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Rippy and the Oodles Team’s on another great adventure at this year’s SBC Pastors’ Conference in Houston, Texas! Here are some fun highlights from the conference. Comment letting us know which one’s your favorite! Top #SBCPC13 Quote: “There is nothing … Continue reading
Oodles World is very excited to release a new single from Cassie Byram’s upcoming album, “Wonderfully Made”!
“Wonderfully Made” is an early release of Cassie Byram’s follow-up album to “Sweet Dreams,” her first lullaby album for kids. Deeply loved and quickly memorized, the lyrics and music that Cassie sings lets joy and life into the home like no other children’s music available. With lyrics straight from the Bible and music straight from the heart, memorizing scripture has never been this fun or sounded this good. Watch the video highlight below of Cassie’s first performance of “Wonderfully Made” at this year’s Women’s Garden Party at The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, CA!
An Oodles World Production, this up-tempo, Scripture song will have everyone singing, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!”
Download a copy for your family today! –> CLICK HERE
Oodles World is pleased to announce that award-winning vocalist and Sweet Dreams featured artist, Cassie Byram, will be showcasing original songs from the beloved bedtime lullaby album May 18th during the Women’s Garden Party at The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, CA! You can get more information about this great event by clicking here.
Find out more about Cassie at www.cassiebyram.com. Visit the Oodles Store today to listen to samples of Sweet Dreams here!
Have you ever met someone who just “gets it” when it comes to her Faith in God? She never seems to doubt. Worry or fear, you don’t see it in her. Do you know someone like that?
I actually do. She is a woman who was happily married. But, she and her husband were not blessed with babies. She was heartbroken and yet she didn’t let it bring her to despair. She actually just amped up her time with God and intensified her worship of her Heavenly Father.
She struggled with not being able to have a child, but she did not struggle with her belief that God would bless her. She knew that He would care for her and comfort her. And, one day she saw the fruit of her faith. She heard God speak through her spiritual leader in her community. This leader simply said God was going to grant her request. Keep in mind, outside of God telling her spiritual leader that He was going to come through for her, nothing else changed in her life. She wasn’t any younger, no miracle drug, or fertility treatment…nothing had changed. But she believed. She had Faith that God always keeps His Word. She left and, from that moment on, began living her life knowing that she was going to be a mother. And guess what? She got pregnant and had a baby boy! You can find out more about this amazing woman who truly lived her faith in 1 Samuel. Her name was Hannah.
I love the beautiful examples of faithful women in the Bible, but why is it that some of us Gals have so much trouble putting the same truths to work in our own lives today? Why do we sometimes think that Faith like that is only for Bible times? Let’s bring it forward and see what we can make of some Mustard Seeds…
Sometimes it seems like it is easy for us to put our Faith in God for big things. I look back on the biggest test of Faith in my life, or at least, what looked like the biggest test: The discovery and treatment of a tumor in my brain. It came out of nowhere. I had no symptoms, no idea. I simply needed to get a new prescription for my contacts. But, a regular screening sent me down the path of hearing that I could lose my vision and needed to meet with a neurosurgeon. During the entire process, I had moments of fear, but never panic. I had this overwhelming sense that all would be well. God reassured me and my husband over and over. He kept His word. Now, I am tumor free and seeing just fine!
But, if you look at those mustard seeds… a brain tumor is definitely bigger. Sometimes, I find it harder to live in Faith with Mustard Seed-sized issues. I am talking about the little things, the daily things, the basics. Why is it easier to dump the big, towering issues at the feet of Jesus, but we can’t seem to let go of the control over things like meeting our daily needs? Why is it that we live with stress and worry over the very things that God wants to cover for us? Matthew 6 is a great place to camp out for awhile and absorb the foundations for the kind of Faith Jesus saw in us and wants us to live out daily. A strong prayer life – Give us our daily bread. A strong trust factor – Do not worry.
Looking at that picture above… would you believe that the tiniest of those seeds could contain enough power to tell a mountain to go jump into the sea? It could. Jesus told us so. You believe Jesus, don’t you? You do Believe, right? Do I believe?
I discovered that the secret to a Biblical Faith starts with Spirit-filled Belief. I have to truly, fully BELIEVE! Believe is a verb. (Yep, that means action is required.) To Believe is to accept as true or real. To have confidence in the truth or value of something, or in this case, Someone. (Hebrews 11:1; 2 Corinthians 5:7)
Ron Dunn, an author who is quickly becoming one of my favorites, shared some powerful truths about Biblical faith in his book, Faith Crisis. He says, “Faith is an activity of the mind and the will. There is little or no emotion involved in Biblical Faith.”
So here’s a little exercise that I am going to do right along with you. Make a list of the issues/concerns in your life. Then categorize them as a Mustard Seed, something you consider too small for God to bother with, or a Mountain, an obvious moment for God to shine…
Example:
You have a glimpse of my list. What is yours looking like? Now, write down why you think God isn’t capable of covering those mustard seeds? Be honest, because cutting God out of the tiny stuff doesn’t give Him the full reign in your life that He desires and deserves. I am tell you right here and now, I am guilty of doubting the power of the God of the Universe. But, I am praying for Him to turn my fledgling faith into the Mustard Seed Faith that Jesus described. We need to keep our minds and wills in tune with God’s (Matthew 6 – “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.”)
If you are reading this and realizing that you’re in the same boat as me, I pray that God will touch your heart the way He is touching mine. Can you imagine what will happen if we all reach that point of Mustard Seed faith?
There won’t be a mountain that can rise against the plan God has for our lives. Glory to God!
Can you feel it? The excitement is so thick you can almost cut it with a knife! I’m talking about Spring Break. And, while I am tempted to go into the fact that where I grew up we did not have a Spring Break, that was solely a college thing, I won’t, promise!
Instead, I will celebrate the fact that my family is going to get some time off from school and work to enjoy being together.
Spring Break begs the question, “Where are you going?” And, for us the answer is no major trips. We often stay close to home. But, that doesn’t mean we don’t have fun!
We like to be Tourists in Our Own Town. We take advantage of the fun awaiting for us in our own backyard. When you’re blessed to live in a beautiful setting like the mountains of Western North Carolina, you can make the most of walking out your door and into a variety of adventures. We can be in a State or National Park within minutes. So hiking, mountain biking, and picnics are all great options.
And yes, friends, I do hear you asking… “What if we don’t have the Blue Ridge Mountains to play in?” Well, here is a way to get started discovering what is great about where you live. Search out the history of your town. There’s a reason for your town to spring up where it is now all those years ago. A quick search of the town where I grew up (Clarion, PA) showed its strong ties to the iron, lumber, and oil industries. That took me to a nearby city, where the discovery of oil put the region on the map. And, there happens to be a historical museum there which includes tours. Score!
http://www.drakewell.org/
(See where I’m heading with this?) The Cook Forest State Park was the site where Cecile B. Demille filmed the movie, “Unconquered”. And, the park is home to some great hiking trails.
So, take a minute and search about your town. Find out what is exciting and make your plans. Local Tourism Associations, Chambers of Commerce, and Downtown Development groups are great resources for events and locations to visit.
We love to check out what is family-friendly in communities. You know us Moms, we are all about the no-cost or low-cost options. When the weather is right, you can turn your backyard into a water park, for instance!
Think about themes. Transportation day could include a stop at local Depot and Train Museum. We have them in Hendersonville and Bryson City, NC. Look for the festivals happening within your desired driving distance. Dillsboro is home to great events. The Dogwood Crafters and other local groups work hard to put on several family-friendly events throughout the year. How about a day of discovering local authors? In our community that includes Thomas Wolfe and Carl Sandburg. If science may be more of what you’re looking for, look into local kids science museums like Health Adventure or PARI: Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute.
So grab a map, pull up the local tourism board, or chamber site, and get the family ’round the table! Whether you’re planning for Spring Break, a Summer Vacation, or simply some weekend fun, it isn’t hard to be a Tourist in Your Own Town.
Let me know where your family likes to go when you’re being tourists in your own town. Comment below!
Five-year-old Li’l Bro comes to the dinner table in nothing but his underoos and a play cowboy hat. “Yeehaw,” he declares matter-of-factly.
Nine-year-old Big Bro erupts, “Don’t go in my room!”
Li’l Bro: “I didn’t…”
Me: “Umm… where did you get the hat?”
Li’l Bro, without taking a breath or batting an eyelash says, “I saw it on another floor and I picked it up and I put it on my head and I said, ‘Yeehaw.’”
[Dubious. But points for creativity and diversion.]
Meanwhile, I had a split-second decision to make: should I try to unravel what really happened (did little Sis maybe carry the hat from Big Bro’s floor to… “another” floor, for example), or should I go another route?
I chose the road less traveled. Instead of spending the next several minutes trying to sort out what really happened, where the hat came from, etc., etc., ad nauseum…
I decided it just wasn’t a battle that needed to be fought.
So, pretty much as jokingly dramatic as I could, I repeated Li’l Bro’s words.
“I saw it on another floor
and I picked it up
and I put it on my head
and I said, ‘Yeehaw.’”
We literally spent the remainder of the day and half the next repeating it–Big Bro, Li’l Bro, and I–in animated over-expression.
“I saw it on ANOTHER floor
and I picked it UP
and I put it on my HEAD
and I said, ‘YEE-HAW.’”
We laughed until our sides hurt. Even Sissy laughed and laughed (not because she knew why but because we were, I think).
So here’s the thing: In this adventure called motherhood, sometimes um, oftentimes we have to play the referee or the disciplinarian or the detective or some combination thereof.
And occasionally we make a real-time decision that’s actually right. We choose to commemorate instead of correct, to inspire instead of investigate, to laugh instead of litigate.
Because [believe me] the squabble over whether or not Li’l Bro actually took the silly dress-up hat out of Big Bro’s room and whether that really mattered anyway since they share all the toys and are forever in and out of each other’s rooms without incident was quickly forgotten…
But we’ll be joking about that little cowboy saddling up to the dinner table with his “yeehaw” silliness for a long time to come. It was a rare moment of effective and perfect redirect. And as a mother, I will treasure it.
“A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).
We’re all about that sort of medicine over at CampClem. Won’t you come over sometime and see how we weave laughter into our days?
So, how will you add a measure of “good medicine” to your time with your kids today? Do tell!
It’s NEW and completely unique! Now, you can put a face to your Oodles bottle by visiting the FotoFrame™ Print Shop. Click HERE to start personalizing yours today!
What do you think about the NEW FotoFrame™ Print Shop? Comment below and let us know!
One of the repeated bits of advice I hear for parents trying to instill the Word of God in their children’s lives is: “Put it in terms they will understand.” But, I never really expected that advice to play out in a Galaxy far, far away.
We were on the way to the grocery store. The topic came around to Little Man’s love of making videos showing off his Lego skills. I was paying him a compliment. Then, I went a little further and suggested that it would be great if he could work in some of the great things about Jesus into his Lego demo videos.
The puzzled look I saw in the rear view mirror made me realize I had some explaining to do. And, before I knew it we were making links between the Star Wars characters and the teachings of the Bible! Before you start thinking “she has lost it” please keep reading.
We started with the Best Buddies Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. I asked what they thought about the guys being as close as brothers. They agreed, Han and Luke would do anything for each other. Cue the quote of Proverbs 18:24: “…but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.”
They both chimed in that would couldn’t leave Chewie out of that friendship.
Little Princess chimed in, “What about Princess Leia?” (She is a big fan, because “Gorls Wule!”) Let’s see. The young Princess Leia led her people and loved them enough to put her life on the line for them. Hmm.. sounds a lot like John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” And, didn’t a Queen named Esther do something very similar when God called her to follow His plan for her life?
We even took on the promise of salvation. We saw how the evil Emperor tempted Anakin Skywalker to the dark side. And, then we saw the redemption that came at the end when Darth Vader was convinced through the love of his son Luke, to turn from his evil ways. Granted – I had to take a little creative license here. But, what was really neat was the fact that the kiddos took over from there! They went on to explain that the Emperor was very much like the devil. He used evil powers to trick Anakin Skywalker into thinking that his way was better than the side of good. “And, Who is the leader of the Good side?” I asked. They said, “Jesus!”
Teachable moments come in all shapes, sizes, and star systems. The important lesson for us grown ups is to make sure we are asking God to point out these teaching times to us. All we have to do is be open to them, God will do the rest. So, have some fun! Let me know about your unusual, but effective, teaching moments like The Gospel in a Galaxy Far, Far Away!
With two adults and three kids in our home, we produce five or more outfits to be laundered each day… Actually, more since we have pajamas and sports practice clothes & uniforms and such.
If you’re a mom, you know it adds up quick.
Anyone else ever feel like this? It’s a climb that never seems to end. Sometimes, I feel like I turn around from washing and folding and hanging and putting away all the laundry just to see the basket already half-full again.
But then I realized something very important: these clothes (which–by the way–I should count myself lucky to have; after all, how many people in the world count themselves blessed to just have one raggedy set)… Anyway, these clothes are symbolic. They mean something much more than a dirty pile of work to be done, so much more than a mundane task to be repeated ad infinitum.
These clothes are a reminder… {one you might want to print out and hang in your laundry room as a reminder?}
These clothes are a precious reminder that the ones I love are near.
And I will count myself blessed to have laundry mountains yet to scale.
Will you allow God to reshape a task for you today, to reveal its value and beauty? Could be wonderful!
One of the best bits of advice I ever received as a Mom was that kids do well with a schedule. Boundaries lead to freedom – they really do. If your children know the ground rules they can be free to get creative and grow within those safeguards.
So, in our house, we have a ground rule when it comes to homework. We get home from school, have a snack, and then tackle the homework. That way, they don’t have it hanging over their heads for the rest of the night.
But, homework had grown into a source of major headaches in our world. They ranged from pretending not to know what to do, to flat out trying to get out of doing it at all.
On my end, the challenge came from being tired. And, I was ready to help the kids get this part of their day behind them, for them as well as for me. Maybe even more so for me.
The result? Frustration, anger, impatience, even tears. And, I’m just talking about me.
Seriously, we would lose our cools and reach a boiling point that did not show any of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). I dare say our fruit basket was full of rotting apples. All of the joy, patience, peace, kindness was gone. What made me even more upset was that I had allowed it to happen. I let the devil get into the details and turn homework time into a time of turmoil.
So what changed? I am glad you asked! I had been trying to figure out what I could do the make this time go more smoothly. I would try to have the table ready and talk myself into the right mind-set before they got off the bus. Or, I would try to find ways to make the homework more fun. Maybe I could set a timer to help encourage them to stay focused on the task.
By the way, before you start jotting those down to try on your own I have to tell you… those are not the things that worked. I wasn’t going to change anything. I needed some serious help.
This week, when we were having a particularly hard time with homework I finally gave up the pride and called out to God for help. I asked Him to put this time in perspective. My child, who was struggling with the frustration over the same homework assignment that comes on the same day every week, came to me crawled on my lap and we prayed.
I called on Jesus to bless us with His abilities to finish the homework, to help us lose our frustration, and to regain our focus. The prayer ended with me sending my child back to the task of finishing the homework. But, then I went back to praying. I asked for forgiveness of the stubbornness that led to a butting of heads between me and my child. Ephesians 6:4 says it so well, “Fathers (Mothers), do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
A few minutes later, the homework was done. The frustration was gone. And, I enjoyed one of the most amazing moments of love with my child! We just held each other in the best hug ever.
I hope you don’t face the frustrations over homework or any other aspect of raising your child. But, since the devil knows motherhood is fertile ground for his attacks, it is almost a guarantee that these times will come your way. I pray that you will give up the notion that you have to deal with the minutia of motherhood on your own. Even if it’s trying to teach your child to tie his shoe, ask God to be in that moment and every moment with you. It is a guaranteed way to skip the Headaches and go straight to the “Hallelujahs!” of being a mom!
So, how have you “skipped the headaches” of homework struggles with your kiddos? Comment below and share your story!
