Archives for September 2009

Pierce my heart in the small stuff: CHANGES ANNOUNCED

“…until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Matthew 5:18

ItI1Our (not so small) changes

Our articles may be about small stuff this month, but the changes on the magazine are no small thing! As you’ve probably noticed, we’ve already started changing the layout; but it doesn’t stop there—we still have many exciting changes to come, including new colors, a new logo and mission statement, and new columns! In last month’s issue, we included details about our thoughts regarding the changes, so please be sure to read that article if you haven’t already. While the teen girls still hold a special place in our hearts (we’ve been there and know how tough it is!), we are very excited about our new direction of reaching out to stay-at-home Christian moms, and encouraging them to enjoy this season of life. We know that all moms need encouragement, so if you work outside the home, please feel free to read our articles too, and offer your own insight on our comments section.

Check back often to read articles from our brand-new columns, focusing on everything from marriage to family fun to discipline—all from a biblical perspective! We’re also keeping many of our other columns, but changing gears with them to reach our new target audience. We appreciate your patience and support as we continue updating the site and tweaking our material to better suit the needs of our readers.

This month

This month we’ll be focusing on the little things, from our new Fun Fact Friday (with an interesting small fact each week!), to taking small steps to take care of the bodies God gave us, to little things we can do to help our husbands feel loved. We’ll also be focusing on the small people in our homes, with a special devotional-recipe, ideas for family nights, and a list of ways children can be included in reaching out to others.

There’s also a great book giveaway coming up for moms, plus there will be a few tips on how to get rewarded for browsing the web, and how to get “new” clothes without spending a dime!

Let’s not forget about the little things in life—we shouldn’t neglect them, but we shouldn’t obsess about them either. Let’s strive to live today for today, let tomorrow take care of itself, and relish the feeling of knowing that He Is, and always will be.

Enjoying the Smallness,
Lisa and Davonne

Devotional: God, I thank You

“The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.’” Luke 18:11

JfT2Wow, I’m glad that I’m not like that Pharisee––he sounds so arrogant! Oh, wait…

How often do we look at others’ sins and think how glad we are that we’re not as sinful as them? I’ll admit it––I do. I was raised in the church. I have Christian parents. I never went through a “rebellious” time as a teenager, partying and drinking and such. And so, it’s been pretty easy for me to consider myself not such a bad sinner. I’m pretty good (Mark 10:18).

And then I realized how sinful my heart was. I may not be committing the sins that result in severe external consequences, but I may also have a much bigger problem––pride. Although I thank God that I haven’t been tested in regard to other sins, Scripture is filled with warnings against pride, as well as other “internal” sins. Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride was the downfall of many (2 Chronicles 26:16). Even more sobering, it tells us that God will humble the proud (Isaiah 2:17).

Now, I thank God that His Holy Spirit is living in me and convicts me––daily––of my sin. It’s only when He does this that I can fully realize how much I need Him and the salvation He offers, and how little I deserve it. God, I thank You that You chose to save me, a sinner, and that your Spirit leads me to realize how much I need Your grace.

By Lisa Grimenstein

Fun Fact Friday: Labor Day… Tuesday?

fffoct1labordayparade1900The very first Labor Day was held on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City and was complete with a parade, picnic, concert, and several speeches. Labor Day was moved to a Monday shortly after this, and became a national holiday in 1894.

Visit americaslibrary.gov for more details.

Craft idea: Ask your children what they want to be when they grow up, then google for “(insert occupation name here) coloring sheet” and print it for them to color, or simply allow them to draw their desired occupation. Tell them what you wanted to be when you grew up, and talk about different jobs people do to provide for their families. Make sure to hang up their art when they’re finished!

How does your family celebrate Labor Day?

– Davonne Parks

Lime Ricki Bathing Suits 20% off!

ssmainNow through Monday, all of the Lime Ricki bathing suits are 20% off!  Go here for sale details, and read this article for our review.

– Davonne Parks

Fun Fact Friday, Coming Soon!

fff1Welcome to Fun Fact Friday! Lisa had the idea to post a random, fun fact every Friday, and I gladly took her idea and ran with it! We’d love for you to join us each Friday as we share a fun fact you can share with your friends and kids. Many weeks will also have a craft or activity idea to go with the fact, and almost every week will include a link to a full article about the fact so you can learn more if you’re interested.

We hope that you don’t just read the posts, though. We’re going to include a question at the end of each fact, and we’d love for you be involved in our Fun Fact Fridays by leaving a comment or linking to a post you’ve written that answers the question. Hopefully we’ll all learn several interesting facts, and gather many activity ideas to share with our families.

Check back soon for our first ever Fun Fact Friday!

– Davonne Parks

Devotional: But Even If…

“But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:18

jft2aThe above verse is a very convicting one for me. It’s from a story we’ve probably all heard since childhood––Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace. That was always an intriguing one for kids. But as an adult, I’ve recently been amazed at some of the aspects of this story––this verse being one of them.

As the story goes, King Nebuchadnezzar set up an image to be worshiped (90 feet high, mind you). However, knowing full well the consequences of disobeying the king’s command––a very fiery death––Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow down to the statue. First, I’m amazed and challenged by their obedience to another King, and their courage to remain steadfast. Imagine how hard it would be to look around at all the others and see them falling to their knees in worship to this false god. It would be very tempting to justify doing the same.

However, they stay on their feet. And when questioned by the king, they give an astounding response. They boldly state that God is able to save them from his fiery punishment, but that even if He does not save them, they will obey and serve only Him. That is trust. Knowing that God is able to answer our prayers, but also deciding that even if He doesn’t answer in the way we want, we will still serve only Him. They did not back down, even if they didn’t like what the result might be. We need to strive to have the faith of those three, and to stand up for God no matter what the possible earthly outcome. Luke 9:25: “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?”

By Lisa Grimenstein

Daily Bible Reading: No Small Thing

Matthew 5:18 “…until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

stw1It is easy to get caught up in the small stuff. Many days, it seems everything is a big thing. And consequently, we spend much valuable time worrying, complaining, and arguing about “stuff.” God’s word is full of scriptures about worry. One verse in Proverbs tell us not to boast about tomorrow, because we don’t know what that day will bring (27:1). I think this can relate to Matthew 6:34, where Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

He also tells us in Matthew 6:25: “…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Jesus must have been talking directly to women! I’ll admit that I’m one who “worries”—thinks about!—what I’m going to wear way too often. We become so preoccupied with our diets that we focus on ourselves and what we want from our bodies more than what God wants.

This month’s Daily Bible Reading is filled with “small stuff.” However, many times, it’s the disregard of the “small stuff” that God commanded of His people that results in severe consequences. From famine and plague resulting from David’s pride to Moses’ very “minor” disobedience keeping him from entering the promised land, the reading this month reminds us of the penalty of sin. I hope we will allow ourselves to rest in the assurance that God’s forgiveness covers all we do to sin against Him, when we come to Him with a repentant heart and ask for His forgiveness. And that is no small thing!

– Lisa Grimenstein

Suggested Reading for September

dailybiblereading1SEP 1 1 Chr 15-19
SEP 2 Ps 102-104
SEP 3 Prov 20-21
SEP 4 Hosea 8-14
SEP 5 John 10-12
SEP 6 2 Tim 3-4
SEP 7 Num 13-16
SEP 8 1 Chr 20-24
SEP 9 Ps 105-107
SEP 10 Prov 22
SEP 11 Joel
SEP 12 John 13-15
SEP 13 Titus
SEP 14 Num 17-20
SEP 15 1 Chr 25-29
SEP 16 Ps 108-110
SEP 17 Prov 23-24
SEP 18 Amos 1-4
SEP 19 John 16-18
SEP 20 Philemon
SEP 21 Num 21-24
SEP 22 2 Chr 1-5
SEP 23 Ps 111-113
SEP 24 Prov 25
SEP 25 Amos 5-9
SEP 26 John 19-21
SEP 27 Heb 1-4
SEP 28 Num 25-28
SEP 29 2 Chr 6-10
SEP 30 Ps 114-116

This year’s Bible reading plan was borrowed from BibleReading.com. (To correspond with the 2009 year, we have included actual dates for your referral. You may choose to use the above site, instead.)

Pierce My Heart: New Direction

LogoExciting changes are being made to Pierce My Heart!  Go here for details.

– Davonne Parks