Don't Let Your Thoughts Lead You to Destruction

"Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life." Proverbs 4:23











I was running, keeping a steady pace, training my body to run further and further. My heart was pumping and my feet were beating out the rhythm of the music I had pulsing through my ears. I felt great. Well, I felt great physically. My heart felt a little heavy. I was motivated to run, but there was no passion; it was just "get through this run, get through this run." It wasn't until I was on the "walk cycle" that I realized what the problem was. My thoughts were not pure. You see, I chose a "Workout Station" on Pandora, in hopes that it would give me upbeat music that would help motivate me to keep up a pace. And although it did help me keep pace, the words were making my heart heavy. All the songs coming through my ear buds were laden with words and behavior that is not part of my lifestyle. At first I thought the feelings were because I didn't know the songs, so I wasn't able to sing along in my head. Then I started listening to the words as I running. The talk was all about who someone was going to "hook up with" or how much that person was going to party until they didn't remember a thing. And so on. It was NOT my cup of tea. But I kept running, and I kept listening.

When I switched over to my "Sovereign Grace" station near the end of my run, I honestly felt a peace. Not even kidding; it was as if a weight was lifted from my shoulders. My thoughts began to focus on the beauty of the early morning. I was able to think, clearly, about things I needed to do that day, and my heart was reminded of people I needed to pray for. I recognized, in that moment, that the words of the songs in the "Workout" station had my heart going down the wrong path. Proverbs 4 is FULL of warnings about making sure wisdom leads you. Verse 27 says, "Don't turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths." I, essentially, turned off the road of goodness by allowing the music direct my thoughts. I could have kicked myself for letting worldly things distract me from enjoying a morning a jog to its fullness.

As I was turning the last corner {and, at that point, the dog was dragging me home}, Philippians 4:8 came to mind. "Brothers and Sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected."  God was giving me that gentle nudge back onto the right path. The peace that filled my heart, the burden that was lifted, it was all orchestrated by Him, the one who can give peace and joy. Would that "workout" music have made me into a sinful heathen thrown far, far away from God? Most likely not, but it would have taken my eyes off Christ, even for just 30 minutes. And my desire is to keep my eyes on Him. I know now that when I go on my jog, the music I let push me that extra mile needs to be filled with words that are going to lift me up, bring me closer to Him, and set me on a better path for the rest of the day.

What things in your life, whether innocent or intentional, pull you off the path? Have you been on the road of goodness long enough to recognize you are heading down a dangerous area? It is never, NEVER too late to stop and enjoy the freshness and joy and peace that comes with going down the right path. You've got to just "switch stations" and plan in the future to keep it there. Don't let the temptations of the world trick you into a path that may be full of struggles.

Devotion: Appreciating the Desire for God

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Writer's note: You are going to follow my train of thought here. 

Stick with me as you will see how God revealed to me His truths of truly desiring Him. 

It was the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and we were driving the 2-hour trip home from my in-laws' house. My "Mom Brain" cranked back up as I began assessing what needed to be done in the next few hours to get my family ready for a regular week back at school and work. My kids had been out of school for 5 days, and I knew that Monday morning could be rough if I didn't prepare them. I then started thinking of the past 5 days and how I had blessedly slept to almost 8 am each morning. I groaned as I thought about my 530 am wake up call Monday morning. Another 4 more weeks of getting up before the rest of the house...and the sun...until I can sleep late again. ::SIGH::

But then I started thinking about sleeping in. I remember when I was working I promised myself that if I ever had the opportunity to stay at home, I would sleep in until 7 am every morning. Now that I have been blessed to stay at home, sleeping until 7 has rarely happened, even on the weekends. Even in the summertime, when I don't have to prepare my kids for school, I still got up at 630 each morning.What struck me, though, was how much I truly appreciated sleeping in when I had the opportunity. I realized that if I got to sleep in every morning, I would never really appreciate the joy of it. I wouldn't have a desire, a craving, for those few extra moments of blissful sleep.

So this all lead me to thinking about my desire for God, and how similar and different this is compared to my desire for things I rarely get to enjoy.

How are they similar?
That desire. When I really want something, I truly desire it. I can't wait until the moment I get to enjoy that peaceful moment, that piece of chocolate, the crisp air, the warm sun...and the presence of God. A few weeks ago, I described what it felt like to Feel God's Joy. It's not every day I get to literally feel the presence of God, to know that I am surrounded by Him. And I yearn for that. I look for God in the little things {a sunrise, my children's hugs, scripture, a good toe-stomping from my preachers}. When I am studying His word, I search the scriptures, I pour over commentaries, and I write out my  prayers. I have a TRUE DESIRE to be with God. 

How are they different? 
Time. I knew that if I got to sleep in until 7 or 8 am each morning, I would never really truly appreciate it. So I needed to just keep to my regular schedule in order for me to be delighted by those few chances I get to enjoy an extra hour of blissful dreams. BUT, I would never desire that for my relationship with my Lord. In this case, absence does not make the heart grow fonder. 1 John 2: 24-25 says, "Be sure you continue to follow the teaching you heard from the beginning. If you continue to follow what you heard from the beginning, you will stay in the Son and in the Father. And this is what the Son promised to use - life forever." We are encouraged and instructed to continue with our relationship with God. We need to constantly be in God's Word, through personal devotions, consistent attendance and fellowship with other believers, and deep studying of His scriptures. I have found some incredible Bible studies through Good Morning Girls, its sister site Women Living Well, A Virtuous Woman, and its sister site The Vintage Homemaker....Staying in constant contact with The Creator, with The Savior, only creates more desire. There is no momentary, fleeting pleasure like the kind you get from tasting a good, dark chocolate, or those few moments you get to see an incredible array of colors through a sunrise. When you stay with the Lord, your desire for Him increases to where you are constantly thirsting for Him.

Recognizing those similarities and differences can help put into perspective the type of appreciation I should have for the Desire I have for God. Take a moment today to reflect on the blessings God has given you {a warm home, children, food on your table, a car to get you to work, having a job, a strong cup of coffee, a cold glass of sweet tea...}. See how God has His Hand in so many aspects of your life. Look back at how you have grown {as a woman or man, as a teacher, as a mother or father, as a daughter or son, as a wife or husband....}. See how God has His Hand in molding you. See how He has intervened in your life {when you ended up being able to pay a bill you never thought would get paid, when you did NOT get a job you thought would be good and it turned out to be bad, when it rained on a day you wanted to go out, but ended up providing water to make your garden grow, when you were cured of a disease that tends to overtake so many in your family....}.

See God. Desire God. and Appreciate every aspect of Him and His involvement with you. You will experience such JOY.



If you also have a great Bible Study you follow or a website that is encouraging to you, please comment below with the link. I love nothing more than to discover other sites where the Truth of God is proclaimed and the study of His Word is encouraged.

Devotion: Always Being Thankful

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November. Seriously the best month of the year. I know, I know. If you have been following me, you have most likely heard me say this countless times. But I honestly believe it. Check out the wonderful trend that is sweeping through Facebook now, as so many people list, each day, something they are thankful for. It truly is a blessing to see how God is working.

Today I was reminded, again, of how incredibly wonderful November is. As I opened my devotion and prayer journal eeeaarrrlllyyy this morning, I was ready to talk about Veterans Day and how incredibly grateful I am and how honored I am to know so many people who have faced mankind at its ugliest through war. As I was going through my devotions, of which one I used the same verse Proverbs31.org used, each one was about focusing on all the many, many blessings God has given us. That particular devotion gave a few ways we can remind ourselves of being thankful for what God has given us. Please check it out. There are some great ideas there.

 I am also following Women Living Well's weekly challenge on "Making Your Home a Haven". Last week's challenge, in combination of this week's challenge served as yet another reminder of how much I had to be thankful for. She suggests lighting a candle in the home, not only to spread delicious scents around the house, but to also serve as a reminder to pray for peace for your family. What a great way to also remind yourself to thank God for a blessing.

So as I opened my prayer journal today, I wrote out the things God has blessed with me. I found that it was important for me to not only list what I was thankful for, but to write out why I was thankful for it. Here is what I wrote:

You have given me a beautiful home where we can serve you by serving others. 

You have given me an opportunity to stay at home and to use that time to glorify  you by ministering to others, to teach my children your Truths, and to develop a better relationship with you. 

You have given me 3 incredible kids all who continuously astound me in the way they learn. 

You have given me an incredible husband who works hard every day and who is constantly working at being a wonderful husband and father. 

You have given me a church home that preaches the Bible and is willing to gently step on my toes so my relationship with You is continually growing. 

You have given me a church family who encourages me to serve and, in turn, is always showing me how to serve. 

You have given me parents who are still married for almost 40 years, and give examples how to be patient and loving to each other. 

You have given me a sister who gives me a friend for life. 

You have given me wonderful in-laws who love and support me, despite the fact that I am the more "spirited" one. 

And this was all I could fit in my journal for today. Even now, as I type this, I am reminded of so many other wonderful things God has placed in my life. Even things, that at first, seemed to not be so much as blessings. God, in His time, showed me how truly blessed I am. 

Take the time today to make a list of things you are thankful for. Make a running list in your family that others can see and add to. And don't do it just this time of year, but do it all year long. 

If you have a special blessing you are thankful for, please share with us by commenting below. You have no clue how your blessings remind others of the things they, too, need to be thankful for. 

Devotion: Feeling God's Joy

"As the deer thirsts for streams of water, so I thirst for you, God." Psalm 42:1

As I was driving home from dropping the boys off at school, I looked up at the sky to see an incredible array of colors. My breath catches and tears make the edges of my eyes tingle. The words to Building 429's song spoke to my soul, "All I know is I'm not home yet. This is not where I belong..." Before I left to take the boys to school, the words to the scripture from today's Bible study {Colossians 2:16-17} were pulsing in my heart as well. "So do not let anyone make rules for you about eating and drinking or about a religious feast, a New Moon Festival, or a Sabbath day. These things were like a shadow of what was to come. But what is true and real has come and is found in Christ." The Lord was revealing to me how important it is to make worship about HIM and not about all the little things that generally come with worship {getting dressed nicely, speaking nicely to others, singing praise songs, and taking some serious notes during the sermon...just to name a few}. He was reminding me that none of that means anything if my worship is not truly about focusing on Him.

So as I was gasping at the incredible sunrise, singing my heart out with the radio, and rejoicing at the refresher my heart had received, an incredible peace came over me, such a peace that it literally made my skin tingle. No kidding. My heart was filled with such JOY. It was almost as if I could smell the sweet fragrance of my Lord. Just as the scent of Old Spice reminds me of my husband, and my heart is filled with joy and excitement about seeing my husband again, there is just something about breathing in the scent of the Lord that fills my entire being with joy, with happiness...with peace. This does not always happen. And I don't think that it's because the Lord doesn't want me to enjoy that peace, but it's my own heart that blocks me from from such joy. I searched my memory of other times I got to feel God's joy with such intensity, and I realized that this normally happens when I let my heart AND mind be attuned to God. It's normally when I'm camping somewhere in the mountains, or when I am gazing at the stars near the ocean, or when I am at quiet time at a retreat. Those times my heart is just ready to embrace the Lord, to drink in His peace, to smell his fragrance.

But it doesn't always have to be during "mountaintop experiences" or "oceanside revealings". God wants us to experience that joy and peace in our every day lives. He wants us to acknowledge His presence, His ever-present presence. I cannot explain how incredibly special it is to experience Him. I cannot explain the immense love that comes with knowing you are snuggled right there in Jesus's arms. If you are missing out, man, you are truly missing out.

Find that joy today, unbeliever. And for you, believer, take a moment to make your heart attuned to His presence. Breath in deep, and feel God's joy today.

Be blessed, everyone!!

31 Days of Praying for Teachers

A while back, I sent out a Call for Help with 31 Days of Praying for Teachers. I did get some response back, but not nearly as much as I was hoping for. What that means, though, is God is planning on teaching me as I go through compiling verses and prayers for teachers as they prepare for the first few weeks of school. As a former teacher, I understand the necessity of laying the new school year, the children, their parents, and my family before the Lord. And now, as a stay at home mom, I pray for my teacher friends, the teachers my children will have, and the children (and youth) that will begin a new year. Please join me in taking a few minutes each day to lift up the teachers for the next 31 days.

Day....

1. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." Proverbs 9:10. Pray for teachers to trust in the Lord for wisdom in preparation for a new school year. 
2. "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night" Psalm 1:2 Pray for teachers to find moments to delight in the law of the Lord, and to take time each day to think about God's purpose for their lives as they prepare to teach. 
3. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5 Pray for teachers to know when to ask for help when confronted with a tough situation, whether it is an unruly child, an angry parent, or any other situation that is outside their control. 
4. "May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you." Psalm 25:21. Pray for teachers to have a sense of honesty and integrity as they teach this year. Pray they will constantly insist on standing for the truth so they please the Lord and so their integrity will not be questioned. 
5. "Trust God with all your heart. Don't try to figure it out on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He's the one who will keep you on track." Proverbs 3:5-6. Pray for teachers to trust that God knows what He is doing when He presents them with a certain task, whether it is teaching a new class or if they have a difficult student. Pray they will listen for God's voice for wisdom in handling every situation. 
6. "He has told you, O Man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8. Pray for teachers to always utilize justice in their classrooms, but to utilize it with love, giving all the glory to God. 
7. "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been placed there by God." Romans 13:1. Pray for teachers to remember to have respect for those above them: department heads, curriculum leaders, principals, and superintendents. 
8. "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:36. Pray for teachers to practice mercy on their students. Pray their eyes are open to extenuating circumstances that have placed their students in difficult situations. Pray they see those circumstances and hand out mercy when necessary. 
9. "...and he answered, 'I will not' but afterwards he changed his mind and went...." Matthew 21:29. Pray for teachers to be reliable. Pray they will establish a reputation as one who always does his/her best to be one time, work hard, and be dependable. 
10. "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6. Pray for teachers to have courage to do what is right, trusting that God is always with them. 
11. "Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and let the purity of my heart be shown in my actions." Psalm 51:10. Pray for teachers to have a pure heart, and to see the children where they are in order to foster a positive learning environment. 
12. "Guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don't cheat on your spouse." Malachi 2:15. Pray for teachers to remember to serve their own families first. Pray they will put the needs of their family first, and that they will protect the sanctity of the home. 
13. "And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out." 1 Thessalonians 5:15. Pray for teachers to remember to show kindness to their students. Pray they will remember to speak softly when their students are disrespectful or disobedient. 
14. "But if it only money the leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble..." 1 Timothy 6:6-10. Pray that teachers are wise with their money and their purpose for teaching is not to pay the bills but to affect the future generations. Although teachers generally don't make much money, pray that their purpose is focused more on their students than just clocking in and clocking out. 
15. "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. Pray for teachers to personify all of these characteristics not only in their classrooms, but with their families, friends, coworkers, and people they meet along the way. 
16. "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty, and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:12-13. Pray for teachers to have a sense of contentment as they face the everyday struggles of teaching. Pray they will find joy and strength, daily, in trusting that God will give them all they need. 
17. "How well God must like you --you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along dead-end road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. Instead, you thrill to God's word. You chew on scripture day and night. You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in bloom." Psalm 1: 1-3. Pray that teachers will seek out and nurture Godly friendships. Pray you will give them a sense of camaraderie in finding coworkers who also stand for Truth and what is Right. 
18. "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for man." Colossians 3:23. Pray that teachers will develop a servant's heart and work hard, all the time, not to please man, but to please the Lord. 
19. "Look carefully, then how you walk, not as unwise, but at wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil." Ephesians 5: 15-16. Pray for teachers to know their priorities. Pray they will not waste anytime in their classrooms, meetings, or during planning times, but to work diligently in order to be the best they can be. 
20. "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be safe." Proverbs 29:25. Pray teachers will resist temptation, bribery, and manipulation. Pray they put their trust in God, and that He will protect them. 

....to be continued. 

Prayers for Their Future

I was sitting on the back porch of a beach house facing the ocean as the sun slowly melted into the ocean. I scarcely noticed the other members of my youth group who were scattered around the porch, down the boardwalk, on the beach, on the couches in the living room, and on the floor in the kitchen as I clutched the blank, white notecard in my hand. Like most 15-year-old girls, I had spent of the weekend youth retreat trying to convince the youth group's "bad boy" that I was a perfect choice for a girlfriend. But looking at that notecard, I had a moment where I knew that what I wrote on that card would change my "dating" scene forevermore. We were given the task to write down all the characteristics we could think of that would describe our future spouse. We were told to be prayerful about it; to think about what really matters to us when it came to someone we would be bound to in matrimony as long as we live. It was as if God was whispering to me through that ocean breeze how very important that list would be. I began to write: "loves God", "knows what he wants to do in life", "likes children", "must be at least as smart as I am", "gets along with my sister", and so on and so on. I left out physical attributes, wisely, because I didn't want to put a restriction on who God had in store for me. I tucked that notecard inside my Bible next to my, then, life verses: Song of Songs 3:3-5, underlining verse 5: "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." 

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Fast forward 5 years. After countless boyfriends who "didn't fit the list" (honestly, if the relationship was getting serious, I would check the list. If the guy didn't fit, I parted ways), I met the one my heart loves. Not only did he fit all the characteristics on my now faded card, but he exhibited qualities in a future husband I had not thought of. I knew, without a doubt, that God had His hand in the midst of my journey to find my husband from that moment on the beach to even now. 

So it was no wonder that as soon as I found out I was pregnant with each of my children, I had a desire to pray for their future: for their desire to come to know Jesus, for their desire to humbly serve Him in a way that would be inspiring to others, and for their future spouses. I pray for my future daughters-in-law and my future son-in-law, and for their parents. I pray their relationships with my children will be one that encourages others. 

I cannot stress how important it is to pray for your children. Every few months or so, I follow this calendar of "Praying for Your Children". When praying for your children, remember to keep in mind their future. Pray for their spouses. Pray for their marriages. Pray for their future ministries. And you will be amazed at how God will hear your prayers and bless your family. 

My 3 crazy kids 

Devotion: Being the Prodigal Son's Brother

"My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." 


My middle child is, well, a typical middle child. He is full of energy, loud, doesn't always think things through, but is the most loving of all my children. And because of his constant need to move and laugh and in the center of all the action, he gets in trouble a lot at school. We have tried everything to encourage him to behave, and we are currently working on 4 different award/punishment projects: 

• He gets an "apple" to go on his chore chart every day he doesn't get in trouble at school. Once he gets 5 apples, he can choose from an award list we have for chores (movie, family activity, get a dessert, get an allowance, pick 1 thing from the dollar store, etc). No matter how long it takes him, once he gets the 5, he gets an award. 
• If he makes an entire week of school without getting in trouble, he gets to pick out a dessert at our favorite local bakery (Ever So Sweet). 
• If he loses a BEE (what his teacher uses in his class...they are all Bees because that's the school's mascot), then he is grounded the rest of the day. 
• And because there is a field trip coming up, and he has lost a bee almost every day for the past few weeks, if he loses 3 BEEs, he does not get to go on the field trip. It's a "3 strikes, you're out" type of deal...and it seems to be working best for him...so far. 

So last week, Jed made it the entire week without getting in trouble. Not only did he make it all week, but he earned his 5 apples. So he got to go to the bakery and he chose to pick out a movie for Friday night (kind of a tradition for us). And this is where God presented an opportunity for me to teach my son about rejoicing in other's accomplishments. 

My oldest son is normally the one to go to the movie store to pick out the Friday night movie, but since Jed earned that right, my oldest had to stay at home with me while the hubs and Jed left. As they pulled out of the driveway, my oldest tearfully stared out the window mumbling, "It's not fair. It's just not fair!" When I asked him what was wrong he told me that he didn't think it was fair that Jed got to pick out a movie, but he didn't. I told him it was Jed's reward for being good at school. "But mama!" he said said tearfully, "I'm always good at school! Why don't I ever get rewarded?!" 

Sigh. 

All you first-borns, or "more mature" siblings can totally relate, right? Why is it that the "bad" sibling gets rewarded for something that you always do? I instantly thought of the older brother in the story of the Prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32). After the "bad" sibling took his father's money, ditched the family business, and quickly wasted all the money, he came crawling back to daddy...only to be received openly and was given a HUGE party. The older son, who responsibly stayed with the family business, and had always done what was right, got upset. Every time I read this story, I say "I know, right?! It's not fair!" right alongside the older brother. I always got frustrated with this part of the story. Even after teaching this Parable in Sunday School, when I got to this part, I summarized it by saying, "We should just be happy for others who have suddenly realized they behavior was unacceptable." It didn't hit home God's truth until I was staring at my handsome oldest child as his eyes filled with tears. 

And this is how the conversation went: 

I reviewed the story of the Prodigal Son with him. Then I asked him, "When you first started going potty in the toilet, what did mom and dad do?" 

He answered, "You gave me prizes." 

"Yes! But do I still give you prizes?" 

"No." 

"Why?" I asked. 

"Because I know how to do it now." 

"Yup. But when Abigail was learning how to go potty in the toilet, did we give her prizes, too?" 

"Yes ma'am." 

"Did we start giving you and Jed prizes again for going in the potty?" 

"No ma'am."

"And that's because you already learned to do what was right, and it became habit. It became part of your life; it was just what you did." 

Realization began to dawn. 

"And just recently, what is something you have learned to do?" 

"Ride a bike," he said. 

"Could Jed learn how to ride right now as well?"

"Yes ma'am."

"But we aren't letting him learn right now because we are making this all about you. We are letting you learn first, and are rewarding you for doing so well on the bike. And once you get it down like it's second nature, you will learn new things to get rewarded for, and you will no longer get rewarded for learning how to ride a bike." 

His face clearly showed he was starting to understand. 

"So what does that mean for Jed right now? What does mom and dad, and most importantly, God want us to learn from this?" 

"That I should be happy for Jed that he is learning how to behave at school?" 

"Absolutely!" 

Just like the father in the story was trying to tell his oldest son to be happy that his younger brother finally learned the right way to live, we should be happy for the little accomplishment for those around us. We need to rejoice with them; be happy when they learn a new concept that we got down a long time ago. 

This whole situation was not only a moment God gave me to help console my oldest son, but it was also a moment God gave me to understand that part of the story that I have struggled with most of my life. I must remember to love others as God loves me. I should be happy when others are getting rewarded for something that just comes natural to me. My love and support for my friends is just another way God loves others through me. I pray that in the future I reflect that love more often. 

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Curriculum: Holy Week (Easter) Activities

I'm a teacher. I plan things. And ever since I became a SAHM, I have been able to use my 10 years of experience to supplement my children's education at home. So when a big holiday comes around, it's no wonder I get into "teacher-mode" and begin planning. Last year, my first Easter not teaching, I started kind of planning a Holy Week Activity Week. At the time, I realized that what I was doing was fine, but I knew that future Easters were going to be different, more detailed, and with more specific activities.

So starting about a month ago, I started researching different activities, traditions (Christian and Jewish), and recipes. Then about two weeks ago, I sat down with a bunch of printer paper and began making my curriculum guide (or pacing guide). All you teachers out there know exactly what I'm talking about, right? That BIG OL' document that pretty much sets up an entire unit. I have printed it and put it in a nice little folder, and will be doing the same for some members of my church family, and also some close friends. I want to share the basics with all of you. The copies I am making has a printout of all the activities, recipes, and songs, but if you are making your own, I am providing a copy of the resources I used so you could also make your own notebook.

Here's a sneak peek at a few of the pages:

I turned the picture here so you wouldn't have to turn your head to read what was in the folder. :) 

Here's a copy of the Intro I put in the booklet:

This Holy Week Activity Booklet is a resource for you, your family, and your church family  to use to help children get a better understanding of why we celebrate Easter. Each day takes a step closer to Jesus’s death and resurrection through activities, lessons, and food. You do not have to do every activity in the booklet, and most of the activities can be adjusted for different ages. Please utilize the resources at the end of the booklet for more information or a deeper explanation.

The Setup

The first three pages are an overview of the lessons available. Each day has at least one set of scripture, at least one activity, but not all days have a recipe. Some days have a recipe preparation for food to be enjoyed later in the week.

After the overview pages, the booklet is then separated into each day of Holy Week. There will be a printout of worksheets, activities, recipes, etc you are welcome to use. Again, use the resources if you would like to make more copies or get more details.

NOTE: If there is more than one set of scripture on the first overview page, the activities and recipes on the following pages have the same number. For example, Wednesday has 3 different scripture options. So if you decide you want to cover The Passover and The Lord’s Supper (scripture #2), then on the activity and recipe pages, the activities to match that scripture will be #2. This gives you the option to do more than one scripture, or save a set of scripture for another year or when you feel your child is ready for that section.

So that's pretty much it. Check out the documents below for details. I would also recommend you laminate the games and activities so they will last and visit the resources. There really is a lot of stuff you can do for Holy Week that will teach your children the true meaning behind this incredible week!

May God Bless you and your family as you go through this Booklet and especially through this season. What a wonderful God we serve!

Holy Week Activities

UPDATE: I have never posted a PDF file on my page, and am still trying to figure it out. My AWESOME friend, Kristin, over at Kinder Words, helped me out. If it still doesn't work, and if you would like the Holy Week Booklet, please email me at: janasjustmakinit@gmail.com

I will be sure to get you the files. Thanks a bunch, yall!  

No One Talks about It! A Commentary on Women's Issues

Just recently, a friend of mine and I went on our second "Just Girls" date. We left our little ones with our husbands and grabbed a bite to eat some place local. It was a great way for us to just talk without the distractions of our kids, and yes, even our husbands. What I love about this particular friend is that she holds nothing back. There really is no subject I can't talk about with her, so when it's just the two of us, we pour out our hearts, frustrations, excitements, and concerns.

As most mothers do, our conversations turned towards our children, the ones we have the pleasure of raising, and the ones that God brought home before we had a chance to meet them. She talked, in detail, about her first pregnancy, which ended in a miscarriage. She talked about her emotions, her expectations, her disappointments, and how her husband reacted (immediately and then again a few months later). We talked about how women handle miscarriages so differently, and I told her how much we had wanted to be there for her and her husband, but wasn't sure if we were needed.

I talked about my post-postpartum depression. I talked about how incredibly scary it was for me, how I didn't know how to handle my emotions, and how the other women in my life either didn't know how to handle my incessant crying because they didn't experience post-postpartum depression or how they fumbled their way through trying to help me. She expressed her regret in not knowing about my depression and how far it pushed me to want to have nothing to do with my newborn. She kept saying, "If only I knew, Jana. I'm so sorry  you had to go through that."

What we both came to realize is that women just do not talk about these things. It almost seems to be a secret that most women experience, but are too afraid to discuss. We women are designed to be social. We don't hesitate to talk about our children, our husbands, recipes, creative ideas, etc, but we stop short when it comes to talking about the "deep" stuff. Women are so very emotional. We are supposed to be! So why is it when it comes to miscarriages, postpartum depression, or dealing with losing a child later in life we clam up? Why aren't we talking about how we feel? Why aren't we banding together to form a support group around our female friends? Why is it we make ourselves scarce when our lady friends go through such tough issues?

That was not a rhetorical question. I mean it. Why?

I know one thing that Joe and I learned from my experiences was to be supportive to women who have just had a baby. Joe takes it upon himself (aren't I lucky?!) to talk to the husbands. He encourages them to be encouraging to their wives, even if the wives seem fine. I have heard him ask his guy friends "How is _____ doing? Emotionally? Just make sure you make yourself available for her emotionally." On my side, I have decided to make sure I check on the emotional well-being of my new-mom (whether it's the 1st or 8th child) friends. I let them know if they need to talk or cry over, well, whatever, they can. And that they are not alone.

What have you learned? What are your experiences? If you have been lucky enough to go to full-term and not experience any postpartum anything, what else have you experienced that you would hate other women to go through? What have you learned from your experiences?

I challenge you to share your experiences, whether it is here, with a friend, or a fellow sister. Women need each other. We shouldn't go through struggles alone. Never. 

Photo Credit 

And that's my two cents. :)

A Call for Help with 31 Days of Praying for Teachers

August is almost here, which means the weather is about to turn cooler, football season is just around the corner, and teachers and students will be returning for another 180 days of fun, fellowship, and education. As a former teacher, I always took the summer to pray for my future students and for my sanity to make it the entire 180 school days. Now that I have school-aged children, and I no longer teach, I have spent this summer really focusing on praying for my children, their classmates (future and past), and their teachers. My first child is smart, smart, smart! and the typical 1st born child.  My second child is a handful. VERY smart, but a handful nonetheless.

 I used to post on Facebook daily prayers from "31 Days of Praying for Your Husband," "31 Days of Praying for Your Children," and "31 Days of Praying for Your Pastor." I searched and searched for a similar plan for praying for teachers...and I couldn't find any. I was a little disheartened that people spend so much time accusing teachers for not teaching their children properly, but yet may not be willing to pray for the teachers. Notice I said two things there 1) "disheartened", not "surprised". As a former teacher, I have been called some really horrible things by parents (for example, I was called "the worst mother any child could ever be cursed to have" by a mother who was mad that her son failed my class and then could not graduate). So it's not surprising, but very disheartening. and 2) I said "may not be willing". I just don't know if parents really think about praying for teachers. I think many people just don't really understand the amount of work and stress a teacher goes through during the entire year (not just the school year).

::stepping down from my soap box::

So with school coming up, I wanted to post some prayers and scripture for us to pray for our teachers. I would like your help. Please submit a prayer (and a verse, if possible) for teachers. It does not have to be long (1-3 sentences). I will collect these, resubmit them, and then, if you follow me on FB, will be posting them starting August 1st. Also, if you have a link to some prayers, please share them as well. Maybe we can all get some more ideas on how to put this together.

Here are some additional links to prayers (not for teachers, but for those in authority) that may be adapted for teachers:

• 30 Ways to Pray for People in Authority
•  31 Ways to Pray for Your Children
• 31 Day Prayers (a list of different 31 Days of Prayers for different people) 
• 31 Days of Prayer e-book (a link to order the book) 

And here is an example of a verse and prayer a friend of mine sent me when I sent out this plea:

"Read Psalm 19.

Prayer: Oh, Lord, You have given us, both, a tremendous honor, and a tremendous opportunity to teach others about you. And though we work through many different avenues, some teaching in public school, others in private school, online, or right from their very own home, it is joy to be Your servant. May we, as a very wise college professor once said, "strive not just to be teachers who are Christian, but rather, strive to be Christian teachers."

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 
be pleasing in your sight, 
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." 

Please search your hearts and help me in praying for those who are in charge of preparing those who will be leading our country in the future.

Some of the incredible teachers in a long line of teachers my children and I will encounter for next 16 years. 

Conflicted News

I will never, NEVER forget that early morning on September 11, 2001. I will never forget the faces of my future students when they heard the news, as they silently watched the tvs in each classroom, as I saw tears streaming down their faces, as I saw frantic military parents signing out their children because they were connected, somehow, to the Twin Towers falling. I will never forget how Americans bonded together in that moment. I will never forget how it has affected my friends who have husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, daughters, wives, mothers  who have been fighting to make sure this doesn't happen again. Hearing about Osama Bin Laden's death, though, gave me conflicted feelings. I am, without a doubt, relieved to hear the man who has orchestrated so much destruction and pain will no longer be able to do so. I am proud of the continuing effort the American soldiers and their Allies have worked to establish peace and a new order overseas. 


What I can't do, though, is celebrate the death of someone who may, at this moment, be suffering in Hell. Last night I saw in to the hearts of so many people who call themselves Christians. It is human nature to rejoice in the pain of someone who has caused you pain, but it is not Christian nature. I could not get over how many people said they were GLAD Osama was burning in Hell. Wow. And no wonder those who aren't Christians don't want to seek Jesus. When the people who call themselves after His name rejoice at the downfall of another person, how does that make them any more different than the rest of the world? I am reminded of the scripture in Proverbs 24: 17-18, "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him." After much reflection, I decided my stance on this, if I even have a right to have a stance, is to pray for those who are affected by Osama's death. Pray that Christians will continue to seek God and His purpose; Pray that the followers of Osama do not seek revenge and, in fact, find Jesus; Pray that civilians in America continue to stay watchful; Pray that civilians in the Middle East also continue to stay watchful; Pray that the world leaders will continue to seek peace; and Pray for our soldiers who fight every day so we can have peace. 


I do not want to be like the world, for this is not my home. I know that God has a purpose for my life, and I know that when my time comes, there will be rejoicing in my death. For I will finally be at peace with my Father and in the presence of the Almighty. 


Only then is it acceptable for Christians to rejoice in another's death. 

Passion Week 2011

It's that time of the year when one cannot go 10 minutes without seeing a commercial on TV that has cute little bunnies or that ever-tempting chocolate dressed in lovely pastel colors. A visit to the mall means taking a pit stop at the Bunny site so my kids could say hello. Every time I turn around, I am politely trying to discourage others to stop giving my children candy. They barely get it with me, and I feel like a not-so-nice mommy when I refuse that box of jelly beans for my kids. But most importantly, this is the time of year where my family will focus on the celebration we have through the love of Jesus. Don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily against egg hunts or chocolate bunnies, but I really want my children to focus on why we celebrate Easter in the first place. Trying to balance the two can be very difficult.

So since I am staying at home now, I have a little more time (don't cringe, SAHMs. I know we have very little "extra" time) to plan how I am going to present this holiday to my children. Christmas is a little easier. St. Nick really WAS a guy who was out to do God's work, and I use him as an example of how we are to share Jesus's love with others. But the Easter bunny is different. I have had other parents ask us how we deal with Easter in our home (which, by the way, I am honored that others value my opinion to ask). I'm changing things up a little this year. So here goes:

1. The weekly lessons I use for my children who aren't in school yet is Bible-based. The great thing about that is not only are they learning their letters, patterns, science, and shapes, but they are also associating it all with a story from God's word. This week's lesson is focused on Easter, Jesus's death, and resurrection. This will really help my children get in the right mind about WHY we are going to be going to a few special services this week. (http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/weeks_33-35.html#EasterReview)

2. Menu: I really want to create meals that are meaningful this week. Now not every meal is going to be centered around Easter, but a few key meals and other extras are going to be focused on the season. For example, I am going to make a traditional Jewish bread called Challah this week. It is easy to make, and I am going to have the children help me make it. We will talk about the components and how God has provided for His people. Friday, I will attempt my first Passover meal. I have looked up recipes for Passover and am going to attempt to make lamb for the first time. And the to go along with Easter linner (lunch +dinner), I will be making Amish Friendship Bread. I want to use that as a way to teach my children how we are to continue to give the gift of love to others. I also found a recipe for Communion bread. If I can work that in to this week's menu, I am going to make it. (Website for Challah recipe: http://proverbs31sisters.avirtuouswoman.org/notes/Challah_Bread_for_Sabbath)

3. Services: We are going to a few services this week. The first will be the Maundy Thursday service. Hopefully this service will work great with the discussion that will follow on Friday about what Jesus did for EACH of us. Sunday morning we will be going to the Sunrise Service (this year it is going to be at Magnolia Plantation!!) and then to the Easter service at the regular hour.

I know this all seems like so much, but really, how little are my efforts compared to what Jesus did for me? I pray that this will work out well, that this will become a sacred tradition, and that God will bless this week. May the Lord bless you and your family this week!