If you are looking for some adventurous summer things to do with your kids, this is for you! The sweltering hot weather is here and your enthusiasm for warmth has dissipated like the ice in your tall glass of sweet tea. "Adventure, You say?!" Getting alone in the privacy of your air-conditioned bedroom is calling your name! The irony is that your children (who might not be acting so sweet on these hot summer days) are definitely up for an adventure!! So, what's a mother to do?! “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians … [Read more...]
How to Make a Summer Bucket List for Kids
Now that the hot weather is here, a summer bucket list is just the thing as you will be looking for fun outdoor things for the kids in your life to do! Being an influence in the lives of young children by giving them grace-filled days with you present in the moment will last for an eternity! But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 9:14 Your children are only with you for a few short years (ask me how I know) and will be on their own before you know it. You want each moment to count and what better way … [Read more...]
Be Thankful When Your Day is Unremarkable
Do you forget to thank God when your day is unremarkable? It is easy to look at the mundane day and take your circumstances for granted instead of being thankful for all that God is doing. This morning my husband texted me to say he was hydroplaning because of the rain while he was driving to work. I always assume that he will come home safely. Is Your Day Unremarkable? How is your day looking for you? Mine started out gloomy and rainy and has turned into a bright sunny day! Isn't it typical for us to think gloomy-negative thoughts when it is overcast or raining? Our … [Read more...]
How To Remember the Blood Shed for our Independence
It is easy to forget the blood that was shed for our independence on the 4th of July! It literally kicks the summer off with a bang as we celebrate with picnics, parades, and fireworks! I love the 4th of July! Since our oldest was three months old, we have gone upstate to visit my Uncle and Aunt on the lake for the day with my cousins and all of our kids. After an amazing picnic, the kids played on the private beach while boats sped by on the lake. Then it was the town parade, followed by the Word of Life Collegians' concert at the town beach with an awesome display of fireworks … [Read more...]
Does it break your heart that God has no grandchildren?
Does it break your heart that God has no grandchildren? It would be so much easier if our kids automatically would go to heaven. It is so heartbreaking to see our children exercising their free will, isn't it?! Does it Break Your Heart that God has No Grandchildren? I hear from so many of you that one or more of your children are not following the Lord. They may be very successful adults with a beautiful family but if they have not totally surrendered their life to God and trusted Him for salvation, their name will not be written down in the lamb's book of life. He who … [Read more...]
6 Tips You Need to Raise Your Children by Grace Alone
Do you have more days that you live 'in your own strength' than 'grace alone' days in raising your children? What if I drew from my failed experiences and shared how to walk by grace alone with the strength of the Holy Spirit living in you? It is too easy to get caught in a downward spiral, repeating the same mistakes with our children day in and day out. Our hormones are out-of-control and our responses to our sinful littles are often lived out in our own strength. I learned so much by the time our children were grown that I wished I'd know from the beginning of … [Read more...]
10 Essentials to Pack for a Grace-Filled Road Trip
When you pack for a road trip and know that you, your husband, and kiddos will all be stuffed into the car for hours on end, the possibility is that there will be squabbles and unhappy campers!! Road trips can be fun and a time to bond with your family and especially if you take the time to pray as you prepare what you pack into your vehicle before the trip begins. So if you are venturing out on the road this summer (or any time of year) you might take courage and make it an adventure for the best ever trip in history!! You may have already read about the 6 ways for a summer road trip to … [Read more...]
Learning How To Pray Like Elijah For God To Provide
Learning how to pray like Elijah for God to provide is much like working out for 30 minutes a day. It is hard. Each day I go downstairs and turn the screen on that streams my digital workout. I exercise for 30 minutes although most days my body screams "NO!" Why is it that even 5 minutes of concentrated prayer can be almost impossible to do? To be honest, I struggle to pray. I pray a little here and there all day but I want to learn how to really really pray fervently like Elijah. God Provides Through Elijah's Prayer Life God Provides Through Elijah's Prayer Life! Elijah lived … [Read more...]
6 Ways for a Summer Road Trip to Be Grace-Filled
When you pull out of your driveway on a summer road trip, tension and anticipation can be high as you face hours together in the car. If you are traveling with kids, life can get complicated fast since they haven't matured to the point where they can control themselves when hunger or exhaustion sets in. Whether you are going on a road trip with kids or just your hubby, there are some fantastic ways that being together in a tight space can become an adventure. Since we are looking forward to several summer road trips, ideas are fresh on my mind to share with you. There is … [Read more...]
Praying For Your Children For The Rest Of Your Life
You raise your children for the first 18 years of their life but the need to pray for them will last for the rest of your life! Voilà! Parenting season is finished! Now you can do the things you have always dreamed of doing but were too busy raising children to do. FORGET IT! None of that happens! (Omartian, Stormie (2009-07-01). The Power of Praying® for Your Adult Children) My kids have grown and my nest is empty, but as Stormie shares in her book, my job is not done and things will happen in their lives that will keep me on my knees for the rest of my life! Even when our adult … [Read more...]
Does God Want You to Be Coloring Mandalas?
You might be wondering what on earth is a mandala?! I have seen them through the years but really didn't know much about them. I have seen mandalas in several attractive adult coloring books too. They really don't look evil, so why should I take the time to write about them? If you Googled adult coloring, you would come up with many different articles, pictures, and products. Coloring has become a popular hobby in the last few years. As a Christ-follower, it is important to be aware of what a mandala is and how they can subtly influence you. Two Perspectives on Coloring It is … [Read more...]
Spring Cleaning when You Don’t have Time
It might seem that sharing about spring cleaning is a little off track from what I normally share with you. Maybe it is. The struggle to keep your home is real and even if you aren't the woman who is inclined to keep it sparkling clean all year round, dishes, dust bunnies, and clutter will call your name just like they do me. It seems like the world is spinning faster and faster leaving me less and less time to clean, let alone clean a little deeper once or twice a year. If you are going to serve your family to the glory of God . . . If you are going to serve the Lord through … [Read more...]
6 War Room Bible Verses for Fervent Prayer
Fervent prayer is something that we rarely see these days and maybe that is why we are losing ground in so many areas. We are living complacent lives and have forgotten that we should be in an all-out war against our enemy. Our enemy is unseen so we forget he is real. He is cunning and makes himself out to be fun and interesting so that we don't draw our battle weapons. It is high time that prayer became an integral part of our day. And because of that, I am intentionally going to be taking on this challenge myself. I am asking that you join me as we learn how to really get … [Read more...]
Memorial Day is More than Picnics
Memorial Day is a holiday weekend at the beginning of summer where people have picnics with family and friends, go to parades, eat lots of hamburgers and hot dogs with potato salad and chips. Do you know the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day? It is easy to confuse them and walk up to someone who was in the US Military and thank them for serving! Evidently, people have been known to do this! What is Memorial Day? Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. It is too late to … [Read more...]
Thoughts of Encouragement: How God is Your Dwelling Place
God wants to be your dwelling place, providing you with shelter and protection from what is happening in your life. Your world. Do You Read Psalms Often? I love coloring about it in my favorite journaling Bible or coloring book. I do and find them so encouraging! I often find God reassuring me to trust Him through the situations in my life. He has proved Himself my trustworthy dwelling place over and over again. Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Psalm 90:1 Do you live where you can see mountains? I have always lived where I can see mountains from my … [Read more...]
