this world are falling apart. We're a world devoted to self-interest...not unity...devoted to getting for ourselves not sacrificing for others,

 

We need to take time to learn about each other this year as a family. How about you?

 

I love to see my children LEARN to write goals down.

The lord teaches us in Habakkuk chapter 2:2 to write down the visions (goals) make them plain on paper and then run with them in the year to come.

 

Writing things down allows God to send you revelations to match your desires. When you hear and discuss goals from everyone in the family then as a team you can help discern revelations for each other.

 

I feel as a mother this is very important in helping shape your children for their future.

 

This year will bring many victories along with many struggles. I pray that we can always reflect on our visions and goals throughout the whole year knowing God is working everything out for our Good.

 

I want to encourage you to have this time with your family. I handed each child a sheet a paper that was titled 2013 goals/plans. I gave them examples of areas to dream about.

Spiritual Goals

Physical Goals

Relational Goals

FAMILY GOALS

School Goals

Areas of their Gifting Goals

 

This really opened doors of opportunities and needs! Have fun and don't miss the opportunity to HEAR God in your family.

 

Lastly, I have a few worksheets below to step it up in your personal life.

I challenge you to DREAM LOUDER and BIGGER with God this year!

A more effective door will spring open if you take the time to focus, learn and listen.

 

Here is HOW TO: DREAM BIGGER:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dream Big Friends

 

 

 

 

 

LIFE IS ABOUT THE ADVENTURE

Yes I am a Christmas season baby!

 

 

Christmas time is the appropriate season for suspense and anticipation, again that is what ADVENT means. Today I also celebrate my 40th birthday!

ADVENT=A sense of ADVENTURE

I feel as if the adventure in my personal life is just beginning. It has taken the last 40 years to get me in alignment to live the next 40 years  unwrapping a great big dream... a great adventure that will be!

My Dream:
I will publish a book /workbook study by June of 2013 and I will travel more and speak because I enjoy inspiring others in NEW great dimensions!

I love unwrapping presents and being surprised on Christmas morning or on my birthday...How about you? The suspense is already killing me with a few interesting boxes under the tree.

Today, I want you to grasp that your dreams are much like a present.

The NEW YEAR is right around the corner and it fills me with the feeling of suspense and anticipation as I begin to unwrap new surprises along the way in 2013 that match my dream.

God has your dreams wrapped up perfectly and He will allow you to unwrap a little at a time if you desire to walk with Him in 2013.

Your destiny and reason for living are wrapped up tightly in your dreams and desires, like the genetic information inside a seed. That dream in your heart contains your spiritual "DNA," the very blueprint for who you are.

Your dream is that idea, that vision for your life that burns inside of you--something you can't ignore for long. It keeps coming back to your mind because it is part of who you are; it will never leave you alone.

A dream doesn't drive you; it draws you.

It is like a big magnet that pulls you toward itself. I don't believe that there is a man or woman without a dream, because God designed every member of the human race to have dreams.
Without a dream, a person will be frustrated in the present and will miss his or her future.


Your dream did not even originate with you. It resides within you, God put it there. He is the source of your dream. When people dream without God, they find it hollow and unsatisfying. Every person must come to Jesus for his or her dream to make sense. In fact, without Jesus, you might follow a dream for your life that God never put in your heart.

God so badly wants to fulfill our expectations and dreams in 2013. Allow Him to teach you about your dream.

What a great challenge for 2013!


God wants us to see our life so badly through His eyes that He extends so much grace in our natural disasters.
I have to admit...I caused all my BIG DISASTERS and was so stubborn and head strong that it still was not enough to turn me to God. My disasters always came from my shortcuts that I designed into my life.


My personal shortcuts always appeared to be a way of speeding up DREAMS and EXPECTATIONS.
Many times a roadblock would appear in my life and quench the spark of my dreams and expectations.

Did you ever feel like a vision or dream has been abandoned or blocked?

The past  three years God has placed me on a fence and helped me gain NEW PERSPECTIVE.

He wanted me to put some dreams on hold.

Sometimes we can become so dream focused that we chase after it so hard and end up in places HE FORBIDS!

God wants you to step into the New Year with anticipation and great expectation. However, we have to Return to Him and deny all our shortcuts. I was so focused on Dreams at one point that I was unaware of how I was abandoning God.

When we return everything to God, He will bring a fresh perspective and NEW chances.
If God has birthed that vision in your heart, chance are you have already began exploring.

But in order to:
END UP IN THE RIGHT PLACE ON PURPOSE,
we have to maintain our relationship with GOD first.

He feeds the quality and destiny of the vision.
If we move ahead the vision will again evaporate and we will be left in another natural disaster.


I pray that you walk into 2013 with a heart of anticipation and expectation to Grow in your love for God.

This may mean you will be surrendering more, getting involved in more and stepping out your comfort zone.

When God moves its more POWERFUL then any shortcut.

Your dream is fragile, so thank God for the NEW CHANCES and CHANGES HE will bring in 2013!


Three years ago today, God asked me to lay down and surrender many things.

God has been changing and rearranging my life a lot in those past 3 years

New friends
New church
New opportunities
New possibilities
Fresh perspective on dreams
New schools for kids
New ministry opportunities

The connections and supernatural ways of God moved in so many amazing directions.
He will row the boat and then ask you to step out when the timing is right and lines up with His vision for your life.

Will you allow God to row your boat in 2013?

I encourage you to STAY in THE BOAT, until He says "STEP OUT."

Enjoy the anticipation and expectation of this Christmas season.... BUT I challenge you to EXPECT and ANTICIPATE fresh vision for 2013.

Merry Christmas

BLESSING OR BARRIER

I would love to share this Great site for the new year!

I look forward to their devotions every morning from RBC ministries. 

Enjoy this word friends from RBC ministries!

RBC MINISTRIES

..............................................................

Many . . . believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” —John 4:39

What did Jesus see when He looked at the woman at the well in John 4? He saw someone who wanted acceptance and desperately needed to know she was loved. Most of all, He saw someone who needed what only He could give—a new heart.

It was no accident that the disciples had all gone to town to buy food. Surely, they would have tried to warn Jesus not to talk to this person—a woman, a Samaritan, and someone with a bad reputation.

Not being one to follow protocol, however, Jesus used this encounter to bless her with the truth of “living water” (John 4:10). In just one conversation, He broke down barriers of old hostilities, of gender bias, of ethnic and racial divides. And this woman became the first of many Samaritans to confess that Jesus was the Messiah (vv.39-42).

When she told others of her encounter with a Man who knew “all that I ever did,” she was already practicing the principle of “sowing and reaping” that Jesus was teaching His followers (John 4:35-38). Many believed that day, and later Philip, Peter, John, and others would preach in Samaria and lead many more to Christ (Acts 8:5-14; 15:3).

When we tell others of our own “encounter” with Jesus, we bless them with living water. —Cindy Hess Kasper

From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me;
From shades of night to plains of light,
O praise His name, He lifted me! —Gabriel

A faith worth having is a faith worth sharing.

look for an opportunity this week to share truth, be a blessing not a barrier!

Blessings!

 

TRUE JOY

Hello blogging friends! I am so excited for the JOY of the season. I am a big fan of Christmas. I grew up with a daddy that got into the spirit of Christmas and it has rubbed off onto me! I love to decorate, sing songs, exchange gifts, share the Love of Christ and make memories with friends and family! But most important get excited with everyone about a NEW YEAR!

With 2013 around the corner, I can only dream big at the greater opportunities God will be providing us all with.
I promise my blogs and inspirations will MOVE you in the direction of Gods goodness for your life! 
    
Will you join me in the journey?


Something was made so clear to me this past year...

If I have personally HEARD from God, been TOUCHED by Him in my life and SEEN Him with my own eyes working things for the good then my JOY should be FULL, no matter what life has dealt you that week.
THIS IS THE TRUE JOY OF THE SEASON!


I have seen the word JOY everywhere the past month with the Christmas season in the air.


We sing about being joyful and proclaim we have joy.


But the reality is...some live in a personal darkness that is stealing the Joy from their lives.

Christmas can become the most stressful season.

I heard on the news last year this time that Christmas Stress is causing CHRONIC PAIN in so many lives. Doctor visits and medication increases by 80% during the Holiday season.I will never forget that high lite. 


This makes my heart so sad....

Jesus Christ came to us Christmas morning to DECLARE LIFE and manifest himself to us is real ways. He wants to personally touch our lives and hurts. Christ came that our JOY would increase and be full.


CHRIST came to bring us CHRISTMAS.

I ponder the song that was sang in the Grinch movie called...Where are you Christmas?
the little girl goes on to say "Why can't I find you?" "Why have you gone away?", "Why can't I hear you?". Her world is changing and rearranging she wonders if that means Christmas changes.


Our life is always going to change and rearrange but "Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!" Hebrews 13:8

In 1 John 1-4 it tells us that fellowship with
God expresses the most intimate kind of relationship.
Joy would increase and our lives would be touched if we only knew Him better. He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and every thought.


A very merry and joyful Christmas is built by sharing your life with God.
A Joyful Christmas does not just show up on Christmas morning wrapped in a package or a greatly decorated home.

God wants to show up and bring you Christmas all year round.
Today's reading declares that we can hear, see and be touched by Christ!

Don't allow the realities of this world to rob your JOY.
Sickness is real, divorce and separation is happening daily, finances are low and jobs are lost. This is a reality for families all around. I want to speak to those friends today...

PRESS into Christ this Christmas and He will make your Joy full.

You cannot be JOYFUL until He makes your JOY FULL!


Point to Ponder: God is real, no matter how I feel


Question to Consider: How can I press into Christ and focus on His presence this Christmas?


Verse: 1 John 1:4 "Truly our fellowship is  with the father and with His son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your JOY MAY BE FULL."


May your Joy be Full,

TAMING THE TONGUE AT THANKSGIVING

LAST NIGHT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE BEST MOPS GROUP AROUND!  NORTHRIDGE CHURCH MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS!

Mops is a great break for moms to connect with other Moms. You’ll be refreshed and encouraged to carry on in this important stage of your families life.  Northridge group meets the 1st & 3rd Thursday of every month.

Check out a MOPS group in your area, they meet all over the US.

I remember taking my children to MOPS in my younger years! So refreshing it was listening to speakers care and encourage younger moms.

Last night I was blessed to speak into the lives of many moms with young children. Oh what a season that can be. So rewarding and yet exhausting all in the same breath.

The title I was asked to speak on was:
 TAMING THE TONGUE.

THE REALITY IS...THAT IS MY BIGGEST WEAKNESS. MY BIG MOUTH GETS ME IN TROUBLE MANY TIMES.

I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT JESUS IS MY BRIDGE TO MY PREFERRED TOMORROW AND HE HELPS ME TURN MY TONGUE INTO A BEASTLY BLESSING!

HOW DO I TRAIN MY TONGUE?

PLEASE READ THE VERSE I SHARED WITH THE LADIES LAST NIGHT. THEN I WILL SHARE SOME EXERCISES I AM PUTTING INTO PRACTICE!
(PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE HIGHLIGHTED WORDS)

JAMES 3:2-13
² For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. ³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ¹² Can a tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

What a powerful word to chew on before the Holidays. The season can be stressful for some families ESPECIALLY when the tongue really gets going. If you know what I mean!

The rudder to the ship and the horses bit describes the power in our tongue. We can steer our entire lives, families and communities into death or life with the power of the tongue!

When the Holy Spirit helps us with our tongues that is the only way anything Good is going to come out of our mouths.
Allow the Holy Spirit to be our rudder steering our lives into destiny!

I needed this reminder, I have not been asking God to help me with my mouth lately. I have been critical to my oldest daughter, sharp with the tongue to my youngest and very irritated in tone with my oldest son, gossipy with friends and even swear words when stressed and the list goes on.

WOW, yes and I am a Godly fearing woman who is a 100 percent flesh!

My flesh is not an excuse for my SIN.

I have a responsibility to follow Christ and work out my stumbling with God.
I love the first part of the verse listed above... WE ALL STUMBLE IN MANY WAYS.

I shared a couple exercises that we can practice together now and even more so during the holiday season.

Remember that small tongue can get us in a lot of trouble...

How many times have you regretted saying something the instant you said it?
How many times have your words hurt a friend or a family member without you meaning to?
 How many times have you said "yes" when you really wanted to say "no"?

Why is controlling this small beast, our tongue, so hard!

Try this exercise over the holidays... It really helps!

 

 

 

I ALSO LIKE TO USE THE BAXTERS MEASURING

SCALE:

 

 NO SALSA = NO HARSH WORDS TODAY

MILD SALSA=SOMETIMES HARSH, NO HARMS

MEDIUM SALSA=OFTEN SPOKE HARSHLY BUT GOT OVER IT

HOT SALSA=EXPLODE  AND BROKE OTHERS SPIRITS TODAY

 

 

AS A FAMILY YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WHAT KIND OF SALSA IS BEING TASTED AROUND THE HOUSE.

 

THIS WORKS WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN BURNED BY OTHERS WORDS, EXPRESS TO THEM YOUR HURT.

 

I LIKE TO ASK MY KIDS TO LET ME KNOW MY TONE...I TEND TO FALL IN THE MEDIUM SALSA CATEGORY, I NEED TO PRACTICE BEING MORE GENTLE.

 

LASTLY FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO AFFIRM FAMILY MEMBERS OVER THE HOLIDAY.

 

SPEAK SOMETHING POSITIVE INTO SOMEONES LIFE. MAKE IT HAPPEN!

 

 

Always speak words...
*That build people up
*That are good and peaceful
*That teaches lessons
*That are the truths
*That glorify  Jesus Christ

 

 

MAY THIS ENCOURAGE YOUR HEART AND PREPARE YOU TO HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FRIENDS!