More Spirit-Inspired Ideas

I've been rolling around in my head the idea of doing a series of articles on parenting. Today the culmination of a couple of readings and issues that have been on my heart lately came into clearer focus. I think I'm going to call the series Godly Parents, Godly Children. I already have 5-6 titles/topics in mind and will probably add more. The series will be biblically based and was inspired by the concept addressed by Chips Ingram in his book, Effective Parenting in a Defective World.

The initial topics I have in mind are: (1) Absolute Obedience; (2)Wanting for Nothing (desiring God above all else); (3) Praying Through Life; (4) Developing Sound Judgement; (5) Clothed in the Full Armor of God; and a couple of others. My thought is that in order for our children to grow into godly adults, in order for us to adequately equip them for life as adults in the world, we must begin early and be intentional. We also must model what we teach. I'm going to use as my key scripture, Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it. [Job 27:11 NIV]

Another article or series of articles I'm going to work on is on blogs and websites that are focused on, managed by, intended to uplift women.

The third idea that the Spirit gave to me today is to interview some of the amazing Christian women I know and write articles on them and their stories.

I also may create an e-book of my journaling course available for download through lulu.com.

It's pretty exciting to be back on track! "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes! [1 Samuel 12:16 TNIV]

I shared on my Divinely Designed blog that I'm praying the Prayer of Jabez every day and God's answering my request: He is enlarging my boundaries (territory)! I'm going to have be sure to take my vitamins every day if the current rate at which He's growing my ministry continues!

Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that thou wouldst bless me and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me!" And God granted what he asked. [1 Chronicles 4:10 RSV]

Back to Basics

I had gotten out of the habit of carrying a notebook with me. I have my daytimer with me everywhere, all the time, but I used to keep a spiral notebook handy to jot down ideas for articles or poems.

This week I grabbed a brand new spiral notebook that has been sitting on the shelf and I've already filled up about 5 pages! Some of the entries are just addresses for article submissions. Sometimes I've written a sentence or most of paragraph so I'll be able to recall what I thought of later on (essential when I'm in the midst of a day with the 3 little ones I nanny for!)

I have 3 articles already written that I plan to submit as reprints to Parents Magazine!

The other night I "made up" a recipe (adapted from someone else's on line) and my husband raved about how good it was that he suggested I submit it to contest! So I did! I figured while I'm in the contest searching/submitting mode, I might as well go for it!

I'm really thinking seriously about the "godly child" series. This weekend I'm going to do a bible search on all the 'parenting' biblical references and fit the bullet points I've already developed to them and see where things go from there.

I also think that as soon as I get Woman at the Well uploaded to lulu.com I'm going to upload all my frugal cooking/household articles into a free e-book format.