It’s go time!! Everyone is back to school. Whether your child is away at school, homeschooled, or a mix of both, their schedule (and yours) just got crazy busy. But even during crazy schedules, your faith can play a pivotal role in keeping everyone calm.
You can give your children faith that overcomes back-to-school burnout! Here’s how:
When pressures are thrust upon your children, whether it’s grades or performance of any kind, take those moments and teach your child to distinguish between the pressures of this earthly kingdom and God’s kingdom. In this world, your child will be expected to earn his or her way to success. In God’s kingdom, their success is a free gift on account of the finished work of Jesus.
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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
God’s Math Matters
Don’t let those two worlds collide. When it comes to math homework, they must study, practice, and get good grades to advance. When it comes to their faith, let it be a sacred place in the goodness of God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense = GRACE.
Since we are on the topic of math, here’s a quick equation to illustrate God’s kingdom:
Jesus + Something = Nothing
Jesus + Nothing = Everything
Heroes of Faith History Lesson
When you try to add “something” to Jesus (your performance), you’ll get nothing. But when you rely completely on Jesus and his promises, you receive everything (no performance required)! The heroes of the Bible were heroes of faith, not works. Read Hebrew 11 for a “heroes of the faith” history lesson.
Need more faith? Even faith is a gift:
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
And when God speaks, His word works. It is declared to you that you are receiving faith.
An SOS with no distress
This might be difficult to grasp, even for adults. When your children read passages that contain rules like the 10 commandments or language that talks about obedience, teach them the SOS rule. The commandments can serve two functions; First they “Show Our Sins” and most importantly they “Show Our Savior.” We are unable to keep the commandments perfectly, but Jesus did … for us.
God’s Kingdom
We are dual citizens. We live in this broken earthly kingdom and in God’s kingdom. When we walk by faith in Jesus, we follow the commandments and love our neighbor not to earn God’s love, but because we already have it.
So how then shall we live and teach our children about “doing good works” in God’s kingdom compared to the earthly kingdom?
I really can’t say it any better than this:
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17
The Great Flip is online faith-filled martial arts for ages six and up. Learn self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment with steaming videos and lesson plans at The Great Flip.
The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance
https://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/keep-calm-banner.png34566912coachjodyhttps://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/the-great-flip-tag-rgb-300x85.pngcoachjody2024-08-08 19:17:282024-08-12 21:06:54Faith That Overcomes Back-to-School Burnout
You can empower your child to respond with confidence and courage when faced with a bully. I think every child will experience some form of bullying during their childhood. Whether it’s subtle or extreme, bullying is devasting to a child’s self-esteem. Teach your child these four tips to boost confidence and courage to overcome bullies.
Speak Up!
Your voice is the first line of self-defense. Ask your child to list all the ways his/her voice can be helpful if a bully is approaching.
A voice can:
Communicate boundaries.
Escalate or de-escalate a situation.
Yell for help.
Build up or tear down.
Express emotions.
Role-play with your child and encourage the development of their voice as a form of self-defense. Help your child choose the right words and correct tone of voice when communicating their feelings based on different situations. Teach them to be direct but not bossy, assertive but not aggressive. Begin with a calm voice, but as a situation changes, teach them it’s okay to be loud if necessary.
(As a self-defense instructor, I encourage children to be loud when counting repetitions in a warm-up exercise. For example, when doing jumping jacks, I will count 1-5, then encourage them to count aloud 6-10. Some children need to control their voice (tone it down, be loud without screaming.) Some children need to be encouraged to be loud. There’s something empowering about letting out a good loud shout! Create space to develop your child’s voice.
Your Inner Voice
A child’s inner voice might dictate the way they express themself outwardly. Talk to your child about the voice inside their head. If they believe things that are not true, give them affirming words to replace the negative voice. Share God’s voice (God’s Word found in the Bible) with your child. Read God’s promises to your child and encourage them to memorize and internalize and recognize God’s voice. What’s your favorite Bible verse? Read it out loud together.
Practice using your voice to speak kind words to each other.
Stand Up!
Taking care of your body is a powerful form of self-defense. Defend your body with posture and healthy habits.
Body language matters
Poor posture can make your child appear weak. Bullies seek victims who look weak. But strong body language can make them appear strong. Even if they don’t feel confident, they can still look confident by standing tall with proper posture.
The ole “place a hardcover book on your head” trick works to improve posture every time. Place a book on your child’s head and walk around the room keeping the book balanced. Make sure their head and eyes are up looking forward. Make a game out of this experiment.
Healthy Habits Matter
Good nutrition and exercise defend your body against obesity and strengthens your immune system to fight off germs. Personal trainers and nutritionists agree that a healthy body is 80 percent good nutrition and 20 percent exercise.
Here are four healthy habits to defend your body:
Drink more water and less sugary drinks.
Get enough sleep.
Eat healthy whole foods and less processed foods.
Exercise every day for at least 30 minutes and decrease screen time!
Back-Up!
Manage Your Distance
Prior to COVID, I spent a lot of time explaining “distance management.” Now, I say those two magic words “social distance” and children understand spatial orientation when it comes to the space between people.
Personal Space
Now that children understand the idea of “social distancing,” you can apply self-defense strategies to their personal space and safety.
Your personal space is typically the space inside your arm span. Extend your arms out in front of you. This is your personal space. When confronted with a bully or someone walking toward you, protecting your personal space will keep you safe (from germs and physical confrontation).
When your child’s voice is not respected, then your child will need to be prepared to defend his/her personal space. Roleplay by stepping toward your child. Teach them to keep their arms up while at the same time stepping back or around to maintain their personal space. Continue to practice a strong voice during the exercise.
If a person gets too close, your child can use their hands to defend themself. If they don’t want to use their hands, they can learn the push-kick self-defense technique. Request a free video to learn this skill at www.thegreatflip.com.
Keep this activity fun, playful, and empowering. Carefully balance on one foot and place the other foot just above your training partner’s knee. Now, push your partner away. If you don’t have a training buddy, carefully use your foot to push open a door. This is the push kick.
Power Up!
Bullying prevention is complex. Begin with those three tips and your child will experience confidence and courage. Add this fourth and final tip for a complete Bully Prevention Activity with your child.
This 24-page Anti-Bully Handbook (now in Ebook and Print formats) will help girls identify forms of bullying and give them the tools she needs to change the bully culture by engaging their whole self; body, mind, and spirit.
The Great Flip Anti-Bully Handbook features:
A Bully Inventory
Digital bullies
Devotions: God’s Power vs. Girl Power
Devotion: Three Ways to Plug into God’s Power
Role-Playing
Self-Defense Physical Activities
No-Fight Self-Defense “Voice, Body & Distance.”
Health and Safety Tips
Two Online Self-defense Skills Video
The Wrist Escape Video
The Push Kick Video
The activity book can be done as a family activity or with a group of peers. It’s done best with adult mentors facilitating the activity to help the girls navigate the sensitive topic of bullying.
To learn more about self-defense training and create an online martial arts experience at home, contact Jody Token, the creator and coach of The Great Flip, an online martial arts for ages six and up.
In this blog, I offer three ways for mothers and daughters to plug into God’s amazing grace and mighty power that far exceeds girl power. Be sure to review the lies about the girl power movement with your daughter.
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
I remember when my daughter first saw this verse. She thought she could defy gravity! Imagine the possibilities! She could win first place in her cross-country meet. Ace her math test. “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me!” she exclaimed. But no matter how hard she tried, she didn’t get first place and that math test was harder than she expected. She felt exhausted and defeated.
What is the source of your strength? Better asked … Who is the source of your strength? Girl power or God’s power?
Girl power is driven by results and must be earned. The promise is conditional. If you work hard enough and win, you get credit. If you work hard and fail. You feel like a failure. The burden is always on you to perform. It’s no wonder girls suffer from depression and anxiety more than at any time in history. Girl power is fake power.
But God’s power is unconditional, never-ending and a free gift from Jesus. This Bible verse, penned by the apostle Paul, promises Christ-followers the power of Jesus in all circumstances. Christ’s strength will empower you in any situation, in good times and in bad. If you win, he celebrates with you. If you lose, God strengthens you with his comfort and peace. God’s power is real power.
A girl can do anything not because of who she is or how hard she tries. A girl can do anything because of whose she is and His name is Jesus!
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
In the spirit of “Lies Girls Believe” (shout out to Dannah Gresh at True Girl 😍) I’d like to expose the lies of the girl power movement and offer three ways to plug into God’s power.
You and your daughter can read each of these contrasting statements and give examples of the difference between girl power and God’s power in your life.
Girl power is self-centered vs. God’s power is others-focused.
Girl power seeks to do whatever makes you happy. It’s self-centered and self-seeking, but God says his power will compel you to love Him and love others first.
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39
Girl power demands “it’s my body, it’s my choice” vs. God’s power declares you to be “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Girl power puts men and boys down to gain power vs. God’s power created men and women equally for each other.
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Genesis 2:18
Girl power is fueled by emotions vs. God’s power is fueled by truth.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Girl power requires work vs. God’s power is a free gift.
“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
Can you think of other examples?
Plug into God’s power.
The girl power movement instructs girls to look on the inside for power. I’m not sure about you, but when I go digging for power inside of myself, I wind up exhausted and empty. My power source is a moving target depending on my mood and emotions.
God’s power is an external source. It comes from the outside.
Here are three ways to plug into God’s power!
Have you ever used an electrical appliance such as a toaster or hairdryer? Do you wonder where the power comes from? What happens if it’s not plugged into a power source?
If you want to shine for God, you must plug into his power. Your light does not come from the inside out. Instead, it comes from the outside, in. To power an appliance, plug it into an outlet. To get God’s power, plug yourself into his outlets called the “means of grace.” The means of grace are the outlets God guarantees from his word to deliver faith, the forgiveness of sins and the power to shine. Here are three outlets to receive God’s power so you can shine bright.
#1. God’s Word.
The Bible is God’s primary outlet. His Word unfolds the grand narrative of salvation through Jesus. Simply listen or read the Bible and receive the promise of faith.
“So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:7
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
You might not understand what you are reading (yet!) but keep hearing the word of Christ. Trust God to give you this unending gift of faith when you listen to His word. His light will begin to shine in you!
#2. Baptism
The Bible is filled with water! Well, not literally, but from Genesis through Revelation almost every reference to water points to baptism and its power to forgive sins, rescue from death and the devil, and give salvation to all who believe. Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). When the water and the Word are splashed, poured or immersed on you, you can shine bright and proclaim, “I am baptized into Christ,” and be certain that the comforting words of Romans 8:1 are true:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
#3. Communion
One of my pastors likes to say, “If the water seals it, then the food feeds it.” The sacred meal referred in several ways such as Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper, is an outlet to receive God’s power to shine. When we eat and drink his body and blood under the bread and wine, we receive the forgiveness of sins and a bright boost of faith power.
Martin Luther said, “this is a profound wonder and unexplainable mystery.”
Stay plugged into Jesus and receive God’s unending power! Look at you! God’s power is your strength!
The Bible offers spiritual disciplines too!
Prayer, fasting, worship, service in your community, and honoring the Sabbath Day are just a few that came to mind.
These spiritual disciplines are not meant to be legalistic activities. We do not do things to earn God’s love. We practice these disciplines because we already have the fullness of God’s love through his son Jesus. Spiritual disciplines are given to us directly by God. God promises to meet you in these activities to bless and comfort you.
So plugin and receive God’s unending power! You can do all things through Christ who will strengthen you!
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.
Does your child struggle with low self-esteem or anxiety? The martial arts is a proven confidence-builder! You can teach martial arts with my online martial arts resources at The Great Flip. Request a free video and lesson plan. Your child will learn the Top 12 Self-Defense Skills and earn a certificate of completion. Click here for more information.
https://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/plug-into-power.jpg9241640coachjodyhttps://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/the-great-flip-tag-rgb-300x85.pngcoachjody2024-03-04 08:34:362024-05-16 13:47:32Three ways to plug into God’s power
You can download The Great Flip “Words of Wisdom” talking points here!
The Words of Wisdom talking points include a Bible verse, a short message and follow-up questions or comments. Feel free to include these talking points before or after an online self-defense training activity.
Words of Wisdom Introduction
Martial arts and spirituality have co-existed for centuries. Many martial arts carry Eastern mysticism origins with them. Symbols on the walls of a dojo or meditations used in the teaching may reflect these origins. Before you join a martial arts gym, you should carefully examine and prayerfully consider what your children are being taught. You can teach martial arts at The Great Flip! You can give your child confidence by teaching them self-defense skills.
Learning a life skill like martial arts will directly combat the top three obstacles our kids face today: Too much screen time, mental health concerns and overall safety. When your child participates in a martial arts class, they will be physically fit, emotionally healthy, and empowered with self-defense skills. Let’s get started!
I’m thrilled to share a Christian worldview here at The Great Flip. I want to give families and educators an online venue to try self-defense skills inspired by the Brazilian jiu-jitsu in their comfort zone with trusted family and friends.
I want to give families a safe place to learn about Jesus and discover his unconditional love. The Great Flip is for all people from all backgrounds and beliefs. I welcome everyone to ponder and meditate on the Christian worldview presented at The Great Flip.
The martial arts experience usually includes a moment of wisdom delivered by the wise instructor. The Sensa, professor, or coach imparts wisdom to the students. They might talk about respect, authority and teamwork to name a few.
Here at The Great Flip, I developed a “Words of Wisdom series.” Each Word of Wisdom is downloadable, just look for the PDF file in the blog. Each Word of Wisdom has a Bible verse, a message and follow-up questions or comments to discuss with the girls in your life.
Feel free to open or close a “self-defense training” event with these talking points. Encourage the girls to memorize the Bible verses and reflect upon the teaching. Check back from time to time. I’ll continue to add The Great Flip Words of Wisdom!
Scroll to the end of this blog for PDF downloads!
Words of Wisdom #1 The Great Flip
I know Jesus takes away my sins. Whenever I come to him in prayer and confess my sins, He is faithful and forgives all my sins. Right? But wait, there’s more!
Jesus does more than take away sins. He becomes my sin. And in exchange, He gives me all his righteousness. To be righteous means “to be right with God.”
I’m not right with God because I’m a good person or because I do good things. I’m right with God because Jesus becomes all my sin and gives me all his righteousness.
The great reformer, Martin Luther referred to this Bible verse as The Great Exchange. I call it The Great Flip.
What does this promise mean to you? Write a prayer thanking God for this amazing gift.
Thank you, Jesus, for not only forgiving my sins but becoming my sins. Thank you for taking all my sins and nailing them on the cross. And in exchange, you gave me all your righteousness. I stand right with God because of you. Thank you.
Words of Wisdom #2 Saved by Faith, not by Force
In jiu-jitsu, we rely on technique, not force. We learn we can escape a wrist hold simply by applying a technique to break the weakest part of the grip (the finger and thumb). In contrast, the more we force a situation (the more we pull) the more difficult the escape may become.
We cannot force our way into heaven. We cannot earn salvation. Trying harder does not get us any closer. We fall short in every attempt.
All religions tell us we must DO something to earn the affection of God. But Jesus turned the world upside down when he said, “IT IS FINISHED.” His life, death on the cross and resurrection declares … The work is DONE.
You are not required to work for his affection. He already loves you. He has loved you from the beginning of time. He loved you when he formed you in your mother’s womb. He loves you today, right now. He loves you tomorrow and until the end of time. Jesus loves you.
“For God so loved the world (put your name here), that he gave his only Son (JESUS), that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Make a list of the gifts given to you in these two passages:
He gives faith. “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
He gives Jesus.
He gives eternal life.
Thank God for his gift … for you!
Words of Wisdom #3 Girl Power vs. God Power
I believe jiu-jitsu is the best martial art for self-defense because it equips a smaller person to defend against a larger opponent. A girl learns to trust techniques, not her strength.
Today’s culture attempts to convince girls to reach within themselves to find strength. “Girl Power” sounds empowering, but in reality, it’s exhausting. Pressure to perform and expectations to succeed crush a girl’s spirit. Girls suffer from depression and anxiety now more than at any time in history. Girl power falls short. Thank goodness for God’s power! A girl can do anything NOT because of who she is. A girl can do anything because of WHOSE she is! Let His power strengthen you!
How would you describe the difference between Girl Power vs. God Power?
Ask God to fill you with His Power and memorize Philippians 4:13.
Words of Wisdom #4 History is His Story
My favorite children’s Bible is called “The Jesus Storybook Bible” by Sally Llyod-Jones. “The Bible isn’t a book of rules or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. You see, the best thing about this Story is – it’s true. There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories tell one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name.”
The Bible is His Story!
Read the story about Jonah and the big fish in the Old Testament book Jonah 1-4 and explain how this story whispers HIS Story.
“The people of Nineveh listened to Jonah, and they started loving God. Many years later, God was going to send another Messenger with the same wonderful message. Like Jonah, he would spend three days in utter darkness. But this Messenger would be God’s own Son. He would be called ‘The Word’ because he himself would be God’s Message.” Excerpt from The Jesus Storybook Bible.
Words of Wisdom #5 What Can A Dead Person Do?
What can a dead person do? Ephesians 2:1 says “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” What can a dead person do? The answer is nothing! Can a dead person raise themself to life? Nope, they are dead.
Martin Luther said it this way,” I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.” (Luther’s Small Catechism)
So how do we become alive? The answer is found in the Bible and in the character of God.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5
Did you decide to be born? Read Psalm 139:13 From the beginning of time, your life, your breath, your purpose and so much more is a gift from God. God knitted you together in your mother’s womb and gave you life. And now, God makes you alive with Christ.
Have you received the free gift of God? Do you know someone who would benefit from this gift? Pray this prayer:
Prayer: Lord, thank you for making me alive with Christ. I would like to receive this free gift. And I believe what you say in John 3:16 “For God so loved (ME) and the world that he gave (GIFT) His only Son (JESUS) that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Amen. Thank you for this gift! Read Psalms 139:13 and Ephesians 2:8
Words of Wisdom #6 Listen!
Do you wish you had more faith to believe everything Jesus says to you?
If so, you are not alone. In Mark 9:23-24, a man doubted if Jesus could heal his son. His words might be a lot like yours. The man cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Good news! Jesus came to give faith so you can believe. He says, “Listen.” It’s okay to doubt, question, wrestle, ask questions and study God’s word. But you can trust his promise to give you faith. God says faith will come when you hear his word. Listen and keep listening. And he will give faith and continue to give faith. And this faith will give you the ability to understand and to believe.
What are some ways you can “hear the word of Christ”?
These small-but-mighty devotions are written to read and then discuss with your children. Use the “Action Point” at the end of each devotion to facilitate a fun conversation.
How Great Are Your Works
You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.
{ Psalm 92:4 }
You probably have a million things to do right now. Thanks for slowing down to receive some good news. Jesus doesn’t want to be on your “to-do.” list. He wants to be your “it’s-been-done-for-me” Savior.
You are not defined by your activity. You are defined by Jesus’ activity.
You are not defined by your activity. You are defined by Jesus’ activity. He worked to create you, redeem you, and give you a new identity in Him. Even your good works are his good works (Ephesians 2:10).
Thank goodness, because sometimes I do good things, but many times, my actions are not all that great.
This Psalm is referred to as “A song to be sung on the Sabbath Day.” God did not give us the 10 commandments like the Sabbath as a list of things to do. They are a gift to us. They point us to the gift of repentance and forgiveness because of what Jesus did for us.
ACTION POINT: What’s your favorite worship song? Sing for joy because of what He has done!
It’s All Gift
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
{ Psalm 145:16 }
Why did God create humans? Some people believe that God made us to serve and obey him. Sure, we serve and obey God, but that’s not why he made us.
At creation, God made Adam and Eve and gave them all of creation to enjoy and to manage. In the Psalms, it says God opens His hands and satisfies the desires of every living thing. It’s all gift!
It’s all gift.
He made you and gave you the free gift of his Son, Jesus. Want more gifts?
You receive the gift of faith when you listen to His word. (Romans 10:17)
You receive the gift of forgiveness when you repent. (1 John 1:8)
You receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and salvation in baptism. (Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21)
We do not serve God to get his love. We serve God because we already have it through Christ Jesus!
ACTION POINT: What are some of your favorite gifts from God? Explain.
JODY TOKEN is the coach and creator of The Great Flip, faith-filled online martial arts for ages six and up. Request a free video atwww.thegreatflip.com.
https://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Its-all-Gift-e1701983636595.jpg631698coachjodyhttps://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/the-great-flip-tag-rgb-300x85.pngcoachjody2023-08-15 18:27:152023-08-15 18:27:15It’s All Gift
“When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.”Luke 1:44
I still remember your first movements inside my belly. I played music for you. I sang to you. I read stories to you. Sometimes when I spoke, or when the dog barked, or when your daddy spoke, you would jump for joy. I couldn’t wait to meet you.
Now here you are, sitting beside me. You are my joy! We still sing silly songs and read stories. What makes you jump for joy today?
Children are a blessing. Mary and Elizabeth spent three months together preparing for the birth of their sons. Imagine the joy they must have felt as they prepared for childbirth. 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 hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!” Psalm 127:3-5
And God, your heavenly father, is filled with joy when he thinks about you. He likes to sing joyful songs to you!
“For the Lord, your 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.”
I wonder what song he is singing for you? Jump for joy!
ACTION POINT:
Hey mom, tell your daughter something about your pregnancy. Share the joy you felt when she first moved inside of you. Or if your daughter is your adopted daughter, share that joyful moment when you first held your daughter in your arms. Sing a joyful song together and jump for joy!
The Thrill of Hope
Worth the wait!
“At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel.” Luke 2:25
There’s a story in the Bible about a man named Simeon who had hoped to see the promised Messiah (Jesus). He waited his whole life to meet Jesus. But he was getting old. Not just days, weeks or months, but years and years he waited. But God had promised Simeon he would get to meet Jesus, so Simeon believed.
Then one day a young couple with a newborn baby boy came into the temple. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Simeon went to the temple and took baby Jesus in his arm. This is Simeon’s “thrill of hope” response:
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
ACTION POINT: Have you ever waited a long time for something? Are you waiting for one of God’s promises? What is the greatest promise given to you through Jesus? Write your own “thrill of hope” response.
JODY TOKEN is the coach and creator of The Great Flip, faith-filled online martial arts for ages six and up. Request a free video and lesson plan at www.thegreatflip.com
I love writing devotions designed to be read and discussed with your children. You can equip your children to fight fear with God’s faithfulness. I wrote this one for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh. Stick around to the end of the devotion and learn more about my faith-filled online martial arts at The Great Flip!
The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid?
{ Psalm 27:1 }
What do you do when you are afraid? If it’s dark, you turn on a light. But what if you’re still afraid? What if your fear is something inside and you can’t figure out how to make it go away?
David, the person who wrote this Psalm feared for his life. Bad people were chasing him. He didn’t know what to do. He tried running and hiding, but he was still afraid. Soon his own thoughts made him feel more afraid.
When you don’t know what to do, you can reduce fear and remember what God has done for you. David began to recall God’s faithfulness. He remembered God’s light and salvation. Then he remembered God’s strength. “The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?”
Sometimes fear is real and it must be addressed. But something fear is caused by lies we believe. Shine the bright light of God’s truth to illuminate fear and create faith. His Word works! Read it and receive faith to fight fear. “So faithcomes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
ACTION POINT: What makes you feel fearful? Shine God’s word on that fear and replace it with his faithful promises. Write Psalm 27:1 on a post-it note or in a journal. Memorize the Bible verse and put it in a place you can read when you feel afraid.
JODY TOKEN is the coach and creator of The Great Flip, faith-filled online martial arts for ages six and up. Request a free video atwww.thegreatflip.com. This devotion was written for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh.
The martial arts will accomplish the health-based and skills-based goals of your physical education requirements in your homeschool.
Physical education, aka PE, should be an important part of your homeschool routine. Giving your children physical activity of any kind will create a positive attitude toward fitness. This will cause them to value their health. Regular exercise reduces chronic disease and many health problems related to lack of exercise. Physical movement will improve cognitive function which promotes learning in other areas.
PE gives your child a place to explore skill-based activities such as team and individual sports. They will learn sportsmanship and competition while improving their social skills.
But the martial arts check every PE box plus some. Not only does it create positive health and exercise benefits, but it adds strong character development skills such as self-defense, safety awareness, and overall self-confidence. This confidence spills over into all aspects of life, for a lifetime.
Before you jump in the car and head down to your local martial arts academy, you can teach a homeschool martial arts class. Here are four tips to consider:
Choose a Martial Art
Not all martial arts are created equal. If you want a martial art that addresses self-defense, I recommend Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Bjj is a “grappling sport” which means there is a lot of ground movement, much like wrestling.
The overall strategy of Bjj is to control your opponent. It focuses on skills to take an opponent to the ground, controlling one’s opponent, and using a number of techniques to force them into submission.
Studies show that 95 percent of street fights end on the ground. The techniques learned in Bjj enable participants to escape, attack, or get into a more dominant position.
Bjj is also a martial art designed for a smaller, weaker practitioner to subdue much larger and stronger opponents. Participants use techniques and leveraging skills instead of relying on brute force. All martial arts provide confidence and courage, but only Bjj connects the sport to self-defense in a way that everyone, of all ages, can learn.
Create a Martial Arts Class at Home
You don’t need a large amount of space to train at home, but to protect the lamp and china, you might want to create a training/fitness space. I purchased interlocking mats. You can also find inexpensive three-fold gymnastic mats. If you want to get fancy and go all out, you can purchase professional BJJ mats. I spent $40 on two sets of interlocking mats. I have a basement/lower level in my house for my exercise space. Some people use their garage or a spare bedroom. Many homeschool families get together in their co-op and/or church to purchase mats and find a communal space to train together.
You can begin with a few “no-contact” movements and warm-ups, but in order to get the most benefit from the experience, you need a training buddy. Learning a martial art with your child can be a fun and rewarding experience. Inviting your child’s best friend and a group of friends enhances the experience.
Bjj is referred to as the gentle martial art. You and your child can simulate real techniques in real time with a low risk of injury. Of course, there’s always some risk, but Bjj lends itself to learning real self-defense skills with low risks. My instructional videos focus on escaping, controlling, and submitting techniques inspired by BJJ movements. My teaching style is fun, playful, and empowering for everyone. Click here to request a free video.
Subscribe to a Professional Online Martial Arts Resource
I created an easy-to-follow online martial arts resource called The Great Flip. No experience is required. No high-cost uniforms or belts are needed to participate. Simply download the lesson plans, watch the videos, and train. Everything you need to run a martial arts class is at The Great Flip.
My daughters inspired me to develop an online martial arts experience. After seven years of training BJJ and earning my purple belt, I took a leap of faith to bring martial arts to everyone with an online learning platform. My daughters appreciated the opportunity to train at home and feel empowered. Children as young as first grade through high school can benefit from my introductory approach. Make your homeschool PE class fun and functional for everyone in the whole family.
https://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/banner-Stop-Fear-with-Gods-Faithfulness.png34566912coachjodyhttps://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/the-great-flip-tag-rgb-300x85.pngcoachjody2022-11-03 20:12:332022-11-03 20:12:33How to Stop Fear with God’s Faithfulness
My friends at American Heritage Girls (AHG) asked me to share a devotion empowering girls to make wise decisions. This devotion is part of the AHG Free to Grow Patch Program. The Great Flip is a national program alliance for AHG. I’m honored to share these tips. To learn more about AHG, click here.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Tip #1 Use the 10 Commandments to guide your decision-making.
The 10 Commandments are clear about certain decisions. For example; Do not steal, Do not lie, Do not murder, Do not covet, etc. You should definitely review these 10 words from the Lord. These 10 commandments serve as a curb (keep you safe), a mirror (see your sin and see your need for a savior), and a sign (point you in the right way of living). The commandments are more than a list of things NOT to do. They can also serve as guides on the good you can do to love your neighbor.
Because of the 10 Commandments, I know not to steal other people’s stuff but instead, I help and serve people to improve and protect their possessions. And this decision goes beyond just stealing things, it addresses the way we use our time and talents. We give our time to work hard (not be lazy or steal away our time or effort). We acquire our goods in an honest way and do not take advantage of others.
Tip #2 Read the Proverbs
When scripture does not clearly address a particular decision you face, read the book of Proverbs. Proverbs describe wisdom as the beginning of knowledge. According to Proverbs, having wisdom keeps you out of trouble. Wisdom keeps you from looking like a fool and allows you to make wise decisions. Wisdom is more than good judgment – wisdom is Jesus Christ Himself. Wisdom spoke creation into existence. Wisdom created you. When you have decisions to make, you have direct access to Wisdom – that is Jesus your Savior. Read Provers and picture Jesu as your Wisdom.
Tip #3 Surround yourself with godly mentors
Wise people can help you talk out your problems and verbalize your feelings. They can help you find Bible verses that address your situation and guide you to wise decisions. Find wise friends, family and leaders who love the Lord.
Tip #4 Pray
Take your decision-making to the Lord in prayer.
If you cannot come up with your own words, pray God’s word. Pray the Psalms and Proverbs and the Lord’s Prayer. These three resources contain all of God’s promises for you.
The Great Flip about decision-making:
And here’s a “great flip” for you to remember. I bet you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself to make the right decision and feel the anxiety of “what if” I make the wrong decision. In Colossians chapter two, Paul says the answer to God’s mystery is knowing Jesus as your Savior. Everything flows from this truth. No amount of correct or incorrect decisions will save you. Christ alone saves. What a relief!
Jesus made the wisest decision of all when He decided to love you.
When you follow these four tips, you can trust God in your decisions. Even if you mess up, God redeems all things. He redeemed you. He made a wise decision when he made you. He promises to be your decision-maker. He decided to wonderfully make you in your mother’s womb. He decided to send Jesus because he loves you. He decided to forgive you all of your sins when he died on the cross for you. He decided to give you his perfect righteousness when he rose from the dead and defeated sin, death and the devil. He decided to give you the gift of a sound mind (through Christ), talents, skills, passion, and purpose to love and serve others.
You can make wise decisions not to earn God’s love, but because you already have it.
Watch my video as I share the four tips as I walk through a little general store then in the country with my dog Brandy.
Coach Jody is the creator and coach at The Great Flip online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up.
https://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Free-To-Grow-Picture-AHG.png4801076coachjodyhttps://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/the-great-flip-tag-rgb-300x85.pngcoachjody2022-02-08 20:19:142022-03-22 16:23:17Empower Your Girl to Make Wise Decisions with these Four Tips
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.
https://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/a-curb-a-mirror-and-a-guide.png9241640coachjodyhttps://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/the-great-flip-tag-rgb-300x85.pngcoachjody2021-07-09 19:09:042021-07-09 19:09:04The Bible, Mary Poppins, a Curb, A Mirror and a Guide. What?!
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 atwww.thegreatflip.com
Coach Jody offers online self-defense videos, lesson plans and anti-bully resources for girls!
https://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/get-faith-banner.png9241640coachjodyhttps://thegreatflip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/the-great-flip-tag-rgb-300x85.pngcoachjody2021-06-25 21:11:002021-07-22 20:48:31Six Ways To Get Faith
