Bible verses for encouragement during difficult seasons of life have been nothing short of a lifesaver for our family. During the last two decades when times get tough we have chosen to stand on God's Word. From not having enough money in the bank when the bills were due to losing two precious children; God's Word has been a rock to keep us strong and unite us when the enemy is trying to tear us apart. Are you in need of some encouragement today? Perhaps you know someone else who could you some encouragement today. We've handpicked some of our favorite Bible verses for encouragement to View Post
Learning to Speak Life: Fruit of the Spirit Bible Study Guide
Are you looking for a fresh approach to family Bible time? The first book in the Learning to Speak Life™ series - Fruit of the Spirit Family Bible Study Guide - is just what you are looking for! This fun new 9-week family Bible study guide is geared for families with young children ages 3-12. It examines the fruit of the Spirit according to Galatians 5:22-23 - teaching children how to speak God’s life-giving words in place of words that tear down and destroy. Each chapter includes the following sections: Primary Scripture - This will be the basis for the lesson in each chapter. View Post
Ask for Forgiveness {Walking in Love}
This month, here at MYB, we're talking about walking in love. It seems like such an easy idea, especially since we surround ourselves with people we love and get along with. But if you're like me, even with your circle of loved ones around you, you stumble and end up in a spat with someone, and those feelings of walking in love quickly escape. And sadly, if you're anything like me, you spend some time waiting for the other person to ask for forgiveness. That selfishness really gets in my way at times. It blocks friendships and hinders relationships, and it certainly doesn't honor the Lord or View Post
Alone with Love
God is love. It is exactly Who He is and what He does. Love invokes so many feelings; some great and some...not so great. Today I want to talk about the awesomeness of God's love and how being alone with Him can send me deeper in love. Alone with love is being alone with God. In the quietness of a moment. {after Jesus fed the five thousand}... And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. - Matthew 14:23 (NKJV) I'm not saying that what I do as a home-educating mom comes close to the task of feeding and View Post
Take the High Road
Anyone remember the classic Bambi? It’s been several years since I saw it, but I will always remember this scene. Thumper said it best,“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all!” One of the best ways we can learn to walk in love is to hold our tongues. Easy? No. Necessary for choosing a more excellent way? Always, yes! The love walk of a believer goes hand in hand with a disciplined life. Most of us come to Christ, not to sign up for a course in personal development, but simply recognizing our need for Him. However, as our desire grows to really know Him, to fellowship with View Post
Develop a Lifestyle of Walking in Love
Developing a lifestyle of walking in love can seem to be impossible at times. Our flesh tends to be incredibly selfish, wanting only what's good for “me” or “mine.” But if we want to live a life that fully pleases the Lord, we must obey His great commandment of love. I really like The Message Bible's translation of Ephesians 5:1-2, so I want to share it with you. Verse one tells us, “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents.” I am quite certain that you are a mother who teaches and models proper behavior for your children, or else View Post
A Grandmother’s Love
Christmas is such a rich time for family traditions, all of them so beautiful and so meaningful to each of us. This month, we here at MYB have been focusing on sharing traditions for celebrating the birth of our Savior. With three different kids, we have a lot of "favorite" traditions: Advent calendars, looking at Christmas lights, baking, stockings at too-early-o'clock. And while each child has their preference of traditions, there is one -- just one -- that they all agree on: a grandmother's love. Every December my mom takes time to make gingerbread houses with our kids. View Post
Allowing Jesus to Take Center Stage
The snow is falling as I write; cold winds have stripped away the last remnants of warm weather as autumn slips into winter. I’ve been busy decorating our home in preparation for a wonderful Christmas season. I’m sure you have, too! Like most of you, I want to create lasting and wonderful memories that our family will cherish for many years to come. Some years seem to go more as planned than others! There are times when I look around and realize I am busy creating, cleaning, or cooking, and I'm sitting on the sidelines while what is most necessary is for me to step in center stage. The center View Post
Let Every Heart Prepare
This is a time of year that I love . Thanksgiving has come and we've focused on gratitude; now we're moving ahead to Christmas when we'll focus on Christ's birth. The season is almost electric, yet I find myself feeling overwhelmed each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's hard to find a happy balance between the family, the shopping, the cleaning, the baking, the work duties, and the extra activities. That's when I turn back to a line from one of my favorite Christmas carols: "Let every heart prepare Him room." I want to look at just a few of the words from that phrase from the View Post
Scripture to Help You Have Heavenly Peace
photo credit: Evgeni Dinev | FreeDigitalPhotos .net Scripture to Help You Have Heavenly Peace We hear so much about being at peace during the holidays. It's good for the soul and makes being with family pleasant. Holidays don't always invoke images of "peace on earth, goodwill toward men," but rather those of agonizingly being around family that you're not exactly crazy about. You love them and all, but your guard is immediately up with the mention of their name. You may want determine this year will be different. With the right mindset and working NOW on your conditioned responses and View Post