Kiss and Make Up with Forgiveness

So today is National Kiss & Make Up Day!

Some thoughts on this:
Did you lose your temper with your spouse or children today. How about that co worker or friend?

It is the beginning of a new school year and the stress meters for families are climbing to the top and we often find ourselves quick to anger, we are tired and we are pre-occupied with worries . Our mouths pop open and here they come...those words that we wish we could take back.
We can't take them back but we CAN ask for forgiveness.

All we have to do is take the time to say," you know that person who said those hurtful words, that's me when I let sin get the better of me, please forgive me"!

The wonderful thing about forgiveness.....whether we are asking of it or giving it...we are showing love for that person. What a great gift to give to our spouses, our children , co-workers and our friends. It is a an opportunity to show that with God's grace he gives us do-overs, another chance to get it right. Our God is a God of second chances.

Mother Theresa writes about forgiveness: If we really want to love, we must first learn to forgive.

Love and Forgiveness go together like peanut butter and jelly, cake and ice cream, biscuits and butter iced tea and lemon, chicken and dumplings.....you get the picture!

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted , forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.
 Ephesians 4:32

Feel free to print this journal card and place it in your bible, marking your favorite scripture about Forgiveness.

You can scale this print to 8x10 size and smaller. Visit Doodle Art Alley for more coloring/doodle pages.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be Forgiving!

~ BeeBee~

Be A Blessing To Those Who Need A Blessing

Be a Blessings to those who need a Blessing!

 This was our theme for a recent Faith in the Family workshop held at my church. Families gathered together and put together Blessing Bags and Blessing Baskets.

 The Blessing Baskets are filled with items for those folks that find themselves in hospital waiting areas and do not want to leave or can't leave to get snacks. Many times young children are around and need something to eat. Sometimes they are there overnight and do not have a toothbrush to freshen up.

Consider Same Day Surgery Waiting areas
Intensive Care Waiting areas
Birthing Waiting areas
Hospice Waiting areas

We included:
Notepads/Pens
Lotion
Soap
Shampoo/Conditioner
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Cookies
Crackers
Applesauce

Included in both the Blessing Baskets and The Blessing Bags are Blessing Cards.

The children enjoyed coloring the Blessing Cards and adding stickers to them. We put 4 on a split ring . They each wrote their name on the I am Praying For You card. We talked about that when someone reads the card they would see our names and know that we have prayed for them. Sometimes when you think you have nothing else..there is always prayer.

The Blessing Bags are for those folks who we see standing on the street corner that are asking for help.

These bags are kept in our vehicles. When we are out and about and we see them, The Blessing Bag is for them.

We included in a Gallon Ziplock Bag:

Socks

Water Bottle

Soap

Peanuts

Canned Protein ( easy open tops)

Beef Jerkey

Apple Sauce

Crackers

Cookies

Blessing Cards Ring

Even though we were working to be a Blessing to others , we were being Blessed in the process.

One family shared that their teenage boy wanted to drive around that day and find someone to give the bag to. His parents convinced him that an opportunity would arise without searching for one . The next day they were out and about and saw someone asking for help, but the other sibling was not with them to be part of giving the bag. They decided to go ahead and share the bag but go and buy supplies to make more bags....34 more Blessing Bags!

She shared this great idea of including her neighbors. Here is part of her e-mail she shared:

Our family went through our neighborhood delivering Blessing Bags and explaining  their purpose. The neighbors were at first shocked because usually the only times my kids are at their door is to sell them something. Several even asked how much they cost. We were happy to explain that they were free, our blessing to them, we just asked that they pass the blessing on to someone in need. Two neighbors ( men) teared up and smiled from ear to ear. A couple seemed bewildered but accepted the bags. One wife called last night to express her appreciation. I tell you this not to brag but to share how your blessing blessed us and how in turn I hope we have blessed others. Thank you for this opportunity to connect to our neighbors and share Christ's love.

So friends...God connects the dots for us and uses us in ways that we may not think of ourselves. Connecting others sharing the Love of Jesus.

Consider making your own Blessing Baskets and Blessing Bags.

Be a Blessing to those who need a Blessing!

If you would like copies of the Blessing Cards  e-mail me at Bost _b@yahoo.com

I would be blessed to share them with you.

Tending The Flame 2015 Reflections

Study Bible, Bible Study Journal, Legacy of Faith Journal, Daily Devotional and the Little Pink Book of  Scriptures and Prayers. I find God there. 

I just returned from a great inspirational conference where I had the awesome opportunity of sharing my version of Bible Journaling ~ Finding God,  with some pretty special men and women who came from our Southeastern District States to attend the Summer Outreach Conference, Tending The Flame.

Some highlights that were meaningful to me:

 *Visual Prayer
It is visual because you are seeing your prayers.
Meditative because you revisit your prayers.
It is a process not a product.
A picture of how the Holy Spirit has moved your heart.

Resources to consider:

Praying In Color: Drawing a new path to God by Sybil McBeth

Why Pray? by John DeVries

Found at Amazon. Available in hard/soft cover and Kindle edition.

* Tell Your Story 
We all have a story of how God has worked in our lives.
Tell it! Share it! To our neighbors and our friends.

* The Good Shepherd 
The Good Shepherd is calling us to have FIRE IN OUR BELLY for those who are lost and without Jesus. We love them. We pray for them!

* A Different Lens For Viewing

Take a look at the world through the lens of the cross, See others with this finder.

*Reflections

Even in my last minute preparations, God was still connecting the dots for me!

My daily devotion form Guideposts pops up as I am preparing resource packets. This was the perfect opening prayer/devotion that I was needing for the first day. Pablo Diaz reminds us that just like our physical bodies need to stay hydrated, so does our Spirit! Psalm 42:1 states "As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, O God". I hydrate my Spirit with Bible Journaling. Using the gifts of creativity to glorify Him. I find God ...In my Journals.

*To Follow Up:

View my Pinterest Bible Journaling Boards for Inspiration

Follow Belinda's board journal ideas on Pinterest.

During the workshops I gave away several of these mini New Testaments as gifts. The company that I  originally ordered from have sold out of these little gems already but I have found another source that  has them today. Ordered yours here.

• TNIV New Testament 
• New format provides an entire blank page to journal, take notes, or sketch opposite every page of Scripture
• Elastic closure for security
• Elastic bands on spine holds pen or pencil 
• Accordion pocket for extra notes 
• Ribbon marker 
• Hardcover Bonded Leather, Navy Blue 
• 3.25" x 6.75" x 0.75

• 6-point type

*Let's Stay Connected