5 Habits of Joyful People

Last year I set out to learn all I could about trusting Jesus.  Trust was my word of the year.  This year, the word joy, is what God seemed to place on my heart.  Initially, my reaction to the word, joy, was…great; this year is going to be all about fun!  And maybe it will be.   But that’s not what joy is all about. 

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To Be Made Worthy of God's Calling

"To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." -2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (ESV)

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A Christmas Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we celebrate this Christmas season, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for sending your Son, Jesus.  Thank you for the gift of this precious baby who came to Bethlehem so long ago, for us, the Savior of this world, the One who brings joy, hope, and peace to all those who believe and place their trust in Him.

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Holiday Etiquette for Gracious Kids

Christmas is a time of year that has an abundance of teachable moments for parents to guide their kids towards graciousness.  Attending and hosting parties, formal dinners, gift giving and receiving...these are all occasions that present an opportunity for children to learn about etiquette.  The heart of good etiquette is about making the other people around us feel comfortable.  It's about putting others first and showing honor to them...out of love. 

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Would God Still Love Me the Same?

“Locked Away”, by the brother duo, R. City, with Adam Levine, is a song that I’m sure many of you are familiar with.  It was one of the biggest pop hits of the summer of 2015.  The lyrics seem to hit on the most basic of human desires…to be loved unconditionally and to have someone who will never leave us. Being truly known is a scary thing.  We can wonder, would that person still love us if they knew everything about us?

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How You Can Make More of Jesus at Christmas: with teens

Making much of Jesus over Christmas isn’t only about commemorating our Lord’s birth.  Making much of Jesus is about following his example and living in a way that brings glory to God.  As Christians, this what we are called to year-round, but the holidays are a special time of year, where people are often particularly sensitive to the things of God.   We can use the holidays as an opportunity to be a light in the world for Jesus and we can lead our kids, through our example, in what this looks like. 

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