A Prayer for Strengthening Family BondsBy Heidi Vegh  Bible Reading"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15 Listen or Read Below: Family is a precious gift from God. Our homes should be a place of comfort, nurturing, and leading others to a life with Jesus. Our priority is our relationship with Jesus, which strengthens us to serve our families well and brings us closer to each other. I am a mother of four in a blended family. Two of our children are in their last years of high school, and I feel an urgency to teach them all they need to know about living a life with Jesus. Over the years, we have strived to strengthen our bond with them and cultivate a safe space for them to ask hard questions.  As children grow and become more independent, meaningful family time becomes increasingly harder to have. When things start to change, we have to focus on the intentionality of creating spaces to build bonds. It can be easy to let things go and just accept them for how they are, but we must allow ourselves to recognize things that have slipped into the cracks of a busy life and make changes. God has been showing me lately that I can't give up on those bonding times. I can't just let them go, and I need to make changes, even big ones, in our lives to maintain opportunities for togetherness.  In Psalm 133:1, we read, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!"  If we feel our children naturally start to pull away, we need to ask God for wisdom in balancing their new freedoms while still sharing bonding moments. Perhaps that is planning trips, scheduling weekly family dinners, or making sure Sunday mornings are set aside for church and lunch. When God starts to pull at your heart and show you things that have slipped in your family life, it is time to listen. It is time to make hard changes where needed and it is time to prioritize family over any other obligation. Sometimes, this might be a little change, or sometimes, it might be life-changing. But all of it is worth it for the sake of family.  Each family is different, with different schedules and priorities, but when we allow the direction of the Lord to penetrate every aspect of our lives, we will find it simpler to include Him in our daily walks. It will be easier to hear His voice when He wants us to take action. When we show our children sacrifice in the name of Jesus and family, it teaches them what should be a priority in their own lives. If we model for them making hard changes or choices in the name of family and following Jesus that is something they will take with them into adult life.  Let's Pray: Lord, I lift my family to you. It is growing and changing and the opportunities for strengthening, bonding moments are few and far between. Lord, protect the hearts of my children and give me the wisdom to know what needs to be a priority. Speak to us as we seek to create spaces for strengthening. Show us things we need to set aside, let go of, or change. Teach us ways and give us creative ideas to strengthen our family. Help us cultivate a safe space in our home for our children to ask hard questions. Please give us wisdom in our answers and show us ways to love our children through hard things.  Strengthen our bond. Work powerfully in the time that we do get together and I pray that they can walk away from their childhood with tangible tools and wisdom in how to follow you and live a life for you. We know our children are watching us so give us humility as we make mistakes, and give us the strength to admit our faults and apologize. Move in our family, Lord. Pour your Holy Spirit into our lives and our home. Move in your power and change us. Move in all of our hearts and reveal to us the plans that you have for us. You are the glue for our family so forgive us Lord for allowing space for division or disunity. We pray for unity in our family, a strong bond that will carry through our whole life. Thank you Jesus for caring so deeply about each of our family members. Help us to grow in your love, serve you together, and be a light to those around us.In your precious name, we pray, amen. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Thomas Barwick Heidi Vegh is a writer, speaker, and ministry leader living in Western Washington. She is a remarried mother of four, navigating the blended family life after the loss of her first husband to cancer in 2013. She longs to use her writing as a way to encourage others who have experienced loss and guide them on the road to healing. She contributes to her blog found at www.mrsheidivegh.com , sharing stories and devotionals of faith stemming from her loss and healing, mothering, and her blended and complex family. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Creative Writing and English and is working on her first book. Heidi is the Women's Ministry Director at her local church and has a deep heart for sharing Jesus with women and encouraging them in their faith walk. When she is not writing, she loves to travel, read, craft, and experiment in the kitchen. Visit her Facebook and Instagram (@mrsheidivegh) to learn more. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! The post A Prayer for Strengthening Family Bonds – Your Daily Prayer – September 17 appeared first on GodUpdates.

September 17, 2024 Loss Doesn't Also Have To Take Our HopeLYSA TERKEURST Lee en español "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope." 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NIV) It's hard for me to share this story because I'm not ready to use my friend's name in the past tense. She was a wonderful friend. She is a wonderful friend. And she passed away very quickly after a severe diagnosis. I think I'm still in disbelief because she was such a bright light in this world, in my world, that nothing could extinguish all that goodness, joy, love, spunk, faithfulness and unending hope. I still want to call her and give her updates. We were in the middle of planning another trip together. We were in the middle of doing ministry work together. My life was finally taking a good turn after she'd prayed me through a decade of heartbreaks. She still had grandbabies being born and adventures she wanted to go on and so much wisdom she wanted to share with all of us. And then right in the middle of all of that life, suddenly an illness slammed the brakes on everything, and conversations were filled with words like "cancer" and "tumors" and "treatments" and "prayers for a miracle." I miss my friend Lisa so much. I can't talk about her without crying. And as I process my grief, I've encountered more hard questions I have for God: Why her?  Why this special person who brought such good into every life she touched?  She honored You, God, with her whole heart, and she lived out Your love in such beautiful ways. How could any of this be part of a good plan? My wrestling is compounded by the unfairness of her life ending while others who cause such destruction and evil are physically healthy and free to keep hurting people. I know God is patient, wanting everyone to repent and turn from their sin. And I believe His patience with all of us is part of His goodness. But it hurts so much that my friend was taken. I've made peace with the fact that I don't understand and won't get answers to all my questions. But I still cry and wrestle with what seems so unfair to me. Can you relate? The only way I'm making peace with this right now is to go back and ask myself, What is true about the heart of God? What I believe about God's true nature will affect how I process the hard things that happen in life. I don't understand why my friend Lisa was taken, but here's what I do know: She loved God and was confident in God's love for her. For Lisa, trusting God was never about what she was facing - her confidence was in the consistent faithfulness He displayed throughout her life. Just the other day, I turned to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, which says, "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him" (NIV). Lisa didn't want this diagnosis. She didn't want to suffer. She was grieving, and those of us who love her were as well. But none of us were grieving as people who had no hope. To see how Lisa managed her grief and hope was beautiful. She was able to acknowledge that her situation stunk, but she was still open to the joys of life. Honestly, in my mind, being open to the joys of life even during hardships feels like a beautiful definition of "hope." If we believe God loves us so much that He gave His only Son to die for us, why would His love stop on the threshold of devastating life circumstances and things that don't make sense to us? His love doesn't stop there. So our hope shouldn't stop there. My prayer is that the more I believe in the absolute love God has for me, for Lisa and for all of us ... the more I can trust Him. I believe the same for you, too, friend. Lord Jesus, I know no matter what I face, hope is possible. Help me hold together both sorrow and joy ... grief and celebration ... pain and victory ... as I cling to You to carry me through this season. I trust You, God. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS Trust is the oxygen of all human relationships. But it’s also what trips you up after you've been burned. As you experience broken trust, sometimes you're left asking, If God let this happen, can He even be trusted? Lysa TerKeurst understands these struggles. That's why she wrote her new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don't. Through each page, Lysa offers practical and biblical wisdom for developing peace that isn’t dependent on unpredictable people, circumstances and experiences. When you preorder now, you can start reading the first few chapters before the book even releases! Preorder here! ENGAGE Find real-life encouragement when you connect with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram. FOR DEEPER STUDY 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (NIV). How does remembering eternal perspectives renew your hope? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Loss Doesn’t Also Have To Take Our Hope –  Encouragement for Today – September 17, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Originally formed in the early 90s, Texan alt.rock band Fastball are back with album number nine

Bywater Call are purveyors of good ol'-fashioned Americana and southern blues rock – from Toronto, Canada

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Autumn, the season of abundance, arrives with the Autumn Equinox on the 22nd of September. This a period when the lengths of day and night are about equal. It’s a season of changing leaves, brisk air, and plentiful harvests of pumpkins, cranberries, brussels sprouts, and apples. As the weather cools, we revert to our routines in preparation for the chillier days ahead. In contrast to our modern signs such as back-to-school sales and pumpkin spice everything, ancient civilizations recognized the changing seasons by observing the position of the sun. The sun rises due east and sets due west during the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, heralding longer evenings and declining daylight. This transition has traditionally been marked by the reaping of harvest crops. Here are five creative ideas to help you celebrate the fall equinox in your own unique way, inspired by these old traditions. Harvest potluck: Gather with friends and family to celebrate abundance The traditional Chinese ritual of honoring the harvest moon, the full moon closest to the fall equinox, dates back to the Shang dynasty. This custom is carried forward in modern harvest festivals, where the successful harvest of rice and wheat is celebrated with moonlit gatherings that include shared meals under the night sky. Equinox celebration Idea: Host a harvest potluck with your loved ones to celebrate the season’s bounty. Each guest is invited to bring a meal made with their favorite harvest ingredients. Sunrise yoga: Finding harmony with nature  The term “equinox” derives from the Latin words “aequi” and “nox,” which mean “equal night.” This notion represents the balance that Earth experiences during the equinox, when day and night are roughly equal in length, lasting about 12 hours each. Equinox celebration idea: Celebrate the equinox with a morning yoga session that helps you align with nature’s cycle. As you move through yoga positions, you’ll release muscle tension while revitalizing your body. Find a sunny area at home or attend an outdoor sunrise yoga class. Reflection on the equinox: A time for meditation The vernal and autumnal equinoxes are considered significant dates in the agricultural calendar. The planting season begins in the spring, and crops are nourished during the summer months. As the weather cools and the days become shorter in the fall, the crop is harvested and stored for the winter. Equinox celebration idea: Create a pleasant spot, called a “hyggekrog” in Danish, where you can reflect on your own harvests for the Equinox. As the year comes to a close, consider what bloomed in the spring and thrived during the summer, contributing to the bounty you’ll enjoy in the fall. Consider how your efforts have nourished different elements of your life since the vernal equinox in March. If you are so inclined, write down your autumn thoughts and aspirations so you can revisit them during the winter solstice. Connect with nature’s bounty by fall foraging Our ancestors relied on foraging for sustenance before the development of agricultural communities. Acorns and walnuts offered calorie-dense sustenance, including protein, in the fall. Equinox celebration idea: Go on an autumn foraging trip to immerse yourself in the bounty of the season. While admiring the brilliant autumn foliage, gather berries, tree roots, and nuts to add to your fall dinners. Cattails, for example, have a starchy substance inside their long brown rootstocks that is great for thickening your favorite fall soups and stews. You can also gather beautiful leaves and pinecones to add a natural touch to your decor. Gratitude campfire: Celebrate the seasons The Pagan community celebrates the autumn equinox with the Mabon celebration, which honors the change of seasons. Mabon rites emphasize the balance of light and dark, symbolizing the approaching winter darkness. Fire plays an important part, marking the transition from the blazing foliage of autumn to the extended, dark nights of the winter solstice. Equinox celebration idea: Commemorate the start of the season with an equinox campfire. Form a gratitude circle around the fire with your closest friends and family. Each person can share what they’re most thankful for this holiday season, reflecting on how it’s helped them reach their own personal equilibrium. Of course, if you live in a region that is at high risk for wildfires, then a simple gratitude circle without the campfire is a safe and wonderful alternative.The post Getting ready for autumn: 5 ways to celebrate the autumnal equinox first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Farmers around the world have long used chemical treatments to safeguard their seeds from pests and disease. However, a new chemical-free alternative is gaining popularity in Sweden, Norway, and elsewhere. ThermoSeed, developed by former researcher Kenneth Alness, treats seeds with steam rather than chemicals, making it an environmentally safe and effective alternative to conventional treatments. This unique strategy is already making waves in Scandinavian agriculture, and Alness, 67, has set his sights on taking the idea globally, especially in Asia. Steam treatment: a safer and cleaner approach ThermoSeed’s technique, which uses intense bursts of steam to kill pests while protecting seeds, has received accolades for its environmental benefits and improved working conditions. Farmer Gustaf Silén, who embraced the practice, highlighted how it lowers the dust associated with chemical treatments. “The bags with the seed, when you open them, can be quite dusty, and you get this all over you. That is not the case with ThermoSeed—it’s much easier to handle,” Silén said. One notable advantage is the possibility of reusing unused seeds. Steam-treated seeds, unlike chemically treated seeds, can be safely fed to livestock or sold, cutting down on waste disposal expenses. “You don’t have to throw them away; they become valuable again,” Silén added. Inspiration from the past, technology for the future A 1950s farming book Alness discovered in his father-in-law’s bookshelf sparked the concept for ThermoSeed. The book recounted how farmers used to treat seeds with hot water before the introduction of artificial pesticides. Although organic farmers have kept this process alive, it is inefficient due to the expensive cost of drying the seeds afterward. “I saw that it had potential and it should be good for nature, good for the climate,” Alness stated. “And I thought it was worth testing my wild ideas—that’s where it started.” After years of refinement, ThermoSeed now produces yields comparable to chemically treated seeds while eliminating the downsides of previous hot water treatments. Beyond organic farming Initially, ThermoSeed was only used by organic farmers, but Alness eventually recognized its larger potential. “I think it took five, six, seven years before I realized its potential for conventional farming, not only organic,” Alness said. His enthusiasm rose as he realized how ThermoSeed may replace chemical treatments in conventional agriculture, greatly lowering chemical consumption and environmental impact. The Swedish agricultural co-op Lantmännen, which handles roughly half of Sweden’s seed supply, adopted the method in 2008. Since then, an estimated 3,000 cubic meters of chemicals have been dodged. In 2011, Norwegian agricultural co-op Felleskjøpet, which manages over half of Norway’s certified cereal seeds, introduced ThermoSeed following six years of intensive testing. Overcoming farmers’ skepticism Despite ThermoSeed’s obvious environmental benefits, not all farmers are eager to adopt non-chemical practices. According to Bjørn Stabbetorp, CEO of Felleskjøpet’s Agricultural Division, farmers tend to be wary about non-chemical solutions. He recognized that chemical treatments have been effective for many years, making it difficult to persuade farmers to try alternatives. “Non-chemical solutions have to really prove that they are competitive before the farmers are convinced,” she said. Fortunately, following a focused introduction, ThermoSeed has proven to be an effective and practical alternative. Looking ahead: scaling for global impact As Alness looks ahead, he sees new hurdles, such as the high cost of ThermoSeed equipment and the need to scale the technology for smaller markets. To make the approach more accessible globally, particularly in Asia, Alness is developing a scaled-down version of the machine. Despite recently selling the ThermoSeed license to Lantmännen BioAgri, Alness has no intentions to retire. His focus remains on expanding this chemical-free, sustainable technology to farmers all across the world, assuring that they, too, can minimize their dependency on pesticides without sacrificing their crops.The post Steam-powered seed treatment gains popularity as a chemical-free alternative in agriculture first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

God is the only giver and taker of life, and as long as you have breath, He has a purpose for your life.