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9 Ways to Cultivate a Family Identity (We Are Fa-mi-ly Series)

January 18, 2016 by jstults 1 Comment

You might know a family like them, the ones all decked out in team gear for Sunday’s big game. They root together, sharing the joy of a win or the sting of a loss. They’ll be talking about the game for days.

Other families you know gather for family dinner every Sunday or vacation together every year.  Some meet for midnight openings of long-awaited movies or run every area 5K together. Some even serve alongside each other for their favorite cause.

It’s just part of who they are as a family, part of their family identity.

Strong families know who they are and that they belong together, no matter what their individual differences.  If you want to build strong family bonds then you need to encourage and cultivate a sense of family identity in your home.

Here’s how:

9 Ways to cultivate a family identity

1. Clarify your family values.

Each family has its own set of values to focus on, and those values contribute to the family identity. When family members are certain of the rules and values established in the home, they feel safe and secure. On the other hand, failing to clarify values paves the way for confusion and chaos in the home.

Values guide us when we make important choices. Values teach us who we are and what we stand for.

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)

What values lie at the core of your family life?  How do those values impact which activities you choose to participate in?  How do your family’s values guide your children in life situations?

2. Emphasize traditions.

Traditions give children a sense of belonging, and not just to the current family unit, but even to previous generations.  For this reason, celebrating traditions encourages the family identity.

How do you celebrate birthdays, holidays, and other special events?  What do you do to mark the first or last day of school?  Do you bake Great-Grandma’s special cookie recipe together?  Is Friday night pizza night?

Even everyday traditions become part of your family identity.

You probably already have traditions in place even if you don’t realize it, but you can always add new ones, too!  Emphasize the traditions you have. Draw your children’s attention to them and explain the significance of why you do the things you do.

What makes your family unique? What traditions do you cherish? Discover new ways to cultivate your family identity and strengthen your bonds. 9 Ways to Cultivate a Family Identity

 

3. Keep photo albums or scrapbooks.

I’ll never forget my Grandma’s bookshelf filled with photo albums.  I believe she had over 20 albums full of family photos, a treasury.  At Christmas every year, the aunts and uncles and cousins would pull out the albums and look through the physical representation of all our childhood memories.

Even as an adult, looking through photo albums is one of my favorite things to do!

Pictures remind us of who we are, where we came from, and what we’ve been through together – an important aspect of family identity.  They show us that our littlest boy has Daddy’s nose and our oldest has Grandma’s chin.  They document the progression of our family through time, the different places we’ve lived or visited, and the friends who have come and gone.

Memories are important to family identity!

4. Serve together.

Many families find part of their identity by rallying around a cause or a way to serve the Lord. Since I’m married to a pastor/church-planter, we are a pastor’s family.  We work together to prepare for and host church events and to serve our community.

It’s just part of our family identity to work together.

If your family has a heart for animals, then consider serving at a local shelter. If you’ve experienced cancer, perhaps participate in a cancer prevention walk. Whatever need or cause your family can rally around helps to cement family identity.

5. Support one another.

We have a rule in our family that whenever possible, we will all attend each other’s events. Obviously in a family of six, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. But for the most part, we go to soccer games, baseball games, plays, band concerts, and awards days together.

It’s important for siblings to feel supported by each other in addition to the support of both parents.

Although our middle son doesn’t always enjoy his older brother’s band concerts, he certainly enjoys having his brother watch his own soccer games. And as a parent, I love to hear a proud, “That’s my brother!” (or sister – whatever the case may be). 🙂

Be a family that celebrates each other. Make that an important part of your family identity.

6. Play together (or periodic random chaos).

Families that have fun together usually have a strong sense of family identity because they genuinely enjoy being with each other.  Our family loves to tease, whether with words or poking or pillow fights.

Sometimes when our teen is upstairs (or when Dad is in the bathroom), I’ll get the younger kids together for an ambush.  We wait quietly with koosh ball guns and nerf guns until the target makes an appearance and a war ensues. It may only last for 15 minutes or so, but it gets everyone laughing together.

Make laughter and playfulness part of your family identity by being silly together whenever possible!

7. Encourage common interests.

One way to develop your family identity is to teach your children to love similar things.  For example, my husband is an Indianapolis Colts fan, so we root for the Colts in this household.

You may not enjoy sports, but your family might enjoy music, or crafting, or watching old movies, or playing games, or spending time in the outdoors.

Find common interests that you can enjoy together as a family.

8. Give conversation a chance.

Our kids love to talk. I have to admit they come by it honestly with two parents who are also talkers. 🙂 But when we are really busy as a family, we don’t have time to really listen to each other.  I’ve noticed during those times that we deal with a lot more negative behavior.

One thing we do as a family is to eat supper together at the table nearly every evening of the week. Even during sports seasons, we will eat early or late if at all possible. Eating supper together gives us a chance to talk.  The more we talk together, the more we learn about each other, the better our family identity.

Find a time to set aside for good conversation.

9. Spend time together.

Out of all the ways to cultivate a family identity, this one is perhaps the most important.  Spending time together is instrumental in forming close ties, so there is no substitute for quality family time.

Set aside one night a week or a couple of nights a month for family game night, or go play a sport together. Schedule a family fun day by devoting an entire day to family time.  Your kids will love it (and they will hold you to the whole day, so be prepared)!

One of our favorite ways to spend quality time together is to go on family vacation. Family vacation creates fond memories that are unique to us, which is key in cultivating a family identity.

Are you concerned about finances?  Your family vacation need not be expensive nor extravagant to accomplish its purpose. In fact, you don’t even need to leave home to set aside a few days for family time!

If you haven’t already put some of these tips into practice, I hope you’ll do so soon!  Cultivating a family identity is just one of many valuable ways to strengthen your family bonds.

Come back next week for another installment in the month-long We Are Fa-mi-ly Series!

Join in me in scheduling some family fun?

Jen 🙂

Other posts in the We Are Fa-mi-ly Series:

We Are Fa-mi-ly: 4 Biblical Characteristics of Strong Families

Establishing a Foundation of Faith (We Are Fa-mi-ly Series)

 

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: #WeAreFamilySeries, Christian families, close family, family, family bonds, family identity, family ties, strong families

How Trusting Jesus Leads to Joy

January 15, 2016 by jstults Leave a Comment

Friends, I’m overjoyed to introduce you to my writer friend, Dawn Klinge, who blogs over at Above the Waves. Dawn has a new book that’s about to be released: Look To Jesus:  How to Let Go of Worry and Trust God (coming January 26th, 2016). Today she’s agreed to share some of what she has learned with us.

I’ve enjoyed and been encouraged by Dawn’s words countless times, so I’m sure this will be a treat for you all.  Please make Dawn feel welcome by leaving her some encouraging comments.

…………………………………………..

What is your definition of joy?  There’s one thing I know for sure; I want more of it.  My definition of joy?  That has been a bit harder for me to pin down.

 

The Bible has a lot to say about joy.  The more I study the Word, the more I realize that joy is different than happiness.  It’s a settled assurance, a quiet confidence, and a choice to trust God, no matter the circumstance.  (Romans 15:13)

How do you define joy?  Joy is mentioned often in the Bible, but not often in the context we might assume.  Learn how trusting Jesus leads to joy that's indescribable and unshakable!

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  “Putting on” a fruit of the Spirit, through our own efforts, was once described to me by a friend as being, “just as silly as gluing a piece of wax fruit to a tree and expecting it to taste just as good as the real thing”.  The production of fruit starts at the root.  The root of joy comes from trusting Jesus.

 

I was trying to put a definition on the word, joy.  Then I read this verse (emphasis added)…

 

First Peter 1:8-9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

 

Joy is inexpressible and filled with glory.  I take this to mean that joy is not something I’m going to be able to describe.  It’s indescribable.  Only those who trust in the Lord have this joy.  If I want more joy, I need to, above all, seek Jesus.  Joy will follow.   That’s a promise.

 

We can use words like confidence, assurance, and glorious to describe joy- but we need to know that those descriptions barely skim the surface.  Like a cold lake on a hot day, it’s best to jump in and experience it.

 

When we place our trust in Jesus, we will find joy.  We will also continue to experience sorrow as long as we are on this side of Heaven. The two are inseparable.  I love the way Kay Warren explains this in her book, Choose Joy:  Because Happiness Isn’t Enough.  She describes looking at train tracks into the brightness of the horizon,

 

“…the tracks become one. You can’t distinguish them as two separate tracks. That’s how it will be for us, too. One day, our parallel tracks of joy and sorrow will merge into one. The day we meet Jesus Christ in person and see the brightness of who he is, it will all come together for us. Then it will all make complete sense.”

 

I want joy, and I have found it, in following Jesus.  When we say we want more joy, we can remember that He is where it’s found.

 

Jesus, we want more of you.

 

Dawn Klinge Above the Waves  Dawn Klinge is the author of Look To Jesus:  How to Let Go of Worry and Trust God (coming January 26th, 2016).  She writes about Christian faith regularly at Above the Waves, drawing on her experience as wife and mom to two.  She holds a degree in education from University of Idaho.  A pastor’s kid and a church girl her entire life, she’s still trying to figure out what it looks like to put her trust in Jesus.  Dawn and her husband, Derek, live near Seattle, Washington.  You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

 

Filed Under: Christianity Tagged With: Christian living, definition of joy, how to find joy, joy, trusting Jesus

Establishing a Foundation of Faith (We Are Fa-mi-ly Series)

January 11, 2016 by jstults Leave a Comment

Last week we began the We Are Fa-mi-ly series here at Being Confident of This, so be sure to stop by the first post in the series if you missed it!  Today we’ll be discussing how to establish a foundation of faith.

While it’s important to teach our children obedience and manners, how to play sports and succeed in school, the most important thing we can ever do for our children is to establish a foundation of faith.

If we think of a family as a home being built, then think of personal faith in God as the foundation of that home.  Parents who aren’t well-rooted in faith will struggle to pass on an understanding of the Word, as well as biblical family values.

4 Ways to Establish a Foundation of Faith

1. Talk openly about your faith, even when you struggle.

Certainly, we can’t and shouldn’t tell our children everything we go through in life.  Some things simply aren’t appropriate to share with them.  However, parents are often afraid to show any sort of weakness or doubt, especially when it comes to their personal faith.

The truth is, our kids already know that we aren’t perfect.  They can see it for themselves! Thus, a foundation of faith depends on parents who exhibit and encourage authentic faith…

I’m sharing the rest of this article over at my friend Rebekah’s blog, Sharing Redemption’s Stories.  She and I share a burden for struggling marriages and families, and we’ll be working together this year to bring you quality content related to living out the Christian Faith.  Once a month, she’ll be sharing here at Being Confident of This, and once a month, I’ll be sharing over at her place.

Read the rest by clicking the picture below!

Jen 🙂

While it's important to teach our children obedience and manners, how to play sports and succeed in school, the most important thing we can ever do for our children is to establish a foundation of faith.   4 Ways to Establish a Foundation of Faith

 

Sharing with: Tell It To Me Tuesdays

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Christian families, family, family bonds, foundation of faith, how to have a strong family, legac, purposeful parenting, We Are Fa-mi-ly Series

We Are Family: Building a Strong Family Unit

January 6, 2016 by jstults 3 Comments

Most people I know would love to be part of a strong family unit, one that stays together and loves each other no matter what life brings, a family in which each member feels loved and valued.

But building that kind of family dynamic doesn’t always come easy.

As a family in ministry, we’ve been exposed to a variety of family dynamics over the years.  Some families are very good at building bonds that keep them together while other families barely remain intact, and still others struggle with dysfunction for generations.

No one sets out to raise an unhealthy and unhappy child or family, but many do so by default.  

So what makes the difference between families that thrive and those that fail?

Why do some families seem more close-knit than others?

What can we do to keep our family strong?

Why are some families so much more close-knit than others? What makes a strong family?  Join us for this series on strengthening family ties - We Are Family at Being Confident of This

We’ll be exploring these questions and answers over the next few weeks here at Being Confident of This in a series called We Are Fa-mi-ly. Topics will range from building a family identity to keeping teens in the family, and more.

Follow along as we discuss God’s marvelous gift of family!

Characteristics of a Strong Family

If we want a family that thrives, we’d do well to examine the characteristics of a strong family.  So earlier this week, I asked our four children (ages 6 to 15) what makes a good family.

Here are their responses:

  • belief in God (several mentioned this)
  • hugs and affection
  • enjoying time together
  • doing things together (several mentioned this)
  • helping each other
  • sharing with each other
  • loving each other (several mentioned this)
  • trust and honesty
  • talking to each other

Then I asked them (and my husband) what we could do to improve our family, and they answered:

  • more family time, especially game night (that’s their fav!)
  • consistent family devotions
  • share more responsibility for our home
  • complain less
  • use kind speech with siblings

I think their answers give a pretty accurate picture of our family.  We really do have fun together, and faith in Jesus Christ is very important to us. But we certainly aren’t without flaws. 🙂

If you want to know how to improve your family, consider asking your spouse and children what the family does well and what you could be doing better?

An even better source to consider is God’s Word.

Strong families don't happen by accident. Building a strong family requires a biblical foundation followed up with practical habits that build family ties.  Does your family have these 4 biblical characteristics? Follow along in the We Are Fa-mi-ly series at Being Confident of This

4 Biblical Characteristics of a Strong Family

From the beginning of mankind, God intended to use the family unit in a special way. So, one of His first commands to Adam and Eve was “be frutiful and multiply.” (Gen. 1:28)

We can see that families have had a special place in God’s heart from the very beginning!

1. A strong family begins with a healthy, God-centered marriage.

In Ephesians (5:25), we see that the relationship between a husband and wife reflects the very nature of God’s love for and pursuit of His people.  Children learn much about both human love and God’s love from the relationship they witness between their parents.

2. A strong family maintains a proper relationship between parent and child.

One of the ten commandments speaks to this very relationship:

“Honor your father and mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” Ex. 20:12 (NASB)

In a healthy family unit, parents love their children and because they love them, they discipline and instruct them.

Both the marriage relationship and the parent-child relationship serve to help children understand aspects of God’s character: Christ as the bridegroom and God as our Heavenly Father.

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called the children of God…” 1 Jn. 3:1a (NASB)

When either one of these key relationships is damaged, a child’s understanding of God’s character easily becomes skewed. 

This is why building a strong family is paramount in today’s society.  The more dysfunctional family units grow, the less society understands God’s true character!

3. A strong family teaches future generations about the history of God’s relationship with His people.

Even more, a healthy family will pass down the record of how God has worked in their own family, too!

“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and grandsons.” Deut. 4:9 (NASB)

4. A strong family puts on love.

The best families are those that just ooze with love and make the rest of us jealous, right? 🙂  However, as flawed humans, we are not capable of loving one another perfectly all of the time.

We all have those tense moments when feelings trump truth or miscommunication leads to unnecessary wounds, but a strong family learns to work through those tough times. A strong family learns to embrace the work-in-progress of loving and forgiving one another.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Eph. 4:32 (NASB)

We could probably list several more characteristics of strong families, but these four are foundational.

I’m willing to bet most parents desire to leave a legacy of strong family bonds for future generations, but a quick look at the world around us demonstrates that such a legacy does not happen by chance.

As mom to a soon-to-be sixteen-year-old, I recognize that the time is all too short. These formative years fly by more and more quickly, and if we’re not careful, we’ll miss out on important opportunities.

We must be intentional in building family bonds that last!

Join us here for the next installment in the We Are Fa-mi-ly series for some practical ways to strengthen your family.

Until then, put on love!

Jen 🙂

Sharing this post with: Grace and Truth, Tell It To Me Tuesdays

 

 

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Christian living, family, family bonds, family dynamics, family ties, how to have a good family, strong family

5 Methods for Setting Goals Rooted in Faith

December 31, 2015 by jstults 7 Comments

Perhaps you found your way here after evaluating last year’s successes and failures. Perhaps setting goals is new to you, and you’d like a little help. Or perhaps, like me, you hesitate to set real goals in the first place because you’re desperate to avoid any kind of failure.

If you consistently make and break New Year’s resolutions, or if you often find your enthusiasm waning halfway through the year, then these methods for setting goals will help!

5 Methods for Setting Goals

1. Before you make an attempt at setting goals, spend time in prayer.

First, if you have an area of your life that needs improvement, God is probably already nudging you.  The best goals are those the Father wills for us, and to remain aligned with His will requires a little soul-searching and time spent praying. If you already have some ideas about goals you should set, ask Him for confirmation!

Second, after you finish setting goals, continue to pray over your God-dependent efforts.

For example, when working on getting healthier last year, I often asked the Lord for strong lungs and strong knees so that I could continue working out.  I asked Him to give me the desire to eat right and the desire to exercise. I even asked Him for strength to continue in the middle of some of those workouts.

When I quit praying for those things for a time, I struggled and wasted several months going nowhere.

Because New Year's is right around the corner and resolutions so often fail to stick. Why not try a biblical approach to setting goals instead? These 5 methods will set you on the path to success that lasts!

 

2. Support your goals with scripture memorization.

Often the Holy Spirit reminds me of verses I have memorized at key moments, such as when I’m tempted, struggling to trust, or avoiding obedience.  He even brings to mind verses to encourage me in my efforts.

The more we memorize, the more weapons in our arsenal!

When working on a goal pertaining to a weakness in your life or a desire to achieve something new, find and memorize a few key verses to motivate and encourage you.

And on the heels of scripture memorization…

3. Expect and prepare for opposition.

I’ve mentioned before that as soon as we aim to make positive changes  in our lives, Satan is sure to try us.  When we finish setting goals, we instantly become walking targets!  Doubt easily sets in when we fail to prepare for spiritual warfare.

Even friends or family may unintentionally discourage us because they fail to understand our goals, or perhaps they just don’t agree with them!  Either way, if we expect and prepare for rough seas at first, we won’t be easily deterred when storms blow our way.

4. Start with small steps.

Change isn’t easy, especially if you are trying to undo a life-long habit! Even if you’re simply adding a new habit, real change takes weeks – some experts advise 30-40 days or longer.

Don’t be ashamed of your baby steps!

Use the small start to build to bigger changes.

Starting small after setting goals allows you to focus on one thing at a time so that you don’t feel overwhelmed. For example, if your goal is to eat healthier, start by exchanging an unhealthy afternoon snack for a serving of vegetables.  Once you’ve mastered that step you can move on to a bigger step.

The verse below comes from the days of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. God’s faithful were few in number and faced discouragement at every turn. Theses were His words:

 “Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying,  “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. For who has despised the day of small things?” (Zech. 4:8-10a, NASB, emphasis mine)

Don’t despise the day of small things. Instead, celebrate every small victory!

What direction does God have for you this year? How can you make sure your goal-setting process is rooted in faith rather than in worldly wisdom? #goals #goalsetting #faith #christianwomen Being Confident of This | tips for goal-setting | how to set goals for Christians | Christian resource | grace goals | godly goals | New Year | resolutions | practical tips | praying for God's direction | work in progress women

 

5. Break loose from perfectionism by embracing grace.

I’ve written before about disliking the process of setting goals (and being afraid to get too specific) because I’m afraid to fail. I hate failing! As a perfectionist, I must recognize how this all or nothing mindset limits me.

The only way to break loose from perfectionism’s chains is to view myself as a work-in-progress woman.

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6, NASB)

Rather than avoiding the process of setting goals altogether, I purpose to show myself grace!

I know some current goals are going to be long hauls, especially this weight loss journey.  Whereas a setback might have caused me to give up for good previously, with grace in mind I can see the work in progress rather than individual or isolated failures.

* This post makes use of affiliate links. Jen is an affiliate for Grace Goals and will receive compensation for any purchase made through the affiliate links on this blog at no additional cost to you.  Thank you for supporting the ministry of Being Confident of This!

My favorite tool for grace-filled goal-setting:

Do you really want lasting, godly change?

If so, I highly recommend  Grace Goals, a new scripture-based goal-setting workshop developed by my friend Arabah Joy (this is my affiliate link).

Grace Goals contains 5 Workshops to help you identify your greatest desires and develop a plan for pursuing them. Grace Goals also targets the tools you need to succeed and (the most important part, in my opinion) helps you understand how faith plays the greatest role in achieving real change!

If you want God's blessing on your goals this year, then you must begin by asking for His direction! Let Grace Goals lead you through practical steps for discovering your godly desires and planning achievable steps to get there!  #gracegoals #goalsetting #faith #planning Being Confident of This | godly goals | God's will for me | discerning God's direction for your life | Christian women | Christian goals | goal-setting tips | how to set smart goals

Here’s what Grace Goals 2019 includes:

  • year end review sheets
  • spiritual growth inventory sheets
  • practical goal planner pages that will help you break your goal into smaller, less intimidating steps
  • printable pages to help organize your thought
  • The Grace Goals Workshops workbook – my FAVORITE part and what sets this apart from other goal-setting planners (think Bible study combined with practical tips)

Why Grace Goals?

Because as a pastor’s wife and woman of faith, I appreciate the fact that Arabah Joy takes a biblical approach to goal-setting rather than a worldly approach. In fact, in the very first workshop, Arabah Joy recognizes that no goal is worth pursuing if it hasn’t come from God.

If you’re looking for validation for goals and dreams you have already decided for yourself, then this probably isn’t for you.

On the other hand, if you genuinely want to know what the Lord wants you to focus on and the dreams and desires that come from Him (as scary as that can be sometimes), then you will find Grace Goals very helpful!

In fact, the first time I started Grace Goals, I quit.

It challenged me in unexpected ways, so I tucked tail and ran away scared.

But after falling under conviction, I picked Grace Goals back up, and I’m so thankful. Last year I used Grace Goals and the planning sheets to write and teach a Bible study on discipleship for some of the women in our church, several of whom are now discipling others. To God be the glory!

I used Grace Goals again earlier this year to pray over, plan out, and publish a new devotional I believed God had laid on my heart, Being Confident of This.

As challenging as it may be, I look forward to discovering what God has next for the coming year! 🙂

 

LIMITED TIME OFFER

This year Arabah Joy is offering 2 of her own bonuses – a spiritual growth plan workshop, as well as a spiritual disciplines and growth binder!

These are limited offers, so be sure to check and see when they expire.

In addition, anyone who purchases through my affiliate links is eligible for a limited time BONUS from me, too – a Work-in-Progress Toolkit. It’s perfect for those of us who struggle with perfectionism, and is designed to be a companion to Grace Goals – to encourage you along the way by addressing obstacles I’ve encountered when attempting to set godly goals.

 

Learn how a work-in-progress mindset can make the difference between your failure and success! #goals #faith #christianwomen #discipleship Being Confident of This | toolkit | perfectionism | goal setting | printables | weekly encouragement | victory | overcome | making progress | change | habits | growth

 

I know from experience that setting goals can easily be seen as a set-up for failure, so I want to help you learn how having a work-in-progress mindset creates a set-up for success instead!

The Work-in-Progress Toolkit Includes:

  • a beautiful truth-journaling worksheet that can be printed as many times as you want
  • high quality 8×10 scripture prints for you to hang around your home
  • a weekly encouraging email that will help you focus on overcoming those fears and insecurities related to goal-setting

No need to fear the goal-setting process with this grace-filled encouragement in place to help you focus on truth.

To claim your BONUS from me, simply email me your receipt from this year by January 7th and you’ll start receiving your bonuses each week for a month! 🙂

I hope you take advantage of this special offer, friends, because the content here is extraordinary!

Wishing you a fruitful New Year!

Jen 🙂

 

Filed Under: Christianity Tagged With: biblical goals, change, Christ-centered living, failed goals, failure, Goal-setting, Grace, habits, how to set goals, lasting change, New Year, New Year's resolutions, setting goals, success, work in progress

Merry Christmas and My Final Grace and Truth

December 25, 2015 by jstults Leave a Comment

Merry Christmas, friends!

As I mentioned last week, this will be my final week as a co-host for Grace and Truth, but I encourage you to link up in the New Year with one of the other co-hosts.

I’ll still be here blogging away and joining with you all in the link-up!

Thank you for your faithfulness,

Jen 🙂

Grace & Truth : A Weekly Christian Link Up

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

Meet Your Hosts

Satisfaction Through Christ
BLOG
| FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Arabah Joy
BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Being Confident of This
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Busy Being Blessed
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Sharing Redemption’s Stories
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Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

4.) All links are randomly sorted – feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

In order to be featured next week:

5.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.

6.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.  By linking up and leaving your email address, you also agree to receive e-mails relating to Grace and Truth.

Grab A Button

Grab button for Being Confident of This

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<a href=”http://beingconfidentofthis.com/category/grace-and-truth-link-up/
” rel=”nofollow”>
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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: #GraceTruth link-up, bloggers, Blogging, Christian bloggers, Christian living, Christian Women

For a Longing, Weary World

December 24, 2015 by jstults 13 Comments

Long lay the world, in sin and error pining…

Thus begins the second half of the first verse of my favorite Christmas Carol ever, “O Holy Night.”  What is it about Christmas that leads to pining or longing? You’ve felt it, haven’t you – that sense of waiting and yearning that seems to envelop us and fill the very air with electricity?

It’s what makes the world weary yet hopeful.

Those many years ago, the world waited for fulfillment of a two-thousand-year-old promise, a promise repeated throughout Old Testament prophecy over 300 times. The longing was thick in the air.

And while I know some of today’s nearly tangible anticipation stems from that longing for the day of Christ’s birth, I have to wonder, why is the world still weary?

Why do we still experience that sense of longing every Christmas?

Then last week I read in Romans chapter 8 these words:

19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope  21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. (emphasis mine – NASB)

Over two thousand years ago the world waited as Mary labored to bring forth the Son who would forever change history.  No longer would mankind be doomed to eternal separation from God, but through this tiny babe, we would be granted eternal life.

While Christ’s birth and eventual death on the cross began the process of freeing mankind from sin’s chains and molding us into new creatures, that process of sanctification is not yet complete!

Usually we think of Christmas a season of joy and peace, but we also often experience longing and weariness this time of year. Why is that? Although we celebrate, we still have reason to long and yearn for something better...  For a Longing, Weary World

As Paul wrote in this Romans passage, the world is still weary and “subjected to futility.”  All of creation “groans and suffers” under the curse of sin, longing for redemption.

We recognize the devastating effects of sin all around us:

  • personal failures
  • broken relationships
  • ruined families
  • financial struggles
  • poor health
  • children starving
  • women sold into slavery
  • whole tribes dying without hope
  • wars that never seem to end
  • death

The list could be a mile long.

Even though we rejoice in celebration of the Savior’s birth, there is some part of us that realizes we are not home yet.  Our world remains broken.  We remain broken, not yet perfect.

According to Paul, even the very creation itself, nature, longs anxiously for that day when Christ shall return to Earth again!

Only then will our longing find peace.

Only then will creation and our very bodies be fully redeemed. Only then will we experience the paradise God intended for us from the very beginning.

This is why we find ourselves longing during Christmas, friends.

We long for His return, and the celebration of His birth affords us a small glimpse of what peace on Earth could look like.  Christmas reminds us of the perpetual joy those who are in Christ shall some day experience.

We long with hope because we know He is coming again!

And the taste of freedom we experience through Christ now will be nothing compared to the final glory of being set free once and for all.  The joy we feel at Christmas is minuscule compared to the exuberance of seeing God face to face.

Can you imagine it, friends?

No more pain or suffering.

No more striving and yearning.

No more futility.

Only Love made complete!

Go ahead and long this Christmas season. It just means we know that something even better awaits.

We can celebrate the joy of Christmas with that slight tinge of sadness that tells us we are not home yet.

We have that hope of joy made complete because God kept His promise by sending Jesus to live among us and die for us.  We can trust that He will keep His promise; Christ shall return!

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21, NASB)

Wait eagerly for it!

Jen 🙂

 

Sharing with: Grace and Truth

 

 

 

Filed Under: Christianity Tagged With: broken world, Christmas, complete, freedom, joy, longing, waiting, weary world, yearning

An Important Announcement ~ Grace and Truth

December 18, 2015 by jstults 3 Comments

Hello, faithful readers and friends!  I realize that many of you are busy with holiday preparations this next week, but I wanted to take care of some important “business” with you all.

We will be hosting the Grace and Truth link-up next week even though it falls on a holiday (I’ll be scheduling mine ahead of time)!

Remember that the link-up is open all week long and  entries are shuffled randomly, so please don’t feel pressure to come and join us on Christmas day. However, we’d love to have you join in later in the week as you have time.

One other important note (in case some of you miss the Christmas link-up), after months of wrestling with the future of Being Confident of This and how Grace and Truth fits into that, I’ve decided to take a break from co-hosting the Grace and Truth link-up.  So, the December 25th link party will be my last as a co-host.

I encourage you to follow the other co-hosts! 🙂 Not only can you link up at one of their blogs in the New Year, you’ll benefit from their fantastic content as well.

Not to worry – I’ll still be here blogging as I have time, and still linking with all of you lovely bloggers at Grace and Truth. I value the relationships we’ve been building there.

One of my hopes in taking a step back is to free up more time to focus on writing new content, which you may have noticed has been scarce as of late. 😉

I have plenty of ideas and outlines rattling around in my head, lessons the Lord has been teaching me, but now that I’m working part-time outside of the home finding time to blog is even more of a challenge.  I know many of you are in the same shoes! I greatly appreciate your faithfulness to Being Confident of This and your constant encouragement – it helps to keep me writing.

May God’s presence be evident to you this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas,

Jen 🙂

 

Thanks for linking up with us last week. If you were featured, feel free to grab a featured button below!

Grab button for Being Confident of This

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<a href=”http://beingconfidentofthis.com/category/grace-and-truth-link-up/
” rel=”nofollow”>
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Grace & Truth : A Weekly Christian Link Up

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

Meet Your Hosts

Satisfaction Through Christ
BLOG
| FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Arabah Joy
BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Being Confident of This
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Busy Being Blessed
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Sharing Redemption’s Stories
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

4.) All links are randomly sorted – feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

In order to be featured next week:

5.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.

6.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.  By linking up and leaving your email address, you also agree to receive e-mails relating to Grace and Truth.

Grab A Button

Grab button for Being Confident of This

<div class=“Being-Confident-of-This-Button” style=”width: 125px; margin: 0 auto;”>
<a href=”http://beingconfidentofthis.com/category/grace-and-truth-link-up/
” rel=”nofollow”>
<img src=”http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r536/Kitzers3/GraceampTruth-125x125_zpsekotjchq.jpg
” alt=“Being Confident of This” width=“125″ height=”125″ />
</a>
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[inlinkz_linkup id=577716 mode=1]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: #GraceTruth link-up, Blogging, Christian bloggers, Christian living, Women of Faith

Beholding Christ ~ Grace and Truth

December 11, 2015 by jstults 2 Comments

Lately I’ve been reading in Romans about how creation groans in anticipation of Christ’s second coming, how we who are in Christ also anticipate this glorious event also – the redemption of our earthly bodies.

It was the same for those who waited thousands of years ago for the Messiah. Little did they know he would arrive as a mere Babe.

Yet they waited then…and we wait now. We count down the days until Christmas, some of us for presents and celebrations, but for some of us so much more than that.  We wait for the day that we celebrate His birth, the arrival of a thousands year old Promise, the arrival of our Peace.

It’s as if the coming joy is nearly tangible in the air. Can you feel it? Or am I just crazy? 🙂

As we wait expectantly, Betsy reminds us to “behold Jesus,” to expect Him, to listen carefully for the Father’s voice.  Otherwise we might miss the message!

As you make your Christmas preparations in the coming weeks,

Leave room for Christ.

Jen 🙂

 

Thanks for linking up with us last week. If you were featured, feel free to grab a featured button below!

Grab button for Being Confident of This

<div class=“Being-Confident-of-This Button” style=”width: 150px; margin: 0 auto;”>
<a href=”http://beingconfidentofthis.com/category/grace-and-truth-link-up/
” rel=”nofollow”>
<img src=”http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r536/Kitzers3/GraceampTruth-Featured_zpsvo3gvxsx.png
” alt=“Being Confident of This” width=”150″ height=”150″ />
</a>
</div>

Grace & Truth : A Weekly Christian Link Up

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

Meet Your Hosts

Satisfaction Through Christ
BLOG
| FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Arabah Joy
BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Being Confident of This
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Busy Being Blessed
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Sharing Redemption’s Stories
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

4.) All links are randomly sorted – feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

In order to be featured next week:

5.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.

6.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.  By linking up and leaving your email address, you also agree to receive e-mails relating to Grace and Truth.

Grab A Button

Grab button for Being Confident of This

<div class=“Being-Confident-of-This-Button” style=”width: 125px; margin: 0 auto;”>
<a href=”http://beingconfidentofthis.com/category/grace-and-truth-link-up/
” rel=”nofollow”>
<img src=”http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r536/Kitzers3/GraceampTruth-125x125_zpsekotjchq.jpg
” alt=“Being Confident of This” width=“125″ height=”125″ />
</a>
</div>

[inlinkz_linkup id=577714 mode=1]

Filed Under: Grace and Truth Link-up Tagged With: #GraceTruth link-up, Behold, Christian bloggers, Christian living, Christmas

Grace and Truth Week 47

December 4, 2015 by jstults Leave a Comment

Faithful friends and readers, I apologize for getting the Grace and Truth Christian Living link-up here late!

Join us for excellent reading (so many to choose from) or to share your favorite recent post.

Meet you in the link-up!
Jen 🙂

 

Thanks for linking up with us last week. If you were featured, feel free to grab a featured button below!

Grab button for Being Confident of This

<div class=“Being-Confident-of-This Button” style=”width: 150px; margin: 0 auto;”>
<a href=”http://beingconfidentofthis.com/category/grace-and-truth-link-up/
” rel=”nofollow”>
<img src=”http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r536/Kitzers3/GraceampTruth-Featured_zpsvo3gvxsx.png
” alt=“Being Confident of This” width=”150″ height=”150″ />
</a>
</div>

Grace & Truth : A Weekly Christian Link Up

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

Meet Your Hosts

Satisfaction Through Christ
BLOG
| FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Arabah Joy
BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Being Confident of This
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Busy Being Blessed
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Sharing Redemption’s Stories
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

4.) All links are randomly sorted – feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

In order to be featured next week:

5.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.

6.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.  By linking up and leaving your email address, you also agree to receive e-mails relating to Grace and Truth.

Grab A Button

Grab button for Being Confident of This

<div class=“Being-Confident-of-This-Button” style=”width: 125px; margin: 0 auto;”>
<a href=”http://beingconfidentofthis.com/category/grace-and-truth-link-up/
” rel=”nofollow”>
<img src=”http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r536/Kitzers3/GraceampTruth-125x125_zpsekotjchq.jpg
” alt=“Being Confident of This” width=“125″ height=”125″ />
</a>
</div>

[inlinkz_linkup id=577713 mode=1]

Filed Under: Grace and Truth Link-up

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Hi, I'm Jen: a work in progress. I'm imperfect - a mom of four, pastor's wife, discipler, and sinner saved only by grace. I like to sing, read, write, teach, and smile. I have a heart for encouraging women everywhere to understand God's limitless love for them and what His grace means for everyday living. Welcome! :) Read More…

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jstults[at]beingconfidentofthis[dot]com

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New devotional release from Jen Stults - Being Confident of This: 30 Days to Discovering Your Identity in Christ. This book is for every Christian woman who wants to walk in confident faith instead of struggling with doubt, fear, and insecurity! self-esteem | self-confidence | self-help | motivational | personal growth | spiritual growth | how to be more confident | Christian women | devotional | Bible study | identity in Christ | superwoman myth | being like Mary

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