It's the 2024 Christmas Spectacular with Lauren and Andy!

This year we are talking about traditions, a bit of Christmas history regarding the Christmas tree, how to be mindful of the whole crew (family) and reasons why we can all have a no pressure Christmas!

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Books from this episode:

Crispin's Rainy Day: https://canonpress.com/products/crispins-rainy-day?srsltid=AfmBOoql0VEVGJUMO4xQr9vTgX6ovSCeSK2-HCO4cYbb6bCwfsDtigsu

The Queen and the First Christmas Tree: Queen Charlotte's Gift to England: https://a.co/d/eniGzWc

Winter Fire: Christmas with G.K. Chesterton: https://a.co/d/4e7HPw4

The History of Christmas: 2,000 Years of Faith, Fable, and Festivity: https://a.co/d/ewCs9La

Merry Christmas!

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Charles Spurgeon once preached "Such merry hearts have a continual feast." Where does a merry heart come from and how can we have a truly "merry" Christmas this season?

But I believe as Christians, there's always a reason to celebrate and that we can cultivate a merry heart and mirth by doing two things:

1.  believing in God's promises and 
2. rejoicing and their fulfillment.

The believing part makes our hearts merry

And the rejoicing is our audible mirth.

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Two Great Recipes for Celebrating!
The Best Stuffing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IflWhTkEwPo
The Best Cinnamon Rolls: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/best-cinnamon-rolls/

Let me know your favorite recipe through sending me a text!

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A few years ago I did a faith and practice series that gave faithful tasks practical applications. We are called to be faithful to Christ as Lord and that includes living fruitful productive lives. There are many ways to go about a frutiful and productive life, and today I am sharing some tips on planning and preparing for the Holidays. It's not too late to get out that pen and paper!

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🎄Merry Christmas Thank You Gifts are Coming!🎄
If you are a supporter of the podcast through Patreon, get ready for a thank you Christmas gift. I'll be posting information on https://www.Patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful as we get closer to Christmas.

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Proverbs 31:27

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years - it's not about you running yourself ragged so your kids can have core memories of magical perfection. It's not about propping up an image you have in your mind of how the holidays should be.

It's about celebration - together - an exalting the name of Christ in fellowship - with your husband, your children, your church, your family and friends. all the while  showing the world why and how we exalt Christ. 

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Send me a text and tell me your Holiday Life Hacks!

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Proverbs says a good name is better than riches? A name becomes synonymous with character.  What type of character is behind a good name? 

How do we cultivate a good name? Today I’m sharing three examples of good character that made names great and how to remain steadfast when people slander your name. 

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"That's a lovely idea, Diana," said Anne enthusiastically. "Living so that you beautify your name, even if it wasn't beautiful to begin with making it stand in peoples thoughts for something so lovely and pleasant that they never think of it by itself. Thank you, Diana." - Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery 
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"This good name proceeding from a good conscience, this honor from virtue, this perfume of faith and obedience, this splendor and sparking of the white stone, which only shines upon heavenly hearts - is far more desirable than riches."  
- Guzik Bible Commentary 
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William Gurnall a 17th century English clergyman said, "Sincerity enables the Christian to do two things which the hypocrite cannot -- to speak good of God, and to expect good from God." Today I am sharing more about God's decretive will and his perceptive will and three truths to meditate on when you consider the "whatever happens" in your life.

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Trusting God's Will in the "Whatever Happens"
1. Understand God's Will - both decretive and preceptive will
"We are not being ground to powder by the machinery of fate." -DW
2. Change your Focus - by being thankful
"We too often focus on the who brings our troubles rather on the one who sent our troubles to us." - Thomas Watson
3. Do the important things; the next things in front of you
Follow the Lord in the daily work of life will help you trust the Lord.

Resources
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/examining-preceptive-will-god
https://www.monergism.com/discerning-god%E2%80%99s-will-three-wills-god

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In 2017 I experienced a missed miscarriage. I could not find the help I needed. Where were the bullhorns shouting for my healthcare? today I'm sharing my story of how the Lord provided for me despite living in a culture steeped in virtue signaling for women. 

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Resources:

Read News articles concerning abortion, politics, and culture from a Christian source: https://notthebee.com/app-search?term=abortion&default=Articles

For Life: Defending the Unborn: https://ezrapress.ca/products/for-life-defending-the-unborn

Answers in Genesis - 10 Answers to Common Pro Choice Objections: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzTKx78aQdM

Alternatives Pregnancy Center: https://youhavealternatives.org/

https://endabortionnow.com/

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This past week our city was in the direct path of Hurricane Helene, a category four storm with projected winds of 140mph. There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the storm and aftermath. What do we do when faced with potential suffering? How can we fight the dread of what may come? Today I'm sharing truths to help us prove faithful in suffering and potential sufferings so as to live in faith and not in dread. 

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Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief
Black Mountain Children's Home: https://www.blackmountainhome.org/
Samaritan's Purse: https://tinyurl.com/SamaritanPurseGive

Links and Resources
Life Hack emergency food stash example: https://tinyurl.com/emergencymeal

Fox Weather Megan Drye Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8IKat8FDME

Ligoneir Article: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/trusting-in-god-through-suffering

Charles Spurgeon Sermon: Christ - Perfect Through Sufferings: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/christ-perfect-through-sufferings/#flipbook/

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How are we to view suffering in this world?

1. Look to Christ first. He put his trust in God the Father.
2. Understanding suffering requires a trust in God. 
3. There is purpose in suffering and there are fruits birthed through suffering.

Some fruits of suffering:
- steadfastness
- a closer deeper relationship with God
- the ability to minister to others through the comfort you've received
- Salvation to be known to us and to others

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God gives us gifts and abilities to use for his glory, and to produce a return. The gifts and abilities vary, but the task is the same and we will be held accountable. Today I am sharing three encouragements to help us be ready and be faithful to the Lord our God.

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The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus tells us parable in the midst of talking about his return. It is an overall message for us to be ready, and also to be faithful with what God has entrusted to us now. It proclaims to us that we will be held accountable for our decisions, and that God gives us gifts and abilities to use for his glory, and to multiply, meaning make bigger, create more, make better, with what he gives us. This is a great reminder that this life is not our own, but we are to live for the Lord.

Three Encouragements to Honor God with Your Talents:

1. The first encouragement is that God entrusts us with valuable things and we are blessed to be under His Lordship. He gives and we are to be profitable with it.
2. The second encouragement is because God gives, because He is the one from whom these blessings flow, we are to be about his business. 
3. God is a generous and good God, and we get to partake and share in what is gained and we will be held accountable. 

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WWJD - remember the "What Would Jesus Do" bracelets in the 90s? What happens when people wrongly assume what Jesus would do in our current culture? How can we prove faithful when people co-opt the name of Jesus to give approval to a counter-biblical worldview?

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Text Me!
Share with me a WWJD "red flag" message, one that was trying to use Jesus to approve of a particular unbiblical worldview.
OR!
Text me your best life hack to possibly be featured on the show!

Jesus ate with the tax collectors and sinners.
Matthew 9:10-17
Eating with sinners was not the end goal.
The end goal was repentance and for sinners to follow Christ; to be rescued out of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of light.

Three Ways to prove faithful with red flag WWJD messages:

1. Scripture interprets Scripture 
2. Scripture always glorifies God, not man. God's glory is the chief end; not the glory of man and his pursuits and desires.
3. Learn logic and be able to point out logical fallacies to help you become better at identifying bad and incongruent arguments. 

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A question we all need to consider is "Where is our security?" Where are we laying up our treasures and how is that impacting what we are hoping in? Today I am sharing good truth to move us away from a false security and into the unwavering hope of eternity.

Check this out:
Time Timer - a visual 60 minute timer: https://a.co/d/3LhNF2m

What are we putting our hope in? What is the source of our security?

Luke 12:13-21
1 Peter 1:3-4
Lamentations 3:21-26

Our security is in the resurrected Christ! Who gives us an inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade!

Don't seek earthly comforts, but speak truth of Christ to your soul. 

"It is good for one to hope in the Lord!"

Ways to put your hope in Christ:

1. Know the worthiness and loveliness of Christ.
2. Count it all joy when you experience trials of various kinds.
3. Know Christ's will and leave the results to God.
4. "I say to myself" - ingest the truth as much as you can.

"Don't trust the spirit of the age to tell you 'Take security in This!'"

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Today I am sharing why knowing history will give you fortitude and encouragement in the current political and cultural climate plus a truth concerning birds to give you peace and hope.

History Is a wise companion and counselor.

Knowing history allows us to have a better frame of reference for how the Lord has worked his character, his fulfillment of promises, and allows us to draw strength instead fastness from those who have walked before us during difficult and hard times.

History reminds us we are not alone in our trials.

**Note about end times and eschatology - If you read the last 10 or 20 years of current history, you will not have a proper view of eschatology in light of Scripture and all the the Lord has done and is doing.

History is a wise companion and helps us learn from the past and build for the future. When we learn from history, we mature as people there’s a famous quote by Cicero that says "To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child."

History Book Ideas:

Richard Hannula books: 
Radiant: 50 Remarkable Women in Church History - https://a.co/d/bwa01wz
Heralds of the Reformation: https://a.co/d/4G54bAz
For Christ's Crown: https://a.co/d/dgrHqzv
Trials and Triumph: https://a.co/d/hgKVFrY

History from Creation to Modern Day 
Story of the World Volumes 1-4 (not distinctly Christian, but good chronological, read aloud or curriculum): https://a.co/d/dVdg4j9
Mystery of History (more Christian - I have not used this, but it has been recommended): https://a.co/d/0x6Tfkt

American History:
Did America Have a Christian Foundation? Mark David Hall (this is my new personal history read, but the author came highly recommended from a reputable source): https://a.co/d/6VB7KTI

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