Prayer Encouragement: "A House of Arrows and a Heritage" by SkyMom, Terrie Chevaillier

A House of Arrows and a Heritage

Children are a heritage from the LORD,

offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

Are children born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

Psalm 127: 3-5

A quiver is a case for holding or carrying arrows.

The definition of an arrow is:  a slender, straight, 

generally pointed missile or weapon made to be shot from a bow.

Let’s think of our homes as a quiver…..

where the arrows (our children) are being stored and kept for 

the future when they will be set in motion.  In motion for battle.

An arrow has a purpose and a target.  When a warrior shoots an

arrow, he aims it in a certain direction with a specific target in mind.

I love all of the reminders that Stacy has shared with Sky Moms 

in regards to intentionality…it takes intentionality to mold and shape 

straight arrows that have a target in mind….arrows that won’t bend

or be swayed off course by the culture.

Let’s Pray God’s Word for our children:

Lord, thank you for this rich heritage that you gave me.

My offspring are such a reward from you.

I pray that our home would be like a quiver that holds the arrows

for future battle in your kingdom.  Please help us to be 

intentional regarding time in your Word.  Show us where we should 

serve those around us that are in need which would allow our

children to see those you care about who are in need as Thanksgiving 

and Christmas come near.

I pray that these times of intentionality that we are learning about

would make straight the arrows in our home.

So that one day….  as

they are shot out into a world that needs the hands and feet of Jesus

we would get to see the target of many coming to personally know

and follow you as our children become

the next generation of disciples to a broken world.

Amen




~Terrie Chevaillier, SkyMom Prayer Encourager

Super-Sized SkyMom Gathering~Ridglea Country Club, Ft. Worth, Texas

Ridglea ~ Ft. Worth, Texas

A special thanks to our hostesses:

Nicole, Rebekah, Angie, Kristin, Jennifer, and Elizabeth

 who sponsored tables and invited their friends to enjoy food, fun, fellowship, and spiritual encouragement!

 Also a special thanks to Lisa Clark, 

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Parenting Mentor, 

who gave us an encouraging message on

 Teaching Thankfulness to an 

"It's All About Me" 

Generation?

This message gave us practical tips on ways we can be intentional with our children in teaching thankfulness.

Lisa used the acrostic 
THANKS

T:

Teach and train your children in the ways of the Lord.

"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Deut 6:7

H:

Have an attitude of gratitude!    
Keep a Family Journal.  This could be a Thankful Journal of all the things your family is thankful for and could be passed from generations to generations!

                  

A:

Actions speak louder than worlds.   "Live it out- and then give it out!"  Bless other families, allow your children to be involved in this process, show them how to share the blessings of what you have been given small or large with others!

N:

Never repress a generous impulse.  If your heart tells you do I give?...Do it!  The Lord will work out the details!  :)!

K:

Kids need limits!  More we get the more we want...set limits.  For example: Christmas Gifts...If it was good enough for Jesus to just get 3 gifts at Christmas isn't it good enough for us to only get 3 gifts too?

S:

Set aside a time for thanksgiving and praise in your home.  Maybe Sunday evenings you could sit around the dinner table and share prayer request and praises from the week- this could become a special family tradition and afterwards go out to your favorite place for frozen yogurt or a snow cone!

Dana and Kelsey- 

Our wonderful, hardest working girls in our Event Marketing Department of our Dallas office.  They put in countless hrs. because they too love Sky Ranch and have followed the Sky Ranch Lifemap… were once campers, then counselors, and now Sky Ranch is blessed to have them on staff! 

We LOVE having them apart of the SKYMOMS team!

(I personally would have loved to have been apart of a team like this and gotten all these tips and training prior to marriage and a family...they are going to make excellent wives and mothers)!!!!

Upcoming Super Sized SkyMom Gatherings:

Maggianos- Northpark for Park Cities/Highland Park, Texas ~  November 30, 2011
Prestonwood South Location-North Dallas Texas ~  January 19, 2012
Ricks Chophouse -McKinney, TX ~  February 8, 2012

Maggianos- Northpark for Park Cities/Highland Park, Texas ~  February 29, 2012

Stonebriar Country Club- Frisco, Texas ~  April 19, 2012

Blessings,

Tori Miller

Sky Ranch SkyMom Ministry Director

Teach Intentionally..."Family Time…The Family Calendar", with Stacy Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Time…The Family Calendar

People tell me that I am organized. But I have to admit that I was not born that way. I was born much more laid back and less structured. But, I grew up the oldest in a large family and at times it was crazy with all the people. My Mom, bless her, did a great job just trying to keep up with all of us. But if I did not learn to cope by organizing myself, I would have been very lost. So, at a fairly young age, l learned to use a calendar for myself and of course, it was the old fashioned paper calendar that I still see many Moms using today.  As life went on and I married, had kids, worked part time, volunteered with organizations, led a women’s bible study, ran kids from school to multiple activities, there were days that I literally could not keep up with everything. I had become overscheduled. I would often pray asking God to show me the most important things to accomplish and help me do them and He did. I eventually learned to lighten my load and find the right balance for me and the kids.

Even though I had learned to use a calendar and pray personally, I saw that as my kids aged and our family schedule grew more complicated that it would be handy to have a master calendar that tracked everyone’s activities in one spot. So, I went to the local office supply store and found a calendar that worked to track everyone and yes…it is still paper, but you can find electronic versions. I began using it and even tried color coding it for each family member.  After seeing how much that helped our family, we often included it in our weekly family time discussions and used the information to pray for my husband if he needed to travel or to pray for a someone if it looked impossible for them to handle everything in a very busy week.

This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by looking at how your family handles organizing your schedule. God is a God of order and He wants us to have order in our lives as well. At times, your family schedule may create a lot of stress and seem impossible, but remember nothing is impossible for God (Matthew 19:26). God will lead you and show you how to either eliminate or add things to balance your family life. Also, pray for each child and ask God to show you are they either over scheduled or under-scheduled. Then, talk to your kids and listen to them. But also use your Mom intuition…sometimes the quieter child, won’t speak up, but really does want to have some activity in their life verses the high-energy child, keeps wanting to add more and dominates your activity driving time so other kids are left out. Pray for God to help you teach your kids about keeping things in moderation and living peacefully. 

If you have questions, 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 3^rd month and 2^nd week (or page 30) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Open Your Eyes”…

Family Time 2:

Month 3 Topic: God can do anything because God made everything…God’s calendar/your calendar

Talk with God: Read…Matthew 19:26, Genesis 1:14

~ Matthew 19:26   And looking upon [them] Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

In Matt 19:26, what things are possible with God?

~ Genesis 1:14  Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years.”

In Gen 1:14, why did God make the lights in the heavens?

Walk with God: Discuss… Did you catch that? God made the lights in the heavens as signs to track the seasons, days and years. It is a form of a calendar. But it is a God-sized calendar which only He could do. God likes order and planning. He has created an orderly world. We should imitate Him in our lives. Do you as a family have a group calendar? As kids age, it can be very helpful. What value is there in planning ahead?

Prayer suggestion… Pray for God’s direction and wisdom to make changes to your family schedule.

Family Time 2: 

Leader Answers:

All

To separate the day from the night and for signs, seasons, days, years

Discussion ideas: Families need a main calendar that tracks events for the group.  A paper calendar works well in a central place so everyone can see it. A weekly family time is a great place to discuss events and communicate with the group. It can keep life more peaceful, especially if you notice things getting too busy.  Then try cancelling events; if not active enough, try scheduling more to do.  Find the balance of activity that is right for your family.

Tips from Tori..."Make having a Parent Child Weekend a Priority once a YEAR!"

Make having a Parent Child Weekend a Priority once a YEAR!

I cannot begin to tell you how important it is to take time out of your busy regular schedule to just spend time with your child.  If you have more than one child, then try to spend time with each of them individually.  Taking the time to get to really know a child like going away together on a special weekend somewhere not only helps to boost your child’s moral, but it also helps to bring you closer together.  This, in turn, builds strong bonds when that child is out on their own.  They will see you  as their parent, that was willing to go above and beyond and it can be a time where you can open up and really share what is going on with them - rather than the quick trips of errands that you only have to capture their attention.  And, as long as you are honest with them, they will be honest back to you.  They will know that they can trust you with problems that they are dealing with and know that you will help them get through them.  This also teaches them how to be with other people and, one day, with their own children.  They will remember how you took the time to spend with them and get to know them, and they will want to do the same for their children as well.


You can plan your own time away anywhere...BUT SKY RANCH takes lots of prayer, teamwork, counselors, and efforts to make sure that you can have lots of these intentional moments with your child.
We have Mother Daughter Weekends twice a year typically in October and November...THEY ARE AMAZING!

This year’s theme for our Mother Daughter weekend was 

“Whatever!”, using Philippians 4:8 as the foundational verse…”Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable…think about such things!

Quote taken from a moms Facebook, that has been attending Sky Ranch Mother Daughter for 5 years...
"SKY RANCH MOTHER/DAUGHTER WEEKEND!!!!! It's the one weekend we look forward to above all others. Just my baby and me. Zip lines, sailing, hiking, dinner, dancing, horse back riding, laughing, playing and being wrapped in His light and giving thanks and praise for we are truly blessed, indeed. Oh my goodness gracious, I'm so excited I could burst!!! xoxox :-)"


Please consider already planning to join us in 2012!

Blessings,

Tori Miller

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Ministry Director

Lisa Life Lesson ~"Beggars"

Beggars

Do your children beg?  "Please mom!" "Please mom!" "Please Mom!"  "Puhleeese, Mommmmm????!!!!!!"  You know, that kind of begging.  Mine have been known to beg every now and then.  It's soooo irritating isn't it?  Puhleeese.  Enduring the begging cycle is something I've learned to do.  I realize that 1) they really want this certain thing/idea/situation.  2) They are passionate about said thing/idea/situation.  3)  They know their happiness lies completely in my decision.   

When begging occurs, I make sure they know my decision is final once I make it.  Then I consult my husband and pray.  Not necessarily in that order.  

When kids are passionate about something we must remember that their passions change with the winds.  What is of extreme importance one day is not on the radar the next.  So, as parents, we sometimes need to hold off in making decisions to test the waters and see if the passion holds out.  Many times, things die down, and a non-decision will suffice.  In other words, they change their minds and don't need a decision from us one way or the other.  

I try to relate to my kids needs and desires and enter their world.  Putting on my "teen hat" is hard these days as I approach, cough cough, my 5th decade.  But remembering back, can help us make our decision.  

I guess my point is, when beggars start begging, don't feel obligated to answer or give in immediately.  Use your time wisely, and seek wise counsel.  Then the beggars know the foolish respond quickly and the wise seek counsel.  

Lisa Clark

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Parenting Mentor

Teach Intentionally..."Family Time… Noticing Needs", with Stacy Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Time… Noticing Needs

As a Mom, I found that I had to be realistic with myself. Sometimes I just wasn’t the best at everything. It is very hard to do it all well. Also, as the kids got older and busier, I had a hard time keeping up with schedules, practices, responding to people, school paperwork, etc.. I was often drowning. At the end of our weekly family time, I began to add discussions of “events of the week” or “issues that needed decisions”. Over time, our family time started addressing some family needs were really helpful. We had more needs than I had realized. Often the need was really more of a problem that needed a solution. We would address problems either with school or a sport, or friend. The problems could even be an overscheduled kid with too little time for homework. Or as the kids aged, the need often was a relationship that needed healing. Often, Ideas for the needs came from our discussion of what we wanted to pray for.

Sometimes we whirl through life and don’t stop long enough to really notice our needs. God does tell us to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). And when we take the time to stop and meet with God, He will meet you right where you are. As a family, we learned that if we turned to Him in prayer and asked for help. Then, God responded by either identifying problems for us or by giving us solutions. God brought order to our chaos. He met our needs.

This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by thinking though how you address your needs personally. Are you realistic with your own needs? Are you teaching your kids to be realistic with their needs? Before your weekly family time, take some time alone and pray for God to show you where your family needs help and ask Him for solutions. Teach your kids how to see their own need for God and His wisdom.

 God tells us that “He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 4:19). It begins with you. Do you trust Him? Trust Him to show you the problems and solutions and teach your kids to trust Him too.

If you have questions, 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 3^rd month and 1st week (or page 29) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Open Your Eyes”…

Family Time 1:

Month 3 Topic: God can do anything because God made everything…Noticing/meeting needs

Talk with God: Read…Jeremiah 32:17, Romans 4:17

~ Jeremiah 32:17  Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heaven and the earth by Your great power and by Your stretched out arm, and there is nothing too difficult for You.

In Jer 32:17, is anything too hard for God? 

~ Romans 4:17  [Even] God, Who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

In Rom 4:17, what does God call into being?

Walk with God: Discuss… Don’t you think this is an amazing statement… “calls into being that which does not exist”? God not only creates, but He invents. God sees what the need is and He meets it and we see nothing is too hard for Him. God sees needs and solutions. We are to imitate Him in our lives.  What needs are in your family? What are solutions to those needs?

Prayer suggestion… Pray for God’s help to see the needs in your family and ways to solve them.

Family Time 1: 

Leader Answers:

No

Things which do not exist

Discussion ideas: Family needs can be a system for organizing…laundry, schedules, family time, homework…or it can be time for talks preparing kids for choosing friends, dating or college.  Half of the solution is recognizing the problem. The other half of the solution is creating a way to solve the problem and doing it. Mother/Daughter or Father/Son retreats are ideal for special talks.

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

Around the Table and Within Your House

(Picture from Tori Miller's Kitchen Table---from Tori: oh, my Terri- this is the verse I have been waiting for to put on the lazy susan I made from an old spool a few weeks ago!)

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




from Tori: ok,what started as this, I turned into a lazy susan for my kitchen table!  It has been fabulous!  On one side it looks all decorative, and the other it keeps all our morning devo materials (and morning meds too, haha). Hey...and yes, I know today is only Nov 1st , and I have already decorated for Christmas! I love Christmas and I ALWAYS decorate for Christmas the week of Halloween!  Call me Crazy...I'm ok with that!


Anyway...Thanks Terrie for this Devo, it was fabulous and now I have the verse to write around the inside edge of the lazy susan.  I am going to have each member of the family write the words, we will use a gold paint pen, and then, I will go back and "decorate it up"... I will show the final product when finished!