Beth More Weekend Recep.........

Last weekend, several ladies from Northstar joined with 13,000 Christian Sisters and attended Living Proof Live Conference with Beth Moore.  We had an incredible time, and the weekend was amazing.  Check out this video that highlights the entire weekend:

Living Proof Live - Knoxville, TN from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Wash on Mondays, Iron on Tuesdays

Generations of women before us ordered their lives by set schedules. Before electricity, a woman’s day began and ended with the sun. Sowing and reaping coincided with the seasons. Canning happened after harvest. There was a rhythm set by nature, it was simple and logical.

The same commonsense approach was also applied to a homemaker’s schedule.  For a hundred years, a homemaker’s week looked something like this:

Monday: Wash Day
Tuesday: Ironing Day
Wednesday: Sewing Day
Thursday: Market Day
Friday: Cleaning Day
Saturday: Baking Day
Sunday: Day of Rest

There were some variations to this schedule, based on when and where one lived. I read that Laura Ingalls Wilder’s mother churned butter on Thursdays. I guess there weren’t always markets on the prairies. 

Regardless of which chore was assigned to which day, I’m intrigued by the concept of an ordered week.

Why did our grandmothers (maybe great-grandmothers for some) establish schedules?  The primary reason is that generations before us had a closer connection with the natural ebb and flow of life, nature, time and seasons.  There were reasons why certain chores were done at certain times – an interdependence of one task upon another.

In homemaking, practicality governed the schedule. For example, laundry was the most difficult and physically intense task of all.  So it made sense to do it after a day of rest.  Ironing would logically come next.  Thursday is a traditional market day, coming before a day of baking which would come before the Sabbath, since no work was done on that day.

What appeals to me about this approach is the homemaker based her schedule on pre-set priorities.  My maternal grandmother, raising a family in eastern New Mexico during the depression, had to make chores a priority.  There was no back-up plan if bread didn’t get baked on Saturday.   There wasn’t a closet full of clothes if laundry didn’t get done on Monday.  She set priorities for her family and lived accordingly.

On the surface, my life is much easier than my grandmother’s.  My chores are independent of each other.  I can do one load of laundry and then bake a cake followed by cleaning the bathroom.  I’ve got enough light inside the house to work all night if I desire.  However, I’m not sure a haphazard approach is the most effective one. Without a plan, I’m easily pulled away from priorities, and I can get to the end of a week and wonder what I did with all that time.

Counter that with the times I develop a schedule for my week. When I’ve thoughtfully identified my priorities and assigned them to a day, I accomplish much more.  A meal plan created based on evening activities dramatically reduces stress.  My schedule isn’t based on last-minute emergencies or urgent demands, although those are allowed for.  My schedule is based on thought-out needs.

There’s wisdom in establishing order to my week.  It won’t look like my grandmother’s week, and it may not always happen as planned, but it’s worth a try.  Just because I can do laundry every day of the week doesn’t mean I should.

What are your thoughts on this subject?  Does this idea make sense for your generation?  Why or why not?

Devotion By:  http://glynniswhitwer.com/

There were seasons of my life when always I ran late. I woke up late, got the kids ready late, got out the door late, and arrived minutes after a program started. And I always had a good excuse … at least in my mind.

 

My reasons for being late were justifiable.  My three little boys were the “problem” for years.  Just when I’d get one ready to go and turn my attention to another, the first would spill cereal down his front. Or a diaper needed to be changed.  Why did they that always happen just as I was about to walk out the door?  It seemed like a conspiracy!  Then someone always left something in the house, my husband called at the most inconvenient times and traffic!  Traffic was always a good fall-back excuse.

For years it never seemed like my fault!  Until the day I got annoyed with a friend for her flimsy late excuses.  My mind clicked through various solutions to her time crunches, and thankfully, before I could spout any hollow wisdom, God turned the spotlight on me.

My own excuses sounded weak.  And as hard as it was to do, I started being honest about the reasons for my own lateness.  Yes, I did have a lot going on.  And no, my babies did not poop on my schedule.   But in my most gut-honest moments, I knew if I had been prepared in advance, there would have been time to graciously deal with interruptions and still be on time.

The more truthful I got with myself, the more God revealed about the importance of being on time.  I learned being late often reveals more about my heart than my organizational skills. As I grasped the implications of a life of lateness, my attitude and practices started to change. Not overnight.  And not easily.  But they did change.  Today I’d love to share some of what I’ve learned.

Being on time …

Tests my responsibility:  God is always watching to see how faithful I am with the little He has given me.  While we may dismiss certain areas of our lives as inconsequential, every daily practice has value to shape our character.  Choosing to be on time is one way I can practice being trustworthy.

Honors others:  “They never start on time anyway!”   That thought bought me a few more minutes and justified a stop at Starbucks even though I was running late.  But whether the meeting starts on time or not doesn’t justify being late.  Arriving on time shows honor to the person who organized it.  And I can offer to help the host with last-minute details.

Increases my ability to love:  When I’m in a hurry, my capacity to love others diminishes.  It starts with those closest to me as I get snippy and impatient.  But showing up late also prohibits me from spending time with others.  If I sneak in the back after something has started, I’ve lost opportunities to chat and catch up with people I care about.  Just a few extra minutes gives me a chance to give someone a hug and ask about her children. It’s amazing how loved people feel with a bit of time and attention.

Teaches me discipline:  I’ve found that if I want to make big changes in my life, I have to start with little ones.  Being on time develops discipline … and that’s something I desperately need more of.  It’s a training ground for bigger things.

There are lots of tips for being on time, like packing bags the day before, and doing what needs to be done first.  But the best tips for me has been getting to the heart of the matter.   Once the benefits of being on time outweighed the benefits of being late, things started to change.

I’m not perfect in this area.  I still have kids and a husband who aren’t always on my time table.  And I’m occasionally over-optimistic about what I can get done before leaving the house.  But those are the exceptions.

Now, if I can just get a handle on work deadlines and emails  …

I’d love to hear your thoughts on being on time.  Do you have any tips to share?  Insights?  Please post your thoughts and let’s continue the conversation.

Source for Today's Devotion:  Roo Magazine &  Glynnis Whitwer

What Are You Feeding Your Mind??

I’m going to be real honest with you today………I’m not a fan of negative reality TV, especially the “Real Housewives of…” shows. I have watched a few episodes over the years, just to see what they are about and to form my own opinion, but they sadden me for so many reasons. Today I’d like to encourage you to put off our “old self” and put on your “new self”, to make “new the attitude of your minds,” and to “not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs…”

But how can we do this?

How can we make such a change from our past?

Here are a few suggestions.

1. Be in God’s Word

First, we have to start by paying attention to what we are putting into our minds. What are we feeding our minds and souls? Each day we need to be filling our minds with God’s Word, God’s truth. Just like you need to eat everyday in order to survive, we all need to be in God’s Word daily too. If you start missing meals here and there, your body will start to show the effect of your decision. The same is true for not being in God’s Word. At first those around you might not tell, but just give it some time and eventually the way you treat others, the way you talk, the choices you make will testify to your time in God’s Word. Be good to yourself and those around you and make sure you spend time in God’s Word.

2. Pay attention to your “media diet”

In Matthew 12:34 Jesus says “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” What we allow ourselves to view, listen to and read fills our hearts and minds.

What is in your media diet? Are you watching, listening and reading media that encourages you, speaks truth to you, and challenges you in a good way? How do you feel after “feasting” on your “media diet?” Are you content with what you have? Content with how God made you? Are you more loving toward your spouse and children?

What we fill our minds with eventually comes out. The world feeds us on selfishness. You should have this. You should be treated this way. You should look this way……and on and on. Start paying attention to how you feel after you get done “feasting on your media diet.” If you are feeling down, depressed, grouchy, or edgy…..its time for a diet change. I’m not saying TV is bad……I have a few shows that I like to watch each week too, but I do pay attention to how they affect me.

In the past after watching a certain show I noticed I felt the desire to be more selfish. Thoughts like, “I deserve this or that” or “Next time that so-an-so says that to me, I’m going to say this!”…….not good, not good at all. I noticed I was negatively being influenced watching that show. It was not encouraging me to be more like Christ but rather to be selfish and sassy. Because of the affect the show had on me personally, it had to be cut from my diet.

3. Have an accountability partner

Struggling in a certain area? Ask God to help you find someone you can truly trust, maybe someone in your Sunday school class, and ask them to be your accountability partner. If everyone was honest, we’d all admit we need accountability partners in our lives!

If you are struggling with what you are spending your time doing each day, or how you are talking to your husband or kids, let someone know who loves you and ask them to help you make a change.

4. Memorize scripture

I have Philippians 4:8 on display in my kitchen because of it’s wonderful reminder to me each day.

“…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Feed your mind on God’s truth. Each week take one verse and commit to memorizing it. Fuel your mind with good, noble, pure, lovely and excellent thoughts. You’ll be amazed at the difference this small change can make in your life if you commit to doing it.

5. Don’t give up…….we are ALL a work in progress!

And above all, remember there was only ONE who lived a perfect life…..give yourself grace when you need to. I love this quote and wanted to share it with you today.

“I saw a sign on a strip of highway once that I would like to have copied on my gravestone. It said, “End of construction. Thank you for your patience.”
-Ruth Bell Graham

Challenge: Ask God to help you identify what you are still holding on to from your “old self” and ask Him for courage and help to break free from it.

Source: Roo Magazine & Good Morning Girls

Summer Break Is Over..........Back to Regualr Updates and Conversation

Hello Ladies,

I cannot believe how quickly summer is passing us by, and how the start of a new school year and football season is only a few days away.  We enjoyed relaxing over the summer, and hope the last couple of months have been fun for you too.  However, its time to get back into a routine, and get connected with one another again. 

To kick-off us off, I thought I would update with a few new announcements from NorthStar.  

1. A team from NorthStar is going to Hyden, KY on Friday, Aug. 17th to deliver back to school supplies and love on the kids of Muncy Elementary with Mission of Hope. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Teal Fulford at fulfordfoot@aol.com.

2. Student News:

• Student D-Groups start back tonight! Check website for all the details.

• C.O.W’s new time at 6:30-8pm starts this week! Don’t be late!

• H.S. Bible study starts Mon. Aug. 20th at the Bubble, 7-7:45am. Come get prayed up and ready to make Jesus famous!

3. Life is better connected. To join a group, come to Groupconnect on Aug. 26th at 6pm, Sherrill Campus. A 90 minute event where you can meet people in a similar stage of life and area of town with the goal of forming a LifeGroup. To register for childcare, go to our website at northstarknox.com...otherwise, just come on out and get connected.

4. And, Finally..........

Ladies: Be watching for details on more great Bible/life studies at NorthStar (some starting as early as Sept) - from speakers/teachers/authors like Beth Moore, Lysa TerKeurst, Angela Thomas, Ann Graham Lots, Kay Arthur, Cindi Wood, Dave Ramsey and more!

Have a blessed week, and we will be back tomorrow to Kick-Off Our Weekly Devotions!!

Don’t Be That Mother-In-Law

May I start by saying this is not a “bash” on Mother-in-laws (MIL) article. This post was inspired to challenge daughter-in-laws before it’s too late. To challenge them to break the bad MIL wrap… and to prepare their hearts in hopes of becoming an AMAZING… what I like to call, mother-in-LOVE to your sons’ or daughters’ future spouses.

I have a dear friend who would always remind me of this cute rhyme. I’m sure some of you have heard it:

“A son’s a son until he takes a wife. But… A daughter’s a daughter for the rest of your life.”

Having both a son and daughter of my own, that rhyme always bugged me. My friend, a very wise woman, shared the way she now says the rhyme:

“A daughter’s a daughter for the rest of your life. But…a sons’ a son…If you LOVE his wife.”

My desire here is to talk about a topic that is a sore spot for many, sore for so many that jokes are abundant about the subject. Song lyrics lament the dreaded mother-in-law (i.e. Huey Luis and the News). Even movies have been made depicting the Monster-In-Law (with J-LO and Jane Fonda).

As hard and fake at times as my relationship with my MIL has been over the past 22 beautiful years that I’ve been married to her son, I must say God has used that relationship to challenge and grow me.  As a result, I VOW to be the best mother-in-LOVE to my kids spouses that I could ever be.

This short but transparent post is written in LOVE to them (my kids future spouses) before I ever even know what they look like.

And for you my new friend, this post is to challenge you to prepare your heart through prayer and supplication for your future son or daughter in-law as well.

♥♥♥

Source

We as moms with young kids need to break the bad MIL wrap by deciding now and becoming ourselves one day…Mothers-in-LOVE.

The in-law thing… sucks…Really who came up with that title?

Mother-in-law

Father-in-law

Brother-in-law

Sister-in-law.

Daughter-in-law

Son-in-law

Correct me if you’re not feeling it like I am, but its a throwaway title don’t you think?

It’s sorta like the messy, rude, annoying neighbor on the block… Let’s call them the neighbor-in-law; nobody really wants to get to know that neighbor anyway.

It is all this in-law stuff that has empowered me to write this article.

My kids are ages 15 & 13, but time flies so if I have to gift wrap this article as a wedding present to act as a love letter to my children’s spouses on my true desire to love them with all my heart- so be it. Or perhaps my future son & daughter in-law will have this post to smack me over my head if I ever cause any ripples, fights or tension in their marriage.

You could call it a bit of MIL insurance to remind me “Not to be that mother-in-law.”

Let’s be honest who else is talking about this topic?

There are books on marriage, raising children; self help books, fitness book, books on finance, and books for dummies: But, not a one on the mother-in law.

Well girls we’re talking about it now! And in the months to come we are going to take a journey to camp. 

I like to call it our very own mother-in-law boot camp.

A post on mother-in-law’s to be. Mothers-in-law in training,

….training to be mothers-in-LOVE. Mothers in love with the choice our children make for a spouse. Mothers modeling the love Christ showed for us by laying down his life for our sake.

I look forward over the next few months at Roo Mag to walk through God’s word together as we prepare our hearts to one day meet our children’s future spouses.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we would all become the Mothers in Love God intended us to be!

This entry was posted in Mother by Shelene.

Just A Reminder..........

Wednesday nights are back on at NorthStar!!

Preschool, Children and C.O.W start back up this Wednesday night, so come on out.

Click Here For More Details:  http://www.northstarknox.com/