A Battle for Influence--Who Will Win?

Think for a minute.  What is your scope of influence?  Who do you rub shoulders with, spend your time with, have the ability to encourage and bring truth? 

 

It may be your immediate family and the checker at the grocery store.  It may be your classmates.  It may be a whole youth group or even a church body.  Maybe it’s the people at your office or the crew you work with.

 

Whatever your surroundings may be on a daily or regular basis, this is the group of people God has placed in your life for the purpose of change.  Change for the better.  Heart changes to affect eternity.

 

What better place for satan to bring defeat into our lives than with the very strengths we may have to influence those around us? He will bring the greatest force of his attacks to tear us down and ultimately to cause our influence to be weakened.  His final victory would be for us to be so overcome with sin or discouragement that our influence would even be completely gone.  He’ll take our greatest strengths and bring lie after lie, wearing us down to believe it.

 

You know the pastor that fell because his love and care for his church was turned into love and care for another woman.

You’ve seen the gifted musician that is so insecure that he can’t break through into the freedom of worship.

You’ve seen the moms that so love that new infant and then are so overwhelmed with frustration as they grow up there may eventually be broken relationship with that child.

You’ve seen dads that totally give up their responsibility.

You’ve seen or experienced sibling rivalry that disintegrates into hatred.

 

What is your greatest strength? Your greatest area of influence?   Do you recognize how badly satan wants to remove you from that place?  How he will use your very strengths to bring defeat into your life?  How it can begin with you believing even some very small lies?

 

I feel so strongly about this, I challenge you to be aware of this conflict.  It’s a battle we don’t have to lose.

 

Are you struggling with this right now?  Don’t try to make it alone. E-mail me, or find someone that will agree to pray with you and hold you accountable to your calling. 

 

Will we believe the lies or stand in His truth?  It’s a daily choice.

 

 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.  I Pet. 5:8-9

 

 

 

Robin

A Long Prayer

Celebrating the Labor Day weekend the ManyMeadows-plus gathered around the table full of steaming barbecue ready to bless the food and dig in.

 

Sadie (2 years) decides she would like to say the prayer. So, with bowed heads and maybe one eye open she starts mumbling words barely audible to the rest of us. I made a mental note in my head:  pray louder around little ones so that they actually know we talk to God and not just mumble a few words and then start to eat!

 

And deciding that sister’s prayer was not enough, Lily (3 years) starts praying over the food. Hands folded and eyes tightly shut she starts reciting the prayer like she does at home,

 

 

“Jesus, thank you for today, help tomorrow be a good day, thank you for our hearts, thank you for mommy and daddy and sister. . . “

 

she pauses not quite sure what to say next but with a little help from Grandpa pointing at himself and whispering, “Grandpa, Grandpa” she continues.

 

“Thank you for Grandpa, and Mimi, and Abbi and Do-do.”(the cousins’ name for Andrew).   Long sigh. . .

 

“And Kody and Alec and Kate-Kate and Alexander.”

 

She continues on down the list until each one in our family has been prayed for.  She even remembered Jacob who had skipped the prayer to take a quick shower after the backyard football game.

 

When she finally finished her prayer we all laughingly proclaim, “AMEN”!

 

Lily's sweet prayer reminded me that we should always be praying for our family members, even if there are twenty of them. It made me think of three very special women in my life, great examples of prayer warriors for their families:

 

-My awesome grandmother,  Laura Lee Thomas Marks

-My gracious mother in-law,  Nancy Mansour and

-My beautiful and hardworking mother,  Robin Meadows

 

All three of these women pray for their kids and grandkids with diligence, covering them with blessings and protection.

 

I'd like to challenge everyone to pray for each member of your family, individually, everyday this week. Pray for their successes, lift up their weaknesses and pray protection over them.  See how it makes you get along with your siblings better or gives you more grace for your children.

 

I'm excited to see how God will use this to change our hearts toward each other.

 

Katie

Jets vs. Dolphins Bang or Bust???

My take on opening weekend for the NFL

 

Well for most of us guys this is the holy grail of sports holidays. Yes, I am speaking of the first regular season NFL weekend. I think the most interesting game is the Dolphins, Jets. Both are mediocre teams and probably won’t be playoff contenders, but let’s face it.  What else is there to watch? I mean you can only watch New England beat up on KC for so long and Indy will likely embarrass the Bears.

 

So, let’s talk about predictions on this matchup.

 

 Will the Dolphins be better than a 1 win team this year? This is an easy one for me; I think the dolphins could push 500 this year. They have upgraded at QB, OL, and they got back one great back. I know what you’re thinking Ronnie Browns knee is still tender, to which I reply I am not talking about Ronnie Brown. Yeah that’s right I am talking about the running, smoking machine,  Ricky Williams. Also Chad Pennington might be a better leader when there isn’t so much pressure; I mean for goodness sakes, the Jets fans show up to the draft in full force. Also I think Ted Ginn Jr. now has someone to get him the ball and he is going to have a blowout year. My prediction for the Dolphins is 7-9 with an opening day loss to the Jets.

 

 The next question for this game is:  Will Favre pan out? My answer is simply yes. He is a star and this year won’t be any different. Yeah, he has an awkward style and sometimes gets careless.  But who in the NFL doesn’t? And don’t reply with Tom Brady. My opinion is that Laverneus Coles and Jericho Cotchery are arguably just as good as Driver and Jennings. And Thomas Jones is better than Ryan Grant in my opinion. Need I remind you that at this time last year Ryan Grant was on a practice squad for the New York Giants? You will see his true colors this year.

 

Back on topic.  For the most interesting game on opening weekend I predict that the Jets drown the Dolphins by a score of 28-17.

 

Have any predictions?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Brad

 

One Chart, Two Chart, Red Chart, Blue Chart . . .

. . .  black chart, blue chart, old chart, new chart.  Some are sad.  And some are glad.  And some are very, very bad.  Chart, chart, chart, we love our charts!

 

Do you chart?  I chart.  I chart quite regularly actually!  Charts rule my schedule . . . ahem, I mean help guide me through a productive day.  Well, I have a new chart that will rule  . . . I mean guide the Simms family house this year.  Check it out!

 

My little guys are so excited about their new chart that they actually can't wait to do the next thing on the list.  Kids like to know what is expected of them.  I have found that charts are one way to give them some structure.

 

I have a friend that has done a chart for potty training with a reward system and another friend who had a chart for her three kids for their AM routine before going to school.

 

If you've never tried a chart and you have an area with your kids (or yourself) that could use some improvement, try a chart!  They're super fun to make, they're super cool to have hanging in your house, and if followed correctly, they will help your day be more productive.

 

So join me now . . . Today is gone.  Today was fun.  Tomorrow is another one.  Every day from here to there, charts, charts, charts are everywhere!

 

 

Erin

 

Electing a President (Part 1)

Jimmy Carter vs. Gerald Ford was one of the first presidential elections I could legally vote in back in 1976. (I know, you weren’t even born …) Carter, an unknown candidate at that time, rose to win the election, mainly due to media attention. Others, like JFK, used the first televised debates to make Nixon look nervous, but it was Carter that rode a wave of media frenzy, making “a simple peanut farmer from Georgia” into a President.

 

That media frenzy now has a name. It is called pop-culture. Pop (popular) culture has always been with us, but is stronger now in shaping and molding opinion in our society. New technology has even led the way for it to become the very fabric of our lives.

 

I know you all know that.

 

So why am I writing this? 

 

I want to question why you vote for a candidate. 

 

I also want to encourage you to rise above voting for a man or woman based solely on pop-culture standards.

 

What do you think?

 

Do Christ followers sometimes just throw their hands up in confusion and vote for the popular pick?

 

Is voting for someone based on choosing the lesser of two evils?

 

Oh, yeah. As a young voter way back in 1976 I got caught up with the Carter wave and voted for him. And Robin cancelled my vote with a vote for Ford. J

Come on, let’s discuss. 

 

Dirk

Time to Eat!

Since there are 10 writers here, this will be a rather lengthy post.  But check out what each person will “bring to the table”.  We don't all agree with each other on everything, but we do agree to love each other, no matter what!

 

Most everyone works, either part-time or full-time, and some are students and work part-time or even full-time! 

 

You’ll probably hear from the girls more than the guys, because, well….we just talk a lot! J

 Robin

From me you’ll still hear the encouragement that you can make it as a home educating parent and live to tell about it.   Things on gardening, Bible, raising kids,  and life in general.

 

 Dirk

I plan to bring practical ideas and maybe even alternatives to status quo thinking to the table. Subjects such as finances, politics, raising and managing a family and ideas of decision making will be my areas of concentration.             Erin   What I  will bring to the table:  ~My perspectives on growing up as the oldest in a large family, a homeschooler who is homeschooling her children, and a country girl; oh and any other thing I feel like giving my perspective on . . . because believe me . . . I always have a perspective on stuff! ~Tips on fitness, nutrition, weight loss, cooking, gardening, scrapbooking, debt-free living, homeschooling, and living life with purpose   ~My journey in being a wife, mother, child of God and full-time stay-at-home homeschooling mom that is pretty hip and cool - ha ha, well you can be the judge of that!

Ali

What I will bring to the table. I will be sharing an endless supply of yummy recipes, weight loss tips, reviews of books I love, fun and easy craft projects, hair tips, things about my adorable girls, tips on organizing your chaotic life, and sharing in my walk to become a woman of God.

 

 Brad

What I will bring to the table. What I learned in college, lessons of a young father, adult league sports, my life as an accountant, current events in sports, and my lessons with the Lord.

 

Abbi

Off the top of my head, here are ideas on what I could contribute:
Do-It-Yourself craft projects
Recipes
Nifty/Thrifty gift-giving
Creative ways to recycle/manage your time/avoid clutter/get organized
Tips on being frugal
Cake decorating (of course)
Book/Movie reviews
Seeing God's hand in my life

 

 

 

 

 

Katie

 

What I will bring to the table:
-Stories from the ER
-Ways to keep you out of the ER
-Adventures of nursing school
-Quick recipes (especially using the crockpot)
-Lessons I learned in Israel/Egypt

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander 

 

What I bring to the table:  My thoughts on some theological issues, traveling stories and tips, and maybe some random quotes or facts. :)

 

 

 

 

 

Anna

 

What I will bring to the table, besides the good looks and the outstanding wit, okay I’m kidding… ½ way kidding.)  I will be bringing many insightful and encouraging stories about our culture of students in today’s world. I will also share my experiences in losing 75 pounds and the things I learned during that long and difficult time.  Plus, fun spontaneous thoughts about what it was like growing up in a family of seven children, of which I am smack, dab in the middle.

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob

 

What I will bring to the table:  Things that I've come across in my life that mean a lot to me, and random thoughts that go through my head everyday.

 

So?  What are you looking forward to hearing?

Saying Goodbye

Well, my 269th post will be my last. It's been fun, but all good things must come to an end, as someone once said.

I started this blog May 25, 2007. I've learned a lot from you all. And the best thing is that I made many new friends. Thank you for your comments, thoughts and encouragement!

But, I also have great news. Beginning today, September 2, I'm moving to a new place! Check out our new blog ManyMeadows (I know...clever, huh?) at www.manymeadows.com

Ten members of our family have agreed to be contibutors. No telling what you'll find on any given day. Come on over and meet everyone.

And if you want, add us to your blogroll. We'd appreciate it!