Sweet To The Soul FAITH: Woven (Issue 2)

1. to interlace: 2. to form by combining various elements into a connected whole: blend; unite; braid; knit ; construct; merge; make; together; piece; fuse; create; compose; mesh; splice; sew; plait

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CONTENTS

STRENGTH 33 S TRENGTH U NDER F IRE 36 D EVOTIONAL S ERIES 45 S CRIPTURE C ARDS

TOGETHER 12 T HE T APESTRY

OF

G ENERATIONS

58 G RAFTED I N 62 F INDING Y OUR F AMILY 66 S MITH P ARTY

OF

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GRATITUDE 80 H OW TO BE T HANKFUL W HEN G OD S AYS N O 84 T HE J OURNEY F ROM T HANKFULNESS TO G RATITUDE 88 F ROM W ASTELANDS

91 P RAYERS

OF

TO

G ARDENS

G RATITUDE

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SOUL INSPIRED 126 T HE A RT

OF

D OODLING

129 J OURNALING T EMPLATES / C OLORABLE B OOKMARKS 130 A UTUMN W ORDSEARCH

XX W RITING A L EGACY L ETTER UNLOCKING THE BIBLE Darlene Schacht, Time Warp Wif

22 J OYRIDE W ITH J ESUS 24 H OW G OD G OT M E I NTO T HE W ORD 60 N O M ORE G OING I T A LONE

FEATURES 74 B ELIEVING F OR G OD ’ S G OODNESS Stephanie K Adams

Lord, give us a hunger for Your Word.

Amen.

16 F EARFULLY AND W ONDERFULLY M ADE Susan Duncan 96 Y OU ’ RE I NVITED Jodie Barrett

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CONTENTS

AUTUMN 50 H ELPING K IDS N AVIGATE A R ETURN TO S CHOOL

SOUL CARE 72 G UARD T HE T HRONE R OOM 78 W HEN C ARE

THE

S OUL N EEDS

51 H OMESCHOOLING 101 114 F LAVORS

OF

F ALL

FAITH-FULL FELLOWSHIP 112 I NVITATION A CCEPTED

120 L ESSON F ROM R OCKER

THE

F AMILY

122 W ELCOME

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 A L ETTER F ROM E DITORS

THE

8 S CRIPTURE R EADING L ISTS 15 C OMMUNITY B UZZ 48 E NCOURAGEMENT C ALENDAR 102 F ICTION S ERIES :L OVE P EACE & S ECOND C HANCES 135 R ESOURCES

138 O UR P RAYER

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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 Woven Journal Copyright © 2021 by Sweet To The Soul Ministries All rights reserved. www.SweetToTheSoul.com ISBN: 978-1-953718-07-5 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.sweettothesoulFAITH.com To inquire about ordering in quantities of 10 or more, please email info@sweettothesoul.com For information regarding advertisement opportunities, 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 Sue Carroll, Doodles 101 Ellen Chauvin, Soaked and Sprouting Michelle Cooper, Digital Learning Specialist Natalia Drumm, A Wife Like Me Susan Duncan Gretchen Fleming, Following Hard Sarah Frazier, sarahefrazer.com Elizabeth Giertz, The Messy Desk Terri Hill Carmen Horne, Women’s Hope Coach Christa Hutchins, Do A New Thing Elaine Lankford, Transforming Love Ministries Amy Elaine Martinez, Amy Elaine Ministries, Past to Power Podcast Susan B. Mead, susanbmead.com Mitzi Neely, Peacefully Imperfect Ministries Michele O’Leary, micheleoleary.com Cyndee Ownbey, Women’s Ministry Toolbox Misty Phillip, Spark Media Melanie Davis Porter, Courage to Endure Jodi Melissa Slaughter Karmen Smith, Blessings Beyond the Barnyard Jana Kennedy Spicer, Sweet To The Soul Ministries Lori Wood, loriannwood.com ARTWORK CONTRIBUTORS: Debbie Bonner Sue Carroll Megan Lawson Jana Kennedy Spicer PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS: Stephanie K Adams, Real Women Ministries Jodie Barrett, Faithfully Following Ministries Jo Anna Duncan, Jo Duncan Photography and Studio Susan Duncan Liz Giertz, The Messy Desk Terri Hill, food photographer Karmen Smith, Blessings Beyond the Barnyard Jana Kennedy Spicer, Sweet To The Soul Ministries

Unless otherwise noted, artwork, graphics and photography licensed stock images.

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Greetings Friends! I am so excited to welcome you to the WOVEN Journal. Fall is a special time of year for so many and it’s a favorite season for me too.

Sometimes here in Texas we don’t get the cooler temperatures as early as other parts of the country so we depend on back-to-school and football to remind us it’s here. That may sound strange but there is some truth to that.

Seriously though, fall is a great time to make connections. It's a season to celebrate togetherness with friends and family. It’s a time where schedules sometimes take precedence, kids return to extracurricular activities, and familiar routines resume.

Embrace each one and make what you’re doing count.

When you peruse these pages I pray you'll come away with a sense of what’s near and dear to your hearts. Whether it’s thanking God for the family you have, praying for strength and courage in your day-to-day life, or spreading gratitude everywhere you go, this journal encompasses all of those things and more.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 ESV Blessings to you!

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Autumn is quite simply my favorite time of year. Hands down. I love everything about it. Well, almost - not a

Photo by Jo Anna Duncan

fan of allergies and Texas ragweed - but everything else I love. The colors. The scents.

The temps.

Woven... doesn't this word just make you feel warm? I am loving this word and all that it represents. From beautiful colorful tapestries to warm handmade quilts, from God knitting us together in the womb to His weaving us together in families.

In this Autumn issue of Sweet To The Soul FAITH, we are blessed to bring you the stories of several women who will share with you how God has divinely woven their lives together with others, across generations, across towns and around the world.

As you read through The Woven Journal I pray you find encouragement for the season you are in, renewed strength for today and the days ahead, a fresh perspective of what family means to you, and a thankful heart for all God has given and taken away.

Now I’m off to cook up a pot of Kristine’s delish Potato Soup, light a pumpkin spice candle, and settle in with The Woven Journal, I’ve got to find out what happens next with Andy and Mae-Lyn. Blessings,

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STRENGTH

Reading Lists

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□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □

1 Peter 4:11 Deuteronomy 31:6 Isaiah 41:10 Psalm 27:1 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Exodus 15:2 Nahum 1:7 Psalm 31:24 1 Samuel 30:6 Ephesians 3:16 Isaiah 41:28-31 Psalm 28:7 1 Timothy 1:2 Ephesians 6:10 Joshua 1:9 Psalm 29:11 1 Corinthians 10:13 Daniel 10:19 Isaiah 40:29 Psalm 138:8 Psalms 27:14 1 Chronicles 16:11 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Habakkuk 3:19 Nehemiah 8:10 Psalm 46:1 1 Chronicles 29:11 2 Timothy 4:17 Isaiah 12:2 Philippians 4:13 Psalm 73:26

TOGETHER

□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □

Corinthians 12:27 Acts 4:32 Galatians 3:26-29 Philippians 1:7 Romans 15:6 1 Peter 3:8 Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Hebrews 10:24-25 Proverbs 18:24 1 Corinthians 15:33 Colossians 2:2 1 Corinthians 3:9 Philippians 2:2 1 John 4:13 Colossians 3:14 1 Corinthians 3:9 Proverbs 27:17 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 Acts 2:44 Exodus 29:45 Matthew 18:20 Romans 12:5 2 Corinthians 13:11 Ephesians 4:16 John 14:20-23 Psalm 133:1-3 1 Corinthians 1:10 2 Corinthians 6:14 Ephesians 4:1-6 John 17:21 Romans 12:16

GRATITUDE

□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □

Thessalonians 2:13 Colossians 3:17 Philippians 1:3 Psalm 79:13 1 Chronicles 16:35 1 Timothy 2:1 Isaiah 51:3 Psalm 118:21 Romans 1:8 1 Thessalonians 3:9 Daniel 2:23 Philippians 4:6 Psalm 95:2 1 Chronicles 16:34 1 Timothy 1:12 Ephesians 5:4 Psalm 109:30 Revelation 11:17 1 Corinthians 15:57 Colossians 3:15 Luke 2:38 Psalm 75:1 1 Chronicles 23:30 2 Corinthians 9:11-12 Jeremiah 30:19 Psalm 142:7 Romans 6:17 1 Chronicles 29:13 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Luke 17:15-16 Psalm 28:7 A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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T HOUGH

ONE MAY BE OVERPOWERED ,

TWO CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES .

A

IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN .

E CCLESIASTES 4:12

NIV

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THE

Tapestry OF

MONICA BARD

Forty-seven percent of adults in their 40s and 50s have a parent 65 or older and are also raising a young child or supporting a grown child. Aptly termed the "sandwich generation," my husband and I joined the club prematurely at the ages of 29 and 30.

It was inevitable. My husband's an only child, with no other maternal descendants in his family line. When Gary and I married, he was 25; his parents were 65 and retired. His maternal great-aunt was a few years older. By our second anniversary, his mom's health substantially declined, forcing his dad into an unwanted but necessary decision.

Multiple weekly visits to the nursing home were simple as newlyweds; the squeeze occurred three years later when our daughter was born. Her first stop leaving the hospital? The nursing home to see Grandma.

Diabetes had taken a toll on Grandma. Bedridden and unable to speak, my father-in-law, now proudly called Grandpa, visited her three times daily to ensure she was properly fed. But he leaned on us heavily. For the first time as parents with full-time jobs, we faced the dilemma of not enough time, sandwiched between the needs of elderly parents and a newborn infant. Added to that mix was Gary's great-aunt, a single woman who didn't drive. She, too, needed help with grocery shopping, medical appointments, and mowing her yard, among other things.

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I NSTEAD OF CHOOSING BETWEEN THE GENERATIONS , WE CHOSE TO WEAVE THE GENERATIONS TOGETHER .

Meredith became the poster child of the nursing home. As a toddler, she left church each Sunday with Grandpa for a long afternoon visit. First, sitting next to Grandma on her bed for a visit, then a tour hand in hand with Grandpa as they visited room-to-room. Oftentimes, Grandpa pulled Meredith through the oversize corridors in her little red wagon, accompanied by a litter of baby kittens or her puppy. The nursing staff welcomed these visits, including the wagon of kittens and puppies. Those pet parades continued until Grandma met Jesus.

All the while, we rotated our caretaking responsibilities between Grandma, Aunt Sammy, and our work schedules. For example, when Aunt Sammy needed groceries, one of us delivered Meredith to her sitting room, picked up her list, and made a lightning-quick trip to the store. As Aunt Sammy's mobility declined, she creatively entertained Meredith within the confines of her chair. Meredith's favorite? Rolling Aunt Sammy's hair with curlers and "applying" her makeup!

My parents, called Granny and Poppa, weren't left out of this tapestry. Each summer, Meredith spent a week with them attending Vacation Bible School at my childhood church. When she unexpectedly qualified for the state swim meet at eight, we had a conflict, but Poppa remedied that. He drove Meredith forty-five miles round trip to practice each morning. The sweetest part? Poppa and Granny excitedly traveled with us to the state meet, cheering Meredith's relay team to gold!

We enjoyed a reprieve for a few years. Then, the squeeze from all sides. First, Grandpa was diagnosed with cancer. For fourteen months, we rotated handling surgery, round-the-clock days at the hospital, procedures, emergency room visits, driving to medical visits an hour away, and weekly phone discussions with his doctors.

Simultaneously, it seemed my parents aged exponentially. While Grandpa fought cancer, Poppa endured multiple surgeries, then declined far too soon with numerous health problems resulting in immobility. Likewise, mom's health declined as she assumed the lead role in his care, but she too needed assistance and support as he lingered and drifted away.

Now, only Mom survives, and she needs more help than ever. In an overwhelming, not-so-proud moment, I confessed to my sister, "I don't know if I can do this again."

That leads to my first tip.

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Tip #1: Remember you're human, and you can't do this alone. Ask for help!

Thankfully, I have siblings who share in the responsibilities of Mom's care. That sister I confided in? She takes the lead in Mom's medical and financial oversight. My brother and I assist by offering Mom opportunities outside her home. Lately, it's a sleepover when Meredith and her hubby are home or an evening with her great-grandchildren on my brother's back patio. One of my personal favorites?

The day Mom canned peaches with me. I'd never canned, but I watched her as a young child. It was a day filled with laughter and joy for both of us!

Tip #2: Include grandparents in your family's activities and incorporate some of their favorites.

Dominoes and cards are often a good choice.

Spend a day together learning the forgotten talents of their generation, like canning, crocheting, and sewing.

We learn a lot from the story of Ruth and Naomi in the Bible, a beautiful model of commitment to family. When Naomi lost both her husband and her sons, Ruth chose to go with Naomi when she returned to Bethlehem.

The words of Ruth were sung on our wedding day: "Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." Ruth 1:16, ESV. Ruth made a choice--a steadfast commitment to her mother-in-law.

Weaving Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Sammy, Granny, and Poppa into our lives and intertwining them deeply in our daughter's life was our choice. The rewards are far greater than the challenges, but those challenges include stress, which leads to my next tip.

Tip #3: Carve time out of your schedule for self-care and quality time with your spouse.

I admit, we didn’t do so well following this advice, and it cost us. Our marriage often fell to the bottom of the priority list and our personal well-being suffered. My 20/20 hindsight now confirms we would have personally fared better if we had scheduled dinner out, a movie, or a Sunday afternoon drive--just my hubby and me. It wouldn’t have been selfish for us to take care of ourselves either. Schedule a massage, a spa day, time with girlfriends, say no to some commitments, schedule and keep your own healthcare appointments, and take time to simply rest. This tip may feel challenging to follow, but I learned the hard way, it is important.

Tip #4: Include prayer, worship, and the Word in your caretaking time.

Meredith's time with Grandpa always included reading his family Bible. During a rehabilitation stint at the nursing home during his cancer battle, it became my turn to read to him.

Together we chose his favorite book. Whether his eyes were open or not, he was listening.

Grandpa went to heaven quickly, unexpectedly, and peacefully. Less than two hours after I read the final verse of Matthew to him.

Tip #5: The definition of sandwich generation always involves at least three generations.

Ruth's choice ultimately merged into the family line of Jesus. Our choice enriched the love between three generations and bonded two families. A choice that gave us an inside view to their faith, life experiences, and character.

Wisdom far more valuable than we alone could provide our daughter.

MONICA BARD Perseverant. Resilient. Overcomer. Monica’s life summarized. Along the way, she discovered she didn’t do this alone. She couldn’t. Today her little family enjoys the sweet times of restoration and redemption--because God loved them and pursued her. When Monica was hanging by a thread, God carried her. She prayed too little, but God answers big! MonicaBard.com 14

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We asked our staff, contributors and our on-line community one question, and here’s what they said:

(in six words)

What is your favorite thing about

Cool weather Sunny skies Pumpkin everything

Friday night lights Crisp air Pumpkin-spice

Family gatherings Fall leaves Fire pits

— Gretchen

— Mitzi

— Jodie

Cooler weather for back porch sitting

Warm apple crisp and ice cream

Family weekends at deer camp

— Ellen

— Cyndee

— Monica

Cool air and Family gatherings outside

Making mini pies with my girls

— Tyanne

— JE Berry

Apple cinnamon Pumpkin Spice Camp fires

Cool mornings on the back porch — Carmen

— Jana

Brown leather boots crunching big leaves — Amy Elaine

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F E A R F U L LY

Wonderfully &

MADE SUSAN DUNCAN

Just as God weaves each infant together in the womb and imbues them with characteristics that belong only to them, communities are woven together with spirits and talents that God gives to strengthen the whole community.

Those human spirits produce treasures—words said, traditions passed on, generations cherished.

Nowhere is that more evident than in the art of quilting and the community of quilters. This art form sews families and generations together into loving units that show gratitude toward friends and family through the gift of teaching the ensuing generations a craft, and then entrusting them with the products of their endeavors—incredibly complex, colorful, woven cotton art that bring memories of home and loved ones, present and past. Quilters share an intensely personal part of their creative genius with those around them, creating a legacy that lives past a person’s mortal existence.

My own journey with quilting started in childhood with a quilt top created just for me before I was born.

During my childhood, my grandmother passed on this embroidered inheritance and the story about her second husband, Thomas Linzie Downs, who left me a piece of himself.

My mother and dad had tried to have children for years, and I was born when they were in their midthirties. According to my mother, Mr. Downs, who was

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wheelchair bound, died just before I was born, but he wanted to leave a legacy for a new granddaughter.

The beautiful pattern he created is a double tulip on each square of muslin. Growing up, I always wished Mr. Downs had had time to finish quilting it. It wasn’t until several decades later that my mother-in-law offered to put it on the schedule of her quilt group so that they could finish my piece of history that began in 1964.

With their beautiful quilting skills, the intricate stitches were completed with loving hands, and the piece has become a treasure in my family.

family I S A H U G E PA R T O F Q U I LT E R S A N D W H Y T HE Y D O WHAT T HE Y D O With so much time spent at home in the last year during the pandemic, those who love working with their hands have had lots of time to create quilts for their families and friends along wth time to teach the new generations of quilters.

Meet Evelyn Sherman, a 93-year-old quilter extraordinaire. To call her prolific is an understatement. She has been riding out Covid with a needle and thread in hand and a sewing machine and ironing board close by.

She swears she is not a perfectionist, but as she pulled quilt after quilt out of display cases and multiple closets, the talent of combining color, texture and pattern was so pronounced that the only flaws anyone might see were the ones Ms. Evelyn pointed out.

As she described 10 or so quilts out of the 127 she estimates she has created in her lifetime, she talked about going to visit one of her sons recently for three weeks and creating multiple quilt tops in the time she visited them.

“During the Covid,” she quipped, “I’ve used my time wisely.”

Rather than complaining about the virus that has plagued us during 2020 and 2021, she just keeps on sewing and teaching her great grandchildren how to do the same.

Evelyn is surrounded by family as she dreams up creation after creation. Her latest helper is her fifth-grade great granddaughter Abby, who is learning at the foot of a master.

Susan Duncan displaying her “Double Tulip” hand pieced heirloom quilt.

She and Abby spend quality time in her sewing room, going through thousands of pieces of materials for one project or another. Evelyn works on piecing together quilts, and Abby works on smaller projects. Regardless of the project, both find there is always pinning, ironing, sewing, and organizing to be done. The quilter queen said family and people in the community always keep her closets full of materials that can be utilized for the next quilt pattern that gets her attention.

Although she and Abby have spent quite a bit of time sewing this summer, everyone knows to let Ms. Evelyn set the schedule.

“My family is a great support group for me. When I don’t need them or I get tired, I say, ‘Okay, it’s time to go home. They respect me and know I have to rest in the afternoons.’”

Ms. Evelyn is the proud mother of five sons and has eight grandchildren, 21 great-grands and 2 great-great grands. Her son Herb and wife Pat, along with her grandson Wes and his wife Misty and their family, all live within a stone’s

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throw of Ms. Evelyn’s house.

“She [Pat] is the daughter I never had,” she said. “She and Herb have been married for 54 years. She takes care of me.”

Although Ms. Evelyn loves quilting, family is most important, and many of her quilts are rites of passage for her children and grandchildren. There are photo quilts for each grandchild with different patterns tying the photo panels together. The materials are selected with each child in mind.

“That was the material Misty used in her nursery,” she said. “And we just took the material and made a quilt for Abby.”

Abby’s quilt has Holly Hobby dolls between her photo

blocks while Abe has a string quilt with dinosaurs and Evie has patchwork squares.

Ms. Evelyn’s magic closet has quilts utilizing patterns including log cabin, wedding ring, patchwork, walk about, and diagonal nine patch, just to name a few.

The first quilt she put together, she still has. She calls it her “antique quilt.” It has panel after panel of colorful bonnet girls.

“The blocks are over 100 years old,” she reminisced.

“My aunt gave me these blocks because she didn’t know how to put them together. They were all embroidered. I put it all together and used it on my bed for the longest time until the sunlight started to make the blocks fade.”

Ms. Evelyn said she has sold a few over the years, but she doesn't like to. She did trade one for some dental work she needed done once, she said.

Her quilting magic most often happens on her 62-year-old Singer sewing machine, although she does have a Bernina and Featherlite that she can utilize when the situation demands.

Ms. Evelyn said that sewing and quilting is very therapeutic for her, especially after losing her husband of 72 years, Claud Sherman, a World War II veteran and matchless family man.

Though she has scaled back some with age, the nonagenarian still likes to read, do yard work, and cooking, with chicken and dumplings being one of her specialties. Her favorite places to find quilting goodies are Hobby Lobby and Sharman's in Longview, Texas.

Even though Ms. Evelyn has won some ribbons for her creations like her bridal bouquet quilt that won at a Beaumont competition, that is not what drives her. It has been much more important to her that she keeps up with making a quilt for each member of her extensive family as new deliveries join the Sherman troops.

Ms. Evelyn and her great-grand– daughter Abby admiring a beautiful “log cabin” quilt.

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Ms. Evelyn with her faithful 62-year-old Singer sewing machine.

to quilt for herself and the public and to facilitate and teach at quilting retreats where groups of women meet together to spend several days pursuing their fabric fetishes.

Tonya has hosted retreats at her house and at her lake house on Lake Quitman where she has another sewing room, but she said that her go-to place to quilt with friends is Cactus Rose in Stephenville.

"We do all of our own meals there, and she [owner] has a quilt store inside the retreat center," she said. "You take your own materials and sewing machine."

“I have been making them so fast that I haven’t had time to go to shows,” she said. “That’s all I do—make quilts.”

And boy, does she do it well.

Another A-list quilter lives about 70 miles northwest of Ms. Evelyn. Meet Tonya Norris from Yantis, Tex-

as, a new generation of quilter.

Tonya got into the quilting world by translating her love of design and construction from scrapbooking to quilting about 14 years ago. Once she caught the quilting bug, she has added the Taj Mahal of quilting to the back of her house. It's a room big enough to hold multiple sewing machines, a longarm quilter, irons, yards of material, gadgets, organizers, shelving and more. The room was built with the longarm quilting machine in mind, so it is much longer than it is wide since the computerized longarms run about 14 feet long.

Although quilting can be a simple walk in the park, quilting can also be a multi-day marathon or a cruise to an exotic destination.

"They actually have cruises that are quilting cruises," she said. "I haven't been on one, but Stitchin' Heaven [in Quitman] was going on about 12 a year before Covid. They have built their own retreat center now, and they are calling it [their retreats] Land Ahoy since the cruises are still backed up."

To stay on top of the quilting game is not easy with the number of blogs, books, magazines and other sources dedicated to quilting.

"I follow a ton of quilt blogs and magazines, and I get a lot of magazines in the mail. Instagram is a wealth of information and inspiration," she said.

It's probably safe to say that quilting can become an expensive hobby. Although simple quilting can be accomplished with squares of material and a needle

"Quilting is pretty much it for me," she said, "but my husband and son both team rope, and we have an arena there behind the house. Horses are not cheap, so they call my longarm machine my head horse. They joke about getting their arena air conditioned like my sewing room. Everything relates to rodeo for them."

Tonya's sewing room is her quiet place to escape from jobs, family, pets and whatever other craziness is going on in her active household.

"I try to come in here at least a little while every day," she said. "In an average week, I quilt probably 10-12 hours. I do a lot of hand sewing as well."

In addition to working part time for the City of Yantis and managing family properties, she seems to manage

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Tonya displaying one of her cherished family quilts, “wedding ring”.

and thread, like any hobby, someone is always coming up with a better gadget, a better machine, new fabric patterns, better ways to organize and transport everything, etc.

"Going to a fabric store is like going to a candy store for me," she said. "You want to try everything and touch it and feel it."

Thankfully, bartering and trading is encouraged at retreats if someone shops to excess and needs to share some of what she bought.

Although Tonya follows her family who competes in the rodeo world and teaches Sunday School at her local church, Tonya said she multitasks, enjoying some of her other hobbies while she quilts.

"I listen to probably 10 or 12 audio books a week while I'm quilting," she said. "I put my headphones on, and it's funny, because every once in a while, they'll throw something at me at a quilting retreat because I'll get engrossed in sewing and listening to my book, and I don't hear anything that is going on in the room."

Although she has deluxe accommodations in her home for her quilting activities, Tonya is still very much a family person who likes to be with her husband and kids when they are in front of the television or traveling. Once she uses the longarm to quilt the backing to the quilt top, it's time for the binding which she does by hand. She can finish that step curled up on the couch or in the passenger seat of a truck headed to a rodeo.

Tonya was influenced by her grandmother who had done some garment sewing, but no one in her family, growing up, quilted. After she had finished her first quilt top, it was the Yantis Quilting Bee ladies who hand

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quilted her first quilt for her.

"They were the ones who kind of inspired me to get started," she said. "It's just a neat thing to pass on.

There is just something about making a quilt, putting everything together from start to finish and gifting that to someone that's special. We have some quilts from family members, and to know that they are 60-70 years old and still usable, that's special. When you give a quilt, it's big, it's meaningful."

With influences from the past and new ideas from printed materials and social media, where to begin? A pattern and the choice of materials are always the jumping off place.

"I like the old, scrappy patterns," she said. "Things have gotten more modern, but there is this one designer that is taking old patterns and using modern materials, and I like that."

Like writing, quilting begins with a blank slate. It's up to the quilter to begin filling the space with shapes and colors that work together into a cohesive unit.

"It's like putting a puzzle together," she said. "I'm all about the same brand, the same fabric designer. But then you see quilts where it's just everything."

Tonya may have three or more quilts going on at a retreat at once, so she keeps all her quilts in separate

Photos courtesy of Susan Duncan

"We trade out a lot because you will buy things you love, or quilt kits you love," she confessed, "and then two years down the road, you haven't made it, and you're like, 'I don't even like that anymore.' Often at the retreat, we'll have a garage sale table set up."

T HERE QUILT,

IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING A P U T T I N G E V E R Y T H I N G TO G E T H E R F R O M S TA R T TO F I N I S H A N D G I F T I N G T H AT TO SO M E ON E , TH AT' S SP ECI A L .

containers to keep them organized. She thinks she has probably completed 300-400 quilts in total. One quilt she is currently working on is like an installment quilt.

"He was a Dallas Cowboys fan. You can see that all the family quilts have been well used. I wash these pretty regularly," she said. "Many of these quilts are very well loved."

"This is a mystery quilt," she said. "The designer will say make a hundred of these pieces. We started with the center square and just continually added on to it. This project kind of stretched me outside my comfort zone because I really like to work with lines of fabric that already kind of fit together, but she has a style of working with colors that when you look at the color values rather than the designs on the cloth, it makes sense. When it is completely finished, it will have like 3,000 pieces."

Even though her son Trenton may not take up quilting, he will always remember his mom working on her hand stitched, award-winning quilts as they traveled together to his early rodeos.

Other trends she's seeing is quilters embroidering their blocks before putting them together in a quilt, collage quilting, the use of appliques, and personalization. There's also Block of the Month clubs where you get just the materials you need to make a block at a time.

There is always room for new ideas and new quilters.

Tonya got her 27-year-old daughter Taelor interested last fall, and she made two quilts for Christmas.

"The high school rodeos were in Hamilton, and it's a three-to-four drive. She would work on them the whole way. When we got there, I would check in. Team roping was the last event, so she would sit by the truck and work on her quilts all day. I'd be, 'Okay, I'm fixing to rope,' and she'd put it all down to go watch. She would see me rope and be back out at the truck quilting by the time I got back to the trailer to put my horse up. She got in a rhythm and would finish something nearly every weekend I roped."

As prolific as she is, Tonya would tell you that quilting is just a part of her very busy life. Finishing quilts is rewarding, but as with many things in life, finishing is never as important as being present for the ride. No matter how many quilts cross her lap, they will never take the place of the people she loves.

"I kind of helped her along, but she was very good," Tonya said. "I hope she wants to take it over. I have lots to pass on."

Tonya, inspired by the quilting bee, made quilts for all her family the first year she started quilting.

"I wanted to make one for everyone in my family, and it seems like it went from there," she said. "That's part of the legacy, you want to make everyone you meet a quilt, and I don't have the time. My first thought when I meet someone or someone is sick or something comes up, I want to make them a quilt."

As she folded out quilt after quilt on the back of her couch, each one had a story, including the one for her dad, who has now passed away.

SUSAN DUNCAN is the wife of a coach, mother of two amazing adult daughters, and owner of one cat and three Australian Shepherds. After 33 years of teaching English, journalism and assorted technology classes in five East Texas high schools, she's spent the last two years working at a community newspaper, freelancing, and substitute teaching.

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Jesus

with

ELLEN CHAUVIN

She cried out desperately in her pain. Calling to the Lord, she laid bare her struggles and fears. She acknowledged His faithfulness and sovereignty in her life, even through these trials. She was clinging to the Lord God as if to a lifeline.

She was me, ten years ago.

Reading over my prayer journal, I was struck at my utter desperation and dependence on the Lord. It reminded me of all that God had done in my life. Little things. Things I had forgotten and would never remember again, except for the words written on the page.

I saw Jesus’ faithfulness in my life; His promises fulfilled: • I will never leave you or forsake you • You are precious in my sight and I love you • My grace is sufficient for you.

These memorial stones help me remember the ordinary and extraordinary. My words recorded on the page allow me to look back and see Jesus - in the good times and the bad. He is there. Jehovah Shama.

Average days, boring most times. Yet, they are preserved as a legacy and testament to what God has done for me. I can share these stories with others. But only if I record them. Putting pen to paper makes them memorable, not forgettable. It makes them concrete, not a vapor.

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“Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.” Psalm 102:18 NLT

HOw to prayer journal KEEP IT SIMPLE.

My journals also are heirlooms for my grandchildren, their children, and their children’s children.

The kids can see, read and learn about the Jesus who saved me. The Jesus who is a very real presence and reality in my life. Prayer journals can be an influence on people not yet born. They are a legacy of faith; Holy Spirit whispers from one generation to the next, saying “This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Start with a plain notebook. Fancy is not required, you probably already have on hand what you will need. Feel comfortable to express yourself, whether in writing or by drawing. There’s no wrong way to journal your prayers. Some draw and doodle, some simply write. For me, a plain notebook works wonderfully. I also use pens in a rainbow of colors (that is the extent of my creativity!). Whatever you do, don’t let it become a burden.

A friend recently told me “No, I don’t want to talk about that right now. I don’t want to think about that.” But sometimes we must. Journaling records our memories and helps sort through our emotions. Journaling can bring clarity. Pouring out our hearts to God in prayer brings healing.

KEEP IT FLEXIBLE.

The act of writing our prayers by hand and recording journal entries is one way to process events unfolding in our lives. Slowing down to write out thoughts helps us to think more deeply about them. Recording them purposefully opens our eyes to see how we may be reacting, or overreacting!

Journaling helps us see the “other side” of a story, replacing anger or negative feelings with compassion, love and understanding. We might be surprised at the change in our emotions , once we write and pray about them!

A prayer journal can help keep us focused on God’s Word. If a scripture causes us to pause, we can explore why. Writing out our questions helps us slow down and hear what He may be saying.

“WHEN I RECORD IN A JOURNAL MY MEDITATIONS ON A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE,

Prayer journaling can change depending on your season of life. Before I retired, I had a commute time of an hour each morning. That left almost no time to sit and journal my prayers before I left for work. I didn’t let it stop me. I did what I could. I’d record many daily events in my prayer journal. Just a tweet length phrase or two that would remind me what was going on in my world. Then I’d go back at the end of the week and expand, expound and pray about all that had happened. Recording a legacy one tweet at a time!

KEEP IT PRACTICAL. Pour out your heart to Jesus in your prayer journal.

But also, keep a list of friends and family that need prayer. I record scriptures about revival so that I can pray for our country. Verses about salvation remind me to pray for the lost. Prayer and God’s Word are powerful when used in tandem.

A voice text I had sent to myself about prayer journaling transcribed this way: Prayer joyride.

That’s what prayer journaling should be! A joyride with Jesus!

I CAN FOLLOW MORE CLOSELY THE STILL, SMALL VOICE OF GOD AS HE SPEAKS THROUGH THE TEXT.”

Donald Whitney.

The best way to set up your journal is whatever way that brings joy to your heart, and anticipation to your soul, as you meet with Jesus.

ELLEN CHAUVIN is a blogger whose goal is to bring the abundant life of Christ to you by the written word and photos. She has a passion for sharing God’s word and strives to nurture in you a thirst for God’s Word.

Soaked and Sprouting…Soaked in God’s Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith.

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How God Got Me

CYNDEE OWNBEY

As we wrapped up our Bible study session in the spring of 2016, I wrestled with the lack of time our group had spent in God’s Word.

While the Bible study book we had used for that session wasn’t all bad, like a disappointing meal at a fine restaurant, I walked away from the Bible study still hungry.

God used my disappointment with that spring study to highlight my hunger for a Bible-based, not a book-based, Bible study. My craving for pure spiritual milk hadn’t been satisfied.

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

1 Peter 2:2-3 ESV Deep down, I knew going into the fall semester of our church Bible studies that I wanted to study a book of the Bible, but not having a seminary degree, I was lost as to the how. Did God want me to return to Bible Study Fellowship (a nondenominational community Bible study outside our church)? Did He want me to lead a Bible study in my church? How was I supposed to study the Bible on my own?

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I wrestled with God for weeks, presenting Him with many excuses about why I wasn’t qualified for this task. I didn’t have the training. I didn’t know where to start. I wasn’t a Bible scholar. God answered those prayers by leading me to Jen Wilkin’s Women of the Word and Francis Chan’s Multiply. Wilkin and Chan used similar approaches to model solid Bible study habits. Wanting to make sure I was doing it “right,” I studied several different Bible study methods, including Precept and SOAP. I looked at what God’s Word said about studying God’s Word and was reminded that the Holy Spirit is our teacher. John 14:26 says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

But it was Acts 4:13 that brought my whining to a halt. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

After recording the main idea and key and repeated words in that chapter, I explored the passage in another translation and followed the crossreferences. After spending time with the Holy Spirit guiding my study, I learned to use commentaries to unpack cultural and historical context. I applied the passage, noting what it said about God and what it revealed about God’s children. On that last day, I wrapped up my week of study by prayerfully seeking what God wanted me to do in response to what I had learned in His Word.

This deeper dive in this season was exactly what I needed. I could sense the acceleration in my spiritual growth, and I had discovered a tool for deep study of God’s Word.

Even though Peter and John were uneducated, common men, people recognized that they had been with Jesus. I didn’t need a seminary degree or a title for Jesus to impact my life through the reading and study of His Word (where Jesus meets us every day when we show up).

Every book and every resource followed the same pattern of Observation, Application, and Interpretation. As that clear, time-tested pattern of Bible study emerged (OAI), so did a series of questions for personal study.

Before the end of the summer, God led me to create the READ Bible study method. READ stands for record, explore, apply, and do. I worked through 4 books of the Bible that summer, reading just one chapter a week. Re-reading the chapter each day and focusing on just one or two questions allowed me to remember and recall more of the content in each passage. Week after week, in just about 15 minutes a day, my mind was marinating in God’s Word.

I met with our Women’s Ministry Director near the end of the summer to ask if she would consider allowing me to lead a group of women through two books of the Bible that fall. Much to my surprise, she shared that the team had been praying for a couple of years for an inductive-type Bible study but hadn’t yet found the right tool. After reviewing the READ Bible study, I received the green light to proceed. I was humbled that God was using me as an answer to that prayer.

The Bible study attendees in the fall and winter sessions of 2016-2017 grew in their knowledge and confidence to study God’s Word. While I had always enjoyed women’s Bible studies, upon reflection, it had been more about the fellowship than growing my love and knowledge of God and His Word. Digging deeper drew me closer to God as I learned more about His heart for His children.

In the years since, even when I haven’t led a group in my church, the READ Bible Study Method has been my default tool for my personal quiet (or Bible study) time. The weekly worksheets have provided accountability for me to tackle books of the Bible at a pace that hasn’t felt rushed. When called to speak on a topic, using the READ Bible Study Method to examine the passage has guided my teaching sessions. Having a record of what I

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have learned allows me to revisit the insights the Holy Spirit brought to the surface. Studying familiar passages has led to new revelations as God uses His Word in different seasons to teach us new things. As a result, my familiarity with God’s Word has grown exponentially. I’m still not great at verse memorization and address recollection, but it’s starting to stick more than it’s not! While any Bible study has benefits, the benefits of using Scripture instead of a book are far more numerous!

Spirit draws your attention to.

If you’d like to try out the READ Bible Study Method for yourself, here’s my recommended 5-day READ plan.

1. Make notes on what the passage tells you about God.

5-Day READ Bible Study Plan Every day - Start with prayer – ask God to open your eyes as you read His Word. Next, read or re-read the Bible passage for the week (1 chapter of the book of the Bible you want to dig into).

Complete the daily activity listed below. Close with a prayer thanking God for any fresh insight you gained from your time in the Word.

DAY 1—RECORD

DAY 4 – EXPLORE 1. Select and read at least one commentary on the passage. Take note of any new insights.

2. Make note of other places in Scripture that communicate a similar message (follow crossreferences).

DAY 5 – APPLY & DO

2. Write down what the passage says about God’s children.

3. Document the action God is prompting you to take.

I am so thankful for that summer of wrestling with the Lord and learning how to read the Bible without a Bible study author holding my hand. As God calls you to open His Word and dig deeper, I pray He will open your eyes so you may see wonderful things in His law (Psalm 119:18).

1. Read the passage through a second time.

2. Record or reflect on the 6 W’s (who, to whom, when, where, what genre, and why the passage was written).

3. Record what the passage is about.

DAY 2 - RECORD 1. Note key and repeated words.

2. Record the main idea for the passage.

DAY 3 - EXPLORE 1. Using a different Bible translation, read the passage again.

2. Write down anything of significance the Holy

CYNDEE OWNBEY is an author, speaker, podcaster, and women's ministry mentor. She equips women's ministry leaders to cultivate a Christ-focused community through her ministry website: womensministrytoolbox.com

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READ: A Bible Study Plan for Unpacking God’s Word is available in three formats: paperback book, downloadable PDF, and Bible Study Kit for Groups. If you’d like more information and detail on the READ Bible study method, please visit www.readbiblestudy.com.

Podcasts We Love If you enjoy reading our authors, you will love listening to them even more. From project management to Bible Study, we may be partial, but here are a few of our favorites.

Just One Simple Thing with Christa Hutchins

By His Grace with Misty Phillips

Girlfriends in the Word with Natalia Drumm

Combining her expertise in project management with her love for the creative's heart, host Christa Hutchins equips busy Christian women who have big ideas with strategy and structure so they can do what God has called them to do. You'll leave with just one simple thing to help you bring clarity to the chaotic swirl of ideas.

The By His Grace Podcast equips and encourage Christian women to boldly pursue their purposes, cultivate their callings, and overcome the struggles of life. This popular podcast is in the top 1.5 percent of podcasts globally. By His Grace Podcast is packed with scriptural wisdom to uplift and inspire you to live in God’s grace.

Have you ever struggled wondering what all those stories in the Bible have to do with your everyday life?

You're not alone! In the Girlfriends in the Word podcast, Natalia makes Bible study happen for busy women by breaking down biblical passages and providing application to our everyday lives.

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H AVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU ? B E

be strong and courageous D O NOT BE FRIGHTENED , AND DO NOT BE DISMAYED , FOR THE LORD YOUR G OD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO .

J OSHUA 1:9

AVAILABLE OCTOBER 2021

THE SOUL INSPIRED PLANNER—2022 INCLUDES : MONTHLY & WEEKLY VIEW CALENDARS, PLANNING PAGES, VISION BOARDS, PROJECT WORKSHEETS, SCRIPTURE READING PLANS & MORE. DOWNLOAD A FREE SAMPLE AT:

SWEETTOTHESOUL.com/planner

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Original hand-lettering by Jana Kennedy -Spicer

P SALM 27:14

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Oh mighty God in heaven, we humbly sit at Your feet in praise. You are our strong tower. In You alone do we find the strength and ability to accomplish our day. Not of our own might, for our sinful nature is weak, but only by Your divine power do we endure, persevere and achieve day to day, week to week, year to year, and even minute to minute. Lord we thank you for Your promises revealed through Your word, for the empowerment received through Your divine hand, and pray for continued strength to accomplish the tasks You have laid out before us. We know that through You we can do everything, because You provide us strength.

Oh Father God, direct our paths, steady our feet and touch our hearts in such a way to motivate us into action. Extinguish our fear and light a fire our passion so that Your will may be accomplished in and through Your faithful servants. Forgive us where we have failed, O Lord, as we strive daily to honor You, let our words and actions never be a stumbling block for others, but we pray, dear Lord, that all we do bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Under Fire AMY ELAINE MARTINEZ

I’ve never spent a day doing anything close to a cross-fit routine, but I’ve done my fair share of heavy lifting. Recently, as we packed up almost thirty years of stuff, I found myself (and my husband) saying, “You’re stronger than you know.” And it was true. For a girl who doesn’t frequent the gym, I was tackling some mighty heavy emotions and boxes too. Though I felt weak and worn, I was exuding strength under fire to those around me. The secret–– it wasn’t my own strength, but God’s.

You see, when I felt my weakest, God showed up and did the actual heavy lifting for me.

Because I’ve learned to trust the process, leaning into God’s wisdom instead of my limited understanding, I was able to endure the fiery trials bombarding me.

How? Start by believing what Psalm 138 tells us. God is faithful to finish what He begins in our lives. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by obstacles, we can choose obedience over our own way. Practice being kind instead of curt and stay focused on what’s at hand instead of fretting about the future.

Indeed, I was stronger than I thought possible.

But, if I’m honest, I haven’t always been quite so cool as a cucumber when facing battles with depression and anxiety. Lack of control and the unknown have been my archnemeses. Many times, I’ve bought the lie that I must “have it all together as a wife, mom, and woman in A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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ministry.” I even believed appearing weak meant I obviously wasn’t spending enough time in the Word or worse, I didn’t trust God at all. What would people think?

Yep, I’d fallen prey to doing too much in failed attempts to appear superhuman. In difficult seasons, I would go-go-go hoping no one would suspect I was falling apart. But, soon enough, I’d spiral into depression as the weight of my weakness crashed heavy on my heart. It was all a sham, and I was weary of playing superwoman.

Have you ever found yourself near burn out? Can you remember a time when you were burning your candle on both ends and things were starting to get out of control?

That’s no way to live; at that point, most of us just want to get out of the heat. But when I asked God how to stay strong enough to keep putting out all the fires, I heard him say, “Stay in the fire.”

The fire felt risky and especially uncomfortable on many occasions.

One day, I honestly thought I would spontaneously combust with anger and frustration. Why was everything such a struggle? Hadn’t we heard God correctly when we decided to move? Unbelievably, the moving company canceled our truck again. This was the third time in as many weeks, to say the least, I was HOT. The advice of the local carrier was to “call and yell and scream” until they made it right.

As I faced yet another fiery trial, I prayed for strength.

Everything within me wanted to put up a fight as suggested. However, I knew there was a better way. While I definitely had to cool off before calling, kindness won the day (and a truck). The sweet woman who took my call commented on how refreshing my response was. Fortunately, I hadn’t blown a fuse; she got a glimpse of Jesus, not me… all for His glory.

WHEN LIFE GETS TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Putting out the flames feels like a natural response to the never-ending crises in our lives. We don’t like to get burned by people or problems, but God shapes every trial for our good. Stay in the fire: Remember when Isaiah’s lips were touched with burning coals? (Isaiah 6:7) He was left guilt-free and forgiven; he experienced God in a painful way that brought about God’s purpose. David also felt the heat of the Refiner’s fire when confronted by Nathan regarding his sin with Bathsheba. (2 Samuel 12) The psalmist came away purified and set apart for service, going on to do mighty things for God’s glory.

Spiritually speaking, fiery trials purify the heart, giving us a passion to look more like Jesus. When we feel the heat, God’s at work. While exhausting and excruciating, the purifying fire proves to ignite a renewed hope. God’s holy fire forges our future, strengthening us for what lies ahead.

You can rest assured we have a friend who sticks closer than a brother, an advocate who pleads our case in the courts of heaven. Jesus and Holy Spirit are ever interceding on our behalf. The One who holds our future is the furnace keeper and the promise keeper too. God won’t leave us there to burn up, but just long enough to melt away what’s not of Him to reveal His glory.

When we are tempted to believe we’re stuck and there’s no way out, He’s refining us. When we can’t take the heat another moment in fear that our circumstances will never change. Feeling like we’re alone. Forgotten. Abandoned. Burned out. God is strengthening us in the fire. He’s making sure we finish well, God finishes what He starts. Jeremiah reminds us God’s plans for us are good, for a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) We can call on Him in our

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day of trouble (Jeremiah 33:3) and know He will make a way.

COMING OUT GOLD As I drove away for the last time from our home in the beloved mountains of Colorado, I couldn’t help but be strengthen by the sight of the golden plains and green pastures of Oklahoma. What a beautiful reminder that God does not forsake the work of his hands and fulfills his purposes for me. If we will stay in the fire with him, God brings us out as gold (Job 23:10).

Write your own prayer asking God to help you stay away from burnout and instead ignite a fresh fire for His purposes in you.

Instead of being women who burn out, let’s burn with fiery passion for the Lord!

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What situation in your life do you need to surrender to the Lord, believing He will fulfill his purposes for you?

PRAYER: Father God, when I’m near burnout from all the busyness of life, draw me closer to the flame of your holy fire. Purify me. Refine me. Let me burn with passion to be more like Jesus. I will trust the process, no matter how painful, knowing You are both the furnace keeper and a promise keeper too.

Lord, give me strength under fire today! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How can you change your heat tolerance to stay in the fire with God? Try turning what’s painful into a praise or trade your worry for worship.

AMY ELAINE MARTINEZ is an author, a speaker, and a Victory Girl. Visit her site amyelaine.com to learn more how to Live Victoriously.

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’ TYANNE RAKOWITZ

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

Do you have an adventurous spirit? Do you take that next step in life unafraid and fearless?

My once brave soul was now riddled with fear. The what-ifs and can-nots were on repeat. Months of endless heartache and painphysically, mentally, and spiritually drained any ounce of confidence and courage I once had. My defense mechanism led to isolation and loneliness.

forsake you. Lean into Him, squash the what-ifs and can-nots by replacing our fears with truth. Seek Him in all that you do. Don’t make the same mistake I did and allow Satan in and be paralyzed with fear. God’s got you, girl! God is bigger than any fear we may face!

R EFLECTION : When fear begins to creep in, how can you use God’s truth to squash your fear?

Ladies, we are not designed to be fear-full. God wants us armed and ready with truth. His truth.

Moses had spent the last forty years in the wilderness leading God’s people through many challenges. Moses trusted God. And fulfilled God’s commands with confidence. But, Moses knew he wasn’t the guy to finish the race. Joshua was.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 tells us, “Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel. ‘“Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land the Lord swore to give to their fathers. You will enable them to take possession of it. The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”’

With entrusted confidence, Moses handed over the leadership baton to Joshua to finish the race. To lead God’s people to the Promised Land. Joshua bravely received the task set before him.

Was Moses ever fear-full? Absolutely! In Exodus 3, Moses encounters God from within a burning bush. Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. His command to Moses was to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Moses answered God, why me? Sound familiar?

God is our one true source of strength. He’s our confidence builder. Search the “Strength” scripture reading list or others and find one that speaks confidence to you. Memorize and repeat the truth of God’s Word when fear slips in.

P RAYER : Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You today for help. You are bigger than any fear I have. I cast my fears to You. Take them, Lord. Calm my worries with your peace and understanding. You, Lord, are my source of strength. And, because of You, I will conquer today! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Moses continued to be fearful of God’s command, but God continues to instruct him, do not be afraid, I will be with you. Believing God’s truth gave Moses the confidence he needed to carry out His instructions.

You and I should do the same.

Challenges and obstacles will come our way, and Satan will attempt to feed us lies. Instead of being a fear-full woman, let’s be a fearless woman!

Remembering the truth, the Lord your God will never leave you or TYANNE RAKOWITZ is wife to high school sweetheart for 39+ years. Mom to 6; 3 by blood and 3 by love. Grammy to 5 little boys. Humbly serving Christ Lutheran Church as the Office Administrator. And serves as the Business Administrator for Sweet to the Soul. Planner and organizer extraordinaire!

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SARAH E. FRAZER

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1 (ESV) The tiny seeds were pressed in the dirt. A long time ago we had a garden. Our yard in West Virginia used to be filled with grass but one summer we decided to build some raised beds and plant a garden. Planting the seeds I was reminded of how small things can grow into deeper things when planted in the dark. I’ve never liked the dark, but it seems God works some of His best work there.

When we brought home our daughter from China, I spent so many nights weeping. Her special needs were so many. I didn’t know how I would make sense of it. My days were filled with doubt and fear. I wish I could shout it from the rooftops to myself back then: Jesus is in the darkness! He was holding us when we couldn’t breathe above the waves. And Jesus is on the other side of it. Did you hear me? Let me tell you, the load you bear will only be heavy for a season. The broken heart you feel will be mended in time. The sun is coming, darkness never lasts forever. The broken dreams may never come true, but this is true: He will give you better dreams.

Grief changes us, no matter if it is the grief from death, from the death of a dream, or the death of our expectations. And growth can come from grief. Do not lean away during the times you feel like you cannot breathe. Lean into God. Find solace in one thing.

Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I fear?” (ESV) Just like the tiny seeds in our garden, I know God will work, over time, to grow something beautiful out of the season of heartache. The answer is in the waiting. Psalm 27:14 ends with, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.” There is strength in the waiting - even if you wait in the dark. Take the words of Micah 7:8 and know good things can grow in the dark.

“Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” (ESV)

R EFLECTION : What does God know about us, according to Psalm 139:1-6?

Where is God found, according to Psalm 139:7-12?

God’s character.

The longer I am alive, the more I am aware of my desire to know Him. It is no longer curiosity that drives me to study scripture to know Him better. It is the desperate moments I know are coming. I will need this knowledge to hold me together. I’ve used my knowledge of Him to hold me together in the past.

Dark days are never completely wasted. We cannot live our lives avoiding them. We can learn how to embrace the hard things. This is done only by embracing the truth of God’s Word. Did you know God is actually said to live in darkness? Yes, He is our light and Jesus is called “The Light of the World.” But God is not confined to the light. Listen to the words of Psalm 139:11-12: “If I say, ‘Surely darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” (ESV) Don’t be afraid if you are in a season of darkness and depression.

God is there and His strength is available to you. The darkness and confusion, no matter the reason, can make us weary, but God promises more for those who call out to Him. In Psalm 27:1-2 David says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The

If God is able to create life from nothing, every single time a person is born, how much more powerful is He when it comes to the circumstances of our lives?

P RAYER : My sweet Savior, may I ever be close to who you are. May my mind be filled with truth from your Word. When the darkness surrounds me, lead me to your faithful, merciful, goodness. I wait on you, gaining strength, even during this hard season, from your presence with me. May I remember your infinite power to keep me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

SARAH FRAZER is a writer and Bible study mentor at sarahefrazer.com. Sarah is the wife of Jason and mother of five. She and her family serve as full-time missionaries in Honduras. Her passion is to encourage women to start today with a Bible reading and prayer habit. Sarah is the author of several self-published Bible study resources for women. Her goal is to help equip the weary woman to read her Bible today.

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NATALIA DRUMM

“Everyone helps his neighbor and says to his brother, “Be strong!”

Isaiah 41:6 (ESV)

A year ago the Lord radically altered my life. What went from a charmed little life of perfectly arranged schedules and organized uniforms as my children filed out the door and off to school each day turned into a realm of constant clutter, books in piles, and me in tears as our family shifted from traditional public school to homeschooling three boys.

Teacher.

I was confident the Lord had spoken to us about the decision, and it was adequately confirmed by my husband, who was a staunch opponent to the idea for years, so I didn’t have trouble starting, I had trouble surrendering.

True strength filled my spirit, mind, and body as I surrendered daily my will, desires, schedule, and fears. The needs in front of me never changed––they were still great and my ability still felt miniscule, but my perspective shifted. No longer was I the one that everything depended on, it was God who would lead us; my job was simply to follow an obey.

Week after week went by and we would trot downstairs to the school table. Fights ensued–– complaining centered the culture of our home until one day I was a puddle of tears on the floor.

“Lord, I know you asked me to do this, I know this is the right decision for our children and our family, but what is making this so hard?” I cried out to Him. In His compassionate love, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, “Girl, you surrendered your obedience, but not your will. You’re doing what I asked, but you’re unwilling to surrender your power. Give up control, and trust Me to work through you.”

He was right. My actions had followed in obedience, but my attitude had not. I hiked up my boots and sauntered through the actions of teaching my children, but I was doing everything in my own power. I made the lists, set the schedule, and assigned the tasks. Our home was functioning under the burden of the laws I was creating in an effort to control something I was not meant to control. I attempted to show strength to my children when what we all needed most was my surrender.

Strength was an illusion because I did not have my power source correct. Fear of surrender was restraining my power. As I began to allow the Lord to work in my heart, He began to unearth my hidden fears, selfishness, and desires. With each act of surrender to Him, He filled me with more strength and grace.

Days seeped into weeks and as the next month closed I looked back upon our home and realized the peace of God had settled into our space. We still squabbled, and I can’t say the boys love sitting down each morning for their math lessons or literature assignments, but there was a shift in our home because there was a shift in my surrender.

The immense burden I was dragging into my days was lifted off of my shoulders and in its place was the easy yoke of the Master

No longer did I dread the morning as I woke each day, because I knew I would not be alone to face it. The Lord was going before me in whatever battle the day held, I needed only to be still before Him and follow His lead.

Sweet friend, the Lord is a strong and mighty warrior, as well as a compassionate and loving Father. His desire for us is not that we would accomplish all that we are called to do in the futile strength of our own power, but that we would follow Him, take up our cross daily and surrender to Him. It is God who will multiply. God who will guide. God who will guard.

Our call is to “Be strong!” but we cannot experience true strength till we surrender to the One who is strength.

R EFLECTION : What have you been holding on to that the Lord is asking you to surrender?

Sit in His presence today and lay your burdens at His feet. Release your control over something so you can receive His strength to accomplish it

P RAYER : Father, You are the compassionate One who calls us to lay down our strength, not so we can be without, but so that we can be filled up with Your power, Your grace and Your strength. Guide this day and reveal in our hearts anything we may be holding on to that is restraining power in our lives so we can surrender it to You and live abundantly through Your Spirit in and through us. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

NATALIA DRUMM is is a graduate student at Dallas Theological Seminaryand founder and creator of Girlfriends in the Word™ where she leads Bible study groups and produces study books and resources for busy women to grow in God’s Word. She also writes for Lifeway Women, A Wife Like Me and Sweet to the Soul. Visit her website at www.nataliadrumm.com.

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MONICA BARD

"The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him.” Exodus 15:2 (ESV)

Trapped by the Red Sea on one side with the Egyptian army closing in on the other, facing certain death, the Israelites witness the strength and might of God as He rescues them, making a way to cross the Red Sea. The mighty hand of God then crushes the Egyptian army with the very waters He parted for Moses and the Israelites. This scripture records their response once safely gathered on the other side.

Exodus 15:2 gives us three key points to remember:

They sing praises to God!

3.

Referred to as The Song of Moses, verses 1-13 of Exodus 15 is a song exalting God above all other gods. The final verse of Exodus 14 reveals why: "Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and His servant, Moses."

Do you believe the Lord is your strength and salvation? I thought I did…until medical debt and financial issues piled high. I thought I did…until my marriage was broken and on the brink of divorce.

Amid those economic issues, I believed "if I work harder, I can dig us out." When my marriage was failing, I was convinced "if only my husband did things my way, everything would be OK." I relied on my strength instead of trusting God's. The Israelites exalted God when He provided an escape route from certain death at the Red Sea, but as the Israelites journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land, they'll soon forget God's strength and might.

Just like me, amid my struggles, they choose to trust their way rather than God's way when they grumble about the lack of water and lack of food. They choose slavery in Egypt rather than trust God's mighty power. Exodus 15:24; 16:1-3.

I, too, chose to be trapped--in debt and an unhappy marriage-rather than trust God. But the Israelites' journey reveals God's providence and His salvation.

He provided water from a log at Marah and provided manna from heaven in the wilderness. For me, He provides a way out of debt and restores my marriage.

He freed the Israelites from slavery by lamb's blood smeared across the doorpost and led them to the Promised Land. For you and me, He frees us from the bondage of our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ and secures our eternal home in heaven.

1.

2.

The Lord is our strength. Ours alone will never be enough. We must surrender our struggles to Him, trusting His strength and His power to provide His route to resolution.

The Lord is our salvation. Our plans, our ways will always fail.

God alone offers the master plan for salvation--His only Son, Jesus Christ.

Praise God. When we arrive safely on the other side, when we see our problems in the rearview mirror, we should always take time to give thanks and praise to God!

R EFLECTION : Is there a problem in your life where you're relying on your strength to resolve it? Write that problem down, reflect on how you’ve tried to solve it on your own and how that has been unsuccessful. Then surrender it to God's mighty hands and pray for His will to be done.

Have you witnessed God’s strength and power at work in your life?

Write a prayer thanking God and praising Him for His goodness.

P RAYER : Loving God, I lift my song of praise and thanksgiving to You, for You alone are my strength. Lord, I admit my power and my ways will never be sufficient. Help me surrender my issues at your feet, trusting You. You loved the Israelites and led them to the Promised Land. You love me, too, and created a plan for my salvation--your Son, Jesus Christ, as payment for my sins to secure my eternal home in heaven. Lord, I marvel at your strength and your goodness. May I sing your praises today and every day! In Jesus name, Amen.

MONICA BARD Perseverant. Resilient. Overcomer. Monica’s life summarized. Along the way, she discovered she didn’t do this alone. She couldn’t. Today her little family enjoys the sweet times of restoration and redemption--because God loved them and pursued her. When Monica was hanging by a thread, God carried her. She prayed too little, but God answers big! MonicaBard.com A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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MISTY PHILLIP

“Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11 (ESV) Today, a woman does not have to look very far before she begins to see that there are a multitude of things that seek to drain her strength. As you and I walk through this world, we will undoubtedly face trials and tribulations. These difficulties can leave us with shaky knees and tear-stained cheeks. They can exhaust us, test our faith, and fuel our fears.

But, these struggles can also be the catalyst for an unshakable faith.

When you and I choose to surrender our stories to the author of all creation, light comes pouring through the darkness. Strongholds are broken when experiences are shared.

Through the telling of the truths contained within scripture, our sisters are encouraged to stand.

All too often as women, we experience criticism. I have discovered that more often than not, this negativity comes from the ideas that you and I have regarding ourselves. Perhaps, the voice of the critic who resides in our minds is our biggest obstacle to obeying the obvious call of the Lord - to make disciples.

you, my friend, have been given a choice. In every situation, turn your gaze toward Heaven. Remember, you have been chosen. You have been set apart. You are already loved from the very start.

When you decide to share your story, you are bringing God the glory. In doing this, you are igniting the spark that lies within the heart of another - reminding her that her story is not yet over. Our stories need to be told as they continue to unfold, so that the Lord can utilize our experiences for the ultimate purpose. The Lord has a big dream for you and for me. It all starts in the heart.

Make His name known. Draw others close. Build up a Heavenly kingdom. This is our reason. This is our purpose. Will you dream with Him?

R EFLECTION : What gift has God given you? How do you plan to utilize the gifts that God has given you to further the kingdom?

Friend, if you are struggling to hear the call of the Lord over the chaos within your mind, please allow me to lovingly challenge your perspective. If I was sitting with you in your favorite coffee shop, sipping on a latte, as women often do, I would lean in close, look you directly in the eyes, extend my hands toward yours, and say this in a friendly, yet direct tone.

There are billions of individuals on the Earth, but there is only one of you. In all of history, there has never been, nor will there ever be, anyone quite like you. Use your story to give God glory.

In what way can you actively partner with the Lord to further the message of the gospel and to chase the dream that He has called you to?

The Lord has given you and I unique gifts. Each one of us is crafted in His image with skills and capabilities to be utilized for the Kingdom - we are called to serve.

This service, however, does not stem from our own strengths, but wholly from the Lord. You and I must draw on the ultimate source of strength in order to stand strong in faith. Today, it is my deepest desire that women would come to know and love the Lord. From this love, we can act as ambassadors of the truth, carrying the message of salvation to a world that is dark, broken, and lost.

Christian women, I encourage you to rise up and stand strong.

Do not allow the inner critic to silence your voice. In this matter,

P RAYER : Lord, I thank you for the precious woman who is reading this devotional today. I ask that you would strengthen and encourage her, guide and direct her steps, and help her see that she is worthy of the call that she has received. I pray that you would use her story to bring glory to yourself and hope to others.

MISTY PHILLIP is a podcaster, speaker, author, and entrepreneur who is passionate about helping you spark your soul message. She is the Founder of Spark Media and host of By His Grace podcast. Connect with Misty at MistyPhillip.com.

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JODIE BARRETT

“The Lord is my strength and shield; in him my heart trusts.”

Psalm 28:7a (ESV)

My strength faded the longer I sat by my son’s hospital bedside.

Even now I cannot fathom how I held myself upright. I remember searching for a place I could touch my son’s body that wasn’t broken.

Hours earlier Ryan was hit by a moving vehicle driven by an impaired driver. A nighttime phone call alerted my husband and I to the unjust event that later led to our son’s last breaths on earth. As weakness consumed me, I called upon the Lord to be my strength in this storm and oh, how He has been gracious, giving us the courage needed to navigate through painful days of grief, as we put our trust in Him. “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart.”

Psalm 28:7a NLT Psalm 28 is underlined, highlighted, and surrounded by handwritten notes in my Bible. The wide margins contain three prayers and one declaration I penned while reading David’s words over and over after our son’s death and while awaiting the trial proceedings that would follow: “Lord, help me hear your voice. I need you.” (Verses 1-2) “Lord, help me place justice in your hands. I trust you know the heart of every man.” (Verses 3-5) “Lord, be my shepherd. Thank you for being my strength and shield.” (Verse 6-9) “Lord, I will praise you in the storm!” (Verses 6-7) David’s example in this Psalm of lament demonstrates how we can weather any storm trusting God with all our heart, even when we feel depleted of strength and unable to press on.

David cried out to the Lord in prayer, and so can we.

David trusted the Lord’s justice to prevail, and we can do the same.

David believed in the provision of the Lord during difficult times and remembered to praise Him with songs of thanksgiving. Another example we can follow.

Painful and unexpected events leave us battered and weary. When storms of life deplete us of our strength, we have a mighty source of power waiting for us. As we seek God in prayer, depend upon His justice, and praise His goodness, His strength will rise within us.

David’s words point us toward praising God in our storms, reminding us that we can have confidence in Him to be faithful and strong.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord directs the apostle Paul to trust his

strength saying, “my power works best in weakness”. This reminds me to pray for God’s help when I feel weak and unable to continue in the fury of the storm.

In the days that followed my son’s death, I often appeared strong to onlookers. What they witnessed was God’s reinforcing power rising within His broken daughter.

When storms come our way, we are not left to face the fury alone.

His power awaits his children as we face hardships and injustice.

The Lord is faithful to intercede and strengthen His people.

God’s power is mightier than any hardship or injustice His children face. The Lord’s promise to intercede and strengthen His people is unwavering. When we suffer from loss, feel forgotten, overlooked, or unable to weather any storm, we can trust God. He is just. He is strong. He is faithful. God always provides His people with the strength they need to persevere, press on, and find His joy amidst it all.

R EFLECTION : Has then been a time when circumstances left you feeling depleted, weak, and feeling unable to press on?

Are there any of David’s examples you can implement in your life to gain strength?

How does knowing God will give his people strength encourage you?

P RAYER : Father, I am grateful that your power is perfected in weakness.

When I am weak, you are strong. Thank you for being my strength and my shield. In the storm, I lift my voice in praise. You are faithful and good, a place of refuge from the storm.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

JODIE BARRETT is a speaker and writer with a passion for Jesus. Visit her at faithfullyfollowingministries.org to discover more about finding joy even in the midst of pain.

A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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JODI MELISSA SLAUGHTER

“The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet and makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility]” Habakkuk 3:19 (AMP) Honestly, there are times when life is just hard and it feels as if there is nothing that can ease the pain…not even time. I believe that it is in these moments that we are to be reminded that God gives us strength to make it through the hard things.

Losing my sweet Mommy in 2016, was the worse pain I have ever experienced in my life. There were days I couldn’t make it out of the bed. I couldn’t eat. I didn’t even want to live. There were minutes where it hurt to breathe. There were days I cried out for the pain to stop just to realize that the only way I was going to get through it to the other side was to actually go through it. You see, there is no way through the hard things but to allow yourself to experience them.

The hard things remind us that He gives us courage and He strengthens us. They remind us that as believers, we don’t fight in our own strength…He becomes our Strength and with the same power that raised Him from the dead, He empowers us to walk through the most difficult moments of our lives.

There were moments during those hard days that turned into years when my tears were the only thing that I could give Him. I knew in those moments, that He was there in the midst of my silence, comforting me, loving me, and strengthening me to get through them…one second at a time. One breath at a time. One sweet sad memory at a time.

When Habakkuk tells us that “…He makes our feet like hinds’ feet,” he is telling us that He is making us sure-footed (stable and steady) and that He has given us the ability to climb mountains that would otherwise be impossible without His Strength. The “high places” are the difficult situations that we face in life that make us often feel as if God has forgotten us or turned away from us. He hasn’t. He never has. He never will!

I don’t know what you need strength to endure right now in this moment. I don’t know what pain you are currently experiencing that leaves you speechless and takes your breath away. I do know that as long as we live pain is inevitable and it is necessary. It compels us to run into the arms of the One who comforts us and gives us courage. It creates a desperation like nothing else that forces us to take refuge in the presence of the only God who knows us and understands us. It crafts an opportunity to hangout under his shadow where we can catch our breath and be reminded that He is our strength and that His Name is our safe place. Without pain we, might never know God to be our “balm in Gilead” (Jer. 8:22). With-

out pain we might not fully believe that He is with us seated at the center of our pain being Grace to sustain us and help us grow through our darkest moments. Pain helps us understand that when we are hopeless our tender hearts intersect with the part of Him that is “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

R EFLECTION : What is your greatest source of pain?

Have you submitted those places into the hands of the One who holds your entire life?

Are you trying to get through the pain or disappointment in your own strength?

As you reflect upon these questions, please pray this prayer: P RAYER : Father, I know that you are concerned about everything that concerns me. I know that your ear is attuned to the sound of my voice as I am experiencing pain and disappointment. My prayer is that I would allow you to be my Strength and that I would fully know that I face nothing alone because you are always with me. As I surrender, come closer. As I go through this pain, give me the courage and the confidence I need to know that you are going to get me to the other side. Remind me that you strengthen me to do the hard things. Your grace is sufficient as it covers me while you establish my feet to make it through difficult things. May my life be a testimony of how great you are. In the name of Jesus.

Amen.

JODI MELISSA SLAUGHTER is a prophet, counselor, speaker, teacher, radio/TV co-host whose passion is to lead women into uncovering their identity and purpose by helping them heal from past wounds while boldly walking in freedom and confidence!

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’ GRETCHEN FLEMING

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)

Breaking points have a way of bringing much needed clarity into our lives. Some of my greatest lessons have come from when I felt that my strength wasn’t sufficient for the challenge ahead. It seems only then I’m able to gain insight over what should be done differently.

One such time happened in 2012 and I will never forget the lifechanging lesson I learned from it. My emotions were like the highs and the lows of an out of control roller coaster.

The peaks and valleys from parenting our three teenagers were becoming too much for me to handle. I was anxious much of the time. I lived in fear of what would happen next that I dreaded or what wouldn’t happen that I or one of my family members desperately wanted. If circumstances were good then all was well. If they were not then down in the pits we went.

I remember my confusion as I sat on our yellow sofa during my devotional time with the Lord. He said in Matthew 11:30 NLT“For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

To be honest, I became a little sarcastic with the Lord. I replied, “Well it sure doesn’t FEEL that way!”

I already knew that He had promised me the strength I needed (Phil. 4:13) so why did the responsibilities of my life feel more than I could handle? Why did they feel heavy and hard? Jesus seemed to have plenty of strength for His life and His was exponentially harder than mine so what was the difference?

caught up in the problems of the people around me. So if my husband or children were having a bad day then so would I by default. My over-responsibility was exhausting me for good reason.

I wasn’t meant to have strength for my burdens and theirs.

These three habits of mine were depleting me of the strength that should be sufficient for what my life required of me daily. Jesus was absolutely correct when He said His yoke was easy and His burden was light. I was the one changing it out for a life that was hard and heavy.

He never intended for me to be controlling, fearful and overresponsible. Those things zapped the strength needed for me to be surrendered to His will for our lives and secure in His promises.

Once I recognized what was robbing me of the strength that I was meant to have, I turned from those tendencies and ran full stride into His loving embrace, where I felt fully capable of each day’s circumstances.

Christ indeed gives sufficient strength and now, I know how to keep from wasting it.

R EFLECTION : Where is the Lord revealing how you may be squandering His sufficient strength?

Knowing full well that Scripture is always trustworthy, God began to press in on this discrepancy between what I read and what I felt.

Jesus indeed gave me the strength I needed for today but today only. He showed me that I was wasting that strength in two main ways.

How can you change your approach to “today” so that you have the necessary strength Jesus gives you for what your life requires of you daily?

First, I was wasting that strength by worrying about “tomorrow”.

Truth be told, I spent a great deal of time wondering, fretting, over what may or may not happen in the future. That actually squandered the strength that was necessary for my “today” issues.

Secondly, I used the strength He gave me for today by trying to control our lives so that everyone stayed as happy as possible. Why was I trying to control people and circumstances? Because I lived in fear of problems.

Problems represented suffering so I wanted to avoid that at all costs. As someone who was over-responsible, I tended to get

P RAYER : Dear Lord, search me and know me. What are the ways about me that are contrary to Your Word? Where am I wasting the sufficient strength You are giving me for each day? Open my eyes to the ways that deplete me. Grant me wisdom and discernment over what needs to change. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

GRETCHEN FLEMING a Bible teacher, speaker and writer. Visit her site GretchenFleming.com to learn how to follow hard after Christ through the Word that sets men free.

A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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JANA KENNEDY-SPICER

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) Sitting outside the courtroom doors, again, I was physically exhausted and emotionally de-hydrated from crying more tears than I thought anyone could. I had long stopped crossing days off the calendar in anticipation of reaching the end of this ordeal, it was now months into year three. It would be months more before this hard fought battle was over, but this day, God willing, would at least bring resolution to one matter.

Have you ever been reading or studying about someone in the Bible and had that moment when you thought, “Oh! That’s me!”? I’ve had a Moses moment, when God called on me and I responded with, “Why me?! I’m not qualified.” I have even been Abraham, trying to solve a problem God already had a resolution for, and thus messing things up for more people than just me. I could list other examples, but I think you get the idea.

My response in these situations share a common factor. I was relying on my own strength because of my lack of faith in God. Just like Moses and Abraham both did at one point.

But then, in Hebrews 11 we find both Moses and Abraham used as examples of what can be accomplished by faith. So how did they go from seeing their strength as the only solution to their situation to becoming Biblical pilers of faith?

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I open my heart to conversations with God – real, raw conversation and prayer.

I began believing – genuinely believing the promises found in His Word.

I knew that although I was sitting all alone, God was with me > Deuteronomy 31:6; although I was the only one others would hear and see, God was fighting for me > Joshua 23:3; even when others saw my weakness, God’s strength was present > 2 Corinthians 12:9; even if others were uncertain of the outcome, God’s will would prevail > Proverbs 19:21 Oblivious to everyone else going in and coming out of that courtroom, I sat there, my Bible opened to the tear stained pages of Hebrews 11, reading, praying and believing .... “... who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”

Hebrews 11:33-34 And that day, God did all that.

Examining stories of their lives, I found these things in common: they 1) spent time with God, 2) had conversation with God, and 3) believed God would do what He said He would do. .

R EFLECTION : Is there an area of your life you are attempting to control out of a lack of faith in God’s plan or promises?

To passers by, I was just another poor soul waiting for my appointed time slot before a judge. They knew nothing of my situation, my experiences or the amount of time I had been waiting for a resolution, but God knew. And I knew I was not the same woman that day, as I was on day one. Just like Moses and Abraham, over time, my faith in God had grown.

Recall a time in your life when you felt God’s strength in your life.

Talk with Him about that experience.

All those month’s spent waiting, fighting, questioning, were month’s spent with God. I had been one of His lost sheep, one that wondered away from the flock and ended up in very perilous circumstances. He came and found me and brought me back to Him. As a result,

•

I started spending time with God – praying, Lord give me a hunger for Your Word.

P RAYER : Dear Lord, thank You for your precious Word, that it teaches, encourages, defends and convicts. Thank you for showing us the examples of Moses and Abraham so we can see how You love each of us even in our doubt and disobedience. Reassure the woman reading this that You are present in her life, that you fight for her, that she is dearly loved by You. Help us to learn to depend on you instead of ourselves In Jesus’ name, Amen.

JANA KENNEDY-SPICER is a wife, mom and Nana. A born and raised Texas-girl who loves boots, sunflowers, and sweet tea. She has a heart for studying God’s Word and is passionate about encouraging women to do the same. Connect with Jana at SweetToTheSoul.com 44

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S CRIPTURE C ARDS Cut out Scripture cards and tuck in your Bible or display around your home or office; or write an encouragement on the back and share with a friend.

The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places.

Habakkuk 3:19 NASB

SWEET TO THE SOUL FAITH

“...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.”

Ephesians 3:16 (NASB)

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:11 NASB

SWEET TO THE SOUL FAITH

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

Nahum 1:7 (ESV)

SWEET TO THE SOUL FAITH

SWEET TO THE SOUL FAITH

A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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S CRIPTURE C ARDS

Cut out Scripture cards and tuck in your Bible or display around your home or office; or write an encouragement on the back and share with a friend.

Feeling weary? Like you just can’t clean one more dirty dish, change one more smelly diaper or wash one more stinking load of laundry? Slow down, sweet friend. Take time to soak in God’s Word. It’s there you’ll see your labors of love are in God’s strength, not your own. When you are empty, He will supply whatever ability you need. Cling to Jesus.

And when you get that fresh breath of Jesus blowing through you, filling you with energy, give Him glory! He will strengthen you!

Habakkuk had been given a vision of doom and destruction by God. He knew what was coming. And yet, when he compared what would be to his great God, Habakkuk breaks out in praise (Hab. 3:18).

When we have no strength of our own to make it through the trials, we must also realize that God IS our strength. Like the sure-footed feet of a deer on treacherous mountain cliffs, we will walk forward, not be frozen in terror. God’s strength will maneuver us through the worst life has to offer.

Now, go climb that mountain!

None of us are exempt from suffering and trouble. Scripture doesn’t say “if” trouble comes, but “when” it comes. It’s inevitable.

Where we go and how we handle life’s trials and tribulations, will determine if we fall apart, or if we emerge stronger than before.

Run to Jesus. Take refuge in Him. Let His strong arms cover you.

Braiding the strength of Jesus with our trials makes our load lighter!

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The older we get, the less we can do physically. Our strength weakens! Oh, but spiritually, God is granting us great strength.

How? Through Holy Spirit power!

God strengthens us through the supernatural enabling of His Spirit. This is not physical muscle; it’s firmness and sturdiness that runs deep into our souls. Like spiritual DNA. Followers of Jesus have something others do not. We have powerful Holy Spirit fortified DNA woven into the inner parts of our soul.

You, soul friend, have strong power.

Go walk in it!

Encouragements by Ellen Chauvin

Stronghold: A strong, fortified place of refuge and shelter.

E V E RY DAY B I B L E S T U DY & G R AT I T U D E J O U R N A L

True thanksgiving is so much more than a holiday or by-product of changing seasons.

True thanksgiving is a heart condition displayed in our normal day to day life.

True thanksgiving is everyday thanksgiving.

VISIT S WEETT OT HES OUL. COM/ E VERYDAY- T HANKSGIVING

FOR INFORMATION

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□ A calendar without dates or days of the week? Yes! Our Encouragement Calendar looks different than a regular calendar and it also serves a special purpose .. To bring you encouragement and to help you encourage others. During this quarter, come visit these pages often and find a thing or two to read, to contemplate, to pray about, to challenge you, to give thanks, to journal about, and more!

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Instead of complaining about someone, thank God for them.

Give thanks for close friends.

Thank God for helping you navigate a difficult situation.

Start a gratitude journal or jar and add to it daily.

In a hurtful season, find something for which to be thankful.

Tell someone how & why you are thankful for them.

Make it a point to thank someone everyday.

The struggle you're in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.

Don't Give Up.

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Release a burden — forgive someone who has hurt you.

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Everyday for 30 days, thank God for something.

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Colossians 3:15

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Everyday for 30 days, tell someone “thank you”.

Pray for students and teachers heading back to school.

Pray for someone who is grieving.

Pray for a family walking through difficult circumstances.

Pray for relationships that are hard and stretch us.

Pray for your pastor and church staff.

Pray for restoration of a broken relationship.

Pick one person and pray for them everyday for 30 days.

Ask God to give you the opportunity to share his love with someone.

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Let you heart take courage. ref Psalm 31:24

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Pick 1 book of the Bible and read it everyday for 30 days

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Find a place to volunteer & journal about your experience.

Invite a few friends over for lunch and a short Bible study.

Plan a family picnic on a Saturday. Play games and enjoy the laughter.

Call someone you haven't talked to in a while.

Share a thank you with a co-worker.

Make the first step in mending a broken relationship.

Break the chains of an unhealthy habit.

The Lord stood by me

What great comfort we have in knowing God is holding our hand through it all.

All else can fail us, but God is our strength forever.

and strengthened me.

2 Timothy 4:17

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Be open to God nudging you to go in a different direction or try something new.

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Send a card to someone going through a lonely season.

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Fill your journal page with the names of people for whom you are thankful Write about a time you felt God’s strength in your life.

Journal about a past hard circumstance which God used to make you stronger.

Write about a special memory of a loved one.

Jot down 3 reasons you are thankful for each family member.

Journal about a recent struggle and how it made you stronger.

Write about how it makes you feel when someone thanks you.

Then find someone to thank.

The struggle for the butterfly to break free from the cocoon builds the strength it will need to fly.

Find the wings in your trial.

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Did you drink your water today?

□ Put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14

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MITZI NEELY

KIDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE WAITED ALL SUMMER TO HEAD BACK-TO-SCHOOL. But the closer it gets to the start date the more anxiety can creep in. “What will the year be like? Will we wear masks? What will classes be like? Will I see my friends? How normal will things be?” All legitimate questions.

It’s not uncommon for kids of any age [and parents too] to experience anxiety, a loss of sleep or appetite, or nervousness as they try to understand what returning to school looks like. After a year of maskwearing, limited social interaction, remote learning for some, and interrupted schedules for others, parents and students long for a safe environment and a sense of normalcy. Who doesn’t?

While schools across the country continue to grapple with protocols, schedules, and other challenges, their number one goal should always be to keep students safe and provide the best education possible.

As a long-time Texas educator and administrator, I’ve seen and experienced numerous changes in the way we do school, but none like what we’ve dealt with in the past year. As a woman of faith, I pray daily for the safety and protection of our students and staff as we navigate the uncertainties with which we are faced.

There is no doubt that unprecedented events have challenged us, humbled us, and forced us to evaluate our way of working with students, parents, and communities. We are not perfect by any means, but the majority of educators and school leaders long for a spirit of unity and togetherness when making decisions for the students they serve.

Beyond what schools are doing to prepare for students and teachers, I believe there are two things that we as parents can do to help our kids experience success in school: provide parental support and encouragement. Those two things may sound simple, but in reality, it takes intentional and consistent practice to help make a difference in the lives of our children. The support, love, care, and encouragement our kids receive helps them to be resilient in the face of adverse conditions, and it reminds them they have numerous people who want the best for them.

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As you prepare your child for the new year, here are 9 ways to help them navigate a safe return to school.

Returning to school is no easy task but together we can make the process positive and manageable.

Prepare for change. Be flexible. Work with school leaders and teachers to help provide the best possible environment for your child.

Teach your child to be an active listener, to be flexible, and to ask questions.

Help equip them with firsthand information from your student’s school or district. Be open to different methods of communication and be discerning with information that floats around outside of school.

Be proactive rather than reactive with your response to teachers and leaders. Don’t jump to conclusions. Gather the information you need to make an informed decision.

Encourage your child to make friends and teach them to be kind and gracious to everyone. We don’t always know what someone else is going through, but all people matter.

Connect with administration, teachers, and counselors to form a partnership. Parents + school make a powerful combination to give students a positive experience.

Pray with and over your child daily. Equip them with a word of encouragement or a Scripture reference to recite during the day. Stress can be minimized if you talk with your children about difficult situations.

Encourage your child to make good food choices and to participate in regular physical activity. They are keys to optimal health.

Prepare your child to take care of themselves. Even our youngest students can be taught how to be independent. For example, if they bring their lunch to school make sure they can easily open containers, bags, etc. Teach them to regularly wash their hands and the importance of covering their mouths and noses.

MITZI NEELY has spent 40 years as a Texas Public School Administrator and Educator, and currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent at White Oak ISD in East Texas, She is the founder and ministry leader of Peacefully Imperfect. She has authored three books and is currently working on a new project to be published in late October 2021.

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TERRI HILL

Not all students are returning to regular classrooms this fall as many parents have opted to homeschool.

As a veteran homeschool mom who successfully graduated my two youngest even though my three oldest completed public school, I have had the luxury of being on both sides of the educational fence.

When I made the decision to homeschool, it was done in a fit of frustration with zero plans in mind.

I didn’t know anyone who homeschooled and to be perfectly honest, in my lack of knowledge, I assumed parents who homeschooled also churned their own butter, slaughtered animals and sewed clothes from old curtains. I was immensely ill informed, but quickly learned there were a lot of parents, just like me – they buy groceries from the store, order way too much from Amazon and get excited about a trip to Target by themselves.

Therefore, for those parents and grandparents who have opted to homeschool, and were as scared as I was, I would like to share a few things I wish I had been told when I began my journey.

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Homeschool learning is different from classroom learning. There’s no reason for you to feel compelled to create a classroom in your home. My kids read longer and stayed more engaged sitting on the sofa or in a comfy chair with the dog and a snack.

Additionally, our homeschool day would start around 9 a.m. and was usually done by lunchtime or 1 p.m. Part of the beauty and joy of homeschooling is creating an environment that fosters the best learning opportunities for YOUR child, not everyone else’s.

There is a plethora of amazing curriculum available now for parents, both in print and online. I highly encourage finding a homeschool convention to attend where you can peruse the many vendors, look at the curriculum, ask questions and really find what you feel will be best for your child’s learning style. But what if you choose something and they don’t like it or you change your mind about it?

This will happen at least once each school year, and I never had any trouble selling books and curricu-

lum inside a local co-op, at yard sales or even on Ebay. These are also ideal locations to pick up new curriculum for your use. And speaking of curriculum, look around your house and the things you do daily for learning experiences. Cooking is a great place to learn about fractions. Everyday objects like a carton of eggs or a bag of Goldfish crackers can aid in learning multiplication. How do certain appliances work that we use every day is a science lesson. Who invented the appliance is a history lesson. There is truly something worth learning and teaching everywhere. Fostering an environment where knowledge is not only fun but a valuable skill in life.

Connecting with other homeschool families is not only helpful for extra curricular activities, but can be a wealth of information and support for parents new to homeschooling. If the first group you meet isn’t for you, there are usually several others in the community. There are different groups for a reason as some are more passionate about play and socialization where another may be more focused on field trips. Find the one your family fits in best, but understand that these co-ops are an opportunity, and not an obligation. Attend when you can, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t meet up one week. You do not homeschool to compete with or please anyone else. You are homeschooling because you want what is best for your children.

Establishing a routine is key and 100% worth the effort to get organized early on. This will set the tone for your day and eventually will be the frame by which your teenagers do most of their work independently. When they are young, start with a daily routine. For some this may be a daily scripture, a parent-led, short oral reading or even a coloring sheet to go along with the history lesson for younger ones. Find what works for your kids and don’t be afraid to change it up as they grow and progress.

While you may think you can just scratch notes on a post it and keep up with daily lessons just fine, I highly recommend a homeschool lesson planner if

you prefer sanity over insanity. There are many to choose from on Amazon, homeschool websites and always the most amazing ones at the conventions for purchase. Invest in one and then use it. On the weekends I would take an hour or so and write out our lesson plan for the following week and then each evening I would take a moment and review what we were doing the following day and set out any additional materials we would require. Many planners also have slots for extracurricular activities, such as dance, gymnastics, karate or whatever your child enjoys. Even in the technological age of digital organizers and phones we can set reminder alarms on, there was something significantly easier and more manageable in a planner where I could write everything down.

Finally, and this is probably the most important – cut yourself some slack. There will be sick days and sad days, angry days and temper tantrum days.

And to be perfectly honest, you will have skip days where you either can’t pass up an opportunity to go fishing with grandpa, or mom just needs a break. This is normal and totally okay and actually very healthy for everyone. A lot of days will not go according to the planner, but most days are going to be very rewarding.

The bond you form with your kids will be something that lasts a lifetime. There will be books that make you laugh and cry and have lengthy discussions about days later and in some cases, decades later. There will be history lessons that lead to impromptu field trips to a local place you had never visited before now. And yes, there will be science experiments that in hindsight should have been done outside instead of in the kitchen.

But those experiments will lead to a million questions and follow up research that your kids will enthusiastically do on their own.

Homeschooling isn’t a race or a competition but a journey for you and your child, and it’s one that will be rewarding far beyond the educational component.

TERRI HILL is a mother of five, grandmother of two, wife of one, semi-retired multimedia journalist. She and her husband Darren live on a farm in East Texas with their six dogs, multiple horses, donkeys, chickens and cats.

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M AY THE G OD OF ENDURANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT GRANT YOU TO LIVE IN SUCH

harmony with one another IN ACCORD WITH

C HRIST J ESUS , THAT

T OGETHER YOU MAY WITH ONE VOICE GLORIFY THE G OD AND F ATHER OF OUR L ORD J ESUS C HRIST .

T HEREFORE , WELCOME ONE ANOTHER AS C HRIST HAS WELCOMED YOU , FOR THE GLORY OF G OD .

R OMANS 15:5-7

ESV

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Original hand-lettering by Jana Kennedy -Spicer

ROMANS 12:5

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JANA KENNEDY-SPICER

We all have this need to be a part of a tribe. To be attached to someone. To have our own people – my people, and to know we belong.

Family trees have always been important, they define us.

Our lineage is significant; those bloodlines distinguish us from others and identify who we are.

And together they all determine to whom we belong … or do they?

Having developed a fascination with genealogy as a teen, in high school I researched my mother’s family and painted a family tree from me, through her and all the way back to my great-great-grand-parents. It was important for me to create this portrait of who I was, I wanted to know who my people were, I wanted to know where I fit in, I was desperately looking for the feeling of belonging.

I learned a lot from that exercise, like names of distant cousins and relatives, as well as names of my aunts and uncles -- for some reason their given names were not the names we used to address them. I found dates of births and deaths, dates of marriages and of other important events, like when Georgians became Texans and that day when my great-grand-father surrendered with General Robert E Lee in Virginia at the end of the Civil War. I also learned that I am the youngest child of a youngest child of a youngest child. Ok, that probably explains a lot really.

So that’s me, or at least my mother’s half of me. I was proud of my little branch on this deep rooted family tree.

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But in truth, my branch looked different. It was not like the others. I was not like the others.

THERE IS THIS BRANCH ON GOD’S FAMILY TREE THAT HAS MY NAME ON IT.

I was a pear blooming on an apple tree.

There have been seasons of wonderful growth – when I was seeking nourishment from the Lord.

And the graft held strong.

My branch had not bud and grown from my mother’s family tree. My branch had bud on another tree.

I was made of different stuff. I was adopted, I had been grafted in.

AS CHRISTIANS, YOU AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN GRAFTED TO ANOTHER FAMILY TREE : THE FAMILY OF GOD. “… some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, …” Romans 11:17 When Jesus came to redeem God’s people, the Israelites, they rejected Him. And God began pruning the family tree; all of those non-believing branches were broken off.

The purpose of pruning is to remove all of the dead and diseased branches and off shoots so they do not impede the growth of the tree. It may seem cruel or make a tree look awkward or even bare afterward, but by removing the dead, it allows more nourishment to feed the remaining branches.

This triggers new growth and the tree can once again flourish.

This was bad for the previously set apart but now non-believing Israelites, but good for the gentiles – the “wild shoots” referred to by Paul in Romans 11.

God sent Jesus to save His family from the wages of their sin – death; and to redeem this debt thereby gifting grace upon those who accepted and believed in Him. As this gospel message spread, more and more Gentiles were becoming believers.

There have been seasons of parching days and withering and wilting – when I was seeking nourishment only from myself. But the graft held strong.

There have been destructive storms which left my little branch stripped clean of leaf and bark – when I was fighting the world. But the graft held strong.

Yes, there have been seasons of pruning – when God skillfully removed dead and diseased branches. But the graft held strong.

There have been branches grafted on to mine – when God carefully and purposefully added others to my family. And those grafts also have held strong.

And now … new buds, off shoots becoming their own branches, new growth, fruit. And the graft is holding stronger than ever.

Oh thank you Lord!

THERE IS ROOM ON THIS TREE FOR ANOTHER BRANCH. Friend, I do not know your family situation today.

I have no idea whether your family tree is large and fruitful or broken and bare. Maybe you feel like the lone little tree lost amongst a great redwood forest.

But I know this, there is room for another branch on God’s family tree. There is a spot on that mighty tree which he has reserved just for you. It is prepared right now for you to be grafted in.

You are not alone, this is where you belong, this is your family - your people.

Wild shoot after wild shoot after wild shoot was grafted in to God’s family tree!

JANA KENNEDY-SPICER is a wife, mom and Nana. A born and raised Texas-girl who loves boots, sunflowers, and sweet tea. She has a heart for studying God’s Word and is passionate about encouraging women to do the same. Connect with Jana at SweetToTheSoul.com

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No More CHRISTA HUTCHENS

In her book Alone Together: Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other, Sherry Turkle says, “These days, whether you are online or not, it is easy for people to end up unsure if they are closer together or further apart.”

If you spend any amount of time online, you know that statement to be true. We are "connected" to more and more people every day, but we can feel further and further apart. Sitting behind the screen, insisting we need to do it all ourselves, we become more and more isolated from the people who can encourage and support us.

But we can do better, can't we? Wouldn't working together benefit us all ... personally, spiritually and professionally?

Of course it would. God did not create us to do life alone. I bet you've heard a lot of people say that before, right? Then why are we still trying to do it all ourselves?

We are, indeed, better together. Not only did God create us to work together, he gave us many good examples to follow. Take King Solomon, for example. We can learn a lot about working together from the way he overcame an obstacle while building the temple.

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Solomon had a problem (1 Kings 5:1-12). He needed wood. Solomon teaches us four important better together lessons.

LESSON ONE: GOD HELPS US MAKE THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS

Not only did Solomon not have wood, but he also did not have any skilled laborers who knew how to cut down trees. Unfortunately, he couldn't search Amazon and have wood delivered with next-day shipping.

But God was ahead of him.

His neighbor and family friend King Hiram thought Solomon might need a little help, so he sent his envoys to visit. As it "just so happens" Hiram was the king of Tyre, a city on the southern edge of Lebanon. Ever hear of the "cedars of Lebanon"?

Yep, Hiram was king of the trees. God sent just right person to work with Solomon.

Look around you. Who has God put in your path that can help with what you need?

LESSON TWO: COLLABORATION BENEFITS THOSE WHO WORK TOGETHER

This is no one-way street. Successful collaborations benefit both parties. Not in a callous, "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" kind of way. It's more like "Let's do something awesome together."

Hiram didn't come to Solomon with any expectations. And when Solomon responded, he didn't say, "Hey, old buddy. I need some wood. How about you whack down some of those cedars and send them to me?"

Hiram was several years older than Solomon and had been a ruler longer. He could have resented the young upstart king taking the lead in this new working relationship. Instead, he approached it with enthusiasm, thanking God for the wisdom of a friend.

Find the fun in your collaborative relationships. As you communicate with your partners, get to know them personally and figure out how to enjoy the work you are doing together.

LESSON FOUR: LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS BREED COOPERATION INSTEAD OF COMPETITION

No, he said, Give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me.

My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. (1 Kings 5:6 NIV, emphasis added)

Let's jump in and work with each other. There may be a leader in a collaborative effort, but don't leave all the hard work to the leader. Do your share. Learn from each other. Not only will you gain the benefits of the collaboration, you may also learn a new skill or technique that will help you in the long run.

LESSON THREE: WORKING TOGETHER IS MORE FUN

Sometimes it seems easier to work alone. When you work with someone else, you have to bend to their schedule, give up some control and consider their limitations. Simpler to just do it yourself.

When Hiram received Solomon's response, he was excited!

Let's face it ... most of us in leadership or solopreneur roles are Type-A, naturally competitive people. Competition has no place in God's Kingdom. We are all working towards the same goal.

Solomon and Hiram were both probably pretty competitive, but they worked together for a long time.

Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year. The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty. (1 Kings 5:11-12, NIV) Their long-term relationship led to a treaty and peace for their people for many years. We don't know much about the treaty, but it likely included provisions to protect and defend each other.

Wouldn't a relationship like that bring peace to you? To have a friend who has your back instead of trying to compete with you?

So let's stop trying to go it alone. Reach out. Work together. You'll be glad you did.

He was greatly pleased and said, “Praise be to the Lord today" (1 Kings 5:7 NIV)

CHRISTA HUTCHINS equips busy communicators and leaders with project management and problem solving skills so they can turn their big ideas into a successful ministry or business. She is passionate about teaching women to find practical application of the Bible in their personal, professional and ministry lives. Christa lives in south Louisiana with her husband in their delightfully empty nest. Visit her at www.doanewthing.com.

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Most of us would be quick to name off our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters as our family. Growing up with just one sister, she and I were closer to our aunts, uncles, and cousins than most people I know.

Joining the military revolutionized my idea of family.

Being far from my family of origin forced me to find new people to fill that role. I needed people who lived in the same zip code to encourage, teach, comfort, support, and hold me accountable. That’s when I learned Webster’s definition of family was far to narrow for the nomadic military lifestyle.

Certainly, there is no substitute for the bond we share with those who’ve known and loved us since hearing our hearts beat for the first time on a fetal doppler device. But the

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Photos Courtesy of Liz Giertz

LIZ GIERTZ

When I arrived at my first duty station in Texas as a 21-yearold, single lieutenant, I was suddenly 1,460 miles from those people. Not only was I in a different time zone than my family, but that was also back when almost nobody had cell phones and you still paid noticeably extra for long distance calls. But even then I was geographically closer than some places I would find myself in the more than two decades that followed. After nearly ten years on active duty in the Army and 17 years as an Army wife, I’ve lived in eight states (three of them twice), in six countries, on three different continents, and had 17 different “home” addresses.

connections forged in the shared experience of military service form deep and fast. Those in uniform who deploy to combat zones must often place their very lives in the hands of the Soldiers to their left and right whom they may have only known for a few months or less. Family members who move with their Soldier, often have just a couple of weeks to find someone they trust enough to list as an emergency contact for themselves or their children.

We all need those “In Real Life” people willing to help out at the drop of a hat. The kind who will bring a meal, tidy up the house, or even put the kids to bed when we are too sick to stand. The ones who will rush over in the middle of the night to sit with the kids while mom rushes someone else to the emergency room or the labor and delivery ward. And the ones you trust with not just the keys to your house but with the care of your children for a week when you fly unexpectedly to your father’s death bed. The people who will teach you all the acronyms, tell you when you have broccoli stuck in your teeth, and won’t hesitate to call you out on more major mistakes. Better yet, they expect you to do the same for them. And the people who know the ache of fear, loneliness, or discouragement you’re feeling with no more than a glance, because they’ve been there, too. They know when you need to cry it out and when you need a swift kick in the pants. These are the friends who become family.

God has blessed me at every duty station with a handful of women who not only lived up to these qualifications but exceeded them in every way. He has woven them into the fabric of my family. The tapestry of my life is far richer because of the vibrancy, diversity, perspective, and wisdom they bring. Whether for a season or for a lifetime, they’ve left the indelible mark of unconditional love on my life.

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In military communities, it typically happens fast.

We move every two or three years, so we can’t waste time searching for new non-biological family members. You never know when your husband will deploy or someone will get sick unexpectedly. I only realized what a blessing the speed and ease with which I was able to make friends at a new duty station was when I moved to a “civilian town.”

The majority of the people all grew up here together, so being the new girl was hard in ways I’d never experienced before.

Thankfully, over my years as a military spouse, I figured out where to look for my people. Even in a nonmilitary setting, I still found them in basically the same place—a women’s Bible Study. It did take a little more intentionality, vulnerability, and courage on my part to establish connections. But it was worth the extra-effort. While very few of the women understand my past military lifestyle, we have something of far greater significance in common—a shared future.

As God has matured my faith, I’ve come to understand more of what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 12:46-50: “While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (ESV)

faith trump even our earthly family ties. This is particularly good news for those of us distanced (literally or figuratively) from our biological families, either by choice or circumstance. As chosen children of God, we share an ancestry we can trace to before the beginning of time.

Christians around the globe may not share enough DNA to qualify as a familial match, but the love of God proven by the blood of Christ makes us brothers and sisters forever. United by God’s love for us, our common love for our Heavenly Father ought to inspire us to love one another. This is how we fulfill God’s will. Because as we rest in His salvation and set our hearts and minds on loving Him and others, He sanctifies and strengthens us, making us more and more like our Brother, Jesus Christ.

May God bless us with the kind of friends who become family. More importantly, may we be the kind of women who make the leap from friend to family by faith. Who lend a hand and love with our whole hearts. Who are as comfortable serving as we are asking for help. Who are brave enough to both have hard conversations and sit in silence alongside a suffering sister. Who forgive others and ask for forgiveness. Who understand the bond of Jesus’ blood unites us, even when we have nothing else in common.

If you ever find yourself in my home town, look me up. I’m always seeking to expand the family.

I’ll admit, the first time I read this passage, I thought Jesus was being a little rude, dismissing the woman who birthed Him like that. But as I have seen and experienced the family of God firsthand, I have come to understand that the eternal bonds of

LIZ GIERTZ is an Army Veteran turned Army wife and mom to two boisterous boys who call the hills of West Virginia home for now. She is passionate about gathering women around her craft tables to encourage them to overcome MESSES and embrace their MEMORIES as they become the MASTERPIECES God created them to be. You can connect with her on her blog, My Messy Desk (www.LizGiertz.com), on Facebook (@MyMessyDeskHurricaneWV).

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To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.

Martin Luther

Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks Is not good. The bricks must be cemented together.

Corrie Ten Boom

Satan hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.

Charles Spurgeon

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Smith, Party of 7 KARMEN SMITH

"How did you know? Did you feel "all-unicorn-and-rainbows?

Is that how you knew?"

A friend called asking for advice. She had a teen in her home and was still considering whether she should or should not adopt.

Adoption.

Even as I type the word, I feel myself buffering, searching, I guess, for the words that best fit or express all that it entails.

But first, the backstory.

My husband and I met as teens one Easter morning. I spotted him out the window of our little country church coming across the parking lot wearing a belt buckle big enough for both of us to eat off of and decided right then I would pursue him, and I did. We married a few years later.

Our pursuit of the American Dream was moving right along, except several years into marriage, it was still just the two of us. After much prayer and consideration, we started infertility treatments. Months turned into a couple of years, and before we knew it, we were turning into year number four when, finally, we were expecting!! We were over the moon excited every single day until one morning when I woke to a strange pressure. Shortly after, we were on our way to see our doctor out of town. Deep down, I knew

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“

Our American Dream had become a nightmare.

After losing Karson, I threw myself into a hard and fast season of self-destruction, but God.

it wasn't going to end well. Several hours later and just shy of seventeen weeks, we delivered a perfect but still baby boy named Samuel.

We grieved and gave my body time to heal but were determined not to give up on the dream of becoming a family. After a few months and more fertility drugs, we found ourselves expecting for a second time. We hoped for the best, expecting anything until we made it past seventeen weeks. With each passing day, we became more excited until one evening midway through week twenty-four. We'd been out burning leaves when my back started to hurt.

"I'm sure I've just overdone. I'm going to go shower and rest."

I only wish that would have worked. A couple of hours later, we found ourselves in the emergency room dilated to four with the baby hourglassing out of me. We spent the next three days at our local hospital before they took me via ambulance to another hospital with an incredible neonatal

team. Shortly after meeting the group, we were on our way to the delivery room, where we delivered our perfect but still baby girl, Karson.

Our American Dream had become a nightmare.

After losing Karson, I threw myself into a hard and fast season of self-destruction, but God. We were expecting again. I was too afraid to be hopeful, but my doctor partnered with a high-risk team of doctors, convinced we could make it.

Together, they kept a close eye on us, and it was a good thing because my body began showing signs of preterm labor at twenty weeks. They decided a cerclage and strict bedrest would be our best chance. They were right. Eighteen weeks and one day later, we delivered a perfectly healthy baby boy Tucker Wayne.

He was just a few weeks old when my mom was by for a visit and had the nerve to say, "The best thing you can do for that baby is to have another one." She and God knew best because Tucker was barely past a year when we found out we were expecting again and for the first and only time without fertility drugs. Our doctors prescribed the same treatment plan and sentenced me (and our toddler) to strict bed rest for the next twenty-six weeks. Every single day of waiting was worth it when we delivered our sweet baby Jake.

It would have been easier to thank God for our healthy children and call it done, except that during our season of infertility and loss, four separate times, we had picked up paperwork to foster. We would start then stop when I decided to go with our church on a short-term mission trip to Honduras, where I spent a week with orphans under one. I was ready to send for my family and move to this new land when the Lord spoke very clearly, "You can do this at home."

Upon returning to the states, we finished the paperwork and became licensed foster parents.

We said yes, every time the phone rang and fostered or offered respite for nearly forty children over the next three years. Each one took a bit of

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our hearts as they left until one day a different call.

"Hey, would you be willing to take a newborn? It sounds like it's going to be a long-term placement."

Tucker was twelve. Jake was ten when we started over again. I discharged our angel from the hospital the next day and took him straight to our familyowned and operated feed store to meet dad.

Parenting a baby in our forties looked different and was so very precious. Immediately we started proceedings to adopt. At times during the process, it felt like we were on the set of a crazy talk show, and just when I thought things couldn't get crazier, we got another call.

"Hey, you remember the boys that stayed with you a few days a while back? They're back in. They've been in three homes since yours, and unfortunately, we are out of options. Their next stop will be a group home unless you're willing to consider taking them. Will you at least pray about it?"

I told her I would think about praying about it, and we did. We prayed and thought about all the things. The boys in care were the exact ages of our biological boys, which meant we would have two twelves, two tens, and an infant, but God. We celebrated Adoption Day for Jax, and one week later, the new boys moved in six days before Christmas. My thoughts sounded a lot like this "This will this be sweet. We will love Jesus and others, and we'll live happily ever after because we're following Him, and it will all work out, but then, life got salty, like really salty fast. We went from two boys to three and then five boys in less than six months, and someone needed something or someone all the time, and then suddenly, sweet seemed very

far away.

There have been countless days that've been just plain hard: blending the boys, trying not to compare, introducing each one to new things and ideas. I crack up at the many and varied lessons on music, manners, hygiene, and girls and smile when I recall the in-depth discussions about God, sin, heaven, and hell. Thankfully each day, since we became "Smith Party of Seven," we have awakened to new morning mercies and enough grace to go around.

Sometimes I cry when I think about how far we've come—all of us. I praise the Lord for the many who have come alongside us to pray, mentor, carpool, send hand-me-downs, given bikes or advice, listened, texted funny family memes, babysat, or cheered for the boys all for one and one for all.

The question I'm asked most often: "How can I help?"

The answer: every act of kindness and effort matters.

I'd like to end where we began by answering the questions, "How did you know? Did you feel "allunicorn-and-rainbows? Is that how you knew?"

No. I've yet to see a unicorn, but I have seen lots and lots of rainbows to remind me of God's faithfulness. I am thankful He can see the whole while we only see part. On the front side, I would likely not have said yes, but looking back, I'm sure glad we didn't say no.

KARMEN SMITH is a wife, mother, teacher, & speaker who is passionate about encouraging, exhorting and exciting others with REAL stories about REAL life. Her hope is to dare them to establish holy habits, get to know God through His word, exhorting them to #PrayBig as they journal their prayers and in doing so find Him faithful. Visit her site at www.karmensmith.com

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Download our FREE 7-day Scripture Journal Which will Encourage You in Your Fellowship with Believers Scripture list, journaling pages, Scripture Art, study questions and more!

Visit SweetToTheSoul.com/inspired-inbox.htm to download your free Scripture Journal.

VISIT S WEETT OT HES OUL. COM/ I NSPIRED- I NBOX

FOR INFORMATION

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Shall We Gather at the River Shall we gather at the river, Where bright angel feet have trod, With its crystal tide forever lowing by the throne of God? Refrain:

Yes, we’ll gather at the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river; Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God. On the margin of the river, Washing up its silver spray, We will talk and worship ever, All the happy golden day.

Ere we reach the shining river, Lay we every burden down;

Grace our spirits will deliver, A nd provide a robe and crown.

At the smiling of the river, Mirror of the Savior’s face, Saints, whom death will never sever, Lift their songs of saving grace.

Soon we’ll reach the silver river, Soon our pilgrimage will cease; Soon our happy hearts will quiver With the melody of peace.

Written by: Robert Lowry, 1864

Originally titled "Beautiful River" and subsequently titled "Hanson Place," written by American poet and gospel music composer Robert Lowry (1826–1899). It was written in 1864 and is now in the public domain. The title "Hanson Place" is a reference to the original Hanson Place Baptist Church in Brooklyn, where Lowry, as a Baptist minister, sometimes served.

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J.E. BERRY

Do you have a night routine? Something you do without fail every night before you sleep. For me, I like to have lots of blankets, a fan, and accessible water. Every night, before bed, I fill up a big tumbler with ice and water to drink throughout the night. Most times the tumbler does not have a lid on it. Leaving it open to the floating particles in the room. By the time I awaken for that early morning drink, my cup usually has some dust particles for added flavor (not an issue when I have a lidded cup). But do I still drink the water? Of course, I do.

Because I am thirsty.

is not attainable because the ground beneath us is so unstable. It’s like trying to get balanced on a Pogo Ball (they were all the 80’s rage, look it up).

No this is not a night-time routine, self-help article.

But let us dig deeper into the idea of leaving the lid off for a moment.

Proverbs 4:23 ESV

Many a day our souls are like that open cup of water. We don’t care for or cover it as well as we should, then end up tainted by the residue and particles from life floating all around us. We feel dragged down, sluggish, fatigue, and just plain tired. Struggling to find a grounding point because we have been pushed and pulled in so many directions. Or because we have given ourselves away to so many different people and obligations that there is not much left for ourselves. Yet for some reason we continue to leave the lid off, allowing more of us to spill out and more junk to come in. All while hoping to have a life of peace and balance. Which 72

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Our souls left without a protective lid, are susceptible to the elements of the environment we are in.

There must be a system of boundaries and guard rails in our daily living. Otherwise, the elements will devour our peace.

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” keep: /v/ to provide for the sustenance of (something, someone); (own, guard, protect, support) The soul is the throne room surrounding the heart.

Whatever sits on the throne of our hearts will spread throughout our throne room and have rule over our lives. And adversely, whatever we allow to hang out in the throne room will eventually affect the throne itself. The rightful King, King Jesus, is the only one who should sit on that seat. However, life can sometimes get us out of whack, and we sit frivolous things on the seat of state. Family, work, church, pleasure, you name it, can undeservingly

sit in place of the righteous One, becoming the lord over us. Causing a slow decay to the health of our inner man. Resulting in a seemingly rapid need for emergency response to the state of our wellbeing.

True soul care starts with personal vigilance regarding the elements and influences that shape and mold the nature of the most precious part of who we are. Not everything nor everyone should have access to our most sacred parts of self. When we live a boundary-less life we are fair game to the world. Every part of us will take a hit and feel the effects. We must be proactive, setting standards and limitations on what we allow to take root and/ or plant seeds in us. The best way to healthily move forward is having a strong starting point. All the spa days in the world cannot set balance to a consistent imbalanced life of bad choices. We take care of our soul by taking care of our choices.

Making the decision to set healthy personal boundaries for ourselves gives us the strength and confidence to set boundaries in other areas of our lives (i.e., friendships, work-life, family, etc.). This is an area that most of us struggle with. We feel obligations to people and places. We feel a need to people-please, keep an image, fill the holes, and take the burdens. These are all natural human responses. However, doing what comes natural to us can take us to a lot of natural consequences that drain the life from us.

So maybe we can start to care for our souls by taking the time to really evaluate the influences that are allowed to make dents and impressions on us. What are things that we have allowed our eyes to behold, giving access to our spirit man? (“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye

is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”

Matthew 6:22). Where have we allowed the opinions of man to slip under the lid and take a seat on the throne of our hearts? The way we take back the health of our souls is by tracking down the source of its sustenance. The source of its nourishment. The force that moves it. Then taking measures to ensure that each of those sources are beneficial and rooted in the Father.

Guard the throne room, guard the throne.

What has found its way into your throne room that may threaten the seat of your heart?

What acts of vigilance could you take now to place safeguards that keep your soul safe and balanced?

What is something you need to stop doing immediately to care for your soul?

God, I know that you are the rightful owner of both the throne of my heart and the throne room of my soul. Thank you for caring so deeply and lovingly for both. Forgive me for allowing anything else to take your place as Lord in my life. God, help me to vigilantly place guards and boundaries around the heart and deposit you have trusted unto me. Give me discernment to know what is good for my soul and what is not of you so that I can serve you from a spiritually healthy place. I surrender my all back to you. In Jesus name, Amen!

J. E. (JADE) BERRY is a writer/speaker, songwriter, wife and mom to five children, with a heart for seeing people come to know freedom through a relationship with Christ Jesus. Connect with her at JEBerrySpeaks.com.

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Believing

for in the Midst of Doubt

STEPHANIE K. ADAMS

The doctor held one hand and a nurse the other; he stared straight into my eyes and said, "It's not a cyst. I'm very concerned, and you should be too." I was shocked.

I had found a lump a few months prior while on a work trip with my husband. But because life was busy, and well, to be honest, I was frightened, I ignored it and pretended to forget it was there.

Until a few months later, when I noticed a visible lump protruding from the side of my body, and I knew I couldn’t avoid it any longer.

I had the mammogram, and at the end of the appointment, they asked me to do an ultrasound to get a better look. After, the nurse asked me to get dressed and wait for the doctor.

When he asked to hold my hand, part of my brain processed this wasn’t a good situation, but the other part was in complete denial of what was said.

“You need to start gathering a support team now rather than later. This biopsy isn’t to see what we are dealing with, but how we are going to deal with it.”

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A week later, I was officially diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.

God can, but will He?

But the bad news didn’t stop there. Every time we went to an appointment, the reports were worse.

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” Mark 9:24 ESV

“…the tumor is larger than we initially thought … no known targeted treatment … high recurrence rate within the first year … 3-5 year life expectancy…”

I found myself in a place of desperation.

During treatments, I found myself vulnerably praying, “Lord, I believe with all my heart that you can help me, but deep down inside, I don’t know if you will. I believe Lord; help my unbelief.”

Everything was ultimately out of my control, and I hated it. There was no way for me to change what was going on. There wasn’t a phone call I could make or action I could take to change this heartbreaking situation within my own strength.

It is still easier for me to pray and believe for other's difficult situations because I see the good in them, I know God loves them and can see His goodness in their lives, but I find it harder to have faith for myself.

To make it all worse, I couldn’t feel God, I couldn’t hear God, and I couldn’t see God. Yet something on the inside of me said, “You might not feel Him, you might not see or hear Him, but you certainly can trust what He has already said in His Word.”

Why? Because I know all of my faults, all the ways I fall short. There are times when I look in the mirror I don’t see someone worthy of God's attention; I see someone who doesn’t measure up the way I think I should because the reflection is someone with a lot of issues.

I grabbed my Bible and began to write down every verse I could find that spoke His promises for His children. I read those scribbled Scriptures back to God because I was so devastated I didn’t have the words to pray. Yet, even as I read His promises, somewhere deep inside, I doubted. I knew God could help me, but would He?

As I searched through the Bible looking for words of hope, I remembered the woman in Mark 5:2528, who also had some issues. She was in a desperate situation she could not control. She, too, couldn’t pick up the phone and call someone to change her diagnosis of hemorrhaging. She couldn’t even go to another doctor because her situation was so

It was like someone kept punching me in the gut and knocking the wind out of me.

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Then she heard about Jesus. She determined within herself, “If I can only get to Him.” She had unshakable faith that Christ could indeed help her desperate situation no matter what issues she carried with her.

So too, I determined within myself to press in harder and fight my way to Jesus.

God is Faithful, Even When We Doubt “And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’” Mark 5:34 ESV After the call came with the official diagnosis, I hung up and sobbed. It was all I could do.

I didn’t cry because I was afraid of missing out on significant life events like proms, graduations, weddings, and grandkids. I cried because I feared not being there for everyday things, like kissing my kids’ foreheads when they came home, cleaning their clothes, checking their homework, tucking them into bed, holding them when they cry, and cooking their meals.

Determined faith was the secret to getting past my fear and doubt and trusting and believing for His fullness even when I couldn’t see it.

Through months of treatments, surgeries, and radiation, I prayed promises in Scripture and believed in God’s goodness. I reminded Him of His promises, not because He forgot, but so I would remember.

Then one day, I got a phone call from my surgeon.

My pathology report stated there was not even one microscopic cancer cell in all of the tissue removed during surgery. The doctor proclaimed he didn’t have an explanation. But I knew. I quickly replied, “This is what we prayed and believed for, and God answered.”

When all I had was the presence of Jesus, I had no choice but to trust in the One who allowed the storm.

As I grieved, I asked my husband, "If I'm not here to do all these things, who is going to fill the void of their mother?"

"You are,” he replied.

With those words hanging thick in the air, it was decided. I would let God fight this battle, and I would pray and believe for a miracle.

Over the next few weeks, I begged God to remove this raging storm, but instead, He chose to bring peace in the middle of it. When all I had was the presence of Jesus, I had no choice but to trust in the One who allowed the storm.

Jesus gently reminded me when the woman with the issue of blood determined within herself to press past all the doubt and fear and fight her way to Him, she found exactly what she needed. In every area of her life where desperation reigned, 76

Jesus stepped in, and she was free.

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Friend, He is always faithful to answer us when we cry out to him. We may not always understand His answers, but our job isn’t to understand His ways. Instead, we are to determine within ourselves to pursue faith, to trust in His ability to fulfill His plans and purposes for our lives.

If you face a challenging season in your life today, I want you to know God is faithful, even if you doubt.

Whatever situation weighs heavy on your heart and you are fearful for the outcome, ask God to show you 2-3 verses of His promises in Scripture, then mark them in your Bible or write them in your journal. Turn those verses into your prayer over the situation.

When we bring God's Word to Him, He is faithful to fulfill His plans for our lives, even when we have doubts about His goodness. Ask Him to help your unbelief.

Jesus, thank you for always being faithful to meet me in the hard places in life. I believe you will be here for me now, but sometimes I struggle with doubt. I believe but help my unbelief. Lord, I ask you to show me your promises as I search your Word for hope and peace. Thank you for your presence during this difficult time. Amen.

Photos courtesy of Stephanie K Adams

grim she had already spent everything she had trying to fix it herself.

We’re In This Together When one person is dealing with a difficult season, particularly a health issue, it also affects the entire family. Although I had my own fears and doubts, my family was battling, too. I recently had the opportunity to interview my husband and kids to find out their thoughts when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and what helped them during that time. Here are their thoughts: "The diagnosis left me feeling uncertain about our future, but the one thing I knew was true was God's faithfulness. I had to remind myself of God's presence and faithfulness during previous hard circumstances. I relied on His faithfulness in the past to get me through the uncertainty of this situation, whether it turned out the way I wanted or hoped.

Knowing the outcome was in God's hands moved me from feeling hopeless to feeling His peace."

- R. Adams, husband

"Being open and communicating about what was going on was helpful, especially as a teenager at the time. Also, we allowed ourselves to feel whatever we were feeling in the moment, whether it was anger, sadness, whatever, but then we made an intentional decision to focus on God's goodness and His Word, even though we were afraid things wouldn't turn out the way we wanted."

- C. Alexander, daughter

"I wanted someone to tell me everything was going to be okay because I was afraid it wouldn't be."

- J. Adams, son

STEPHANIE K ADAMS is the founding Director of Real Women Ministries, where she equips women with resources for Bible Study and prayer. She is passionate about helping women find time for God’s Word in the midst of their busy lives.

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CARMEN HORNE

For me, that means I begin about an hour before bed preparing for sleep. Taking time to unwind is essential for me to sleep well. Good sleep does not happen in a vacuum. It happens when we prepare for it.

Discover the healthiest eating plan for your body, and do your best to follow it. I must eat a little lower carb, but I also follow the 80/20 rule. Eighty percent of the time, I eat whole, low starch/ low sugar foods, and twenty percent of the time, I eat less healthy foods.

Discuss with your personal physician what’s best for you.

Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow because today has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34) Amen, Jesus, amen. He also reminds us that we can be less anxious and have a peace that we can’t explain to guard our hearts and minds when we pray, offer thanks, and ask Him for what we need. (Philippians 4:6–7) Taking a moment each day to read our Bible, pray, and write down a couple of things we are grateful for helps us remember that God is in control.

Weary and depressed, Elijah left his servant and went deep into the wilderness. All aspects of weariness tend to make aloneness attractive. I don’t know how that fella might have helped Elijah, but neither of them would have been alone.

God created us to need connections with others. When we are struggling, we want to shut the door to the world. Connecting with others will be hard, so hard.

You will need to be intentional. You won’t feel like it. Ignore those particular feelings. Take a deep breath, girlfriend, and push past weariness. Call a friend, meet someone for lunch, and show up at your church to worship with other believers.

After God ministered to Elijah’s body and soul, He sent him on to continue the work He had called him to do.

Helping others is a valuable antidote to self-absorption and the disconnection we feel when we are struggling.

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Original hand-lettering by Jana Kennedy -Spicer

PSALM 95:2

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How to be

Thankful

When God Says No MITZI NEELY

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Since I was a little girl, I set lofty goals, crafted grand plans, and dreamed big dreams. Even when there was a delay or detour, I remained faithful to pursue the goals and plans in front of me.

But like so many others, I got bogged down in the ‘chasing after’ stage and sometimes failed to realize that plans and dreams can be interrupted, derailed, or rearranged. It’s gut-wrenching to experience the fragility, uncertainty, or brokenness that follows, but that’s what happens when we tend to put ourselves in charge.

Such is the perfect time for God to intervene and reveal His best work.

You see, I sometimes get carried away in my robust planning and fail to take into account the row upon row of details needed to make my goals become reality. It doesn’t happen often, but it happens. In hindsight I’ve always been a believer that if you are prepared, work hard, and pray through every decision, your dreams and goals can come true.

goal and map out a plan to create and launch a women’s ministry. It certainly wasn’t on my radar, but seven months later, Peacefully Imperfect was born. Sharing the gospel with women across the generations is near and dear to my heart.

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? While it wasn’t exactly the direction I had been seeking, it was God’s plan for what I needed and what God needed from me. I was writing again, I had purpose, and that made me happy.

Over the years God has allowed me to veer from my destined path and dip my toe in the proverbial pool when seeking a new direction, hobby, or job.

He opened some doors so I could gain experience and digest the gamut of emotions associated with what I was after, and He closed other doors because they were not a good fit for me. Those were painful at the time.

It’s during the closed-door moments that I realize I am exactly where I need to be, doing what I need to be doing.

How you get there may be the game-changer.

I’ve learned from past experiences that when I become laser-focused on reaching this goal or that goal, I lose perspective and sight of God’s Will for my life. It’s almost like I "get the cart before the horse" and forget there is an order to things.

Years ago, I found myself longing to return to writing. For months I prayed about a calling I’d felt God pressing on my heart. I began writing devotionals for what I believed would be a book someday. Truth be told—I thought ministry writing would be a nice side gig.

Instead, God nudged me to think beyond a single

Besides, if I keep looking for greener pastures, how will I ever experience the beauty of the dreams and plans that God has for me in the present?

I readily admit during moments of free will, God allows us to make decisions that He knows are not best for us. He knows the havoc that will be wreaked on our personal lives, the heartbreak we could endure from our choices, and the disappointments we might feel when things go wildly awry.

But I do believe the temporary emotions are far better to experience than the suffering of stinging consequences and long-lasting effects caused by decisions made in the flesh.

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While I pray through every decision, I also remember to ask for His Will in the outcome. I want and seek His protection and total control over my next steps whether I like the end result or not. And there have been times when I didn’t like the door slammed in my face or the hard NO that followed.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

Anytime we don’t get what we want, it’s easy to believe we have failed. That is how the enemy misleads us to believe his lies. He plants seeds of doubt. He wants us to believe that circumstances, failures, and successes define us. He wants us to believe that we have been ripped off, short changed, and wronged.

So, I can choose to be discouraged and lose my way or hang my head in shame believing I have failed when I don't achieve one of the things on my list.

Instead, I choose daily to live thankfully as God shows me how to take rainy days and bring sunshine. It may take months or years to appreciate His firm NOs, but I understand them in His perfect time.

None of that is truth.

We are defined by our Maker and Creator. It is about who we are in Him. It is about how well we hold up in the midst of adversity. It is about how well we handle the disappointments, big and small, and it is about how well we rebound and see God’s hand of protection in all that we do.

Regardless of the delays, detours, or redirects in my life, God always allows me to see His best work in me, my family, and those I love. His plans give me more than I could ever dream about on my own and the realization that a plan best followed is one that is God-designed—even when His answer is no, or not yet.

“May the beloved of the Lord dwell in security by Him, Who shields him all the day, And he dwells between His shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12 NASB

While things don’t always go the way I planned, they do go the way I prayed. And for that, I am eternally thankful.

Through any of the recalculations or pivots I have had to make in my life, I could have let a grudge take root in my heart. Our flesh allows us to slip off into the brink of unforgiveness when something doesn’t go our way. But I know I am better than that. I am a "Daughter of the King," and He is bigger than any issue, challenge, problem, person, or situation I encounter. I am also thankful that He sees the big picture and knows what is best for me, even when I don’t see or understand.

This article is an excerpt from Mitzi’s book, A Thankful Heart: 30 Days to the Grateful Life, a 31 day devotional with space to journal your thoughts and prayers. Mitzi also includes several of her delicious signature southern recipes.

MITZI NEELY is known for encouraging and inspiring people of all ages through her teachings on grace, love, joy, and peace. Follow Mitzi at peacefullyimperfect.net because the joy of the journey is learning His word together.

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A Thankful Heart: 30 Days to the Grateful Life

In a time when negativity seems to abound, A Thankful Heart offers readers a breath of fresh air that will both encourage and challenge readers to keep their focus on the Lord - the most positive place where we can fix our thoughts. ~ Leigh Ellen

Would you like to experience contentment in every circumstance?

In this 30 day study of, 'A Thankful Heart,' Mitzi Neely shares her heart as she leads you on a journey to the grateful life.

The daily devotionals and scripture readings are going to usher you into the presence of the Lord as you spend time with Him and meditate on the ways He has blessed you.

As an extra feature and reminder to thank Him for everything, you will find the ‘Food for Thought’ section filled with favorite family recipes at the end of each week.

PEACEFULLYIMPERFECT.net/thankfulheart A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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LORI ANN WOOD

MY MOMMA, PROBABLY LIKE YOURS, HAD HER SIGNATURE SAYINGS. One I never liked: “Sometimes, you have to act better than you feel.”

At Thanksgiving, she would often require us to say something we were thankful for. It felt forced, like the times she told us, “Say you’re sorry,’” after we embarrassed a younger sibling or used the last of our older sister’s expensive shampoo in the shower. It was something we had to do, not something we had to feel.

Back then, it seemed a dry, pointless exercise to mutter thanks, or count our blessings. Now I realize she was purposefully planting a heart of gratitude in me.

As I face another holiday season without her, I’ve done some pondering about my mother’s advice, and the difference between thankfulness and gratitude. I’ve always used these words as synonyms, interchangeably. But that may have been a little off the mark. And just in the last few years, I’ve started to understand why.

THANKFULNESS VS. GRATITUDE Six years ago as Thanksgiving rolled into view, I was feeling less than thankful. I was suffocating under 14 pounds of retained fluid that I thought was just extra weight I had gained, even though I hadn’t eaten in a week. I was so exhausted I couldn’t put my socks on without sitting on the floor, and then it took several minutes. I thought, this must be what pneumonia feels like. And with my children coming 84

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in for the holiday, I wasn’t thankful to be in that state. I was disappointed that the few days I had to spend with them would be marred by this inconvenient and poorly timed illness. Whatever it was.

I scoffed at the words in seasonal ads: thankfulness and gratitude. I felt neither of those and had no idea where to get them. Or if I even could.

The apostle Paul, who knew something about suffering, was determined to give thanks always, regardless of the chains and pains and broken plans. He encouraged us to let every detail of our lives be done with a sense of gratitude. No matter the outcome, every step of the way. For him, it was a way of life.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18, NIV) I began to think Paul and I had different definitions of thankfulness…or was it gratitude? I muttered thanks every day in prayer, but what I desperately wanted was what Paul had.

What exactly is gratitude? And how is it different from thankfulness?

Thankfulness is a reaction you have, without much internal thought. A singular appreciation for benefits received: a door held open or a clothes iron received for graduation. Whether we feel it or not, we express it. It is more a social norm, something your mother taught you (or should have) about being polite.

But gratefulness runs deeper.

Gratitude is a sense of thankfulness that becomes a way of life.

Not a surface reaction, like a forced thank-you note for that useless iron, but a mature thankfulness. An established thankfulness. Thankfulness in action.

Paul’s thankfulness.

THE MISSING LINK Once I recognized the difference, I still couldn’t figure out how to go from my routine thankful words to the rich grateful living I desired. So, I did what I knew to do.

As my heart failure diagnosis began to sink in, my momma’s words surfaced again. My head did what my heart could not. The Spirit assisted as I prayed dull thanks even when I wasn’t feeling it. I was scared and so much uncertainty hung in that

November air. In my illness-tinted attempt to be deeply thankful, I knew something was missing.

And turns out, it was something big.

Gratitude exists as having two qualities. First, an outward appreciation for goodness, gifts, blessings.

Spoken thankfulness.

To get beyond mere thankfulness to a deeper gratitude, we must add something. The second quality of gratitude is knowing that the blessing is freely given from a source apart from us, unearned and undeserved.

Sounded like grace to me.

In fact, gratitude’s root word is grace. The definition of gratitude is “full of appreciation for what is undeserved.”

It was an Ah-ha moment. Thankfulness plus grace equals gratitude. Because grace transforms feelings into action. Like grace going to the cross. Grace propels affection into love, and thanks into A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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gratitude. Grace is the force that takes us from saying we’re thankful to living gratefully.

GRACE-FILLED LIVING REQUIRES OTHERS What I had been missing was a recognition of grace. And even though I couldn’t see it that dark Thanksgiving, grace was already there. 

Grace walked into my home with homemade food for weeks after my diagnosis.



Grace filled my mailbox with cards for over a year.



Grace covered my counter with flowers for months.



Grace sat with my husband in the hospital.



Grace took my vitals with tears in her eyes and a promise of prayer.



Grace welcomed my daughter into her home as we traveled for medical care.



Grace held my hand and prayed when I could not.

Through the grace-filled hearts of others, my fraying edges were gradually and carefully bound together when it would have been so easy to fall apart.

Just as we need each other to understand grace, we need each other to be truly grateful. Paul, the apostle of grace, who had more to say about the subject than all other Bible writers combined, would surely agree.

After my diagnosis, I realized I needed to add grace to my spoken thankfulness so I could develop a grateful way of life. I began a three-step journey from saying thanks to practicing gratitude.

ACT BETTER THAN YOU FEEL The first step toward grateful living is being thankful even when, especially when, you’re not feeling it. Just like my momma required of me as a child.

Here’s what worked for me: On difficult days, take time to appreciate the small, mundane pieces of our lives that blur by in normal tedium. When I stopped complaining about all the “big” things I couldn’t have, I had bandwidth to start being grateful for the hundreds of small ones I was missing.

Use all your senses, especially concentrating on hearing, tasting, smelling.

Focus on people and experiences rather than things. This decreases the comparison that often deflates our gratitude.

Remember the times life didn’t turn out as you’d hoped, the difficult times that somehow didn’t destroy you. That’s recognizing grace - not being consumed by that which should consume you.

FORM HABITS

Grace. Undeserved favor. Unearned merit, meals, mercy. By experiencing it through others, I began to grasp grace from my God.

The second step toward gratitude involves cultivating habits to sustain “acting better than you feel.” These are the ones that helped me:

Six years ago, I was diagnosed with heart failure an incurable, progressive condition. From an outside perspective, that might seem like the end of gratitude. But for me, it was the beginning. I began to recognize that what our souls become in our best moments is a lifelong culmination of unmerited goodness from outside ourselves.

Start small. I first wrote down and read the same words of thanksgiving every day. Later, I’d leave a blank and fill it in with something new to be thankful for. The point is not the eloquence, but the discipline to do it. And short and simple is a good place to start.

My raw but determined thankfulness was boosted by so many who came bearing such grace.

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Because of that grace, and the seed planted long ago by my momma, thankful words began to grow into full-fledged grateful living.

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Create tangible reminders to transfer the thankfulness from your hands to your heart: gratitude journals, lists, albums, boards. Or keep a photo file on your phone of what you are most grateful for.

As you are gaining muscle memory, it helps to practice gratitude at the same time every day. Habits are powerful tools to change behavior and ultimately transformation the trajectory of our lives.

Most habits use time markers to help us remember, like brushing our teeth. In expressing gratitude, pick a time and make it part of your daily routine.

where we can extend grace to others.

A new habit is best adopted through the buddy system: tacking it onto a habit you have already formed. For example, when we got a new puppy, we often forgot to let her out before going to bed.

Now, as soon as my husband picks up his dental floss, he coaxes the dog out the front door. (I go through my list of thanks every day when I take my meds.)

Extending grace involves not just thinking grateful thoughts, but purposefully expressing them. Call loved ones even when it’s hard – parents, grandparents, old friends, estranged children. Express appreciation to those serving in the community, to ministers, to essential workers even when we disagree politically. Write a thank-you note to a past teacher or co-worker. Compliment strangers daily.

Put stop signs in your life to help you remember.

Use sticky notes (my personal favorite) or Siri reminders. Set a timer or ask a friend to be your accountability partner and talk through what you’re grateful for on a regular basis. We use reminder services for other commitments, like paying bills or automatic retirement savings, so why not use it for gratitude?

Be patient with yourself as you move toward gratitude. Paul knew this enriched thankfulness cannot be rushed. To truly see it requires grit and brokenin grace. Building a fortress of gratitude demands the Spirit’s vision and time. Small steps take us from routine thankful words to a gratitude-based life.

EXTEND GRACE To fully live in gratitude, we must reach the point

Begin by looking outward with empathy, however different other circumstances or faces are from your own.

Then act on that empathy by investing in a cause outside your own life circle, becoming a gracecarrier.

Maybe Paul had this journey from thankfulness to gratefulness in mind when he said we are transformed one degree of glory at a time.

Maybe my momma did, too.

LORI ANN WOOD currently serves as founding leader of the Parenting Education Ministry at the Church of Christ in Bentonville. She also serves as WomenHeart Champion Community Educator for Arkansas and American Heart Association Ambassador. Having discovered a serious heart condition almost too late, Lori Ann writes to encourage others to find joy in the divine detours of life. Read more from her at loriannwood.com.

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From wastelands to NATALIA DRUMM

My eyes blinked at the screen as my mind reeled to process the words. Rejection. Confusion.

How could this happen? Everything sounded so promising after our meeting, and now the company was backing out, changing their tune.

“Lord, I don’t understand, I thought you called me into this, how could this happen?” I cried out. Heartbreak and confusion lingered in my soul as tears trickled down my face.

Over the next several weeks, the pain of rejection felt overwhelming, disorienting. How do I give thanks in the midst of emotions that make me want to run from God not toward God? All the work I had done for months, years, felt scorched in the heat of rejection. My soul a wasteland of dreams. I felt a kinship with the prophets and their laments.

As the weeks followed and the pain dulled, I began to see the work the Lord was doing in my life.

Dreams did not disappear, but they did dissipate their hold on my heart. Everything was held a little looser, as I realized how little power I had compared the hand of the Lord.

Week by week the Lord began to plant new ideas, new opportunities, and fresh hope in the wasteland

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of my heart and mind. As I kept stepping in the space of the wilderness, I began to see how God’s blockage of one path wasn’t meant for my pain–– rather He was using it for my protection. So focused was I to enter a particular path, I was not even looking for what God had available in another path. The rejection wasn’t meant to kill my dream, God indeed had placed the dream there on purpose, but the dream was meant to sprout and bring fruit I had never dreamed of.

A few months following that fateful afternoon of rejection I came back to read the email, still lingering in my inbox, and sat down to give the Lord thanks. My heart now grateful for the guidance.

The closed path in my journey lead to another path that has filled my heart and brought so much life, fruit and flourishing.

So often in life we fail to give thanks for the hard things, because, well, they’re hard. And I certainly don’t like hard. Yet, those hard paths lead us to holy destinations. Now, in the hard moments, I stop and remind my soul of God’s goodness to bring joy from the wastelands. God’s compassionate comfort to my broken heart, and His faithful leadership of my life are the story I tell myself when I feel uncertain about whatever may lie ahead of me.

Our growth can be measured by the gratitude we give.

As we grow in our faith we learn to see the sover-

eign hand of God always at work in our lives. It is because of this perspective and understanding of God that we can begin to give thanks even for the hard things. (James 1:2) The wastelands of our lives don’t remain dry because we know that once in the hands of the Creator they will eventually become a beautiful garden of gratitude and joy.

Satan’s goal is to steal, kill and destroy. We counter his attacks when we give thanks for the goodness of God in the midst of all situations. Our gratitude for God’s faithfulness shifts our focus from our struggle onto our Savior.

R EFLECTION :

Is there an area of your life that feels dry and deserted? Spend some time today writing down the goodness of God in your life, in that particular area as well as in all the areas of life. Begin to pray about God’s faithfulness in your life. Give Him thanks for His sovereignty and faithfulness and ask Him to plant seeds of joy into your life.

P RAYER :

Father, You know all things, and even in the hard areas of my life You are doing a holy work. Help me to have eyes that see your hand of faithfulness in my life and a heart that will rejoice in you when the circumstances in front of me don’t make sense to my natural eyes.

Help my mouth to sing Your praises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

NATALIA DRUMM is is a graduate student at Dallas Theological Seminaryand founder and creator of Girlfriends in the Word™ where she leads Bible study groups and produces study books and resources for busy women to grow in God’s Word. She also writes for Lifeway Women, A Wife Like Me and Sweet to the Soul. Visit her website at www.nataliadrumm.com.

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Heavenly Father, we come before You to offer our thanksgiving and praise for all You are and all You do!

We are unworthy, yet You still love us! You are our savior, our deliverer, You are the light of the world and our very foundation; You are creator of the heavens and earth, You have set everything in it’s proper place including each of us; You are both strength and comfort, all wisdom and knowledge; You give at our request, all that we need is provided by Your hand; You are alpha and omega, You are the Almighty, You are I Am and You are our Father.

Oh Lord, You are all love and mercy! May our hearts always be filled with awe and may we keep a spirit of gratitude and daily humble ourselves at Your feet with offerings of thanksgiving and praise! Father, we pray that all we do and say be a reflection of Your love and grace and that all glory be given to You. Forgive us our failings, Father, and provide us the strength to follow the path You have laid out before us. Create in our hearts a hunger for Your word and a desire to share Your message with those around us. All this we ask in Your son’s precious name…

Amen.

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P R AY E R S O F G R AT I T U D E Cut out prayer cards and use in your personal prayer time, or write an encouragement on the back and share with a friend.

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 (NLT)

“I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.”

Psalm 118:21 (ESV)

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Prayers by Carmen Horne

“saying, ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.’”

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Revelation 11:17 (ESV)

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P R AY E R S O F G R AT I T U D E Cut out prayer cards and use in your personal prayer time, or write an encouragement on the back and share with a friend.

D EAR L ORD , S OMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THE A POSTLE P AUL AND DO WHAT I WISH I HADN ’ T DONE .

(R OMANS 7:15) M Y SIN STRUGGLES ARE REAL , BUT THEY NO LONGER DEFINE ME .

B ECAUSE OF Y OUR SACRIFICE , J ESUS , I HAVE VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH .

W HEN I AM REPENTANT , Y OU FREELY OFFER FORGIVENESS . T HANK Y OU , L ORD , FOR THE FREEDOM I FIND IN Y OU ! W ITH A HEART FULL OF PRAISE , I OFFER THIS PRAYER IN THE NAME OF J ESUS . A MEN .

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A BBA F ATHER , I OFFER Y OU A SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING (P SALM 116:17) AS I MANEUVER THE SITUATIONS I FACE .

T HANK Y OU FOR ALWAYS ANSWERING MY PRAYERS . H ELP ME SEE Y OUR HAND IN EVERY ANSWER , ESPECIALLY WHEN I DON ’ T UNDERSTAND Y OUR PLAN AND PURPOSE .

O UR CONNECTION IS MY SALVATION . I CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT Y OU .

I N J ESUS ’ NAME , A MEN .

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S OVEREIGN L ORD , I AM ANXIOUS , L ORD . W ORRY HAS BECOME AN UNWANTED COMPANION .

T ODAY , I OFFER MY TROUBLED HEART TO Y OU . I AM GRATEFUL THAT Y OU HEAR AND ANSWER PRAYER . T HANK Y OU IN ADVANCE FOR THE COMFORT AND GUIDANCE Y OU OFFER WHEN I INVITE Y OU INTO MY SITUATION . I DESIRE Y OUR PEACE , THE PEACE THAT PASSES MY UNDERSTANDING .

(P HILIPPIANS 4:7) O PEN MY EYES TO Y OUR PRESENCE , L ORD , WHEN DOUBT FILLS MY HEART . I REJOICE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT Y OU ARE THERE . I N J ESUS ’ NAME , I PRAY . A MEN .

T HE WORLD AROUND ME FEELS OUT OF CONTROL . T HE TWENTY - FOUR - HOUR NEWS CYCLE , AND SOCIAL MEDIA THAT IS ONLY A CLICK AWAY , HIGHLIGHT CHAOS AND INSTILL FEAR . B UT Y OUR WORD REINFORCES THE TRUTH OF Y OUR SOVEREIGNTY . T HANK Y OU , L ORD , FOR Y OUR EVER - PRESENT HELP IN OUR TIMES OF TROUBLE . (P SALM 46:1) Y OU ARE THE GREAT “I AM” — THE O NE WHO IS AND WHO WAS — AND THERE IS NONE OTHER LIKE Y OU . I REJOICE AND SHOUT WITH JOY , “T HE L ORD REIGNS !” I OFFER THIS PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IN THE NAME OF J ESUS .

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A MEN .

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P R AY E R S T O S H A R E Cut out prayer cards and use in your personal prayer time, or write an encouragement on the back and share with a friend.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.

It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Psalm 133:1-3 (NIV)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Prayers by Susan B. Mead

Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

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P R AY E R S T O S H A R E Cut out prayer cards and use in your personal prayer time, or write an encouragement on the back and share with a friend.

L ORD , I LOVE IT THAT Y OU TELL US Y OU – IN EVERY SITUATION – SO WHY DO I NEED A REMINDER TO TURN FROM MY SELF HOW AND WHEN TO COME TO

CENTERED THINKING AND TALK TO YOU IN PRAYER ?

I CAN EVEN PRESENT MY HEART ’ S DESIRES TO YOU .

W HEN I GIVE MY ANXIETY TO YOU , Y OU EXCHANGE IT FOR Y OUR PEACE . I T COMES TO ME , MELTING ANXIETY AWAY , LAYER BY LAYER . I DON ’ T UNDERSTAND YET I CHOOSE TO COME TO Y OU FILLED WITH THANKFULNESS FOR Y OU GUARD MY HEART AND MIND TOO . T HANK Y OU L ORD FOR BEING FAITHFUL TO Y OUR PROMISES .

I N J ESUS NAME . A MEN

L ORD , MAY WE PLEASE Y OU AS WE UNITE AS ONE BODY IN C HRIST J ESUS JUST AS F ATHER , S ON , AND H OLY S PIRIT ARE UNITED AS ONE G OD .

C ONSECRATE US WITH Y OUR JOY , AS Y OUR HOLY PRIESTS , ANOINTED BY Y OU TO BE WATERED BY THE LIVING WATER AND FRUITFUL IN OUR LIVES FOR

Y OU BLESS US

WITH ABUNDANT , EVERLASTING LIFE .

W E PRAISE Y OUR HOLY NAME , A LMIGHTY K ING AND THANK Y OU FOR THE BEST GIFT EVER AVAILABLE WHEN WE BELIEVE IN

Y OUR S ON J ESUS - ETERNAL LIFE !

I N J ESUS NAME . A MEN .

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P EACE … O L ORD , HOW WE NEED Y OUR PEACE TO PREVAIL TODAY … AND TOMORROW .

P ANDEMICS CREATED PANIC AND Y ET Y OU

PANDEMONIUM IN OUR WORLD .

O L ORD G OD A LMIGHTY , Y OU KNOW ME I FALL INTO IT – FAST . T HANK Y OU , F ATHER , FOR REMINDING ME OF ALL Y OU WILL DO FOR ME ; Y OU ARE WITH ME , Y OU ARE MY G OD , Y OU WILL STRENGTHEN ME AND HELP ME AND UPHOLD ME WITH Y OU MOST HOLY RIGHT HAND .

I CAN TRUST Y OU WILL KEEP Y OUR PROMISES L ORD , SO I CHOOSE NOT TO FEAR TODAY , FOR Y OU ARE WITH ME AND Y OU WILL NEVER , EVER LEAVE ME .

T HANK Y OU J ESUS . A MEN .

WELL , THAT FEAR COMES AND

SAY WE ARE FOREIGNERS IN A FOREIGN LAND DESTINED FOR HEAVEN .

S O YES L ORD , LET Y OUR PEACE , Y OUR SHALOM , COME TODAY . I’ M SO THANKFUL THAT SHALOM MEANS AUTHORITY TO DESTROY CHAOS .

C HRIST IN ME GIVES ME

THE AUTHORITY TO DESTROY THE CHAOS .

H E GIVES IT TO ALL OF US IN THE BODY OF C HRIST . T HAT ’ S MINDBOGGLING , L ORD . H OW THANKFUL I AM FOR Y OU , J ESUS , THAT Y OU CALL US TO Y OUR PEACE AND TO BE Y OUR ONE BODY .

G LORY TO G OD ! W E CAN TURN TO Y OU IN OUR TIME OF NEED TO PRAISE AND

Y OU . S O WE DO .

I N J ESUS NAME , A MEN .

THANK

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SWEETTOTHESOUL.com

Jingle and Joy is a 25 day prayer advent journal featuring daily prayer prompts which will keep you kneeling beneath the tree, looking up to God, and trusting he hears your every request.

For more information and to access all of our Jingle and Joy resources, visit S w e e tToT h e S o u l . c o m / J i n g l e a n dJ o y

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You’re JODIE BARRETT

The house was so quiet not even a mouse was stirring.

Both my children were at college, spreading their wings and learning to fly. My Armystrong husband was somewhere around the globe serving our country. Momma bird (that’s me) was left in an empty nest with the holidays drawing near.

A quiet house greeted me each night after a long day’s work. No one was home to cook for or clean up after. The stockings were hung with care, but the laughter around the table was missing. This was the perfect setting for loneliness to creep in and settle deep. I knew I could sit and focus on being alone or I could meet with God and spend time with Him. From experience, I knew the later was best.

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Praying for others in the month of December as I decorated our Christmas tree had become a special time for me. A dear friend had shared her tradition of slowly hanging ornaments and giving thanks to God for those she remembered. I loved this idea! Following her lead, I hung ornaments on our tree and prayed. I decided to also use this time to read my Bible and journal prayers for others. As I did this, Paul’s words in 1 Timothy caught my attention: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1 NLT With so many needs, concerns, burdens, and heartaches, Paul’s words to Timothy answered a question that often troubled me, “How can I help others?”

The answer was right there in God’s Word. Many times I knew someone in need but overcomplicated my response. Paul urged Timothy to begin with praying for others and I need only do the same.

Inspired to create a prayer tree, I set It up in our loft area. Every evening I would climb the stairs, open my journal, read God’s word and for others. There were so many people in need: the lost, the lonely, the sick, and the grieving. Often my list seemed overwhelming, so each night I focused on a different group of people. I made headings in my journal and asked God how to pray for each group. Later, I hung tags and ornaments on my prayer tree to help me recall who to pray for throughout the holiday season. This process helped me stay organized for a task that seemed bigger than me.

As I prayed, I felt a nudge to invite others to pray with me, but how? How could I reach my community and extend an invitation?

Like many times before, God had prepared me in advance with everything I needed to follow His prompt. Right there by my prayer tree, I opened my Facebook account and did a live video inviting others to pray with me. The response was overwhelming. Many were like me and wanted to pray together. I was not alone at all. God was using the silence around me to draw me and others to Him. A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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That December, I con nued to use Facebook to pray with my community while I would sit at the foot of the tree. The house felt less lonely, but more importantly, I felt the presence of the Lord with me as I trusted Him to hear the collec ve cry of a community praying for one another.

there am I with them." And gather in His name we did! Young and old united to pray around the tree.

Cars lined the streets of our neighborhood, as our beau ful community came to pray, shed tears, laugh, and sing songs together. We joined hands, even in rain and snow, to pray for all people.

God hears our voices, responds to our needs, and He is faithful to fill any emp ness we offer Him.

God invites us to come, in fact, He urges us to come and intercede for others. Some mes, He creates a quiet space of opportunity and asks us to use it for Him. When we are faced with the queson of how to help others, we can “first of all” pray.

The next year, my li le prayer tree grew into the “Community Prayer Tree.” With the help of my ministry partner, friends, and family, my husband and I placed a tree outside of our home on the lawn next door. We wanted others to know the love of Christ, experience the power of prayer, and provide a place for our community to gather. As we invited others to join us an cipa on built, and fear mounted. What if there was no response? Trust had to trump fear. I knew that the Lord would hear us, and I trusted the truth wri en in Ma hew 18:20, “For where two or three gather in my name,

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My hope is that interceding for others through prayer will grow. We can join hands and voices, offer praise, and li our prayers to the Father in many ways, but perhaps a place to start is to accept an invita on to begin a prayer tree in your community. With a li le planning you can easily prepare a space for others to gather. The process is simple.

Photos courtesy of Jodie Barrett

Jodie with ministry partner Donna Fender at their neighborhood prayer tree.

How to begin a Community Prayer Tree C HOOSE

A CENTRAL LOCATION . This may be a community park, a church lawn/

courtyard, a local business, or an open space in your yard. If using a public location, secure the necessary permission/permits to place a tree. Using a location with access to electricity will allow your prayer tree to have lighting.

S ET

A TIME FOR GATHERING . Community prayer can be as small as two or three

people and as large as your location can accommodate safely. Plan how long you would like to meet. A one-hour time span is ample for people to mingle, prepare prayer tags, hear a short welcome and encouraging word before praying together. If you gather more than ten people, having a small team of support will be beneficial. Some can welcome others and hand out tags for hanging on the tree, while others can offer to pray with visitors. While neither are necessary, soft music and warm beverages offer an inviting environment.

P ROVIDE

SUPPLIES . Having tags and pens near the tree allow others to hang

their prayers and requests on the tree for others to read. Prayer prompts for each week or day can be posted to help guide people in how to pray for their community.

A daily list of prayer prompts, and printable tags can be down-loaded at SweetToTheSoul.com/JingleandJoy As another Christmas season approaches, I’m looking forward to the time we will share around the foot of the Prayer Tree. It’s never about the tree and always about following where He leads.

I treasure knowing our community will unite once again to pray for others. More so, I praise God now for how he will respond. Will you join me by starting a Prayer Tree? I think you will find like I have, that time spent with friends and neighbors gathered around the branches will cause a stirring. No, not a mouse, but rather your heart enlivened from sharing the true gift of God’s love with others.

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T HE LORD

IS GOOD , A

stronghold IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE ; HE KNOWS THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM .

N AHUM 1:7

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LOVE, PEACE, & MELANIE DAVIS PORTER

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The breakfast rush was over. Andy looked at the clock, resisting the urge to worry. It was 10:30 a.m., and no sign of Mae-Lyn and Lily. He loaded a tray of fresh pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, and maple syrup. He then grabbed a fresh pitcher of milk and orange juice from the cooler in the kitchen. Peeking out through the order window at Louise and Clara, he turned to Roscoe.

‘Tell Weezie I’ll be back before the lunch crowd comes in.’

ping her elbows up and resting her chin, she patiently watched as Andy retrieved plates and silverware from the kitchen.

“Where’s Mae-Mae?” “Sweeping. Goss, this wooks dewishous. Dat’s a wot a pank-cakes, Mista Andy. Pwenty for MaeMae. Sumtimes she don’t eat.”

He closed his eyes tightly and cringed at the toddler’s admission. Mae-Lyn does without so Lily can eat. This kid’s killing me.

“There’s plenty here for you and Mae-Lyn.”

‘I’m sho’ you will,’ Roscoe replied with a grin.

“Rup.”

He balanced the tray on his left forearm and gently tapped on the door three times. A few moments later, the door opened, but he didn’t see anyone.

Lily concentrated on eating as Andy refilled her glass with orange juice twice. She never looked up once while picking up whole pancakes with the tip of her fork, taking big bites. After two and a half pancakes, she put her fork down and stared at the plate.

"Hey, Mista Andy.”

Lowering his eyes to the direction of the greeting, he couldn’t help but laugh at the sleepy toddler clutching Curious George close to her chest. The oversized, faded Scooby-Doo t-shirt stopped just below her knees, and the fuzzy golden curls were wildly out of bounds.

"Well, good morning, sunshine. Did you sleep well?"

“Rup.” “Are you hungry?”

“Staarrvveed.”

He laughed as she stepped backward, pushing the door open with her shoulders for Andy to pass through.

“You like pancakes?”

“Luvv pank-cakes, Mista Andy.”

He loved her accent and how her face lit up with animation with every drawn-out syllable.

“I wis I could eats all of it but my bwelly huurrts.

Juces does dat to me.”

Andy dropped his head while scratching his ear to disguise his grinning amusement.

This kid’s a trip.

The bedroom door creaked open as Mae-Lyn stepped into the morning light. She smiled upon seeing Andy sitting at the table with Lily. Crossing her arms and tilting her head, something yearned deep inside of her.

Oh my silly Lily, you deserve stability. You deserve so much more than I can give you, baby girl.

“Good morning, sunshine.”

Lily turned to Mae-Lyn at Andy’s greeting.

“Mae-Mae! Mista Andy bwrought us pank-cakes.”

"Yummy looks delicious."

This kid’s pretty smart, he concluded.

“Dey are dewishous.”

Bugs Bunny was gibbering on the tube as he set the tray down on the table. Lily pulled a chair away from the table then awkwardly climbed up. Prop-

“How’d you sleep?”

"Like a baby. Oh my, what time is it?"

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“A little after eleven.”

“O heavens, I’m sorry I slept so long. Gads, I didn’t realize how tired I was.”

“Yeah, we can check on the pigs.” What about it, Mae-Mae?” “I guess so.”

“You smored a little, Mae-Mae. It woke me up.”

“Cool. You’ll love the spread my momma lays out.”

Mae-Lyn and Andy burst into laughter.

“What time?”

“I’m so sorry, Lily,” Mae-Lyn said as she tried to tame a wild curl sticking straight up like a pesky weed.

“Be ready to go around five. There’s fresh bread, cheese, and cold cuts in the fridge, or y'all can call down and order something from the café. There should be some chips and cookies in the pantry; help yourself to whatever your little heart's desire, chicks."

“It's okie kay.”

“Her vocabulary is pretty astounding,” Andy said with a chuckle.

“Tell me about it. Her comprehension is even more astounding. Baby girl knows what’s going on most of the time.”

“Yeah, I gathered that. You hungry?”

“Starrrvveed.”

“I’ve heard that same sentiment already today.”

Lily scrunched up her nose while giggling.

“Thank you, Andy.”

"Sure thing. You girls rest up. Oh yeah … I almost forgot, Uncle Herschel, picked up your bug this morning. Said it was something minor with the alternator. He's ordering one, but it's not going to be a big deal or expense to fix."

They laughed as Mae-Lyn slid into the chair. Andy piled three pancakes onto her plate and scooted the maple syrup toward her.

"Really?"

“Milk or juice?”

"Really. I prayed about that, you know."

“Both.”

"Thank you." Mae-Lyn smiled with relief, but the prayer thing didn’t resonate as a possibility in her mind, much less her heart.

“Dat pig bacan is got smokin apples in it.”

“Is that so?”

“We make it at the farm. We even grow the apples.

Katie calls it applewood smoked bacon.”

“And dey get it from the pigs. It’s dewishous, MaeMae.” "I hate to dash, ladies, but lunch rush is on; I've got to get back downstairs."

“I’m sorry I slept so late.”

“It’s cool. Say … would you girls want to eat dinner at the farm this evening with the folks? Momma K loves to set a few extra plates.”

“Can I see da pigs?”

Mae-Lynn's eyes perked up, and Andy sensed a little hope rising in his new friend.

“I don’t think anyone’s ever prayed for me.”

"Hmmm … Well, I have." Andy grinned while flashing her a coy wink.

His brown eyes are dreamy; she let herself confess.

And those big shoulders and black hair. Even the way he dresses is dreamy. I can’t believe he’s a farmer. Lost in thought while staring at him, she snapped back to reality when he said goodbye.

“See you chicks at five.”

“See you waydor, Mista Andy.”

‘Bye!’ “Later.”

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The door shut behind him as Lily giggled.

unfairness of life.

“I weally wike him.”

‘But Mae-Mae takes goooood cares ob me, Mista Andy.’

“Yeah, he’s a pretty cool dude.”

“Rup.” "You been watching Scooby-Doo this morning?"

“Rup. Of co-woarse,” she conceded with a big laugh.

Andy turned right at the green and white Keller Farms sign, which was neatly edged with blooming purple, yellow, and white petunias. The white painted fence appeared endless as they drove for what seemed forever before the big red barns came in view. Passing a grove of trees, Andy pointed out the rolls and rolls of peach, apple, and pear trees perfectly groomed and green.

He slowed at the wooden plank bridge sitting on a river rock foundation. The noisy creek with a small waterfall intrigued Lily as Andy shared about the time a crawdad pinched him.

‘I can’t imagine growing up in such a beautiful place, Andy. You must have had a great childhood.’

‘Yea, I’ve been blessed for sure. Where did you grow up?’

‘I know she does, Lily, that’s clear as day.’

Mae-Lyn smiled and picked up the toddler's little hand lying on her lap, tenderly kissing her tiny fingers. The wind whipped her long locks wildly as she caught Andy's side glance. Flashing him with a tired smile, he couldn’t help thinking about how beautiful she was, even in her sadness.

She turned her head back to the scenic, country landscape. Pointing to some honeysuckle vines, she told Lily to close her eyes and smell the blooms.

The toddler obliged, scrunching up her chiseled nose as if doing so helped her smell better.

The winding road became a slight, climbing slope as they made one final turn into a gravel drive lined with majestic oak trees. Lily climbed into Mae-Lyn’s lap when Andy pointed out his Blue Roan Mustang gracefully keeping pace with his truck on the other side of the fence.

‘Wow, wats hiz name?’

‘Thunder.’

‘Coooooooo-wah,’ she said in wide-eyed amazement.

‘An orphanage.’

'Remind me to tell you how he earned that name later,' he said, giving Mae-Lyn a big grin.

Andy’s foot slid off the accelerator as the shock of her reply shifted his mood.

‘I can’t wait!’

He turned, his eyes meeting hers, ‘Oh Mae-Lyn, I’m so sorry.’

Distracted by his alluring smile, Andy put the truck in park as Mae-Lyn shifted her gaze, gasping upon seeing the stately mansion to her right.

‘Don’t be. It’s not your fault.’

‘Dats where my mommy founded Mae-Mae. Der beds waz sides by side. But mommy’s wit da angels, dats why Mae-Mae takes care ob me now.’

Suddenly he felt the urge to pull Mae-Lyn and Lily close, sheltering them in his arms. As if the first revelation wasn’t heartbreaking enough, Lily’s gut-wrenching disclosure brought to mind the

'Oh, my Andy. This looks like the house out of Gone with the wind.'

‘Good grief if you only knew why,’ Andy said with a laugh.

Lily jumped into Andy's arms when he opened Mae -Lyn's door. Giggling, she wrapped her little limbs around his neck. Certain that his heart melted like

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wax, he never wanted to put her down.

Pink and red rose bushes peppered the gently rolling front lawn intertwined around brilliant crepe myrtles with gigantic rhododendron and azalea bushes. A graceful bow bridge led to the big white pavilion sitting in the middle of a huge pond.

Mae-Lyn drew in a deep breath while surmising the magnificent setting. Feeling nervous about meeting Andy’s family, she wiped her sweaty palms on her dotted Swiss, yellow, maxi sundress, suddenly feeling underdressed.

Sensing her unease, Andy put his hand in hers, leading her onto the flagstone path.

‘Relax, they’re just country folk with a lot of cows.

You’ll love ‘em.’

She smiled, tilting her head. ‘You sure know how to make a girl feel better, Andy Keller.’

He opened the ornate, wooded front door with beveled and etched glass. Immediately, Mae-Lyn heard the familiar bluesy vibes of Hugh Masekela’s Grazing in the Grass playing to the left of the grand foyer.

‘Don’t be surprised if my folks are dancing,’ Andy said with a laugh.

Suddenly Mae-Lyn felt a calm settling in her soul.

They can’t be all bad if they like Hugh Maskela, she thought.

Massive portraits lined the walls, some old, some recent, but one caught her eye, causing her to stop.

‘This is you! How precious. I’d recognize those big brown eyes anywhere.’

‘Yep.’ ‘You hads hairz likes me,’ Lily said with enthusiastic surprise.

'Yes, I did, Lily,' he said with a laugh.

‘How old were you?’

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he posed for that portrait. I remember it like it was yesterday. Birdie had to bribe him with her chocolate chip cookies to sit still. She still bribes him with food to this day.'

Turning to his momma, Andy laughed, kissing her on the cheek. 'Hey, momma.'

‘Hey yourself, baby boy.’

Mae-Lyn turned just in time to open her arms.

Andy’s mom surprised her with a hug that she clumsily accepted.

‘Momma, this is Mae-Lyn. Mae-Lyn, this is my mom, Katheryn Keller.

'You're right, son; she's a beauty.'

Mae-Lyn sheepishly smiled, but she enjoyed watching Andy blush.

‘Welcome to the Keller abode. We have lots of fun here and eat lots of good food.’

Turning to Andy, she took Lily from his arms and looked her in the eyes.

‘And who would this divine little be?’

‘I’mma Lily.’

'Lily?! Oh my, your name is as beautiful as you are.

I got some day-lilies growing outback, but you're a lot prettier than those flowers.'

‘My mudder name me Lily cuz she like lily flowers.’

‘Is that so?! Well, you got a smart mamma.’

Fearful the sensitive news of Lily's dead mother was about to confuse his mom, Andy interrupted, 'What's for dinner, mamma?'

‘Fried chicken and all the fixings, son.’

Mae-Lyn wasn’t expecting how youthful the Keller matriarch appeared. Wearing bright turquoise pedal pushers, paired with short white pumps with red toe tips and heels, Mae-Lyn knew the shoes were a designer brand. The red sweetheart neckline top with a fitted bodice had tiny white pearl buttons and refined short sleeves.

Her beehive updo with sophisticated turned-back curls was impeccable, as well as her makeup and the fit of her single strand, short pearls. From the eyes to the coal-black hair, Andy clearly resembled his beautiful mother.

still hung around his neck.

'I hope you girls like chicken; it's Andy's favorite.'

'A filly is a young horse that's a girl, Lily,' Andy said, grinning.

'O, we love fried chicken.'

‘We lovz all foods,’ Lily said with a giggle that spurred a collected laugh from the adults.

'Thank you so much for your hospitality. I can't remember when we've had a real home-cooked meal.'

‘We’re pleased as punch to have you both, MaeLyn.’ ‘Where’s dad?’

‘He and Hank are on the back porch taking turns at the ice cream freezer. He came home early when he heard you were bringing guests. Why don’t you take the girls out and introduce them to the old guys.’

‘Will do. Let’s go, chicks.'

Andy retrieved Lily from his mother's arms and led Mae-Lyn past the majestic staircase, through the big hallway, and back to the screened-in porch with oversized, double French doors. Mae-Lyn took in the sights of the beautiful décor, yet she felt a very homey vibe. For all the beauty she saw, this was no ostentatious atmosphere. Family lived and loved here. The setting was about comfort and the pleasure of one's surroundings.

His life is so far removed from mine. Why wasn’t I born to a loving family like this? And why did I lose the only family I’ve ever known? For a moment, bitterness jockeyed for a place in her heart.

Gentle laughter caught her attention as she saw two men sitting on wicker chairs staring down at an ice cream maker with a wooden bucket. One man was wearing overalls while the other had on a white dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves. The unbuttoned collar laid open as the untied, blue silk tie

‘Well, lookie here, Will. Andy boy has brought in some fine, young fillies.’

‘Watsa filwy?’ Lily asked.

‘I no horse,’ the toddler exclaimed with a playful brow and wild eyes.

‘No, you’re not, but you’re a thoroughbred for sure.’

‘No doubt,’ Mae-Lyn said with a grin.

‘Well, I'll have to say that's the prettiest little thoroughbred I've seen around these parts,' Will said as he stood up to greet the girls. I'm Will Keller ladies; you must be Mae-Lyn?' Surprised that he knew her name, she felt a warmth exuding from his perfect smile and graceful handshake. He’s as handsome as his son.

‘It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. Keller.’

'Call me Will. That there is Hank, my best friend of 46 years.'

‘A pleasure to meet you, mam.’

‘And this has to be the one and only Lily?’

‘Rup!’

‘She’s picked up the rup from watching too much Scooby-Doo,' Mae-Lyn said with a self-deprecating laugh. Honestly, this kid talks better than most adults, and she answered the richest man in the county like a cartoon dog.

‘O my, I love me some Scooby Doo,’ Will said with a laugh.

‘Me too,’ Hank agreed.

‘Have you ever had homemade ice cream, Lily?’

‘Nope.’

‘Well, you’re in for a treat,’ Will declared.

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Lym chimed in.

said with a snicker.

Andy felt a twinge of sadness. I can’t believe she never eats homemade ice cream. Lord, what else has she missed? A lot, he presumed.

The conversation was sweet. Taking turns, they all shared stories about Andy's childhood. He sparred a few times with their version of memories, but it was groovy fun to hear how they interacted with great humor.

'The crank stopped turning, so we'll just let it sit here and freeze till we're ready to eat it with some fresh strawberries or hot fudge sauce. Which would you like, Lily?'

‘Bof!’

‘Will baby, why don’t we take Lily to see the pigs?’

Andy held her tighter. How can so much joy exude from a four-year-old child who's known so much grief?

‘Let’s go, Miss Lily. While we’re at it, we'll visit the goats, the chickens, and maybe ole Oscar will be around.'

The laughter was easy and sincere. Mae-Lyn felt relaxed, peaceful for the first time in a long time.

“Whoz Osper?’

Lily had a booster seat at the big table, which impressed her immensely.

‘Howd dey know a wittle kid was coming?’ She whispered to Mae-Lyn.’ Mae-Lyn didn’t want to burst her bubble by revealing there were other littles in the family.

‘Don’t you feel all the special that you are, Lil?’ ‘Rup.’ ‘I feel a little special myself,’ Mae-Lyn whispered back. The Old Country Roses china by Royal Albert matched the yellow and wine rose centerpieces.

The heirloom table settings and silver candlesticks rested on top of an Irish Crochet lace tablecloth reminiscence of scenes from the old High Society movie.

I wonder if they eat this fancy every night? I guess I would if I could.

'Mae-Lyn, nobody makes better-fried chicken than Katheryn and Birdie,' Will stated.

‘It wooks dewishous.’

‘My what big words you use, child?’ Birdie bragged.

'You have no idea, this kid talks like she's 25,' Andy 108

After they devoured the homemade ice cream, Lily wasted no time asking to see the pigs.

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'O, that's a surprise,' he said with a laugh.

‘A big surprise, Lily! You’ll love it!’ Andy exclaimed with enthusiasm.

They watched as Lily held hands with Will and Katheryn. Skipping along in the middle, they picked her up, swinging her slightly in the air every few steps.

The giggles were contagious.

'They're in hog heaven. Nobody's gets higher priority around here than the grandkids when daddy Willy and KK's around,' Andy said.

Lily would love to have grandparents. Sal, the Soul man, is the closest thing she’s ever had to a real grandparent. But it wasn’t the wholesome attention Lily was enjoying from the Keller's. Sal, the Soul man, often hit the bottle when he wasn’t DJ-ing on the air.

Walking down toward the pond, Mae-Lyn kept turning to catch a view of the trio until they disappeared around the well-house.

‘She’ll be fine, don’t worry.’

'O, I'm not worried. I just love seeing her get all this attention. She just has me usually, and sometimes I'm so tired I worry about giving her my best.'

‘Mae-Lyn, you’re her whole world. She adores you.’

‘I adore her.’

‘It takes a lot of energy and character to raise a child that’s not your own.’

‘Faith would have done the same for me.’

‘When did she pass away?’

together. When she aged out at eighteen, I ran away with her. No one came looking for me, ‘cause they didn’t want me back.’ She laughed.

'I can't imagine you misbehaving,' Andy said laughingly.

‘Three months ago, she died of a brain tumor.’

'O, I had my moments. I was mad at the world my whole adolescence.'

‘Wow, you’re both still in deep grief.’

‘I probably would have been too.’

'Yeah, some days I think I'm drowning in sadness, then Lily will do or say something that makes me laugh. Honestly, I think she's doing better than me.'

She stood up and walked to the railing. She rested her arms on top and stared at her reflection in the water. Andy followed. He felt her sadness and didn’t push.

‘Kids are stronger than we think.’

‘Have you ever thought about how we draw the cards we do in life?’

A long pause settled in between the dialogue, but there was no awkwardness in their companionship.

Walking over the bridge and into the pavilion, they sat down in a double swinging lounger. Mae-Lyn closed her eyes as they swayed back and forth.

Surprised, Andy suddenly felt guilty for living a blessed life.

‘It sure is quiet out here.’

‘I’m not so sure, Andy.’

‘Yep, that’s why I love it.’ Taking a deep breath, he worked up the courage to ask her more questions.

‘Do you believe in God?’

‘Can I ask where Lily’s dad is?’

‘Dead. He died in Vietnam three days before Lily was born. He was a great guy, too. He was so good to Faith.’

‘I’m sorry, Mae-Lyn. But I’m so glad Lily has you.’

‘I promised Faith she would never grow up in an orphanage like we did. We came up pretty rough, and it wasn’t a good place. I met her on my first day there. I was six years old; she was seven.'

‘I can’t imagine why you weren’t adopted?’

'O many tried, numerous times. But we resolved never to be separated, so I hate to say it, but our trial family visits consisted of atrocious behavior.

We were labeled as pretty bad kids; as a result, we were treated horribly.' She laughed. 'We didn't care, though. We did whatever it took to stay

'Well, I think everything we go through is for a purpose, Mae-Lyn. God has a plan for our lives, and He's always in control.'

‘I want to believe in a higher being that’s good and wants good for me … but well … I’ve not had too much good happen in my life.’

‘We live in a fallen world, Mae-Lyn. This wasn’t the world God intended us to enjoy. Unfortunately, man’s sin entered into the perfect world he created, which changed everything for you and me. You were born into an imperfect world to imperfect people. Their sin affected you.'

'You're a sweet guy, Andy. And I have never been treated with so much respect and kindness as you’ve shown me … and goodness, I’ve never felt as safe with a guy like I do with you … but I’m skeptical about God being real.’

His heart fluttered with anticipation, yet he ached at her unawareness of God's love for her. Lord, help me convince her that you’re real.

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‘Has anyone ever told you about God? Or Jesus?

Have you ever read the Bible?’

‘No, no, and no.’

‘Well, I’ve got an extra Bible you can have, and maybe you need to come to church with me this Sunday? Lily would love it … and there’s always a big Sunday dinner with the fam. After lunch, we all go out to the pasture behind the big barn and play kickball. We don’t let the cows in there, so we don't have to worry about dodging cow piles.'

She laughed out loud. He’s got to be kidding. How picture-perfect is his life? The family plays kickball, and their only worry is the cow piles.

‘I can’t believe you’re not a snob.’

‘What? Because my parents own a farm and live in a big house?’

'You have everything that money can buy, but you're so unaffected. And it’s a really, really big farm and a really big house, Andy.’

'My folks are hard-workers, and they taught me to work hard too. They've earned everything you see with a lot of sweat.'

'O, I'm sure Andy. I didn't mean to offend.'

'You didn't offend me; I just get riled up when people think my folks were born with a silver spoon, especially folks like Chaz Flemming.

'I'm sorry. Your folks are kind, decent people. Of course, they deserve everything they've worked for.'

Another long pause found the slight echoes of croaking bullfrogs in the distance. The setting sun danced behind pink skies and fluffy, low clouds.

This place is perfect, just like Andy.

‘I’ll think about church,’ she said with a big smile.

‘Good. You think about it, and I’ll pray about it.’

They laughed together as if they had known each other for 100 years.

She’d never felt such peace. Standing beside a man she’d known for less than 30 hours felt so familiar.

This feeling had all the earmarks of family, and it would find her over and over in the coming days.

She closed her eyes delighting in the warm sensation of the evening sun caressing her face. Suddenly the sounds of nature tickled her ears.

'Is that sound bullfrogs? I've never heard them before.'

'Sure is,' Andy said with a grin.

'Groovy. Is it my imagination, or are they getting louder?'

‘Yep, they’re getting louder. That means the males are looking for a mate.’

She opened her eyes, giving him a side glance. They laughed uncontrollably.

Please God, help her see you in everything, even the bullfrogs.

To be continued ....

‘They were always more concerned with our spiritual health. We went to church every time the doors opened. They taught us about Jesus dying for our sin. We learned to serve others and the Lord.

It's funny … but now I hate to miss church.'

MELANIE DAVIS PORTER is a simple girl who loves Jesus, the Arts, and good books. She is an experienced playwright for the church and writes for Proverbs 31 Ministries First 5 App. To connect with Melanie, visit www.melaniedavisporter.com

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F IRST , I

thank my God

T HROUGH J ESUS C HRIST FOR ALL OF YOU , BECAUSE YOUR FAITH IS PROCLAIMED IN ALL THE WORLD .

R OMANS 1:8

ESV

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The invitation came in a round-about way. There I was, a young, first year teacher without a place to live. Far from everything and everyone familiar, I found myself at the center of a discussion about where I might stay for the week. Seeing few options and showing great mercy, a kind, seasoned teacher offered me a room in her large farm house.

Before I had time to think, with a nod of my head I had accepted.

Sitting stiffly on the end of the couch, I caught fleeting glimpses of my hostess as she busied herself making supper for her hardworking family.

This city girl felt lost and alone. What had I been thinking? What was SHE thinking?

ACCEPTED CINDY WILKINS

In those first few days on the farm I learned a lot!

Farmers can pile their plates sky high with food and carry them to the table without spilling a drop.

Amazing! Sheep are born with long tails that are cut off when they’re young. Who knew? I even learned to drink sweet tea (and I mean sweet) and

*Being invited into the family of God is an invitation to be perfectly loved and cared for.*

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not make a face. Quite a feat for this northern gal.

The most important lesson though, was understanding that being invited to stay for a few days was really an invitation to be loved and cared for.

I was from a different world, a stranger, but you would never have known. In a short time I went from an unplanned guest to being embraced as part of the family.

The big, white farm house became my refuge that first year and the farm family my life-line. Feeling accepted each time I walked through the door changed me for the better. I continued to learn about country life and myself, grow in confidence, and I longed to be more like the brave, welcoming teacher who’d invited me.

Just like that scared, tired, lost, younger me, life today can take its toll on us. We feel like strangers alone in the world but thankfully, a merciful Jesus offers us an invitation, too.

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’” Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT) Jesus is our refuge. He is our eternal life-line. I don’t know about you, but I still have a lot to learn about Christian life, but the good news is, Jesus says He will teach us! He accepts us as we are and changes us for the better. My friends, being invited into the family of God is really an invitation to be perfectly loved and cared for. When we understand that, our assurance grows and we desire to be more Christlike, welcoming others in too.

Being invited into the family of God is an invitation to be perfectly loved and cared for.

“Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of

helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and every! Amen.”

1 Peter 4:9-11 (NLT) We often associate “hospitality” with having someone in our home, and of course it can be. Hosting a dinner, holding book club in your living room, enjoying a coffee chat, or even offering a much needed place to rest are all ways to tend to others; but as Peter tells us above, there’s more. What if we opened the doors to our heart? Prepared a place in our schedule? Made room for one more?

Offered a taste of the Bread of Life to those who are hungry?

I can find myself lacking courage when it comes to serving, speaking, and helping those around me.

Maybe you’ve felt that way, too. We often can let fear, uncertainty, a lack of confidence, and so much more keep us stiffly in our seat and wondering, “What was I thinking?” instead of inviting others to see God at home in us. That’s when we need to remember we’re not on our own. We have a “humble and gentle” teacher who shows us how, and a God who supplies all we need to show love and care to a world longing to be part of the Family instead of being just a guest.

That brave, kind teacher who took me in? She continues to bring glory to God with her gifts, has been my dearest friend, mentor, and encourager for 39 years AND my Mother-in-Love for 38! (That’s a story for another time.) Little did she or I know, that opening her home, heart, and sharing those gifts with me back then, would change both our lives. But God knew. He put me in the right place, at the right time, with exactly the right people. All I had to do, was accept the invitation.

Who might be waiting for an invitation from you?

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7 (ESV)

CINDY WILKINS is is a “MiMi”, Mother, Wife, and a Retired Teacher. She’s also a left-handed, curly-haired, perfectionist-extraordinaire who loves to tell stories. You can read more of this kinda wacky, woman of God’s writings at www.myseaofthought.com

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MITZI NEELY

Warmth and comfort occupy the top of the list when it comes to cooler days and even cooler nights. A hearty bowl of soup and a slice of homemade bread can warm the soul and the stomach.

Simple recipes for simple fair are a lifesaver when planning family meals and fellowships.

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From Mitzi Neely Ingredients: 1 lb. ground meat 1 half medium onion chopped 1 package of smoked sausage, sliced 1 can whole kernel corn 1 can hominy 1 can Ranch Style beans 1 can Ranch Pinto beans 1 can diced tomatoes or Rotel tomatoes 1 package of Ranch dressing mix 1 package of Taco seasoning mix 2-4 cups of water Tostitos or Fritos Directions: 1. Brown meat, sausage, and onions with salt & pepper.

2. Drain and transfer to a soup pot or crock pot.

3. Add all other ingredients including both dressing and seasoning mixes. Add salt, pepper, & garlic salt to desired taste.

4. Mix and simmer for 1 hour on stove top or 4-6 hours in a crock pot.

5. Serve with chips.

This soup is so delicious and perfect for a crowd. *1 pound of meat - 1 can each 2 pounds of meat - 2 cans each Terri Hill

From Carmen Horne Ingredients: 5 cups blanched almond flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup butter (melted) 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk 6 large eggs 1 cup shredded cheese (I use the 4 blend Mexican) 2-3 jalapenos, seeded and chopped. (Leave in a few seeds if you want more heat) Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 10" cast iron skillet. (I melt the butter in the skillet & pour it into my cornbread right before I pour it into the hot skillet.)

2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

3. Stir in almond milk, eggs, cheese, jalapenos, and melted butter.

4. Pour into the hot skillet and smooth with the top.

Bake 35-40 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean and the top is golden brown.

Low Carb KETO Friendly If you like sweet cornbread, add in a low-carb sweetener of your choice. I was raised like Christian Comedian, Singer, and songwriter, Mark Lowry, "Sugar in the cornbread is cake. When you bite into cornbread, it’s supposed to suck 90% of the moisture out of your body."

Terri Hill

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From Lisa Appelo Ingredients: 1 lb. sausage (cooked) 1 cup carrots, chopped 1 bunch parsley, chopped ¾ to 1 cup flour 2 cans cream corn 6 cups chicken broth 1 cup heavy cream

4 cups onion, chopped 1 cup celery, chopped 6 gloves garlic 1 lb. frozen corn 6 bay leaves 4 cups white potatoes Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions: 1. Cook sausage and drain.

2. Saute’ onions, carrots, celery, & frozen corn until soft.

3. Add garlic and bay leaves and saute’ a few minutes.

4. Add flour and stir frequently for 5 minutes. Do not let flour brown.

5. Add chicken broth and cream corn and stir with whisk until smooth, removing all flour from bottom of pan.

6. Bring to boil and add potatoes, heavy cream, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir constantly and lower heat. Simmer until potatoes are tender. *Add a jalapeno pepper for a bit more flavor.

Susan Duncan

From Mitzi Neely Ingredients: 4 eggs, beaten 1 medium onion, chopped 1 - 12 oz. carton cottage cheese 10 oz. bag or box of frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained.

2 packages Jiffy Cornbread mix 1 ½ sticks margarine, melted

This favorite recipe was given to me by mother-in-law, Lalon Neely Pirkey in 1990. She was a wonderful cook.

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Terri Hill

Directions: 1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl.

2. Pour into a 9x13 pan--greased or sprayed with cooking spray.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour until the toothpick comes out clean.

From Melanie Davis Porter

Terri Hill

Ingredients: Pick up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store OR boil 3 large boneless chicken breasts on medium till tender.

8 Cups of Chicken Broth 6 Cups of Water 3 Tbsp of Olive Oil 6 Tbsp of Butter 2.5 Cups of Rotini Noodles 1 Can White Corn - Drained 1/3 Cup all-purpose Flour 3/4 Cup Heavy Cream Chopped up - 1 Onion, 4 Carrots, and 3 Celery Stalks Kosher Salt or regular salt & Pepper for Seasoning Directions: 1. In a large soup pot - combine the chicken broth and water together. Add 1/2 Tbsp of salt and boil at medium heat.

2. Shred cooked chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken and set aside.

3. In a large skillet, saute the onions, carrots, and celery stalks in the olive oil until tender.

4. Remove 1 cup of the broth/water mixture and set aside. Add the meat in then add the celery, onions, and carrots including the olive oil.

5. Drain the liquid from a can of white corn and add.

6. In a medium skillet, melt the butter then whisk in the flour, constantly turning for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden brown.

7. Add the cup of broth/water mixture - mix well then add the heavy cream and stir until blended. The mixture will thicken up.

8. Then add to the big pot and season with salt/pepper as desired. Let simmer for 30 minutes.

9. Add the noodles and let cook for about 15 minutes more or until noodles are tender.

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’ From Terri Hill Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. Baking powder 1 cup vegetable oil 2 cups grated zucchini

1 tsp. Salt 1 T. ground cinnamon 2 ¼ cups white sugar

1 tsp. Baking soda 3 eggs 3 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions: 1. Grease and flour two 8x4 inch pans. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.

3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl.

4. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well.

5. Stir in zucchini until well combined.

6. Pour batter into prepared pans.

7. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes.

8. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool. *You can add 1 cup chopped walnuts with the zucchini in step 5 if desired.

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From Kristine Brown Ingredients: 1 30 oz. bag Frozen cubed Hash Brown Potatoes 1/3 c. chopped onion 1 can cream of chicken soup 2 cans chicken broth 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1 8 oz. block cream cheese (softened) Toppings: shredded cheese of your choice, bacon bits, chopped green onion

1. Combine all ingredients except the cream cheese and toppings in the crockpot.

2. Stir together and cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours (until potatoes are tender.)

3. Add the softened cream cheese and cook for another 30-45 minutes, stirring frequently until the cheese is melted.

4. Serve in your favorite soup bowls and top with your favorite baked potato toppings!

Makes 6-8 generous servings. (If you have a bigger crowd to feed, just add an extra can of the soup to stretch the servings even more!)

Terri Hill

From Mitzi Neely Ingredients: 12 Hawaiian Rolls 8 slices of cheese (either Pepperjack, Monterey Jack, Provolone) 12 slices deli slice ham or deli roast beef 2 T. Dijon Mustard ½ cup butter, melted 1 small onion, finely grated 2 T. Poppy Seeds 2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce

Terri Hill

Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 2. Partially cut your Hawaiian Rolls in half and place them on a greased baking sheet or 9x13 dish. You want easy access between the top and bottom to add butter mixture/meat/cheese.

3. Mix together the butter, mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce, and onion and spread mixture evenly on both sides of each roll.

4. Next, add layers of sliced meat and cheese to the roll.

Add a piece of cheese, a deli slice and then more cheese. (I quarter my cheese slices which makes them perfect for Hawaiian rolls.)

5. Place the top of the roll on the meat/cheese.

6. Wrap in aluminum foil and warm for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese melts and meat is hot.

8. Remove from the oven. Enjoy. *Roast beef and turkey deli slices are also great to use on these sliders. *These sliders can be wrapped in foil and frozen and baked later.

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Family Rocker SUE MOORE DONALDSON

Off to the side of our long living room sat the family rocker. Legend reported that this rocker survived a fire and somehow our folks ended up with it. I wish I knew the details of the rockerrescue, but for now I gain comfort and faith whenever I glance at it sitting gracefully in our front window. I “got the rocker” when our folks passed on.

Even better, I “got the faith” from watching Mom and Dad live it out day in and day out.

Dad owned a quiet faith, while Mom’s was more of an out loud kind. Both were consistent, from a child’s point of view. Each Sunday morning, Dad called down the hall: “First bus leaving in 15 minutes!” As the Sunday School superintendent, he needed to be on time. If we didn’t want to be late, we jumped out of bed, dressed and grabbed a piece of toast on our way to the “first bus.” Mom, on the other hand, had one hand in the rice bin and one in the sink, prepping two whole chickens to roast on time-bake. She wanted dinner most-ofthe-way finished when we got home from church.

Not only because she had five hungry kids to feed, but because she might meet a new family who

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could use an invitation to Sunday dinner.

This was our Sunday rhythm, year in and year out, back and forth like our beautifully carved rocker.

One thing you can always count on in a rocking chair is that its movement is dependable. My folks did their best to show us their consistent trust in God, like a rocker, back and forth, one hand on His Word, and another stretched out to help another.

I love my Heavenly Father’s attributes of love, mercy, and strength. But my favorite trait is immutability. Consistent and dependable, He will never change. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).

My folks’ legacy of faith taught me that.

Mom and Dad did their best to show us to depend on God’s unchanging nature, and to serve Him with the gifts He gave them.

I’d catch Mom reading her Bible early in the morning. I barged in on her prayer times with her girlfriends. I heard her weeping for my estranged brother who after nine long years turned his life around and became a full time missionary.

Dad invited his friends over for ping pong and down to the church for Monday night volleyball. He fixed their cars and helped with their taxes. He started a Christian Businessman’s Breakfast in the town where we lived. Mom’s free time was spent organizing Tupperware closets for missionaries, and tearing sheets for rolling bandages – part of the “holy tearers” ladies church group. She polished pews until her chiropractor told her she couldn’t.

They taught us to tithe our allowance and wages from early on. Empty French’s Mustard jars sat primly on our bedroom window sills with adhesive tape labels: College, Camp, Tithe, Spending. Whenever we were paid for a job, we knew that 10% went into the Tithe jar. Mom must have bought a lot of mustard through the years to train five kids in how to save and spend their small resources.

A funny thing about a rocker is that if you have young ones, you’re rarely sitting down alone. A kid on your lap can see up close if we are daily depending on Jesus. More is caught than taught. When I’m upset about something, will they see me going to God for my comfort and strength?

If there’s a need, will they see me trying to meet it?

My folks passed down this legacy: When times get hard, we can hang on to Him; and if we can’t hang on, we can always sit down in a “rocker of strength and truth,” and find Him abundantly faithful.

In preparing a workshop on hospitality, I interviewed my mother since she seemed to be the queen of hosting. She completely surprised me with the fact that when they were first married, she was scared to death to invite people over because her mother had rarely had company.

She hadn’t been raised with regular hospitality.

Through the years of trial and error she learned how to be hospitable. It wasn’t a grace she had received, but she went ahead and practiced until she became comfortable with it. Philip Yancy refers to something that we didn’t receive from our own legacy as a “chain of un-grace.”

She told me a story of when they were first married. A couple visiting on a Sunday afternoon kept staying and staying—she was getting hungry. Mom said she wished they would leave. She told me, “I never even thought of inviting them to stay for dinner because I wouldn’t know what to serve.”

Finally, the woman said: “Betty, I’m hungry, let’s go fix something to eat!”

“But I don’t know what to make!” Her friend replied: “Do you have eggs? Bacon? Bread?”

“Well, yes, I do.” “Well, let’s go fix bacon and eggs and toast!” And, they did. She never forgot that simple event and that gave her courage to continue to invite people over and not worry about serving fancy food.

By the time I came along, Mom and Dad had practiced hospitality over and over again. We felt special as kids because we got to use our home for youth group parties or Pioneer Girls sleepovers or friends coming home from college.

Mom and Dad passed down to us the ease and confidence to open our homes and hearts— something they themselves had not received. It’s a worthy challenge to think that even if we haven’t received a certain treasure or legacy from our family, we can begin now to change that legacy.

Rather than remaining stuck in our past, we can choose to break that “chain” with God’s help so that our children receive a necessary grace and blessing.

Like a well-worn rocker, I grew up with comfortable hospitality and a trust in God who wants to use our tables and homes to usher guests into His presence. I can’t buy mustard without thinking of giving to God a portion of what He’s given me.

And when I encounter testing and trial, I look over at our family rocking chair, maybe even sit down in it for a while by the fire, and thank God for parents who passed down a legacy of faith, strength, and service.

SUE MOORE DONALDSON lives in San Luis Obispo, California with her husband Mark. Sue loves connecting people to one another, to God, and to His Word, and has been speaking for the last 20 years or so. She blogs at WelcomeHeart: Knowing and Showing the Heart of God and hosts a weekly podcast: Make it Count: Living a Legacy Life.

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O FFERING L OVE , N OT P ERFECTION MONICA BARD

Do Not Enter.

This imaginary yoke hung above the door to our house and around my neck as I subtly but strictly enforced that warning for nearly two decades.

Long before the popularity of Fixer Upper, my husband and I remodeled a small farmhouse originally built by my husband's father, uncles, and grandfather around 1929.

It's a modest two-story home with the charm of dormer windows and simplicity, but the challenge of small rooms and limited storage. When our daughter was five, we chose to make this her childhood home.

I loved the idea of building our home on the legacy and history of family. I spent hours drawing plans, meeting with contractors, and budgeting. The completed remodel was functional and had its charm, but it wasn't perfect and certainly didn't resemble a Joanna Gaines' transformation.

However, I overlooked two critical ingredients. The primary foundation, Jesus Christ, and the main ingredient of hospitality, Christ's love.

For two decades, my family lived in a house; a roof over our heads, a bed to sleep in, and the necessities but, that farmhouse was not the home I envisioned. A warm blanket wrapping around you with love and warmth, a place of refuge and a safety net from the swirling world around us.

A home offers hospitality and beckons you inside, enveloping you in Christ's love. Our daughter never experienced growing up in the home I had longed to give her.

Why? There are several reasons. First, I chased the world's definition of success. A definition that required a magazine-worthy home and feeds comparison. With its vinyl siding and small rooms, my little farmhouse lacked the open concept and plush rooms designed especially for entertaining. Second, I was ashamed for others to see how badly I failed on the world's report card of success. Third, we were lost in a sea of struggles. Personally, I didn't understand my 122 S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH | A UTUMN 2021

purpose or my true identity. Most importantly, my hubby and I weren't intentionally setting our hearts and minds on Jesus Christ. Trying to please others and the world, I kept the tiny seed of my faith under wraps, didn't grow it, and dared not allow it at the forefront of my life.

All that changed when we chose Christ as the center of our lives.

The world's expectation of perfection and success was replaced with the desire to seek the wisdom of God. And with this change, our daughter experienced respite in the home she never had as a child. The weatherworn yoke of that "Do Not Enter" sign gratefully removed.

The ninety-year-old oak hardwood floors in our home have withstood the test of time. The walls and roof of our home have weathered the years well and provided safety against hurricanes and weather threats inherent along the Gulf Coast. The structure of our home hasn't changed a bit since the remodel, but the heart of our home has.

The focus now? Home and hospitality. Not perfection, or the sins of comparison and materialism it fuels. Our daughter and her husband come back often to enjoy the peace and simplicity of our home, stretching their legs and minds from the packed, busyness of life in the city. Laughter filling the air as their golden retriever energetically explores the open fields of country life.

Our home now embodies all that I longed for years ago, a place we grow together in God's love. And, despite its many imperfections, a home that welcomes others to be wrapped in our love and the love of our Father.

To offer Biblical hospitality, I've learned we must seek Christ as our foundation instead of perfection and materialism esteemed by the world. We seek God's wisdom and exemplify our choice of Christ as the foundation of our homes. Our family, friends, and guests witness this choice in our daily actions. As we soak in His promises, Christ becomes the center of our lives and emanates to every heart within our homes.

With Biblical hospitality, we nurture love. The apostle Paul teaches, "above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." (Colossians 4:13-14, ESV). God's love for us is the overarching theme of the Bible, and His love builds harmony. Paul again elevates love in 1 Corinthians 13:13, ESV, emphasizing "the greatest of these is love." As women following Christ, we nurture with His love and, consequently, our homes embody love. Instead of pursuing that magazine-worthy home, I pray my home is a warm blanket of love wrapping around all who live within the home and greets those who enter.

I spent my daughter's childhood hiding the imperfections of my life and our house from others. The world encourages comparison and materialism; I foolishly sought those instead of Christ. My family eventually became captives within the walls of our house because of those choices. When our house couldn't match the grandeur of others, its doors were closed to family, friends, and guests.

But Christ's ways are counterintuitive to the ways of the world.

As my husband and I've chosen Christ as our foundation and exercised forgiveness, love, and prayer, Christ has transformed our hearts. During those years of captivity in our house, I shuddered at the thought of guests or visitors. Now my heart longs to throw open the doors. Our house is more imperfect with age, confirmed by an ever-growing list of needed maintenance, but it's now a home.

I impressed this on our daughter long ago as she made her way in the adult world: We may not have money or material things to offer, but we do have love. She took those words to heart. It took me much longer to make the right choice--to lay aside the yoke of comparison and perfection. As Christ has transformed my heart, I've found contentment with my home just as it is, and I embrace the opportunity to open its doors to others.

To offer Biblical hospitality. Not perfection, but God's grace and love.

Because of Christ, there's a new sign above our entry door. Welcome.

MONICA BARD Perseverant. Resilient. Overcomer. Monica’s life summarized. Along the way, she discovered she didn’t do this alone. She couldn’t. Today her little family enjoys the sweet times of restoration and redemption--because God loved them and pursued her. When Monica was hanging by a thread, God carried her. She prayed too little, but God answers big! MonicaBard.com A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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N E W C O O K B O O K F R O M M I T Z I N E E LY Zizi’s Kitchen was designed to help you create your own special moments around your table. It’s a place where hearts gather in faith-full fellowship alongside amazing recipes to build lasting memories with those you treasure most.

The pages of this cookbook are filled with delicious recipes. All are tried and true and have been made and served countless times. They are taste tested by my own family and friends and are requested many times over. Some may call the dishes I serve comfort food, but more than that, I like to think of it as just good home cooking.

I hope you add Zizi’s Kitchen to your collection today!

It’s refreshing, easy to follow, and filled with beautiful pictures, anecdotes and more.

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY at PEACEFULLYIMPERFECT.net/ZiZis-Kitchen 12 S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH | A UTUMN 2021 124

T HEY DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO THE APOSTLES ’ TEACHING AND TO

fellowship, TO THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND TO PRAYER .

A CTS 2:42 ESV

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The Art of The Doodle JANA KENNEDY-SPICER

One question about Bible Journaling which I receive a lot is, “how did you draw that?”. And it’s a very hard question for me to answer. Probably because I never come to an end design by a straight path. So I have invited a friend of mine, who is amazing at drawing and breaking it down step by step, to share her process with us. Sue Carroll, known on-line as “Doodle101s”, and I instantly connected over our love for Bible Study, drawing and lettering.

“Bible Art Journaling is the process of intentionally spending time in God’s Word while praying, studying, listening, and then recording the truth the Holy Spirit has revealed to your heart.

This becomes a memorial to the Lord and a remembrance of what He has taught you.

A place where you have met.” Sue Carroll Isn’t this ‘grateful wreath’ just beautiful? It is a perfect piece of autumn art to add to your Bible or journal. I love that Sue breaks down each individual piece of this layered design. Pumpkins, flowers, branches and a flowing ribbon, oh my! I am adding this wreath to my journaling Bible and writing out a prayer of gratitude as an offering of worship to our heavenly Father.

How will you use Sue’s grateful wreath? Happy doodling!

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D OODLE 10 1

Original Artwork by: Sue Carroll

SUE CARROLL

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• 7 daily topical scripture based Q&A driven studies • Traceable journaling prompt words

• 7 daily Bible Journaling templates (or color pages)

• Verse Mapping worksheets and study instructions

• Extra blank formatted study sheets to add your own “Favorite Things” to your study journal • 2 Bonus color pages

D OWNLOAD

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AT :

S WEET T O T HE S OUL . COM /I NSPIRED -I NBOX

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C O L O R P AG E / J O U R N A L I N G T E M P L AT E

Photo & original Artwork by: Jana Kennedy Spicer

1 T I M OT H Y 1 : 1 2

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A UTUMN W ORD S EARCH Take a break and accept the challenge. This word search includes 37 of our favorite things about Autumn (many mentioned in The Woven Journal). You will find the words in all directions, forwards and backwards, up and down or diagonal. Enjoy!

AUTUMN BONFIRE COUNTY FAIR GARDEN HAYRIDE LEAVES PUMPKIN SPICE SCARECROW TOGETHER WOVEN

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BELIEVE BRAID FAMILY GENERATIONS HOT SOUP NEIGHBOR QUILTING STRENGTH TRIBE

BLANKET CONNECTED FELLOWSHIP GOLDEN INTERLACE PICNIC RELATIONSHIP TAPESTRY UNITED

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BLUE SKIES CORN MAZE FESTIVAL GRATITUDE INVITATION PRAYER RESTORATION THANKFUL WELCOME

J O U R N A L I N G T E M P L AT E S / B O O K M A R K S

Original Artwork by: Jana Kennedy Spicer

Color or paint each design then cut our and use as a book mark or add to a journal or Bible as a “tip-in”.

Or transfer or trace each design directly into a journal or Bible.

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C O L O R P AG E / J O U R N A L I N G T E M P L AT E

Original Artwork by: Debbie Bonner

P SALM 2 9 : 1 1

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M E E T O U R C R E AT I V E C O N T R I B U T O R S DEBBIE BONNER is a wife, mom and grandmother of three rowdy grandson. She found Bible journaling a few years ago and has been using that creative outlet to spread the Word, as well as lettering Bible verses, ever since.

SUE CARROLL is a mom of 4 and wife of 36 years. Her chosen forms of creativity come in the way of food, mixed media, creative lettering and photography. The ultimate link to all of these is love. Connect with Sue on Instagram @doodle101s.

JO ANNA DUNCAN hails from Linden, Tx where she is the Owner and Founder of Olde 1852 Market Company and Jo Duncan Photography and Studio. She is married to her sweetheart Johnny, and is a mom and grandmother.

Jo Anna is a retired educator, serves on the Linden Chamber of Commerce Board and promotes her community far and wide.

SUSAN B. MEAD, ThD, author & speaker, is known around the world as a Master storyteller, leading people to the One, Jesus, who saves, heals, delivers and sets them free. Text DanceWithJesus to 33777 to get your free 6-day email mini-course.

MICHELE O’LEARY’s call from God is to encourage women to seek, walk, and find their purpose in Christ. She is a Christian blogger and loves to write about the love of Jesus. She takes delight in a big bowl of chips and salsa.

You can find more information about Michele and her ministry on her website at www.micheleoleary.com.

We would love for you to come visit our on -line store

SWEET TO THE SOUL SHOPPE

to see our wide selection of Bible Journaling Resources Books & Journals Digital Downloads & Printables Encouragement Cards Coloring Books Special Book Bundles and more!

www.SWEETTOTHESOULSHOPPE.com

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R ESOURCES FROM OUR C ONTRIBUTORS

lisaappelo.com

Faithfullyfollowingministries.org

jeberryspeaks.com

SusanBMead.com

carmenhorne.com

SweetToTheSoul.com

amyelaine.com

PeacefullyImperfect.net

womensministrytoolbox.com

WelcomeHeart.com

SweetToTheSoul.com

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DO

YO U K N O W J E S U S ?

God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins and bring us into a relationship with Him. (John 3:16) Through Christ, we can know the promise of eternal life and experience the joy of knowing God here on earth!

If you would like to have a relationship with God, the Bible tells us that the first step is acknowledging that we have sinned and that there is nothing we can do to earn God’s love (Romans 3:23-26). Next, we believe and confess that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9) and allow Him to guide our lives.

Where we once wanted to control our own future, we now invite Jesus into our hearts to be Lord over our lives.

Knowing God’s peace, perspective and purpose for your life begins with a personal relationship with Jesus.

Would you like to accept Jesus as Lord of your life? You can pray the following prayer:

Lord, I confess that I have sinned against You and ask You to forgive me. I’m sorry that my sin has hurt You and other people in my life. I acknowledge that I could never earn salvation by my good works, but I come to You and trust in what Jesus did for me on the cross.

I believe that You love me and that Jesus died and rose again so that I can be forgiven and come to know You. I ask You to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I trust You with everything, and I thank You for loving me so much that I can know You here on earth and spend the rest of eternity with You in heaven.

In Jesus name, Amen

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V ISIT U S O N- LINE SweetToTheSoulFAITH.com

SweetToTheSoul.com

SweetToTheSoulShoppe.com

SCRIPTURE READING PLANS : Each month consists of a topic-driven reading plan, complete with 31 Scriptures to use in your Bible study and quiet time. The verses serve as a guide to dive deep into God’s Word as you focus on small portions. Blank Scripture Journal pages are also available for download.

BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES : Soul Inspired Bible Study is about spending time in the scripture with God and allowing the Holy Spirit to give us understanding. These Bible Studies cover a variety of topics and offer resources in multiple formats including journals, devotionals and more.

INSPIRED INBOX : These free Soul Inspired Bible Studies are delivered directly to your inbox.

Choose from several topics. Just sign up, check your email box, then download and print all your study materials. Study alone at your own pace or invite friends to join you and study the Bible together.

SOUL INSPIRED BIBLE JOURNALING RESOURCES : are designed to inspire your soul and encourage you to use your creativity during your Bible Study time. Our journaling resources include Bible Journaling Kits, printable templates / colorable bookmarks, coloring pages, scripture cards and more!

COLORING BOOKS : Coloring is a wonderful way to relax and destress. Our coloring books

include inspirational Scripture and encouraging quotes through beautifully hand-drawn artwork.

Be inspired as you spend time reflecting on scripture as well as enjoying the calming and refreshing benefits of coloring.

SWEET TO THE SOUL SHOPPE : Our on-line shoppe is where you will find all of our Bible Journaling and creative resources. Many resources are printable instant digital downloads.

We also have several sets of scripture cards and blank encouragement cards.

Visit sweettothesoulshoppe.com to see our full line of products.

Our Bible Studies and Journals are available for purchase via Amazon.

Visit sweettothesoul.com for direct links to each of our books or journals.

A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH

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Father, the mysteries of how You have woven us into Your likeness can seem overwhelming at times. However, we are created in Your image, “So God created mankind in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NIV).

And as You looked all around on the sixth day, You said, it was very good (Genesis 1:31, NIV).

We are very good because of how the thread of Your love of freedom weaves through us because of the blood of Jesus Christ.

We gather, tied together by Your love, grace, promises, and truth, to praise who You are: Our Abba, Father. We lift our hands in thanksgiving because You are our Salvation, the One who performs miracles every day in our lives. May we continually give You praise with our hearts and song. Help us honor You all the days of our life, Lord.

Satan can steal the very good within us due to shame, guilt, fear, and lies. There is nothing more he desires to do than shut down God's very image here on Earth. He knows that when God's girls wish to weave together a community and form beautiful bounds of togetherness, God's kingdom will move forward. Yes, we may have broken pieces of life, but You take our brokenness and create a mosaic of beauty and grace, the image of You, complete and whole.

Thank you, Jesus.

As we walk through life, Lord remind us of the very good You continue to weave within us as we lean into Your desires to serve You each day. So tie our hearts to You as we seek You and find You with all our hearts (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV). Because when we trust You with everything and lean not in our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5, NIV), You will guide us and keep us on track to Your perfect plan in life.

United, we praise You for loving us unconditionally, perfect in every way.

Prayer by Michele O’Leary

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH | A UTUMN 2021