From Frazzled to Fun

Imagine the map of the United States of America decked out in red, white & blue and lounging on a long couch as the doctor sits beside taking notes. "Doctor, I'm afraid I'm in a bit of an identity crisis," it said.

While identity crises typically happen for teens, I believe events the last years have landed the United States of America in its own identity crisis.

Identity Crisis (n): A developmental event that involves a person questioning their sense of self or place in this world.

Could we agree that the past years' events have left our country questioning its sense of self and place in this world? 

Quotes from our Founding Fathers clearly show our foundation and identity. Research of Founding Fathers' writings shows they considered God and the Bible an important part of government and that America was founded in partnership with, and under, God.

George Washington, the first President of the United States, is a great example. He once wrote,"Of all the...

We are in the midst of an "Unplug From Screens & Create" Challenge in the Coach Mom Tribe this month, complete with a grand prize incentive.

I'm so excited about the great non-screen things that the kids are doing! Cooking/baking, climbing trees, walking dogs, making homemade "hurdles" to practice with, harvesting garden veggies, creating robot costumes out of extra boxes, making edible slime, even inventing some homemade mouse traps to serve the family!

Would you like to get your kids off screens and on to beneficial activities?

Here are 12 of the many ideas I had for my Coach Mom Tribe kids:

1. Play outside in sprinkler
2. Write a letter to your grandparents
3. Speed stack cups (can buy online)
4. Make inventions out of recyclable materials such as buttons, bottle caps, yarn, leather strips, wire, boxes, etc. 
5. Write a poem
6. Collect insects, leaves, grass, etc. and study them under a microscope or magnifying glass
7. Cut...

A few reflections you might share with your children on what makes America so beautiful and praiseworthy...

The U.S.A. is the only country, ever, (including ancient and modern day Israel), to be founded on an idea and not an ethnicity.

Our founders boldly declared this idea in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self evident. That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

It is clear that they believed that the God of the Bible was involved in the birth of our nation. In the Declaration of Independence they used words like "Creator", "Supreme Judge of the World", "Nature's God", and "Divine Providence".

We can also see the same theme in countless writings of historians.

• In his private journal, George Washington gave credit to the "finger of Providence" when it came to both the formation...

It's shameful. 

 

America's local and state law enforcement officers have suffered so much negativity and hate by a small but powerful minority this last year.

 

Though this group is small, with the voice of media, they have campaigned to try to turn America against the ones who put their lives on the line every day to protect us.

 

How ludicrous is that?

 

Not only do our law enforcement officers deserve our honor and respect, we need to be intentional to teach our children the importance of  honoring and respecting those who uphold the law in our communities.

 

The American Family Association has initiated a Day of Prayer and Appreciation For Law Enforcement, slated for Sunday, June 13. 

 

Let's get behind this!

 

This is a great way for us to let them know we appreciate their work.

These are some ways we can get involved: 

PRAY
As you gather for your main family meal on Sunday, pray for law...

Do you have teens?

Would you like to build a stronger relationship with them?

Get some powerful ideas in this interview Brenna did with family coach Dr. Cam.

Click here to watch the interview on YouTube

Click here to listen to the Apple podcast

Happy Memorial Day!  Some interesting things about today...

Really, Chris?  A black car with black rims and grill and black leather interior? I wasn’t sure it really “fit” me. 

In our search to replace my 2006 Honda Odyssey well-loved van, I had in mind a white vehicle...you know, one that makes you think “glory” or “shine” when you look at it.

But Chris had his heart set on taking me to see this car. I prayed as we headed to see it that the Lord would make it clear if this car was not the one (because he had a different white one picked out for me!)

As we started the car and test drove it, I smiled when I heard a song by Mercy Me playing on the radio. And, wow, I was impressed with all the amenities its great condition for such a reasonable asking price.

After the test drive, the owner was showing us some features on the screen and we saw the words “El Peligroso”.

“What’s El Peligroso?” we asked.

“It’s the name of the car,” he answered.

...

Tomorrow is Pentecost, a feast celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in Acts 2.

Would you consider joining me in praying aloud this powerful Pentecost prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to move in us?

God bless you,

Brenna Stull

 ***

A Prayer for Pentecost 

Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life:
At the beginning of time you moved over the face of the waters;
you breathe into every living being, the breath of life.
Come, Creator Spirit, and renew the whole creation.

Holy Spirit, voice of the prophets:
You enflame men and women with a passion for your truth,
and through them call your people to the ways of justice and compassion.
Come, Spirit of Righteousness, and burn in our hearts.

Holy Spirit, Spirit of Jesus:
By your power Jesus came to bring good news to the poor
and release to those held captive.
Come, Liberating Spirit, and free...

Your child is gifted.

 We all know Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” In translating from the original Hebrew language, which is more precise than our English, the Amplified Bible reads:

“Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Prov. 22:6, TAB

From the original Hebrew we see each child has a gift or bent -- a direction he should go that fits with his God-given passion -- that he will never abandon once trained in it.

Discovering this is one of the most important things we can help our children do.

God might even use it to reform that sector of society for His glory.

George Washington Carver is a great example of using his gifts.

Though he was from a humble background, he did great things that had an impact worldwide and , revolutionized the farming industry.

In Carver's day peanuts...

The Lord bless you
    and keep you, 
the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

God bless you, mama!

The Lord sees and knows the many ways you serve your family each day.

Comment below one thing you are thankful for this Mother's Day.