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Our kids need champions. Join the 14 day prayer challenge for the young people in your church.

March 18, 2019 by Susan 2 Comments

Take 14 days to pray for the kids and young people in your church. Daily topics, verses, and sample prayers. Plus a free printable prayer challenge guide.

If we don’t pray, we lose.

But let’s be honest here, I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels guilty sometimes for not praying for my own kids enough. So the idea of committing to pray for other people’s kids is nice, but it’s not something I’ve ever considered committing to long term.

Until recently. We attend a small church, and the people in my church are like family in many ways. My heart began to hurt at the thought of the world and its deception getting a hold on the kids and young people that I have watched grow up.

Statistics say that somewhere around two-thirds of young people who are involved with youth groups will leave the church within two years of graduation. Two-thirds! That should not only make us sad, it should spur us to action.

You can still serve God after being caught in sin. Restoration is possible.

March 11, 2019 by Susan 4 Comments

Being restored to ministry after sin (even big sin) is possible, but it may not look like you expect. Valuable advice for you whether you are trying to help someone caught in sin, or hoping to be restored yourself.

The opportunity to sin is everywhere. Sadly, even people who love the Lord, who are serving Him, can be caught in it. Whether that is you or someone you care about, the first thing I want to say to you is that there is hope.

The second thing I want to say to you is that while your future serving the Lord is not over, it should not be your primary concern. This post is the second in a series. The first post in the series digs in to how to work through coming to a place of true repentance and how to show that to those around you. Proving repentance is a long road, and being restored to ministry comes at the end of that road, not the beginning, especially if you were/are in a position of leadership.

Proving that your repentance is real is a long road, not a one time deal.

March 4, 2019 by Susan 6 Comments

Have you ever had to rebuild trust? Whether you are the one who has done wrong and needs to make amends, or are the one who has been wronged and are looking for signs of true repentance…you know it doesn’t happen overnight. There are some important steps that you can take to work this process and cement the change that God has begun.

I’ve shared before that God’s grace is very real to me. That’s because I’ve made choices I wish I could take back and faced some steep consequences because of them. I’ve also had to extend grace in ways I wasn’t sure I could. One day I’ll tell you my whole story, but for today, know that when it comes to working through repentance and restoration, I have some experience…on both sides of the equation.

Everyone’s story will be different, of course. Still, these insights can be valuable for people walking the path to restoration, or those ministering to someone who is.

Christian weight loss help for the one who is ready to forget past failures and finally lose weight for good.

January 28, 2019 by Susan 4 Comments

Weight loss is hard. It can feel impossible, even. Past failures might have you thinking, ‘Why bother’ but sometimes a new perspective can make all the difference in helping you finally lose the weight for good.

Have you hit rock bottom when it comes to losing weight? Maybe a better question would be–how many times have you been there? As I look back over my rock bottom moments, there have usually been tears and there has always been praying.

Have you tried program after method after company after book after plan. Yup. Me too. Some successful, some not. But after all of this, there is one thing I’ve learned with 100% certainty. The only true thing about weight loss.

Daily Bible reading can be hard to be consistent in. Find a Bible reading plan that works for you.

January 14, 2019 by Susan 19 Comments

Reading the Bible daily is a habit we know is important, so why is consistency so difficult? Find a Bible reading plan to help you get in God’s word regularly.

We’re focusing this month on making small changes to one habit at a time that add up to lasting change. And why not start with the most important habit of all…being in God’s word regularly. In reality, it’s no exaggeration to say that no other habit matters more than this one.

My husband and I are teaching the youth at our church this Sunday. Our lesson is going to be on how to make God-pleasing decisions. What we’re finding as we prepare our lesson is that we keep coming back to this truth: Knowing what God’s word says on a topic is key to being able to know His best for us. Even more than being key, it’s essential. (Seeking Godly counsel is up there, too, but that’s a topic for another day).

The secret to knowing how to change is in forming new habits

January 7, 2019 by Susan 1 Comment

Does anyone not have something in their life they’d like to change? If there is such a person, I suspect they are disillusioned. Because the truth is, we are all a mess somewhere.

What are you wanting to change?

If you’re like me, you look around and see others who don’t seem to struggle with the things you struggle with…and that can be either motivating or depressing. What we often fail to realize is that they struggle with something that comes easy to us.