What If?

My Beautiful Daughter Ethecie - 12 years old

The beautiful girl in the picture hiding behind the yellow balloon is my oldest daughter, Ethecie. (She would want you to know it is pronounced Etessee, without the "h.") She is 12 years old and joined our family from her home country of Haiti when she was 9. A conversation with her recently made me think of how the disciples must have felt during this time we celebrate as Easter weekend.

She heard my husband and I discussing a person who had passed away due to cancer. A few minutes later she came to me and said, "Mommy, what if you got cancer? What would you do?" Sometimes Ethecie surprises me with "What If" questions. Although she is living a wonderful life here with us now, she has already known a great deal of heartache and sorrow in her young life. I think her life now is still somewhat surreal to her, and so as she is learning to walk by faith these questions will come to her. What if mom and dad don't stay together - what if they get a divorce? What if I don't know what God wants me to do with my life? What if I marry the wrong person? And as each question comes up, we talk about what the Bible says and learn a little more about having faith in God's Word. When she asked me this question, it was not a difficult thing to answer. I was incredibly blessed to grow up in a culture of faith and healing that planted the healing Word deep into my heart. So immediately up out of my heart came faith - "I'd pray and stop it. I would use the Word to make it leave my body and I would be healed!" A glance at the smile on her face told me that was all she needed to hear. She said, "Okay" and went about her day in peace.

I can imagine the disciples on Saturday, fighting What If? thoughts and emotions. What if He doesn't rise again? What if the soldiers come for us next? What if these last 3 years were just a supernatural season that's over now? What if we never see Jesus again - what will we do?

It would be easy to read the Bible and feel tempted to almost look down on the disciples for their lack of faith at times, but if we are honest, we have all had those What If moments. The key is in realizing that it's not the question that determines the outcome - but rather how you answer it! Ethecie was willing to take my answer of faith in the Word and believe it. In Matthew 10 and Luke 18 there are accounts when Jesus told the disciples that the only way to enter the Kingdom of God is to receive it as a child would.

My girls take my word for things. They know that mommy is very careful not to make promises she can't keep, and because of that they trust my word. Even though I'm not perfect at it and there are sometimes changes in plans, my track record of keeping my word to them assures them that when I tell them something, they can count on it. That's why Ethecie walked away without care or concern after our conversation. She knows my heart and my faith in the Word of God, so she trusted my words to her.

If we can learn to trust the word of someone here on earth, how much more can and should we trust the infallible Word of our Father God! 2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us that all of the promises of God are Yes and Amen! When a What If question comes to your mind, that is the moment you need to lean and rest fully on the promises of God. Even if it is just a thought in your mind, never let a question that raises doubt go unanswered! Use the powerful, two-edged sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to cut doubt and unbelief into pieces and win every time.

I am so thankful that just as Jesus promised, on that third day He rose again! The promise He made to the disciples to rise again was fulfilled and eternal life was won for everyone who would receive it. What a glorious and most precious time this weekend is to celebrate the resurrection of Christ that took away every What If question and launched the Body of Christ into the taking of the Gospel around the world. Happy Easter everyone - Jesus is alive! 

Debbie Beck

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Good Friday Reflections

I posted this blog exactly a year ago and wanted to share it again:

I have been reflecting today, Good Friday, on the sacrifice that Jesus made for the whole world. The History Channel aired a special about crucifixion, which I watched. They talked of Jesus and the excruciating pain he experienced as he suffered on the cross. We get the word "excruciating" from the word "crucifixion". It is the most horrific, gruesome way to die. But it was not just death, it was torture as well, and on display for all to see. It was a way to discourage uprisings against those in power. In effect, to say, if you get out of line, this is what will happen to you. Crucifixion was greatly feared. Juxtapose that to what the cross stands for today: salvation, hope, redemption, the most widely recognized symbol of Christianity.

They said on this special that aired today, that there was no comfortable position on the cross that Jesus would have ever been in. When he raised up to exhale, pain like lightning would shoot through his feet and legs. When he would breathe, the wounds on his back would be reopened as they rubbed against the rough wood of the cross. When he would support his weight with his leg muscles, he would be in tremendous pain. When he would let his hands support his body weight, unbearable pain would race through his hand, arms and shoulders.

He did this for me, for you. We see in John 19:27 that as he hung there on the cross suffering, he was concerned for his mother's welfare as he told John, "Here is your mother." And it says that John took a widowed Mary into his home to care for her. We were certainly on his mind as he suffered and died. He could have, at any moment, commanded legions of angels to deliver him, yet he chose not to. To understand what crucifixion actually means and all that it entails makes me love Him all the more!! I stand in complete awe at the plan and unconditional love of God to redeem and reconcile mankind back to Himself!!

When David penned these words about his own suffering, it was prophetic of Christ's suffering on the cross:

Psalm 22:14-18: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."

His sacrifice once and for all made the way for us to be cleansed from our sin and to be able to experience fullness of life in this life and in the life to come.

The sacrifice of Jesus on Good Friday purchased the resurrection on Sunday. What an incredible price had to be paid! Dear Lord, let us fully be able to grasp how much you love us and know that all we have to do to be right with you, is to accept the sacrifice you so freely give us.

If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, I can't think of a better time than Good Friday to ask Him to be the Lord of your life! All you need to do is pray this simple prayer and mean it from your heart: "Lord Jesus, I ask you to forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart and life and save me. I give you complete control of my life. I say that you are my Lord and I believe that God raised you from the dead. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen."

If you prayed that prayer, please go and tell someone. Tell them how God has changed your life! You can even comment below and let us know what God is doing in your life!

~ Kim Dillingham

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Finding Joy

     Recently my husband and I purchased a home after renting for over five years.  We have just been in awe of how God has worked everything out. In a time where it is difficult for many people to get a home loan we know that He was moving in each step of the process.   As I was working in the front of the house planting flowers that my Dad had given me, I couldn't help but think of a time when I would have loathed doing that same exact thing!   I'll never forget at about age 12 having the worst possible chore of pulling weeds in our garden on the farm during the wonderfully HOT summers in Illinois.  Some days I would have preferred mucking horse stalls! I absolutely did not see the beauty in what I was doing, nor did I find any joy in the chore.  Fast-forward about 15 years and I'm now enJOYing that moment tremendously.  Feeling so blessed and thankful that I can have a little flower garden of my own!  

     As we go through life are we preparing ourselves for new seasons? Are we putting mulch down in the garden in order to prevent the weeds from coming up and pulling those that do try to rise? Are we "counting it all joy when we fall into trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience?"(James 1:2-3)  Jesus clearly wants us to be full of Joy.  

     In the Bible joy is found in at least three different places: In His word, In His sufferings, and in His presence!

     In John 15 Jesus tells us about the Vine and the Branches.  He is the Vine and the Father is the Gardener and we are the Branches.  The Gardener cuts seasonally cuts off the branches that produce no fruit and he prunes back the branches that do produce fruit so that they can produce even more!  We the branches must remain with the vine because we can do nothing without Him.  In verse 7 he says, “7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”   If Jesus is the Word that means he wants us to remain in the Word.  We need to study His Word so that it is fresh inside of us especially for those times that may not seem so Joyful.

Later in verse 11 he says, 11 I have told you this so that MY JOY may be in you and that your JOY may be complete.  Not only does He want us to have Joy but He wants us to have HIS joy!

  Jesus knew he was going to go through and be tested by awful things but never quit and did everything with Joy.  He was perfect, lacking nothing.  

     1 Peter 4:13  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 

     Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

     Nothing is greater than being in His presence!  It is a place of peace, healing, and Joy.  His presence is all we need for it is in Him that we live and move and have our being! (Acts 17:28)  

Psalm 16:11 

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 21:6 

Surely you have granted him unending blessings

and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

     My desire is to be full of His Joy!  Pressing on through those less desirable tasks or events in life with Joy knowing that there is a great and beautiful reward, but doing so with Jesus' perspective.  And so now I will head out to my little garden and pull those little weeds with great Joy for I know that my work will not be in vain and that those blessing are not just for my joy but for others as well.

~Calla Cuff

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V is for Virtue Proverbs 31 Mother Daughter Lesson4

Session 4:  V for Virtue

 

1.  Icebreaker:  Have 2 sacks of costumes, kitchen items etc.  Teams have to put together a short skit and present it.

2.  Teaching:  Virtue

    What is virtue:  Defined as moral excellence; goodness, righteousness.

   2 Peter 1:5-9 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith VIRTUE, to VIRTUE knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

 

When I think of “virtue”, I think of just a life that walks in excellence and strives to always please God in all things.  Not just when it’s easy but always.  A life that is holy, and that when she makes a mistake, she runs to God asking for forgiveness and asking Him to continue to make her more like Him. 

Example:  Doing what is right even when it doesn’t matter to anyone except God.  Give a personal example

Listen to the Spirit of God within you.  Obey in the small things and He will honor you to be over bigger things.

Let’s talk about a woman in the Bible who lived a morally excellent life…Ruth

She was from Moab.  She married a man that was from Bethlehem and his brother also married a girl named Orpah.  They lived about 10 years in Moab with their husbands and mother in law named Naomi.  They died and the women were all still alive.  Naomi decided she is going back to Bethlehem and the girls can stay in their hometown and just marry again. 

Ruth decided that she would stay with Naomi.  She said…Read Ruth 1:16, 17.  So they went to Bethlehem and Naomi was kind of sad and grumpy about her life. Ruth decides to do something to get food for them.  She asks if she can go gather the gleanings of the field (explain).  So she gathered the leftovers to take home for food.

As she is doing this, Boaz comes along and is observing his fields.  He notices Ruth 9when you walk in moral excellence the world will take notice).  He speaks with Ruth and tells her to not go to any other field and that he has told his workers to not bother her and that she can have fresh water whenever she is thirsty. 

Ruth is surprised that he is so nice to her, a foreigner.  We walk in the favor of God when we live a virtuous and morally excellent lifestyle.  He even asked her to eat with him and Ruth saved some for Naomi!  She had a pure heart. 

Boaz goes on to tell his workers to leave extra gleanings for Ruth.  When Ruth brings her grain home, Naomi is extremely surprised by how much she has gotten and asks whose field she went to and who took notice of you.  Ruth explains that it is Boaz and Naomi is thrilled and realizes that God’s hand has been in all of this.

She goes on to glean until the end of barley harvest then wheat harvest.  Do you think Boaz was watching Ruth during this time? Absolutely!!

Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is part of their family.  Back then, it was the family’s responsibility to care for women whose husbands had died.  Many would marry them so that they could have children and continue the family.  Since Boaz is part of the family, it is the first place they should go for Ruth to marry.

Naomi tells Ruth what to do and she goes to Boaz whiles he is sleeping and uncovers his feet.  Some say that this was to wake him, perhaps.  For whatever reason, he does awake and she asks that he cares for her now.  Boaz is so very honored because she came to him instead of some young punk kid in Bethlehem.  He says..

Ruth 3:11 Any now, my daughter, do not fear.  I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. 

How did the town know she was virtuous?  She lived a life of moral excellence and goodness by caring for Naomi and honoring other before herself.

Ruth went on to marry Boaz and have a son named Obed, who had a son named Jesse, who had a son named David. Ruth was the great grandmother of King David.

Many, many years later, Jesus came from this family line.  There are no limits on what God can do through you when you choose to live a virtuous life.

Ruth was very responsible.  She was thorough and orderly and things were done in a timely manner.

She could’ve said, “I'm too tired and do not fell like going to the fields today.  But would she have had anything to eat? NO

What if she would have said I’ll do it later?  Just let me finish this TV show.  If she would have, all the gleanings would have been gone from the fields.

Read Prov 31:10-end

Look at all that she does in the home.  That is what we are doing this for with you girls.  That you all will grow up to be virtuous women who love God with all their hearts and love and care for your families with all that is within you.

Object lesson:  Virtue is what is on the inside of us.  (2 milk jugs with picture of two different faces of pretty ladies)

Look at this lady (milk jug) she is pretty on the outside but what is on the inside?  It is what is on the inside that counts.  It eventually spills out.  (Let them smell the spoiled milk or vinegar, something that stinks) 

 

Let your heart be full of virtue and moral excellence so that it leaves a pleasant fragrance wherever you go.  (Smell other jug with perfume)

 3.  Spotlight of Honor

 4.  Cooking project:  Make pizzas out of biscuits/tomato paste, cheese, pepperoni, and pizza cookies with icing and sprinkles and fruit. 

 5.  Snack:  Eat the prepared snack.

 

 

 

 

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Shamrock No-Bake Truffles

We made these in honor of 
St. Patrick's Day, 

but you could change them 
up a bit and serve 

them for any holiday!  
Very tasty and oh so easy!

For the Truffles:

1 1/2 C. Flour

1 C. White Cake Mix

1/2 C. Butter - softened

1/2 C. Sugar

1/8 t. Vanilla

2 t. Peppermint Extract

3-4 T Milk

5-6 Drops Green Food Coloring

For the Coating:

Almond Bark or White Chocolate

Vegetable or Olive Oil

Holiday Sprinkles

Instructions

Beat together the butter and sugar.  Add cake mix, flour, salt, peppermint extract and vanilla extract.  Add milk and food coloring and mix all together well.

Roll the dough into about 1 inch balls and put on cookie sheet (I put parchment paper on mine first).  Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes or until they are firm.

Melt the white chocolate or almond bark in the microwave.  Watch closely as the white chocolate burns very quickly.  I usually add just about 1/2 t. of oil to help with the consistency, especially for white chocolate.

Dip the dough balls in the chocolate/bark and place back on parchment paper to set up.  Top with holiday sprinkles while the chocolate/bark is still wet.

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Don’t Just Endure, Persevere.

Don’t quit. 

Don’t give into how you feel. 

Don’t be moved. 

You got this. 

Just. Don’t. Quit. 

There are days when I repeat those words to myself like a 10 year old girl with a new Taylor Swift song. I’m sure I would become completely annoying to those around me if they could get inside my head, but it works.  Like David, in 1 Samuel 30:6, I have to encourage myself in the Lord. I have to let the word of God in me be my personal coach, trainer and cheerleader.

This journey called life is challenging....to say the least. The enemy of our soul takes great joy in painting the map with every difficulty;  he reminding us of our human limitations and highlighting those crazy things called “feelings” for the purpose of getting us to quit living and simply exist.

Have you ever felt like you are merely existing? Have you been discouraged? The bible tells us that David and his band of soldiers wept bitterly until they simply had no more power to weep. I haven’t been consumed with grief to the point of wanting to stone my leader (my husband sighs with relief) but I have felt completely overwhelmed and distressed. It could have destroyed me, but like David, I have found that encouraging myself in the Lord led me to my victory.

It’s more than puffing myself up with shallow accolades such as “You’re amazing and strong, you can craft, you can cook, you have hair like a goddess...Wonder woman has nothing on you babe.” I know my weaknesses. I live with myself everyday. What I need to consume myself with is the amazing, awesomeness of my God. When God is my source there is always a solution. If I am going to struggle, it will not be with the one Jesus has defeated already. I refuse to refight a battle that has already been triumphantly won. My efforts will be applied to my faith.

Oswald Chambers said, “Faith is the supreme effort of your life-throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.”  Anyone who thinks a life of faith is weak and pitiful is simply wrong. Faith is a thriving confidence in God. Jesus himself prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know you...” (John 17:3) Eternal life, life more abundant is not something we attain as we pass through the pearly gates. We can live and walk in this abundance now, right now. In the face of lack-abundant supply, sickness-health, contempt-triumph, weakness-strength. There isn’t anything that we could find ourselves up against that the presence of God, in word or spirit, can’t nullify. Jesus has given us abundant life and there is a tenacity that comes with that, a refusal to be destroyed. Who shall separate us from the love of God? This life is so abundant that it triumphs over every “who shall”! All through the word we find the confidence we need to keep our faith in God. Romans 5:20 tells us, “Where sin abounds, grace did much more abound...” It didn’t just counterbalance sin, it out weighed it...tipped the scales. That same grace is freely given to those who know Him.

I just read a tweet by Christian Cain that said, “When you're going through it keep going through it until you're through it.” We can get through it, whatever it is, when faith isn’t in ourselves but in the one who forgives all our iniquities, heals all our diseases, redeems our life from destruction and crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He will satisfy us with good and renew our strength. Instead of just enduring, existing...we persevere, engaging our faith because there is a reward for those who in faith seek God. (Hebrews 11:6)

There is a reward for perseverance in the face of todays trials and those that are to come (Revelation 3:10). I choose to become proficient at persevering and side in with the word of God!  In my best singsong cheerleader voice I’ll shout, “You can do it!” 

God’s got you. Keep your faith in him and persevere till you win!

Pray with me: Father, I trust you with my life.  I choose to side in with your word, not my own reasoning, not the traditions of men or the lies of the enemy. Just like Paul, David, and the many people of faith who have gone before me, I choose to live and move according to your word. You are my victory, my strong tower, my God in whom I trust. Strengthen me today as I persevere through the storm I am facing. By your grace, wisdom and love I can do all things. I refuse to quit, lay down and give up. I put my hope in you! Thank you for being so faithful and good. In Jesus name, Amen

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Grace Filled Girls by Amy Schafer

Grace Filled Girls

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.” 

Words that were written in 1779 and still make something on the inside of us do cartwheels!  There is nothing as life changing as GRACE!  Nothing as life altering, world rocking, nation shaking, & soul transforming as GRACE!  What if we were ‘Grace Filled Girls’ that took the grace we’ve received and gave it out to the world?!!

Proverbs 31:20 says, “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.”  In the amplified version it says, “She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].”

Her hands are filled so she can reach out!  What are your hands full of?  How about GRACE?!  Girls that have been touched by grace -should be a green-house of GRACE!  A green-house is a warm atmosphere that attracts the Son and produces fruit!  As His girls on earth we should cultivate grace, nurture grace, & extend grace!! 

Have you been touched by grace?  Strengthened by grace?  Embraced by grace?  Changed by grace?  Encouraged by grace? 

If you are the girl I’m talking about, then you can be the one that God uses to extend His grace to others.  He wants you to be a conduit of His grace, His goodness, His kindness, and His love.

Here are a few examples of how you can extend grace….

To your husband… when he gives you the wrong directions at the airport and you’re looking for the car in snowy, 19 degree weather for 1 hour.  You can give him a piece of your mind:)… or extend grace!

To your teenager… when you are getting ready to speak at church, it’s time to do your hair and she has taken your flat iron to a sleepover.  Then she arrives to church with her hair in a bun and you have half straight, half frizzy hair in front of the whole church!  You can either ground her for a week:))… or extend grace!

To your small children… when your son gets up every day for a bowl of cereal first thing in the morning… and every morning the cereal overflows and milk goes all over the place.  You can either freak out every day, every morning:)… or extend grace!

To your friend…

To your coworker…

To your neighbor…

To your church…

To the needy…

To the hurting…

EXTEND GRACE!!!

xoxo… Amy

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O is for Obedience Proverbs 31 Mother/Daughter Lesson 3

Session 3:  O for Obedience

Props:  present box, present inside, music, candy for memorization, tablecloth, plate, napkin, fork, spoon, knife, umbrella, weight, foam board, glue, Martha Stewart place setting sheets for activity,   Christmas plates, saran wrap, cookies, letters for placemats, activity sheets printed for girls of submission/ authority pray kids,

1.   Icebreaker:  Thanksgiving fun Turkey Dressing

Divide into 2 equal groups.  Give each group a paper sack with the following. 

Newspaper, 1 pair of panty hose, 4 sheets of tissue paper, 1 roll of toilet paper, scissors, and tape

Have the team make a turkey out of a person.

2.  Christmas Icebreaker:  Have 1 box and pass it around like musical chairs and when music stops person who has the box must step out of circle.  Play until last round the person who has the box gets what is inside.

 

3.   Teaching:     

When God created the family he created a divine order.  Today as we learn about the order of a family we are going to relate it to the order of setting a table.  Now every Proverbs 31 maiden needs to know how to set the table. 

First is the tablecloth.  Tablecloth is the part that touches all parts of the table setting.  Compared to God.  God is to be the foundation par of each member of the family. 

         Then we have the father.  Adam was first created by God.  Our plate is going to represent Dad.  He has been placed by God to be over the family.  He is the head. 

         Then we have the wife and she is the crown of her husband.  She is the pretty glass that makes her husband shine.  We make our husbands look good.  Just like the king on the throne wears beautiful crown that is an excellent wife for her husband.   She has been called to be the helpmate of her husband, a keeper of the home and the guard of her family. 

         Then comes all the sweet children: 

Knife, fork, spoon

 

And last the napkin-your pet dog

So just like we have order in setting the table there is an order to the family.  God did this for a purpose.

Eph 5:23 Husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church.  He is the spiritual leader of the family.  His job is to love his wife as Christ loves the church and bring up his children in the admonition of the Lord.

What is the wife’s job?  Our job is to submit to our husband as to the Lord.  We are to respect admire, esteem uplift our husbands.

Job of children-obey your parents in the Lord for this is right

Heb 13:17 Obey those who have rule over you

Mommies and daddies have been giving the place of leader over you and your job is to obey. 

Aren’t you glad for an umbrella when it rains?  My daughter Megan has a Dora umbrella. She wants to take the umbrella everywhere she goes just in case.  The minute the first drop or rain falls, she whips out her umbrella and stands under it.  The raindrops hit the umbrella instead of her.  She is protected for every last drop. 

God has made an umbrella for our lives too.  He puts special people like mom and dad in a place of authority over us.  That means they are in charge.  They make decisions about our lives.  We stand under their authority just as if we would stand under an umbrella.  God wants us to submit which means to follow or obey them. 

Who is the Boss?

1.  Government leaders such as the president, judges or police officers Rom 13:1-2

2.  Church leaders such as your pastor, Sunday school teacher, church elders Heb 13:17

3.  Family leaders:  mom, dad, grandparents and others Eph 6:2

4.  Job/school leaders:  your principal, teacher, and coaches or your manager, supervisor or company president 1 Peter 2, 13, 14, 18

Satan did the opposite.  Remember Satan’s first sin?  He started out as an angel, but he was proud in his heart.  He didn’t want God to have authority over him.  So he rebelled against God.  Because of that, God threw him out of heaven.  God hates rebellion.  He says it is just like sorcery or witchcraft 1 Sam 15:23.  When we rebel against people God has put over us, we rebel against God. 

When we rebel, we step out from under the umbrella of authority God has put over us.  Then we are on our own.  God no longer defends us.  Instead, he opposes us.  James 4:6 He stops fighting out battles for us and lets us fight on our own. 

Read story No Fair!  (in pray kids submission/authority)

You know how it is.  Sometimes it seems as if you get blamed for everything that goes wrong. I

know what that’s like too.  I’ve always liked gym class.  I enjoy the sports and games, not to mention it’s my easiest class! Run a mile—get an A. I wish all my classes were that easy! Of course, it helps when you have a teacher you enjoy. But when I was in the third grade, my gym teacher didn’t seem to like me. I felt blamed for everything! If people were talking, he called my name. If everyone was cutting up, I was the only one corrected. It really started to get to me.  One day as we stood in line, two friends behind me were talking. There was a rule: no talking in line. I started to get nervous. I just knew I’d get blamed. Then it happened. The teacher yelled, “Addison, stop talking!” I was being punished for a crime I didn’t commit!  I was upset and defended myself: “It wasn’t me!” Why couldn’t this guy get it through his head?

At dinner I shared what happened with my parents. I expected some sympathy. To my surprise, my dad told me I was wrong. He explained how my answer to my teacher was disrespectful. It questioned his authority.  My dad reminded me about how Jesus was persecuted. The Pharisees told a lot of lies about Him. But He never defended Himself, not even once. Jesus just committed His case to His Father in heaven, who always judges righteously. Even though it’s natural to want to defend ourselves, God wants us to let Him be the judge.  My father asked if I wanted to do this my way or God’s way. Well, my way wasn’t working, so the decision wasn’t hard! My family prayed together. We decided I should apologize to my gym teacher.  The next day, I apologized and told my teacher that I knew I shouldn’t question his authority or try to justify myself. He was amazed. Then things began to change. I went from being the student who was always blamed to the one who received the Student of the Week award! At the end of the year, I was awarded Student of the Year! My gym teacher and I even became friends. If your way is not working, try it God’s way. It really works! aying God’s Words

The Bible has a lot to say about how we treat the people God has placed in authority. God wants us to pray for them. But did you know He also wants us to give thanks for them, respect them, and submit to and obey them? There’s even something we’re not supposed to do: We’re not to speak evil about them.

Sometimes it’s hard to do all these things, especially when we disagree with the decisions our leaders make. But praying Scripture really helps. For example, from Proverbs 21:1 you could pray something like, “God, You are King of kings! Please direct my teacher to do what is right for our class.”  From 1 Timothy 2:1-2, you could pray, “Lord, thank You for my mom and dad. Thanks for my teachers (name them), my pastor, and our president (and other leaders you think of). Help them make wise decisions today that bring good to our family, school, church, country, and world.” Why don’t you try? Turn these Scriptures into prayers:  Exodus 22:28; Proverbs 24:21; Ecclesiastes 10:20; Titus 3:1.

 What happens when you obey? 

 There is a promise.  Has your mom ever said this if you mak e an a on selling we will buy you a Kit Kat bar?  That is a promise.  Well God made a promise to you.  If you obey He said it will be well with you and you will live long on the earth. 

 Sometimes it is a fight to obey

 Ex:  Lifting weights or doing a new exercise.  More of a fight more character you are developing.  Muscles are growing.

4.  Spotlight of Honor :  Moms speak about how their daughters are showing obedience at home. 

Here’s a great way to begin to rid your home of disrespect. Give each family member a stack of index cards.  Each time anyone spies disrespect in himself or in another family member (parents included!), he should write it on a card. Spy out and record on a card disrespect that comes into your home through other ways—TV, books, newspapers, radio, CDs, videos, etc.  Provide a box to collect the cards for one week. At the end of the week, get together to read the cards and discuss what you learned. Were you surprised by what you saw in your culture? In yourselves? Did disrespect from family members decrease as the week went on? Why or why not?  Spend time in confession and prayer as a family. As the Holy Spirit leads, let family members confess disrespect they spied in themselves. Pray blessings on anyone who was the object of disrespect during the week. Finally, pray for each other and for society. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring you into submission to the authorities He has placed over you.

 5.  Activity:  Go over how to set a table for practical skills and give out sheet on it.  Give out family life article for moms on submission.  Make craft of placemat.  Foam paper for mat and glitter sticks, sticks and foam letters to decorate.  Let them practice setting the table and then serve the snack.  http://www.marthastewart.com/article/place-setting-practice

 

  5.  Snack:  Cookies

 

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After God's Own Heart by Alexandra Fleege

‘I have found David^[ the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’^[Acts13:22

            What does it mean that David was a man after God’s own heart?  I have heard it said that Romans went after power, the Greeks after knowledge, this is what they sought, and David went after God’s heart.  In his essence David was a sheperd who was chosen to be king because of his relationship He had with God.  A relationship which I believe only was enhanced as he developed and entered into what the Lord had for him.  He trusted God, most of all He loved His word which would have consisted of the law and some of the prophets, and yet he developed in an intimate whole hearted relationship with God as someone who was under the law and not born again.  This amazes me, the love that He had for His word, constant, steadfast.  What did it mean to do all of His will.  To do all of His word. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible and its David’s love letter to God about His word.

Psalm 119:2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him and crave Him with the whole heart. (Amplified Bible)

                        I live in another world and another time, and yet David’s words inspired by the Spirit of God have helped me so much.  He was a very real person, with a very real faith in a very real God.  What I see in his relationship with God is someone who was completely wholehearted in His relationship with the Lord.  In the new testament we call this being fervent in spirit, which goes with being a doer of the word. Many of us have entered into things in our lives because of the relationship that we have with the Lord.  The greatest relationship that we will ever know is our relationship with Him, yet sometimes the very relationship that brought us to where we are today suffers as we enter into the things God has for us.  The word of God is our life, apart from Him and His word there is no life.  I want to be a doer of the word and not just a hearer or a preacher only.

Revelation 1:4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works.

Jesus is our first love, and the book of Revelation calls it a fall when you lose your first love, in which we need to repent from.  From this fall, of losing your first love comes all the others, a myriad of sin, but if I had to say this would be the root of any other foul fruit, that we have lost our first love.  James calls doing the word doing the work:

James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

When we moved to Europe in 2010 I started to get so tired and struggle all the time, it seemed as everything was hard , that life just got really hard, the language, the customs, missing people etc... that it started to effect my relationship with the Lord. Then the Lord started to remind me to look to Him, not worry, cast my cares on Him etc, continually renew my mind with the word of God.   Things started to turn around.  Faith really is the victory that overcomes the world.  Problems with our soul sometime seem so big, whether its personal struggles or helping someone through theirs the only thing that saves our soul is the word of God.   Letting the work of being a doer of the word be at the forefront of any endeavor I might have for Him, our life really is His and at the end Heaven and earth will pass away but His words will never pass away.  Thankful for David and His relationship with God, He wasn’t perfect but He loved God and a whole nation was blessed because of it.

Alexandra Fleege

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