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

Related Topics:

1. What does the Bible Really Say About Being Green?

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

Related Topics:

1. Expand Your Children’s Summer Reading List – Include the Bible
2. Creating Family New Year Resolutions
3. Spend Quality Christmas Time With Your Family

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

Related Topics:

1. Faith and Business 101: Facebook Fan Pages for Business
2. Faith and Business 101: Holiday Helps For You and Your Mom Business – Part 1
3. Faith and Business 101: Down in the Slumps

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

Related Topics:

1. Guarding Our Home and Keeping it Godly
2. Save Money, Skip the Gym & Work Out at Home
3. Make your Guest Room Feel like Home to Your Guests

Our God is well balanced. This is made very clear simply by looking at His Creation. The way the earth sits just right. The way the Eco system is just right. The way the moon sets the tides. The list could go on for a very long time. Our God IS balance. Everything about Him shows balance and excellence.

How could we ever think He would not want us to be green?

How could we ever think He would not want us to take care of what He placed in our hands?

How could we ever think it is OK to destroy what he gave us to enjoy?

I cannot think that way. Only uneducated and poorly studied individuals can possibly think that way. The Living God I serve is green and He wants us to be good stewards with all that He blesses us with…including HIS planet!

Do we think that EVERY issue brought up by the environmental community is factual? NO. That is where personal convictions and common sense must occur.

Is Green Biblical?

This is easy! YES! Green IS Biblical! If you do not believe me keep reading…or study the Word for yourself…

What does the Bible have to say about taking care of the Environment?

First, you must understand that everything God created is His. He created mankind and He created the earth and universe. He created it all in perfect balance.

If you have ever read or studied what happens when an ecosystem is throw off kilter then you know just how delicate that balance is. That information alone should be enough to make any Christian aware of our responsibility to the environment.

Isa. 24:5-6: “The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.”

This is a profound prophetic Scripture. This shows us very clearly that we have the power through our ignorance and lack of care to destroy something beautiful that the Lord Created for us to enjoy!

Why going green is Biblical and should be a part of every Christian’s life

* We are part earth. God made us from the dust of the earth. We are part earth. (Gen. 2:7, 3:19)

* We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. He is the first in all Creation and was there in the beginning. (Col. 1:15-20; Jn. 1:1-3; Heb. 1:2-3; I Cor. 8:6b; Eph. 1:10)

* The earth declares the glory of God. Why would we want to take away from God being glorified? (Ps. 19:1-4, 96:1, 11-12; Rom. 1: 20-23; Rev. 4:11)

* He told us to take care of it. (Gen 1:28, 9:1)

* God Created it and we are His children. Would you like it if your children destroyed your house or something you took the time to carefully make just for them? (Gen 1, 2:1-4; Ps. 104; Job 38-41; Isa. 40:12, 26, 42:5-7)

* It belongs to God. We are but caretakers. He is the one who owns the deed. (Col. 1:16b; Heb. 1:2; I Cor. 10:26; Ps. 24:1; Lev. 25:23; Deut. 10:14; I Chron. 29:11-12; Neh. 9:6; Isa. 66:1-2)

* God cared and so should we. When God told Noah to build the ark to save himself and his family, He cared about the earth dwelling creatures as well. Shouldn’t we? (Gen. 6:19-21)

* Creation shows His existence. It is proof of Who is is. (Rom 1:19-20)

I am certain that if I continued my study into this topic, I would find many more reasons that Christian’s should be green. We are responsible even more than non believers. We are God’s children and we are the ones that He left in charge!

In closing, do I think that EVERY issue brought up by the environmental community is factual? NO. That is where personal convictions and common sense must occur.

Pray. Investigate. Use your judgment.

Stay Green!

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

No related topics.

One day I happened to find the ReUsies website. Curious to see what new green product had hit the market that I would surely never buy, I clicked on the site. I saw the product and agreed that it was very cute. I loved all the different designs and immediately could think of a hundred uses. Then I clicked on the “Learn More” button. Thinking I would learn more about the product, I was surprised to learn more about the effect plastic has on the environment. I did not know that plastic takes 1000 years to breakdown and in doing so forms into a more toxic substance. So, just maybe ReUsies had a point, right?

In a bold move, I contacted ReUsies to review their product. I figured if I can think of 100 ways to use this product then I must be using more plastic bags then I care to think about it. Besides, appealing to my less green side, that’s a lot of money to throw away!

I have to comment that ReUsies customer service is fantastic! They are helpful, friendly, and genuinely care about their customers.

My ReUsies arrived just in time to test it with goldfish for my daughter’s diaper bag. The snack size is 6′w by 5′h. This is the perfect size for crackers and little snacks for the kids or yourself. The bag is made of 100% cotton and lined with water-resistant 100% nylon. No worries this product is BPA, Lead and Phthalate free. They use Velcro closures to ensure your snacks stay put. The sandwich size bag has all the same features except it is 7.5′w/6′h. Plenty big for sandwiches or other lunch items. The bags are machine or dishwasher washable or wiped clean with soapy water. So how did it hold up?

For good measure, I used both bags to carry different items. The snack bag for my daughter’s Goldfish and the sandwich bag for my other daughter’s PB&J. The food stayed put in each bag. The bags being made of cotton hold up much better than plastic baggies. There were no broken Goldfish or a smashed sandwich and I didn’t take too much care when throwing them in the diaper bag. Later that evening, I simply put the ReUsies on the counter with the dishes to be washed. Since I am without a dishwasher (if you care to donate to that fund see me later) it takes no time at all to wipe down these bags. And if truth be told, my number one concern was how much of a pain it would be to wash them. No pain! It was so easy that even if I had a dishwasher, I’d just wash them by hand.

So, environmentally safe, kid safe, food safe, dishwasher safe, and saves you money. What more could a product do for you.

When reviewing a product I ask myself several questions:

Would you buy this item?

Yes.

Would you recommend this item to a friend?

Yes.

What is the downside?

Well, the only downside, in my opinion, is that the bag does not zip. Now, the food stays in place. However, when I used it for cheese puffs (organic low-fat, aren’t you proud?) the puffs were not so fresh by the end of the day. The bag is not airtight nor does it claim to be.

Does the downside cause me to give pause before buying?

No, not really. ReUsies served it’s purpose for lunch or a long car ride, trip to the doctor’s…even for toy or make up storage to be honest. ReUsies have many uses that will benefit you and the in turn the earth.

There’s the skinny on ReUsies from this light green mean mama. So, even if you like me and not always in the market for green products, still consider ReUsies for your sandwich and snack needs. This green product will save you green in the end.

Product for review was provided by ReUsies in exchange for an honest and fair

Copyright © Richele McFarlin, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

No related topics.

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

Related Topics:

1. Make your Guest Room Feel like Home to Your Guests
2. Recreate Your Home – Quick and Cheap Decorating Tips for Busy Moms
3. Save Money, Skip the Gym & Work Out at Home

The reading is all about how every leader should make sure that his or her closest friends add value to their life and organization. Why? Because the close company you keep will either “make or break you.”

Who are you keeping close company with? Does this person (or people) influence you in positive ways? Is this person encouraging? Do you leave this person feeling better about yourself, your life and your business? Does this person speak the truth in love? (All friends speak… some friends speak the truth…but it is rare to find a friend that actually speaks the truth in love! Seek out this kind of person. Be this kind of friend!)

I urge you to pray about your friends and your accountability partners. Allow God to bring people into your life who build you up and walk alongside you as you strive to become all that God wants for you to be as a woman, a wife, a mom and a business woman.

When deciding whom to bring alongside you in your business ventures, John Maxwell suggests that you choose the following types of people:

Creative People
Loyal People
People who share your vision
Wise and intelligent people
People with complementary gifts
People with influence
People of faith
People of integrity

Take some time and think about the people who are surrounding you. Who is God leading you to spend less time with? Who is God leading you to get to know better? Who can you invite into your business endeavors?

Until Next Time…

MariLee

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

Related Topics:

1. Faith and Business 101: Getting it Right
2. Faith and Business 101: Facebook Fan Pages for Business
3. Faith and Business 101: Holiday Helps for You and Your Mom Business – Part 2

I’m a single mother so I am the handy woman of the house. If there is a toy or piece of furniture that needs assembled I am the gal to do it. Actually, this has been an enlightening experience for me. I have discovered how capable I am. It has boosted my confidence in esteem in a way I would have never guessed. On the flip side of the enlightening experience is the frustration I sometimes encounter doing it all alone. For the most part I can’t complain because God is always fulfilling my needs, he is my true partner. But, like every road we travel I have hit some potholes!

A month ago I bought a small shelving unit for my basement to store excess canned goods. It seemed simple enough to assemble, but was I wrong! It started one evening on my bedroom floor, parts of the shelves separated neatly, tools ready(after all I was a seasoned assembler), and Anya closely watching my every move. When it came time to snap the poles and shelves in place, I couldn’t do it. They wouldn’t snap and kept falling apart. I was getting angrier by the minute. I was frustrated and it was showing. Finally, after two hours and no progress I was ready to throw the whole thing in the trash. When the pole fell on my toe that was it! I was literally yelling at the shelf. I know it was immature and not such a bright idea especially since Anya was in the room. I put the shelving unit in the closet and decided for my emotional health to leave it alone.

About two weeks later, Anya was in her room playing with her Strawberry Shortcake House, a darling toy with parts that can be challenging for a little one to manipulate. All of a sudden I heard a thud when I looked in the room she had thrown the Strawberry parts, knocked down the house, and was yelling at the toy. I was horrified because I was immediately brought back to that dreadful day when I failed to put the shelves together. I made an impact and not a good one. It was time for mommy to fess up that she behaved badly. I sat her down and asked her if she remembered the incident with the shelves and she did. I explained that how I acted was not a good way to behave. I told her that God wants us to be patient, and wants us to take care of the things he blesses us with. I also told her that my yelling didn’t change or accomplish anything. The only thing yelling did was made me feel angry, and God doesn’t want us to feel that way. I said the only way to accomplish anything was to have patience and keep trying.

After a long talk and explanation of why she shouldn’t behave as I did, my daughter taught me a lesson. She said, “Mommy do you think you can help me?” I paused as I realized that although I was able to sustain my household, juggle multiple responsibilities, work, and take care of my daughter sometimes I needed help. I needed to push pride aside and ask for help when I needed it. Who said I had to do everything? No one, but me. We sat on the floor of her bedroom as a team and we arranged the furniture in Strawberry’s house together. That day I reflected on my behavior and my own shortcomings as a child of Christ and my Christian responsibilities as a parent.

Sometimes the most effective way we can teach our children is through our own faults. But, we have to be humble enough to admit our mistakes and our struggles to them and ourselves. Our children should know that life is not perfect, we’re all sinners, and we all make mistakes, but more importantly we should teach them that through honesty and the true desire to strive to live in accordance to God’s will we can do better.

I thank God that I witnessed her behavior and was able to turn it into a learning experience for her and me. The long term consequences of my actions could have been disastrous to her growth as a Christian. Christ-like behavior takes discipline and obedience and the walk isn’t always easy but it is rewarding if we stay on course. If we fall we get back up and keep persevering. After playing we said a prayer and asked God to give us the gift of patience. I told Anya that whenever she is having trouble with something to pray. If I see her getting upset, I stop what we’re doing and say a prayer with her. I want to instill in her that anger doesn’t resolve issues only your dependence on God does. God knows we are far from perfect, but he knows the desires of our heart and if that is in line with God than you are on the right track. The shelf is still in the closet, but it is a reminder that I am not alone, I am not wonder woman, but I am a child of Christ who needs him and others in my life to guide and teach me so I can be an example for my daughter.

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

Related Topics:

1. Teaching Your Children the Power of Prayer
2. Teaching Your Children to be Grateful
3. Teaching Your Children the Value of Money

This week I’d like to talk about Facebook Fan pages and how important they are for your business.

First of all, if you do not have a Facebook account you need to get one. I have been tracking Facebook for some time now, and more of my clients and sales come from Facebook than anywhere else. Twitter is a close second, but Facebook has been most successful for me.

We’ve talked about Facebook in the past, but very little about fan pages. Is a fan page better for business than a group? Yes. Groups should be for interactive discussions, and getting to know other people with common interests. Fan pages are where you should be promoting your business. Also: fan pages show up in Google searches! Groups do not!

A fan page can be your one stop shop for promoting your business! You can easily link your fan page to your twitter account so that you can post something on your fan page and it will automatically post to your twitter account! No need to do double duty. Here’s the link to do that: http://www.facebook.com/twitter/

Make sure your website links are visible on your fan page and try to make at least one fan page post a day. “But how do I get fans?” you ask. You have to promote your fan page. First, use the buttons on the top left hand side of you fan page to “suggest to friends.”

Then you’ll want to blog about your fan page and host giveways on your blog.

Here is an example: http://wahmblog.info/2010/01/05/new-years-celebration/

Facebook recently changed the rules about fan pages. You are not allowed to host giveaways on your fan page anymore. If you violate this, you run the risk of having your account disabled without warning. However, you can host a giveaway on your blog or website and link to it from your fan page.

More Facebook Info:

I have received many questions asking about privacy and becoming friends with people you really don’t know.

Here’s what I’ve done:

My husband and I share a Facebook account where all of our family and out-of-town friends can see photos and videos of us and our son. We keep that account solely for personal use and the privacy settings are set on all of our pictures and videos so that only our family can see them. Then I have another account that is in my name only that I use for business and connecting with colleague friends. I don’t post too many photos or a lot of personal info about my family for safety reasons. I get many friend requests and even though I usually only friend other women and moms, I have a young family and I’m home alone most of the day…it’s just better safe than sorry. Having said all that, I think it’s much better and safer just to create a fan page!

Keep the fan page for business and your profile for personal use.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Proverbs 4:6

Until next time…

MariLee

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

Related Topics:

1. Faith and Business 101: The Nitty Gritty – Part 2
2. Faith and Business 101: Holiday Helps For You and Your Mom Business – Part 1
3. Faith and Business 101: The Nitty Gritty – Part 3