Monday, August 25, 2014

Sky Ranch SkyMom's Retreat...You Don't want to miss it!


PURE JOY!

Sky Moms Retreat 2015
January 24th and 25th
Van, TX



I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 
3 John 1:4



No matter what stage of parenting you are in.....pre-school, pre-teen, teen, and for sure in those college years or whenever or wherever they are as they leave the nest of our homes, it brings a mom no greater joy than to hear that our children are walking in the truth!



Moms, we are the example and influencer in our home!  When we are walking in the truth of God's Word, our light shines a bright pathway for our children to walk on as they go about their walks in and out of our homes.



Does your walk match your talk?  Come be encouraged on how to grow in this area as we model for our children what it means to walk worthy in truth in a world filled with messages that truth is relevant.  



Let your 2015 walk be filled with truth and joy! Plan now to attend this event and invite your friends!



Registration and more details coming soon!

Friday, August 22, 2014

SkyDads! Spend an intentional morning with your kids - come join us!


Sky Ranch invites all dads to bring your son or daughter and join us for the first ever SkyDads event on September 13, 2014!

Join us for a time of reconnecting with members of the summer camp team, intentional play time, opportunities to form new relationships, and a time of encouragement for dads. 



Where: The Main Event, Plano 
When:  September 13, 2014 - 8:45 - 11:30 am
Who:  All dads and kids who love Sky Ranch!
Price: $25 per person (includes admittance & two rounds of laser tag)           

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Lisa Life Lesson "An important message for moms of new high schoolers"



Mom, try to resist the urge to give your new high schooler a full high school experience in the first month!!  I know, they are feeling their oats and all that, however, you have 4 years to let them experience high school and all it has to offer.

Boy/girl sleepovers, mature themed movies, dating, limos, parties, beach trips, costly clothing, privacy, etc. I truly do not live in the dark ages, I know there's more than what I listed that describes high school. But I sometimes feel mom is more excited about high school than her child.

Why? Reliving it maybe? A second chance. Memories. I don't know. But it's okay to say "no."  Let me say that again in another way, "No. We'll do _______________ when you're a junior or senior. Not as a freshman." 

Privileges come with obedience.


Lisa Clark
Sky Ranch Parenting Mentor

Monday, August 11, 2014

Sky Ranch SkyMom's Retreat...PURE JOY!


PURE JOY!

Sky Moms Retreat 2015
January 24th and 25th
Van, TX



How in the world do we as moms have joy amidst the patterns of this world?



In Romans 12: 1-2, we are reminded that don't have to conform to the world but we can be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our minds.  Then, we will be able to test and approve what God's will is.  His good, pleasing, and perfect will.



Have you ever asked yourself what God's will is for you or for your child?  The world tries to tell us what it should be, but God's Word tells us that we can understand and come to know it by the renewing of our minds.



Plan now to attend this retreat and start the 2015 year off with learning how to be transformed by the renewing of your mind as you seek the Lord and His will for yourself, your children, or your entire family!   



We will have amazing worship, hear from encouraging speakers, enjoy coffee and campfire, as well as time to relax and enjoy all that Sky Ranch has to offer!



Registration and more details coming soon!


Wednesday, August 6, 2014

"BACK TO SCHOOL CHATS"~ from Guest Writer Holly Shivers

BACK TO SCHOOL CHATS


What just happened? How is it time for school to start? A whirlwind of swimming, road trips, sunshine, popsicles, lazy days and here we are…talking about backpacks again. While you prepare your kids for school and all that entails, may I suggest some spiritual preparation as well? Below, you will find three intentional conversations to have with your munchkins before the first day of school comes knocking. There are some questions to get everyone talking, some scriptures to point the way, and some “what if” scenarios to get you all thinking. Your personal “parent to child” interaction will have way more impact than anything they will read or hear elsewhere. Do it around the dinner table, when you are out for ice cream, or when you have a captive audience tucked in tight. Have fun and get talking!

Convo #1: Choosing friends
What kinds of things do you look for in a friend?
Who is your best friend at school, and why?
What kinds of things would you not want to find in a friend?
Why is it important to pick the right friends?

*Proverbs 13:20: “Whoever spends time with wise people will become wise. But whoever makes friends with fools will suffer.”(ICB)
*Psalm 1:1-3: ‘Happy is the person who doesn’t listen to the wicked. He doesn’t go where sinners go. He doesn’t do what bad people do. He loves the Lord’s teachings. He thinks about those teachings day and night. He is strong, like a tree planted by a river. It produces fruit in season. Its leaves don’t die. Everything he does will succeed.” (ICB)
*1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be fooled: Bad friends will ruin good habits.” (ICB)
**{Discuss the balance between choosing friends wisely and not shutting yourself out from kids who are not just like you…and may need you to help show them the way!}

Scenario: Your teacher asks you to pick a partner you will work with in Math class all year. You will be spending a lot of time with this person! Can you think of a person you would choose? Why did you pick that person? (Answers might include: positive influence, kind to others, works hard, does not have many friends, etc)

Convo #2: Best effort
Why is learning important?
Does school really matter?
Why do we need to work hard?
What does it mean to “do your best?”

*Colossians 3:23: “In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for men.” (ICB)
*1 Corinthians 9:24: “You know that in a race all the runners run. But only one gets the prize. So run like that. Run to win!” (ICB)
*Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ because He gives me strength.”(ICB)

Scenario: On the first day of school, your teacher asks you to think of a goal you can strive toward academically this year. What is yours? How will you reach it?

Convo #3: “Jesus Eyes”
What are “Jesus eyes?” 
{“Jesus eyes” are eyes that see people as Jesus sees them. They look for that one person who needs a kind word, or to be included. They stop what they are doing to help others and they notice when someone is feeling down. Jesus eyes are not always focused on themselves, but they find opportunities to make someone’s day better.}

What does it feel like to not have a friend?
Can you think of a time when you felt alone at school? Did anyone make you feel better?
Why do we need to serve and think about others?

*Galatians 6:2: “Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you truly obey the law of Christ.” (ICB)
*Psalm 41:1: “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak: the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.” (NIV)
*1 John 3:18: “My children, our love should not be only words and talk. Our love must be true love. And we should show that love by what we do.” (ICB)

Scenario: You finally made it through the lunch line when you look up and see all of your friends waiting for you at a table with only one seat left. Behind you is a boy who is brand new to the school and does not know anyone. You realize if you take the seat with your friends and classmates, he will be stuck sitting at a table alone with the teacher. What do you do? Besides giving him your seat, can you think of some other things you could do? 

Let’s pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit, our kids choose wisely, work hard and see with those “Jesus eyes” as this new year unfolds!


Monday, August 4, 2014

Prayer Encouragement: " Where Is The Hope?" by SkyMom, Terrie Chevaillier


Where Is The Hope?





Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death. 
Proverbs 19:18



Who needs to be encouraged by this scripture today?  



Here it is, for all moms to see.  God's Word is active, alive, and true.  It is relevant and meaningful back from the beginning of time until today and to eternity!



So guess what?  You can still discipline your children.  Today!  And everyday! 



And what's the promise?  For in discipline, there is hope.  Did anyone wake up today feeling hopeLESS?  Is it time to put discipline into practice in your home? 



It is NEVER too late.



Let's pray God's Word:



Dear Father, thank You for Your Word that guides me in my parenting path.  You tell me that there is hope found in disciplining my children.



Some days, I feel discouraged and without hope.  Could this be because I have failed to discipline? Convict me by the power of Your Spirit and lead me to repentance in this area.  Restore hope in my home.  I do not want to be a willing party to my children's death.  Great is Your faithfulness to me to help me do this.



Put other moms in my path who know how to discipline.  Show me the way that leads to life in parenting my children and and helping them walk a path of right living.



In discipline there is hope!  Help me as I seek to understand.



Amen.
~Terrie Chevaillier

Friday, August 1, 2014

Prayer Encouragement: "Face Time!" by SkyMom, Terrie Chevaillier


Face Time!

I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
2 John:1:12



Wow! John knew and understood the importance of face to face.  He had many things to say to the people, but he wanted to have the joy of face to face!  Take a look at how short 2 John is!


As a mom, do you too know the joy of face to face relationship building and desire for your children to know this fully?  In a world where face to face is being replaced with screen to screen through short phrases and words, we often see the issue, but feel as if it is a giant we are up against with no hope in how to teach our children that it is settling for less than God's best in relationship building.


Balance is key.  It is not going away, so instead of doing away with it all together, let's pray that our children would taste and see the joy of visiting and talking not as a lost art, but an art that is to be preserved and practiced.


Let's Pray God's Word.


Dear Father, thank You for the many wonderful ways we have to get the message of Your truth out to the world through media.  It is a blessing. 


As my children walk through relationships and learn to love You and others well, help them to really know and experience the joy of relationship building through talking, laughing, and sharing face to face.


Would you impress this on their hearts in ways that I cannot?  Often times I see the problem, but feel helpless to persuade or convince amidst a world that is contrary to biblical relationship building.


Amen.
~Terrie Chevaillier