Lisa Life Lesson ~"New Beginnings"

New Beginnings

As I was walking into our church worship center on Christmas Eve, the lady in front of me said to her family, "Oh, here, let's sit where we sat at Easter!"  I wanted to say, "Welcome Back!" but didn't feel that was appropriate.  

I absolutely LOVE new beginnings.  Don't you?  I love a new school year.  I love a new calendar year.  I love Mondays.  Well, most Mondays.  We have a great, new, shiny opportunity to start over if we've done things 50% lately.  If your family hasn't made church attendance a priority, then start now.  

I can hear you.  I really can.  "Well, Lisa, my kids have never really liked our pastor.  They can't relate to him."  OR "My husband needs a day to sleep in.  He plays golf on Saturdays."  OR  "The kids have never connected to the youth group."  OR, my favorite.  "The soccer coach schedules practices on Sunday morning.  What's a family to do????"

OKay, enough excuses.  Find a church home that fits the needs of your family.  A place where you can grow, and learn and SERVE together.  And yes, you might have to change churches.  I said it.  I'm sure your current church will understand.  They'd rather you go to church SOMEWHERE than nowhere at all.  I promise.  

Church isn't something we DO.  It's who we are.  WE are the church.  The church body is the body of Christ.  It's how we do family.  Don't make the mistake of thinking you're getting a check in the box on your "good" list.  We are commanded to fellowship with other believers.  It's not our choice.  (Hebrews 10:25)

The benefits to church fellowship are limitless.  God wouldn't command us to do something that wouldn't help us or strengthen us.  He knows we need the fellowship of other believers.  It's a good thing.  

Isaiah 58:13-14

13 “Keep the Sabbath day holy.

      Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,

   but enjoy the Sabbath

      and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.

   Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,

      and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.

 14 Then the Lord will be your delight.

      I will give you great honor

   and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.

      I, the Lord, have spoken!”

~Lisa Clark

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Parenting Mentor

Tips from Tori..." Creating more Memories...while kids are home on break make a craft together!"!"

 Creating more Memories...while kids are home on break 

GO make a craft together!

Ok, so yesterday I posted about the Happy Birthday Jesus Cake and you can save that idea and recipe for baking the cake for Him on Christmas Eve, and or make it all year long to give away as a witnessing tool...

But, today I wanted to share a few ideas we have done (thanks to Pinterest) that you could do with your children or families with the time left with them ALL at home this next week before they return back to the rush of school and hectic school schedules!!  Sitting down together with a glue gun, some paints, getting a little messy, around a table and laughing WILL create a memories that will last forever...oh, this is so much more precious than fighting the crowds at the malls all doing at their Christmas returns. :)

Here are just a few of our attempts of crafts but we made FABULOUS memories:

Sterling made this for her girlfriends gift exchange: 

Use an ornament, and some buttons and hot glue, tie a ribbon bow and voila...

We are now on to using the rest of our buttons to make a canvas Monogram and pillow:

canvas

burlap

sewing machine (this was fun...as I had the opportunity to teach the girls how to sew!)

hot glue and glue sticks

and lots of colorful buttons.

Fyi: use  muffin tins to sort colors and sizes 

Kyndall made this for her girlfriends gift exchange: We made scarves with verses on them...and this can be used another fun WITNESSING TOOL!~

Scarf was only 5$ from target!

Verse we used:

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Colossians 3:23

Kyndall made key chains for each of her friends:

Jenga pieces 

scrapbook paper

blue

mod podge

key chains

hook deals

..and she got the opportunity to learn how to use dads drill for each one..

SHE MADE 24, to give to all her friends...

We made these amazing crayon art melting projects- sure was fun..., 

Crayons

canvas

hot glue and glue sticks

hairdryer

fyi: do the hairdryer “melting” OUTSIDE :)!

(hanging on her wall in her room)

Kyndall is in the process of making these beautiful bracelets...she is selling them and all the money will go towards the High School Youth Mission TRIP to the AMAZON with Prestonwood, this Summer...please let me know how many you want to buy to support her in this trip. :) Ha!

you can wear casual

you can wear dressy- by adding as an accessory with watch

you can wear just one, or wear several at a time!

So proud of her thinking of a way to raise money continually with all proceeds going to her Mission trip to Brazil...

AMAZON RIVER OUTREACH

"if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

Romans 12:8

Gotta go...we are headed to the kitchen table to tackle some hot glue, ...I wonder what we will end up with this time!

Blessings,

Tori Miller

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Ministry Director

Tips from Tori..." Creating Our Memories!"

Celebrating Christmas and Creating Memories

Celebrating Christmas is a great time to start family traditions...that can be passed down for generations! When I became a parent, I started looking for ways to create Christmas memories and traditions with my children. One thing we have done through the years is have a birthday cake for Jesus. My mom (Mimi) loves to cook this birthday cake with the grandkids and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus after the Christmas Eve service, and dinner with the grandkids.

We then all go to back to our respective homes, get ready for bed and read the Christmas story from the Bible before going to bed and anxiously await the opening of the presents the next morning.

What is special about this cake is not the taste or the design, but the story.

You will need:

1 box of white cake mix (or your favorite white cake recipe)

1 box of chocolate cake mix (or your favorite chocolate cake recipe)

Vanilla frosting 

food coloring: red, green and yellow

birthday candles

Prepare cakes according to the box/recipe directions. Divide the white batter in half. Drop several drops of green food coloring in one half, and red food coloring in the other half. Pour into 8" round cake pans and bake according to recipe directions.

The chocolate layer reminds us that we are sinful.

Chocolate (black/brown) -   Sin is what separates us from God. We choose to disobey God. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

The red layer reminds us that Jesus shed his blood for our sins.

RED - Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the price and penalty for our sin. He provided the only way to God. "But God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Roman 5:8

The white frosting reminds us that Jesus has given us a clean heart.

WHITE - When we become a Christian God cleanses us from all unrighteousness and washes us whiter than snow."  But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin." 1 John 3:5 
"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Isaiah 1:18
 
The green layer reminds us to grow in Christ.
GREEN -We must now grow as a believer in all areas of our life. Looking at Jesus as our example.  "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18 NKJ

The yellow decorations remind us of heaven.
· GOLD - If we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, we have the promise of a home in heaven.” In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. “  John 14:2-3


The candles remind us Jesus is the Light of the World.

May you remember the story of the Jesus Birthday cake all year long!  And may we all have the courage this year 2012 to share this story with someone who does not know about Christ and his forgiving love.

You could even bake a cake and give it away as a tool to witness to others.

God Bless!

Blessings,

 Tori Miller

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Ministry Director

Teach Intentionally..."Family Time…God’s Good News", with Stacy Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Time…God’s Good News

I hope that you had a Merry Christmas and as you prepare for family time, the topic of God’s good news goes well with the season this week! God’s good news or the gospel is something that I grew up hearing about a lot. But like many “church” words, I did not really know what the gospel actually meant. I would hear it said to share the gospel, but my thought was…I have no idea what I am supposed to share. Even though the church is all about spreading the gospel, it is interesting that in church the word gospel is often not very defined. It is just assumed that everyone knows what it means. Later in bible study classes as an adult, I learned that I actually knew the gospel all along. I just did not connect the name “the gospel or the good news” as simply telling about Jesus’ birth, death on the cross, resurrection and the message of how those actions impacted each person who believes Jesus is their personal Lord and Savior. It really was not a very hard concept. I just simply needed the word defined for me.

As a Mom, I found this lack of understanding the word “gospel” was evident in my own kids. One day during our family time, I just asked everyone in the family if they had any idea what “gospel” meant and if they could tell me. I just got blank looks and my kids even went to a private Christian school as well as church and I am a bible teacher. My kids were doing what I did.  I think in our culture, if we do not understand what a word means, it is common to just skip over it and not check it out. This is exactly what they were doing and not even giving it a second thought. Until the day that I asked…what is the gospel? Once I explained it to them and everyone said “Oh!”, they realized they really did know it. Then, each of us took turns sharing our testimony which includes sharing the good news of Jesus. Your testimony is simply telling your story of your life before knowing Jesus, your repentance, acceptance and belief in Jesus, and then the changed lifestyle afterwards that resulted.  For our family, we noticed that our testimony of the impact that Jesus has made in our lives is in constant process that keeps shaping. We are always learning and growing in our relationship with Jesus.

This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for God to show you if your family needs more help understanding what the gospel is. Ask God to give you insight of what still needs to be taught and understood. Then pray for God’s direction for each family member as you ask God to guide saying your own testimony. Then in your family time this week, ask if each person can share the gospel and can share their testimony. At first, everyone will be reluctant. Everyone always makes it more difficult than it is and you just have to jump in there and stumble through it. It may help to write down a few notes about their life before knowing Jesus and their life after knowing Jesus. Sometimes if a family member does not see much evidence that believing Jesus has changed their lifestyle, it can be a great springboard into an individual conversation on why. Remind your family that sharing the gospel and forming how to say your testimony is a process and it is okay if it is still developing and shaping. Enjoy listening to your kids share their experiences and they will enjoy hearing you share yours.

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

I will be praying for you! 

Stacy Davis

Click the link below for your free copy of the Sky Ranch “Open your Eyes” Family Devotional … 

https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/SkyRanch/EventRegistration.html

This week we are in the 4^th  Month Topic and 4^th  Family Time (or page  40) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Open Your Eyes”…

Family Time 4: 

Month 4 Topic: God is perfectly good…God’s good news

Talk with God: Read…Luke 2:10, Acts 8:12, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

~ Luke 2:10  And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you  good  news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;  (11)  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

• In Luke 2:10, what is the angel bringing to them?

~ Acts 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

• In Acts 8:12, what is Philip preaching?

~ 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-8  (1) Now I make known  to  you, brethren,  the  gospel which I preached  to  you… (3) For I delivered  to  you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins  according   to the Scriptures,  (4)  and that He was buried, and that He was raised on  the  third day  according  to the Scriptures, (5)  and that He appeared  to  Cephas, then  to   the  twelve.  (6)  After that He appeared  to  more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;  (7)  then He appeared  to  James, then  to  all  the  apostles;  (8)  and last of all, as it were  to  one untimely born, He appeared  to  me also.

• I Cor 15:1, 3-8, what is being preached?

Walk with God: Discuss… Do you know what the gospel is? Can you share it? It is God’s good news of hope to us. 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-8, is a great summary of the gospel. As a family, practice saying it to each other and share the difference this good news of the gospel has made in your lives. Make a point to share it also with someone outside your family today.

Prayer suggestion… Pray that God will help you understand and share His good news.

Family Time 4: 

Leader Answers:

• Good news

• Good news
• The gospel
• Discussion ideas: Take turns struggling through saying the gospel. It can be awkward at first. Add to it your life before hearing the gospel and then the change after hearing it, and how God has worked in your life.  Then you will have your testimony to the positive change Jesus brings in a life. Some of your family may not see a change in their lives. Encourage them to keep praying and asking Jesus to show Himself to them. For some the change is gradual, it is a process and everyone’s pace is different; but it is important to note that you will see a good change if the belief in His Son, Jesus, is real.

© 2011 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

TIps from Tori..."Enjoy This Merry Christmas!"

 Merry Christmas!

SkyMoms, wishes you all a very Merry Christmas! For He is the Reason to Enjoy this Joyous Season, for he has done Great and Might Things!

And Mary said, "For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His name."

Luke 1:49

Merry Christmas!,

Tori

Tori Miller

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Ministry Director

Prayer Encouragement: "Nothing to Something- Chosen and Royal " by SkyMom, Terrie Chevaillier

Nothing to Something- Chosen and Royal

But you are the ones chosen by God, 

chosen for the high calling of priestly work, 

chosen to be a holy people,

God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, 

to tell others of the night and day difference he made for you-

from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. 

1 Peter 2: 9-10 (The Message)

In the NIV version, verse nine refers to Christ followers as a 

royal priesthood.  Because our King, the Messiah was born,

we are a part of a royal priesthood.

When you are a part of royalty, you have the finest and lack nothing.

Because of Christmas, we get to partake in this priesthood of royalty.

With that high calling comes a work.

The work is to speak out for Him and share our stories of 

broken to redeemed- from pit to palace.

Because of the King.

To do this, we have the finest to guide us and will lack nothing as we go about

the work because we have His Word and His Holy Spirit to guide and lead us.

We lack nothing.

This Christmas season, as part of us sharing the good (finest) news first  

before the favorite things of gifts, parties, and food

let’s venture to share our pit to palace stories….our beauty for ashes stories,

and our broken to redeemed stories.  Because of Christmas we can do this.

Let’s tell our children because of Christ ______________fill in the blank!

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, Your Word tells us that we are royal priests sent 

to tell others about you and go about Your work here on this earth.

I believe that our first work begins in our homes as we model You

to our children.  We can show them You in how we love them and love 

others especially during this season.

I pray that we would.

I also pray as Your Word teaches us to have courage and tell

them our stories of redemption.

What would Uou have us tell them?

Before Christ I was this……..And after Christ or because of Christ

I am now this………………..!

What is my fill in the blank of bondage or slavery that would minister hope to my 

children

and allow them to see Christmas in us.  Saved, redeemed 

and set free because of Your birth.

There is a real story inside every one of us that needs to be told.

It speaks of royalty…ransomed to a palace, restored, redeemed,

with complete access to the finest of eternal and lasting things.

Give us courage and boldness to share!  

Amen

~Terrie Chevaillier, SkyMom Prayer Encourager

Teach Intentionally..."Family Time…Do good like God", with Stacy Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Time…Do good like God

Even though in the Garden of Eden everything started out good, it all changed the minute that mankind sinned. Psalms 14:1 and Romans 3:12 tells us that there is none good, not even one. Before I was a Christian, I often thought that people were born basically good and I have heard many other people agree and say the same. But once I started studying God’s Word, I learned that scripture tells us that actually none of us are born “good”. We are all born sinners in Romans 5:12. None of us would be good if God did not lead the way and show us how to be good and define goodness for us. But what does God tell us is good? How do we know what good is?  God gives “goodness” in Galatians 5:22 as a result of God’s Holy Spirit.

So, goodness is Holy Spirit inspired. Ephesians 5:9 tells us that as God’s children we will do what is pleasing to the Lord and it will result in goodness, righteousness, and truth. So, it is again a result of the Holy Spirit causing goodness within us.  King David tells us in Psalms 14:1 that understanding and seeking after God is considered good. So even though none of us would seek God nor be good on our own. God inspires goodness in all of us and defines goodness for us through His Holy Spirit and His Word. The behavior of goodness is summarized by all that is right in God’s eyes.

As a Mom, I noticed that this biblical teaching of kids born as little sinners was true. I did not have to teach my kids to lie about eating candy before dinner or lie about stealing the other child’s toy and then pretend they did not. They naturally knew how to do all of that. Instead, I actually had to teach them to be good according to God’s definition of good which is not lying or stealing. I had to teach them to treat others in the way that you want to be treated which is often different than how you were treated. God tells us in Romans 1:19 that each person is born with a basic understanding of right and wrong written on our hearts. God tells us that we can understand the difference between good and bad and that self-control will work for awhile, but we can’t stay “good” as a habit on our own. It is only after my kids believed Jesus and received God’s indwelling Holy Spirit that parenting got much easier because God’s Holy Spirit gave them a desire for “good” behavior as a habit for their lifestyle. But don’t get me wrong, they still occasionally sin, but sinning is not the habit of their life anymore.

This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family to desire favor from the Lord by doing “good” in God’s eyes. Pray for God to help your family look for opportunities to do “good” for others. Since it is the Christmas season, share with your family how Jesus is an indescribably good gift from God and why. God saw an opportunity to do good by sending Jesus to save you and me. Share how Jesus saves with your family and that gift was sent by God’s grace. Ask… how you can imitate God and share something good with others? Have you ever shown grace to others? Grace is unmerited favor. Encourage your family to think of ways to reach out to others this season. Can your family afford to share a few gifts with the local children’s hospital or a local family shelter? Can you share the message of the hope of Jesus with a friend that God directs you to? It can even be as simple as…can you show kindness to your brother or sister when they don’t deserve it?

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

Merry Christmas! I will be praying for you! 

Stacy Davis

Click the link below for your free copy of the Sky Ranch “Open your Eyes” Family Devotional … 

https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/SkyRanch/EventRegistration.html

This week we are in the 4^th  Month Topic and 3^rd Family Time (or page 39) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Open Your Eyes”…

Family Time 3:

Month 4 Topic: God is perfectly good…Do good like God

Talk with God: Read…Proverbs 3:27, Proverbs 12:2, 3 John 1:11

~ Proverbs 3:27  Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do [it].

• In Prov. 3:27, what are you not to withhold?

~ Proverbs 12:2  A good man will obtain favor from the Lord.

• In Prov. 12:2, what does a good man obtain?

~ 3 John 1:11  Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

• In 3 John 1:11, what are you to imitate?

Walk with God: Discuss… God tells us to “do good” when it is in our power. Think about that.  Do you make nice comments, share, invite someone to dinner, give a big tip, smile, encourage? Do you? Most of us skip the small things, don’t we? Does God skip it? No, He doesn’t miss a moment to be kind and we are to imitate Him. Still give the big things, too…like food or clothes to a shelter, find someone a job, help the homebound with their needs, visit and care for the widows, orphans, sick and needy. Share the gospel. What will you obtain? Favor.  Why would you want favor from the Lord?

Prayer suggestion… Pray for God through His Spirit to help you do what is good.

Family Time 3: 

Leader Answers:

• Good
• Favor from the Lord
• What is good

Discussion ideas: Favor is to be pleasing, acceptable to God, or to be approved by God. Isn’t that our desire? We want to do what is right in God’s eyes. Encourage each other to share things that are right and good that you can do as a family

© 2011 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

Lisa Life Lesson ~"Christmas Letters"

Christmas 2006 - I felt the Lord leading me to "document" in some way my children's heritage through simple handwritten letters from their grandparents (4 at the time) and great-grandparents (2).  

I sent each a note requesting the letters with some thoughts on what they might include, such as where they grew up, when they accepted Jesus as Savior, what their interests were in high school, when they married, etc.  All 6 so graciously participated and on Christmas Eve I wrapped each girl's letters with red ribbon and put them in their stockings.  Needless to say, these letters have become a valuable keepsake remembered not only at Christmastime but throughout the year.  Today, 3 of their grandparents, and 1 great-grandparent have gone to be with Jesus.  

The letter writing spurred on my husband, Brad, to start a new family tradition a few years ago.  He asked that each of us (me, Brad, Caroline and Camryn) write each other Christmas letters to be read on Christmas morning.  These letters are a treasure.  It's a wonderful time to put into writing how you feel about your loved ones.  Of course, I cry every year.  But I'm so thankful for the letters.  

Merry Christmas.  I'm thankful for the true gift of Christmas - Jesus.  

~Lisa Clark

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Parenting Mentor

A Woman's Encouragement...from Linda Paulk, Sky Ranch CEO and President

Dear SkyMoms,

The joy of the Lord is our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10)!  Woohoo!  Praise the Lord….so happy to know that this is TRUE!  I awoke this morning praying for all of you.  Praying that you would know that through Christ you can do all things and that your source of strength is in Him (see Philippians 4:13).  We hear this so many times and acknowledge it as His word in the scripture, but so many times we don’t tap into the power source until we have exhausted our self efforts.  I know…to be completely transparent…I am guilty of this too! We know the Lord has a plan, we know He wants the best for all for us, we know that He is in control…why don’t we give it to Him to handle?  Ladies, today let me encourage you to cast all your cares upon the Lord for He will sustain you (see 1 Peter 5:7)

Today ladies, I know that there are some of you that are facing mountains to climb that seem too difficult to even begin the journey.  I realize that there are those of you who have obstacles to overcome, perhaps addictions you are facing either yourself or one of your loved ones, problems with your children, marriage difficulties, health issues, and more.  Please be encouraged by the scriptures above and know that God is our great provider and that He will never give us more than we can handle.  He wants you to allow Him to carry you, but this is a decision we must make.  We must choose to allow him to handle it.  Many times I find myself choosing to allow Him to handle it in my head, but not in my heart, which is when I have fully surrendered it to Him. 

Father God, today I pray for all of the Moms that are reading this blog.  I pray that you would strengthen their faith in you and that they would tap into the power and authority you have given them through your Holy Spirit…that they would recognize as Christians, you have given us this power.  I pray that they would acknowledge and recognize the enemy attacks, but focus on Jesus.  I pray that whatever each Mom is facing today that they would know without a shadow of doubt that you are greater than any problem and can and will handle it all.  I pray that they would release their cares to you.  I pray that you provide comfort, strength, healing, wisdom, knowledge, and discernment as each Mom embraces the day to day struggles, trusting you.  It is in the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen

Please know that the ministry of Sky Ranch is in prayer for all of your families.  On behalf of all of Sky Ranch, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and pray that the Lord will bless each one of you with a time of renewal and refreshment in Him, and that He would strengthen your family during this time.

Grateful to serve,

Linda