Monday, October 24, 2016

What Is On Your Priority Plate?

People often say, "I have too much on my plate." We are all so busy and sometimes forget the important things. Well, the other day while having a family meeting, my husband suggested we illustrate our priorities based on a plate. What are the important things we should be feeding? Or taking the time to be fed by?

The focus of our discussion as a family was to list the things we find most important, what motivates us, what gives us hope. How to practice gratitude and how to encourage each other. These are the things that drive us. Then, we listed them as priorities. From there, we talked about how to remember our priorities and what kind of tools we could use to help us.

Then the kids really took off with it. The plates had different foods symbolizing different things. God is the meat, our protein. Veggies were health or people. Utensils became the tools we use to help us stay on track. Desserts or drinks were the fun things we love to do. Napkins contained thankfulness lists.




It was a very creative way to think of our priorities and the tools to help us stay focused. Like, our bibles, prayer lists, faith books, planners and check lists.

Today the youngest was asked if he had done one thing with each of his priorities before media time. He said he forgot what were his priorities. So, I decided to have us process our notes from our family meeting and draw out nicely on a sheet of paper to fit in our faith books, our priority plates. Hopefully, the pages will serve as a reminder of those things most important to us. The youngest, by the way, loved it so much he said we should do family projects like that more often. And he also decided to draw a house symbolizing his priorities in his journal.

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Daily Affirmations





I created a new insert for my faith book, affirm - DAILY. Big reminders for in those times of suffering. Or just a daily encouragement. Sometimes when we look at the word of God or the doctrine of man, all we see are the rules or how we fall short. That is only part of the story. The other side, grace, says God loves us more than we can imagine. Our pain is not in vain. He really does fight for us. That we do not have to do one thing to earn His favor. We do not have to appease Him. Sometimes we need to turn to God and be affirmed. And be reminded that our behavior and what we do does not affect His love for us. He really is unconditional. May you rest in that truth today. 
The verses or phrases may not be the whole scripture reference but a summary or glance of His message. 
I wanted each affirmation to be rooted in scripture.

Here is the file if you wish to print it for yourself   affirm - DAILY

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

NEW FILES!

I finally got Memory Work done and the Confirmation Book files formatted into pdfs. I will post them here and under the Faith Book and Sermon Notes tab. Feel free to use these in your ministry or personal life.

I hope to start doing memory work along with my middle schooler. For the last couple weeks they have been working on the books of the bible. The adult me said, "Nah, I'll skip that. I know I learned those way back when. I'm too busy." No, excuses now! I'm posting it. My plan is to find out on Mondays what the memory verse is for the week. We have one for 5&6 grades and 7&8 grades, I can post both. I'm going to share them on my Instagram account. You can find me at melindaransdell the link is on the right =>




I have some suggestions on learning verses in the box in the lower left corner titled, practice it. Based on different research articles I've read these are some good hints to use. Also, not sure on the science behind it, but I have also read that if you want to remember something, it is easier if you write it in blue ink. Doesn't hurt to try!

Memory Work File







Being a Blessing











Weekly Prayers










Sermon Reflection











Worship Reflection
*edits have been made in file