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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!

 

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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. 

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Three ways to plug into God’s power

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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.

girl power vs God's power

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.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.

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Five Ways to Gift An Experience from Coach Jody

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As much as my daughters like a great gift, like clothes and gadgets, they love receiving the gift of an experience. Gifts are soon forgotten or lost in the shuffle. But an “experience” lasts a time time. 

One of our quirky traditions (among many) in our family is to read a poem with each gift. The poem reveals clues about the content of the gift. To this day, the poem that ended with an exclamation “I just want to go to the beach!” is the most remembered poem and gift to our children. We regularly enjoy gifting “experiences” to each other. They can be as simple as a father-daughter date, a mother-daughter shopping trip or a family game night. Grander “experiences” have included trips to the beach, NYC and mountain vacations.

We also enjoy gifting “experiences” by learning new skills and activities. This year, I bought two adorable Bible-verse-inspired cross-stitch kits for my girls. I guess I’ll find out if they read my blog or not.

If you are seeking unique gift ideas for your children, give them an experience! 

Here are five ways to gift an experience to your family:

  1. Match the experience to their personalities.   
  2. Match the experience to their favorite activities. 
  3. Seek an experience that brings your family together. 
  4. Introduce a new experience to stretch their imagination and try something they’ve never tried.
  5. Connect your child to an experience that is meaningful to them like a service project, cause or missionary. 

These goals can be achieved through homemade gift cards, poems, and actual gift cards. Need a few ideas to get the creative juices flowing? How about cooking subscriptions, adventures, hiking, a musical or show, and how about choosing from hundreds of unique “products or services” of the month clubs? 

Give the Gift of Self-Defense Skills!

Of course, as the Coach of The Great Flip, might I suggest you give them a subscription to my online martial arts? My online training videos and lesson plans are a fun way to introduce your child (and your whole family) to a new skill like self-defense. My martial arts training is inspired by Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Giving the gift of self-defense skills will be an experience to last a lifetime. You will give them courage and confidence. You will give yourself peace of mind knowing they have life skill like self-defense and safety. 

Plus, at The Great Flip, I offer empowering devotions to fill your family with faith in Jesus. The reason for the Christmas season. 

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Give the gift of an experience this Christmas season!

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

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Enjoy one of my devotions written for the subscription box below.

 

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. 

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 at www.thegreatflip.com.

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It’s All Gift

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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. ukulele

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 at www.thegreatflip.com.

These devotions were written for True Girl, a ministry of Pure Freedom. 

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You are God’s Great Treasure

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“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭44‬

Where do you insert yourself into the parable of the hidden treasure? Do you imagine yourself as the one who finds the treasure? Do you feel God’s call on your life to sell everything to attain the treasure?

There’s nothing wrong with responding to this parable with a desire to sell everything and/or serve with all your heart.

But here’s “the great flip.” The man in the story is not you. The man in the story is Jesus, and you are the treasure. You are God’s great treasure. Jesus sold everything, even his life to have you.

Remember, we serve and love one another not to get God’s love, but because we already have His amazing love through Jesus Christ.

Feel free to share this devotion with someone who needs to know that they too are God’s great treasure!

 

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“The Deep Magic will be Appeased” and Three Lenten Devotions

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The season of Lent, for me, is a time to remember God’s amazing grace, mercy and sacrifice for me. I know a lot of people give up things like food, drinks, activities, etc. to create time to pursue more of God. There is nothing wrong with fasting during this season. Those activities are meant to help us return to the Lord in a spirit of repentance.

But consider “the great flip” in this way of thinking. Instead of “doing more for God” try remembering all that God has done for you. Put yourself in a position to recognize all the gifts the Lord continues to give you every day. Consider that even the act of repentance is a gift.  Remember, the top priority of the Lenten Season is the cross. Christ crucified for you.  Then the joy of forgiveness and Easter morning will be all the more spectacular!

Here are three devotions to share with your children for the season of Lent:

The Deep Magic will be Appeased.

But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. 

{ Hebrews 9:26 }

Have you read Narnia’s “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe?” There’s a difficult scene where the lion, Aslan, appears to be defeated by the white witch. All because the boy, Edmond, was selfish, stubborn, and made a terrible mistake. The boy should have paid the price for his sin. Instead, Aslan sacrifices himself and saves Edmond. What appears to be a terrible defeat turns out to be a great victory. (Spoiler Alert! Read the book for the full story!)

“Narnia” written by C. S. Lewis, is also a story of the sacrifice of Jesus. We are selfish, stubborn people. We make horrible mistakes. We deserve punishment for our wrongdoings. But God in his great love for you, sent his son Jesus, to pay the price for your sins. It’s a difficult scene to watch Jesus die on the cross. But his great sacrifice is now your greatest victory. 

Action Point: Write a letter or say a prayer to Jesus and confess your sins. Say you are sorry to him. Spoiler Alert! He is faithful to forgive your sins because of His sacrifice for you!

if it's not good news, it's not the gospel

Restore me, and I will be restored.

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. 

{ Psalm 51:17}

Have you ever done something so terrible you thought it was unforgivable? 

King David did. He had committed a terrible sin. David was crushed for the bad thing he had done. He saw no way to make himself right before God. 

When your heart is broken, God will not reject you. You are experiencing a beautiful gift from God. It’s called repentance. To repent is to turn away from the bad and to turn toward the good. In Lamentations 5:21, the people realized only God can turn them back to him. 

“Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!”

And when God restores your broken heart, he also restores assurance of His forgiveness.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9

Action Point: How is God turning you back to him? Repent and read Psalm 51.

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How to sit at Jesus’ feet.

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.

{ Luke 10:17 }

How do you like to worship? Do you like to sing songs? Do you enjoy praying and reading the Bible, Or how about serving as an act of worship?

If your worship is more about what you do, then you might like the Bible story about two sisters who worshiped Jesus. One worshiped by focusing her attention on what she was doing for him. One worshiped by focusing her attention on what Jesus was doing for her. 

There is nothing wrong with singing, praying, reading, and serving as acts of worship. Jesus instructs us to do those things, not to earn God’s love, but because we already have it. 

The kind of worship Jesus seeks is the acknowledgment of his gifts to you, not our gifts to him. Jesus was so sweet to both sisters when he explained the simple truth that worship is more about receiving from him than doing something for him. 

Action Point: Next time you are in church, pretend to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to all the ways you receive God’s gifts as an act of worship.

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online martial arts for ages six and up. She writes devotions for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh. The Great Flip is a national program alliance for American Heritage Girls. 

 

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Apply The Great Flip When You Read the Bible

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Not everything in the Bible is about you, but it’s definitely all for you! Sounds a bit shocking, but it’s true. Everything in the Bible points to Jesus … for you. I tend to read the Bible and insert myself into the story. But when I keep Jesus at the center, everything makes sense. Apply “The Great Flip” when you read the Bible. You’ll need your SON-Glasses! 😎

Share this one-minute devotion with your children and discuss it together.

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Put on your SON Glasses!

“I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.” Psalm 119:8  

It’s time to put on your “SON glasses.” That’s right, your SON glasses will keep your focus on Jesus when you are faced with doubt. 

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm in the Bible. King David wrote these words to follow God’s instruction blamelessly and obey God’s precepts perfectly.

But less than eight verses into the Psalm, David reveals the weight of these commands. He knows he is not able to do this perfectly. He cries out “do not forsake me.” 

Have you ever felt doubt when you fall short of God’s commands? Put on your Son-glasses!

Now read Psalm 119:1-8 and see that these words are not about you, but they are about Jesus … for you!

Jesus walked blamelessly. 

Jesus obeyed all the decrees.

Jesus was utterly forsaken.

Whenever you feel overwhelmed by failure, put on your Son glasses and know that all of God’s commands and promises are yes and amen because of Jesus finished work on the cross … for you! 

ACTION POINT: Put on some cool sunglasses and read all 176 verses of Psalm 119.

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 at www.thegreatflip.com.

 

 

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Christmas Devotions from Coach Jody

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Joy to the World!

Jump for Joy!

“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. jump for joy

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. light bulb stop fear with faithfulness

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

These devotions were written for the True Girl subscription boxes! Check out the amazing ministry at True Girl.

 

Empowering Parents to Teach the Top 12 Self-Defense Skills

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I added two empowering products to every online martial arts plan here at The Great Flip! How can two simple PDFs be so exciting? These two documents will empower you to track your student’s training experience and master the top 12 self-defense skills.

First, shout out to my current customers who have offered feedback and amazing ideas for their online martial arts experience. These two ideas are from and for you!

A Progress Chart and a Certificate of Completion

Every plan now includes these two downloadable PDFs. The progress chart will encourage your students to practice each skill. It will give you a designated deadline to “test” your student’s progress and ability. Keep in mind each student’s age and development for testing the skill. A six-year-old skill will look different from a sixteen-year-old. Each year, your students can continue to advance in their skills.

The Top 12 self-defense skills will increase your student’s confidence, courage and character. At the end of the training, you can reward your students with a personalized Certificate of Completion.

 

Win a Free Sticker

And of course, there is a fun incentive at the end of the training. Your students can choose two extra skills. You can video their technique and send the video to me for my evaluation. I will review the skills and reward your students with a free sticker! Yah!

 

stickers

 

To learn more about the top 12 self-defense skills and to choose a plan, click below. See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

Click Here to Shop Online Martial Arts Plans

 

Four Tips for Empowering Homeschool Martial Arts

The martial arts will accomplish the health-based and skills-based goals of your physical education requirements in your homeschool. In this blog, you will learn the four tips for an empowering homeschool martial arts class!

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.

Here’s a glimpse of my little training space at home.

Here’s an introduction to a homeschool martial arts class structure.

Get a Training Partner

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 the 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. Request a free video here. 

More About the Author:

Coach Jody Token

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, faith-filled online martial arts. Request a free video at www.thegreatflip.com.

 

Click here to choose a faith-filled online martial arts plan.

Click here to contact Coach Jody and/or request more information.

Click here to see this blog as featured on homeschool.com

 

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

How to Stop Fear with God’s Faithfulness

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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 }

light bulb stop fear with faithfulness

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 faith comes 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 at www.thegreatflip.com. This devotion was written for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh. 

 

Want another Faith Over Fear Devotion?

Click here to read “Keep Calm and Keep the Faith.”  

Back to school burnout keep calm banner

Four Tips for Empowering Homeschool Martial Arts

The martial arts will accomplish the health-based and skills-based goals of your physical education requirements in your homeschool. Coach Jody

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.

Here’s a glimpse of my little training space at home.

Here’s an introduction to a homeschool martial arts class structure.

Get a Training Partner

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.

Request a free video here. 

More About the Author:

Coach Jody Token

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, faith-filled online martial arts. Request a free video at www.thegreatflip.com.

 

Click here to choose an online martial arts plan