How to SAVOR the Holiday Season

Here is a link to the talk I gave at the Girls Night Out event a few weeks ago:

http://www.debbiegiese.com/2011/11/creating-little-breathing-space.html

An Attitude of Gratitude

We see it everywhere...the benefits of having an attitude of gratitude. But, because the Bible commands it, we must give it more weight than we do to the "Don't worry, be happy" bumper stickers. The key to life is rooted in gratitude. Luanne Glass taught on gratitude last week, which was appropriately, Thanksgiving week.

The good news is that gratitude can be learned. Paul said in Philippians that he has "learned to be content in all circumstances." Learned, by the man who was hunted, beaten, persecuted, shipwrecked, imprisoned...he learned to live a life of gratitude regardless of his circumstances. The bottom line is to "give thanks in all circumstances. (1 Thess. 5:18)"

Like anything learned, it must be practiced. I have heard the saying that 10,000 hours in any endeavor are required to be an expert in something. Luanne challenged us to keep a gratitude journal. Because life comes at us only one moment at a time, find something to be grateful for in each moment. They will add up.

Gratitude is the key to a life in Christ. It is the answer to worry and stress...Do not be anxious for anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Phil. 4:6)

Can you accept the challenge, amid the dirty diapers, overtired toddlers, and challenging bigger kids, to find something in each moment to be grateful for? Write it down because we remember what we write, and can come back to it as a reminder. Your life will be transformed. He promises.

Operation Christmas Child

November 15th found us packing our shoe boxes with gifts that will land in the hands of children we will probably never meet. On the surface, we were just a bunch of moms putting trinkets, candy, and art supplies in boxes. Underneath though, ran the current of hope. We were packing hope for families desperately in need of it.

Samaritan's Purse runs Operation Christmas Child, which deliver shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts to children around the globe. More importantly, each child receives twelve gospel centered lessons, introducing them to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hope.

The moms brought enough stuff to pack 27 boxes. We had teams wrapping the box tops and bottoms; each group packed their boxes, then brought them to the stage. When the last box was filled, we gathered in a circle and prayed over them. We prayed for the children who will receive them, for the parents who will see joy in their kid's eyes, that the seed of Truth will take root in these lives. We prayed for all the volunteers worldwide who will process and deliver the boxes, some riding camels or donkeys, some driving gift-laden tractors, some paddling canoes to remote villages.

In our small groups of moms, we were able to hold hands with people around the world and make a difference. We gave a little, but received so much more.

Worry Warts and Other Diseases

Now, to be honest, I don't know if this last Mom Time was fun exactly, but I do think it was beneficial. As you know, this semester we have been talking about things that rob us of contentment, or peace. Contentment means not wanting to have or be anything different than what we already have or are. Make sense?

This week, we talked about fear/worry, anger, and guilt. Instead of arming you all with techniques and cute sayings, we fought these three joy stealers with Truth, with scripture. Many of us worry, or give in to fearful thoughts, but did you ever realize that fear and faith both have the same starting point: each expects something to happen. It is the direction we allow those thoughts to go that makes the difference.

The Bible has 366 verses relating to fear, one for each day including leap year. Find one, or a few, to cling to when the middle-of-the-night what-if's are stealing your peaceful night's rest. Here are some to get you started:

• Philippians 4:6
• 2 Timothy 1:7
• Psalm 91
• Joshua 1:9

Maybe you aren't a worrier. Maybe anger is your thing. We had a great discussion on anger in our small group, on whether we are stuffers or venters. When something makes you angry, do you stuff it or blow up? For many of us, it depended on who was getting under our skin. We tend to bottle it up when adults are making us mad, but then blow up at our kids when they do the littlest thing. Psychologists call this the "kick the dog" syndrome, taking it out on someone weaker. Anger alone isn't the problem, it is the sinning that usually accompanies it. If we use our anger the way God intended it to be used, to correct an injustice, the world would be a better place. Usually though, we get angry when things don't go our way. When the kids are misbehaving and ruining our peace and quiet. When our husbands fall short of our expectation. Normal, but not right. Just sayin'....
Here are some scriptures to help you keep your anger in check:

• Proverbs 19:11
• James 1:19
• Ephesians 4:2
• Ephesians 4:31-32

Just when you thought we couldn't have more fun, (read facetiously), we moved on to guilt. Guilt will stop you dead in your happy tracks and remind you that you are no good. That those mistakes you made, the times you yelled at your kids, that time you were creepy to someone who didn't deserve it, are the real you and you should probably just sit down and be quiet. Ok. Is that just me? Guilt is the voice of the enemy trying to drown out the voice of God. The good news? He can't do it if we don't let him. Every single one of us has sinned, has made mistakes, has made poor choices. That is why Jesus came, to rescue us from our sin. Remember, the weight of your sin cannot outweigh the grace of God. If you struggle with guilt, claim these scriptures as your own. God has better for you, and it is time to live in His freedom.

• Psalm 103:12
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• 1 John 1:9
• Isaiah 43:25

This week was definitely heavy on Bible, but this is where the practical, biblical aspect of Mom Time comes in. Just telling you "don't worry, be happy" really doesn't help. Knowing and claiming the Word of God is where the battle is won. Stand in victory over the things that steal your contentment, my friends. The war has already been won. We just need to live like it.

"He will keep in perfect peace those whose heart is steadfast upon Him."

Isaiah 26:3

Feeling Like Mrs. Potato Head?

Read on...

Age and childbirth do funny things to a body sometimes. Sometimes, not so funny things, lol....gravity and lack of sleep are worthy adversaries. This week in MT, we had a three-fold approach to fashion and beauty.

Denise Schamens shared her expertise in celebrating the figures we have, taming our closets, and dressing to play on our own unique qualities. Click here to view Denise's full presentation.

Shannon Bartz, make-artist by trade, shared tips and secrets with us, making over Tara Frost as part of her presentation. Her advice was similar to Denise's, play to your own color palette.

Luanne Deboth wrapped up our morning with a talk on the Beauty that never fades, Christ. Because we are made in His image, our jean size and facial feautures does not define us. We need to remember that God uniquely designed each one of us according to His plan.

I know I left with a new resolve to get my closets in order, throw away my bacteria filled mascara, and not dwell so much on the outside, but let Jesus make over the inside into His image.

I pray you will find that peace as well.