Immediate Love

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Tracie Miles

After years of begging for a pet, Morgan’s parents finally gave into their kids’ pleading and bought a hamster. Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Morgan’s heart immediately filled with love for this little creature, named Peanut, who she didn’t even know existed a few days earlier. With every waking moment, Morgan cared for Peanut’s needs and gave him the love and attention he wanted. Their adoption of this little hamster showed the whole family how quickly we can love something, even though it’s done nothing to deserve our love. You know, God’s love for us is the same. He waits for us to find Him, then showers more affection on us than we ever thought possible. If we can love an adopted pet in such a short time after they come into our home, just imagine how much more our Heavenly father wants to lavish love on us when we come into His family. For more reminders of how much God loves you, visit Proverbs31.org.

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Who Needs to Meet Jesus Through our Lives?

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

Isn’t it amazing that God chooses to work through us to reach the people in our lives? Hi I’m Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs 31 Ministries. Recently I had the privilege of speaking at a very special event. There were many things about this night that were wonderful- the décor, food, and the music.But it was the obvious presence of God that took my breath away.The women who organized the event had all invited friends and family members who didn’t have a relationship with Christ. I'm sure some of them were nervous about inviting their friends to a church event. But God took their efforts and did something BIG!Ninety women started an eternal life-saving relationship with Jesus!I was deeply impacted by this evening. And, I was challenged. I wondered who is in my sphere of influence that might need to meet Jesus. Maybe I need to step out and invite someone to a special event at my church and leave the results to God. For more encouragement log on to Proverbs31.org.

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I Want What I want!

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope

Ever heard your child say something like…I want what I want, when I want it? Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Those were the words of three-year old Molly who was growing more determined every time her mom told her “no”! Boy can I relate! I want what I want, when I want it! And I’m not alone.

The Bible tells us of a woman named Sarah who wanted to have a baby. And, God promised to give her one. But Sarah was beyond child-bearing years so she decided to help God out by insisting that her husband have a child with her servant.

Well, Sarah eventually got what she wanted, but it wasn’t what she wanted after all! She was miserable and blamed it on her husband and her servant.

Sometimes we take things into our own hands because we think God can’t handle them, or at least not the way we want Him to. Today, let’s choose to trust God to give us what He wants, when He wants to. For more encouragement, visit Proverbs31.org.

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The Greener Grass

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

I think about this statement often, "The Grass isn't greener on the other side. The grass is greener where you water and fertilize it." Hi I’m Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs31 Ministries. This challenges me to think, "How have I been watering and fertilizing my marriage recently?" Worth pondering I think! Especially since I’m celebrating my 15th wedding anniversary this year.We’re going out to dinner. Somewhere cheap and fast, as we've got a whole clan of kids that’ll need help with life shattering emergencies--- such as what color did Hannah Montana wear on her show today? Who played with who on the playground? And, can we spot our teenage son a little gas money?Anyhow, we’ll have a few stolen moments to celebrate our very rich lives. All because two people fell in love and make a choice most days to stay that way. If you’d like some ideas on loving your husband and helping your marriage thrive, log on to Proverbs 31 Ministries and click on Everyday Life at Proverbs31.org.

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Dealing with Loss

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writers: Renee Swope and Lysa TerKeurst

Sometimes the holidays are hard, especially when you’ve experienced a great loss. Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Have you lost something this year? Maybe it’s your job, your health, or a loved one. A loss can leave you feeling alone and empty. It can seem as if everyone around you is getting on with their lives while you’re suffering alone. It’s easy to fill our emptiness by throwing ourselves into busy holiday preparations. But, in the quiet times, our loss can overwhelm us.

If you’re feeling lonely or empty today, I just want to offer you a reminder: Jesus wants to move into the space that was created by your loss. That space may be filled with negative feelings right now, but Jesus wants to replace anger with peace. He wants to replace sadness with comfort. He wants to replace despair with hope, and He wants to replace fear with courage. Jesus wants to fill the emptiness with His love. If you’d like to know more about a relationship with Jesus, please visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs31.org

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Winter Fun!

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Amanda Waldroop

Snowy weather doesn’t mean we have to stay inside. Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. One way to create unforgettable memories with our families when it’s cold and snowy is to get out and gather up that chilly white fluff for a tasty treat. One of my favorite books, Homespun Memories for the Heart, offers several creative ways to use snow to teach our children values and to make some yummy seasonal snacks. Here are some of the suggestions I’ve tried:

Catch a falling snowflake and let your kids examine it under a magnifying glass to see how God made each one distinctly different.

Bundle up the whole family and shovel snow off the front walk of an elderly person’s home.

Gather snow and make some snow cream, maple snow candy, or snow cones.

There are lots of ways to enjoy the winter months by embracing the different ways God has made each season unique. For more ways to have fun this winter, visit us at Proverbs31.org.

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Working from Home

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writers: Glynnis Whitwer

Did you know that over 50 million people will work from their homes this year? Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Many of us are now working from home, either telecommuting or running a home-based business.

Working at home can be great, but I also know it can be hard. I’ve found that for success, I first needed to set up a workspace outside my bedroom so at bedtime I’m not thinking about all the things I still have to do. Also, I invested in good desk and office equipment. The kitchen table worked for a while, but my back suffered because it’s not the right height for a keyboard. And, an accountant helped me figure out what expenses are tax-deductible.

I’ve learned to schedule separate times for work and home tasks so I don’t neglect either. And because I have kids, I also trade out play dates with other moms when I need uninterrupted work time. Working from home offers great freedom, but it also takes work to make it work! To learn more about working from home, visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs31.org.

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Food and Fellowship, Part 1

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst with Amanda Waldroop

Filling bellies can also be an opportunity to fill hearts with God’s love. Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. God knows food is an important, necessary part of our lives. He created us to need it for energy and nourishment. He knew that the consumption of food would be a vital part of our days. So, feeding our families should be about more than merely getting calories into them. It should be about showering love on those who find their way to our tables.

In the Bible when His disciples suggested sending 5000 people away to find food, Jesus said, “You give them something to eat”. He knew that feeding the people would be a chance to meet an important need and continue talking with them. This act of service led to one of His most well-known miracles. So, as we get ready to prepare yet another family dinner, let’s use the opportunity to meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of those who come into our homes! For more encouragement, visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs31.org.

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He Hit Me

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Tracie Miles

“Mom! He hit me!” Hi I’m Renee Swope with Proverbs 31 Ministries, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard those words echo through the halls of my home. Not only is it aggravating, it breaks my heart to see my children fighting. It makes me wonder how my kids feel if they see my husband and me arguing or being mean to each other. Does it make them feel sad? Does it bring doubt in their hearts about our love for each other? Isn’t it easy to expect our kids to behave differently than we do? Listening to my children argue has shown me how important it is for my husband and me to be patient with each other, talk through problems and apologize openly for hurtful things we’ve said or done. After all, God has entrusted our children to us and given us the responsibility to show them what a loving Christian relationship looks and sounds like. If you’d like more information on how to strengthen your family, visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs31.org.

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Staying In the Loop

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst with Amanda Waldroop

Do you find it hard to keep track of who’s dropping off one child at soccer practice and who’s picking up the other from gymnastics while another child needs to be across town for a dentist appointment in 20 minutes? Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. When chaotic schedules start to dictate our home life, the lines of communication between my husband and me can get really tangled which can lead to some pretty tense moments. So, we decided to do something about it by having a planning session once a quarter to coordinate our family’s master calendar. Then once a week, we sit down and go over who’s responsible for each of the balls being juggled. This really helps us avoid the pitfalls of anger, frustration, and last minute debates over who’s running what carpool.

It takes some time, but it’s worth it. Scheduling our family activities in advance helps to keep the peace and get everybody where they need to be. For more ideas, log on to Proverbs31.org.

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Trusting God Through Change

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Amanda Waldroop

“Change is a good thing. Change is a God thing.” Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Is life requiring you to make some difficult changes?

In her book, Little Blessings from a Big God, Michelle Medlock Adams describes how God teaches us about Himself through our circumstances. When Michelle’s family moved from Indiana to Texas, her daughter really struggled with such a big change. Not only was it hard for her daughter, but it was hard on Michelle too. Change is difficult. Being somewhere unfamiliar is scary. Michelle remembered how God promises to always be with us and comforted her daughter with that same promise. The truth is - if we’re growing, we’ll always be changing. If we go through a move with God, being in a new place and doing new things will help us see life from a new perspective. So, if you’re going through a difficult adjustment, remember God created us to grow through change, but He will always stay the same! For more encouragement, visit Proverbs31.org.

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Tame Your Tongue

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Amanda Waldroop

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve lost control of my tongue and said the wrong thing, I’d be pretty rich! Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. In the Bible, James, the brother of Jesus said that “no man (or woman) can tame the tongue.” So, I guess I’m not alone when it comes to having trouble mastering that little pink weapon inside my mouth.

In her book, 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue, Deborah Smith Pegues says, “The only hope for the tongue is the Spirit of God.” She also says our tongues need to be “brought into subjection by Him on a daily basis.” On the other hand, God gave us tongues to speak kindness to others – using words of blessing and encouragement with a gentle attitude. So let’s take our tongues to God every day before we start speaking and ask Him to help us control them and use them the way they were meant to be used. For more encouragement, visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs31.org.

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Raising A Manly Man

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Amanda Waldroop

Are you trying to raise your son to be a Godly man? Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. It’s no secret that mothers struggle with how to raise boys! Those of us with sons agree that having positive male role models is invaluable. But that isn’t always possible. So whether you’re a single mother guiding your son to manhood, or a married mom who needs a little encouragement, author Rick Johnson has a few tips. In his book, That’s My Son, Johnson helps mothers look for ways to encourage Godly character. “For instance, when you tell a man he’s brave, you help him become brave. So, tell your son all the things you want him to be. Say things like: ‘You’re so courageous. That was very honest! You’re a hard worker!’ Remind him of these qualities, while instilling them in him.” For more ideas on raising kids with character, visit Proverbs31.org.

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How Do You Do It?

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst with Amanda Waldroop

How do you keep order in your life? Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. When people find out I have five kids, write books, and head a national ministry their first question is always how in the world do I do all that? First of all, I assure them that there are always plenty of things that I don’t get done. Just like you, I always have more items on my to-do list than I can ever finish. On top of that, I always underestimate the amount of time it will take to get something accomplished. Still, there are three rules I try to live by that help keep my never-ending task list in perspective. First, I like to have a plan to get things done. Second, I try to delegate by giving some of my tasks to other people. And finally, I’ve made peace with the fact that with everything I have going on, some things just aren’t going to get done. For more encouragement for your busy life, visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs31.org.

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The Grace of God

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Glynnis Whitwer

Is it ever too late for someone to turn to Jesus? Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. My friend Glynnis’ father spent his life closed to the Christian faith. Then he became critically ill and was only able to communicate by nodding his head “yes” or “no”. One night, Glynnis’ son visited his grandpa and later told her what happened. “Mom, I told Grandpa he needed Jesus and I told him why. I waited a few minutes and asked Grandpa if he wanted to accept Jesus into his heart. He nodded yes.”

Glynnis remembered a man in the Bible who hung on a cross next to Jesus – he’d asked for forgiveness in his last hour. The grace of God reached out to that man and Glynnis knew God’s grace had met her dad at his point of greatest need. Do you need God's grace today? To know more about having a relationship with Him, visit Proverbs31.org.

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Cooking Co-Op

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst with Amanda Waldroop

Is making dinner making you crazy? If so, I might have the perfect solution. Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Recently I was exhausted from my kids complaining over my mystery casseroles – you know the ones topped with cheese and stale crackers from the pantry, so a friend introduced me to a cooking co-op. Not only has it saved me time in preparation, but it’s also decreased our monthly grocery bill and allowed me to offer a variety of meals to my family, which makes them very happy. Here’s how it works:

· Groups of three to five families form a co-op.
· Each night of the week one family provides a complete dinner for the other families and in turn receives meals the rest of the week.
· Each meal consists of a main entree and two side dishes.
· Co-op cooks meet quarterly to plan menus, weekly schedules and delivery times.

Work out what’s best for you and the other families and happy eating! For more ideas, visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs31.org.

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Hanging On

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Susanne Scheppmann

Do you ever feel like you’re just barely hanging on in life? I did, just this week! Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. The other day I was watching some small birds outside my window hanging upside down from a mesh feeder. They clung to the feeder with their tiny toes and pecked at the seeds inside. Then a strong gust of wind shook the feeder, but the birds didn’t let that bother them. They calmly pecked away. Soon some bigger birds tried to knock them off the feeder. Again, they clung to the mesh. They wouldn’t let anything pull them away from their food source. I glanced at the Bible on my desk and thought, “There’s my spiritual food. Do I cling to it, no matter what challenges come my way?” I have to admit I don’t always cling to God’s words when times get tough. But, those little birds have inspired me to dig in and hold on tight! For more encouragement visit Proverbs 31 Ministries and click on Everyday Life at Proverbs31.org.

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Praying with a Thankful Heart

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

If I were facing a pit of hungry lions I wonder how thankful I’d be. Hi I’m Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs 31 Ministries and recently I was reading about Daniel in the Bible. Daniel loved God and lived to serve Him. However, one day a decree was passed by the King that said anyone caught praying to God would be thrown into a den of lions. But, Daniel continued to pray. And, what did he pray? He gave thanks to God as he had done before. Well, praying with a thankful heart proved powerfully effective. When Daniel was thrown in with the lions God shut the animals’ mouths and Daniel’s life was spared! I wonder if my life were at stake if the first thing I’d do would be to say a prayer of thanks. Wow, what a challenge to have an attitude of gratitude every day. For more encouragement visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs31.org.

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Confessions of a Recovering Shop-a-holic

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope and Wendy Pope

Sometimes when I get stressed, I just want to go shopping so I can escape! Hi, I’m Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. My friend Wendy recently told me how shopping used to be an addiction for her. When she got married, she brought a lot of debt with her and carried it for many years. As she continued to accumulate debt, Wendy hid receipts and new purchases from her husband. The secrets kept her from having an open relationship with him. It also kept her from experiencing the joy of a real relationship with God.

Wendy wanted to be free from her addiction, so she decided to meet each morning with Jesus and talk with him about her struggle with spending. She also stopped going to stores unnecessarily and carefully recorded every purchase she made. She finally felt completely free when she cut up her credit cards and confessed her mistakes to her husband. Wendy said she now has a deep joy that comes from something she could never buy! For more encouragement visit Proverbs31.org.

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Call Today

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

There’s a phone call I need to make that I’ve been putting off. Hi I’m Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs 31 Ministries and if you’re like me you’ve probably got a call to make, too. Maybe to wish someone a belated happy birthday or to ask for forgiveness or to simply tell someone they’ve been in your thoughts lately. The call I need to make is to tell someone thank you for something they did for me…a couple of months ago. I know I should have sent a thank you note right away but you know how it is…time just has a way of slipping by and, before you know it, days turn into months. So, a phone call to say thank you is what’s in order for me today. And, who knows, maybe this is the perfect day for that person to hear from me. So, I guess I gotta go make that call. For more encouragement for your important relationships click on Everyday Life when you visit Proverbs 31 Ministries at Proverbs31.org.

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Get Real

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Renee Swope and Tracie Miles

Sometimes I hesitate when people ask how they can pray for me. Hi, I'm Renee Swope for Proverbs 31 Ministries. As I wrote down the long list of prayer requests, I realized we weren’t praying for each other. We were praying for other people in our lives: someone’s neighbor was having marriage problems; a co-worker was sick; a friend’s child was being rebellious. The requests were prayer-worthy, but why we weren’t praying for our own struggles - our own marriages, our jobs, or our challenges in life?

I knew I needed to be transparent. You see, when I’m real, people can see, pray for, and love the “real me.” And they get to see real prayers answered. Stories about a restored marriage, about forgiving someone who betrayed me, or about recovering from an addiction could be just what someone needs to hear so their life can be changed. God, help me get past my insecurities and fear so I can use my experiences to help others see You working in my life. For more encouragement, click on Everyday Life at Proverbs31.org.

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Capture this Year

Radio Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst
Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

Just a few years ago I had a pile of family mementos and pictures that seemed hopelessly unorganized. Hi I’m Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs 31 Ministries. Then one day it occurred to me to start from that day and make a scrapbook that chronicled our family’s life journey just for that year. This I could do. So, that year I took pictures and wrote about hilarious things my kids said, some ways we saw God move in our family, milestones that each kid had that year, and even a romantic adventure that I had with my husband. The funny thing about knowing this would all be captured in a book is that it made me get so much more intentional about how we were living life. If the thought of scrapbooking has ever overwhelmed you, maybe this one-year book idea will help give you a place to start. For a list of great words from the Bible to use in a scrapbook like this, log on to Proverbs31.org and click on Everyday Life.

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Know Whose You Are

Radio Hostess: Renee Swope
Contributing Writer: Melanie Chitwood

We may know who we are, but do we know whose we are? Hi, I’m Renee Swope with Proverbs 31 Ministries. Melanie chuckled as she listened to her five-year-old give a very detailed answer when someone at church asked his name. He said, I am “Zachary Patrick Chitwood, son of Scott Joseph Chitwood.” Melanie wasn’t sure why Zachary responded that way. She’d certainly never heard this answer before, but she liked it! It let her know that Zachary knew whose he was!

Melanie’s story is a great reminder for me. The truth is sometimes I forget who I belong to. I forget that God alone gives me my identity instead of my past, my feelings, or others’ disapproval. And, you know, the more I grow in my relationship with Jesus, the more I understand that those other definitions are not the truth. The truth is: I am Renee Swope, a daughter of God! For more encouragement click on Everyday Life at Proverbs31.org.

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