Give thanks when you’re empty, lonely, and filled with despair; when your child is battling a terminal disease, when your marriage is hanging by a thread, when you’re a victim of abuse, when you face financial hardships, when you’re told you must battle cancer…..give thanks. We can’t help but ask, “Is God out of His mind?” How can anyone possibly give thanks when your world is falling apart? But it is possible; only through trusting in a God who does the impossible.

“Be thankful in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

God says what He means and He means what He says. And yes, He says to give thanks in the midst of uncertainty, overwhelming doubt, and debilitating despair. Trust me on this one- giving thanks usually doesn’t come from a “feeling.” Giving thanks is typically an act of the will. You’re not going to “feel” like giving thanks when your spouse is an alcoholic or when you’re facing financial ruin- give thanks anyway.
…continue reading: Thankful In ALL Things?

If there is one thing I have learned over the years, it’s that getting organized has to start somewhere. Everyone has their own set of struggles, and if you are a busy parent, you know how hard it is to keep the kids and the house organized, all while balancing a career!  To see results, you have to start somewhere…. This month’s focus in on the command center, a critical place in the home that when implemented, families can find a sense of balance within all the chaos! At dictionary dot com, hub is defined as a center around which other things revolve or from which they radiate; a focus of activity, authority, commerce, transportation.

Where is the “hub” in your home? Typically, the hub of a home is usually near the kitchen or a common space for everyone in the house. The hub of a home is usually the best place to create a family command center. A designated spot where paperwork can be processed or important information can be retrieved are two important blocks to building that family command center. A command center should include the following three components: …continue reading: Organized Spaces at Home – The Command Center

by Ruth Willms

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.  If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6 and 7 [The Living Bible]

God wants to give you peace.

He wants you to feel comfortable and relaxed, not worried or upset about life or school or the things in life that are getting you down.

A Sunday school teacher told me that in the Bible God says I can cast all my cares on Him and He will care for me.
…continue reading: The Truth About Peace: Bible Truths for Kids

I was recently introduced to Group Publishing - they have some amazing products available for women! I have been very impressed with each and every item of theirs that I’ve seen - from devotions to women’s retreat materials to prayer helps, so I thought I’d share a few favorites:

Devotions Galore!: Warm-Ups, Wrap-Ups, and Prayers for Women’s Groups - This book includes 90 devotions - 30 “warm ups”, 30 “wrap ups” and 30 prayers. It’s a great way to help break the ice at a new group or add some spice to an existing womens group.

The Sister Circle Handbook - The Sister Circle Handbook is a great companion to the four Sister Circle novels by Nancy Moser and Vonette Bright. Being a huge reading fan, I loved that these tie in with the Sister Circle novel series. What could be better than having my devotional time and my reading time merge?

Tickled Pink Prayer Devotion - How cute is this?! I had honestly never seen anything quite like this before. What a great idea to give to a bible study leader, secret “santa” or any friend needing a little spiritual encouragement.

Here’s how Group describes it: Tickled Pink prayer devotion is a multi-sensory devotion that uses five simple object lessons to inspire new hope and joy. The Tickled Pink Prayer Devotion box contains the lesson objects and a devotional guide. Tickled Pink is an instant boost in a box—and a mini-retreat women will treasure.