Faith in Your Marriage

This article was emailed to me today from From Focus on the Family. Click on the link to find additional articles. ~ Tiffany

If you and your spouse find yourselves struggling to give your faith a more central role in your marriage, consider the following suggestions:

1. Start with yourself. A joint prayer and devotional life for a married couple works best when it's a natural outgrowth of each partner's personal time with God. if you haven't been praying and reading the Bible much yourself, begin doing so before moving any further.

2. Don't rush it. If you're the more interested spouse, be patient. Praying together, like any family tradition you establish, must emerge from what both partners agree to and feel at ease with.

3. Start small. Give yourselves time, and don't push it. You might begin by praying at mealtimes. Eventually, you'll feel comfortable going beyond the blessing of your food to remembering the needs of friends and family members.

4. Use the resources available. Do you know an older couple who might be able to serve as mentors or role models in this area? If so, ask them if they'd be willing to help you out. Devotional books, pamphlets and magazines can also provide structure for your prayer and study times.

Screen for Success- January 10

Welcome back ladies!  Our first meeting of 2012 included a wonderful devotional shared by Vonda about being the "weird" parent.  Meaning that you may not make the same choices for your kids as the rest of the world.  1 Peter 2:9.

Our semester started with a presentation and question/answer time with Kayla Watson from Screen for Success.  This program is truly a collective group of agencies in Wichita with early childhood resources, combined into Connecting Point.  Screen for Success is a partner with USD 259 and Rainbows United to make sure that parents have access to early childhood services and screenings for their children. 

Any parent can set up an appointment with Screen for Success to have their child screen for a variety of development milestones.  Parents who have concerns about their child's development are encouraged to seek help services, and parents of ALL kids are encouraged to try a screening.  If any "red flags" show up then you may be referred on for more testing or help.  Do NOT be ashamed or scared to give this a try!  Or start with an appointment with Parents as Teachers to get started.   Screenings are a series of games/challenges for the kids and professionals interact with them to watch track their response.  We all love our kids and want the best for them.  Let me say as a mother and former teacher; this is a wonderful program and has helped sooooo many families in the Wichita area.  What a great resource.

Please see their website for more information:
http://connectingpt.org/

Financial Peace (Evening C.L. Mtg)

Our first meeting of the New Year was Tuesday the 10^th of January.  We were happy to welcome back many faces who were plagued with the winter viruses last meeting.  We touched on resolutions that many people make this time of year.  Our evening devotion was all about putting into action today what we would usually put off until tomorrow.  How fitting for motivating us in our newly defined goals!  
 

Along those same lines, our featured speaker for the night was Tiffany Dick who shared with us financial budgeting.  She used material from Dave Ramsey as a foundation.  The first step to financial peace is establishing a budget.  That means you have to first identify where all of your income goes each month.  For those just starting off, this may need to be tracked a few months before sitting down (with your spouse) and determining what is a reasonable budget for you.  We had several examples to ponder…with some astonishing recommended percentages in some categories!  One of the main take home points is that our culture lives way beyond our means.  We should be down-sizing our homes and cars, making responsible decisions and not maxing out our credit limits.  We should consider living differently than those around us.

 

One of the most helpful tips was Dave Ramsey’s 7 baby steps for living in financial peace.  The first is to establish an emergency fund, so you don’ have to diminish savings or go into debt for those unforeseen events like car repairs, hot water heater replacement, etc.  The next step is to focus on paying off debt, starting with the lowest balance.  That way success is easier to obtain and you would be more likely to continue the trend.  Next is building savings, then investments, saving for college, paying off your home early and finally building wealth to give more. 

 

Another thought provoking topic was realizing the responsibility we have to teach our kids about money.  It could be done by giving an allowance, or by paying for chores. Each side has an interesting point and counter-point.  We should be teaching by example, and making sure to include a 10% tithe. 

 

Our small groups then met to discuss a few questions…and hopefully we will be able to put into practice some new principles to work towards financial peace and living frugally.

~ Lisa Frantz

A Friend of Accountability

Did you notice the reference to accountability in the Proverbs 31 devo this week titled, Mean Girls? The point of the story was to encourage us to be more careful with our words and have compassion for others instead of judgement. Good point, but that's not where I'm heading with this post.  
  
Accountability has been the word that keeps popping into my world the past couple of months. First I read the book titled, Bonhoeffer:Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxes. Bonhoeffer asked a friend to be his "confessor". 
  
Think accountability partner. A trusted friend in whom Dietrich could share his dreams and ideas, as well as his sin and struggles. A safe place to reveal all that he was, both beautiful and ugly, knowing that his friend would encourage him, challenge him to do better and love him nonetheless.
  
Then Pastor Brent, finished his sermon series on 2 Timothy in chapter four where one of his minor points was that sometimes we need to ask for help. Paul is writing to Timothy and basically says, "I need you; please come quickly."
  
I decided it was time I ask for help. I've struggled with being overly-critical and impatient towards my husband. I've sincerely tried to do better - prayed and read scripture, but the tendancies remained. I knew God saw it all and that should be motivation enough, but I wasn't seeing lasting change. It was time I put myself out there, so I shared the details with a friend who I knew would accept me regardless of what I shared with her as well as pray for me. I figured by having to report my sin to my friend, it might help.
  
It's been a really good month. I believe in the process. I know my friend is praying. There's still work to be done. God is bringing scripture to the forefront that applies to my struggle. I've had to confess some embarrassing moments, but I sense the change taking root.
  
I want to challenge you to think about those behaviors you're so desperate to change but not having the results you desire. Think about the resolutions you've made and how this sort of relationship could be just what you need to make it last. I pray each of you has a friend, like mine, who will love you regardless, be firm with the accountability and lift you up in prayer. ~ Tiffany
  
Proverbs 27: ⁹ Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.

Tame the Hunger Beast w/Fiber

Our previous post highlighted various books for common New Year's Resolutions. Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst, was on the list and I got this email today talking about fiber. I thought if losing weight and eating healthier is on your list this January, that you might find this helpful. Click here to read the article and here's a few foods from her list that are great sources of fiber.

FYI - fiber fills you up, so if you're trying to eat less and not become a starving beast by 4pm, then try adding a few of these into your diet!

Raspberries – 1 cup = 8 grams of fiber
Cereal, bran – 1/2 cup = 10 grams of fiber
English muffin, light, whole grain = 8 grams of fiber
Apple (with skin) – 1 medium = 5 grams of fiber
Bagel, whole wheat = 5 grams of fiber
Cereal, shredded wheat, spoon size – 1 1/4 cup = 8 grams of fiber
Black beans, dried – 1/4 cup = 7.4 grams of fiber
Flax seeds – 3 tsp = 9 grams of fiber
Almonds – 1/4 cup = 4 grams of fiber
Sweet potato – 1 medium = 4 grams of fiber
Spinach, frozen – 1 cup = 3 grams of fiber

Resources For Your Resolutions

I'm wondering how many of you make New Year's Resolutions?
  
Perhaps you don't call them that, because, after all, who can keep a NYR anyway! Perhaps you make goals for the new year or refuse to do anything at all! Whatever the case, it got me thinking about various resources for the "standard" resolutions that so many of us make every January.
  
Here's a short list - leave a comment here or on our Facebook page with your own resource suggestions!
  
Spiritual:
www.YouVersion.com has multiple Bible reading plans you can choose from and a smartphone app so you can access it via your phone or computer. Commit to reading your Bible MORE this year!
  
First MB Women's Bible Studies: Sign-ups for three studies begin THIS SUNDAY! (1/8 & 1/15).
  
Walk Through the Bible - 1st/3rd Wednesdays 10-11:30am, childcare available.
Journaling - Monday evenings 7-8:30pm
James: Mercy Triumphs (Beth Moore) - Thursdays 1-3pm
  
Weight-loss:  
Join Dr. Oz's new Transformation Nation and start taking steps towards a healthier you!
Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. She now has a devotional & study guide to go along with her book that came out last year. A healthy you (physically) begins with spiritual health.

  
Finances:
www.mint.com  is a free online budget service. You link all your accounts into the website and assign budget amounts to your categories. Then as you make transactions, it automatically pulls the information into your budget. Can pay bills, start savings plans and other things as well.

Saving Savvy by Kelly Hancock  (www.Faithfulprovisions.com). A book all about meal planning, freezer meals and ways to save on your grocery bill. Get organized and get shopping.

  
Organization:
I Used to Be So Organized by Glynnis Whitwer (www.Proverbs31.org)

Starting January 9th, Glynnis will be featuring a 15-Day Clutter-FREE Challenge on her blog. She’ll be addressing ways to reduce the clutter in our minds, schedules, offices and homes. If you’d like to join her, visit her blog today for more information.

Evening Carelink - December Meeting Recap

Our December meeting was last Tuesday the 13^th.  It was only our 4^th meeting, and the year is already half over! Our group was definitely plagued by the round of stomach viruses affecting most of our friends and families, but those who were able to come were touched and moved by the amazing testimonies we heard! 
  

The house mom from The Lady Bugg House, Jennie, was our featured speaker for the night.  The Lady Bugg House offers residential and non-residential Christian program for homeless and disadvantaged young moms. She shared her heart of ministry, servanthood, and love of the Word with us.  She blessed us with several passages that evening…so much so that she had to stop and let the Holy Spirit move among us.  Jennie stepped out in faith as God answered her desire to serve Him, although she didn’t know that The Lady Bugg House was what she was asking for, at first.  She now finds herself living with three young moms and their babies and shares God’s word and God’s love with them!

  

Two of the young moms shared their stories with us; one of them for the first time ever!  Their unbelievable stories of pain and rejection turned to faith and acceptance were heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time.  I was touched by their honesty and openness and for their newly committed hearts to God.  They both desire to provide not only a good home for their babies, but to grow and develop in their relationships with God.  I’m not sure if there was a dry eye in the room that night! 

  

We ended the evening sharing ideas and traditions we have in our homes for the Christmas season, and offered words of encouragement to the Lady Bugg moms.  Joyce Loewen closed us with a touching prayer blessing us all.  We were able to send the moms back to the Lady Bugg House with arms full of diapers, recipes and some good snacks!  We look forward to our next meeting, which will be January 10^th.  Come join us!