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Winter Myrrh
February 2024
A Season of Anticipation
Winter is the coldest season of the year bringing us some of our most extreme weather conditions. Plants dig deep into the earth to meet their needs. Seeds lie dormant underneath a bed cold and snow awaiting just the right conditions to burst forth with life.
Winter is an old Germanic word that means “time of water” and refers to the rain and snow of winter in higher latitudes. It’s like a time of storing up and great anticipation of the spring to come.
Do not curse your winter seasons, your spring is coming.
“For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints.” Psalms 37:28 ESV
Whatcha thinkin’?
How you perceive a thing is everything.
Your thoughts can turn a challenge into a threat, change into a disaster, and opportunities into impossibilities. It can be the difference between being energized or deflated, charging forth, or retreating. Your thoughts determine the impact and outcome of your stressors.
“As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
There is a space between a stimulus and your response – it is the power of choice. Stop, think, and pray – it might just change everything.
Self-Compassion
Practicing self-care and finding a life-work balance is not selfish.
It is work, but not overwork, that God requires of Christians. Even when overwork is done for godly reasons rather than worldly, it is still destructive in many ways.
That is why Jethro said to Moses, when he saw him overworking in God's service, "What you are doing is not good" Exodus 18:13-23 NKJV from Simplybible.com
One of the difficult things about this struggle is determining how to set healthy boundaries by saying "no". Seek God's guidance on managing your time and energy. Remember, Colossians 3:23; "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."
Safer Internet Day - Feb 4
We must be intentional about discussing internet safety and responsible uses with them as well as taking actions to ensure safe activities and secure connections. Resources and Lesson Plans:
- National Cybersecurity Alliance
- Connect Safely
- Prep4Success biblically integrated lessons
- Tips for Parents
"I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one." John 17:15 ESV
Talking Points with Teens
Despite the bombardment of the world's values on our kids. the biggest influence on a child's choices is the guidance of a trusted adult. You make all the difference.
I encourage you to have those hard conversations with love and here are some tools. Axis has conversation guides on many topics.
Axis.org “Connecting Parents, Teens, and Jesus in a Disconnected World”
- Our goal is to come alongside parents or caring adults and give you Biblical-based practical tools for having conversations with young people who are growing up in and struggling to navigate a world that does not value God's word as truth.
Texoma Christian School Guidance Counselor
© Kathy Pierce Howard
Email: kathy@prep4successacademy.com
Website: www.prep4successacademy.com
Location: 3500 West Houston Street, Sherman, TX, USA
Phone: 903-957-8223
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prep4successacademy
Twitter: @prep4successnow