evergreen

Just sitting here this morning, looking at our Christmas tree, thinking about the weirdness of this whole tradition. People going into fields and cutting down perfectly good trees, bringing them into their homes, knowing full well they won’t be able to keep them alive forever. Just so that we don’t have to drive miles into the country everyday to go back and look at them. because we want one to look at up close - in our own house. because we want to have the spirit of Christmas and the fragrance of evergreen filling in our home. what other time of the year do we do that? - it seems so wasteful.

And while I’m sure there is some historical background and meaning for this practice, what strikes me this morning is how much it is just like Christ. The Father had his own Son cut down just so that we could bring him into into our lives. So that we wouldn’t have to travel to the temple or to the priest to worship everyday. So that we could have Jesus up close and personal, His Spirit filling our hearts and homes.

Sometimes that sacrifice seems so wasteful, because we know full well we cannot keep His Spirit alive forever in these mortal bodies. But Jesus is so much more than these trees. He’s the True Evergreen.

This. Is. Us.

my husband thinks i pull things out of the air sometimes, attempting to put random thoughts together into a conversation.  often he has a hard time keeping up with my train of thought, because it's not really a train at all, but more like a major highway intersection, with cars and ideas whizzing by at high rates of speed in every which direction.  guilty as charged.  this post may be a bit like that, so love me or leave me.  

there's this new show on tv - This. Is. Us.  and i have yet to form a solid opinion.  part of me wants to enjoy the show, because it is so much better than anything else on tv.  and part of me wants to hate it just because everybody else likes it so much.  in my pride, i want to somehow be better than the rest of "christian" culture that has praised this show.  while it does seem to be a very heart-warming and positive show, i take issue with it because like most everything else on tv, it romanticizes pre-marital and extra-marital sex, justifies course joking, and normalizes crude language.  

after all, we have been trying to teach our kids to filter everything they watch and listen to through the filter everything through Philippians 4:8.  "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  but that's where it gets difficult.  because while there are things portrayed on this show that i don't agree with, there are also messages that are pure and admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.  so what's a Jesus girl to do?  

so it's had me thinking. i think the reason why the show is so relatable is that it shows us how vulnerable we all are.  it shows us how the things in our past make up who we are today.  it tells the truth about how much our upbringing and our childhood affects the way we relate in marriage and to our own children.  it brings to light the very real struggles of humanity, gives understanding, and offers grace and mercy.  

the show does a great job of explaining the struggles of mankind, and bringing a much-needed awareness to the question of why we are the way we are.  the characters are able to give others grace because they realize that they themselves have been in need and been the recipients of the same understanding and grace.  but i think that's where it stops.  

understanding and grace are simply not enough.  it is not enough for us to simply understand why we do certain things, or why we struggle with the same things over and over again.  it is not enough for a man to simply know the reasons for why he struggles with addiction and anger.  it is not enough for a teenage girl to be aware that because she has been abused by her father she is more likely to choose an abusive spouse.  it is simply not enough for me to know that anxiety and depression run in my dna.   i need more than awareness, grace, and understanding.  i need HOPE for healing and power for change.  

when this show airs it's last season, where will it be taking us?   if it is leading us to a hope in the power of the human spirit, it is simply a false hope and no more than a fairy tale.  i mean, i for one have tried and tried to change myself, and simply can not do it.  i have tried to be less anxious and angry, only to end up being more depressed that i can't fix the problem. i am even lucky enough to have an amazing husband and wonderful family, but that hasn't made me any less broken, but simply revealed more of the brokenness.  

but i have found a real hope.  or rather hope found me.  and His name is Jesus.   and He has offered not only grace and mercy, but rescue and healing.  

so as far as whether or not christians should watch the show, i still don't know.  what I do know is that our pathologies and family histories are not enough.  the truth is -  this. is. us. and we. need. Him.    

missing it?

Parents, listen up! No. I mean, really. It’s time we start listening to our kids.

The other day I was trying to clean up some gunk off the kitchen floor when my daughter came in to the kitchen and began telling me about something that had happened at school. I didn’t really acknowledge her or make eye contact at first, but just politely nodded my head and kept right along scrubbing the sticky mess off the floor. But suddenly the Spirit nudged me to look up. After all, I have taught my kids to look at people when they are being spoken to, so shouldn’t I be doing the same for them?

When I stopped what I was doing, which was of no importance anyways, and looked up at her, I immediately noticed her face was beaming as she told me about how her journal had been chosen by her teacher to show off at a faculty meeting. Her eyes were so bright and she was obviously excited about this accomplishment. So we celebrated together.

But what if I hadn’t looked up? What if I had simply continued what I was doing and just nodding my head out of obligation? What if I hadn’t truly LISTENED?

These kiddos are getting to the age where these opportunities are fewer and farther between. That was my one chance ALL DAY to speak life into that child. And as she is very private and quiet and usually doesn’t share these things with me, it might have been my one chance ALL YEAR. What if had had missed it simply because I was preoccupied with things that didn’t matter AT ALL?

Moms and Dads it’s time we SLOW DOWN!!! We have a very important job to do and it’s time we stop missing it!!!

now what?

all i ever wanted to do was be a stay-at-home mom.  even when i was in college, people would inquire about what i wanted to do when i graduated, and i would say, "get married and have kids."  they would look at me puzzled and say, "well then what the heck are you doing here?"  to which i would reply, "well i figured i probably need a degree to fall back on."  but in the back of my mind, in all honesty, i was wondering myself what i was doing there.

and now that all my kids are past preschool and almost past elementary age, i'm beginning to wonder again, "what the heck am I doing here?"  our youngest child is in 3rd grade now, so for the last 4 years since he started school, my kids haven't "needed" a full-time stay-at-home mom, so i've been doing a lot of soul-searching trying to figure out where to go from here.  i mean, what does a person do once they've lived out a dream come true?

so i've been talking to Jesus a lot these last four years, asking him "now what?" more times than i could possibly count.  he's taken me on some crazy adventures as i've provided in-home daycare, (something i never thought i would do), been a foster parent, become an author, and most recently subbing in an elementary school (also something i said i would never do.)  i've been through stages of boredom and stages of life-giving excitement.  i've been through seasons of deep discontentment and seasons of great joy.

and i still have no idea what i'm supposed to be when i grow up.  I mean, i'll always be a mom, but i still can't seem to find my "niche" professionally.  but i think i'm ok with that now.  because here's the deal:  about a year ago, i began to ask the Lord, "what is it that you made me for?  what have you created and gifted me uniquely and purposely to do?"   i mean, i've done a lot of different things (athlete, author, student, educator, foster parent, care-giver, babysitter, coach, bible study leader, volunteer, etc.)  and as i looked back through all the things i've done and the experiences i've had, i began to see one common thread.  in everything i've done, God has placed me strategically to ENCOURAGE those around me.

the Lord showed me that it wasn't about ANY of those jobs or experiences, as much as it was about me encouraging those around me while i was there.  i mean, i guess i'm kind of a utility player in the Lord's economy.  He's just moving me around to where he needs me at the time.  no doubt the next adventure will be just as interesting as the last.  because i wasn't created to be an educator, i was created to be an encourager. i wasn't made to bring home a paycheck from a particular employer as much as i was made to bring hope to discouraged hearts.

so in truth, i'm not writing this about me, but to encourage you to ask yourself the same question.  what is it that you were made to do?  how has God uniquely and particularly created and gifted you and how are you using it to serve His body and advance His kingdom?  it doesn't have as much to do with a job or career as you might think.

not super spiritual

Just being real tonight. We're not super spiritual in our house. I mean, one of my goals lately has been to pray with each of my kiddos once a week. ONCE A WEEK. It's not a lot, I know. Many of my friends are doing this with their kids every night. I love this and I would love to do more one day, but we're not there yet. Once a week times 3 kids is 3 nights a week. It's not a whole lot. But I'm human. And every time I've tried praying with all 3 of them every night, I get burnt out and stressed out and give up after about 3 days. So I figured maybe I needed to start smaller.

But let me tell you, what I have learned is that every time I set these goals, no matter how big or small, if it has to do with honoring God in some way, so many things will get in the way. The enemy does not want me bringing my kids to the foot of the cross AT ALL.

So without fail, my good intentions meet up with the reality of my laziness. If it's not laziness, the distraction is very likely busy-ness. If I happen to push through those, I will then very likely square off against my feelings towards a particular child. I am amazed at how many things can keep me from wanting to pray with them. Tonight they were particularly rowdy and trying my patience and I just did not even like them at bedtime. It is so tempting to say, "no, not tonight." Not only does my "want to" disappear, but my WANT to want to is just flat out broke.

But I will also tell you that every time I lean on the Lord and ask him for help, every time I ask him to fix my "want to," he comes through. He gives me JUST ENOUGH to muster up JUST ENOUGH to push open their door, and kneel by their bed, and ask them, "what can we thank God for tonight?" And, "what can we ask God for tonight?"

And every time I do, or should I say, every time HE DOES, I am blessed. And tonight was no exception. I got to see another glimpse of my daughter's heart. And she asked for prayer for me. Not for any of her own needs, but for me. Um. Yes please. Lord knows your momma needs it

the guy who buried Jesus

I am fascinated by this man Joseph of Arimathea. He was not one of Jesus' 12 disciples and yet he was the one who asked to bury His body. Here's why I want to be like this guy:

1) He was a "respected member of the council," which means he probably put his reputation on the line to do this.

2) Scripture says he was "looking for the kingdom." - love those words.

3) Scripture says he "took courage." I mean, yeah, where were the 12 guys who knew Jesus best when He needed a proper burial? Scared and hiding is where they were.

4) Scripture says he "bought a linen shroud." He didn't already have what he needed. He could have made excuses like, "oh that's gonna cost too much, let someone else take care of it," or "it's not really my job." No, instead he made both a social and financial sacrifice to do something he thought needed to be done for Jesus.

5) He probably experienced a bigger blessing than anyone when he found out Jesus had risen. There were questions later about whether Jesus had truly died. This man knew firsthand exactly how dead Jesus had been. He had taken his body, probably thrown it over his shoulders, coming face to face with the blood, sweat, torn flesh, and the smell of death. He carried the dead weight. He no doubt heard the silence of the absence of oxygen moving through his lungs, and felt in person the certainty of no pulse. More than anybody, this man came face to face with the ugly truth of death and the disappointment of hope lost.

What a joy must have filled his soul when the fullness of the kingdom he was looking for showed up in the emptiness of that grave.

in case you like love stories

twenty years ago, in the fall of 1997, i met this boy...... a Jesus-following, puppy cuddling, baseball loving boy........ little did i know it would be the start of a lifelong adventure.

i was working at a baptist camp, serving meals and cleaning cabins on the weekends.  and apparently, so was he.  i didn't think much about him at first, except that he was tall and kinda cute, and really nice, and there was just something different about him.  at the time i was still an awkward tomboy, and had only been on a handful of dates, so the thought of someone actually being interested in me never even crossed my mind. 

we had a lot of mutual friends, and i remember hearing people talk about him a lot, always in a good way.  his friends called him "br," short for "big rob, "  and people seemed to be drawn to his humble spirit.  but i guess i figured he was a lot older than me, so dating him was not something i even thought about.  until...... i went to watch several of the guys play flag football one afternoon that fall.  a friend of mine who came with me mentioned  that she seemed to think he was looking over at the sidelines waving at me.  it gave me butterflies, but i quickly dismissed them because i had been rejected by boys before, and did not want to get my hopes up over something so silly. 

so several months went by.  a year and a half went by actually.  i saw him here and there on weekends at camp, but never really talked to him.

the summer after my senior year in high school, i was old enough to be on summer staff at the camp, so i was there full time.  i had been a christian for 3 years, and was falling deeply in love with Jesus.   i spent countless late night hours in my car that summer, praying and singing and pouring my heart out to God.  and He was pouring His love all over me.  everything from david crowder to tim mcgraw was on my playlist for these "date nights" with Jesus. (yes, tim mcgraw - i changed the lyrics to fit the occasion).  i was resolved to know Him and to make Him known. 

little did i know, just across town, God was doing a work in rob's heart too.  a couple years earlier, he had gone through a very hurtful breakup, and God was bringing conviction, healing, and restoration to that friendship.  he was also raising up a man after God's own heart.  rob was no longer on staff at the camp, but he was serving as a youth intern at a local church, and in july of that summer, they brought their youth group out to camp.   that's where our friendship really sparked. 

i didn't find out until years later, but rob was actually going out of his way that week to find me.  he was making sure to be in the right places at the right time so that he could talk to me.  in my insecurity, i never would have even fathomed this.  he invited me to sit with their group at worship one evening.  so it was there, at the foot of the cross, in a summer camp chapel, that our love story began. 

but it's not where our love began.  our love began when Jesus first loved us.  our love for each other is only possible because of a greater love at the cross of Calvary. 

because of God's love, rob pursued me those early years, with phone calls and love notes, mexican food and snicker bars, teaching me about baseball, and driving miles and miles of texas roads to come watch me play soccer. 

because of God's great love, on christmas day, 1999, at the foot of another cross in the little town of groom, tx,  rob asked me to be his wife.  and that on december 30th, 2000, at the foot of a cross, in lancaster, tx,  i became just that. 

because of God's great love, we began our marriage living and serving at mt. lebanon baptist camp.  because of God's great love, he then moved us away from camp to work and to serve in volunteer youth ministry in several cities.  because of God's great love, we saw lives changed, both in youth ministry, and in the secular workplace in and our communities. 

because of God's great love, we have 3 amazing kids.  His faithfulness more than makes up for our cluelessness as parents and His grace covers our mistakes.  and yes, we have made and are making many. 

because of God's great love, we have welcomed many of "the least of these" into our home.  And because of God's great love, we are the ones who have been blessed by their lives. 

because of God's great love, we have seen our dream of full-time camp ministry come full circle, from out of the blue to pine cove .  20 years after we began at camp, and a decade after we left, He has brought us back.  back to a place that feels more like home, and closer to heaven than anywhere else on earth. 

because of God's great love, we have endured disappointments, failures, major back surgery, major career hurdles, major career changes, several bouts with severe depression, and ongoing battles with anxiety.  countless times, we have watched our needs being provided for on the table, when the ends haven't met on the paper.  we have lost and left loved ones and gained many new friends.  we have hurt and been hurt, we have been wise and foolish, we have been proud, and we have been humbled.  we have strayed and we have been led, and we have been hemmed in, behind and before.  and in all of it, we have seen our desperate need for more and more of Jesus.  more everyday. 

none of this makes us special or amazing, it simply proves how special and amazing HE is.  our marriage and family are just as vulnerable as the next, so we cling to the cross.  we have been and will continue to be nothing but needy and weak, so we cling to the cross.  and there we find that He has been and will continue to be our Provider and our Strength, and that HE is the one clinging to us.

and so our story continues...... the cross from that little summer camp chapel still hangs above our mantle.   it is here where we pursue Jesus and it is here that we pursue each other.  it is here where we do dishes, raise kids, plan camping trips, get frustrated, get forgiveness, fold laundry, drink coffee, dream, cry, laugh, work, rest, pray, eat more mexican food and snicker bars, and still talk about baseball.  and it is here, beneath the foot of the cross, that we find His love, our love, and it is here that we will remain. 

and they left their father

So once upon a time, these two brothers, James and John were in a boat, fixin' their fishing nets with their dad, and some strange dude walks by and says to the brothers, "Come follow me." And "immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."

That just sounds weird. They left their father and their livelihood to follow a complete stranger. I mean, I wonder how their dad must have felt about that. 🤔☹️

Unless...... what if their dad was the one who had taught them to be looking for a Messiah? These were Jewish people after all. So what if their whole lives had been spent on that boat listening to stories about the power of God and the hope of a coming Savior? What if their father was the one that had prepared them to answer that call when it came? What if their dad was fully ready to send them off to follow the Lord in body, bc he had already been following Him in Spirit?

Lord Jesus help me to follow you this closely. Help me to prepare my kids for your call on their lives. Help me to teach them to watch for you. Help me to hold them loosely, so that they will not hesitate to go when you call.

not-so-super mom

Today I came face to face again with my old and familiar enemy anxiety. For no good reason I got super overwhelmed this afternoon and just hit my limit. When this happens i basically freeze. It becomes very difficult to make decisions, answer simple questions, or sometimes to even function at all. I go into survival mode, hoping auto pilot can get me through until bedtime.

But today was different. Because today I realized my children have a front row seat to these struggles. And I have basically been trying to hide it from them for the last 12 years. today I realized that I have been robbing them of a beautiful gift. Because who knows when they too might come to the end of themselves, and they will need to know how to walk through that with grace.

So today, I quit hiding. I was honest. I shared with my oldest what I was feeling and experiencing and showed him how I've learned to call it what it is, and ask for help with it. I walked him through how I had texted my husband, admitting that I was at my limit and that I needed help coming up with a plan b for dinner bc I didn't think trying to make meatballs with an 8 year old was a good idea. At least not today.

He watched me slow down and sit down and stop all the chores and put away the to-do list and find something simple to do, like playing cards.

And he heard me say, "Lord, I need you."

All this time, I have been trying to be super mom, when what they really need to see is a mom who knows she needs a super God.

don't leave out the best part

So yesterday I had to discipline a certain child regarding some very silly errors in judgment they made regarding arguing and submitting to authority. I then had to hear the words that are bittersweet to every parent - "I hate you." They are bitter because they hurt. And they are sweet because somehow you know if you hear those words every once in awhile you might just be on the right track as a parent, walking the road that millions of other parents have traveled.

After a cooling off period, this poor kiddo then came and got me to apologize. And then the regret began to set in big time as they sobbed their remorse and frustration over such silly mistakes.

Of course I offered forgiveness. And like many times before, in an effort to console, I reminded them that those feelings of regret, and their conscience are meant to help keep them from making the same mistakes next time. And then we moved on about our day.

But then Jesus.

He very clearly and gently spoke to my heart. As the Lord and I walked back through my parenting approach, He showed me that I had disciplined my child and left them with an admonition to basically "try harder next time," with the the hope that as they mature, they will eventually quit making those silly mistakes. I slowly realized that any hope in that is false hope at best. And that I had left out the best part - grace.

Our sin doesn't just point to our failures, it points to our need for a Savior. Those feelings of regret and frustration that my child was having yesterday were basically the sum of the Old Testament. They are exactly what Paul describes in Romans 7 when he talks about the struggle between who he wants to be and who he actually is - a sinner.

"Wretched man that I am. Who will deliver me from this body of death?"

This regret is the part my parenting was able to produce. But if that's as far as it goes, it's a pretty dismal outlook.

But "Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

This promise of grace is the only thing that will offer a reliable hope to my child as they grow. A hope not in being a better person, but in being a completely new person in Christ.

Needless to say there were more conversations at bedtime. So thankful for the way the Lord shepherds my heart as I shepherd these little ones.

discipleship

This is the 3rd summer that Rob has taken our oldest son with him to help out with luggage at camp on the weekends. They spend several hours each Sunday carrying the campers' trunks and suitcases from their cars to their cabins. And then on Saturdays from the cabins back to the cars. It is hard, hot, dirty work. But I have never seen two people who are more fulfilled than they are when they come home exhausted, smiling, and soaked in sweat.

The first summer, they had to team up on the trunks, each one carrying one side. But apparently boys grow really quickly. By the next summer Noah had grown enough to carry a trunk on his own. I don't know if I've ever seen him more proud of anything.

Today as I was waiting to take them home, one last camper arrived, meaning one more trunk and duffle bag had to be delivered. I watched as Noah struggled with this bag and it's cumbersome weight. After several attempts to adjust it and be able to get it the couple hundred yards to its destination, I saw a staffer come over to rescue him. But instead of taking the bag from Noah, or even sharing the load with him, he simply showed him a better way to carry it on his own.

What a beautiful picture of discipleship.

Young men especially don't need to be rescued from trials or hard work, but they do need older men to show them the ropes. Sometimes they will need help to carry the load, but as they mature they will need help with HOW to carry the load. (And an occasional reminder to drink plenty of water.)

when you're a mom to "that kid"

No doubt there are plenty of kids and teachers who are counting down the days until summer for many reasons. But I want to take a moment to encourage a certain group of those counting down. Because for some students and their parents, this has been a very difficult year. Things were going really well for your child until they started school, and then all of a sudden, they become labeled as a "problem child," a kid with "issues," a "candidate for testing," or even labeled by a color on a stoplight based on their behavior on any given day. And at this point in the year, maybe even for quite some time now, you've been in survival mode, hanging on by a thread, hoping you don't get another phone call from a teacher , or the nurse, or the school office, for 3 more days.

I will never forget those early school days with our firstborn. I actually dreaded picking him up everyday, because I hated seeing the dejected look on his face when our eyes met in the car line. His body language usually told the story of the day. He would get in the car with his shoulders slumped and tell me about it. "Mom, I got on red today - I'm sorry." Some days I could even tell by the look on his teacher's face, or by the pace with which his teachers would walk towards the car to tell me about certain things that took place.

Mine was the kid always asking to go to the bathroom, and to the nurse. He was the one always getting up to sharpen his pencil. He was the "chatty" one, the busy one, the fidgety one, The one who just couldn't seem to sit still, or keep his hands to himself.

Let me tell you friend, we have been there, so let me encourage you. You are not alone. God sees you and hears you and it will get better.

And God provides. And He's gonna provide in a lot of different ways to get you through this. With the Lord's help, you can put this puzzle together, one piece at a time. The puzzle at our house is still far from finished, but I feel like we've at least got the edges done. Now that we are turning a corner from elementary to junior high, it feels as if the boundaries have finally fallen together, and the Lord has hemmed us in, behind and before.

That little kindergartener who just couldn't get it together 7 years ago was described to me just this morning by one of his teachers as a "well put together young man."

The Lord has accomplished this in his life. And he has used so many people and so many blessings to bring us this far. From the elementary teachers who showed so much patience and grace, to the counselors who have helped us in our parenting and our kids with their coping. From the medications that we tried and failed, to the opportunities he's been given to succeed. From the Gifted and Talented Teacher who has provided so many great opportunities for advanced learning, to the science teacher who has boosted his confidence through verbal affirmation. From the Leadership Team teachers who gave him a chance to find ownership and responsibility, to the band instructors that have challenged him to excel in something new. From the great sports seasons we've had, to the miserable ones. From the countless college kids who have poured into our family at Pine Cove, to the countless hours we've spent serving there together.

The Lord has provided.

And like I said, we are far from "put together." But we are starting to see the outline of the picture, and by God's grace, it looks pretty good.

The pieces and God's provision will look different for you and your child than it does for us. But I promise you, when you look to Jesus in all of it, He is going to pull you through. He is a God who specializes in making it all fit together "for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."

when He chooses grace

Yesterday as I was walking in the house, I noticed one of the kiddos had left some of their trading cards on the bumper of my car. I had a choice at that point to move them, or to let the child suffer the consequences of their neglect when the cards were damaged in the road or in the rain.
I don't always, but this time, I chose grace. I didn't put the cards away, I just moved them somewhere safer. and my child won't even notice, nor will I ask them to.
It made me wonder how many times my Heavenly Father does the same for me. How many acts of his kindness go unnoticed? How many times does he move things around in my life to keep me safe, or to protect my heart when I don't even know He's moving? How many times does he display kindness without expecting thankfulness in return, just because He is good?

Disney Devos - Moana

Disney Devos

This devotional guide is an effort to encourage parents to engage their kids and their culture.  It was born out of my inability to get my daughter to talk to me.  She is very private by nature and just doesn’t offer a whole lot of personal information, even when asked.  But, boy does she love the new movie, Moana.  Now that will get her talking.  So I figured I would meet her where she was and hope to spark some good discussion about Jesus along the way.  Plus, one of the things I want to teach my kiddos before they leave this house is how to filter the world through the Word of God.  I want them to look at every piece of literature, every song, every movie, every experience through the lenses of God’s Word.  I want them to hang on to what’s noble and good and true, and how to trash the junk.  We found these devos to be good practice for just that. 

Before diving in to any devotional, I found it important to listen first, so here’s some questions you can begin asking your child about any movie to get a feel for where they are in their understanding, and maybe even some additional issues that may need to be addressed.

What was your favorite part of the movie?

What was your least favorite part?

Who is your favorite character and why?

Were there any lessons you learned from the movie?

The following questions are not intended to be comprehensive, but a good place to start.  Hope you enjoy the conversations with your child!

MOANA 1

Who is Maui?

What is Maui? (a demi-god)

What is a demi-god?  (some religions believe in many gods, each one having unique and different powers, some bigger, some smaller)

What powers did Maui have?

Talk about the difference between fiction and non-fiction.  Is Moana fiction or non-fiction?

Read Deuteronomy 6:4. 

What does the Bible say about God?  Are there many gods, or one God?

Read 1 Corinthians 8:5. 

Who is our God?

What powers does our God have?

MOANA 2

In the movie, what was the heart of Te Fiti?  (the power of creation)

Why is it important?

Whose was it?

Who stole it?

What did Maui use it to do?

If you had the heart of Te Fiti, what would you create?

What is your favorite thing you have ever created?

Read Genesis 1:1

Who does God’s Word say has the power of creation?

Read Colossians 1:16

What did God use this power to create?

What are some of your favorite things God created?

MOANA 3

Who was Moana’s best friend? (Pua)

At the beginning of the movie, who went with Moana on the boat? (Pua)

Why do you think Pua didn’t go with her on the second journey beyond the reef? (He was scared)

Sometimes even our closest friends might leave us and fail us, but we have one friend who will never leave or fail.

Read Hebrews 13:5 and Proverbs 18:24

Who is our friend who sticks closer than a brother? (Jesus)

MOANA 4

Who chose Moana? (The ocean)

Why did the ocean choose Moana? (She was brave and strong, even as a child)

What was she chosen for? (To restore the heart of TE Fiti)

Did you know that you are chosen?

God chose you.

Read 1 Peter 2:4

Why did God choose you?  (Not because we are strong or brave or great, but because we are precious and special to him, and because he loves us)

What are we chosen for?  (To be his children and to worship him)

Read Ephesians 1:4-6

MOANA 5

What was Moana’s mission?

Who are some of the characters that helped Moana ?

Who was your favorite?

What role did each of them play in the mission?

Could any of them have done it by themselves, without the others?

How did Hei Hei end up helping Moana?

What is our purpose as Christians? (To know Jesus and to make him known to the world)

Can we fulfill this purpose on our own?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:22

How are we supposed to fulfill God’s purpose?  (All working together)

Can we do it alone? 

Who are some of people you can work together with in the body of Christ?

MOANA 6

Who is Tamatoa?

Where did he live and what did he do?

What kinds of things did he collect?

What did he use them for? (To temp the fish so he could eat them)

Read 1 Timothy 6:9-10

What kinds of things can tempt us? 

Do temptations look good? Or bad?

What will our temptations lead us to?

How can we guard against temptation?

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13

MOANA 7

What are some of the obstacles Moana faced on her journey?

(getting beyond the reef, rough seas, convincing Maui, learning to sail, monsters, etc.)

Were there any times where she wanted to give up?

What made her keep going?

What was her reward once she completed her mission?

(Maui got his hook back, going back to her people a hero, leading them to become voyaging again, stopping the darkness from spreading and starting new life)

 As Christians, what are some of the obstacles we will face on our journeys?

(Temptations, sickness, bad guys, etc.)

Will there be times we will want to give up?

Read James 1:2-4

How will we keep going?

Read Galatians 6:9 and James 1:12

What will be our reward for persevering to the end?

MOANA 8

Who taught Moana, shared wisdom with her and encouraged her most? (Her grandmother)

Even after her grandmother died, we see her spirit guiding and giving her wisdom.  There are some cultures that believe that people’s spirits can continue to help us.  But according to the Bible, there is only one person whose spirit still lives on earth after they die.  Who is that? 

Read John 14:16 and 26

Who is our counselor?

How does He help us? (teaches us and reminds us about God’s Word, helps us know what to do)

  

MOANA 9

How did Maui get his tattoos? 

Which tattoo did Moana ask Maui about?

How did he get that one?

What happened to Maui’s parents?

Who took care of Maui when his parents didn’t want him?

What does it mean to be an orphan?

Are there orphans in our society?  How do they become orphans?

Read Psalm 68:5, 6a

Who promises to take care of the orphans?

How does he take care of them? (He is their Father, he sets them in families)

Read James 1:27

Who does God want to use to take care of the fatherless?

How care we help care for the orphans? 

(foster care, babysitting, loving on friends in class, giving stuffed animals to crisis center, operation Christmas child, etc.)

MOANA 10

What was Maui’s big mistake? (He stole the heart of Te Fiti)

Why was it wrong for him to take the heart of Te Fiti? (It wasn’t his, it was stealing)

What were the consequences of his mistake? (Spreading disease and darkness)

How was he supposed to fix his mistake? (restore the heart, put it back)

What are some of the mistakes we make and what are our mistakes called? (lying, cheating, etc. - sin)

Why is our sin a big deal? (it separates us from God)

What are the consequences of our sins? (give examples)

Read Romans 6:23

What is the solution for our sin?  (Jesus restores us.  We can’t fix it, but God can)

Read Romans 5:8

whole 30 for real people

so my husband and I just finished the whole 30 diet.  we're not usually for jumping on bandwagons or following trends, but I was desperate for something to push my reset button in regards to my relationship with food, (mostly my addiction to sugar),  and this claimed to do just that, so we jumped in.  it was definitely a learning experience.  for anyone who cares, I would love to share some of our common sense take-aways.  so here goes:

1) awareness? yes.  learning to read labels has been very eye opening.  it is pretty ridiculous how much sugar is in our food supply.  while we are not ready to ban processed food from our home or spend the fortune it takes to eat purely whole foods, we have definitely gained an awareness of what we're putting in our bodies and will be making some changes going forward.  but we're not talking paleo or clean eating, we're just talking baby steps.  but even baby steps towards healthier eating are steps in the right direction and worth taking. 

2) discipline? yes.  meal planning is essential to success for any diet, but is also a great life skill.  we have been planning our meals one week at a time.  we make our list and go shopping at the beginning of the week to get what we need.  this is a discipline we would like to maintain going forward.  knowing what you're having for dinner, and having the stuff to make it is an easy way to decrease stress significantly when you have a busy family life.  it's one less decision you have to make.  plus, you can usually take the leftovers for the next days' lunch so you get a bonus meal for the work you put in.  we also take turns cooking, and that has helped a ton.  I am seriously so thankful for a husband who enjoys cooking.  it would get real old, real quick if I was going solo.  we also include our kiddos in the cooking and in trying new foods.  it's been fun for us as a couple, but as a family as well. 

3) weight loss?  yes.  while losing weight is not the central focus of the whole 30 diet, it is certainly a benefit.  in 30 days, rob lost 17 pounds, and I lost 11.  we did not count calories, and were able to eat until we were full.  so i'd say that's a pretty good deal.  (now, I will say that for the first 2 weeks, my body did not like me at all for taking away the sugar that it was used to for fuel.  I was achy and tired and felt like I had the flu.  but it was well worth it once we rounded the corner)  

4)  feel good? yes.  did you know that for every 1 pound of weight you lose, it is equivalent to taking 4 pounds of pressure off of your joints?  that fact has been pretty motivating to me throughout this process.   we took our kids hiking over spring break at the end of our whole 30.  we hiked 6 miles and I felt better than I have felt in years!  I expected to be achy and sore after about mile 2, but I actually found myself a little bouncy and ready for more.  (makes sense if you consider I was carrying 44 less pounds of pressure and rob was carrying 68 less)   I never did get that sense of "tiger blood" or extreme energy that some experience, I may have just needed some more time.  but I did enjoy enjoy the hike.

5) clearer skin? yes.  while I did not notice a significant difference with a lot of the other positive physical benefits that whole 30 claims, I did indeed notice the skin on my face was a lot clearer. 

6) better mood? maybe, yes?.  I did not feel as though I had a better overall mood during the whole 30..... that is until we reintroduced sugar.  when we began reintroducing added sugars and sweets back into the diet, I did notice myself being more cranky and irritable.  a surprising additional benefit I did notice was that my pms symptoms were drastically decreased while on the whole 30 diet.  I guess sugar does indeed affect mood and cramps.  I didn't want to believe what I've always read, because I didn't want to give up the very thing I crave during that time of the month.  but when faced with the truth learned by experience, I will definitely be more motivated to eat clean certain times of the month for sure! 

7) lifestyle changes? yes.  like I said, we're not ready to go vegan or anything, but we will definitely be getting rid of some things going forward.  after realizing how much sugar is included and how little nutritional value you get in return, we have decided to get rid of Poptarts.  our kids are not a fan of this idea, but the truth is that they are just junk. we're not getting rid of everything, but we're starting there.  we also told them they could still have cereal, but they have to choose from the ones that have 10g of sugar or less.   i'm going from 3 tbsps of my beloved coffee creamer to 1.  and after learning how certain foods cause an overall feeling of grossness that I was numb to before, I will definitely be consuming smaller portions of bread and dairy.  i.e. 1 cracker barrel biscuit instead of 4.  embarrassing to admit, but like I said, this is whole 30 for real people.