Sky Ranch SkyMoms Gatherings in Ft Worth and Plano..and coming to an area near you in 2013!

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Gatherings! 

A special thanks to all our hostesses in Ft Worth and Plano that helped to make each event a huge success by sponsoring tables and inviting their friends to enjoy food, fun, fellowship, and spiritual encouragement! 

Ft Worth, Texas at Ridglea Country Club

Plano, Texas at Maggianos Little Italy

Please let us know if you are interested in participating in one of our upcoming luncheons in your hometown!

skymoms@skyranch.org 

Upcoming Sky Ranch SkyMom Gatherings

Potporri House - Tyler, Texas ~  January 24,  2013

Maggianos -Houston, TX ~  February 5, 2013

Ricks Chophouse -McKinney, TX ~  February 20, 2013

Stonebriar Country Club- Frisco, Texas ~  April 11, 2013

Teach Intentionally..."Family Time…Jesus serves by saving you", with Stacy A. Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Time…Jesus serves by saving you

Did you have a wonderful day of THANKS last week? I hope your family spent a little time discussing something they were thankful for. Expressing thankfulness is a learned behavior, I have decided. It is not something that you naturally do, but it must be taught. Thankfulness is often felt, but not often expressed and it is the act of expressing that matters. This month’s family time topic from the “Sky Ranch Family Devotional: Follow the Leader” is on “Jesus is God’s Servant“ and the weekly discussion is on “Jesus serves by saving us and our response.“ If you have ever had a near death experience and were saved by someone, your natural response would be thankfulness to the person who saved you….right? It is the same with Jesus. Jesus saves each person who believes in Him from a near death experience. You may not realize that you even had a near death experience, but the Bible defines death as separation from God. Trusting and following Jesus, God’s Son, prevents your separation from God the Father. It prevents your eternal death or eternal separation from God. This week’s topic gives your family the opportunity to talk about “how” Jesus saves you and about “what” you are saved from. Take this opportunity teach your kids about the need for salvation, Jesus’ salvation gift to you and a response of thankfulness.

As a Mom, I think sin and salvation topic is a very important conversation to have with your kids and it may be a conversation that needs to be repeated from time to time. As my kids grew, they were able to understand better by repeating conversations. It can take time for concepts to sink in. I also, used this topic to talk about thankfulness. Many people (me included) tend to focus on the negatives. I have a hard time noticing the good things to be thankful for…and my son was like me. I did not really notice it in myself until I saw it in him. Have you had that happen? Kids have a way of humbling you. To help both of us, we started talking about things we were thankful for at dinner. Each of the family members would share two things to be thankful for that day. I noticed that all of our attitudes began to change by focusing on “good” things. It is the same with things of God. The more you notice the good that God is doing and give thanks…your attitude will improve and become more positive towards Him and your life.

This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family and asking God to show you the best way to approach the sin and salvation topic. Pray for God to help you clarify any areas of confusion. Pray for God to guide your discussion as you evaluate your response for Jesus’ amazing gift to your family of the ability to live life in close relationship with God. Pray for God to show you if anyone struggles with thankfulness or even just being positive too. Pray for God to help your family see that their thankful hearts can actually serve and minister to others when they share a thankful attitude. 

Do you have questions or need prayer for your family? Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.

I will be praying for you! 

Stacy

Stacy A. Davis

Sky Ranch Family Devotionals and

Teach Intentionally Author

This week we are in the 3^rd Topic and  13^th  Family Time (or page  31) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Follow the Leader”…

Family Time 13:

Topic 3: Jesus was sent as God’s Servant…Jesus serves by saving us and your response

Talk with God: Read…Scriptures and questions below.

1 John 3:8  …The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

• In 1 John 3:8, what did Jesus destroy?

1 John 4:13  By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.  14 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son [to be] the Savior of the world.  15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

• In 1 John 4:14, what was the Son sent to be?

1 John 4:10  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.  11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

• In 1 John 4:10, His Son is propitiation (payment) for what? 

Isaiah 53:11  As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see [it] and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.

• In Isaiah 53:11, what does the Servant bear?

Walk with God: Discuss… Jesus destroyed Satan’s work and saved you. What do you need to be saved from? How did Jesus save you?

Prayer suggestion… Pray for God to save you from your sin.

Family Time 13: 

Leader Answers:

• The works of the devil
• The Savior of the world
• Sins
• Iniquities (sins)
• Discussion ideas: You need to be saved from your habitual sin. Satan holds us hostage by sin. Isaiah 53:6 defines sin as turning to your own way as opposed to God’s way. Romans 6:23 says the wages (payment) for sin is death.  Isaiah 53:11 explains how Jesus saved you. We are told that when you repent and believe Jesus, God at the cross placed your sin on Jesus and when God saw the anguish of Jesus’ soul, God was satisfied and the many (you and me) were justified (declared right) in that moment. So, Jesus paid for your sins by His death. How does that make you feel toward Jesus?

© 2012 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

Teach Intentionally..."Family Time…Give of yourself like Jesus", with Stacy A. Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Time…Give of yourself like Jesus

              

 Do you like a little adventure in your life? What is adventure to you? Isn't it a series of exciting events…with calm moments in-between? It is peaks and valleys; the calm times or valleys cause the exciting times or peaks to stand out. If you live life trusting Jesus and seeking HIs direction, you will find a very interesting life ahead of you. This month’s family time topic from the “Sky Ranch Family Devotional: Follow the Leader” is on “Jesus is God’s Servant“and the weekly discussion is on “Jesus claimed to be God’s Servant, so give of yourself like Jesus. “ Trusting Jesus to the point that you stop controlling your life or designing the best outcome for yourself, and instead… letting go, serving God and being selfless will bring you to this life full of adventure and an amazing peace of mind. Did Jesus have peaks and valleys in His life events on earth? Was there difficulty sometimes? You bet! But Jesus tells you that the lifestyle that He role-models of trusting the Father is the way to the abundant life; or a life that is worth living (John 10:10). 

As a Mom, I found it was a challenge to encourage my kids to be selfless, servant leaders. It did not come naturally to our family. Like everyone else, we were born self-centered. Instead, I had to teach sharing, playing nicely, don't grab, wait your turn, etc. It was hard. When they were older, the topics changed to don't drink….even if your friends drink, don't bully, treat others right, reach out and invite others.. instead of always waiting to be invited, or look for the good in others and tell them. Sometimes you don't feel like being self-less. I learned it was a process and took time for our family to change. My kids, now in college, still aren't perfect...but improved. The most useful lesson learned was that  sometimes selfless behavior…meant giving up being accepted by the crowd…and it meant having self control around their friends. High school kids face a lot of difficulty if they go against "the crowd." It often leads to being ostracized at a time when acceptance is the main thing you want. You can really pay a price for doing the right thing. Teaching our family, to pray (seek God first), trust your values (God's teaching of right and wrong), use self-control (and ask for God's help, when you can't do it), remember the positives, and stop and reflect (remember all the times that you did make a difference because you stood for the right way)...it all seemed to help. Later, once my kids learned enough self-control to stop "following the crowd", they could move into servant leadership and find ways to reach out and serve others in a more impactful way.

This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family and asking God to show you if anyone struggles with "following the crowd" as opposed to "following Jesus?" Ask God the best way to help your family understand how to counter the lure of being accepted by the crowd. Ask God to show your family how to move from "following the crowd" …to serving Him and making a positive difference in our world .Servant leadership starts by being valued and discussed at home. Pray for God to guide your conversation and give you insight of exactly what your family needs to hear.

Do you have questions or need prayer for your family? Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.

I will be praying for you! 

Stacy

Stacy A. Davis

Sky Ranch Family Devotionals and

Teach Intentionally Author

This week we are in the 3^rd  Topic and  12^th Family Time (or page  30) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Follow the Leader”…

Family Time 12:

Topic 3: Jesus was sent as God’s Servant…Jesus claimed to be God’s Servant, so give of yourself like Jesus

Talk with God: Read…Scriptures and questions below.

Philippians 2:5-8   … Christ Jesus,  6  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be  grasped ,  7  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men.  8  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

• In Phil. 2:7, what form did Jesus take on earth?

Luke 22:27  (Jesus is speaking)  “For who is greater, the one who reclines [at the table,] or the one who  serves ? Is it not the one who reclines [at the table]? But I am among you as the one who serves.”

• In Luke 22:27, what does Jesus say that He is doing?

Walk with God: Discuss… In Philippians 2:5-8 notice how Jesus normally exists  in the form of God…and then, when He comes to earth, He empties Himself and finds Himself a man, obeying God so completely that He ends up dying on a cross. Wow! How is Jesus, who is equal to God, serving you by these actions?

Prayer suggestion…  Pray for God to open your eyes and see Jesus

Family Time 12: 

Leader Answers:

• Bond-Servant
• Serving
• Discussion ideas: In 1 John 3:16 love is shown by laying down your life for another.  Jesus actually died in place of you and literally gave up His life on this earth so that you could have an abundant life while on earth and an eternal life later if you believe Him. Jesus role-modeled serving by saving you eternally. Have you ever given up your personal needs for someone else? How?

© 2012 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

Tori's SkyMoms Tips....Time to be Thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving from Sky Ranch!

Dear SkyMoms,

During the holiday season you have a great opportunity to begin making memorable, and meaningful family traditions.  These traditions can stay with your families forever as they pass down to their own children...
Maybe it is as simple as your family favorite green bean bundle recipe...

Green Bean Bundles

Canned Whole Green Beans (Del Monte)

Bacon slices cut in 1/2

Sauce:

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. garlic salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Wrap 12-14 green beans with bacon and place in prepared dish. Repeat, using all the green beans and bacon.
3. One can is 4-5 bundles.  Allow 2 per person.
4. Combine butter, brown sugar and garlic salt. Stir until completely smooth- this can take up to 5 minutes. Spoon sauce over green bean bundles.
5. This sauce amount is for 2 cans.  I always double the recipe, and for Thanksgiving I make enough sauce for 6-8 cans of green beans...my family loves these as leftovers!
6. Bake for 45 minutes.

Maybe your tradition is to reflect and remember all that you are thankful for....
here is a great tool to help each family member participate in sharing what they are thankful for.... i-am-thankful-for-printables

Maybe your tradition is to always invite others over to your home to celebrate this "Thankful Season" together,....

who otherwise would not have had a place to share a meal with during Thanksgiving!

What are your traditions? How can you make this Thanksgiving memorable, and meaningful?

Blessings,

Tori 

Tori Miller

SkyMoms Ministry Director

Sky Ranch

Texas | Colorado | Oklahoma

972-743-7774 (Mobile)

 www.skyranch.org 

Ronda from ~ The Family Table, brings us "Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole"

Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole

Here is a tried and true breakfast casserole. It has been around for ages and you may have a family variation that you love. As I mentioned in my last post, I am preparing for Thanksgiving week. Stocking the freezer with casseroles and tea breads that can be pulled out on those mornings that I need to feed a crowd. This casserole can be cooked ahead of time or you can freeze it uncooked. I am cooking and freezing mine to save time. 

First I usually decide which pans I want to use. This time I made two small squares and an oval so I went with the larger proportion of ingredients. I spray them all with cooking spray and divide the bread to the three pans. Then I divide the sausage and the cheese. Then I top the casseroles with the egg mixture. If I am making one large casserole dish, I go with the smaller ingredient list. It is a pretty forgiving casserole and you can add mushrooms, onions or any other tasty ingredients you want. If you think you need more eggs, just crack a few more and add a little more milk. No worries. Make this casserole work for you. 

Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole

1- 1½ lb Sausage 

12-18 eggs, lightly beaten 

3-4 cups milk 

2-3 teaspoons dry mustard 

1 – 1½ teaspoon salt 

1 loaf cubed bread 

2-3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 

1/2-3/4 teaspoon black pepper 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 F. In large skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink. In large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, mustard and salt; stir well.
2. Distribute the bread into the pan(s).  Sprinkle with sausage, cheese and then pour egg mixture evenly over casserole.
3. Bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until eggs are set. Tent with foil if top begins to brown too quickly.
4. Serve immediately or let cool completely. Wrap well in saran and food saver casserole. Thaw overnight and reheat foil wrapped casserole at 300 until warm.

Happy Cooking,

Ronda from The Family Table

Prayer Encouragement: "Around the Table and Within Your House" by SkyMom, Terrie Chevaillier

Around the Table and Within Your House

Blessed are all who fear the LORD,

who walk in obedience to him.

You will eat of the fruit of your labor;

Blessing and prosperity will be yours.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;

Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the LORD.

May the LORD bless you from Zion;

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

All the days of your life.

May you live to see your children’s children-

Peace be on Israel.  

Psalm 128

As I read this psalm, I am so encouraged about the legacy

of a family.  There is so much promise and blessing in these six verses.

  In this passage, the wife is compared to a fruitful vine and

the children are compared to olive shoots.

Within the house and around the table.

Olive shoots are small young shoots that come up from the roots of olive trees.

These shoots become new trees that bear fruit.

And a fruitful vine is one that is full of maturity and beauty.

As we approach this Thanksgiving, let us 

Give thought to our present family table 

and our future family table.  Our table of legacy…

Let’s pray God’s Word:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for family.

Oh how I long to see the fruit of my labor.

Some days I see abundant fruit and there are some 

Where I have to look hard and change my focus and attitude 

to see the fruit.    It is there….it takes me seeing 

through the lense of thankfulness…and then it appears, and I see it.

And how I long to be a fruitful vine within my house.

Your word says that these blessings will come to all

who fear the Lord.

Please help our family to grow in the fear of the Lord and knowledge of His Word.

I look with abundant hope to the days where my children

will bring their children to our home and we will gather around the table

And give thanks for all that is directly from Your hand of provision.

I pray that as parents we would have spiritual roots that go down deep

So that from those roots, our children will sprout up and become

strong in Your Kingdom

I speak a blessing over my family and the generations to come 

 with expectant hope and thankfulness,

as we gather around the table this month and the years to come.

~Terrie Chevaillier, SkyMom Prayer Encourager

Sky Ranch Sky Mom Gatherings are coming to your hometown!

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Gatherings! 

Prosper, Texas

 Southlake, Texas 

&
Shreveport, Louisiana  

A special thanks to all our hostesses that help to make each event a huge success by sponsoring tables and inviting their friends to enjoy food, fun, fellowship, and spiritual encouragement! 

Prosper, Texas at Gentle Creek Country Club

 Southlake, Texas at Timmaron Country Club

 Shreveport, Louisiana at Southern Trace Country Club

Please let us know if you are interested in participating in one of our upcoming luncheons in your hometown!
skymoms@skyranch.org 

Upcoming Sky Ranch SkyMom Gatherings

Ridglea Country Club -Ft Worth, Texas~  November, 27 2012
Maggianos Willow Bend -Plano, TX ~  November, 28 2012
Potporri House - Tyler, Texas ~  January 24,  2013
Maggianos -Houston, TX ~  February 5, 2013

Ricks Chophouse -McKinney, TX ~  February 20, 2013

Stonebriar Country Club- Frisco, Texas ~  April 11, 2013

Blessings,

Tori 

Tori Miller

SkyMoms Ministry Director

Sky Ranch

Texas | Colorado | Oklahoma

972-743-7774 (Mobile)

 www.skyranch.org