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We're all part of a conspiracy. It's just a matter of which side.

Conspiracies are nothing new. They didn't start with the 2020 election, the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., or the President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

There's a long history of conspiracies (or related theories) involving leaders.

Julius Caesar was assassinated because of a conspiratorial belief he was going to proclaim himself king. Saul hunted David for years because he was convinced David was conspiring to overthrow him.

But the greatest conspiracy of all? When evil tried to overthrow God. Although they were kicked out of heaven, evil didn't quit. They just moved to a different tactic and place. Hurting God's kids and turning them against Him on a planet called Earth.

Join in as we launch into a discussion centered in Dallas Willard's excellent book, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Get original content, recommended resources, and helpful links with the weekly newsletter, Hi(Impact).

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Attitudes are like smells. You can’t force them to leave a room when they’re bad, but they can force you to walk out. When they’re good, you can’t make them stay, but you sure don’t want to leave.

One of the greatest mistakes parents make, often unintentionally, is placing more emphasis on the beliefs they want to instill in their children rather than the emotional and attitudinal environment they create at home. Yet this is one of the most shaping forces in a child's life, not just in childhood but adulthood.

Children learn not only from what they are told but also from the emotional atmosphere surrounding them, which will shape their expectations of relationships and interactions throughout their lives.

We need to be as thoughtful in evaluating the attitudes we bring -- and allow -- into our homes as our children's food, toys, media, friends, and activities. But how?

Learn 10 ways you can put attitudes in their right place. Help your children grow their security, identity, self-control, self-awareness, and relational skills by putting these ten techniques into practice.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

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What the parrot saw changed his attitude. We can follow his example, especially in these difficult times.

Join me as we consider the connection between our attitudes and the challenges we face, particularly in the context of a heated election. We can -- and must -- choose our attitudes with care, following the instructions Paul gives to the Christians in Philippi, Ephesus, and Rome.

Attitudes always lead to actions. These actions will open or slam doors for others who need to come to Truth. We can embody a spirit of grace and understanding, ensuring that our actions align with the values we profess, especially during times of societal tension.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

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#election2024

Discover the profound connection between creativity and our spiritual identity as we explore how to nurture creativity in our children!

Creativity is not just a skill for a special few but a fundamental trait rooted in being made in God's image. Through engaging stories, including the origins of Play-Doh, we learn how grit and belief in one's creative abilities can lead to remarkable outcomes.

As parents, it's crucial to encourage our children to embrace their creative impulses, whether through art, music, or imaginative play, to affirm their God-given characteristics. Join us as we unpack the importance of fostering a creative mindset in our kids, ensuring they grow into empowered individuals ready to contribute their unique gifts to the world.

Takeaways:

• Creativity is a spiritual trait that reflects our divine design and image.
• Encouraging creativity in children helps them grow into empowered adults.
• There are many forms of creativity beyond arts and crafts that should be nurtured.
• Parents should provide diverse creative activities to help children discover their unique talents.
• Limiting creativity to specific skills can harm a child's self-perception and potential.
• Creativity is essential for experiencing and revealing God's character in our lives.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

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#artsandcrafts

Two weeks before a momentous election in the United States, I'm going political -- and Biblical.

Citizenship, for the Christian, is a responsibility to steward. We may feel like burying this "talent" in the ground because it's too hard to engage in the rough & tumble of political commerce. But it's not an option if we are to walk in faithfulness. As Christians, we are called to seek knowledge and wisdom actively in all areas of life. Understanding the tension between God's sovereignty and human free will is crucial for informed decision-making.

Although it wasn't planned this way, the wrap-up of the series on the Beatitudes is the perfect way to discuss this responsibility. Like all truths, balancing tensions is necessary.

We must live, not merely hear or mouth, the Beatitudes during this divisive season. We must remember the poverty of all people, mourn for the world's brokenness, and extend mercy, rather than simply seeking political victory.

We must ask ourselves hard questions such as: How much time is spent in God's compared to the news? Are we more involved in prayer or polls? Do we hunger more for righteousness or political victory?

F.W. Boreham's essay from My Christmas Book, is especially worth remembering! What matters more? Battles or babies? Politics or people?

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

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#lifeskey3

#election2024

#christianvoting

The whimsical pushmi-pullyu's from Doctor Dolittle is a great metaphor for the internal struggles everyone faces in the human desire to be understood while also grappling with the fear of being truly known. We explore how this duality illustrates that while children yearn for connection and understanding, they may simultaneously resist it due to vulnerability concerns. We can -- and must -- embrace this complexity, advocating for intentional communication and efforts to deepen mutual understanding, even amid resistance.

Takeaways:

• The pushmi-pullyu illustrates the internal conflict between our desires to be understood and the fear of being truly known.
• Parents must engage intentionally with their children to help them feel deeply known, beyond just being caregivers.
• Children have a deep need to be understood, which can lead to emotional struggles if ignored.
• Understanding one’s child requires effort, time, and a willingness to ask meaningful questions about their inner lives.
• Even close relationships can lead to feelings of being misunderstood, as shown in Jesus' interactions with his disciples.
• Being a parent means navigating the complexities of emotional needs, including the push and pull of wanting to be known.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

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I decided to become a drug addict while sitting in church in our regular pew, second row piano side. The same as Chonda Pierce!

Why? I needed a powerful testimony and growing up on a small Kansas farm didn't seem a likely path.

Nobody highlighted the compelling testimonies of "special speakers" who came through our church so kids would conclude the path to a powerful testimony was delving into a life of crime or addictions. But that's the conclusion I reached as a child. Fortunately, my brain matured, and I made better decisions.

But understanding the unintended consequences of our beliefs is necessary. Today's dive into the last Beatitude requires we tread carefully in what we teach -- directly and indirectly -- from these verses.

I attempt to do this as I emphasize the need for a respectful understanding of persecution, contrasting the experiences of believers in free societies with those facing genuine threats for their faith. This distinction is crucial as it underscores the importance of not trivializing the experiences of those who suffer deeply for their beliefs. I encourages you to adopt a nuanced perspective, acknowledging the harsh realities faced by many while also affirming that faithfulness is not synonymous with seeking out hardship.

Takeaways:

• Growing up in church led to a misunderstanding of what constitutes a powerful testimony.
• Persecution, while real for many, should not be glamorized as a necessary path for faith.
• Jesus teaches that the kingdom of heaven is for those who are persecuted, but not exclusively.
• We should focus more on faithfulness in living out our beliefs than seeking persecution.
• Our testimonies, even if not dramatic, are significant and can impact others profoundly.
• We must appreciate the freedoms we have while also caring for those who face real persecution.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

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#persecution

#unintendedconsequences

Rest and recreation play a crucial role in developing humility and nurturing our character. We explore the profound connection between our need for rest and our overall well-being—physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

Drawing from biblical principles, particularly the example set by God during creation, the episode highlights the importance of intentionally incorporating rest into our lives and the lives of our children. It underscores that rest is not laziness, but a vital practice that fosters resilience and creativity. By establishing healthy boundaries around rest, we can model and teach our children the significance of balancing activity with rejuvenation, ultimately preparing them for a thriving adult life.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

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#freeplay

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" was -- and still is -- a revolutionary statement in two ways.

First, as part of the Beatitudes, this meant bringing people to peace with God. For centuries only priests had been entrusted with the role of being intermediaries between individuals and God. To entrust ordinary people with the call to help bring people into relationship with God was revolutionary. It's still Christ's call to us today.

Secondly, for anyone to be known as a "son of God" (which applied to both men and women), was radical. To be God's priest, king, prophet, or servant wasn't new. But his child? That signaled a transformative relationship of tremendous intimacy.

We are still able to have this close of a relationship with God and invite others to do the same!

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

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Humans have a legitimate need for security -- food, clothing, and shelter. Jesus told his followers in the Sermon on the Mount God knows people need these things. Jesus said the "lilies of the field neither toil nor spin (work)," but he didn't add "neither should you."

Poverty can lead to one type of idolization; while prosperity can lead to another. How do we teach our children to be responsible in meeting the need for security for themselves and others, without going down either of the wrong paths?

That's we unpack today as we continue the series on teaching children to adopt the First and Second Great Commandments as their framework for life.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

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