march meeting [Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World_month one]

The link to this month's meeting is now online!

This past month, we spent time in Luke 10:38-42:
     
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a   woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her. 

We can all relate to this passage whether it's busyness, frustration, or anxiety, so if you weren't able to make it or want a refresher, you can check out the notes online and take some time to reflect on those things in your own life and how we can combat those thoughts and actions.

We'll pick up next month (April 2) on topics from the next couple chapters, so we hope to see you there!   

february meeting [bringing our husbands good]

The notes for this past month's Wives' Discipleship meeting is now available online! (Click here.) 

If you were unable to make it, we encourage you to take some time and go through the material and reflect on your own life and marriage.  For those of you who were able to make it, here are some of the verses we discussed, so you can be reminded: 

We are image bearers.

Genesis 9:6
 ⁶ “Whoever sheds human blood,
   by humans shall their blood be shed;
   for in the image of God
   has God made mankind.

We are constantly being transformed.

Colossians 3:9-15
⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 

 ¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

 ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

We are to bring our husbands good.

Proverbs 31:12
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.

We are to be the helpmate God created us to be.

Genesis 2:18-24
 ¹⁸ The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

 ¹⁹ Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.

  

 But for Adam no suitable helper was found. ²¹ So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. ²² Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

 ²³ The man said,

   “This is now bone of my bones
   and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
   for she was taken out of man.”

 

 ²⁴ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Continue to think about things that are keeping you from being the helper God has intended you to be or things that may be getting in the way of bringing your husband good on a daily basis.  Like we talked about in group, ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify what's behind those issues and what specific things need to be transformed.

We love you all! 

upcoming event [game night!]

This month we're planning a special time to get together and have fun over games and dessert!  We hope you all can make it, and even if you don't feel like playing, still come and enjoy the company and desserts.  :)

Also, if you have any fun games to add or dessert you would like to bring, then please do!

To RSVP or get directions, please visit the event Web page you received in your e-mail today. If you didn't receive the e-mail then either comment below with your preferred e-mail address or let me know (jennygilbert1@gmail.com), and I'll sure you get the link.

It'll be a great time to spend together outside of our monthly meetings, so we look forward to seeing you there!

november happenings

November was such a busy month and we are so glad that so many of you got to make our November meeting and event.  We'd love to hear how the prayer journals are going or see the advent calendars in action, so feel free to comment or e-mail us as December progresses!

Also, don't forget to check the upcoming events page for details on our next event and remember that our next meeting will be December 4.  We hope you all can make it!

 

 

 

november meeting [praying for our husbands]

the link for last saturday's meeting is now online! (click here) if you were unable to make it, below is a visual tutorial for how to make your own journal using a composition notebook.

and of course you don't need to modge podge a notebook to begin a prayer journal! grab a journal you already have or head to the store and pick out one that you like or that reminds you of your husband. either way, we encourage you to spend some time talking with your husband about areas you can to pray for him and then put it into action.  the notes break it up into 30 topics of prayer, so it can be used as a monthly guide. the idea is that you can begin by praying for your husband in a different area everyday each month. but mainly, this is your journal to create as you feel led. so whether you write out specific prayers, bullet points, or jot down scriptures to pray over him, we encourage you to seize the opportunity we all have as intercessors for our husbands. have a great weekend! and we hope to see you all this sunday to make our advent calendars!

Keeping everything in check!

Hello everyone,

Since the holidays are right around the corner and things tend to get stressful and busy, I thought I'd share this link with you. Megan Kelly sent it to me and we thought this is great info to keep everything in check!! Enjoy!!

http://simplemom.net/less-stressful-holidays/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+simplemom+%28Simple+Mom%29

upcoming event [advent calendar]

Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 14! Our next event will be for Advent Conspiracy, where we will be creating a special advent calendar for our families at the home of Kenny and Megan Wall at 9:30 a.m. (email meganwwall@gmail.com for directions).


Not sure what an advent calendar is? You're not the only one. :) Basically, advent calendars are displayed in the home counting down the days leading up to Christmas (from Dec. 1 until Dec. 25).  Each day, there is a note, clue, verse, coupon, or whatever you like tucked away, so that on that day, the family or couple opens it together and acts on it.  Whether its watching a Christmas movie all together or surprising other families with anonymous gifts, the goal of worshiping fully, spending less, giving more, and loving all will play out in unique ways all around Baton Rouge.

The beauty behind the calendar is that it can be as detailed or as simple as you like.  We encourage you to keep your family in mind and create a calendar around those personalities, talents, and passions.

Before you come to create your calendar, we ask that you bring all the supplies you will need for your own individual calendar.

You will need:

• 25 activity ideas appropriate for the interests and the ages of your family members.
  
• 25 boxes, envelopes, socks, matchboxes, spools, packages, tins, or etc. to put them in.
  
• Materials needed for a calendar (which can be a anything!).

To help get you thinking, we've compiled a list of great examples from DIYers that have already paved the way of creativity in this department. There are so many simple and amazing tutorials out there, so click on the links below the pictures to see even more examples--have fun browsing!





fabric, paper, or already made tins and boxes ideas




paper-envelope advent calendar







spool advent calendar




another tin idea




cookie sheet calendar with magnets





muffin tin calendar with magnets




matchbox calendar

Also, here are some ideas we pulled from different sources for the 25 advent days to help brainstorm activities for each day:

[ Worship Fully ]

• Read verses about the Christmas story (Mark 1:1-8; Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 2:1-5; Isaiah 9:1-6)
  
• Get hot cocoa and go to a living nativity at a local church
  
• Make a Christmas craft
  
• Write down 10 ways you feel blessed and hang it where you will see everyday
  
• Celebrate Jesus’ birthday with family
  
• Sing Christmas Carols (if you have kids, have them call their grandparents and sing to them!)

[ Spend Less ]

• Decorate the tree and drink eggnog
  
• Go to hometown family Christmas Celebrations
  
• Watch a Christmas movie
  
• Family Game Night!
  
• Drive around and look at Christmas lights
  
• Have a picnic dinner in front of the Christmas tree
  
• Eat dessert before dinner!

[ Give More ]

• Prepare and mail a Christmas care package for soldiers
  
• Decorate gift wrap & wrap gifts
  
• Bake bread & deliver it to the neighbors
  
• Go to grandparents house for Christmas celebrations
  
• Bake/decorate cookies and deliver them to families from church
  
• Make Christmas gifts for extended family
  
• Put out a gift to your mail man or mail lady

[ Love All ]

• Surprise other families with anonymous gifts on their doorsteps
  
• Deliver gifts to the homeless
  
• Make homemade Christmas cards
  
• Go ice skating!
  
• Make a gingerbread house with friends
  
• Take homemade Christmas cards to a nursing home

We hope that everyone can come by even if its just for while! If you have any questions or you aren't sure what all you will need for a certain calendar, leave a comment below or e-mail Jenny Gilbert at jennygilbert1@gmail.com.