How to celebrate Lent

Buy The Way to the Savior by Jeff & Abbey Land

What is Lent? Hear what it means to me and how I am remembering Jesus during these few days before Easter.

Show notes:
• Lent: I will remember Jesus
• 4-part series on Lent

Read More

How to get Multiple Children ready for Church

My husband was in ministry before we had our children. When they were born, they joined us in the habit of arriving early in church. I understand that unlike us, most families attend one worship service. I also understand it is challenging to get everyone ready and out the door. I hope these tips help you make this season of life easier. Here is what works for us:

• Start the night before. We make sure our clothes and shoes are ready to go. When the kids were little, I packed their diaper bags the night before. Yes, at one point, I was changing three diapers. Fun times! The goal of preparation is to make Sunday morning smooth as possible.

• Sleep well on Saturday night. We try to make sure the kids get enough rest on Saturday night. It makes waking up early easier. We wake up early most Sundays. We've had to get them up around 5:15 a.m. for Easter services. We do it all to serve the Lord Jesus. The kids have been great at waking up early.

• Prep the food ahead of time. Part of the perk of waking up early is breakfast. I try to pack the kids' food early. I've had a menu ranging from baby food to breakfast casseroles. Most of the time, I make our own food. We treat the kids to donuts and kolaches sometimes. When I don't have to cook that early in the morning and I know everyone will eat well is a blessing.

• Remember why. I believe it is important to remember why we go to church. We all know it is easy to stay home and sleep in but being obedient to God is more important. The investment I make in my children is important. I also want my children to know that we do it because we choose to obey God and we love Him very much.

Our family has a song for everything we do. I sing two songs I learned as a child about going to church. The songs are short, fun and they describe the joyful routine of going to church on Sundays. I believe the song sets us up for success. Songs make life sweeter.

The older the kids got, the more involved they became with preparing everything for church. Nowadays they choose their own clothes and they get dressed without my help. I remember when I had to get everyone dressed. Good times!

I don't know if going to church is a struggle for your family or not. I hope I offered you tips to make your life a bit easier. We actually look forward to going to church, worshipping God and fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Going to church is one of the few habits we have that will make a difference in eternity. I hope you and your family can establish the habit of going to church every week. 

Read More

Bible in One Year: 2018 is a wrap

I am so glad to report that I have finished reading the Bible in One year. I started a bit early and finished early.

I also made sure I stayed on track by doing the following:

• When I got late, I made sure I read until I got caught up with the reading
• I both read and listened to the Bible (not at the same time).
• I used a different plan which included videos. I did not watch all the videos. My goal was to read the Bible and the videos took more time than I had. My goal was to complete the reading.
• I mostly used the app the remind me where I was with the reading. I didn't like their format. Most of the time, I used my Bible and I opened the app to see how far I needed to read.

My takeaways in 2018 were:

• Reading the Bible in one year is a habit I enjoy. I will read the entire Bible again in 2019.
• I learned a lot and I was able to share what I learned with my family.
• The more I read the Bible, the more I need to study it. Studying and reading the Bible are two different things. I'm determined to take my time and study what I read. I'm not studying to be a scholar but I want the word of God to make a difference in my own life.

It takes between 10-15 minutes to complete a Bible in one year plan. If you don't feel like you have time, you can decrease your social media browsing by 15 minutes :)

I hope you join me and read the bible in one year! No need to wait until January, you can start now!

More in this series:
• Bible in a year: how I'm doing
• Bible in a year: side effects
• How my friends and I read the Bible in one year
• Bible Study Lady
• One Year Bible: Time Management
• Bible in a Year: Half Way to my Goal
• 5 Strategies to Actually Read the Bible in a Year

Read More

Happy Pastor's Appreciation Month!

Zeke and I in 2007, North Carolina

October is a special month for us because we show appreciation to the clergy in our lives. I really appreciate my husband because we get to experience life with him. He truly is a wonderful man, husband, father and pastor (among other things). 

I appreciate his love for God's people. He really loves our congregation and he truly ministers from a heart of love for God and His people. 

I appreciate the unseen time he spends being a pastor. Most people see him on Sundays but we get to see all the effort he puts into ministering. It's his joy to serve and we are so blessed to see that!

I am thankful for his wisdom. I appreciate the fact that Zeke listens to God and it shows in the way he ministers. I also appreciate his humor. I love Zeke's sense of humor. Being a pastor (in our house) is not about being serious and singing the Hallelujah Chorus non-stop. The joy of the Lord truly is our strength and we have found this to be the foundation of who we are. 

I am committed to continue to pray for my husband as a Pastor. Prayer is the most important way to show appreciation and the Bible encourages us to pray for our leaders. I am committed to pray continually for my husband and his ministry to the body of Christ. 

It's amazing to think that Zeke's been a pastor for 9 years, which is almost as long as we've been married. I am thankful for those who saw God's gift in him. I am thankful for the body of Christ who encouraged his gifts and talents. I am also thankful for all the clergy in my family. There are 13 pastors at least! I appreciate their faithfulness in studying God's word, loving God's people and being obedient to Jesus' commission. 

Happy Pastor's Appreciation month to all! 

Will you join me in prayer for the minister's in your life? 

Related posts:

• 3 things you may not know about people in ministry

• How to celebrate pastor's appreciation month

Read More

Dia das Bruxas (Halloween) nos Estates

Todo ano é a mesma coisa: as lojas ficam todas enfeitadas e o povo todo animado pro Halloween. Este feriado é de origem pagã. Em vez de entrar na onda, nós resolvemos colocar enfasis na celebração da estação de outono e o dia de ações de graça. A gente leva as crianças pros "campos de abóbora."

 A gente fala muito sobre a importância da gratidão ao Senhor e as pessoas.

 E a gente aproveita pra tirar aquela foto maneira de natal, se as crianças deixarem é claro.

 Ok Cintia, mas o que isso tem haver com o Halloween que é hoje? A gente explica pros nossos filhos que o Halloween não tem nada haver com Deus. Nós dizemos pras crianças que somos cristãos e não comemoramos essa data. Ensinamos que eles podem se fantasiar o ano todo (o que é a alegria da criança americana), e não precisa esperar uma data pra fazer isso.

Uma senhora que conheço disse que é importante dizer pra criança que Jesus não é pão duro (então precisamos dar doce de qualidade) e que ele não é contra alegria (então precisamos deixar as crianças se divertirem). Muitas igrejas ajudam a comunidade com isso. Elas inventaram um evento que se chama "Hallelujah Night" (noite do Aleluia). É um evento pra comunidade toda com brincadeiras, doces e onde eles falam de Jesus pra comunidade. Lá na igreja a comunidade toda aparece e muita gente aceita a Jesus ou recebe oração.

Esse ano meus filhos me lembraram muito da minha infância no Brasil. Minha família não comemorava São Cosme e Damião. Meus pais sempre explicavam o porquê e sempre compravam doce pra gente. Quando as pessoas nos ofereciam doce na rua a gente nunca aceitava. Meus filhos perguntaram quando eles iam de porta em porta pedir doce. Meu marido e eu explicamos que a gente não fazia isso. Acho que com o tempo eles vão entender.

Tenho não julgar os meus amigos cristãos que comemoram o Halloween. Conheço muito crente que adora, que põe fantasia e cai na forra. Sei que não sou responsável pela alma deles, e pra falar a verdade, eles não me pedem opinião então a oração é a melhor coisa que posso fazer.

Até eu ter filho eu não sabia o que eu ia fazer com a tal da fantasia. No contexto cultural, a fantasia pra criança é parte da infância aqui. Daí chega em Outubro, a criança está cansada de fazer isso, a mídia e os pais que põe aquele ânimo pra comprar fantasias novas e ir buscar doce.

Outra coisa que tenho pensado é que além de não ser pão duro e de não ser contra festas, Jesus tem o domínio próprio. Nessa terra de abundância, muito doce é dado, consumido e jogado fora. A doença que mais mata aqui não é cancer, mas são doenças cardíacas. Desde criança, a mensagem que se dá é: pode se esbaldar criança, "descança, come, bebe e folga"! (Lucas 12:15-21). Eu acho importante ensinar o domínio próprio através do meu exemplo e através dessas épocas do ano que se dá muito doce. Não desisto por conta de cansaço ou lágrimas. Acho injusto deixar criança comer 3,000 calorias de doces sem ensinar o domínio próprio.

Eu acho que não estou aqui pra acusar o mundo porque o mundo já tem um acusador. Eu estou aqui pra representar o meu Senhor Jesus. Minha oração é pra que eu seja luz nesse mundo, especialmente nos dias que eles comemoram a escuridão. 

Read More

VBS: Part 2

This week the kids and I are at Vacation Bible School (VBS) again. We are attending it at a church really close to our home. Today was our first day and the kids really liked it! I am volunteering in the Story Telling part. I am amazed at the creativity of our leader! This week we will be telling different stories of the Bible and the kids actually get to act them out. We have sweet preschoolers and our workshop is super interactive which makes it very much fun. 

I am thankful to God for the opportunity to introduce the kids to VBS at such an early age. I'm amazed at how much you you can learn at such an early age and actually use it for the rest of your life. I didn't know anyone at the leadership of this VBS (good thing I'm outgoing) but I have met some awesome folks thus far.

I'm looking forward to seeing what God is going to to in all our hearts during this week. As one of my friends said, it's a blessing for our kids to see the Bible coming alive at VBS.

You may also like:
• Our first VBS

Read More

Our first VBS

Believe it or not, this year we are attending and volunteering at our first VBS. My memories of VBS are plenty fun: as a teenager I helped teaching songs and pretty much did anything else I was told. I believe VBS is really valuable to a child's Christian walk. 

VBS means Vacation Bible School. Churches all over the world hold these fun events where children come together to learn more about Jesus in a fun way. In Brasil we saw a lot of children from the community come to EBF (Escola Bíblica de Férias) and learn more about Jesus. I choose to believe that a lot of seeds were planted in the hearts of children. 

For the past 4 summers I was either having a baby or moving, so this summer was the perfect one to start attending VBS. I am volunteering in the music department, which has been a lot of fun. Today was our first day and  we got a good feel for the amazing thing that is taking place. We served with the pre-K kids, which was a treat. I have been working with my kids and nieces this summer so today's VBS felt like a nice addition to our camp. The little kids did awesome. Thank God I knew what to expect and how I could get them involved in the music and dancing. Our team of volunteers was simply the best. Everyone did an amazing job leading the kids in music and song. We got quite a workout too!

I can't escape thinking about the theme for the year which is "Kingdom Rock where Kids Stand Strong for God." Today's Bible verse is "I love you, Lord; you are my strength." Psalm 18:1. All morning we sang our theme song "Standing Together." I have been meditating on Galatians 5:1 recently which says "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free..."Also, I thought about Ephesians 6:13 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand." To stand is a great biblical principle to practice in different life situations.

What a great message to get in your spirit as a child: with Christ we can stand strong. I am looking forward to experiencing God and learning how I too can stand strong as the week progresses. Today I am thankful that the Gospel is being preached with liberty and creativity to children.

Read More

Sermon Notes: Embrace the Greater

Yesterday at church the sermon was really relevant to me. Our pastor kept emphasizing through different scriptures that we should 

One of the Scriptures Pastor used was Isaiah 43:16-21. Here's a portion of it:
16 18 

The Lord says, “Forget what happened before,

    and do not think about the past.

19 

Look at the new thing I am going to do.

    It is already happening. Don’t you see it?

I will make a road in the desert

    and rivers in the dry land.

20 

Here's my Takeaway: 

• It's my choice to let go of the lesser to embrace the greater. In my case, in order to see the new thing that God is doing, I need to forget what happened before and do not think about the past. In my case, it's a Total Forgiveness issue. 

• Everywhere I turn there are messages about Forgiveness being preached. One of my favorite preachers talked about Victory over Unforgiveness recently. I'm going to be reviewing this message this week in addition to my church's sermon. I believe it's important to totally forgive in order to enjoy an abundant life. It is easier said than done but I want to enjoy God's blessings and walk in obedience, so Forgiveness is something I am taking seriously. 

• Your issue might not be Unforgiveness like mine is but I was wondering, what is your lesser? What can you let go in order to embrace the greater that God has for you? 

You can access yesterday's sermon in my church's Vimeo Channel. 

Related Post:
• Sermon Notes
• Be more Productive

Read More

Beyond the 4 Walls

I enjoy being in the presence of God. I enjoy the ministry and fellowship with other believers. What I can't escape is Jesus' great commission to believers to

I believe that all the lessons we learn in this amazing place are to be lived and spread outside of its four walls. If I don't do that, the place becomes an exclusive club. I don't think that's what Jesus was thinking about when He gave the great commission.

I believe in church attendance. The days we are at church are my favorite days of the week. I enjoy worshipping God, learning more about the Bible, praying and receiving prayer. I try my best not to make church a place to socialize because my husband's job and ministry requires us to fit 4 services plus 1 rehearsal in 2 days. Put 3 preschool kids in the mix and you have one busy mamãe! My friends and I make time to connect outside of church and that is just lovely. This year for example, a group of us decided to meet to have dinner every other month and it has been awesome. We really have time to  catch up so when we see each other at church we know we have a deeper relationship than Hi and Bye. I love that church can be the basis for deeper friendships. 

Today when I go to church I will be seeking the transforming presence of God and I hope to be so filled with it that I can share it with others. I also hope to always remember Jesus' amazing commission an take what I learn outside of the church til the ends of the earth.

QUESTION: How do you practice the Great Commission?

Read More

Focusing on Easter

I don't know about you but I can get easily distracted from this amazing season of Easter. I thought about some ways of staying focused on the true meaning of Easter:

• Read the Bible - reading passages about Easter helps to remember the why of the season and the things that took place before Jesus rose from the dead.

• Attend Church - churches all around are having several services not only on Sunday but throughout the week. The songs and reading of the Bible focus on the amazing story of the cross. These are some of the most beautiful celebrations during the liturgical year. 

• Involve your Family - We've been teaching our kids about Easter for quite a while. We're also trying a few new things this year that I hope will become traditions such as the Maundy Thursday meal.

I hope you find a special meaning to Easter this year my friend.

Read More

Organization Nation: Church

New series at SimplyCintia.com!

2013 brought about some good habits I need to keep for the rest of my year such as being better organized for church on Sunday. We spend around 6 hours at church most Sundays, which means I need to get 3 kids, 3 and under ready for 3 services, Sunday School and all the fun stuff in between. Preparing the day before is always a good idea. Here's a strategy I plan on keeping: 

1. Saturday, Hair Day - I comb my kids' hair daily but the washing and combing I do on Saturday makes my life easier on Sunday morning. I try to detangle and do the 'boring stuff' several times a week so Sunday morning can be a breeze. The more hair my middle child grows, the more I am favoring braiding. Here's a Saturday photo of her with a nice fro.

2. Back Packs, Clothes and Food - Cooking oatmeal the night before makes it easier just to take it to church and reheat it there. I favor cooking oatmeal because it's much better than the doughnuts and kolaches I could buy on the way to church. I also think about the amount of hours our kids stay at church. I feel better knowing that they had a good breakfast. 

I make sure there are plenty diapers and an extra outfit on their backpacks the night before to go ahead and put it in the car. My goal is to take one less step when it's time to load the van and go to church. 

I also find that when I have their outfits ready on Saturday night my morning is much more efficient.  Here's a photo of us checking in at children's church June of last year (the weekend before I gave birth).

3. Patience - coupled with Persistence, this is probably the most important part of my organization strategy. Patience help me remember that I am getting 4 people (myself included) ready for church and most of them totally depend on my help to make it happen. Persistence teach me that sticking with this strategy pays off every time. We have smoother mornings and we arrive at church on time for rehearsal. 

QUESTION • Do you have a Sunday Morning strategy to get your family to church on time? I'd love to hear your tips! 

Read More

NaBloPoMo: My Sunday Mornings

Sundays are busy (yet fruitful) days for us. My husband is a worship pastor so we are at church pretty early in the morning. Today I am reminded of how God gave us children who love to go to church.  

The key to get three kids, 3 and under ready to be at church really early in the morning is to be ready the night before. When diaper bags and their clothes are ready to go, it is easier to go to church. 90% of the time I take our food to church. I believe the sugary donuts and carb loaded kolaches are not the best option for toddlers (and adults as a matter of fact) who spend around 6 hours in church every Sunday. I pack their oatmeal, fruit and milk and off to church we go. I'm always amazed at how well my youngest one has adapted to our routine. My favorite thing is to see her smile when I pick her up from the church nursery. She literally rejoices when I pick her up and take her home.  

Today the time has changed back 1 hour here in the U.S. My kids were so excited about going to church they woke up before 5 a.m. (thus I type). I am thankful to God for giving us kids who enjoy going to church with us. I am also thankful that most of the time I am prepared for our Sunday mornings at church. 

* Click the logo below to find out what in the world NaBloPoMo is

Read More

Como Meditar na Bíblia

* Traduzido por Amanda Varella

O termo “meditação” significa pensar continuamente, refletir, contemplar.  Cristãos que acreditam na Bíblia são encorajados a meditar dia e noite na Palavra de Deus. O Salmo 1:2 diz que meditar na Palavra de Deus é um prazer. Davi escreveu muito sobre meditação. Um dos muitos lugares onde ele descreve a meditação é no Salmo 63. Ele está na sua cama acordado e pensando em Deus durante a noite. Que visão magnífica!

Espero que você não fique desanimado ao pensar que Davi meditava melhor que todos nós. Ele foi um homem segundo o coração de Deus (Atos 13:22) e realmente passava bastante tempo com Deus, mas a meditação é acessível a todos nós  A verdade é que, se você sabe como se preocupar, você sabe como meditar. Meditação é simplesmente pensar em algo repetidamente. Aqui estão algumas dicas de como meditar na Bíblia:

1. Memorização - se você memoriza um verso da Bíblia, você terá vida dentro de si. Será fácil lembrar quando você passar por diferentes situações na sua vida. Estará acessível quando você quiser compartilhar com outros em uma conversa. Algumas pessoas são melhores em memorizar as Escrituras do que outras, mas todos nós podemos pelo menos memorizar nosso versículo favorito, correto? Outro forte argumento para a memorização: todos nós conhecemos a letra de algum louvor. Você pode cantar em qualquer lugar, certo? A memorização das Escrituras é muito poderosa. A Palavra de Deus é viva, ativa, extremamente nítida, uma luz incrível no nosso caminho. A memorização da Palavra também influencia o nosso vocabulário.

2. Escreva em lugares visíveis - quando eu e meu marido nos casamos, nós vivíamos em um pequeno apartamento. Nós escrevíamos diferentes versículos e pendurávamos em todos os lugares: no banheiro, na parede da cozinha, no closet... esses versos eram lembretes constantes das promessas de Deus e eles nos davam esperança imediatamente. Recentemente eu escrevi vários versículos bíblicos sobre paz e pendurei em um lugar onde eu possa ver sempre. Quando a ansiedade tenta me dominar, eu leio um desses versos e penso sobre eles várias e várias vezes.

3. Leia mais de uma vez - Eu amo ler devocionais. Elas são muito edificantes pela manhã, mas, por algum motivo elas perdem o efeito em mim ao longo do dia quando começo a lidar com a vida real. Se eu leio uma devocional mais de uma vez, eu ganho mais coragem e fico mais apta a aprender algo diferente. Mesmo que eu volte ao mesmo versículo, eu posso achar uma Palavra de Deus para levantar o meu espírito.

Gostaria de terminar este post dando a você mais alguns versículos bíblicos sobre meditação. Oro para que ao invés de se preocupar, você escolha meditar nas promessas maravilhosas de Deus hoje.

“Sejam agradáveis as palavras da minha boca e a meditação do meu coração perante a tua face, SENHOR, Rocha minha e Redentor meu! “ Salmos 19:14
“A minha boca falará de sabedoria, e a meditação do meu coração será de entendimento. “ Salmos 49:3
“Ouve, ó Deus, a minha voz na minha meditação” Salmos 64:1
“Seja-lhe agradável a minha meditação, pois no Senhor tenho alegria.” Salmos 104:34
“Como eu amo a tua lei! Medito nela o dia inteiro.” Salmos 119:97
“Tenho mais discernimento que todos os meus mestres, pois medito nos teus testemunhos.” Salmos 119:99

Read More

Baby Dedication

This weekend was our Baby's Dedication. Because our denomination doesn't baptize children, the dedication is a blessing for the baby and the parents' commitment to raise the child in God's ways. It's a big deal for our family and we were so happy to dedicate our baby to God! We didn't have any family members present so some of our church friends stood with us to support us during this very important moment in our lives. I'm so thankful for the friends God has given us in Houston. God's been faithful to bless us with people who opened their hearts to us. They have included us in their lives and I am so thankful for that. Here is a photo of us after the Dedication.

Read More

Fasting While Pregnant

I often start the year with fast and prayer. My church for example started 31 days of prayer this month where we are all encouraged to fast (however we chose) and pray. For the past 4 years I haven't been able to fast in the traditional sense of the word (abstain from food) because I'm often pregnant. I still feel the need to connect with God in a deeper way so what I do is to search the Scriptures to find out what real fasting is all about and how I can apply it to my life. If you read Isaiah 58:6-11 you get a great picture of the fast God has chosen. Even when I am not expecting and able to do a more traditional fast, I keep this amazing reminder in front of me. The great news for pregnant women and people who can't abstain for food is that some of these things don't require abstinence from eating. Here's verse 7 in the New King James Version:
"Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
      And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
      When you see the naked, that you cover him,
      And not hide yourself from your own flesh?" Isaiah 58:7 (NKJV)

What if we decide to feed the hungry during this month? What if we decide to give clothes to families who need new clothes but can't afford them? What if we take this time of fasting to reconcile with our own families? Pregnancy has indeed encouraged me to feel that I can still search the scriptures and do what God requires of all of us. Pregnancy is a different and sensitive season of life as I explain in my eBook Tweeting with God. It is a season where God gently guides us to still waters and I am thankful. If you can't fast for some reason, please don't feel discouraged. Search the Scriptures and pray about how you can connect with God as you start the year you give birth. I'm going to giveaway a copy of my eBook to a reader who answers the question of the day. The winner will be chosen by random.org.

Question of the day: Did/Do you feel discouraged for not being able to fast while pregnant? Did you find an alternative to fasting? What was it?

Read More

A Parent’s Guide to Haywood County, NC

Lake Junaluska, NC

If you are new to Haywood County, North Carolina, you are living in an amazing place. I have compiled my own list of a few places and connections that will help you get connected and find community much quicker.

 Parenting Groups (online and offline)
 • Mother’s Connection • I joined this group when my son was 2-weeks-old. Most of the moms in the group took the Childbirth prep classes together, which was a plus. This class offered a lot of support, coaching and peer fellowship. Lactation support was provided as well as a lot of advice o child development and advice on issues all new moms face. More information
• Parents as Teachers - This free resources helps to provide the information, support and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life. The home visits and resources were priceless. My children and I really enjoyed learning from these amazing educators! Website
Mommy and Me
 • Story Time at the Haywood County Public Library - Awesome opportunity for children to increase their exposure to reading and for moms to connect. The Public Library is an amazing resource for new parents in the area and it should be on your priority list. Website
• Kindermusik • The kids and I absolutely loved this class. Music is such an important part of life for children and The Music Village was one of our favorite places to be. Lori Richards offers a free trial class for parents who want to try this amazing class. More information
• Mom’s of Haywood County - a must Like group for parents in Haywood county. This is the hub of information on all things from playdates to cosignment sales to advice from other parents. Like this group today

Church
My family attended New Covenant Church in Clyde. Services are at 9 & 11 a.m. New Covenant is a “community church.” They believe in being a blessing beyond the walls, which is very exciting. They have an amazing children’s ministy. My kids went to the nursery when they were as young as 6-weeks-old. They were loved on, prayed for and they had a lot of fun. New Covenant has many life groups available during the week, from a Photography group to all kinds of Bible Studies. They are a jewel and a blessing in the community. Website

Recreation
Canton Park • a free resource for family fun and exercise. They baby pool is perfect for kids 2 and under. The track around the park is 1.3 miles. I did a lot of running and walking there. Website 
Lake Junaluska • an awesome resource for the community. Be a part of holiday celebrations or just take a walk around the Lake. Website

Health Care
Haywood Women’s • all the doctors of Haywood Women’s gave me amazing care during my stay in Haywood County. They got to know my family well and we felt like they were part of our family. More information
Haywood Peds • they took amazing care of my kids. The hours are fantastic and the fact that they have a Canton office really helped me. I appreciate all the love and care my children received at Haywood Peds! Website
Life Counseling Center • I received awesome counseling services from their staff. I can say that the quality of my life truly improved. I recently interview Susan Marks, one of the counselors. Hear the Podcast here | Website
Waynesville Family Practice • this practice literally saved my life. I received amazing health care and education. My doctor not only treated me but she educated me on how to stay well. I am forever grateful. Website

Business Small Business Center • a great resource for business owners. No matter if you are starting or want continuing education, this is a place you need to visit. I taught several Social Media for Business classes there. Website

Amanhã

Wednesday • Memória (Português)

Thursday • The 1-2-3 Guide to Hiring Moving Companies

Read More

When Reality and Humor Meet

I had brilliant plans for my son's birthday. The invitations were sent, friends confirmed their presence and then, life happened. I found myself at home the day before the party with a to-do list and a sick husband. As we sang happy birthday my husband didn't feel any better so I took him to the ER that evening. He had a virus so we cancelled the party. Because LP's birthday cake (tres leches) was ready, I decided to take it to church and celebrate with his class. In my mind we'd have a pretty good crowd of 35 people but instead there were 10 people there at the time of this photo:

Real b-day party photo: kids looking lost, mom smiling.

Friends, my son's birthday was yet another lesson on flexibility when things don't go as planned. I had to ask myself, 'what's really important?' My husband's health is a priority, as well as making sure we celebrated my son's birthday. Believe it or not, the only thing the little boy had been asking for was 'aveia' (oatmeal). He got his aveia on his birthday, a family party as well as plenty time outside playing. He never noticed we had to cancel our celebration. His perspective is simpler than mine and I dare to say, richer.

God did give me the desires of my heart. My husband is feeling much better, I got to run a 5K that weekend (watch the video here) and I got to take this photo:

Official Birthday Picture

Having a family photo in front of the birthday cake is a big deal for me and God knows that. If the weekend couldn't get any more interesting, the baker misspelled his name on the cake. My first reaction was, 'good thing ain't nobody coming to the house so they won't see this.' My second reaction was, 'wait a minute, I can't have my son look at this cake 30 years from now and ask who is the boy we were celebrating.' I went to the church's kitchen, scraped the first letter with a knife and got a hold of the catchup so I got this:

yeah, that's ketchup but his name was spelled correctly

I know I ain't in control of the major events that happened that weekend but I felt I could manage the spelling of his name. When Reality and Humor met I was left thinking that after all was said and done I was only in control of my attitude.

My prayer is that God will continue to help me get on board with His plan, which is always better than mine (misspellings considered).

• Do you have problems accepting God's plan for your life? Please share.

Read More

Social Media and the Church

Don't Be!

As I go out in my community and teach about Social Media I realize there is a powerful force missing on the table: the church. I’m a Christian first and a church girl. I love going to church and I believe Social Media can add a lot to the effort that churches put into their local communities. While most budgets are being cut, reaching out through Social Networks is a great solutions for churches of every size. Here are my recommendations:

1. Update your website • All social media traffic should lead people to your website. It’s important to have an easy to navigate, updated website. People want to know the basics such as how to get there, what times do you meet, what programs do you have for children, etc. Put yourself in the visitor’s shoes and make sure your website meets their needs. The purpose is to reach new people.

2. Get a Facebook Page • notice, I said PAGE. Do not, do Not, DO NOT create a church page as a ‘person.’ Once you create your page, think about your settings when it comes to profanity block, photo tagging and posting ability. Also, remember to engage people while always driving the traffic to your website.

3. Get a Twitter Account • Increase your church’s visibility with Twitter. Even if your congregation is not hip with Twitter, remember that you are trying to reach outside of your walls.

4. Set up your Foursquare Account • You may be wandering what Foursquare is but there are many people all over the world who do. Foursquare is a great way to put your church in the digital map. I suggest you offer a special prize to the mayor of your church, who hopefully will be a guest.

5. Encourage your Pastor to be Social Media Savvy • When your pastor gets a blog, many people will read it. When your pastor tweets, people will RT. Talk to your pastor about social media and the importance of it. Even if she or he is not the person doing it, remember that having a Social Media presence through blogs and Podcasts for exemple really adds to your local church’s reach.

The good news of Jesus Christ can go far through Social Media. The service you offer your community can go far through Social Media. My hope is that you take advantage of this free resource and make an online impact for Jesus Christ.

Read More