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100 Bible verses to inspire you this Christmas and New Year

November 5, 2018 by Susan

Bible verses speak to us at Christmas and New Years in different ways. Often times at Christmas we are reflective, looking back and taking stock of what Christ’s coming has meant to us. And then we look ahead at the New Year with anticipation and hope.

Christmas is a little ways out yet. And although I don’t allow Christmas music before Thanksgiving, it’s never to early to share Scriptures that might prove useful or encouraging.

Whether you are looking for a Christmas Bible verse for a card or a family devotion you are in the right place. Hoping to find something in God’s word to inspire you in the New Year? Right place. Just need something to reflect on this season? Bingo.

God’s word is always timely. Maybe that’s why it’s described as living and active. I hope you find just what your heart is looking for here. More than 100 verses to ponder, inspire and encourage you.

Blessings –

Nurture your child’s head, hands and heart

October 29, 2018 by Susan

Young children learn best in gentle ways. Making crafts, telling stories, cooking together. Even more than the fun of the experience, they build memories with your child. How wonderful would it be if someone did all the legwork, laid it all out, and you could just choose what would work with your family?s

I am being compensated for my time in reviewing Rooted Childhood. As always, all opinions are my own.

Teenage boys don’t particularly like doing crafts. Nor do they like to read poetry or snuggle, for that matter. Thankfully, although my boys are getting older, I have some delightful littles in my life that I can do all this fun stuff with.

I thought of them immediately when I discovered Rooted Childhood. Well, first I thought how much fun it would be to have had this collection when my boys were young…then I thought of my little friends. I invited them over right away.

Where to draw the boundaries on media content? That’s up to you. How to do it? We’re here to help.

October 1, 2018 by Susan

Resources to help parents control what kids watch, play, and do online. Every family has different boundaries on media content and screen time for kids. Regardless of where you set your boundaries, we’ve got resources to help you do it.

As parents, it’s hard to draw the lines regarding what tv shows, movies, video games, or apps we allow. I’m not here to tell you where to draw those lines today. (Let’s have that discussion another time, I’d love to know how you make those decisions).

For today, let’s agree that being intentional in setting boundaries matters. Because honestly, if you’re not…well, you’re choosing open your child up to anything. And that’s not cool. Or responsible. Or loving.

This boundary setting is an ongoing process. Clearly as our kids get older the boundaries change. And by the time they are older teenagers, our job is more in apprenticing them in how they can set God-pleasing boundaries for themselves as adults.

At every stage, however, we need tools that can help us to know which media is a yes, let’s watch, which is when you’re older, and which is our worldview prohibits this.

Let your geek flag fly. Dragon Con for families.

September 10, 2018 by Susan

How many places can you see Thanos, the Dread Pirate Roberts, Tinker Bell and zombies all at once? Not many, I’ll tell you that.

Something called Dragon Con is not something that would garner my attention normally. Even though I live with three guys who are into games with lots of orcs, wizards and superheroes, and we watch movies with…well, lots of orcs, wizards and superheroes….I can handle only so much of the nerd-dom.

I’ve known about Dragon Con for a long time. Some of the organizers are friends of ours and Greg went a couple of times when we lived in Atlanta. Still, not something I ever thought I’d be interested in attending myself. I mean, a sci-fi convention is a bit much for me. Little did I know…

So you made a decision to change your life at summer church camp…what next?

August 13, 2018 by Susan

photo credit: Kathryn Fletcher

You went to the classes. Listened to the messages. Sang the songs. And somewhere in the midst of it all, God reached in and tweaked something inside you. You heard Him.

Maybe it was like a lightning bolt to your heart. Maybe it was a tiny seed that He planted and is barely beginning to sprout. It could be a cloudy something that has been in your mind for months, only now it is crystal clear.

Conviction of sin. A call to ministry. Light for the next step. Purpose.

Whatever it is, He spoke and you listened.

Food for Thought #38

July 16, 2018 by Susan

Parenting is one of those topics that you just can’t read enough about. Not that you’re usually seeing new or revolutionary information. But the nature of humanity is to forget. Reminders about parenting priorities, methods, ideas and practices are important…I’d even say necessary…in making us the best parents we can be. I’ve especially had parenting on the brain as I recently read a fantastic book on Christian parenting, and used it to teach a couple of workshops. One of the things I have enjoyed the most is hearing parents speaking into each others’ lives in the course of our discussions.

Here’s what I’ve been reading…