Flourish-Meant: You Were Meant to Live Abundantly

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the earth Not a creature was resting in the peace of love's worth; The tyrant had hung any rivals who'd dare, In fear the Messiah soon would be there;

Inn guests were nestled all snug in their beds, Worn out by travel from their toes to their heads; The innkeeper sent one poor couple away. "No room here, but you can sleep in the hay."

When out in the fields there arose such a clatter, Shepherds fell to their knees fearing what was the matter. Up in the heavens appeared such great light They shielded their eyes and quaked at the sight.

The glory of angels beamed from the skies And shone the lustre of mid-day in everyone's eyes, When, what to their wondering eyes should appear, But a herald declaring that Christ was now here.

With a song to herald the birth of their King, Angels invited them to see Jesus and sing. More rapid than eagles they sought out the star, And fell again to their knees when they reached the barn;

Now, Mary! Now, Joseph! Descendants of David! Oh, prophets! Oh, scriptures! Fulfilled in our Savior! To the top of the mountains! To the ends of the earth! Salvation has come through this glorious birth!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, A set of wise men hastened to follow signs in the sky, So from the far east, on camels they flew, With gifts for a king, priest, and sacrifice, too.

They offered the Christ child a chest full of gold For he was the king the prophets foretold They also gave frankincense, an odd gift for a mother Yet her child was the high priest above any other.

The offering of myrrh proved most somber of all, Through his death, this son would redeem our fall; With a cross and our sins nailed to his flesh, He would die for our sins, then rise afresh.

Jesus' eyes -- must've twinkled! His dimples how merry! Cheeks sweet like roses, and a nose like a cherry! Love in his Word drew his mouth like a bow, He smiled at his visitors; for all he did know.

For on the first night of Christmas, the Word became man, He filled all our needs when he stretched out his hands He surrendered his life so he could save ours With the gift of new birth, we have no end of hours.

Eternal life awaits all who receive The heart of this Christ Child because they believe. If you listen, he whispers to your spirit this night HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL WHO INHERIT MY LIFE!

Have you considered homeschooling, but worried whether you could pull it off?

Yvette Hampton shares her journey from opposing home education to standing as one of its strongest supporters. She and her husband once vowed never to homeschool their children. After circumstances required Yvette to educate her four-year-old from home, she attended a homeschool convention with her husband. The experience transformed their position from opposing home education to advocating for it.

Yvette expresses her concerns about how public education could indoctrinate children with a secular worldview. She also notes that she wanted to ensure only trustworthy and like-minded people would educate her kids.

Hampton acknowledges that homeschooling does not guarantee a child will live out the values or faith taught by parents.

Yvette addresses several myths she once believed about home education. She first refutes the idea that parents will prove inadequate to properly teach their children. With a wealth of available resources and supportive communities, she states that parents can be well equipped to teach their kids. She also refutes the long-held idea that homeschooled children lack socialization opportunities. She explains that families now have access to cooperative networks, team sports, and local resource centers.

Hampton notes the value of homeschool conventions, state homeschool organizations, Homeschool Legal Defense Association, and local homeschooling resource centers where parents can obtain materials and kids can gather for group experiences. She explains the nature of co-ops, in which parents share the education of their children by teaching from their strengths and kids can participate in group classes.

To obtain a free copy of her Homeschool Survival Kit, access the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast, or watch the new documentary film, Schoolhouse Rocked, visit https://schoolhouserocked.com/

If you are experiencing stress or anxiety, check out my courses on Subdue Stress and Anxiety or Your Stress-Less and Joy-Blessed Holiday Season!

Have you ever wanted to make yourself (or your spouse) disappear during an argument in your marriage? Do you struggle with conflict or distance in your relationship? What does it take to create magic in a marriage?

Illusionist and Pastor Danny Ray joins us to share secrets of how to create a magical marriage. Along with his wife, he examined how the principles of magic performances overlap with Biblical insights on how to improve our relationships.

We discuss the myths and mentalism tools related to mind-reading. In my counseling practice, couples often came to my office believing they had mind-reading powers. They suspected one another of negative attitudes, thoughts, and intentions. Instead of having conversations to clarify their true feelings and open ways to meet needs, their self-guarding, negative assumptions built walls.

Danny Ray notes how the mentalist practices of looking for clues about yourself could instead be used by spouses to serve one another in love. He offers the example of noting what your spouse enjoys and how they feel in order to bless them.

We discuss the key principle of seeking the best in one another in loving and merciful attitudes. Discovering clues about your spouse could lead you to serve them in ways that create awe and wonder in your relationship.

Danny mentions the principle of misdirection in performing illusions and emphasizes the importance of focusing on the right things in your marriage.

Creating a Magical Marriage cites 6 principles to improve communication and relationships. Danny Ray and his wife also relate how to overcome loss and crisis when it could otherwise prove devastating to your marriage.

We discuss the critical nature of planning your life together so you begin with a result in mind. Every step leads in a specific direction and determines where you end up. We discuss how scheduled and improvised performances depend upon practice and planning.

Danny and I also discuss the importance of paying attention to your spouse. Set aside distractions and focus on the other person's heart. Paying attention serves as a rewarding investment in your relationships.

Danny Ray emphasizes the critical nature of forgiveness and grace. He quotes Ephesians 4:32 and Proverbs 19:11. Since the Bible calls us to forgive as Christ forgave us, we benefit most by choosing to forgive before an offense occurs. Danny shares his personal story of strengthening forgiveness as a muscle.

We explore the issue of always and never statements, noting how exaggeration distorts partial truths into destructive lies.

Danny encourages spouses not to see one another as enemies. Instead, consider your partner as one who fights battles back to back with you against the opposition. Marriage never allows one spouse to win when the other loses. If one spouse loses, you both lose.

Danny also notes the devastation pornography causes to marriage. He shares how secrets create division in marriage and prevent each spouse from fulfilling their identity as intended by God.

We discuss the powerful support counseling, mentoring, and fellowship can provide to heal and strengthen marriages.

Danny Ray emphasizes the importance of choosing to do what it takes each day to create a great marriage.

Don't miss Danny Ray's December 2,2021 appearance on the Pen and Teller Fool Us show! Watch the replay and other performances on Danny Ray's YouTube Channel. Connect with Danny Ray for all of his resources, including his new book, No, I Can't Make Your Wife Disappear, at https://dannyraymagic.com/

If marriage or any other aspect of your life triggers stress and anxiety, check out my courses on Subdue Stress and Anxiety or Your Stress-Less and Joy-Blessed Holiday Season!

Have your kids struggled with fear and insecurity? What can parents do when their little ones are afraid?

Today's children suffer from anxiety, insecurity, and all forms of fear more than any time in recorded history. Separation from family members and friends heightens the sense of anxiety in kids. How can we respond to the impact of the anxiety epidemic on our youngest loved ones?

Michelle Medlock Adams, New York Times bestselling author of over 100 books, discusses how parents can encourage children to talk about their fears.

Children often believe they cannot do big things because they're too small. In Daschund Through the Snow, a small dog wants to be known for something greater. He suffers from bullying due to his size and doubts his worth. In the end, he demonstrates a timeless message of value and courage to which children and adults can relate.

Michelle Medlock Adams uses a charming Christmas tale to show children they can do big things no matter their size.

Even though this children's book remains lighthearted and fun, Michelle's story touches on the issues of insecurity and bullying.

We discuss how parents can affirm their children by pointing out how they are special because of the gifts God has created within them. Our conversation reveals how a story can uplift children and help them connect with their emotions. We note the importance of reading stories to open lines of communication about the issues kids face. Reading with children also fosters bonding at an exceptional level not accomplished by other activities.

Michelle Medlock Adams offers parents a free activity packet, downloadable from her website. She also shares several great ways to bless our children during Christmas, such as reading the Nativity, listing 12 books of Christmas each year, and sharing an annual gratitude conversation.

We discuss how themes of Daschund Through the Snow reflect certain aspects of the original Christmas story.

Connect with Michelle Medlock Adams on social media at inwritergirl or on her website at https://michellemedlockadams.com/

To win a copy of Daschund Through the Snow, subscribe to Tina Yeager's newsletter at tinayeager.com or the Flourish-Meant Podcast (wherever you listen to podcasts) and comment on the podcast or social media to let her know! The winner will be announced on Saturday, December 11, 2021!

Enjoy your best Christmas ever with the new course, Your Stress-Less and Joy-Blessed Holiday Season.

Have you ever struggled to find your purpose? If you've doubted your potential or wrestled with discovering the reason for your life, today's podcast reveals how every heart can grasp their God-given purpose.

A Professional Certified Life Coach, Life Purpose Coach®, Recovery Coach, and Grief-loss Coach, Darlene Larson passionately coaches women that are harried, hurting, and hungry, guiding them to the freedom that discovering their life purpose brings. As founder of Hearts with a Purpose, https://heartswithapurpose.com/ Darlene coaches women around the world.

Darlene shares her testimony of facing hopelessness and suicidality after the death of two family members and decades of an emotionally abusive marriage. She highlights the turning point when she rose from pain and victim mentality to pursue a life of purpose.

We discuss how to starve the negative scripts we speak to ourselves such as "I'm not good enough" or "I can't." Darlene shares Scriptures to guide us from hopelessness into fulfillment.

Darlene highlights the value of community and learning, emphasizing a growth-centered mindset. We explore how to overcome fear, shame, and the emotional wounds inflicted during years of abuse. Darlene encourages others through her story of walking away from the bondage of shame and learning instead to respond in a spirit of love.

We examine the layered nature of the healing journey. Darlene notes how she continued to seek life coaching after years of counseling. We discuss the importance and value of life coaching as an ongoing resource of support. Darlene also mentions the helpfulness of groups like Divorce Care and Grief Share.

Darlene emphasizes how important it is to reject shame-based content and advice. We agree how filtering your input remains vital throughout the healing journey and beyond.

Darlene advises listeners to stay moldable, trust God with your story, seek wise counsel and coaching, keep believing the truth that God has more for you in store, and make sure your best YESes are aligned with God's perfect purpose for your life.

We define the term "victim mentality" and discuss how to move out of this stagnation into reclaiming power and activating growth.

Stay connected with Darlene Larson at https://heartswithapurpose.com/?sfw=pass1636660758 to receive her downloadable book or schedule a coaching session.

If your purpose includes creative dreams, check out The Well Conference in Michigan.

If you're struggling with stress or anxiety, please check out our Ten-Minute Turnaround courses at https://ten-minute-turn-arounds.teachable.com/courses

Has your life been affected by alcohol or drug abuse? Have you ever wondered if an addict can recover and heal? Drug and alcohol addiction plagues our world, devastating those with active abuse issues, families of addicts, and entire communities.

Recent statistics show an annual rise in drug-related deaths from 70,000 one year to over 93,000 the next. And the date doesn't even include alcohol-related losses.

CEO of S2L Recovery and Executive Producer & Director of The Forgotten Pandemic, Pastor Adam Comer, shares his personal story of recovery on today's episode of Flourish-Meant. Though many fall prey to addiction after struggling with personal trauma histories, Pastor Comer reveals how his story proves that no lifestyle or family functionality immunizes us against this unbiased enemy. Addiction can affect anyone from any background.

Adam relates his struggle with recovery in secular treatment models and reveals the hope he discovered through a Christ-centered recovery program. Instead of defining himself as an addict, S2L emphasized his identity in Christ as a new creation. He describes his journey from receiving treatment to offering hope to others as a staff member of the residential program.

Adam Comer's story testifies to the power of redemption and renewal in the darkest and most hopeless seasons of our lives.

He cites the S2L Recovery slogan, "From the rooms of recovery to the revival of a nation."

Adam offers insight and advice to family members of those in active addiction. He encourages them to "make it as easy as possible to walk into a place of recovery and as hard as possible to stay in active addiction." Pastor Comer urges supportive family and friends to set boundaries and follow through. He acknowledges that this seems like the hardest thing in the world to do when the person in active addiction has become a master manipulator.

Adam underscores the importance of standing firm by stating, "you could be enabling them to death."

Addiction is a war of life and death at every level.

We discuss the difference between Christ-centered and secular treatment programs. Adam shared a 60% recovery rate with the Christ-centered treatment offered at S2L, which is over FIVE TIMES the national average achieved through secular recovery programs.

We discuss the common reasons why people resist saying something or attempting to help.

"Silence is deadly. People are dying in droves," Adam states.

Pastor Comer urges the church to step up and serve its purpose as a resource for redemption and hope. S2L offers a curriculum for churches to use with weekly groups at https://s2l.net/ .

To watch the documentary film, The Forgotten Pandemic, featuring Zach Williams, Neil Anderson, and Casting Crowns' Mark Hall, visit https://theforgottenpandemic.com/.

For information about the residential recovery program at S2L, visit https://s2lrecovery.org/

Check out S2L's YouTube channel, daily devotional, and Life After Addiction Podcast at https://www.youtube.com/c/S2LStudio1

If you're struggling with stress or anxiety, please check out our ten-minute turnaround courses, Subdue Stress and Anxiety and Your Stress-Less and Joy-Blessed Holiday Season at https://ten-minute-turn-arounds.teachable.com/courses

What would you do if someone took your children and accused you of abuse you never committed? Are you aware that family law does not respect constitutional rights such as innocence when no proof of guilt exists?

Rachel Bruno, an advocate for families, shares how a shield of faith protected her family in an agonizing court battle to regain custody of her children. Rachel shares the horrific story of the removal of her children after seeking care for injuries inflicted upon her infant by a nanny. She describes the harrowing tale of discovering the frequency with which social services remove children from parental care with little or no substantiation of abuse. She also notes the challenges an innocent parent faces when attempting to restore her family.

Rachel was evicted from her own home and treated as a criminal while the perpetrator of abuse was never charged. Her attorney informed her that family law does not respect constitutional rights and parents remain presumed guilty unless somehow proven innocent.

Rachel relates her story of forgiveness and how she shifted her focus to serve a cause greater than her own needs. She found purpose in her pain and embarked upon a mission to rescue families from destruction.

Today's episode reveals how Rachel experienced a triumphant miracle and how the Holy Spirit led and protected her from bitterness and despair.

Learn how to support family preservation, and hear Rachel's testimony about rising to serve as an advocate for families.

Connect with Rachel Bruno at https://rachelbruno.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrunospeaks/

Would you like to support families via Operation Christmas Child? Visit https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/the-greatest-journey/ and join the Spark Media Network in serving families around the world to meet their needs.

If you're experiencing stress or anxiety, check out our comprehensive resources available through two new courses at https://ten-minute-turn-arounds.teachable.com/

Have you ever struggled with how to balance your work and home life?

Multi-business owner, mother of 3, and author Bethany Jett reveals the secrets of how to perform your best in your career while maintaining quality relationships with your family.

We dive into the conversation with an initial definition of balance. Listen in to our chat to learn the truth versus myths about this nebulous idea of multi-tasking.

As an entrepreneur who works from home while parenting three boys, Bethany offers insights into the unique challenges of home-based businesses. She also provides tips on how to navigate busier seasons of work or parenting and manage them without burnout. We delve into the ways and whys of avoiding the pitfalls of doing too many things.

We share insights about how to set and maintain priorities. Bethany reveals the importance of setting boundaries. She offers astounding wisdom about how reducing your work hours can increase the quality and amount of your productivity.

An expert on planners, Bethany Jett recommends using a digital or paper system to maintain your schedule effectively. She also discusses how to determine the top items to write into your agenda. We also chat about the critical aspect of remaining flexible.

Bethany shares how to choose your most productive routine and include time for rest and renewal. She recommends guarding the morning hours and leveraging them to optimize the rest of the day.

Connect with Bethany to get a wealth of amazing resources at https://www.bethanyjett.com/. Her newest release is Navigating Minefields: A Young Man's Blueprint for Success on Life's Battlefield

Visit the Spark Media Network to discover other great podcasts, like Raising Christian Kids.

If you're struggling with overwhelm, stress, or anxiety, check out our ten-week, whole-life course to set you free. Subdue Stress and Anxiety presents expertise from 15 presenters in only ten minutes a day!

Do you struggle to hold onto joy during the holiday season?

The call to sing carols and celebrate often magnifies the pain of those who suffer during this season. Christine Trimpe offers solutions to how to find Christmas joy while "the weary world rejoices," as the favorite hymn so aptly states.

In this episode of Flourish-Meant, we discuss the disappointments triggered by a cultural emphasis on circumstantial happiness. Christine Trimpe and I explore the ways to anchor yourself in the good news of great joy through intentional joy seeking instead. We reveal how to stay focused on joy when facing dark circumstances.

In this episode, we also contemplate the season leading to Christmas. Advent season, as some denominations call the four weeks leading to December 25th, inspires us to consider the birth and final, triumphant appearance of Jesus Christ.

Christine explains how to center your mindset and heart on scripture each day in what she calls "Bible and beans" time.

We also share recommendations for gifts to maximize the joy and minimize the strain of Christmas.

Join Christine Trimpe's devotional journey which centers on her book, Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke: A Christmas to Calvary Advent Countdown and begins December 1, 2021.

For more podcasts like Flourish-Meant, check out the Spark Media Podcast Network.

If you're struggling with stress or anxiety this season, check out our comprehensive, ten-minute-a-day course, Subdue Stress and Anxiety! Fifteen experts offer all the tools you need to overcome stress and anxiety in just ten minutes a day!

Brief Bio: Christine Trimpe is an author, speaker, and joy-seeker. Christine recently went on a joy-filled journey of healing of her body, mind, and spirit. This transformation story overflows from her heart with a passion to share the Good News of great joy with you today. Her transformation story and Bible and Beans blog can be found at ChristineTrimpe.com.

Early Christmas Bonus Chapters gift: Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke BONUS CHAPTERS

Order Christine's book here: Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke Shop

Connect with Christine:

Contact email: [email protected]

Website: www.christinetrimpe.com

Social media links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristineTrimpeLLC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachchristinetrimpe/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KetoChristineMI

YouTube: @ChristineTrimpe https://youtube.com/christinetrimpe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/joyfulketolife/

Does your life ever feel empty? Do you long for a life of abundance and joy?

We yearn to experience fulfillment and live in a way that matters. Yet the dark circumstances and negativity of the world around us can press in and erode our hope. We focus on what we don't have and seem unable to attain. Our culture garners attention to an impoverished and deprived mindset, in which we remain fearful, self-protective, and isolated. Instead of flourishing, we shrink away from our potential.

In today's episode of Flourish-Meant, Andy Lee shares what it means to live abundantly.

If we apply key principles to our lives, we can maximize our positive influence and fulfill our potential.

Andy Lee shares specific ways to anchor our daily habits and lifestyle so we live our best.

To connect with Andy and get her new book, Radiant Influence, visit her website at https://wordsbyandylee.com/. Join her on Instagram for live inspiration and study guides at https://www.instagram.com/wordsbyandylee/channel/ and watch her videos on YouTube.

If you're stressed or anxious, check out the new Subdue Stress and Anxiety Course on Teachable! Fifteen experts offer bonuses, evidence-based techniques, and whole-life application tips to transform your life in just ten minutes a day. This ten-week course comes with a printable workbook and a downloadable resource list.

If you enjoyed this episode of Flourish-Meant, visit the Spark Media Network to find more amazing podcasts like Gospel Spice with Stephanie Rousselle!