Creative Correction | Bible Study

Description of Content: 

Creative Correction The Bible Study: Extraordinary Ideas for Everyday Discipline - Leader Kit by Lisa Whelchel addresses a wide range of discipline issues and provides practical, biblical, (and at times, humorous) approaches! In this six-session, women's Bible study, Lisa uses hundreds of examples from her own experiences, and those of parents across the nation, in dealing with everyday discipline issues such as lying, laziness, tattling, selfishness, and disobedience. This group study is chock-full of refreshing, innovative ideas to help parents win the discipline battle by offering effective tools that can produce long-term results. Lisa's own parenting experiences, combined with insight and ideas from other parents, help teach moral values such as responsibility, self-control, and kindness.

The Leader Kit includes two DVDs and a Member Book. The seven DVD segments provide an introductory segment, plus six teaching segments led by Lisa Whelchel as she blends practical, biblical insight with humor in how to correct behavioral issues.

Details about the class: 

Who: Anyone can come to the study but the target audience is parents. I do expect more women than men to attend but this class is open to anyone that is interested.

What to bring: Covered dish, friend, bible, books and anything else that you might need.

When: Monday Nights, starting 6/23 at 6:30 pm. The study will start at 6:45. This will allow parents a few minutes to fix plates, socialize and get settled. 

Duration: There are 7 sessions. Class will be at least an hour but I might know the exact length until after the first study. I expect that it should end about 8:00.

Where: My House. My address will be provided to interested participants. (FYI, I do have cats and dogs if this is a concern for you.)

Books: Both Books are optional but they might make following along easier.

Member Book - 11.95 (Suggested. Most members will get this book.)
Companion Book 14.95 (Additional reading. Usually only a few people will get this book if they have time to read it.)

Dinner: Covered dish, please bring something.

Childcare: Mackenzie and Lavonya will be there to help with the kids. I'd like everyone to consider giving $5.00 to pay them for their assistance but only if you're able to. 

Total Cost: The only cost is the expense of the book(s). The recommended $5 per night for childcare and the expense to make dinner. Don't let cost stop you if you're unable to pay.

Interested?
Please click here to let me know that you are interested in the study. There are a few questions that I would like you to answer so that it will help me plan. By answering the questions, you are not committed to anything. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me 804-815-8076. Thanks again and have a great day!

Making It Special!

When I was a kid I used to spend all of my summers with my grandparents. My Dad was stationed in Virginia when I was young. All of our family, on both sides, was from and remained, in Florida. At the beginning of each summer I would go down to visit. My grandparents would take turns swapping me in a parking lot every weekend until summer's end. Then I would finally return home.

While each summer seemed magical in its own way; one particular summer stood out more than others. My grandfather's brother came down for a visit. I didn't know "Uncle Albert" or his wife, Lucienne very well but Uncle Albert had a camper and we all piled in to go for a ride. I didn't even know where we were going and at the time it didn't matter. I was able to ride on a mattress above the driver's seat and look out funny windows during the entire ride.  I never once had to buckle up! Uncle Albert suddenly became the coolest person that I had ever met! -At least in that moment. 

After a long drive, we pulled into the parking lot of Sea World. Being an animal lover, I loved it before we ever went through the gate but it would truly become one of the highlights of my childhood. We admired fish and bought trinkets at the gift shop. We ate food with funny names and watched as many of the shows as we could fit in. My favorite part was the seal show. Not only for their cuteness and silly stunts but there was a significance to this show that would soon make it hard to beat. 

Toward the close of the show a seal broke out of routine, swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out. He headed straight for the audience and went up the first tier of stairs and then the second. The instructor was calling his name to return to the pool. The crowed studied the stray as he ignored each request and continued to climb higher and higher.

In my mind, I am thinking "Oh please come to me. Come to me!" I am sure that I am bent down, holding my hands out and calling his name, just as earnestly as his instructor was calling. As the seal climbed the third tier of steps, he answered my plea. He came right to me and planted a big fishy kiss on my lips.

The crowd awed and I melted.  Though it was only a moment, time paused and I was in love. I patted his wet body and tickled his whiskers and begged for another smooch. As quickly as he came, even faster he went, as he slid down the stairs back to the pool; as if to slip in line and say "Hey master, here I am. See, I never left." I was certain that he sought me out of the crowd and I was sold. I felt special.

OF COURSE seals became my favorite animal. This was the.best.vacation.ever. At any opportunity I was ready to return to an aquarium, secretly hoping for another moment just like "the one" to take shape again. Years later, I still think of that day and smile. 

Psalm 119:64 says "The earth is full of Your loving kindness, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes."

As I reflect on that verse, it holds so many nuggets for me alongside such a simple story. The promise of each day. The beauty of life and all of God's creatures. The way that we bond with time and others through different experiences.

I also think of the way that we treasure only some of our moments. Sometimes we spend so much energy trying to recreate something that we've already gotten to experience. We leave no resource available to the "new". In our efforts of trying to get to the 'one spot' again, we wear out the very thing that used to thrill us. Yet what if I had another "grand experience" before this moment and I missed this one altogether because it couldn't possibly compare to one before it?

On a sadder note, how many of our more painful moments are held onto with such regard?  ...The one big sin, the one big loss, the one time that the 'one thing' happened. By holding onto those experiences, we also allow ourselves to feel special. In doing so, we isolate ourselves to our own interests, away from God and others.

Throughout the bible, scripture asks us to be the salt and to win others over. Rather than looking for moments that make us feel special, Philippians 2 asks us to shine like the stars instead. -Burning for God in such a way that we simply shine within each moment. I just can't imagine anything more special than "shining".

As I challenge myself to draw closer to God, I can't help but ask myself- Do I wake up seeking him just as earnestly as other moments because time with him is my favorite time of all? Am I open to each gift that he sets before me, no matter how it's packaged? Do I see the journey there as a gift within itself? Am I so excited about where I am that I can't help but embrace anyone that is near me? Is this the.best.opportunity.ever? 

Some of those questions strike me. Convict me. Thankfully we aren't paused in time. Once God created us, we became a living soul. We are free to move forward and well, live. But for which experiences are we living for?

Paul considered everything a loss when compared to the greatness of knowing Christ. I too have found that every moment that I am in tune with the Holy Spirit, is equally meaningful. When I combine that fact with knowing that he is always with me. I can add him to every moment of every day. Then any opportunity can be a moment that is hope-filled and joyful.

Theodore Roosevelt said that "comparison is the thief of joy". Finding joy is not about picking, choosing and waiting only for the right experiences to embrace. It's remembering what to bring into (God) and give of (Self) in each circumstance that makes the difference.

Psalm 118:24 - This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Obviously the picture above isn't me but it IS terribly cute, isn't it? For continued reading check out the book of Philippians. It's only 4 chapters. Try spreading it out over the week and meditating on it. Journal some of those special thoughts and pray about what they might mean to you.

Self-image/Self-esteem | Notes (week 11)

Note to Readers:

This post is a list of notes in direct response to homework from a Bible Study called Conquerors. Because of that, it may be a little hard to follow if you weren’t in the class. Week 11 covers the subject to of self-image and self-esteem. I have posted the notes here for several reasons. 

• The first is that it is easier to share in this format. 
• Second, I think that I will reference it (and make changes to it) many more times in my future.
• Third, I think that someone else could find something useful in it. 
• Fourth, I started this blog last year. It was truly the beginning of me digging into myself and my faith. I took a lot of steps in previous years that helped me build up to it. However, throughout these notes, I will have many references to this blog where I feel like God was dealing with me about this subject LAST YEAR.  Because there were so many references, it also seemed to me, like these notes belonged with all of the other posts.

I too, struggle with my own self-image. While I have started accepting and forgiving myself; I still tell myself that I am not qualified or that I don’t have enough experience to help others. This list of notes is long but I DO have experience here. I pray that the following is received more as a testimony instead of a list of rules or a list of “do as I do”.  Like you, I am still a work in progress

The changes to my self-image and self-esteem have been bi-products of the changes that I have made in my relationship with God. He has given me the confidence, strength and trust to take responsibility for myself and my actions.

Click here to view the notes.