Empowerment Archives - Page 4 of 7

Jump for Joy

/in Curriculum, Empowerment, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense/by coachjody

I am pro-life. Not because of the legal arguments, although personhood, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness may finally be returned to our most vulnerable population aka the unborn. And of course, I’m praying that Roe vs. Wade will be struck down as it is being argued by the Supreme Court as I write this blog, December 2021.

I am pro-life. Not because of science, although science clearly reveals that life does begin at conception.

I am pro-life because my Christian faith compels me to be pro-life. As a Christian, I seek God’s word for wisdom in such matters. The Bible is clear about the life of all people. I won’t go through every Bible verse, but from Genesis through Revelation, life is clearly a gift of God. God formed you. God loves you. God sent Jesus to rescue you, redeem you and give you life, forgiveness, faith, purpose and passion.

Being pro-life is good news! Being pro-life frees you from lies and confusion. Being pro-life points you to joy in God’s true word! Being pro-life is joy! Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to steal your joy.

Compelled by God’s great love for me, I seek to love and serve others. I’m not always good at my calling, but it is my greatest joy.

Join me to pray for our daughters. Our girls are surrounded by mixed messages directly contradicting God’s word. Pray that our girls hear God’s word more than the world’s words. How are you doing at that mom and dad? How much screen time versus Bible time does your girl get? Pray for the pro-life message to be a message of joy and hope.

God’s word works. His word creates faith, forgiveness and salvation to all who hear and receive the free gift of Jesus.

May your Christmas season be filled with joy! Read my Advent devotion with your family. It is filled with joy, a pro-life message and a gift for you.

Jump for Joy!

“When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy” Luke 1:44

When I tell my daughters about being pregnant with them, I say; “I still remember your first movements inside my belly. I played music for you. I read stories to you. Sometimes when I spoke or the dog barked, you jumped for joy. I couldn’t wait to meet you. “

I wonder if Mary and Elizabeth told stories too. Imagine the joy they felt as they prepared together for the births of John the Baptist and Jesus.

Children are a blessing. And the Bible is full of verses connecting children to joy! “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from Him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hand. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!” Psalm 127:3-5

And here is God’s amazing gift for you! God is filled with joy when he thinks about you. He sings joyful songs to you! “For the LORD, you God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17

Imagine that! I wonder what He’s singing? Go ahead and jump for joy!

Action Point: Ask your mom to tell you something about her pregnancy with you. Or, if you’re adopted, ask about that joyful moment when she first held you in her arms. Sing a song together and jump for joy!

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls ages six and up. Click here to request a free video and lesson plan.

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance. Coach Jody is a contributing writer for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh, and for various homeschool blogs and Christian ministries.

The Great Flip offers online martial arts for children.

Click here for online plans

Feeling worried? Five tips to transform worry into peace.

/in Empowerment, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense, Uncategorized/by coachjody

There is a lot of research now about mental health, especially as it affects our daughters. The dawn of social media opened a pandora’s box on our daughters. Research reveals that girls are more negatively impacted by social media. I was just telling my daughter (now in college) that she represents the first generation “guinea pigs” experimented on by the big media giants. The results are devastating. But there is hope.

Understanding the mental health of your daughter is important to evaluate. But offering real remedies to worry, anxiety and fear are key to empowering her to manage her own mental health.

God’s word gives us tangle tips to battle worry and anxiety. I wrote this devotion for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh and it offers five tips to transform worry into peace. Share this devotion and these five tips with your daughter.

What is the “Therefore” there for?

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

{Philippians 4:6-8}

Easy for you to say! “Don’t worry.” Sometimes it’s so hard to pray and be thankful when I’m filled with so much worry. Help!

This Bible verse can serve as either a word of despair or a word of comfort. How do you receive these words when you first read them?

Interestingly enough, before Paul wrote these words, he began chapter four with this weird word; “Therefore.” When I see “Therefore,” I want to know what’s it “there for?”

If you go back to chapter three, you’ll find the answer. Paul reminds himself, his church and you to focus on knowing Jesus. He says that “everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord.” Philippians 3:8.

Knowing Jesus will give you the power to battle worry.

Paul does not sugar-coat life. He reminds us that no matter how hard life gets (and it will be hard), you have a peace that exceeds your understanding. When you focus on Jesus, he will guard your heart and mind.

When worry knocks at your door, God gives you a battle plan! Therefore:

Pray;
Tell God what you need;
Thank Him;
Experience God’s peace; and
Know that His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

ACTION POINT: Next time you feel worried or anxious, grab your Bible, read a favorite Bible verse to remember God’s unconditional love for you. My favorite is Psalm 121. Read it together.

How can you incorporate these five tips to transform worry into peace into your habits this week?

And next time you see a “Therefore” try and figure out what it’s there for.

Anxiety Remedy Tip – Limit Social Media.

And speaking of social media, if your daughter is experiencing anxiety or depression, help her to identify the cause of her worry. Is she stressed about school? Her grades? Peer pressure? Sports performance? Girls are negatively impacted by “comparison” than boys, especially on social media.

Limit her time on social media. This can be difficult because the big tech companies have designed social media to be addictive just like drugs. I encourage parents to watch “The Social Dilemma” a PG-13 Netflix documentary on how social media’s design nurtures an addiction, manipulates people’s views, emotions, and behavior, and spreads conspiracy theories and disinformation, to maximize profit. Set limits! You can find apps and tools to limit the time your daughter is on social media.

Welcome to The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment resources for your daughter age six and up. Request a free self-defense video and lesson plan here.

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance!

five tips to transform worry into peace

The Giggle Meter in Online Self-Defense Training

/in Empowerment, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense/by coachjody

I just finished an in-person training session with my daughter at her college. What a joy to train with her before she graduates this winter. Whether your daughter is 23 years old or six years old, There is a common experience that happens when girls train online self-defense together in a safe space. They GIGGLE!

I know it sounds strange, but the physical nature of self-defense training requires vulnerability. They are required to trust each other physically and emotionally. When they experience success, their laughter is an outpouring of their confidence.

Thank you to everyone who is training with me at The Great Flip! What is the GIGGLE meter for your girls?

If you are still thinking about adding The Great Flip to your curriculum, let me know how I can serve and encourage you to add online self-defense and martial arts training to your daughter’s character development.

I designed The Great Flip to empower you to teach a safe and empowering experience … GIGGLES included!

I look forward to serving you.

Click here to request a free video and lesson plan.

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance.

Coach Jody is a contributing writer for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh.

Faith-filled Female Empowerment

/in Curriculum, Empowerment, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense/by coachjody

Can female empowerment be faith-filled? Yes! The Great Flip, an American Heritage Girls Program Alliance, is giving girls an opportunity to learn about self-defense in an environment that fosters their strength and identity in Christ.

The Great Flip was featured in the American Heritage Girls national publication Heritage Headlines.

Callie, a Pioneer in OR4519, wanted to share her love for martial arts with her troop and earn the Harriet Tubman Level Award, which requires girls to lead a troop event. Working with The Great Flip gave her a way to flex her leadership muscles (and her self-defense skills too)!

The Great Flip is online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment resource designed to give girls a fun, playful and empowering introduction to the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Girls can earn the AHG Martial Arts Sports Pin using The Great Flip online videos, lesson plans and resources.

Click here to request a free video and lesson plan.

I am honored to serve American Heritage Girls with The Great Flip. Click here to learn more about AHG.

Here’s what AHG executive director, Patti Garibay says about God-given feminity:

I look forward to serving you. If you have any questions about The Great Flip, click here to contact me!

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

Click here to shop online self-defense courses

I ❤️ homeschooling. Share The Great Flip flyer with a homeschool family.

/in Curriculum, Empowerment, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense/by coachjody

Are you a homeschool family? Do you know any homeschool families? I ❤️ homeschooling!

I’m honored to support the courageous moms and dads who are taking a leap of faith to homeschool their children this fall. The great news is the abundance of materials out there.

My online self-defense resources at The Great Flip qualify for your homeschool PE credits and offer a fun after-school enrichment opportunity for the girls in your community.

Would you take a moment and share my online self-defense resource with all your homeschool connections?

I have a free flyer to download and share.

Click here to download the PDF The Great Flip flyer to share

You are welcome to share it on your social media too! Add #thegreatflip to your post!

What is The Great Flip?

The Great Flip is online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up. I offer online self-defense instructional videos and lesson plans to guide girls through a series of simple self-defense techniques inspired by the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Each video is 3-4 minutes in length, easy to watch, learn, drill and master!

My coaching method is designed to be fun, playful and empowering.

Bring online self-defense training to your homeschool!

No martial arts experience, required!

Hi homeschool friends! I’m Coach Jody. Thank you for considering The Great Flip as part of your homeschool experience. I have everything you need to equip you to teach self-defense skills inspired by the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. You can create a mini martial arts dojo/academy at your home or church, including my streaming videos, lesson plans, weekly blogs and/or podcasts.

I know what you want.
I know you are on a tight budget.
I know you have high expectations!

I offer a plan to meet every budget. Yes, you may share the online plan with your homeschool families, in co-ops and larger groups. Please do not share your account outside of your group to protect my hard work and your passwords.

Follow these three steps to get started

#1. Choose a Plan

For details about each plan, click here.

Click here to request the homeschool discount code.

#2. Enroll

Once you choose a plan, CLICK SHOP and complete the purchase process. You will receive a registration email to create your username and password. I will send a personal email to welcome you and begin the training process. Got questions? Contact me.

#3 Watch Videos and Train

I designed the videos so anyone can watch, learn and train together. I equip you to set up a safe, designated training space. If you need additional help, I’m happy to set up a Zoom call and live training as part of your membership. Request a free video.

Need some inspiration?

Check out my blog filled with examples of self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment success stories and tips. Click here.

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance.

Overcome three fear factors with online self-defense

/in Curriculum, Empowerment, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense/by coachjody

(Featured photo: This is my training partner. His name … wait for it … is Angel. 😍 He and I teach the self-defense skills in many of the videos, then the girls, age six and up will demonstrate the technique with you. Request a free video.)

Self-defense training can be scary. The mere mention of bullies, bad guys and back-to-school may cause anxiety in children. But self-defense training doesn’t need to be scary. As a matter of fact, when children learn simple self-defense skills and techniques, they gain confidence and courage.

Now you can bring self-defense training to your homeschool, school and/or after-school enrichment experience.

Maintain control of a positive, safe and affordable experience. Together we can give girls confidence, courage and faith-filled encouragement to be truly empowered!

Hi friends, my name is Coach Jody and I’m the creator and coach of The Great Flip online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up.

I developed this online self-defense program to help my daughters overcome three fear factors. Now you can too. No martial arts experience required! My program features step-by-step videos and lesson plans to match your budget. I look forward to serving you! Let’s get started.

Request a free video.

Physical location. Physical touch. Physical fitness.

I’ll never forget the first time my daughters and I stepped into a martial arts academy. We were completely overwhelmed. My girls said the physical location, physical touch and physical fitness were obstacles to their learning experience.

These three fear factors were not what I expected. As a mother, I have my own fears that keep me awake at night. I fear my daughters will be bullied at school. I fear creepy bad guys that lurk around every dark corner (and on the internet). I fear the sex traffickers stalking and stealing children. And now, the germ factor is important to me. How do these gyms sanitize their facility. Some places were a little sketchy.

Bullies. Bad guys. Back to school.

I suspect my daughters fear these things too, which is why we decided to take self-defense lessons. Instead of relieving fears, they were compounded. One particular martial arts academy was geared for boys and the issues boys face. Girls have a different set of needs. I was seeking a place to build confidence in my daughters. They were geared to build respect and order. Don’t get me wrong. Those qualities are great. But my main goal is to create an opportunity for girls to gain confidence and courage. When you train with me using The Great Flip videos, you will be extremely encouraged by your daughter’s success. My teaching style is fun, playful and empowering. Plus, you can teach your daughter the way you know best.

Online self-defense training is a stop-gap solution to overcome fear.

At that moment in the gym, my daughters inspired me to develop an online self-defense experience. My goal was to design a program to help them gain a basic understanding of self-defense skills, prepare for the martial arts environment and improve overall health and wellness.

Shop online courses

Let’s talk about those three fear factors. Because we crushed it using The Great Flip!

Rather listen? Listen to “Overcome three fear factors with online self-defense” on my podcast:

Physical Location

At home & homeschool

I bought inexpensive interlocking mats for my home. If you have access to gymnastic mats from your school or church, ask to borrow those. You will need mats because you will be learning skills on the ground. You will be introduced to the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. See my notes below called “Brazilian jiu-jitsu is best for children’s first exposure to self-defense.” Check out my blog called “You can learn self-defense at home” to see my home exercise space. Even yoga mats will work.

At school, a church and/or (after-school)

If everyone chips in, your school and church can afford to purchase additional mats. Schools may qualify for grants and scholarships because The Great Flip teaches children safety and fitness life skills which may qualify for assistance from local or federal grants. Do some research and seek financial assistance and invest in mats.

Physical Touch

Self-defense training requires physical touch. Sparring with a partner allows children to feel resistance to techniques and simulate real self-defense situations. When physical touch is applied in a safe and trusted environment, children can concentrate on the techniques and not physical contact. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a grappling sport, where moves and techniques must be done in a live drilling situation. Other martial arts like karate and taekwondo tend to simulate movements but not in a real self-defense situation.

Be aware that some children have more sensitivity toward touch than others depending on their story, culture, or sexual history. When you control the experience, you can create open communication. Research has shown that safe physical touch is healing and healthy. Children who train Brazilian jiu-jitsu say the physical nature of the sport brings healing to their relationships, bodies and overall health and wellness.

If you are concerned about physical touch, The Great Flip curriculum offers solo, no-contact skills and drills. Contact Coach Jody for customized curriculum and courses.

Shop online courses

Physical Fitness

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the excuse “I need to get in shape before I train.” No, No, No, you do not need to get in shape before self-defense training. The techniques are designed to make you stronger, flexible and fit. No experience required. The videos are for beginners of any age. When I started training jiu-jitsu, I was overweight and in my mid-forties. I lost twenty pounds, gained muscle and increased flexibility. My daughters are inspired by the entire process and seek to live healthy lifestyles too. As a matter of fact, I never went back to a fitness club. All my fitness goals are met on the mat training Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The best time to start is now.

A quick glance at the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

I introduce children age six and up to the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves or another against a bigger assailant by using proper technique, leverage, and most notably, taking the fight to the ground. To learn more about BJJ click here.

My teaching method is fun, playful and empowering.

There is no striking or punching in my curriculum. I focus on protection, escapes and submissions. Read “Will my students be karate-chopping each other?” blog here.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is best for children’s first exposure to self-defense

BJJ allows students to live drill techniques with success.
BJJ empowers smaller-framed people to use techniques and leveraging versus force to overcome a larger opponent.
BJJ introduces children to physical contact in a safe environment.
BJJ is a “grappling sport” introducing children to movements on the ground which is realistic to real self-defense situations. Most self-defense altercations (more than 80 percent) end up on the ground.
BJJ empowers, builds confidence, and increases mental and physical strength.
BJJ is referred to as the “gentle martial art” giving children a positive martial arts experience.

Benefits of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

Self Confidence	Bully Prevention
Positive Body Image	Teamwork
Trust & Respect	Strength & Flexibility
Fitness & Conditioning	Life Skill & Character Development

Request a free video

Shop online courses

I look forward to serving you and equipping you to overcome three fear factors with online self-defense from The Great Flip. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

The Great Flip is a national program partner for the American Heritage Girls

The Great Flip offers faith-based talking points in the lesson plans, podcasts and blogs. The Great Flip seeks to counter the culture with the good news of Jesus Christ. Be sure to browse the blog and media portion of my website! Thank you.

Follow The Great Flip on social media @thegreatflip #thegreatflip.

The Bible, Mary Poppins, a Curb, A Mirror and a Guide. What?!

/in Empowerment, Motivation, Recent Blog Posts/by coachjody

What are you reading this summer? Do you have a summer reading list? How about a favorite movie? There’s nothing better than a good book or movie on a summer day. Have you considered adding the Bible to your summer?

So what in the world does the Bible, Mary Poppins, a curb, a mirror and a guide have in common? Well, I’m so glad you asked.

The Bible.

I decided to add the Psalms to my summer reads. The book of Psalms is an Old Testament book of the Bible filled with poetry, prophecy, prayer, comfort and wisdom. Whether you are a Bible scholar or a beginner, reading the Psalms gives you a great summary of the entire Bible.

Martin Luther said,

“The Psalms are a Little Bible, wherein everything contained in the entire Bible is beautifully and briefly comprehended.”

So according to good old reformer Martin Luther, if you read the Psalms, you get a great summary of the Bible.

Mary Poppins.

Have you seen the new (not so new) “Mary Poppins Returns” movie featuring Emily Blunt? I know the classic Julia Andrews will always be cherished, but you need to give Emily a try. I loved it! I used a reference from the new Mary Poppins movie in my devotion for True Girl (a ministry of Dannah Gresh). In this devotion, I teach moms and daughters about the use of “law” and “gospel” in the Bible. Just read my devotion (below) and you’ll get it! Just know that everything in the Bible always points to Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of law and gospel … for you! When you know this, you can better understand what you are reading.

A Curb, a Mirror and a Guide.

Go on, now read the devotion. As Mary Poppins says in her song, “A Cover is Not the Book,” … “The quicker you’re into it, the quicker you’re out of it.”

A curb, a mirror and a guide.

Written by Jody Token

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” Psalm 119:92-93

I grew up under the teaching that the law serves three primary functions: A curb, a mirror and a guide.

A Curb.

As a curb, the law creates boundaries. I can’t help but picture the scene in the Disney movie, Mary Poppins Returns as they take a joyful carriage ride (Is there any other kind?) inside a family heirloom china bowl. At the end of the song, “Royal Doulton Music Hall,” the lyrics explain:

“Get yourself some peanuts and candy floss and go right on in!”

“May we Mary Poppins?”

“Yes- just keep away from the edge of the bowl”

The children learned the boundary (the curb) is there to protect them.

In the Psalm, David realizes the law is a delight because God desires to protect him, not to harm him. Without the law, David would perish in his own sin and affliction. He desires to remember the law because the law gives him life.

A mirror and a guide.

The law and the gospel work together in this verse. The acronym S.O.S. a simple way to understand the mirror and the guide. First, S.O.S. “Shows Our Sins.” When we look in a mirror through the lens of the law, we recognize ourselves as sinners. At the same time, we see Christ’s finished work on the cross in us, therefore the mirror “Shows Our Savior.”

S.O.S. Shows Our Sin & Shows Our Savior

The law becomes a joyful guide to love and serve the world around us.

Action Point: Look in a mirror. Who do you see? First, see yourself as a sinner in need of a Savior. Now see yourself fully forgiven because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. Smile, you are a Saint!

Short bio: Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up.

Request a free video at www.thegreatflip.com.

Click here to learn more about The Great Flip online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment.

Six Ways To Get Faith

/in Empowerment, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts/by coachjody

Cross-eyed And Cross-eared For Jesus!

Six Ways To Get Faith Into Daughter’s Eyes and Ears.

When it comes to reading the Bible, do you ever feel like the words go in one eye and out the other? Or what about in church when the pastor is preaching (on and on and on. LOL) Do his words go in one ear and out the other?

If you struggle, imagine how our children might feel? I have good news; it’s okay to be a little “crossed-eyed or cross-eared” for Jesus! Get it “Cross-eyed, Cross-eared?” (Sorry, not sorry, mom joke.)

It’s okay to acknowledge the difficulty you have when reading the Bible. When your children come to you with questions, it’s okay to admit you don’t have all the answers. But God has great news for you and your children. He gave you this amazing, supernatural promise;

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

Did you catch that promise? How do you get faith? First, let me tell you how you do not get faith. Faith does not come from your studious pursuit of knowledge. Faith does not come by hours of work. It doesn’t even come by your own understanding.

Look at that verse again. How does faith come? Faith comes by hearing through the word of Christ. The words of Jesus (He is the Word) will enter into your eyes, your ears, or your fingers (if you are blind and reading by Braille) and plant a gift of faith inside of you (It’s all a gift).

Your get faith by hearing. God gives faith simply by hearing through the word (the Bible) of Christ. I’m not telling you to nod off in church, but when the preacher speaks God’s words, he’s delivering faith to you, whether you know it or not. What a relief for you and your children as you grow in your knowledge of God’s word. Another reason to bring your children into the church. Trust God’s gift is being poured out even when everyone has the wiggles.

You might not understand what you are hearing or reading (yet!) but keep listening and studying. The seed of faith will cause a desire to want more. Trust God to give you this unending gift of faith as you study His word. When your children have questions, that means faith has been planted. Together you can seek answers and grow in your faith together.

Here are six practical steps you can take to make reading the Bible more enjoyable and most importantly, steps you can take to increase comprehension for you and for your children while resting in his promise as the faith-giver.

Get a children’s Bible.

Research age-appropriate children’s Bibles. My favorite children’s Bible is Sally Llyod-Jones “The Children’s Storybook Bible.” I like this one because the Bible stories are written to lead the reader to discover Jesus throughout all of scripture. She says, “The Bible isn’t a book of rules, (the Bible has rules in it that show you how life works best) or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure.”

Get yourself a good study Bible.

There are so many options and translations to choose from. Ask your pastor and friends what they recommend. A good study Bible might have cross-references, historical summaries, and a Concordance of definitions and meanings. If you already have a Bible, you might consider getting a separate Concordance to aid with comprehension. I have the “Strong’s Concise Concordance and Vine’s Concise Dictionary of The Bible.” Many denominations have additional study resources such as small catechism, prayer books, etc.

Read the Bible aloud with your children.

Choose a time of day that works best for you; morning devotions, meals, bedtime, etc. Keep it short and simple but read the words out loud. The Psalms are a beautiful way to begin and end each day.

Play an audible Bible app.

Play the app while driving in the car and/or at home. I have Bible Gateway, You Version, Bible Hub apps on my smartphone.

Encourage Bible verse memorization.

Write, paint, chalk, (have fun) to aid with memorizing Bible verses. Practice saying the verses out loud. Turn the words into a song and create hand motions to help with memorization. There are many resources for this too.

Join a Bible study.

Of course, in-person conversations and community is best, but life is a little crazy right now. Most importantly, join a community of believers for help and prayer. Hundreds of years of theologians have gone before us to guide us in our studies. We can look to them for guidance.

Next time you hear or read something you don’t understand, take notes, circle or underline it and put a date by it. Ask God for wisdom. Explore your Bible resources for answers. Remember, scripture interprets scripture! Trust that the gift of faith is working in your heart and mind. When you finally understand that portion of scripture (it’s okay if it takes days, weeks, months, or years; God is at work through faith), put a new date on it to celebrate the gift of faith!

Now, go find a favorite Bible verse and share the gift of faith with others! Here’s one of my favorites:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up. Request a free video at www.thegreatflip.com

Here’s a devotion to share with your daughter. It is one of many featured in the True Girl Summer Subscription Box. I give girls a simple promise from the Bible on how to get faith. Check it out!

Cross-eyed and cross-eared for Jesus!

Reading the Bible can be intimidating. Sometimes I feel like I’m reading words that go in one eye and out the other. And other times at church, the words of the pastor go in one ear and out the other.

I have good news; it’s okay to be a little “crossed-eyed or cross-eared” for Jesus! Get it CROSS-eyed, CROSS-eared? (Sorry, not sorry, mom joke!)

It’s okay to acknowledge the difficulty of reading the Bible. It’s okay to admit you don’t understand. But God has great news for you. He gave you this amazing, supernatural promise;

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17.

Did you catch that promise? How do you get faith? First, let me tell you how you do not get faith. Faith does not come from your studious pursuit of knowledge. Faith does not come by hours of work. It doesn’t even come by your own understanding.

Faith comes by hearing through the word of Christ. The words of Jesus (He is the Word) will enter into your eyes, your ears, or your fingers (if you are blind and reading by Braille) and plant a gift of faith inside of you (It’s all a gift). That’s how you get faith. God gives faith to you by simply hearing through the word (the Bible) of Christ.

You might not understand what you are reading (yet!), but keep studying. Faith will cause a desire to want more and understand more. Trust God to give you this unending gift of faith as you study His word.

Action point

Next time you read something you don’t understand, circle or underline it and put a date by it. Ask God for wisdom. Explore your Bible for answers. Scripture interprets scripture! Trust that the gift of faith is working in your heart and mind even during uncertain times. When you finally understand that portion of scripture (it’s okay if it takes days, weeks, months, or years; God is at work through faith), put a new date on it to celebrate the gift of faith!

Find a favorite Bible verse. Write in on a postcard. Memorize it. Try this one:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up. Request a free video at www.thegreatflip.com

Coach Jody offers online self-defense videos, lesson plans and anti-bully resources for girls!

Click here to review online courses.

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance. Click here to learn more.

How To Be Strong This Summer

/in Empowerment, Motivation, Recent Blog Posts, Safety/by coachjody

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8

Taking care of your body is important. Eating whole food instead of processed food, drinking water instead of soda, exercising instead of prolonged screen time and getting enough sleep are four awesome ways to decrease obesity and increase our immune system. Review these four “Be Strong” tips in the family activity below.

I know a lot of people are saying “be safe” and it’s important to consider your safety in all aspects of life. I’m a self-defense coach, so yes, I can teach you a few things about safety. But I want to encourage you today with tips about “being strong.”

Be Strong.

I want you to be strong in your body, mind and spirit. When you focus on your strength, you’ll be able to make wise decisions about safety too.

God’s word says something amazing about how to “be strong.” When you trust in the Lord, you have less stress. When you have less stress, your anxiety reduces. When your anxiety reduces, your body becomes healthy and your bones grow strong.

Why trust God? Because he loves you! “For this is how God loved the world (put your name here): He gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16. This is a trustworthy promise for you! Let that sink into your body and bones.

Sit down with your family and discuss the four ways you can be strong:

Four ways to be strong.

Pick one healthy habit to improve this week. Record your progress. Take pictures and share with #TrueGirl #TheGreatFlip.

Eat whole foods. If your food doesn’t grow from the ground or eat from the ground, it’s probably not whole food. Oh, how I wish I could grow Oreos in my garden. :) Learn how to cook something healthy or try a new fruit or vegetable.
Drink water. Reduce your intake of sugar and/or caffeine. Find a water intake calculator and refillable sports bottle to reach your goal. Squeeze fresh lemon in your water. Yum!
Get enough sleep. Tweens and teens need between 9-10 hours of sleep. What time should you go to bed to get enough sleep?
Physical exercise. Reduce screen time and exercise. Start a fitness challenge with your family or friends. Play a sport. Run around the house. Do jumping jacks. Do something active for at least 30 minutes every day. What will you do to achieve this goal?

Learn about the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu with me here at The Great Flip.

Click here to request a free video and lesson plan. Not only will you get physically fit, but you will also learn an amazing life skill too! It’s a win-win!

EXTRA CREDIT: Read my blog that was featured on True Girl’s website and learn how trusting in the Lord offers five more ways to be strong. Click here.

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up at www.thegreatflip.com

Click here to request a free self-defense video and lesson plan!

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program partner. Coach Jody is a contributing writer for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh.

Click here to request a free self-defense video and lesson plan!

Click here to learn more about online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment.

How Sabbath Rest Saved My Daughter’s Life

/in Empowerment, Motivation, Recent Blog Posts/by coachjody

When it comes to taking care of your body, mind and spirit, remembering the Sabbath day is an important spiritual discipline. And here’s “the great flip,” we enter into spiritual disciplines not to earn God’s love, but because we already have it. Here is my daughter’s story.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 20:8

My daughter, Megan, is a senior in college and struggles with perfectionism and anxiety. Can anyone relate? But she has discovered the joy of Sabbath rest.

“I’m a workaholic,” she confessed. “I get in a zone and I can’t stop being productive. If I don’t stop and remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, my body will crash,” she says.

Now, she sees Sabbath as a gift. Her Sabbath provides motivation to work hard all week so on Sunday, she can enjoy church with her friends, receive the means of grace through the word, remembering her identity in Christ through baptism and receiving faith nutrition through communion. Her intentional effort to protect the Sabbath day now protects her from burnout and exhaustion. She is refreshed and refueled for a new week.

She doesn’t allow her “to-do” list to enter into her Sabbath day. Instead, she gives it to God and He gives her rest and joy. Not every week is perfect, but it’s a pattern of living that has brought order to her routine. Now on Sunday afternoons she takes time to hang out with friends, lay on the couch, do art projects, play her ukulele, or go for a hike.

A fresh perspective on spiritual disciplines.

It’s important to have a healthy view of spiritual disciplines like honoring the Sabbath Day, prayer, fasting, and service so these disciplines do not become legalistic activities. Starting with the correct mindset will help you and your daughter enjoy spiritual disciplines and not despise them.

Even Martin Luther in his explanation of the commandment to honor the Sabbath Day said, “We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.”

Consider spiritual disciplines as gifts from your heavenly father to gladly hear and learn. God promises to meet us where we are through these disciplines. He promises to extend his grace and blessings. He promises to meet us in these quiet places.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

We enter into a spiritual discipline NOT to earn God’s love, but because we already have it.

We have his complete love and affection through Jesus. From a position of gratitude, we enter into spiritual disciplines. We don’t serve God in order to get more from Him. He has given us everything through Jesus. He is our great reward. When our motivation changes from “have to” to “want to” our entire Christian perspective shifts. Suddenly, like my daughter, you will see everything as a “good and perfect gift (James 1:17)” including commandments and spiritual disciplines.

My daughter surrounds herself with like-minded friends who desire to honor the Sabbath Day. These faith-family friends (her church buddies) help her build a schedule, keep her accountable and celebrate with her on those Sabbath rest days.

Consider sitting down with your family to prioritize Sabbath rest into your schedule.

Have a family meeting to talk about Sabbath rest and its benefits.
How can you structure your week so that the Sabbath day is kept holy?
What activities do you need to prioritize to give your family the gift of Sabbath rest?
What would you do if the Sabbath day was free to rest and enjoy?

Share your Sabbath day stories with me at @TheGreatFlip and #thegreatflip

Welcome to The Great Flip

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up. I created a fun, playful and empowering resource for you and your daughter to learn self-defense skills at home, school or after school.

Click here to request a free self-defense video.

A big shout out to my daughter, Megan for sharing her story. She is a psychology major at Asbury University and is an advocate for mental health awareness. Follow her blog at “The Peace He Gives” Blog https://megantoken.blogspot.com

Megan trains self-defense skills with me. We make training together fun, playful and empowering. Give it a try at home, at school P.E. class or after school in an enrichment program or Christian club.

For more faith-filled empowerment resources from Coach Jody, click here.

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance.
Jody’s blogs and devotions can be found at True Girl, a Pure Freedom ministry of Dannah Gresh.
Contact Coach Jody

As featured at True Girl

https://mytruegirl.com/blog/how-the-discipline-of-sabbath-rest-changed-my-daughters-life/

As featured in Christian Parenting

How the discipline of Sabbath rest saved my daughter’s life

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8 ESV).

My daughter, Megan, is a senior in college and struggles with perfectionism and anxiety. Can anyone relate? But she has discovered the joy of Sabbath rest.

“I’m a workaholic,” she confessed.

“I get in a zone and I can’t stop being productive. If I don’t stop and remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, my body will crash,” she says.

Refueled through the Church

Now, she sees Sabbath as a gift. Her Sabbath provides motivation to work hard all week, so on Sunday, she can enjoy church with her friends, receive the means of grace through the word, remember her identity in Christ through baptism and receive faith nutrition through communion.

Her intentional effort to protect the Sabbath day now protects her from burnout and exhaustion. She is refreshed and refueled for a new week.

She doesn’t allow her “to-do” list to enter into her Sabbath day. Instead she gives it to God, and he gives her rest and joy. Not every week is perfect, but it’s a pattern of living that has brought order to her routine.

Now on Sunday afternoons she takes time to hang out with friends, lay on the couch, do art projects, play her ukulele, or go for a hike.

A fresh perspective on spiritual disciplines

It’s important to have a healthy view of spiritual disciplines like honoring the Sabbath Day, prayer, fasting, and service so these disciplines do not become legalistic activities.

Starting with the correct mindset will help you and your family enjoy spiritual disciplines and not despise them.

Even Martin Luther in his explanation of the commandment to honor the Sabbath Day said, “We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and his word but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.”

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV).

Gratitude in our disciplines

We enter into a spiritual discipline not to earn God’s love, but because we already have it. We have his complete love and affection through Jesus. From a position of gratitude, we enter into spiritual disciplines. We don’t serve God in order to get more from him because he has given us everything through Jesus. He is our great reward.

When our motivation changes from “have to” to “want to” our entire Christian perspective shifts. Suddenly, like my daughter, you will see everything as a “good and perfect gift (James 1:17)” including commandments and spiritual disciplines.

Rest in your home

My daughter surrounds herself with like-minded friends who desire to honor the Sabbath Day. These faith-family friends (her church buddies) help her build a schedule, keep her accountable, and celebrate with her on those Sabbath rest days.

Consider sitting down with your family to prioritize Sabbath rest into your schedule. Have a family meeting to talk about Sabbath rest and its benefits.

How can you structure your week so that the Sabbath day is kept holy? What activities do you need to prioritize to give your family the gift of Sabbath rest? What would you do if the Sabbath day was free to rest and enjoy?