Dealing with The Plastics in a Christian World

Disclaimer-- The blog post was originally written in 2019, before our now adult daughter left home and began proudly serving our country in the U.S. Armed Forces.  This is the first time it is being published.  

Okay, so I have to admit it.  I have watched Mean Girls.  If you haven't watched that movie, it mainly revolves around one girl "infiltrating" a click of girls, and then slowly morphing into one of them because they are like, the coolest, and everyone wants to be them.  Like all good Hollywood dramas, in the end it all works out blah blah blah.

I guess now you are wondering why I am blithering about a Hollywood movie on a Christian perspective blog-eh?

My oldest daughter brought something to my attention about a year ago, and it's been really heavy on my heart.  From the time I got saved, and shortly there after my husband surrendered to the ministry, our goal has been to put our children in the best circles possible to nurture their spiritual growth.  We homeschool for many reasons, but one of the reasons we do is to help be their main source of information so that we are able to help them choose friendships that are better for them than others.  They are less exposed to sensuality and sexuality, less pressured to "join the crowd" because they are already not a part of the semi-in crowd trying to get to the upper level of the hierarchy.

 But I digress.

 My daughter told me about a year ago that she didn't particularly care for participation in a lot of church centered activities(more of an emphasis on inter-church activities like youth rallies and church camps)  because everyone appeared plastic to her.  They had their permagrin smiles on, had just the right answers for every question, all dressed the same, thought the same, acted the same (in public)- they seemed fake.  Especially when my daughter would hear and see the rumblings of rebellion.  She knew there was more going on behind the scenes, but everyone just had to keep that perfect appearance.  It was very hard and devastating for me. 

 I wanted the hope that she would choose from these circles a spouse to share their same views, and life with.  That she would choose someone to serve God with.  And at that moment I knew it would never happen.  

It broke my heart.

There are plastics in every circle.  And unfortunately, now I see what she sees.  I am so sad, because the fundamental Christian movement has become so regimented in their own thoughts that they have forgotten some really important and valuable tools they need to win others to the Lord (which is our goal, right?).

Life is Messy
The reality is, most kids these days don't get saved at 5 and lead a holy life, expounding upon what their parents have taught them about sin, and work towards avoiding it and helping their fellow kids to avoid it.  Most kids these days come from broken homes, and have broken spirits, and live very broken lives.  Standing over them and beating them with your Bible and judging them for who and where they are in life probably isn't going to bring them into the fold.  Should we condone the sin they are in? No.  But judgement and criticism isn't going to gain you any favor either.

Hearts are Hard to the Message
The world (unsaved Christian people here) is conditioned to think exactly how my daughter felt about what she was seeing the fundamental Christian movement- plus some.  Their hearts are preconditioned to a message we have for them- and it's not going to be a one and done message most generally.  It takes time for God to do a work in them because they don't want to believe everything they have been taught about Christianity is a lie- or perversion of the truth.  Odds are, most of us have a very messy path to salvation.  Keep that in mind when you share.

Be Honest 
It's time for those of us who didn't get saved at 5, and didn't always live a life for God to just get honest. People want to see a very real side of you.  They want to know that while you are different now, you weren't always the way you are.  The world needs to see redemption in your life.  I truly believe this with all that I am.  They need to know and hear from you that you have been where they are.  Not wallow there with them- but show them how God created a change in you through that situation and season of life. 

The fields are ripe for the harvest- but if you don't have the right tools, and aren't willing to get dirty to harvest the crop, and in some instances, actually walk out into the field-how are we ever going to see revival in our churches?   I believe it's time to put our plastic lives in the past, and roll up our sleeves, and start getting real with the world around us.  

One of the primary reasons I believe we are seeing significant men in public view fall to sin, because we are (as a collective Christian body) putting a fake face on the Christian walk.  There is no real honesty- that we all have sin to conquer.  The movement is scared to admit that its not all perfect.  My heart aches for the people who see Christianity this way.  Because that's not what a lot of us are about.  People need to see real.  They need to see our honest, messy lives to not be hard toward us as Christians, and by extension, the church.  

People  need to see that the doors are open to everyone- not just the ones who looked buttoned up, and all together.  They need to see a place where they fit.  Broken.  In Need of a Savior.  So the world can then see redemption in their story, and their lives, and their ministry to others.  

{My} Simplified Bible Study

For years, personal Bible study has been one area I severely lacked.  I would start a phenomenal study, only to fizzle out before I completed it due to one thing or another.  It's been extremely frustrating for me because I am not normally a start and stop person.  

Sitting in Sunday School (Pre-Covid19) one day while studying Psalms 119, I had a word I needed clarification on.  So I got my phone out (gasp!) and looked it up on the Webster's 1828 website.  I then wrote it in line with my text I was copying.... and a lightbulb went off for me.  

Why on earth have I not been doing this this way all along? 

All the scripture studies, and scripture copywork plans.... and Bible studies and reading plans.  Why on earth had this not dawned on me before? 

For weeks now, I have been more consistent than ever in Scripture study and reading... because I simplified the method for myself.  My goal is always 20-30 minutes- but if something happens and I need to care for Dylan- I can feel satisfied with 15 minutes- and pick right back where I left off the next day. 

Here's a video where I explain the ins and outs of what I do in the mornings! 

I hope that is helps someone out there not feel so much pressure to study a certain way... or with a certain book.  Sometimes, all you need is just The Book.  I have found this so much more rewarding that any study I have done in a long time. 

Until Next Time! 

Three Years' Difference

I struggle often with discouragement.

I don't see the results I want... things are not happening fast enough for me.

I don't think I am unique in that struggle at all.

I started my health journey two and half years ago.  After a ton of research... I realized I needed to focus on health, before weight loss.  My body was extremely damaged.  A life of special needs kiddos and putting everyone else's needs before my own for way too long had caught up with me.

So now, I have been working on my weight loss journey since August of 2018.  I didn't realize how far I had come until my mom shared with me a picture last week.

I seriously wept tears of joy when I created this side by side.  I have changed SO MUCH!!! This journey is really hard, and I think because personal behavior change isn't easy- and that is why so many people give up.

Don't give up!! I love visual encouragement, and this is exactly that kind of encouragement!  I will say, if you have questions about my journey personally, drop me a message, I can totally talk to you about that... or you can find me on facebook!! --->A Family For His Glory Facebook Page<---

I will be sharing more this year over on that Facebook page this year... come and join me!!

Doing Dave Ramsey- Our Way!

Every family at some point gets to that place where their budget gets wonky... and you have to reign that bad boy back in.  I faced that place this month.  Christmas was looming... we were spending too freely- and I had to figure out what was going on with our money!

I was using The Happy Planner Budget Extension Pack.... and guys... I really really REALLY wanted to love it.  I really did.  But I couldn't implement it the way I felt that I needed to manage our money. And I wasn't finding the tools I desperately needed to make that possible.

I love Dave Ramsey. His methods are amazing.  But for me, as many places I go I don't feel safe carrying around money in envelopes for me to put down and forget to pick back up.  I hate the thought of losing my entire month's worth of money... so ...

I bought a Martha Stewart Arc cover from Staples, as well as some page protectors and pocket dividers, because lets face it, if you are going to do it, it might as well be pretty.  So after I chose a cover, I started creating the documents I needed in my binder.  First, I needed a master list of my bills with account numbers in the front.  Done.  Then, I needed to create categories of where all my bills went and their categories.  For example, the one main heading of Utilities holds the electric bill, water bill, cable bill, etc.  For our family, we have 9 categories.  Next, I created a sheet with all my categories and what fell in those- and assigned an icon stamp for each.

Still with me?  Okay... so am I the only one who hates the small check book register that comes with checks?  I hate it.  It's small.  And I had no way to include my stamp category stuff.  So, of course I created something different.  I created a check book register that includes a column for the category stamps!! Why is this what I needed? Well let me show you! 

See that budget category column?  Thats where a stamp goes from the master list shown above.  So as I am keeping track of our checkbook, I also have a visual of how much spending is going on in each category.  Once I have balanced all that and tabulated, I then check off from the register and add my expenditures to what would normally be on the outside of the cash envelopes, but I have included here in my binder.

This helps me know when I am out of money in that particular category, so I know to stop spending!! It's something I will do before I go to bed each night if I have been out and about.  

I also have this sheet in my binder.  This sheet I used a couple of years ago before I tried the MAMBI budget extension.  This sheet was amazing at keeping me in sync with how I needed to allocate our money.  Ms. Wenduh has some amazing free printable on her blog.  She also sells planner stickers.  Love her stuff! 

And that is how we plan on getting back on track.  Why wait until the first of the year? Now is the time to make your money work for you!  It is good to start saving money, or getting out of debt.  I feel driven like never before to make our money work hard for us.  

I hope this inspires you to take your money captive and do the right stuff with it!! 

Today Is a Big Day!

Today is the day I start my fourth year homeschooling.  I cannot believe that much time has gone by!  It's been an exciting journey!  My baby starts kindergarten today.  It's bittersweet.  I love that she has been running around underfoot and driving her brother and sister crazy.  I also now love that she has something to focus on.  She's growing up!

Today is also the start of a new challenge for me.  This year I have been working hard on focusing.  It's not easy for me.  I can totally get spun out or sidetracked at the drop of a hat.  But I have an amazing husband who brings me back into focus.  He gives me amazing clarity.  I am a blessed woman.  Anyway, back to the new challenge.  In my quest for focus, I have also decided to add our health to the mix.  Today begins my personal challenge to do 30 days of completely from scratch cooking.  I do not want to eat out for the entire month.

So today, in my kitchen, I am working hard to whip up waffles, pancakes, hot pockets, tortillas etc so that when we need these items, I won't be tempted to run to the store and pick them up.  They will already be in my freezer.

Tomorrow (if I can get out of bed!) I will post pictures of what of my goals I got done.

Say a prayer for me!
Amanda