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3 Colossally Simple Spiritual Practices Even You Have Time For
Spiritual practices can be hard to incorporate into a busy life. We’ve made it easy, so this year you can live more abundantly than ever. Our real journey in life is interior. It is a matter of growth, deepening, and an ever greater surrender to the creative action of love. Thomas Merton Where do you find yourself on the journey as you live this present season? And how might God be inviting you onward and inward toward deeper connection? Spiritual practices are a gift to us all. They can better our overall health and make space for our dance with…
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5 Inspiring Books That Teach Kids Self Confidence
Teaching kids self-confidence begins with a positive sense of who they are. And we found five fantastic books that will help cultivate that in them! What’s a Positive Sense of Self? A sense of self is a complex concept. It involves both the inner and outer self, who one perceives themselves to be. Young children, though often unable to express their sense of self verbally, are developing the way they think about themselves. Children are gathering information to answer key questions for themselves. Am I smart? Am I brave and capable? Can I try new things? Will I be okay?…
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Breaking Through the Leader’s Struggle to Find Spiritual Growth
Amid the spiritual growth you facilitate for others, have you been saving some of it for yourself? Maybe this is the year you recover your spiritual growth practices. Or maybe even discover them for the first time. Real Talk About Spiritual Health If you’re teaching others about a relationship with God, your spiritual life is essential, both for their learning and your thriving. How do you stay connected to God as you walk the journey? Tell us in the comments! Growth very often happens only when the necessary resources are available. So, your spiritual health is of top priority for you…
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3 Dynamic Ways to Engage Kids on Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is fast approaching, peep, and the beginning of Lent is right around the corner! So, you wanna celebrate with your kids but need some ideas. We’re here to help! Use these ideas to foster discussions and more fully engage your kids. How do you invite your kids into the celebration of Ash Wednesday? We want to know and so does your ICM community. So, share in the comments below! How’d We Get to Forehead Crosses? The ashes we receive today are a relic of what was long ago called the order of penitents. Before the Middle Ages, it…
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Unlocking the Power of God’s Love to Transform Your Relationships
God’s love has the power to heal and transform the world. But it starts with us and the way we relate to one another. How has God’s love taught you to love better? We’d love to know in the comments below! God chooses to experience reality embodied, taking on form in and through creation. In other words, the Creator of the universe resides within the expanse that is life. Your body, your relationships, your work, your play. The Divine, which is extravagant, effortlessly unfurling love, is living what it’s like to be you. God chooses you, us, all of creation…
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Seven Last Words Coloring Posters for Lent
Seven Last Words Coloring Posters: The seven last words of Jesus from the cross, also known as the sayings of Jesus on the cross, are commonly used in churches around the world during Lent, specifically on Good Friday. Perhaps you’ve attended a Tenebrae service on Good Friday that focused on the seven last words of Jesus. Or maybe the seven last words aren’t focused on much in your tradition, and these are new to you. Either way, we think you’re going to love our Seven Last Words Coloring Posters. GRAB YOUR FREE INFO GUIDE: Would you like to learn all…
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Make It Stop! Recover from This Year’s Holiday Burnout
Holiday burnout is real! Working in ministry during the holiday season can get you feeling frantic and fatigued. Where were the joy and the wonder? You don’t have to feel this way! We SO hope this hasn’t been true for you this year. Perhaps you found ways to stay energized as Autumn came and went and Winter settled in. But, if you’re finding yourself feeling frayed and frazzled, we’re here to help. It’s so common in our world’s efficiency-driven culture to feel there isn’t enough to go around. Maybe you’ve found yourself in the quiet-ish moments craving calm and wishing…
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6 Ways to Welcome Visitors at Your Church This Christmas Eve
Welcoming visitors effectively to church on Christmas Eve takes a good deal of forethought and a multi-faceted approach. Here’s our list to help you! During the holidays more visitors come through the doors of the church than any other time of the year. It’s a great opportunity to welcome them with greater intention. We’ve put together a list of five easy ways to help newcomers feel cared for and acknowledged. We hope our ideas help to create a culture of welcome and hospitality within your community this season and throughout the year. How are you welcoming newcomers this Christmas Eve?…
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Tell Kids the Truth About Santa Claus This Christmas
Santa Claus is a mythical man who has even more gifts to give than his story has ever told us. That jovial and magical man who adores reindeer and arrives amidst the sound of sleigh bells. He hails from the North Pole where elves have been toiling away on presents just for us. These stories create wonder and excitement. And they’re a major part of the fun for many of our families at Christmas time. But, do you ever wonder if there’s more to the story? Or ever questioned how we got from Jesus’ day of birth to a man…
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Your Essential Guide to Exploring Hanukkah with Kids
Explore Hanukkah with kids this holiday season and teach them invaluable lessons about being human and our collective quest for God. It’s December! How?? I’m not sure. Time flies when you’re having fun planning, shopping, cooking, eating and traveling. I hope you’re already enjoying a rich holiday season, making space for all those traditions you love. What’s your favorite holiday tradition you just can’t celebrate without? Tell us in the comments below! And speaking of traditions, I’ve got a whole bunch to tell you about Hanukkah. Confusion About Hanukkah Quite frankly, Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is commonly misunderstood by Christians. Often,…
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Shocking News About Gratitude and Raising Healthy Kids
Gratitude has a lot to teach us about healthy kids. Help your child blossom by simply bringing awareness to gratitude in your family’s life. We’ve even thought up three easy things you can do to invite gratitude into your family’s rhythm and transform your child’s life. FREEBIE! And if you’d like to download a free printable Gratitude Fridge Sign to help you remember 5 ways of inspiring gratitude in children, you can click this link to get your free Gratitude Fridge Sign. How are you cultivating gratitude in your home? Share with us in the comments below! Why Does Gratitude…