SWEE T TO T H E SO UL
FAITH
WOM EN I N SPIRING GE N E RAT IO N S
inspire THE
JOURNAL
S U MMER 2021
faith. 1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: 2. belief that is not based on proof: 3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 ESV Faith drives action. True faith will drive our values, decisions and actions to align with our belief.
S UMMER 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH
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T HE L ORD ANNOUNCES THE WORD , AND THE WOMEN WHO PROCLAIM IT ARE A
Mighty Throng. P SALM 68:11
NIV
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CONTENTS
INSPIRING WOMEN 32 B ECOMING A N I NSPIRING W OMAN 34 D EVOTIONAL S ERIES 43 S CRIPTURE C ARDS
PRAYER 54 P RAYING O VER Y OUR H OME 57 P RAYERS
TO
S HARE
61 7 S CRIPTURES C HILDREN 62 W ASTED
TO
TO
P RAY O VER
S ACRED
LEGACY 70 Y OUR O RDINARY E XTRAORDINARY L IFE 74 N O G REATER J OY 81 C ULTIVATING A C OMMUNITY L EGACY M AKERS
OF
SPECIAL GUEST 110 I’ M W RITING A L EGACY L ETTER BUT I T ’ S N OT W HAT Y OU T HINK Darlene Schacht, Time Warp Wife
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SOUL INSPIRED 106 B IBLE A RT J OURNALING M YTH B USTING 112 C OLORING A L EGACY F OR M Y F AMILY 115 J OURNALING T EMPLATES / C OLORABLE B OOKMARKS
UNLOCKING THE BIBLE XX W RITING A L EGACY L ETTER Darlene Schacht, Time Warp Wif 12 T RUST T HAT Y OU A RE A LL G OD S AYS Y OU A RE 16 T HE S UBJUGATION E NEMY
OF
O UR
24 W RITING S CRIPTURE
FEATURES 26 F OR S UCH A T IME A S T HIS Jana Kennedy-Spicer 76 M ODERN D AY D ISCIPLESHIP Kim Crumrine
92 S UMMER IS T HE B EST S EASON Mitzi Neely
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CONTENTS
SUMMER 64 S UMMER 101 65 K IDS S UMMER R EADING
GRACIOUS WORDS 20 G IFTING F AITH : 7 Favorite Christian Children’s Books to Share 72 S HARING L ETTER W RITING W ITH T HE N EXT G ENERATION
IN EVERY ISSUE 8 A L ETTER F ROM E DITORS
THE
10 S CRIPTURE R EADING L ISTS 30 C OMMUNITY B UZZ 48 E NCOURAGEMENT C ALENDAR 86 F ICTION S ERIES :L OVE P EACE & S ECOND C HANCES 119 R ESOURCES 122 O UR P RAYER
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S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH | S UMMER 2021
MITZI NEELY Content Director / Editor In Chief JANA KENNEDY-SPICER Art Director / Creative Editor STEPHANIE K ADAMS Community Coordinator TYANNE RAKOWITZ Business Administrator
Sweet To The Soul FAITH - The Inspire Journal Copyright © 2021 by Sweet To The Soul Ministries All rights reserved. www.SweetToTheSoul.com ISBN: 978-1-953718-06-8 Sweet To The Soul Ministries PO Box 785 Royse City, Tx 75189 No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For inquiries and permission request, contact through website: www.SweetToTheSoul.com Unless noted otherwise, all scripture quotations are taken from the “ESV”, The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011 Scripture quotations marked “NIV” are taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblicia, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. To order copies of this issue and access additional resources, visit www.sweetothesoulFAITH.com To inquire about ordering in quantities of 10 or more, please email info@sweettothesoul.com
CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS: Stephanie K Adams, Real Women Ministries Lisa Appelo, True and Faithful Monica Bard, monicabard.com Jodie Barrett, Faithfully Following Ministries J. E. Berry, J. E. Berry Speaks Kristine Brown, More Than Yourself Michelle Cooper, Digital Learning Specialist Kim Crumrine, Educational Foundation Non-Profit Director Betsy de Cruz, Faith Spilling Over Gretchen Fleming, Following Hard Karen Friday, Hope Is Among Us Carmen Horne, Women’s Hope Coach Elaine Lankford, Transforming Love Ministries Amy Elaine Martinez, Amy Elaine Ministries, Past to Power Podcast Mitzi Neely, Peacefully Imperfect Ministries Michelle Nietert, Your Mental Health Coach Michele O’Leary, micheleoleary.com Cyndee Ownbey, Women’s Ministry Toolbox Melanie Davis Porter, Courage to Endure Christy Rodriguez, Brave Girl Ministries, KLRC Radio Karmen Smith, Blessings Beyond the Barnyard Jana Kennedy Spicer, Sweet To The Soul Ministries Jennifer Watson, More Than Small Talk Podcast
ARTWORK CONTRIBUTORS: Debbie Bonner Megan Lawson Darlene Schacht, Time Warp Wife Jana Kennedy Spicer, Sweet To The Soul Ministries
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS: Jo Anna Duncan, Jo Duncan Photography and Studio Terri Hill, food photographer Darlene Schacht, Time Warp Wife Jana Kennedy Spicer, Sweet To The Soul Ministries Amanda Wells, The Farm Wyfe
For information regarding advertisement opportunities, please email info@sweettothesoul.com Unless otherwise noted, artwork, graphics and photography licensed stock images.
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WELCOME
To say I’m bursting with excitement about this INSPIRE Journal from Sweet to the Soul FAITH is an understatement. The dreaming and planning among two friends started more than a year ago over a glass of sweet tea, a notebook full of ideas and much prayer. Today, I stand in awe at God’s goodness and provision as He took a dream project and turned it into this beautiful quarterly journal. He is the Master who takes what we deem impossible and makes it possible. I believe the words compiled through these pages are anointed by the Holy Spirit and will touch your heart. After the year we’ve all experienced, it feels good to see newness of life emerge as we prepare for this summer season. Now is the best time to take a step back, rest, refuel, and spend precious moments with family and friends. With that in mind, each section was created for you. From devotions to feature stories to home, family, and more, you will sense God’s presence throughout. I pray you are able to retreat to your quiet place and savor the contents. I am thankful for each of you and pray you are blessed beyond measure. Hugs,
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S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH | S UMMER 2021
Photo by Jo Anna Duncan
Soul Friends
If I could offer you a seat on my porch and a cool glass of sweet tea so we could walk though the pages of The INSPIRE Journal slowly, together, talking about each article, story, photo and devo, I would friend. Maybe I can’t fit all of us on my real porch, but friends, know that there is a seat reserved just for you on our virtual porch. And bring a friend or two with you. When God gave me the dream of Sweet To The Soul FAITH, my first call was to my sweet, patient, supportive friend Mitzi. Thankfully, she did not hang up on me. But rather, invested much love, prayer and time right along side of me. My hope for this journal has always been that it is much more than a magazine that just sits on your table. It is not meant to display and look pretty (although, those sunflowers!). It is meant to be lived with and loved on. To be written in and dog eared. To be a resource, not entertainment. My prayer is that FAITH lives where you live, where you spend your time with God, where you go to rest and be restored. But even more than that, I pray you find God in the words and scriptures shared here and I pray that He speaks to your soul. So welcome Soul Friends, welcome to the first issue of Sweet To The Soul FAITH. Let your soul be inspired.
Blessings,