3 Ways to Cultivate Peace in your Heart and Home

November 30, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

Marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts to humankind. But also, quite possibly, the most challenging relationship we will face on this side of heaven. Whether you’re newlyweds or 30 years in, marriage requires intentionality, commitment, and dedication for it to flourish and be the refuge God intended it to be. When our marriages are strong and healthy, that’s exactly what it is—a refuge of peace in your heart and home. After 25 years of marriage, I’ve discovered the importance of guarding my marriage from the things that might destroy it by intentionally cultivating peace in our home. Here are three ways you can do the same for your marriage.

1. Identify the Pitfalls to Cultivating Peace. “Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” Song of Solomon 2:15 It doesn’t take much to trip us up in the peace we long for in our homes. Whether we are faced with stress from illness or a job, hurt feelings or pressures from parents and in-laws or any other disappointment or discouragement, many times we forget to be aware that these pitfalls can happen often. They can take the form of missed expectations, parenting struggles and financial stress. Pitfalls are rarely singular events! Many times, they run in tandem and can be overwhelming. Guard your heart and home by being forewarned about these pitfalls.

2. Understand the root of the struggle for peace. Ultimately the answer to why cultivating peace in our homes is so difficult is found in the Garden of Eden. Because of the sin that entered the world, there is no longer perfection to be found on this earth. In a perfect world, we wouldn’t burn the bread, yell at the kids or be angry at our husbands. But the world we live in is fallen and we are too. Jesus even told us in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Be aware of your own failure to be truthful and honest – this sinfulness will harm your relationship with each other.

3. Prepare to Battle to Cultivate Peace in Your Heart and Home. Rather than being blindsided by the challenges of marriage, instead we can be armed with the knowledge that we must prepare now to deal with the trials that come later. When we prioritize our time with God in His word and in prayer, He will be the one to do the work in our marriage to bring Him glory. Don’t neglect this power – the same power that brought Jesus back from the grave is the same power that can bring life and wholeness to your marriage today!

I pray you’ll be encouraged to be on guard! Prioritize your marriage and do your part to cultivate the peace you crave in your heart and home. Explore this topic more in my new book that is available now, Guard Your Heart and Home: Pursuing Peace in Your Living Space.

-Victoria Duerstock

www.victoriaduerstock.com

November 30, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, things were pretty grim. Political problems were compounded by the people’s propensity to belief falsehoods, religious leaders were at war with one another, and the judgement of God was gathering like a hurricane over the distant horizon. In the middle of the weeping prophet’s unpopular proclamations of impending woe, we encounter a verse that contains hope and assurance. “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” In the middle of the chaos and confusion and lies and treachery, God makes an astounding promise. If we come to Him with sincere and committed hearts, He will welcome our prayers. God will listen.

Sarah Young’s new release, Jesus Listens (Thomas Nelson Publishing), is a devotional offering daily prayers with scripture references to support the substance of each prayer. As the author of Jesus Calling, I believe I am safe in saying that no single person has ministered more hope and spiritual comfort to the people of God in the last twenty years than Young. Her books have encouraged multitudes during times of heartbreak, anxiety, and trauma. She a modern Barnabas, a daughter of encouragement. In Jesus Calling, Young wrote words of hope from God’s perspective. In Jesus Listens, she writes prayers from the reader’s perspective. I have no doubt that God will continue to use her writing to strengthen the faith of many people in the years to come.

-Darrel Holcombe, Owner

Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts

Colonial Promenade, Alabaster

www.sanctuarychristianbooksandgifts.com

205-663-2370

November 29, 2021November 28, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Christmas Gift Guide

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November 28, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Christmas Gift Guide

What better gift is there to give a child this holiday season than teaching them the true meaning of Christmas? Miracle in a Manger is a fun, interactive new Christmas tradition! It is the December countdown to the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Through meaningful activities, Miracle in a Manger is designed to help families focus on what Christmas is really about.

Miracle in a Manger includes an illustrated story book, 25 angel message cards, 25 pieces of soft hay, a plush manger and an angel who becomes Baby Jesus on Christmas morning. Beginning on December 1, the angel will bring a message card with a Bible verse that corresponds with the story of the birth of Christ and a list of activities known as gifts for God. Every time a child completes an activity, the child will receive a piece of hay the following day to place in the manger. On Christmas day, the manger will be full of soft hay and Baby Jesus to show the true meaning of Christmas. Miracle in a Manger includes everything you need to teach the real reason for the season! For more information and to purchase, visit www.miracleinamanger.com. †

December 14, 2021November 28, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Christmas Gift Guide

Attention parents, grandparents, homeschoolers and teachers! Are you concerned about building a foundation of faith in your children? Linda Harper created a digital coloring book rooted in Scripture for children that makes a unique Christmas gift that provides hours of fun with a lifetime of benefits! You can eliminate the huge expense of buying individual presents for all the children in your life by purchasing this digital download. How? Download all files within four days of purchase. They are then yours to print, give to the children you love, and enjoy forever with Harper’s permission! This coloring book makes a great stocking stuffer idea. The digital Coloring Book with Matching Music contains 16 coloring sheets plus all 12 matching songs designed to help children hide God’s Word in their hearts. Song titles include “The Fruit of the Spirit,” “The Gift of God,” “Taste and See,” and “Hearing God’s Voice.” Click here to learn more.

Customer Testimony: Hi Linda! My experience downloading was great…got everything I needed easily! We did two Coloring Pages and songs yesterday with the girls, and they LOVED it! It’s a great product! Love, Brianne †

November 28, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Christmas Gift Guide

Studying the word of God can be exciting, challenging, and even entertaining! Search the Scriptures by Shirley D. Garrett is a Bible activity book that will enhance your knowledge of the Word of God while having fun. In the book, you will find many activities that will enhance your biblical knowledge. There are Bible-based questions, fill-in-the blank scriptures, match games, true-and-false questions, and word search puzzles. It includes blank pages to write your notes and other information you may find during your search.

Whether you are someone who has been studying the Bible for years or you are a new learner, this book will become your favorite study tool. You will not want to put it down. Use it to enhance your Bible knowledge or to play trivia with family, friends, and church groups. This book is a fun and educational way to learn the Word of God and makes a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer. Search the Scriptures is available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Books-a-Million.com, Westbowpress.com and SearchtheScripturesbyShirleyDGarrett.com. Keep up with Garrett on Facebook and Instagram @searchthescripturesbook. †

November 28, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Miracle Moments

Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you…” Isaiah 41:10

Briklyn in hospital bed with siblings surrounding her — Kellie Franklin says from the day Briklyn had her first seizure, the entire family came together to support her. “Briklyn’s brother Blayze (22) and sister Breagan (20) have been by her side every step of the way and have been huge support systems for her.” Pictured above left to right: Blayze, Briklyn, and Breagan.

November 21, 2016 is a day the Franklin family of Jemison, Ala. will never forget. Then 11-year-old daughter, Briklyn Franklin had her first seizure. “She was in our garage with her dad Anthony and her brother Blayze washing out paintbrushes where they had been painting her room,” mom Kellie Franklin remembers, adding, “Blayze heard Briklyn call his name. About the time he looked up, she was stumbling backward, fell back and when she hit the ground, she started seizing.” Briklyn’s father ran toward her and cradled her head in his arms and told his son to call 911. He was with Briklyn as her body started stiffening and quickly jerking and the area around her eyes and mouth started turning blue. “At that moment, that was the most helpless he had ever felt,” Franklin explains. “He said he thought he was watching his baby girl die in his arms and there was nothing he could do.”

Kellie Franklin returned from work to EMTs in her driveway. “I rode with her in the ambulance as they transported her to the ER at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.” The Franklins learned from doctors that everyone gets one “free seizure,” so they diagnosed Briklyn with Convulsive Syncope. They were instructed to follow up with her pediatrician. After following up, Briklyn’s pediatrician scheduled her for an EEG on December 28. “The following day they called me and said that her EEG had revealed abnormal spikes and waves consistent with recent seizure activity and requested that we follow up with Pediatric Neurology.” Franklin shared with the doctors about an unusual occurrence where Briklyn was walking to her father’s shop in the backyard. “She remembered getting about halfway up the stairs but the next thing she recalled was being in the kitchen flipping the light switch on and off thinking she was opening the garage door.”

Briklyn holding Seizure Free Cake — As 16-year-old Briklyn Franklin looks back on her journey with epilepsy, she shares, “I felt alone at times… I realized that all I needed to do was give it all to God because He was going through it with me the whole time.” Briklyn attends Jemison High School

The family’s idea of what a seizure is changed that day. “We learned quickly just how different seizures can look not only from one person to another but even within the same individual,” Franklin says. Because of these events, Briklyn was diagnosed with epilepsy. She was put on medication but had a seizure during the next two months and then was seizure free for six and a half months. “The stress of not knowing if or when there would be another seizure could have been enough to break a person whose hope is in anything other than the Lord, but we trusted that she would not have a single seizure that He wasn’t aware of beforehand.”

Briklyn’s seizures started back on September 2, 2017. Doctors increased her medication but by the end of March, she had six seizures in seven and a half months. “I immediately began researching neurosurgeons and began praying for a specific doctor,” Franklin says. After this, Briklyn went through several scans and procedures, and on November 10, 2020, she underwent a craniotomy. “The type of epilepsy that Briklyn has is not a type that she would be expected to outgrow,” Franklin says, adding, “We weren’t sure if we would ever actually see her make it seven months seizure free… right now she is almost 14 months seizure-free!”

The Franklin family sees God’s fingerprints all over Briklyn’s journey with epilepsy through people near and far praying for Briklyn, the doctors who treated her that the Franklins had specifically prayed would do the surgery and so much more. “For anyone who asks how Briklyn’s journey to seizure freedom is a miracle, I would have to ask, ‘How is it not?’”

After nearly 14 months of no seizures, Briklyn unfortunately had a seizure in November. “We are thankful for the miracle of how long she was seizure-free and pray that, if it is God’s will, she never has another one. However, we seek His perfect will above our selfish and limited wishes,” Kellie Franklin says, adding, “We trust that we will persevere through every circumstance we face knowing that the perseverance will make us mature and complete in our faith.”

-Melissa Armstrong

We need you to share your Miracle Moment! Email [email protected] Subject Line: Miracle Moments or call 205-408-7150.

December 2, 2021November 28, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Encouraging Word

We’ve all seen the stories of someone coming from behind with the win, the underdog that had odds stacked against them and overnight success stories. Some might say in these moments it’s luck, God’s favor, hard work and resiliency, or a combination of all. No matter what, it is faith put into action.

I know during this pandemic the world is hurting and changing daily. Does that take away the dreams and hopes for what place we still can hold in our community? Absolutely not! We see people invest and cling to what they love and hold dear to their hearts. Sometimes it’s binging shows or cuddling up with a book or listening to the music that helps them escape. Worship can take us on a journey in music and help us process our own experiences and feelings.

As we’ve all moved game pieces around to meet our current situations, the challenge to still dream is there. In Matthew McConaughey’s new book Greenlights, he talks about how sometimes you hit the green at the right time and the opportunity and opening is yours for the taking. Other times, you create the “greenlights” and I know for many of us that’s where our faith takes over. What’s the promotion you always wanted to receive but it sounded lofty? The person you wanted to hire but felt the price tag would be too high? The relationship or networking that seems unreachable? Do you believe it can happen? Leadership stays visionary. Empowering people with encouragement helps them to believe in themselves and not allow current forecasts to predict the outcome of the weather.

What “greenlights” have you hit at the right time that you can capitalize on? What “greenlights” do you want to create? God’s kingdom is not rocked by what’s happening in the world and we don’t have to be rocked either. Dreaming gives us something to look forward to, whether its tomorrow or five years from now. Our faith is the green light to believe that the impossible is finally possible.

–Ace McKay

“Roxanne & Ace” Mornings on 93.7 WDJC

November 28, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

Education Extra

Since 1980 Briarwood Ballet has been offering excellent instruction in classical ballet and dance education within a Christ-centered environment.

This is no ordinary dance school! Why else would parents drive from as far away as Gadsden and Sylacauga to bring their children to a dance class? It is true that some students have received dance scholarships to major universities as well as to nationally recognized summer ballet programs; some have gone on to dance professionally or even start their own ballet schools. But the uniqueness of Briarwood Ballet is found in every classroom – from creative movement for three-year-olds to intensive workshops – where each student learns that the gift of dance is from God and can be used for His glory.

Each year Briarwood Ballet serves over 400 students of all ages and abilities with varying goals and aspirations. The school includes a preschool division, a graded division for first through fourth graders, and a two-track program for fifth through twelfth graders to concentrate on either contemporary or classical dance. Ballet performances, unlike recitals, are story ballets written as a vehicle for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Briarwood’s performing companies have also had the privilege of using dance to spread the gospel in many foreign countries including Russia, Cuba, and China.

This Christmas, you are invited to experience the unique telling of the drama of redemption through dance at Briarwood Ballet’s Christmas production. Light Eternal will be presented at Briarwood Church on Sunday, December 12 at 6 p.m. †

November 23, 2021 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Christmas gift boxes laid out 210459529

Publisher’s Note

Merry Christmas to You- Our Readers!

As we celebrate the Christmas season, all of us at Birmingham Christian Family wanted to do something special for readers like you who read and spread Good News with your family and friends each month- either sharing a print issue or reading and sharing one of our articles on-line. So, get ready to enjoy our Jingle All the Way Reader Giveaways!

The fun starts on Black Friday, November 27 with 4 Weeks of Great Christmas Give-A-Ways all valued at $250 or more!

Week 1 Family Four Pack of Tickets to Dollywood, www.Dollywood.com

Inside Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

Week 2 VIP Family 4 Pack to Beyond Van Gogh at the BJCC, www.vangoghbirmingham.com

Week 3 $250 Trak Shak Gift Card to use at any area Track Shak, www.trakshak.com

Week 4 Luxurious Filson Wool Blanket from Mark’s Outdoors Vestavia, www.marksoutdoors.com

To be entered to win the giveaways, LIKE and SHARE the giveaway post and TAG 3 friends in the comments.

For extra entries, FOLLOW us on Instagram @cfpbirmingham and/or SUBSCRIBE to Birmingham Christian Family’s (BCF) E-news/online subscription at www.birminghamchristian.com. If you already subscribe to our E-news, message BCF your email address on Facebook to receive the extra entry.

WINNERS for each giveaway will be announced EVERY THURSDAY on Facebook, December 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2021. So be sure to LIKE our page @Birmingham Christian Family. A NEW GIVEAWAY begins EVERY FRIDAY– November 26, December 3. 10, and 17, 2021.

A BIG THANK YOU to our advertising partners who make the gift giving possible and most importantly help us share the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ with readers and followers every day of the year!

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Faither, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

-Laurie Stroud Franklin