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[Prayer Cafe]: May 4, 2017 – Romans 12:1-2

"Offering a Sacrifice"

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The Old Testament is full of stories and guidelines for offering sacrifices to God.

People took things that were very valuable to them, and gave them up as a way to show their commitment to God.

What is something very valuable to you? For many of us, it’s time.

Do we give God our freshest time? Our most alert moments? Or do we use that time to achieve our own goals and desires? Are we giving our ‘throw aways’ to God?

In this week’s Prayer Cafe, Alecia Baptist takes a verse from so long ago, and reminds us how it translates and guides our lives today.

Listen to the Prayer Cafe recording here.

Join the Facebook Group to stay informed of upcoming Prayer Cafe calls!

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[Author Interview] Meet Christian Mompreneur Lori Wildenberg

Author of Messy Journey

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If you’ve ever worried about or lived through the “prodigal child” scenario, you’ll appreciate the honesty and practical wisdom in this new book by Christian mompreneur Lori Wildenberg. I have the honor of serving as a Mom Mentor with Lori in a group she manages for Moms Together. She creates a space for encouraging, equipping and empowering moms in their faith and motherhood. In her latest book, she shares her Messy Journey as the mother of a “prodigal child.” 

Q. What inspired you to write Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home?

A. Life doesn’t always go the way we expect. As parents, we can do everything “right” and still have a child who veers off the expected path. With my daughter’s permission and input, I share our journey— the struggles a prodigal child brings and how to live life in the middle of the mess.

Q. How would you describe this book to someone in a 30 second blurb?

A. Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home is for parents walking the difficult road with a wayward child. This book is filled with stories from dozens of Christian parents and some prodigals. It includes my personal journey with my same-sex attracted daughter. The book is vulnerable and honest. No matter why a parent has a prodigal (or if you love someone who does) this book will bring comfort, help, and encouragement.  Practical grace- and truth-filled ways of navigating a relationship with a detoured child who is rejecting faith, dabbling in sin, or wholeheartedly embracing sinful behavior are given. There is hope.

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Keep It Moving, Mompreneur!

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Now that we’re a few months into the new year, I often like to think back on my goals and see if I’ve made progress.  Some years, looking back felt painful as I discovered I hadn’t traveled far in my entrepreneurial journey.  Other years and months, I rejoiced at having journeyed a foot or a mile down the road toward the end result: my final goals. 

How are you feeling about your progress so far? 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when contemplating your progress.

Keep moving forward.

Whether you look back and see much of your goals accomplished, or you find you haven’t gone as far as you would like, remember to keep moving forward. 

Luke 9:62 tells us: “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”  A forward-thinking mindset is the only way to succeed in business and in life. 

Whether you’ve achieved your goals these past few months or not, you have so much more ground to cover, so keep it moving!  You can do this.

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[Prayer Cafe]: April 19, 2017 – Romans 8:18-27

"How to Have Hope"

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It is so easy for our children to have hope. In fact, their entire day is filled with hopes. They hope to have pizza for dinner, for dessert, for a new toy, for staying up past bedtime, etc.

Sometimes, these things are just wishful thinking, and sometimes their hopes come to fruition.

Do you find it as easy to have hope as an adult? In this week’s Prayer Cafe, Alecia Baptiste reminds us that hope is God is not wishful thinking. Our hope in God can be solid based on His promises!

Listen to the Prayer Cafe recording here.

Prayer Cafe is open (almost!) every Wednesday at noon Eastern. 

Join the Facebook Group to stay informed of upcoming Prayer Cafe calls!

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7 Unlikely Opportunities to Pray for Your Family

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I have a friend who prays constantly. The way the Bible says we should pray – without ceasing. She has conversations with God all day long – quick little cries for help or spontaneous moments of praise. This is the kind of prayer life I strive for, but to be perfectly honest, my prayers are often limited to morning, meals and night. Oh, and times of crisis. But not the mundane moments of daily life.

So, I asked her how she does it. How does she think to talk to God in the midst of her busy day? She’s a single, working mom of six kids – so if she can do it, then certainly I can, too. She told me that it comes naturally to her now, but that she sometimes uses triggers to remind her to pray. Like the way I offer up a prayer every time I see an ambulance or hear a siren. Only the triggers are more personal…more frequent…more specific.

As I contemplated my plan for praying continuously, I identified several routine triggers that I can use to remind me to pray for my family. Times throughout my daily schedule when I can naturally stop and have a quick conversation with my Creator. Here they are:

7 Unlikely Opportunities to Pray for Your Family

  1. Laundry time. As you fold laundry or iron, pray for the person who wears each item of clothing. Ask the Lord to clothe your child with strength and dignity [Proverbs 31:25] and dress him in the armor of God, standing firm in truth, righteousness, peace, faith and the Holy Spirit. [Ephesians 6:10-18]
  2. Meal prep. Say a quick prayer for each child, when you are packing lunches, making dinner or setting the table. Pray that God sustains your child with living water and provides spiritual nourishment through His word. [John 7:37]
  1. Appointment time. Every time you make an appointment for a family member to visit the dentist, doctor or hair stylist, say a prayer for the person you are scheduling. Ask the Lord to keep your child free from illness and that he protect them from harm. [Psalm 41:2-3]
  1. Carpool line. Instead of talking on the phone or listening to a podcast, pray for the child you are picking up while you are waiting in line. Take the moment to be still and know that God is with you and with your child. [Psalm 46:10]

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[Prayer Cafe]: March 27, 2017 – Galatians 6:2

"Carry each other’s burdens"

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Over the past several months, I’ve gotten to know the ladies at my MOPS table. I know about their kids sleep schedules, whose husbands travel for work, their pre-mom lives, etc. But it’s all surface level.

So at the last meeting, 4 women got up and told their truths. They spoke openly about their struggles with postpartum depression, abuse, and post traumatic stress disorder after nearly losing a child. They told their stories so that we would have courage to open up about our own struggles. Then we prayed for each other, and have continued to do so in the days following that meeting.

 The keynote speaker said that no one wants to be friends with the perfect mom who has it all together, because we feel shame about ourselves. So then she asked, if we know WE don’t want to be friends with that person, why do we pretend to be that person?

 

In this week’s Prayer Cafe, Alecia Baptiste reminds us that we can help bear each other’s burdens, just like I’m praying for specific women in my MOPS group now that I know their stories. But we can’t do that if we don’t open up and tell our truths.

Listen to the Prayer Cafe recording here.

Prayer Cafe is open (almost!) every Wednesday at noon Eastern. 

Join the Facebook Group to stay informed of upcoming Prayer Cafe calls!

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Meet Featured Sister Amy Walton

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Sometimes you meet people and you just feel a connection to them. A sense of familiarity or comfort. That’s how I felt when I first met Amy Walton through our work on the board for Girls on the Run. She’s a dynamo when it comes to development and has a heart for serving the girls and our community. 

It was a few months after meeting Amy that I had the opportunity to really get to know her over a cup of tea and learn about her work coaching women. Amy is a true blessing to the ladies she works with, helping them make time for themselves, trust in God and improve their relationships.  

I would describe Amy as compassionate, resilient, personable and incredibly smart! Her life story is one that will inspire and amaze you – no matter where you are on your journey. I’m honored to share it with you here. 

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Putting Family First Doesn’t Look The Same for Everyone

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I think most moms have a deep desire to put their family first. Even the ones who appear to be placing their careers or their hobbies in front of their children. Even the ones who rely on nannies or relatives to take care of their babies. Even the ones who are too tired at the end of the day to tuck their little ones in with a kiss and a prayer. (I have been this mom – the one who does all of these things – at one time or another. Yet, I truly intend to put my family first.)

We judge each other – and ourselves – on the things we see. But we don’t see the conditions of another mom’s heart. We don’t know if she’s putting her family first in a different way. If she’s setting an example for her children that all things are possible. If she’s pouring out her love for them by providing for them. If she’s showing them how important it is to use the gifts God gave her to serve others.

Putting your family first isn’t easy. And it doesn’t look the same for everyone.

It sometimes looks like you don’t care… I’m one of those moms who has no idea what her children are learning in school on any given day. My refusal to micromanage my children’s homework starting in the first grade was not received well by teachers who were probably hoping for parents who were more engaged in their child’s education. But I recognized then that I had precious few hours to spend with my child and I wanted to spend them doing other things – I wanted to help build character rather than teach math. I’m forever grateful for the wonderful teachers who so excellently manage my children’s education so that I can focus on my priorities. I do care. Just in a different way.

It sometimes looks like you can’t stick with a commitment… I’ve been known to let my child skip soccer practice so that we can enjoy a family dinner. I’m sure the soccer coach and other team members view that as a lack of commitment. But I view it as a commitment to family time. And my children are learning to honor commitments. It just may not look that way to others.

It sometimes looks like you have no ambition… When others around me are climbing the corporate ladder, getting promotions, being relocated for new opportunities and pursuing multiple post graduate degrees, I often think my career pales in comparison. But then, I remember why I treasure my home-based business as a freelance writer, marketing consultant and leader of the International Christian Mompreneur Network. It’s because I’m putting my family first. I actually think it takes a lot of ambition to achieve that goal.

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[Prayer Cafe]: March 8, 2017 – Luke 10:38-42

Mary & Martha

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It was my son’s birthday party and I was stressed out. I was running in and out of the house bringing out food, drinks, cake, plates, etc. Meanwhile, my husband was standing around talking to the guests and enjoying the party. Needless to say, I was pretty irritated at him and I’m sure I made some rude comments about how I was missing the whole party.

So when I think about the story of Mary and Martha, I can understand how Martha felt! And just like Martha did, I had lost sight of what was important that day.

In this week’s Prayer Cafe, Alecia Baptiste reminds us that when we truly get to know Jesus, our work will take on a new meaning.

Listen to the Prayer Cafe recording here.

Prayer Cafe is open (almost!) every Wednesday at noon Eastern. 

Join the Facebook Group to stay informed of upcoming Prayer Cafe calls!

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Why It’s Important to be Passionate About Your Business

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Over the years I’ve had women ask me why I do what I do.  What makes me get up every morning to fix a cup of tea and head into my office, start my computer, and get to work for yet another client?  Why would I want to work from home?  Why would I maneuver my life events, my kids’ activities, and my own leisure around fulfilling the needs of other business women?

It’s true that being my own boss takes sacrifice and commitment.  But the other side of the picture shows that it’s because I enjoy what I do that it’s all worth it.  I love helping moms in business to realize their business dreams with a newly designed blog, or inspire them to keep blogging, keep motivated, keep putting out products and keep doing what they do.

If there’s anything I’ve learned for certain over the past ten years, it’s that if you want to have a successful business, you must first and foremost find that love spark that got you started in business to begin with, and rekindle your passion!

PASSION fuels you.

Without business passion, it’s quite difficult to keep your business going.  You’ll find yourself dragging your feet on assignments, and not pushing yourself to get things done.  As your fire dwindles so does your business.

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