Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Fighting Sin with Scripture

From the MOB Society: Fighting Sin with Scripture:

About a year ago, my son came running into the room, screaming, “Quick Mom! I need a Bible! I feel sin in my heart and I need to fight it!” He had learned about the temptation of Jesus in church that week and the Holy Spirit was working in his little heart and mind – helping him to realize his sinfulness and the need to fight it. He hadn’t learned to read yet, but he knew that the Bible was what he needed to fight sin.


Psalm 23


Now, a year has passed and I had forgotten about this precious moment. My son had been getting into trouble at preschool for not listening to the teacher and distracting his friends. For several weeks, notes were coming home in his folder telling me that he was struggling to obey the rules. So, we talked about his behavior. We prayed. We practiced the right way to behave. And as the notes kept coming, my patience grew smaller. Instead of looking at the heart issue of what was going on, I began to focus on simply changing his behavior. So I took away his legos. And the Wii. And I began to speak harshly. My desire for him to be liked by his teacher and be the “good kid” in school overshadowed my desire to engage his heart with the gospel.


Would you like to guess what his lesson was about at church this week? The temptation of Jesus. Once again, he and I were both reminded of how Jesus was able to withstand the temptation of Satan without sinning. Jesus used the Scriptures! More than my son needed to hear this story again, I needed to hear this story again. So, today we got out the Bible and found verses for us to memorize that will hopefully help him to remember Jesus. He will go to preschool tomorrow. Maybe he will do a better job of following the rules. Maybe he won’t. But I can guarantee this: tomorrow, we will both work to hide God’s word in our hearts so that we might not sin against Him. My son will try to not sin against his teacher and his classmates. And I will try not to sin against my son by focusing on behavior modification instead of his heart.


Q. What are some ways you’ve found to focus on your boy’s heart recently?


*******

Don’t forget to join Brooke McGlothlin (MOB Society) and Stacey Thacker (MOD Squad) in tonight’s Weary Mom Kitchen Table Talk on Spreecast! We’re starting a 9 PM EST and will talk about your prayer life, and your “one” thing.



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Hope for the Weary Mom PDF ebook Download


Lord, please bless the person preparing to download Hope for the Weary Mom right now. Would You send Your peace and prepare his/her heart to receive your hope? Give them strength to walk through their days, courage to look to You, and faith that remains unshakable. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.



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Monday, February 20, 2012

A “100 Things” Decluttering Challenge

From Money Saving Mom: A “100 Things” Decluttering Challenge:


Guest post from Deborah


My husband and I own a smaller home — around 1000 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. We don’t have children or hobbies that contribute to owning a great amount of stuff, but somehow the stuff seems to accumulate on its own!


The stuff seems to come into the home from several places:




  • I’m a librarian and my husband is a history professor — we receive many, many books that we won’t read.



  • My family is wonderful at giving items to each other for no reason — because we don’t want to throw them away!



  • As a professor, my husband often receives small gifts from students.



  • Friends often give us things that they think we’ll enjoy… and then those items sit in a closet or a cabinet for months without being touched.


I know we are blessed to receive so many free items from different people — but quite often, these items just sit around the house, gathering dust. It never seems to be enough stuff to have a yard sale, and nothing is usually worth enough to sell through Craigslist.


So once a year, and sometimes twice if I feel the house is getting cluttered, I do a “100 Things” project on a weekend.


It’s quite simple: I must find 100 things to get rid of in some way.


It might be a book I know I’ll never read. It might be a pair of holey socks tucked deep in a drawer that simply needs to be re-purposed as a dust rag or thrown away. It might be a stack of papers waiting to be filed. It might be a bunch of clothes I box up and take to Goodwill, or a box of magazines that I give away on Freecycle.


The bottom line is that 100 things need to leave my home or be put to some other use.


The last time I did this was in December of 2011. I gave away a box of 30 magazines to someone on Freecycle. I boxed up 20 books and donated them to a local organization hosting a book sale in order to raise money. I bagged up some clothing that we hadn’t worn in ages and sent them to Goodwill. When I pulled out the Christmas decorations, I went through everything and found broken items to throw away and other items to be sent to the local Goodwill store. And I always have a box in the garage ready to fill with random items to donate.


We are not big stuff collectors — but I’m always amazed at the amount of stuff I can get rid of once a year when I really try. And I always feel that my home is a little less cluttered at the end of a “100 things” weekend!




Have you ever tried decluttering 100 things?



photos credit


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Intentionally Celebrating Lent & Easter as a Family

From Passionate Homemaking: Intentionally Celebrating Lent & Easter as a Family:


I have been convicted lately considering how much thought and intentionality I love to put into preparing our hearts for the birth of Christ during the Advent season and then how little thought I take to preparing for the ultimate accumulation of Christ’s life in his death and resurrection that is the focus of our Easter celebrations. It usually just comes upon me with little to no thought or preparation. In light of this, I felt like this was the year to begin cultivating more intentionality in celebrating this glorious occasion which is the foundation for our faith. I am beginning early by preparing a list of activities that our family could complete during the lent season of preparation. There are 40 days of Lent, which starts on Wednesday, February 22, this year. I have decided to compile these activities on cards that could be completed throughout this 40 day period. These activities are primarily for young children but could be adapted as necessary. Pick and chose any of these ideas for your own use as desired. I hope to do 2-3 of them each week during Lent.


1. Make a Jesus Tree.

During the Advent season, we like to make a Jesse tree with symbols representing stories throughout the Old Testament that led up to the birth of Christ Jesus. For Easter/Lent celebration, why not make a Jesus Tree with images or symbols from the life and death of Christ. Find ideas to make your own Jesus tree here or buy a complete kit here.


2. Start a Garden.

Start a garden indoors to help your children understand the death and rebirth of Christ. Plant little lettuce seeds or whatever seeds you desire. Explain how the planting symbolizes the death of Jesus and how the sprouting seed symbolizes His rebirth. When Easter arrives, transplant your seedlings to your yard.


3. Make pretzels.

Pretzels were a common fasting food among early Christians, and they were traditionally made of flour, water and salt. The shape of the simple food signifies the arms crossed in prayer. Share your pretzels with a neighbor or family you are seeking to reach out to.


4. Make hot cross buns.

Hot cross buns are also a traditional Lenten bread. Make some with your children while explaining how they are important in the celebration of Lent. The buns may have originated in the 12th century, and the frosting is applied as a cross. Younger children can make simple, bread-shaped crosses to give to grandparents, friends and other family members.


5. Make Easter Story Cookies.


6. Make a Salt Dough Crown of Thorns.


7. Make a “Stained Glass” Cross.


8. Encourage a Heart for World Prayer.

Lent is a season of focused preparation and a great opportunity to focus on praying for the world around us. Traditionally, the first Friday in Lent is celebrated as a World Day of Prayer. Chose a continent to focus on during each week leading up to Easter.


9. Take a Nature Walk and collect items that remind you of the life of Jesus.

Two sticks could be used to form a cross, a stone could represent the stone across the tomb, a thorn could represent the crown on Jesus’ head, an acorn shell to represent the cup at the Last Supper, long branch to represent a whip, etc. You could also make this an scavenger hunt for these items especially for the little ones.


10. Have a foot washing for your family.

Discuss how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and commanded them to love one another (John 13:34-35).


11. Read an Easter related book. (See recommendations below)


12. Paint your doorpost for Passover.

Allow your kids to paint red paint on the (paper covered) doorpost to a particular room or the front door of your home to represent the Passover. Read Exodus 12:1-42. Explain Christ’s death as the ultimate sacrifice for sin and discuss the significance of God giving up His firstborn son.


13. Help your child understand that Jesus was called “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7-8). Make a lamb craft project with your kids by gluing cotton balls to a paper plate, then add pink and black construction paper eyes, ears, muzzle, nose and hooves.


14. Discuss as a family something that you could give up and give to another or use the money saved on that regular purchase to give to a charity ministry.


15. Listen to Handel’s Messiah.


16. Make a “He Is Risen” or “Our Redeemer Lives” poster and hang in a prominent place in your home.


17. Bake something for a shut-in or needy family.


18. Make palm leaf crosses.


19. Act out the “parade” of Palm Sunday as a family.

Take turns being the donkey, Jesus, and the part of the crowd. “Hosanna” means “Save us, we beseech thee.”


20. Dye Easter eggs and discuss the new life that has been a symbol of spring since ancient times. Discuss the “new life” that we experience in Christ.


21. Make a sand craft.

Sand is a Lent symbol of how God led the Israelites in their journey in the desert and how Jesus faced temptations for 40 days in the dessert.


22. Collect purple things from around your home.

Discuss how purple is the color of Lent. Purple symbolizes the pain and suffering leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. It is also the color of royalty and symbolizes the kingship of Jesus in our lives. Wear something purple for the day.


23. Make a Jesus is Risen Tomb Craft. Discuss the significance of Christ’s resurrection.


24. Watch The Passion or Animated Passion as appropriate for your family.


Sources:



Christian Lent Activities for Children



Great Books/Resources for Easter:


The Animated Passion Film

The Passion Film

The Gospel of John film (this is our favorite adaption of the life of Jesus)

A Family Journey with Jesus Through Lent: Devotions and Activities for Each Day (We will be using this resource for family reading/devotion time this year)

The Very First Easter

The Tale of Three Trees

Benjamin’s Box (best used with the Resurrection Egg symbols)

The Legend of the Easter Egg

Resurrection Eggs – we have used these cute visual and select Scripture passages for meaningful discussion on Easter. Hide them and have kids find them and open one by one as you retell the story.

Felt Easter Banner – check our the Heart Felt Truths etsy shop for this fun homemade easter banner that provides you with meaningful visuals for Holy Week with felt icons and Scriptures passages for discussion. Very cute! Make your own instructions here.


(Some of the resources recommended here are affiliate links. We always seek to recommend products that we have used and love! If you purchase through our affiliates, you are helping to support our orphan home in India. Thanks!)


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Thursday, February 16, 2012

How I Purged 91% of Our Stuff

From Money Saving Mom: How I Purged 91% of Our Stuff:


Guest post from Sara of Traveling PhoBlog WriPher:


If there were a competition for de-cluttering, I’d be the winner. I picture a Biggest Loser-style competition. Confetti would fall onto my smiling face immediately after they shouted “Sara Bell, you got rid of 91% of your personal belongings. You are the biggest de-clutter-er!”


No, really. I got rid of 91% of my personal belongings.


My husband and I love to travel, so we decided to move into a trailer and travel all over the U.S and Canada. At the time, we lived in a two-bedroom condo with a garage so we knew we’d have a lot to get rid of. We just had no idea just how much!


Here’s how we did it…


1. Get rid of multiples.


Do we really need two TVs when only one of us actually watches TV? No. Then do we really need two DVD players? No. Since our laptop plays DVDs and our Xbox is always hooked up to the TV, do we need a DVD player at all? No.


Do we really need a desktop computer when we are usually just on the laptop? No. Do we really need two bookshelves when neither is completely full and one is a little rickety? No. Do I really need five of the same-sized sauce pan when there are only four burners on my stove any ways? NO.


Once you’ve done that, congratulate yourself!


2. Get rid of the things you don’t/won’t use.


That vase was a gift but I think it’s ugly. I have hated every book I’ve attempted to read by that author, yet I still have three more of his/her books on my shelf. That dress hasn’t fit me since I was in high school. I don’t know whose that is, but I’m pretty sure it’s not even mine.


All of it has to go!



3. Get over it.


Yes this part is the hardest part, especially for me since I am a very sentimental person. I was crying during half of my de-cluttering process because I felt guilty for getting rid of things someone gave me.


I had movie ticket stubs dating back to 2002. I had sweaters I’d hated from the moment I’d unwrapped them, many with the tag still intact. I had colorful scribbles drawn by kids whose last names I couldn’t even remember. I had 24 notes from my little sister-in-law, even though they all say the exact same three sentences on them.


When I couldn’t bring myself to throw something away, I’d tell my husband. Some of the things he’d look at and say “See if your parents will store it.” Some he’d look at and say, “Just keep that.” Some he’d look at and say “You’re joking, right? Throw that away right now.”


If you can’t throw a lot of it away, have a friend or family member do that with you. They don’t have the strange emotional ties to the object that you do, so they’ll be able to logically see if it’s something you’ll regret throwing away or if it’s garbage.


4. Sell that junk!


We gave our friends and family members a lot of things — especially our furniture. We put many of pricier items up on Craigslist… and we had a big garage sale. Anything we couldn’t sell we either gave to Goodwill or threw away.


We didn’t bring anything back into our house once it was out in that driveway.



5. Don’t buy more.


Now I’ve trained myself not to buy things I don’t need. 91% of my belongings were things I didn’t really care about getting rid of. 91% of the things I’d spent money on were things I didn’t mind throwing away.


I don’t buy clutter anymore, so I have more money to experience life with. I don’t have a ton of clutter all over my tiny little trailer, so I don’t have much tidying up to do and I don’t really feel any stress in that area. I de-clutter again on the first of every month… but I have to tell you, I de-clutter less and less every month and I think you will too.


Sara Bell is a 20-something currently residing in Prescott, Arizona. When she isn’t bargain-shopping or cooking, she loves reading, writing, knitting, and photography. She and her husband recently moved into a trailer so they can travel the U.S. in it. You can read about their adventures on her blog, The Traveling PhoBlogWriPher.


Learn how to go from financial mess to financial success. Order your copy of my brand-new book The Money Saving Mom®'s Budget today!





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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Establishing A Family Service Night

From Passionate Homemaking: Establishing A Family Service Night:

One of my goals for this year was to establish a monthly service night where we could work together with our children to serve others around us. I passionately desire to be participating in the Great Comission in simple and practical ways. I desire that our children can have real life tangible activities to be the hands and feet of Christ to those around us and to the nations. But at the same time I knew it is easy to get consumed in ministry and leave our families behind. My goal this year was to establish a night in which we could serve others in a doable manner. I don’t want to add a huge project to my plate, but still practically encourage a heart for service to others in our hearts, both my husband and I, and our children. I am so thankful for the inspiration of Kristen at We Are that Family who recently compiled an excellent resource called 100+ Ways Your Family Can Make A Difference. This list has so many wonderful ideas for your family!


This year our family is setting aside the 4th Friday of every month to be our family service night. These are the ideas we will be doing throughout the year, Lord willing. For February we are doing our service project for Valentine’s Day (today)!


1. Make Valentine’s Gifts for the elderly at our local care center.

2. Send a care package to our military.

3. Collect shoes for Shoes for Kids (visit our local consignment stores, Goodwill, etc. to collect shoes).

4. Buy McDonald’s gift cards and distribute to the homeless on street corners.

5. Collect items for restoration bags for girls coming out of trafficking.

6. Donate school supplies to a classroom in need (contact local school for specific needs here in our community).

7. Prepare New Mommy Blessings bags for our local Pregnancy Resource Center (newborn baby supplies (diapers, rash cream, toy, gender neutral outfit, burp cloth), new mom care items (nipple cream, lotions, etc), wrapped in a cute baby blanket or receiving blanket)k

8. Decorate our local Elder care center with homemade art work.

9. Bake cookies for our local Fire Department.

10. Pick up trash at local park as a family field trip.

11. Fill Action Packs for the persecuted church (via Voice of the Martyrs).

12. Make a baby care kit for a baby in need.

13. Fill Operation Christmas Child boxes.

14. Adopt an foster child for Christmas through Angel Tree.


Want to join us in establishing a fun family service night at your home? I will be sharing our adventures with you all as the year continues!


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  • Paula's Bread -Kitchen appliances and safe tools for all your homemade health adventures



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