What New Thing Are You Ready to See God Do in Your Life in 2017?

“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”  Isaiah 43:19 This is it! The beginning of a new year! A new beginning! A time when people make resolutions with the lifespan of a butterfly. Beautiful while it lasts, but unfortunately, it doesn’t last long. I’m not into resolutions. But I am into reflection and redirection. I’m not into resolutions. But I am into reflection and redirection. @themominitiativ #Isaiah43:19 Click To Tweet It’s good to take a glance in …

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9 Ways to Raise a Rebellious Kid

Fact: Kids love to push the limits.  Fact: Rebellion is a human condition.  Yet there are things we do as parents that encourage the growth and intensity of a rebellious heart. Here are 9  ways to fan the flames of rebellion. Expect perfection: Performance based parenting focuses on the outside observables  rather than internal  notables. Notice outcomes but focus on developing your child’s character. Rather than only commentating on appearance or performance, “You look so beautiful” say, “Thanks for helping your sister today. You have such a kind heart.”  Punish for every infraction: Instead start saying what you want. When the child messes up, retrain. Next move to a natural consequence, …

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Add Peace to Your Christmas List This Year

We all need some reminders about Christ’s peace and how to attain it. In the craziness of this holiday season with dinner parties, Santa events, and of course shopping, let’s dig a bit further into peace and what God’s word says about it. Let’s make peace with others. To have a more righteous character, God asks us to be the sowers of peace. Try your best to get along with others in peace today and always. Pray to God for help with this. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness (James 3:18). If you want more peace …

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How to Help Your Child Think About GIVING at Christmas more than GETTING - Lindsey Bell on The Mom Initiative

How to Help Your Kids Think More about GIVING at Christmas Than GETTING

I’d love to tell you that my children think more about GIVING at Christmas than they do about GETTING. I’d love to tell you that we spend just as much time serving others as we do shopping for ourselves.  Unfortunately, if you look at my checking account, credit card statement, or simply watch my family throughout the month, you’ll know that’s not the case.  My seven-year-old has a wish list that is literally two pages long (and growing)! When he added yet another item to his list yesterday, I realized we might need to change our focus.  My guess is, you might …

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Because Every Day Is CHRISTmas!

Every Christmas, we look forward to reading the account of the incarnate Christ as a reminder of who we are really celebrating…of all that became available to up because Jesus chose to come. “7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they …

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A Christmas Wish for Christian Moms – Is This YOUR Wish Too?

“I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.” 3 John 1:4 It’s the best gift a mom could ever receive… to be able to say  that her children are walking in the truth! It’s what we long for, what we pray for, what we want more than anything else. But many moms are still waiting. Still praying. Still wearing holes in the carpet by their bedside. Still desperate to see their children become all God created them to be. Still longing to see their children walk in the truth. Today, would you join me in praying for …

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Becoming Like Those You Love

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” It’s funny how when you love someone your interests can change to match the one you care about. Getting to know others in an intimate way is exciting and eye opening. You learn to experience the things they enjoy, eat the foods they like, and develop passions that they hold dear. This happens with human companions, but it also happens even more with the Lord! I have loved having children for many reasons. But one thing I never expected was to be challenged …

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Mommy Confessions: when I realized I didn’t like my child

Don’t get me wrong; I LOVE my children. I am so very blessed to be able to have them, and I truly believe all children are a blessing and cause us to be better people. Guys, I am agonizing over this! I know it shouldn’t be said out loud, but I’m going to because I know I’m not alone. So, my husband has recently returned from an extended work trip that took him out of town. During said trip, one of my children began to act out. I mean, completely lost it! He would not respond to punishment, rewards, nada. …

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Why We All Need Some Margin in the Madness This Christmas

When our fourth child arrived at Christmastime nearly a decade ago, no one was more excited to welcome a 7-pound miracle into our family than our firstborn, Lukas. Though he loved his little sisters, 8-year-old Lukas had long yearned for a brother. He’d wished for one each year when he extinguished his birthday candles with a breathy blast, and he’d plead every night when he closed the day in prayer. “Dear Jesus, can I PLEASE have a brother?” After years of waiting and wishing, pleading and petitioning, God finally answered his prayer with a brown-haired bundle of joy just a week before …

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Lessons Learned from My Stillborn Son

The sharp cold air chipped away at my numb frame as my feet cut through the deep fallen leaves. My stillborn son’s funeral finished just hours before and left painful silence in its wake.  Nagging emptiness grew into an urgent unexplainable need to return to the dark cemetery. So here I sat, ankle deep in decaying leaves rubbing his tiny fresh grave-the only thing left of him to touch. No one warned me how much the death of my baby would hurt. The depth and weight of physical pain it brought was frightening. The priceless lessons learned, though, have deepened my love and knowledge of the Lord. “I have learned to …

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