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Faith That Overcomes Back-to-School Burnout

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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

Keep calm and keep the faith!

 

For more devotions from Coach Jody, visit www.thegreatflip.com/blog.

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. 

Coach Jody homeschool martial arts bullying-fear-germs

 

 

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The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Empower Your Girl to Make Wise Decisions with these Four Tips

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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.

Click here to request a free self-defense video.

 

How AHG Troops use The Great Flip patch program, Click here. 

The Giggle Meter in Online Self-Defense Training

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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.

 

Three tips to overcome fear of germs, bullies and germy bullies

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Long before COVID-19 and “social distancing” was a thing, bullies roamed the hallways at home, at school and after-school. They still do. 

By now, our children are familiar with navigating “social distancing” protocols, but do they have the skills to deal with bullies who intend to break physical barriers? Does your child exhibit any new fears of physical contact? This might be due to a bully situation or a new germ phobia. 

Because the “germ” landscape is constantly changing, be sure to communicate with your child to determine the source of their fear and anxiety. Even as “social distancing” norms change, you can teach your children three “no-contact” self-defense skills and empower them to overcome the fear of germs, bullies, and germy bullies. 

Your Voice. 

no contact self defense

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 deescalate a situation.
  • Yell for help.
  • Build up or tear down.
  • Express emotions.

Roleplay 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.

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.  (One of my favorites is Romans 8:37-39.)

End your time by using your voice to speak kind words to each other.

Your Body.  

Taking care of your body is a powerful form of self-defense. Defend your body with posture, hygiene and healthy habits.

Body language matters. no-contact safety tip your body

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.

Hygiene matters. 

I know you’ve heard it a million times, but it’s worth repeating and practicing. 

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Cover your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Then go wash your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 

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.

Your distance. 

More than ever, children understand the concept of “distance management.” Prior to COVID, I spent a lot of time explaining “distance management.” Now, I say those two magic words “social distance” and they understand spatial orientation when it comes to the space between people. 

Personal space.  

Now that children understand the idea of “social distancing,” they 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 towards you, protecting your personal space will keep you safe (from germs and a 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. Use that voice to assert boundaries!

The Push Kick

 

If a person gets too close, your child can use their hands to push a person away. Or 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 

Practice with a training buddy or solo-style.

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. 

Download the Anti-bully Ebook

Would you like to talk to your daughter about germs, bullies and germy bullies? Do you want to facilitate a grace place for girls to share their fears and anxiety? Download Coach Jody’s “My Anti-bully Ebook.” It includes two self-defense videos (the push kick is one of those videos) girls ages six and up can learn together. This is a fun, playful and empowering learning experience girls can do together or virtually. Click here to download My Anti-bully Ebook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Coach Jody

To learn more about self-defense training or create a simple martial arts experience at home, contact Jody Token, the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for ages six and up.

Click here to shop online for self-defense plans.

Click here to request a free video and lesson plan.

Click here to visit my homepage.

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