Kristi Woods

Encouraging Women to Walk Deeper with God

How We Can Help New Moms

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Have you ever been a new mom? Maybe you know one? Perhaps your church even has a few.

During Tony’s Navy tenure, I found myself wearing the role of “new mom” three times. Joel arrived first followed by Rebekah a couple of years later. Caleb, baby of the family, tidied our family with a boy bow shortly after.

Each time I found myself laboring and delivering these blessings in a location hundreds of miles from family. And when the Navy beckoned, Tony was gone 10 hours after delivering Joel and me home. A handful of years later he found himself halfway around the world as Caleb arrived.

That’s when friends from church wrapped their arms and time around us.

 

Helping this new mom became their ministry.

 

 

Thank goodness because it’s scary, bringing new life into this world without family near. They drove with me to the hospital, waited alongside as my body labored, and even stood in the operating room as baby #3 made his grand appearance.

Those folks became family. They continue to hold a special spot in my heart – and always will.

Does your church reach out to new moms? It’s a ministry ripe for the taking. And goodness, it doesn’t have to be a fancy, organized ministry. One-on-one works well, too.

Would you help spread the word? Take a peek at this slideshow I prepared for iBelieve.com. Feel free to share 10 Ways Your Church Can Help New Moms on social media, with friends, and certainly among folks at your church.

New moms will thank you. I certainly do.

xo

 

Linking with other Jesus writers and lovers here: #purposefulfaith, #tellhisstory,#chasingcommunity

#ScriptureBank2016, Week 39

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2016-week-39

 

 

Hi there! It’s #ScriptureBank2016, a verse memorization help.

Have you wanted to hide God’s word in your heart for some time, but it simply isn’t coming together? You’re welcome to join us here at #ScriptureBank2016. Jump in anytime throughout the year.

 

Follow

along on Instagram (@Kristi_Woods_writer) for memory and various verse graphics.

 

Check Out

previous #ScriptureBank2016 verses and prayers on this Pinterest board or simply search #ScriptureBank2016 here on the blog.

 

Find

the ins and outs of #ScriptureBank2016 here. 

 

But most importantly? Welcome to a place where we grow deeper in faith, walking deeper with God, together.

15 Ways to Connect and Change Your World

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15 Ways to Connect and Change Your World

 

He was crumpled in a large brown heap, a lifeless mass of fur in the middle of the road.

My heart dropped when I realized it was a dead dog.

“I think it’s worse when it’s a dog hit versus a wild animal along the roadside,” my son commented.

“It’s because there’s a human connection. That’s why it’s so hard. It’s probably someone’s pet.” I blurted. I wasn’t sure where the words came from, but they flowed easily. I’d like to think they were God-given.

The van grew quiet.

We have human connections, too.

And sin, like the dog’s death, doesn’t fly solo. It impacts others.

But how much more God’s love soars when we build those human connections.

 

Sin doesn't fly solo. It impacts others. But how much more God's love soars. Click To Tweet

 

Our decisions and what happens to us isn’t simply about us.

Our own sins – gossip, lies, angry outbursts, fornication, gluttony, hatred, even discord – don’t fly solo.

And sometimes their mangling impact will turn another’s world upside down.

 

I think of a friend – a man my husband was stationed with and we’ve known for well over 20 years. He’s a believer. He’s a police officer. And his world was turned upside down last week.

Our friend – I’ll call him “Jose” – was shot. You probably know his story. It’s Dallas.

Shots rang. Jose landed in the hospital. But, unlike 5 other officers, he survived.

I can’t imagine. What did Jose think? And his wife and children – where were their thoughts?

Sin didn’t fly solo. It took Jose and his family with it. Many others of us as well. But there’s hurt splattered all over the US – black, white, you name it. It’s not just in Jose’s world. Worlds are upside down all around.

Sin’s impact is flying high.

 

So what do we do with this impact, when life goes upside down?

 

We can lash in retaliation, sowing discord. That’s simple, isn’t it?

If I hate a man because he shot a friend, then I’m returning sin with a sin, exchanging one hate for another.

My kids see it. They cling to it in one form or another. Then hate multiplies. A lot of eternal good that does, eh?

 

We can sit and simply do nothing.

We’re busy.

We don’t know them.

It seemingly doesn’t impact us.

 

Or, we can reach out and build those human connections to help change our world.

 

My husband and I chose the last route. Oh, we’re not perfect. You know that well. But why fight evil with evil?

We tossed that impact into serving at The Salvation Army. My family and I met eyes with over 200 beautiful faces, housed by bodies of white, black, Native American, Asian, and more.

Our youngest son commented his biggest takeaway was being exposed to a different type of community, to different people, and a different style of living.

I like that.

All the kids loved the experience. I love that even more.

(The boys and my hubby had gone a few times before, but this was a first for my daughter and me.)

But there are many ways to handle an upside down world. You don’t have to go to The Salvation Army. Just connect with others. And even better? Connect with those outside your daily path. Maybe, just maybe that’ll help us understand one another better.

 

Here are 15 avenues for connecting and changing your world:

 

  1. Look a person in the eye and offer, “Have a blessed day.”
  2. Smile and nod, even compliment, versus staring at a phone.
  3. Listen to listen, not respond.
  4. Pray behind the scenes or offer a prayer right then and there.
  5. Skip over to the new neighbor and introduce yourself – invite them to dinner.
  6. Hug that widow, bring her a meal or visit regularly.
  7. Head down to the soup kitchen and serve the homeless.
  8. Volunteer at an abused women’s shelter or a nursing home.
  9. Become a foster parent or child’s mentor.
  10. Simply care about and for your neighbor, refusing hatred and discord due to skin color, political views, etc.
  11. Allow someone to care for, assist, or bless us.
  12. Offer a hug.
  13. Use manners, regardless of appearance or experience.
  14. Ask forgiveness for our own sins clutched tightly.
  15. Submit to love and forgiveness, proceeding in His righteousness.

We can offer glory to the name of Jesus by offering our own heart for reaction, not wild emotions bent for discord and retaliation.

 

Because sin doesn’t ride solo. It’s impact is far-reaching.

 

But further-reaching is a heart offered to God, one connecting with humans for the sake of Jesus. Just watch His love soar!

 

Further reaching than sin is a heart offered to God. Click To Tweet

 

Be encouraged to walk in righteousness, my friend. Because in the end? Love wins.

 

Linking with Purposeful Faith, Testimony Tuesday, 3-D Lessons for Life, and Suzie Eller.  

 

Have You Heard?

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LifeLetter Cafe and I have connected for Kingdom purposes. You’ll find my writings, some old and some brand new, on their site. BUT, you won’t find only mine. You’ll find other encouraging writers there as well. It’s a LIBRARY full of Jesus goodness and well-worth the stop to encourage your faith. Make sure to go over there and poke around a bit, okay?