Women Bold For Christ

Are you bold for Christ? Can other people really tell the difference between you and a non-Christian? Recently I have been studying some women of the bible and I have noticed that in both the Old and New Testament women are being bold. Women taking on bravery that actually surprised me considering their time, all for the love of God.

Comparing myself to these women I notice that I do not have as near as many trials as these women had, in fact compared to them I have no trials at all. So why is it that I find it so hard to be bold for Christ? He died for me and provided me with grace, grace not for me to keep but to give away. So shouldn't I be living my life in away that is a reflection of Him, sharing His love with others? Being bold for Christ?


Here are just a few examples of women being bold.


Two unsuspecting women were the first to hear of the coming of Jesus. Mary and Elizabeth (Luke 1:26-33 and Luke 1:39-45). Can you imagine in the time of Mary's life her having to explain to people that she a 

virgin, is pregnant and not with her soon to be husband's baby? This took boldness to tell anyone that her baby was the Christ. She risked being thrown away by her future husband, cast out by her parents, and possibly even stoned to death, but because of her faithfulness and obedience she is called blessed to this very day.

And then there is the woman at the well who tells of Jesus

John 4:28-30

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" They came out of the town and made their way toward him."

This woman of a poor reputation avoided other women by going to the well in the afternoon while the others went in the mornings. She threw aside any feelings of being uncomfortable and went and proclaimed to the town that she had spoken with the Messiah and because of her others gathered to Jesus.  

Mary Magdalene was an amazing example to women on how to be bold for Christ. Did you know that she was the first evangelist telling people the good news that Jesus Christ has risen?( Mark 16:9-11 and John 20:1-2) What an amazing, devoted and brave woman she was. She was one of Jesus' followers and with boldness she and a group of other female disciples supported Jesus out of their own pocket and went about proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom (Luke 8:1-3). Mary followed Jesus to the end of His life, even while His male disciples scattered. It was she who was brave enough to stay with Him until the end, she was even there by the cross when He died and she was the one who was brave enough to go to the guarded tomb of Jesus, and it was she who first encountered the risen Christ. She ran to Jesus' men and proclaimed the good news that Christ had risen from the dead. With Mary as our example, we too can fearlessly follow Christ leading others to Him spreading the good news.

In Acts 18 and in Romans 16:3-4 we find Priscilla the teacher along with her husband committed to Christ. They were kicked out of their hometown for being Jews, but together they were bold and risked their lives 

teaching others about Christ. Priscilla was even hospitable inviting others into her home to talk about Jesus.

I think for a lot women, and people in general they feel nervous or uncomfortable when it comes to witnessing. Our fear may be that we think others will be uncomfortable with us, they may reject us, or its just not the popular thing to do. But looking over the lives of the women above how can we use feeling uncomfortable with a reason that holds us back? It is time for us to get over that, it is time for us to be bold for Christ and one simple way that we can start  is by asking a co-worker or a friend or neighbor "is there anything that I can pray for you about". I believe that is something simple and yet bold enough get started. After that start witnessing to them. Each person needs a customized way of seeing God's light. Some may need to just witness the way you live and know that they want that light in their lives too, while others are going to need to hear the scripture and know the facts, but no one is going to be won over by judgement. So be loving, be kind, be patient and be bold. Live your lives out loud for Christ in love, for we do have something to share and to be excited about!

Psalms 68:11 NIV 
"The Lord announces the word,

and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:"

Proverbs 31:30 NIV

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Restore Haiti

In my previous post, "Haiti's Community" I talked about how beautiful the community of Jacmel Haiti was and how it inspired me. I mentioned how amazed that I was to see people who were so poor, yet so giving and so in love with God. I came across many people who were truly living a Christ centered life and I couldn't help but be in awe of God while I was there. However there is of course a heartbreaking side of their community and this is the reason why we went.

There are many starving families and orphans in Haiti. These families are so poor that they cannot afford to provide a decent shelter for themselves. Most cannot afford to feed their family everyday, to put shoes on their children's feet, or to send their children to school. You will find many families of 10 or more living in a small one room home or tent. Parents are being intimate with each other in the same room as the children. You will find diaperless babies sleeping on dirt floors, children begging for food, children barefoot on grounds covered in trash and broken glass, and in some instances teenage girls are prostituting themselves just to go to school. Unlike America, school is not free and children are actually desperate for an education. To see or hear of any of this will break you, but hopefully inspire you to help. Isn't it just amazing that even with all of these trials you still see them praising God and doing His work?! How can we with so much more not lend a helping hand? I don't mean to guilt anyone by telling you these things, but after seeing them first hand I cannot help but be passionate and desperate for them, even if all we can do is to put a band aid here or there on their community.

Many projects were worked on while over there. We brought over cases and cases of shoes donated by the people of our church LifeSong Church, to pass out to adults and children. We sanded and painted a house for a family who was living in a one room tent, but who is now able to live in a 3 room house. We fed and loved on many starving children who were desperate for both food and attention. We played soccer and we painted finger nails, but my most important task is my return home task to get people inspired to help. You can help by sponsoring a child. Sponsoring a child will feed a child a meal a day, for most that is their only meal, your sponsorship will also pay their way through school, and provide their family with a chicken or a goat a month. This sponsorship will be life changing. If you are not ready to make a monthly commitment, you can also make a one time donation, those donations will help build houses for the homeless, provide beds for those in need and other related projects. 

For more information on sponsorship please visit Restore Haiti. You can be a huge difference in a child's life. 

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

Haiti's Community

I have recently returned from a mission trip to Jacmel Haiti and I am in awe and in love with their community. What an amazing knowledge they have to offer to us on what a community should be.

Their hospitality was overwhelming and refreshing! Each person or family that I met welcomed me into their home, some even kissed me as a greeting or as a thank you. If they had a chair they brought it to me to sit in. If they had a mango they gave it to me to eat. If my hands were dirty they washed them for me, and  they did all of this not just for me, but for everyone. Their door was always open, children, friends, and neighbors were always running in and out of each others homes. It was beautiful and I was envious of their togetherness. I love how their family time is not centered around a television, but rather outside on their front porch or roof with their neighbors. The children stay active with each other playing soccer, singing songs and playing hand clap games. The women cooked together, braided each others hair, and all seem to have a part in discipling each other's children. I was amazed to witness that when someone had something that they did not need or something they could not use then they simply gave it away to someone else instead of hoarding it or selling it. They take care of each other, they stay busy with each other, they love each other, and they stay focused on community. This is how we should be!

Their church is amazing!

I love how they worship so freely. I myself was even able to worship more freely, without having anyone nearby to gossip about my style of worship. No awkward stares when I took a spontanious moment to stop and pray to God. I love how they celebrated God. They sang and danced to God, they even sang and danced while giving offerings. This church, as poor as they may be feeds the starving children that live just outside their doors. As easily as they could just ignore them or say, there is nothing we can do, they instead take action. They even build houses and give them away to homeless families! Some families even take in abandoned orphans into their homes as their own. They share and provide for each other and they do it joyfully! The church meets several nights a week to praise and worship God, to pray for each other, to learn about Christ, His love and how to treat their family, neighbor and how to live in the light. Even with voodoo being the main and most popular religion, even with it being in your face and on the streets you still find them worshiping and going all out for God.

There are so many things that I took away with me in my heart while in Haiti. Some of those things were friendships, while others were life lessons. One of the biggest things that stood out to me was that community is key and worshiping should be done freely. I learned from the poor that if I have more than I need (which I do) then I should joyfully give what I do not need away. I need to have more of an open door policy and more hospitality. I don't need all of the luxuries that I have, most of which are just distractions from living a truly fulfilled life. All I need is my God, my family, my friends, and my community. I need not be so lazy and selfish. I need to get rid of my pride, study more, and witness more. I need to get rid of my distractions and I need to sit down more with my children rather than with my computer and I need to pray more with my husband. I need to play more, spend more time braiding hair, painting nails, playing ball and building blocks. I need to read more to my children, and I even need to discipline my children more to respect authority. I need to always love with all of my heart, God must always be in the center of all that I do and I must always remember that I am my God's daughter and humble servant.

We have no idea how rich we are, and maybe our riches makes us selfish. Our things certainly distract us from our time that is suppose to be spent in the word, with our family, and even our neighbors. The question is, can we have a close knit community like theirs, even in our own culture and society? In my opinion I say yes, but we have to all put effort into it, which means limiting our tv time, focusing more on the family and actually introducing ourselves and getting to know our neighbors.

This small community in Jacmel Haiti are truly living in the light. I went to witness to them but instead they have witnessed to me, showing me the real love of Christ.

The things I took away were not Jacmel Haiti created, but rather lessons straight from the bible.

Matthew 22:36-39

 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment.And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself."

Luke 3:11

John answered, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same."

Jumping Back into Routine

I am back from my trip to Haiti and what an amazing and spiritual trip that was! I plan on blogging about it later in the week along with pictures and videos. As for today and the rest of my week I am going to have to get back to normal! Which means working, cooking, cleaning, carpooling, homework, soccer games, and schedules. I took some time off from blogging and from my Good Morning Girls preparing and leaving for my trip, and then I continued my time off when I returned because of spring break with the kiddos and my husband.

Below is a sneak peak into my cleaning week, each week I'm in a different "zone" in my home and this week I'm working in my living room. I do try to keep a Weekly Schedule and a Daily Schedule. Please feel free to leave a comment below with any cleaning tips you may have along with a link to your blog site. If you too are just getting back from spring break I hope that you have a wonderful week jumping back into normal.

(Purple stays the same while the black changes from week to week)

Monday: Take out all trash, sweep & mop all rooms,  dust, Vacuum all rooms, water plant, Polish mirrors and doors, clean sheets, Grocery shop, Get rid of any and all clutter in my living room. If I don't use it, love it, or if it doesn't bring me joy when I look at it, I need to toss it or donate it.


Tuesday: Dust the tops of door jambs, tops of pictures, molding, windows, corners of the ceiling and the tops of the curtains 


Wednesday: Work Meeting, Clean up yard, Dust the decorative items in my living room


Thursday: Detail floor cleaning, sweep it, dust it, mop it.


Friday: Finish laundry, Clean out car, Clean playroom, Light a candle and bring in some flowers :)


Saturday: Clean out fridge

Mission Trip To Haiti

I am so excited that God has given me another opportunity  to take a trip back to Haiti this April. I was there last July and it was heart warming, heart breaking and life changing.

We're going back to help a church that has set up a child sponsor feeding program, much like we did last time. Many children there are starving, and their parent's cannot afford to send them to school. This program provides a meal a day for these kids, a chicken or goat a month for the family, and pays for their school. This makes a huge impact on a child's life.We also have a whole bunch of shoes to take over, most of the kids there are bare foot and the grounds are covered in trash, broken glass, and a million other things that you would not want to be bare foot in. We're also taking over clothes, toys, and whatever else we can pack up. Our main goal is to love on these kids and get them sponsored!.

While there on my last trip I met these two little girls, their names are Jolica and Angie. I was able to sponsor Jolica and my mom is sponsoring her younger sister Angie. Jolica loved playing with my hair and hand clap games with me. Angie never once smiled and her clothes were worn and torn. My heart broke for them, hanging out in the church yard just waiting to be sponsored.

Here they are eating a sponsored meal for the first time.

This is Emmanuel. This charming little boy touched my heart so deeply that I can't stop my eyes from whaling up with tears as I type about him. I was there for a week and I saw him wear the same clothes every single day. He could not speak English and I could not speak Creole, but I was able to understand him tell me that he was hungry. This was my first day there, I had met my first starving child. I broke down and cried. He was soon sponsored by another girl. He ate his meal and it was the most joyful thing I had ever seen. He finished his meal and then finished the leftovers of others. I have heard it be said that you can't save them all and though this may be true, I saw one girl helped this one boy, a boy who wasn't able to before but is now able to eat everyday.

I hope to run into Emmanuel when I get back, along with Jolica, Angie and many others who have touched my heart. I want to be able to get others fired up about sponsoring these amazing children, in desperate need of love, food, and an education.

If you would like to make a one time donation to this trip, please click on the donate button below. Or you can send a check to my church, LifeSong Church. Just make it out to LifeSong Church with an attached note saying it is to me, Candice Brevard.

12481 Greenville HWY/ PO Box 159
Lyman SC 29365

All donations are tax detectable and are greatly appreciated!

If you are interested in sponsoring a child please visit RestoreHaiti.com 

Below is a video I created from the pictures that were taken on my last trip.

Thank you everyone for all of your prayers and support! 

Weekly Schedule

Yesterday I shared with you my Daily Routine and today I am going to share with you my Weekly Schedule. Pairing these two together has proven to work for me in away that allows me to have more time for my family while at the same time keeping a clean house. Seems impossible, but its not! 


As I mentioned yesterday every family is different and so each schedule should be customized to fit your own family's needs. I use Flylady as a tool to help make my schedule and keep my home in order. I just love her system so much that I want to be able to share it with other women in hopes to bless their families as well. So please allow this to bless your family, don't get caught in perfection, just do your best and don't forget to schedule time with your kids and with your husband in your Daily Schedule.


My Weekly Schedule changes from week to week, moving from the Kitchen, to the Living room, to the Dinning room, to the Bathroom, to the Bedroom, to the Entrance way, etc.  This week is actually a multi-zone week. What you see in purple stays the same from week to week, and what you see in black is what changes.


Also what FlyLady recommends, and what I recommend as well is to not spend more than 15 minutes on a task. This may seem crazy, but you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish in 15 minutes. Just set a timer and get started. Don't fret over the things that don't get perfectly cleaned, your precious time with your family is more important!


Sunday:   Menu Plan,   Clip coupons


Monday:   Take out all trash,   sweep & mop all rooms,   dust,   Vacuum all rooms,   water plant,   Polish mirrors and doors,   clean sheets, Grocery shop


Tuesday:   Dinning room Hotspots (clean up cluttered piles),   Livingroom Hotspots


Wednesday:    Work Meeting,   Clean up yard,   Clean up front porch


Thursday:   Clean up shoe/coat closet,  clean up front door entrance


Friday:   Finish laundry,   Clean out car,   Clean playroom


Saturday:   Clean out fridge 


Of course there will be times that I am not able to do all these things in order, and thats ok. Also there will be times where I may need to to a task twice, especially the task of mopping. Scheduling has made life a little bit easier for me, and I hope that it makes life a little easier for you too.




Titus 2:3-5 


"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children,to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

Daily Schedule

Are you feeling overwhelmed at home? Overextended? Frustrated with your kids? Embarrassed to have company over? All because you don't have time to clean?


Who doesn't have these days right? I know I do, and we all know that a messy house can create stress and unrest, even in our children. So what I have found that works best for me and my family is scheduling, even though I'm not a natural "scheduler".
This has actually helped me find more time for my family while at the same time keeping my house cleaner that its ever been before.


Thankfully 5 years ago I was introduced to a website called FlyLady, please click on the link to check her out. I have been able to use her website as a tool to create a schedule that eliminates Spring Cleaning. Ironically her website can seem a little cluttered to visitors lol, but her advice is effective and amazing.


There is no one schedule that is going to fit every family, so if you think scheduling will work for you, customize it to fit your own family's unique needs. A schedule should bless your family and help turn your home into a haven, so don't get so obsessed with getting a perfectly clean house that you push your kids away, or just give up all together (I've been there, done that on both sides). Put perfection aside, maybe even let your kids help if you have the patience ;) . Take breaks when you need them, love on your family, and so what if ( fill in the blank) isn't spotless when you crawl into bed at night, be satisfied with what you have accomplished.   


Below is my Daily Routine, tomorrow I will show you my Weekly Schedule. And with life being life, things don't always happen as planned, so sometimes I'm not able to get to a few things on my list or I do them out of order, and thats ok :)


 "Housework done incorrectly still blesses your family" ~Flylady

Morning Routine

Shower then straighten bathroom

Get kids ready

Breakfast

make school lunches

Get kids off to school

Quiet time/ Good Morning Girls

feed dog

laundry 

dishes

make beds

Check Calendar

Make a to do list

(hello 9am)

Start Work ( I work from home)

read a book or facebook/blog

Reboot laundry

Pick up kids

After School Routine

Homework!

defrost dinner

Start on chores (from my weekly schedule)

Put away laundry

Play with babies

Children story time

finish to do list

If finished and kids are busy playing - fb/blog or read a book

Start on dinner

After Dinner Routine

Sweep floors

Clean up kitchen
Straighten up living room

Baby bath time

tidy up baby bathroom
Baby bed time
Me time (brush teeth, hair, pjs, stuff like that)
(hello 8pm)

Snuggle Mitch

Please come back tomorrow to see my Weekly Schedule, which involves a more detailed cleaning :)