What better way to begin your day than Green? You can start your day glorifying God by taking care of what He placed in your hands…His planet. How?

Simple. Forget about the norm when you wake up each morning. Try waking up a little early and having a warm natural bubble bath. Light some candles and spend some time praying and giving your day to God. Taking baths helps save water verses a long shower.

No time for a bath, you say?

There are other ways you can save water and make your mornings greener…

1. Shorter Showers. Take 5 minute shower and work quickly to get the job done. This will save a lot of water every year.

2. Married? Consider showering with your better half. Not only will you save water…you will heat up your marriage as well!

3. Turn off water when shaving, brushing teeth, hands, etc. Avoid letting it just run down the drain as much as possible.

4. Keep Up with any leaks. If you notice a leak, in the morning, have it fixed before the day ends. Stopping leaks is a simple way to conserve water.

5. Low-flow shower heads and efficient water heaters are also great options to help cut your water usage drastically.

6. Buy a permanent razor versus disposable razors.

7. If you wear makeup, consider Eco-friendly products.

8. Clothing. Consider switching to natural organic fibers. This will take time, so you do not break the bank…but remember, every little thing helps!

9. Morning Java. Try a cup of organic coffee to help rev up your engine in the morning. Or, if you are not a big coffee drinker, try some organic green tea.

10. Try using the same glass or cup when you get home. The less you dirty, the less there is to clean. The less water used.

11. Car Pool when you can. If you work far and MUST drive, try carpooling. The less cars on the road the better. Plus, with gas prices the way they are everyone involved will save some money!

12. Ride a bike. If work is not too far and riding a bike is an option for you.

13. Cancel your Newspaper Delivery. Try the Digital version. This will help save some trees. Plus, most online versions are free, so you will save a few bucks too!

14. Turn off the Lights. When you wake up in the morning, open the blinds. Use as much natural light as you can.

15. Most important -> Pray on your way to work. Instead of listing to your radio while you drive, spend time praising and talking to God. Radios use your engine and more energy. Plus, He sure would love to hear form you!

These are just a few ideas to help you start your day green. If we all do a little it really will be a huge help to God’s planet.

Stay Green!

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

This past Thursday evening I attended Bible study. I discovered attending bible study in mid week recharges me spiritually and I thoroughly enjoy having fellowship with my Christian brothers and sisters. In class there was a young man in his twenties, when he spoke I felt immediately that he grew up in a family that taught him Christian principals. Later, it was confirmed when he said he was raised in a Christian home. It struck me how important it is to raise children with the Word of God. It lays a foundation that reaches past their formative years and into adulthood. I thought about my own four year old daughter and how much she retains after we read the Bible. Having Bible study on Sunday simply isn’t enough if we hope to instill a reverence for Christ in our children’s hearts.

Ways to incorporate Bible study in our Children’s Lives:

A Scheduled Family Bible Study

Kids have countless activities they are involved in and as parents we are involved simply through shuttling them around. We are also busy with household, financial, and career obligations. Are we so busy that we neglect to spend time on the most important activity of all, which is learning the word of God? Clear your calendar and make it mandatory to gather as a family for Bible study at home. Take one hour a week after dinner or whenever the whole family has time and commit to Bible study. Make it an important appointment every week.

Relate Conversation to Bible Stories

Communication is an important vehicle to intimacy in a family. Although we may not be privy to every detail in our children’s life as they grow older it is vital to keep the lines of communication open and honest. When we have discussions with our children and they share issues they may be having at school or with friends, think carefully about how you respond. Try to incorporate lessons from the Bible. Give them reference to God in these conversations. They can read the scriptures, but when we relate them to their life they discover true meaning in God’s Word and they see how the Lord works.

Prayer is Meaningful All Day

It is common for kids to pray before a meal and bedtime, but are we instilling in them the concept of pray without ceasing? Make it a habit to say a prayer together in the morning before you send them off to school. Talk to them about praying throughout the day. Let them know that God is available 24/7 and he wants them to turn to him in all circumstances. My daughter and I make it a habit to thank God for the day and to pray before I send her into the classroom, it starts our day off on the right foot with God.

Journaling

Gift your children a journal for their prayers and their conversation with God. Encourage them to keep a spiritual journal. This is a wonderful way for them to develop an intimate relationship with God. It encourages them to think about their spiritual life and it gives them a chance to look back at how God continually blesses them. If you have younger children who can’t write, buy a large notepad and have them draw pictures, or ask them what they are thankful for and record it for them. It is never too early to create ways for children to think about the Lord.

Dinner Blessings

Dinner time is a superb time to give thanks not only for food, but to reflect on what each family member is grateful for that day. After the prayer and during dinner incorporate the gift of gratefulness in the conversation. Ask everyone t o say at least one thing they were grateful for that God did for them. This reminds us of our blessing and God’s goodness.

Bible Study with Friends

If your church doesn’t have a youth group, encourage your children to start one. Sometimes being a child in a Christian family can be isolating and they may feel like the odd ball in school. When your kids are in school, they are faced with peer pressure and issues that are difficult to deal with. Not everyone has the same values and moral beliefs. Kids need support groups too! If your church has children of the same age it can be a great idea to get the kids together every other week to discuss the peer pressure they face as Christians and how they can overcame it through the Word of God. The interaction between peers is important, sure we want our kids to come to us, but if they are able to share their experiences with other Christian peers it is a powerful way to support and encourage one another to stay on God’s path.

There are so many creative and fun ways to motivate our children to hear the Word of God. Love for the Word comes from reading the Bible, knowing God, church and fellowship, and in our own home. Be proactive in your child’s spiritual education and give them every opportunity available to develop an intimate relationship with God that endure beyond their years at home.

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

I receive a daily devotion each morning from Chuck Swindoll. This past week there was a reading that really hit home with me and reminded me that no matter how much time and energy I put into something…God is the promoter, not man!

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5: 5-7

As a mom in business, there are millions of ways to go out and promote what we’re doing. In fact, it’s a great idea to go out and do all the promoting! We put PR in our budgets and we count on that every month to help bring in sales. However, do you believe—and put into practice—the fact that PRAYER is more important than PR?

Chuck Swindoll says this: “Throw yourself on the mercy and care of God. This does not mean there is no place for planning or goal-setting or diligence; it just means we refuse to make success our private shrine.”

There is nothing wrong with setting goals and advertising, but when we put all of that before God, we are just wasting time. When you are feeling overworked and underpaid, stop and pray. Ask God to bless your efforts. Ask Him to be the Lord of your time, talent and treasure.

My goal each morning is to commit my entire day to the Lord before I start anything else. I’ll be honest and tell you that as a mother of a toddler, this doesn’t always happen. But even as I go throughout my day, I ask the Lord to be the center of what I’m doing. That my purpose and plans would be what He wants them to be—not my own agenda.

God is our promoter. No amount of promoting on our part is going to get us where we want to be without God’s approval! That makes a HUGE difference in the way I run my business.

The day I received this devotion, It was a direct message from God to my heart. I was stressed and had way too much on my plate. I needed to stop what I was doing and refocus my heart and my business on the Lord. I needed a break. I asked God to bless what I had already accomplished for the day…and then I took a much needed rest.

The devotion ended with this:

“Instead of spending all those hours pushing and promoting, we’ll wind up with more time for friends and family—and ourselves. Seems almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? It isn’t.

Submission + Humility – Worry = God-Honoring Success with Satisfaction”

Until Next Time…

MariLee

Copyright © MariLee Parrish, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

A great way for a Mom to connect with her daughter is to have a beauty day. It’s fun, girly and filled with opportunity for memories! This is a great idea for ANY age!

Tips to Create a frugal spa day at home

• Plan a date. If you have boys in the house, send them out for the day with Dad.
• Place scented candles around your house to create a relaxing ambiance.
• Homemade Facials. Here are a few recipes…

Mix together 2 tablespoons of ground oatmeal, 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, and 5 drops liquid honey in a bowl. Apply to your face and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes. Finish off by rinsing with warm water followed by a moisturizer.

With the following ingredients (oatmeal, warm water, yogurt, honey, and one egg white), make a thin mud type mixture and apply it thinly to your face. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, or until you feel a tightening, then rinse with warm water.

This decadent chocolate mask is actually an excellent moisturizer. I found this one at spaindex.com. Mix following ingredients until smooth; 1/3 cup cocoa, 3 tblsp. heavy cream, 2 tsp. cottage cheese, 1 cup of honey, 3 tsp. oatmeal powder. Relax for ten 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

Watch a chick flick while waiting for your facials to absorb.

• Give each other a manicure and pedicure. Put on some of your daughter’s favorite music while doing mani/pedis. Yes, HER favorites.
• Ask her how her day was. Try and learn more about her.
• Share some spiritual insights without seeming preachy.

The point is to spend quality time with your daughter and build a strong bond. Start young and you will stay connected even through the coming years of puberty. If you are getting a late start, no worries…it is NEVER too late to love your daughter and get to know who she is!

Enjoy your girls, Moms!

Copyright © Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Home offices are becoming as common as family rooms. Many moms are opting to work at home instead of in the office. Although I travel into the office daily, I have the capability of working remotely. As a single mom whose parents live four hours away when my daughter is sick it is a blessing to have the accessibility to work at home while still being able to take care of my daughter. Telecommunicating is a way of life for many moms and dads. This week my daughter was struck with the flu and unfortunately the flu bug bit me too. At my previous job I would’ve been completely stressed about having to report off, although I would have regardless! My policy is daughter first. My new boss completely understood and encouraged me to stay home, get well, and take care of my daughter. Since I haven’t acquired a ton of sick time I worked from the comfort of my home while nursing myself and daughter back to health.

Home offices are essential for those of us who need to escape to a private space to work. Even if you aren’t employed creating a home office can be a sanctuary for you to write, spend some private time with God, or work on personal projects. If you have a little space it doesn’t take much to create a comfortable home office.

Cheap and easy tips to make a home office that suits your needs

Furniture

A great desk is the centerpiece for any home office. The desk should be sturdy and have enough drawers to store paper, folders, office supplies, etc. Check out garage sales for antiques desks at cheap prices. If you spend much of the time in your office glued to your desk a comfortable chair that supports your posture and back is essential, so don’t skimp on the chair.

File Cabinets or book cases are great for storage. Look at Target or discount office stores for reasonably priced book cases or file cabinets. Overflowing book cases add character and coziness to any room.

A chaise adds a classy touch, but more than that sometimes you just need to relax on something other than a chair!

Organizing Tools

File folders, binders, and accordion folders are great for keeping those papers in order. Use them for your job and for your financial papers.

Use pretty pots or pottery as pencil and pen holders.

Busy moms need a calendar or planner to keep it all going. Get a calendar that either hangs on the wall or fits comfortably on your desk.

Decorative Touches

Work doesn’t have to be so serious! Liven up your office with a fun vibrant paint color for the walls.

Pillows, curtains, plants, and decorative throws are great touches that bring coziness into your work space.

Give the office character with pictures of your family and artwork. Gather all those pictures your kids draw for you, put them in frames, and let them see how proud you are of their masterpieces.

A home office can be as formal or as informal as you want it to be. Most importantly it should reflect your personality and your working style. Your office space should be welcoming and inspiring. I always find I work better when I have spiritual literature or quotes around that encourage me throughout the day. Incorporate small touches that bring a smile to your face or warmth to your heart. With more opportunities to work remotely a home office is a good investment whether you are a writer, a lawyer, or a stay at home mom that needs her privacy.

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

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