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Movies that Build Character for Teens

We started this thing last week in our family quarantine. We made movie 🍿 night almost every night for the big kids (teens) after the littles go to bed. We made a list—many of our friends suggestions added…a few they have seen but wanted to add for your list if you want to follow suit! You could even print this off and give to your teens to check off as they watch!

Praying this time is intentional—even if it’s just handing your bigs a list of intentional movies to enjoy over video games. Building into their minds and hearts during this time—and giving you a little time to get laundry done while they grow from what they watch too.

Xoxo,

Andrea

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Family Devotional to Begin the New Year

We tend to put so much focus on Christmas that when it’s over we don’t even know what day it is until the new year arrives. We aren’t sure some times where to start, but something in our hearts feels we need more…to look for and find some of the wonder we felt as sang Silent Night together.

Friends—THIS is where the magic really starts. THIS is the time to draw our family in closer. The wisemen took a year long journey seeking Jesus—and this short week and half devotional for your family is designed to draw you back in starting the new year looking for Jesus together.

I wrote this devotional almost a decade ago as I studied the journey the magi took, and it has become our tradition moving the wisemen closer to Jesus, setting a habit of also looking for Jesus throughout the day and SHARING at the table at night how each of us saw Jesus. THIS will change your family as you start the new year DOING THIS. Let the habit of looking and sharing together how you see Him change how you live!

Dear friends—sure I could have this printed and sold but FREE is so much sweeter. So feel free to share this link and pass it on to others you want to join you I this journey. My gift to you right here…

The Journey of the Magi Devotional 

Matthew 2:1-2 “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

After the King was born–the day we celebrate on Christmas…isn’t this when the journey really begins?? Always looking for Jesus. Running towards Him. Longing to see Him. This. This is what I really want to teach my children.

So our journey now begins.

For many families–this is the time they start putting up their Christmas decorations. But for us, some will go up…but not our Magi or our manger scene. For the next couple of weeks–our Magi will journey through our home getting a little closer to the manger each day–a little closer to seeing Jesus. Each day will represent almost a months time in the actual magi’s journey as we remember the almost YEAR long journey it took for the magi to finally arrive to worship the king.

Each morning, the children will run down the stairs to find the magi…to see how far they have come from their last resting place. And each morning (or night when morning passes us too quickly by) we will sit with them as we reflect on their journey and what led them to continue toward the King NO MATTER WHAT.

This journey will inspire us in the year ahead–to continue to draw closer to Jesus.

This journey will remind us that the year ahead will not always be easy–but to trust in the One who is calling us.

This journey will bring us to our knees to worship…and remind us to bring our own gifts to Jesus…to bring glory to Him.

In our after Christmas craziness–putting things “back together”, I don’t want to forget there is something to be learned with the magi’s journey to Christ.

Yet, because their journey began after the birth of Christ–ours, too, would begin the day after Christmas–just after we celebrated the birth of Christ in our home.

And we begin our journey with the magi today…

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Toward Bethlehem

Last night I had the incredible privilege to watch teenagers and kids lead a night of worship on our farm…

At first glance—you might assume these are just kids layered in robes and wings acting out a scene…Christmas hymns being sung and hot chocolate warming the crowd. At first glance—it is all of these things.

But as the one who knows these little friends and their families personally—I can barely make it through the evening without a lump in my throat knowing all He has done…believing in hope all He will do through the layers of those walking to Bethlehem.

I think about those coming—in this day and age our culture tells us to hustle and life fills our calendars often with watching others perform rather than stepping into deep worship with our community and simple saying we need each other. Truly community is a gift from the Lord He has given us for our walk to Bethlehem.

Because you see—really that’s where each of us…deep in our hearts knows is the direction we want to walk in…toward Jesus…where He ALREADY is and to simply join Him in all of His glory.

 

We live in a culture full of pictures posted…some times telling us what our deal should look like, but when we ask the question: “What direction does that path take me?”—maybe the answer isn’t always to Bethlehem.

Sweet friends—THAT is direction we are asked to walk in. Those also going in toward Jesus… “in the Bethlehem direction” are the people you need to look for AND follow AND encourage to trail blaze behind you when they are tired or forget the way. Some of us might have to pitch tents in different places in different seasons, but the direction should all really point the same.

At first glance our nativity might have looked like children without a care with visions of sugar plums—but each of us carries much on our way there. When we live deeply with community we start to not only know one another’s stories but to show up and caravan together reminding one another to keep going no matter what. There will be times you literally have to pick each other up—maybe even times you let things go from your loss so you can even carry another. This is what going to Bethlehem looks like. And it is such a sweet reminder this Christmas to just keep going.

Last night’s nativity was full of stories that ask us to keep walking toward Bethlehem together too. Our nativity isn’t normal if there ever was such a thing. Mary isn’t holding baby Jesus in our nativity because the angel has cared for him since his birth. Foster care will soon send this brave one home trusting Jesus and His angels to keep caring for him. So I had to smile as I watched the angel carry him in instead of Mary and care for him throughout the night. Angels will guard him.

One of our precious singer’s lost her grandfather hours before she sang last night. I asked her precious mom if she was sure her dear one wanted to lead worship. Her response was that she had been disappointed her grandfather was too sick to come to hear her lead—and now he would watch from heaven with real angels joining in! She wouldn’t miss it for the world! Wow. Amazing to think he is celebrating Jesus face to face!

Our precious brave wisemen led the donkeys—because well let me first blow your mind for a moment and tell you historically wisemen most likely were not on camels anyway nor was Jesus a baby when they finally arrived. Things aren’t always what they seem are they? And these sweet boys leading the donkeys in have each seen a parent bravely into the arms of Jesus—now are walking together arm and arm as friends toward Jesus too. I have had the privilege watching their hearts bravely lead with compassion for the world around them. No one else could pull the strength of the donkeys who sense their confidence, and those boys nurtured crowd fearing equine because they are strong. I see them rising and continuing to point friends and all those who know them toward Bethlehem. I was so proud.

The other girls leading have also known family loss in the recent year—and they keep walking and even finding deep JOY as they look up. I could recognize each of their giggles with my eyes closed.

More than half the shepherds were born in different countries—and they bravely learned a new language and family in recent years. As I listening to each grab the mic and recite their appointed verses in scripture of Luke 2–I couldn’t help but remember also how FAR each of them have already come. Each of them now in families also walking in the direction of Bethlehem.

Their stories remind me full redemption doesn’t happen until we see Jesus face to face BUT there are miracles, hope and healing every day along our way. We can’t forget on this journey how far we have already come with His hand guiding us—and to keep walking trusting Him to carry us.

Mans community. We need each other. It some times takes a bit to find the community of believers we will caravan to Bethlehem with. Some times the community changes a bit as different friends stake their tents in places needing to grow, rest or stay longer. Others we will travel the long haul beside.

But the biggest thing of all—last night reminded me that we don’t have to ever travel this beautiful journey alone. He just calls us to come, to be faithful followers and to keep walking toward Him…to Bethlehem.

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Merry Christmas from our family to yours…

Its been a sweet season on the farm. Just a little update…

We have thoroughly enjoyed this year with the new barn. Richard hosts small group on Monday mornings, my group meets on Tuesdays and I have 16 sweet middle school girls every Wednesday there. We had a half court poured and started a high school age basketball team (Go Pacers!) who practice on the court 2x a week. The weekend are always filled with football watching or a gathering of some sort for our kids.

Last year the barn was just being built so it’s been fun having it for the holiday season! We will host along with the Barn Gathering girls on Sunday, December 15th worship night on the farm. All are welcome!

Im hoping 2020 brings more pauses for writing again, but I’m so thankful for this busy, sweet season where our YES’s to the Lord bring fullness and so much joy. May your lives be overflowing as you seek and follow Him this Christmas and always.

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A Word on Encouragement

Sometimes the sermon notes at church are so strong and good you post them to keep and find easily later. Be ENCOURAGED with these words on Encouragement!

From Crawford Loritt’s sermon at Fellowship Bible in Roswell today…

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

What is encouragement?

Discouraged = wind knocked out of sails

Depression = loss of hope

People need encouragement like a plant needs water. “If you are breathing you need encouragement.”—Truett Cathy

Encouragement- means to inspire with courage – to stimulate and spur on.

Anyone who tries to just sit with you in your discouragement and explain it—without lifting you up is feeding it. We are to inspire others and point them to God’s Words and champion them to RISE.

Why we need encouragement…

1. Life is unpredictable.

2. We lose perspective. (When you stop responding and start REACTING—perspective has been lost.)

3. We were made for relationship, and we are out of relationship with others. COMMUNITY. We were born for community. When you are hurting you do NOT need to be by yourself. Community helps you with perspective. The WORST thing you can ever do when you are hurting is pull back from community.

4. There are seasons in your life when things are difficult, and it must be weathered. If you are following Jesus you will be in the midst of spiritual warfare. Out of your struggle will come your strength.

5. The environment in which we live is polarized filled with reaction, criticism and negativity. (Devices and social media has made everyone’s negativity available around the clock. Do not post criticism and negativity if you were called to be a blessing. If you want to be a prophet you better be 💯 right before you attach Jesus to your public opinions.)

Ann Murray “A Little Good News Today” lyrics https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/anne-murray/a-little-good-news We need a good word.

The reason so many of us struggle with depression is we have been bombarded with the darkness.

There are 4 great Biblical reasons why we need encouragement…

1.Because we need endurance and hope (Romans 15:4) WHERE does our Hope really come from? Our rock solid confidence is from endurance and confidence in the scriptures.

Hebrews 12:1-4 run with ENDURANCE / Endurance is a source not just a process. Remember what He has taken you through already and get up and rise again. 🙌🏾 The source of your courage is not more ideas. It’s not EMPTY words from some friend who has similar experiences. It is from THE BOOK THE PROMISES OF GOD WASHING YOUR SOUL. Amen.🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

2.Because we need to be strengthened in our faith. God isn’t going to shield us from pain bc He wants to strengthen our faith. Encourage. Build. Encourage. Build.

We need ongoing encouragement to be built up in our faith. Stay away from Christians who denounce pain. God never will tell us to deny the reality of a situation. Faith doesn’t deny the opposition but defies the opposition. Faith sees God as greater than and greater still. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

You will never have a strong faith until you have been extremely and devastatingly disappointed. Faith affirms God’s ability and power to stand on the promises of His Word. God is more concerned about our character than our comfort. He wants our faith to be real. It doesn’t end well when you take your eye off the ball.

Talk to Elijah in King’s about that. In ch19 Elijah is worn out. He is discouraged—and he refuses to let God encourage him. You can get so used to self pity that it becomes normal.

3.We need to have pure, hopeful and responsive ❤️ hearts.

Life is not about you. Pray for your children to have responsive hearts—not to be cold and callous. No one ever sins privately. Our private sin has public repercussions. You can’t live in sin and not respond to God and ask Him to bless you. God is gonna let things take place until you cry uncle🙌🏾👊🏾

Repentance removes the darkness and it’s why Paul says we need to have pure ❤️ hearts.

3.We are called to reflect the honor and glory of God. The reason we are here is not for God to come alongside us and do what we want Him to do but bc every moment and circumstance in our life is to bring glory to God. Our plans need to be written in pencil. The END GAME is the glory of God 🙌🏾👊🏾

Ask yourself this—in the midst of this difficult and dark time—WHO and WHAT are you focusing on?

Find people who lift you up and who rise up–as run together🙌🏾

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

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