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“I’m Ok, I’m Just a Little Overwhelmed!” and Other Clever Lies
“The enemy will discourage us by overwhelming us.” I wish I could remember who said this!! I know it was at a conference; and, I remember screaming in my mind…YES, THIS IS SO TRUE!! As someone who runs more efficiently when in a mild state of stress, I have always considered being overwhelmed as a natural byproduct of my inability to control my “yeses.” A mismanagement, if you will, of the power of stress similar to overdosing. Did you know that overwhelmed literally means to defeat completely? I didn’t. I though it was a more casual and light-hearted term for being a bit stressed. “I’m ok. I’m just a…
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4 Ways to Be The Fragrance of Christ
It doesn’t take much of something that gives off an odor to have an effect. Living in the country, my environment is full of smells. Some good, like flowers, fresh cut grass and, call me crazy, but, cows!! I know. It’s weird; but, I love the cows and their smell. So cute! Some smells, though, are repugnant! Like, a take your breath kind of stinks. For instance skunks who get scared by dogs and dogs who get sprayed by said skunks and cars that said skunks hid under when spraying dogs. It was nasty. We tried every home remedy; but nothing worked. It finally died out…I think. Aromas, even nasty ones, can…
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Drive-thru Faith
I used to love to cook. I wish I could say I still do; but somewhere along the way, it’s become a tedious chore. As an “on the go” family, it takes a lot of forethought, time and energy that I just can’t seem to muster some days. That’s when the drive through is my best friends. Not only do I NOT have to plan it, cook it and clean up after it, I don’t even have to leave my car. That, my friends, is the American dream!! As American’s, we get accused of wanting our whole lives presented to us in this drive through fashion: minimal effort, minimal…
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What’s the Big Deal with Tradition?
"Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter." 2 Thessalonians 2:25 (NET) Tradition… Over the years, my husband and I have established a few traditions with our family. Some were cultivated from our favorite childhood traditions and some have been established through new routines with our children. Traditions like, turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and the works for Christmas dinner, opening one gift on Christmas Eve, Friday night family nights with games, movies, popcorn and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and the birthday boy or girl getting to choose dinner on their special day. These small,…
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The New Creation Breaking In Period (Part 4)
Developing Godly Character Takes Time! A child who accepts Jesus gift is a new creation in Christ Jesus; but, there may be a breaking in period. That old self with it’s sinful desires will not give up easily. Temptations will hit daily and the desire to partake will still be there. Developing godly character takes time.
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Take Inventory of What You Know (Part 2)
Today I want to elaborate on the second point-Take Inventory of What You Know. Before you begin a spiritual conversation with your child, it is important to take inventory of what you believe, explore the facts of your faith and recall the how’s, why’s and who’s. If the majority of your knowledge comes from your third grade Sunday School class, then it would be an excellent idea to verify the facts and freshen up on the details.
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Be Prepared (Part 3)
Whether you’ve gone to church since birth or haven’t stepped a toe in since leaving your parent’s care, it is important to be prepared. You may have a strong spiritual foundation and profound knowledge of the Bible; yet, find it challenging to put it on a child’s level.
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The First Time I Shared Jesus with a Child…(Part 1)
I have been a faithful church attendee since I was two months old, became a follower of Christ at four years old, attended Christian Elementary School, led Bible studies, and on and on. BUT, the first time I had the opportunity to talk to a child about salvation, I was a mess.
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Common Mishaps with Group Salvation Invitations
“I shared the gospel; but when it came to the invitation, several kids raised their hands who I don’t think were really ready. How do I handle this?” Group invitations to follow Christ can be tricky. Especially if you ask them to publicly indicate their decision. Here is what I typically end up with: First is the kid that was too busy carrying on their own conversation about their mom’s speeding ticket or something to hear what I said. Next, is the child I was certain had already accepted Jesus as their Savior and had even been baptized but has just indicated they accepted Jesus for the first time.…
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Two of the Most Damaging Words to Say to a Teen
Words are tricky. They have different meanings in different circles, inflections can alter intent (or even definition in some countries) and their omission often speaks louder than the words themselves. Words are power and some words are more powerful than others. Two words that I have found to be quite powerful are, “We’ll see.” They may not seem like much and in the right context, with the right inflection, they can actually offer hope. However, these two simple words have the capacity to inflict major damage. Here is a story that will help illustrate what I mean.
