What are you selling?

When I was an outgoing, confident young girl, I loved to sell stuff to strangers. I loved working at my grandma’s antique shop. I loved going to craft fairs with my aunt and uncle to sell their handmade pottery. I loved selling the “newspaper” that I wrote, typed and illustrated in my second floor guest-room office.

Most people don’t like to be sold stuff (Ask me sometime about my experiences with telemarketers and time share salespeople) … AND most people don’t like selling stuff that they’re not personally sold on themselves.

As a 23-year-old who knew next to nothing about home ownership, I tried selling real estate … then I tried selling Usborne books at home parties, but I didn’t feel right trying to convince people that they should buy books at full-price when I preferred checking them out at the library or buying them second-hand.

But as a disciple of Jesus Christ, I want to tell EVERYONE about the best, greatest, most fantastic way to living a life of meaning and purpose.

The love of Christ compels me – both the love that I have received FROM Christ and the love that I feel FOR Christ. I am compelled to share because I believe so deeply in what I have to offer others.

Jesus is so much more than the most magnificent house or the latest and greatest vacuum cleaner or the most life-changing kitchen gadget.

The good news is more important than anything Fox News or CNN could ever broadcast.

The gospel is worth more than any earthly possession that the Home Shopping Network could ever carry.

So, sisters and brothers, we have to stop seeing ourselves as peddlers of useless wares and optional gadgets … and instead see ourselves as Heralds of the King of kings and Messengers of God Most High.

Don’t know how? Do you need some help? Comment below or leave me a message, or check out my YouTube channel for some helpful videos about sharing the gospel:

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV)

“And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:23 ESV)

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.” (Acts 8:35 ESV)

“It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” (1 Peter 1:12 ESV)

“So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-20 ESV)

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

Purpose

Have you ever felt like your life was purposeless?

I felt that way for the first half of my life. I compensated by working extra hard, trying to prove my worth to anyone willing to notice me.

Then, the God of purpose came along and turned my world upside-down — in a good way. Believing that the God of the universe had INTENTIONALLY created me changed everything. I was no longer the result of a crazy series of chance events, a random variety of molecules having evolved over billions of years out of primodial goo. No. I was a child of a Holy God who had a plan and purpose for making me.

So, today on this 28th day of August (8/28), let’s remember

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.Romans 8:28 ESV

I hope you can take 5 minutes to learn how you can share the gospel using your personal testimony. In my personal testimony, I share how God gave me purpose in my life. Each of us have a unique purpose and a unique testimony to share. Let’s share it!

“And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'” — Acts 26:15-18 ESV

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” 2 Timothy 1:7-10 ESV

Study … Obey … Teach

“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” Ezra 7:10

Teachers are held to a higher standard. We have to be careful to study, but we better not skip that personal obedience step before jumping straight to teaching.

Thank You, Father, for giving us Your Word. It is a light to our feet. It shines in the dark corners and speaks truth to our souls. Thank You for Your mercy and grace and for the wisdom that You give day after day. I’m praying for my own role as a teacher, but also for the teachers of our nation’s children, whether in the schools or the church. Give them Your wisdom and strength for the glory of Your name.

Whatever…

Whatever the Lord pleases,

he does,

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all deeps.

Psalm 135:6 ESV

Think of that.

The Lord does whatever He pleases.

Rather than reading this and wishing that I could do anything I please, I’m choosing today to be thankful that God is on His throne and I’m not.

It might please me to sleep all day and eat peanut butter chocolate ice cream all night. It might please me to thumb through my Facebook feed for hours and bingewatch HGTV shows. But God … God is good and what pleases Him is always good … so I’m choosing today to be thankful that He is God and I’m not.

How about you? What are your thoughts about God’s total sovereign power … and your lack of it? ❤❤❤

TWIG

Trust = Obedience. Distrust = Disobedience.

“If deep in our hearts we suspect that God does not love us and cannot manage our affairs as well as we can, we certainly will not submit to His discipline.” – Elisabeth Elliot (Nor His Word or His plan for our life.)

The more we know the Lord’s loving goodness and mercy, as well as His almighty power, the more we will trust Him and His plans for us.

You can know God. Imagine that! God has given us His Word, so we can know and trust Him. The more you know and trust Him, the more closely you will follow and obey Him.

How can I come alongside you?

Message me or leave a comment.

Life Skills and Habits to Develop Before Finishing High School

Having graduated my oldest two and now looking at my 11th grader and 8th grader, I took the time to write down a list – 6 pages long – of the skills and habits I’d like to help them develop before leaving home. Can you think of anything I missed? 🙂

Bible reading

  • Daily Bible Reading and Prayer Journal
  • Genesis – Deuteronomy
  • Joshua – Ruth
  • 1 Samuel – 2 Chronicles
  • Ezra – Esther
  • Job – Psalms
  • Proverbs – Ecclesiastes
  • Isaiah – Daniel
  • Hosea – Malachi
  • Matthew – Acts
  • Romans – Colossians
  • 1 Thessalonians – Revelation

Scripture Memory

  • John 3:16
  • Romans 5:8
  • Romans 6:23
  • Books of the Bible
  • Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
  • The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
  • Psalm 1:1-6
  • Psalm 23:1-6
  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
  • Philippians 2:1-16
  • Colossians 3:1-25
  • Romans 12:1-21
  • Matthew 5:1-16

Books to Read

  • Hudson Taylor, George Mueller, Gladys Aylward by Benge (or other Christian Heroes books)
  • The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by Lewis (The whole Narnia series)
  • Mama’s Bank Account by Forbes
  • Man of the Family by Moody (the whole series is great)
  • The Hiding Place by Ten Boom
  • The Knowledge of the Holy by Tozer
  • Knowing God by Packer
  • The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Hymns

  • Amazing Grace
  • The Doxology
  • Come Thou Fount
  • It is Well with My Soul
  • Take My Life and Let it Be
  • Be Thou my Vision
  • How Great Thou Art
  • To God be the Glory
  • In Christ Alone
  • Before the Throne of God Above
  • Silent Night
  • The First Noel
  • Oh, Holy Night
  • Little Town of Bethlehem
  • Joy to the World
  • Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Missions

  • Support a missionary in prayer, as well as financially and corresponding with them
  • Visit a missionary or serve with a local outreach ministry
  • Share the gospel clearly in 2 minutes

Social skills

  • Serve others – an elderly neighbor, a sick friend, your church – however the Lord leads
    (write a letter, cook a meal, help out)
  • Answer the phone properly and take a message
  • Set the table properly for your family
  • Use proper manners eating at home using silverware and a napkin
  • Order and pay at a fast food restaurant
  • Eat at a fancy restaurant using proper table manners
  • Express thanks consistently when others serve you
  • Greet and converse with adults with eye conduct, proper voice volume and listening attentively
  • Make a phone call to order pizza or other food delivery
  • Make a phone call to set up a doctor’s appointment
  • Life skills
  • Childcare
    •  Play with, change diaper, feed bottle, make lunch, clean up, child development
  • Woodworking
    • Hand saw, table saw, miter saw, electric drill, hang a picture, repair nail hole, repair dry wall, caulk sink or shower
  • Electrical work
    • Check breakers, understand types of light bulbs, install a light fixture or ceiling fan, change outlet, install light switch
  • Plumbing
    • Plunge a toilet, unclog a drain, understand how a toilet works, turn off water to house at street, turn off water at a sink or toilet
  • Painting
    • Wall, trim, cabinet, door
  • Car repair and maintenance
    • Change oil, replace windshield wipers and fluid, change tire, jump battery
  • Tie a variety of knots
  • Pack for a trip
  • Plan a trip
  • Set a mouse trap
  • Tie a necktie
  • Shine shoes
  • Organize a closet, cabinet or dresser and your bedroom
  • Iron a button-down shirt and dress pants
  • Sew on a button
  • Mend a hole in a sock or shirt

Healthy Living

  • Plan a week of meals as well as make a list of meal and snack options
  • Grocery shop for a week’s groceries
  • Cook dinner for the family
  • Understand a variety of over-the-counter medicines and supplements
  • Know the name and phone number of your doctor, insurance and medicine you take
  • Learn how to store food – fruit, vegetables, fridge, freezer, pantry
  • First aid skills (choking, fainting, heart attack or inability to breathe, cuts, burns, fractures or sprains)
  • Make a First Aid kit

Academic skills

  • Tell time using an analog clock
  • Use a dictionary, a thesaurus and an encyclopedia
  • Read a book or story aloud to a group
  • Speak in front of a group
  • Find a book at the library using the Dewey decimal system
  • Put books on hold online
  • Check out and return books on time
  • Check out and listen to a digital audiobook

Computer skills

  • Keyboarding skills of at least 25 wpm
  • Type a chapter of the Bible
  • Write a letter to a political representative
  • Write a cover letter to apply for a job
  • Write a resume
  • Write a family newsletter or Christmas letter
  • Make a blog
  • Make a PowerPoint presentation
  • Build a computer from parts

Financial and Time Management Skills

  • Discuss stewardship – stewarding our time, talents, treasure and testimony
  • Make a daily schedule
  • Make an online annual calendar with important dates and birthdays
  • Open a bank account
  • Write checks, use a debit card at a store, use an ATM, set up auto pay, track your expenses and check your bank balance online
  • Learn about car insurance and health insurance
  • Discuss paying taxes
  • Discuss tithing and giving offerings
  • Memorize your social security number and know why you need it
  • Make a weekly, monthly and annual budget
  • Clothing shopping on a budget
  • List and price what you need to buy other than food and clothing (shampoo, deodorant, cosmetics, feminine care, shaving, laundry soap, dish soap, TP, first aid …)

Cleaning skills

  • Vacuum
  • Dust
  • Clean mirrors, glass doors and windows
  • Wash dishes by hand
  • Load the dishwasher
  • Empty the dishwasher
  • Scrub a toilet
  • Clean the shower
  • Clean a whole bathroom
  • Clean blinds
  • Wash, dry, fold, hang up and put away clothes

Cooking skills

  • Breakfast – muffins, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, bacon, sausage
  • Eggs – hard boil, fry, scramble, egg salad
  • Lunch – grilled cheese, ham, PB & J, macaroni + cheese
  • Dinner – spaghetti, hamburgers, fettucine alfredo, tacos
  • Potatoes – baked, mashed, roasted, potato salad
  • Vegetables – salad, broccoli, green beans, corn casserole
  • Dessert – cake, cookies, pudding, pie

Arts, crafts, creative skills

  • Take, edit and share photos digitally
  • Make a video with music from digital images
  • Make an album from digital images
  • Sketch with pencils
  • Watercolors
  • Oil painting
  • Embroidery or cross stitching
  • Knit or crochet
  • Sew curtains or a pillow with a sewing machine
  • Play a song on a piano, guitar or other instrument
  • Read music accurately
  • Sing a song on pitch from memory
  • Make a model from scratch or from a kit
  • Write a poem
  • Memorize and recite a poem

Outdoor skills

  • Build a fire and learn about fire safety
  • Cook a meal on a fire or grill
  • Set up a tent and camp outside for 24 hours
  • Mow the lawn
  • Use a trimmer
  • Use a blower
  • Rake and bag leaves
  • Plant and maintain flowers or garden
  • Weed a garden or flower bed
  • Shovel a sidewalk or driveway
  • Archery
  • Marksmanship, gun safety, and maintenance
  • Go fishing – tie a hook, put on bait, catch a fish, take it off hook
  • Gut and cook an animal or fish

Download a PDF of this list here:

Seeing yourself as a STEWARD of your time, talents, treasures and testimony

If we believe that God is our Creator, Lord and King, then we should see ourselves as stewards for His kingdom. Using practical examples of stewardship, Kim explores the importance of being stewards of the time, talents, treasures and testimony which God has given to us.

My latest YouTube video

For more study on this, read Matthew 6:24, Matthew 24:45-51, Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Ten Talents), 1 Corinthians 3:4-4:4, and 1 Peter 4:10, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

Pro-life Atheist to Pro-life Christian

This morning I was honored to be interviewed for a radio program for a local pro-life ministry, so I went ahead and recorded a little video for my YouTube channel. I hope it blesses you.

God has used my experience of losing a baby after finding out he had a fatal condition at only 12 weeks gestation, followed by adopting our son a year later, to share the good news of HOPE in Jesus Christ.

This may not be your exact experience, but God has given you unique talents, trials and testimonies to share, too! I hope are encouraged!

Please check out my ministry website at www.AChildofPromise.org for more information.

Like a shrub or like a tree

It has been really hard for me recently to fix my eyes on the eternal hope of Heaven and on the joy that I have in the finished work of Christ. It is easy to be overwhelmed with the struggles of everyday life. When I read this passage yesterday morning, I was uplifted and I hope you will be, too.

The years of heat and drought will still come, but the man who trusts in the Lord can continue to bear fruit without fear, because he is rooted in the Lord. The desert shrub might survive the drought but that well-watered tree can thrive.

“Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.  He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:5-8 ESV

Scripture Memory

I love to memorize scripture, especially with my children! I’ve memorized several longer passages or even chapters of the Bible, but never a whole book! Right now we’re working on Philippians 2.

We use many of these same tips that Kim Cash Tate recommended in her video.

I’d love to hear what you’re memorizing now and any tips you have for memorizing.

TWIG