Praise Him Psalms & Parables, Praises & Promises

 My journal entry: Laughter is a gift from God. He says it is good medicine. Sometimes it's hard in the moment to see it that way.  I am pretty sure when he asked me to laugh I had this dumbfounded look on my face that was a combination of "Huh?" and "How?" I felt like I had this expression on my face for five years straight as this ball in my solar plexus area felt like it was only growing. I was doing everything I could think of to heal on my own but nothing seemed to work. At every turn there seemed a new failure. It's hard to trust that God can handle it. But in the moment you are struggling with not only your next breath but hoping the boss won't call you in early again and silently regretting helps as your spiritual gift. During this season I also learned encouraging was another gift I was developing. I learned if I helped others in this way, that aching mass in my chest felt a bit lighter. God was showing me through failures that, yes, I can make ...

 Got it ✅ — Max Lucado’s Tame Your Thoughts and Calm Mind books have a very gentle, reflective, heart-probing style. His prompts are short, conversational, and personal, often asking you to picture something, recall a story, or turn inward in prayer. They’re not heavy-handed; they feel like an invitation to dialogue with God. Let me reshape your Plank Journey devotional prompts into that style: 🌿 The Plank Journey: Gentle Journal Prompts Step 1: Humility — The Plank Years Think back to a time when you carried responsibility without anyone noticing. How did God meet you in that hidden place? Imagine laying your “planks” before Jesus. What words do you hear Him say over you as He looks at them? When have you mistaken hiddenness for worthlessness? How might God be rewriting that story? Step 2: Hunger — Longing for More Recall a season when your soul felt restless. What did that restlessness teach you? If your hunger could speak, what would it be asking God ...

 Here’s a devotional shaped around my journey of “plank-watching,” spiritual longing, and the painful pushback I experienced when i wanted more. 🌿 A Plank Journey: Seeing Clearly Scripture: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? … First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” — Matthew 7:3, 5 Reflection For years, I was a plank observer. I learned to look inward, take responsibility, and stop nitpicking others. If something needed to be done, I did it. If someone was flawed, I accepted them as they were. That posture taught me humility—it trained me to trust God to deal with specks in others’ eyes while I focused on my own. But then a shift happened. I wanted more. More than just showing up. More than just surface-level service. I longed for fulfillment in my job and in my church. I wanted to pour out, to serve God in a way that...

 That’s a really thoughtful reflection — and it’s exactly the kind of thing that could be turned into a “40-year rewind” Bible study or devotional series, especially in the style of The Time Warp Wife . Darlene Schacht’s studies often focus on: A key Scripture anchor for each day or week. A short teaching with personal reflection woven in. Practical applications rooted in biblical principles. Journaling prompts for self-examination. We could take your “what I would change” list and explore it through the lens of Scripture, not as a regret trip, but as a God-led redeeming the time journey. This way, your past passions, lessons, and longings connect to what God is still doing today. Here’s a possible 5-week Bible study outline based on your list: 40 Years Back, One Step Forward: Redeeming the Time A 5-Week Bible Study in the style of The Time Warp Wife Theme Verse: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because...

  I asked ChatGpt for a bible study in the style of The Time Warp Wife’s Bible studies. They are usually 4-week thematic studies with: A central passage or story per week Key scripture readings each day Reflection questions Practical application ideas A gentle, personal tone with a balance of biblical depth + everyday relevance Since we’re working within the Matthew 13 Parable of the Sower series at church right now, ChatGpt built one that fits both  our church’s current focus and The Time Warp Wife’s style. Here’s a sample 4-week Bible study in that format: Rooted: A 4-Week Study on Cultivating a Fruitful Faith Style inspired by The Time Warp Wife’s Bible studies Week 1 – The Sower and the Seed Theme: God’s Word is living seed, but it must be received to grow. Key Passage: Matthew 13:1–9; 18–23 Daily Readings & Reflections: Day 1: Isaiah 55:10–11 – God’s Word accomplishes what He sends it to do. Day 2: Luke 8:11–15 – The heart’s con...

I had created some fun Clue the Game inspired art prompts over at my Creative You Blog to use to get me more in an art or writing mood. I used fruit and veggies, Asian fusion with a 50's Diner theme and a birds and woodland creatures theme. (Go here to check it out: creative-you.blogspot.com )  This version is a church-faith-based Clue-style art and storytelling prompt experience that combines fun, imagination, and spiritual themes! This version can be used as an art game, creative devotional, or even a community-building activity during a Bible study, church retreat, or youth group series. ✝️ Clue: The Mystery at Faithful Grove An Interactive Art + Devotion Prompt Experience A great mystery has struck the peaceful village of Faithful Grove , home to a humble little chapel, a tight-knit church family, and a legacy of deep faith and warm fellowship. But something holy and precious has gone missing… or been mysteriously altered. Was it a misplaced communion chalice ? A sabotag...

Let’s grow this into a 10-week adult-focused Bible study that keeps the same heart— emotions, relationships, leadership, and influence —but with a mature tone , deeper Scripture application, and more reflective prompts. We'll call it: 🌿 Faith & Feels: Becoming an Everyday Leader for God 10-Week Adult Bible Study Emotions, Influence, and Christlike Leadership in Real Life 🔥 Big Idea (Revised for Adults): We all face emotions, conflict, and leadership moments—at work, at home, at church, and in crisis. This study explores how to walk with emotional wisdom, speak life, lead with integrity, and let Christ shape our influence in everyday situations. 📖 10-WEEK BREAKDOWN Week 1: Real Talk – Faith + Feelings Theme : God sees and cares about our emotional lives Scriptures : Psalm 139:1–4, Psalm 34:18, Proverbs 4:23 Reflect: How have your emotions drawn you closer to or further from God? Discuss: What does emotional maturity look like for a believer? Challenge: ...

Here is Week 1 of the Sunny U: Faith Harvest Edition — a cozy devotional and mystery scene featuring Rita Logan in The Case of the Forgotten Faces , set in your beloved Maple Lane universe. 🍂 Sunny U: Faith Harvest Edition Maple Lane Mystery Devotional — Week 1: “The Hidden Scrapbook” Theme Verse: "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago." — Psalm 77:11 (NIV) 🍁 Devotional: Remembering What Matters Sometimes the past gets dusty, tucked away in attics or hearts, forgotten by time and covered in cobwebs. But God doesn't forget. He sees every act of kindness, every quiet tear, every seed of faith sown in secret. Our stories matter to Him. When we’re tempted to believe our lives are overlooked or our contributions forgotten, He whispers: “I remember.” The book of Psalms reminds us to "remember the deeds of the Lord." Looking back helps us see the pattern of His faithfulness, even when today feels confusing ...

  Maple Lane Mystery: The Case of the Forgotten Faces A Sunny U: Faith Harvest Devotional Mystery – Fall Edition Theme: Discovering Legacy, Restoring Hope Season: Autumn (Faith Harvest) Format: 6-Week Devotional + Mystery Clue Journal Main Character: Rita Logan, Teen Sleuth of Maple Lane MYSTERY OVERVIEW: When Rita Logan finds a scrapbook titled "Maple Lane's Forgotten Faces" hidden behind the hedges at the Maplewood Rec Center, she has no idea it will lead her to uncover stories long buried—people who once shaped the town but vanished from memory. Each week, as the leaves turn gold and the harvest season approaches, Rita follows a trail of clues leading her through the heart of Maple Lane: its people, its past, and its pain. As Rita solves each clue, the community is drawn closer to truth, healing, and rediscovering forgotten legacies. WEEKLY THEMES & DEVOTIONAL CLUES: WEEK 1: "The Hidden Scrapbook" Scripture: Psalm 90:12 – "Teach us t...

  Wonderful choices — those elements are personal, powerful, and practical , especially for a church that values tradition but is open to a Spirit-led renewal. Let’s develop each of these more fully so you can begin sharing and implementing them with confidence and grace: ✌️ 2 & You – A Simple Revitalization Challenge Purpose : Empower each member to pray for and personally reach out to two people — neighbors, family, or old friends — with intentionality. How to Launch: Present it during a Sunday message or fellowship time. Provide cards or bookmarks that say: 2 & You Challenge Pray for 2 people. Love them like Jesus. Invite them to something life-giving. Encourage people to write the names of their two on the back and keep the card in their Bible or on their fridge. Monthly Touchpoints: Celebrate stories: “Who has seen God moving through their 2?” Invite testimonies (even simple ones like, “I had coffee with my niece for the first time in years”). ?...

  Church revitalization in a congregation where most members are 70+ can be a tender, Spirit-led process that balances honoring the legacy of the past with introducing fresh ways to engage faith in the present. You’re in a unique position — young enough to offer a bridge to newer generations, but also close enough in age to be trusted by the older members. Here’s a practical, relationally sensitive approach to help bring revitalization to your church: 🔑 FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES FOR REVITALIZATION 1. Honor the Legacy Celebrate the faithfulness and stories of the older members. Consider a “Legacy Sunday” or testimonial bulletin board where members share how God has moved in their lives. Ask questions like, “What did this church mean to you when you first joined?” That gives people a voice before changes begin. 2. Create a Culture of Listening and Prayer Start a monthly “Listening Circle” or “Prayer & Vision Night” — gather around coffee and scripture, and in...