Salvation Bracelet Tutorial

This is my first year as Awana commander at my church so I had to try Salvation Bracelets with the kids. Boys and girls love crafts and they love beads, so the project was a big hit, but it also delivered a wonderful message: each bead color reminds us of a Biblical truth.

You need only a few supplies to get started: cording (we used waxed cotton cord) and 6 beads, one each in black, red, white, blue, green, and gold (we used pony beads). Each child will need about 6 inches of cord, long enough to make several knots and fit around their wrist.

Make one knot several inches into the cord; this knot will prevent your beads from sliding off. As you string the beads read the following Bible verses:

1. Black= sin, Romans 3:23

2. Red= Christ's blood, Romans 5: 8-9

3. White= repent and be cleansed, Psalm 51: 1-2

4. Blue= baptism, Ephesians 4:5

5. Green= growth in our faith, Colossians 1:10

6. Yellow or Gold= eternal life in Heaven, John 3:16

After the yellow bead, knot again to hold beads in place. Then knot to fit wrist. You can use a longer piece of cord and make the bracelet adjustable. Since we had alot of kids, we just chose to knot and secure them with a dab of superglue instead of making them adjustable.

Our Job as Parents

Last night, we all went to Family Dinner and Game Night at Daulton and Peyton's school. It was a potluck dinner to encourage families to sit down together and have dinner, have meaningful conversation, and just spend time together. The counselor sited statistics like "children that have family dinners are less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol, and more likely to do well in school.". What about families that pray together? I noticed at this dinner alot of people from my church or people that I know who attend other churches. Do you think there is a connection between Christian parenting and school success? I do. I've often heard in jest that folks wish kids came with an instruction manual...but they do! It's called the Bible! God gives us clear directions for raising our children. Now its up to us to follow the directions!



Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6: 5-7

Business Cards into Bookmarks

I've written about Vistaprint before, but I just had to share this great idea for a cute, inexpensive promo idea for your business...bookmarks! I designed business cards on Vista, but, shifted the layout to 3 1/2" x 2" vertical. I included my business name, website and a favorite Bible verse, since I sell Christian jewelry.

Then I punched a hole in the top-center of the card and added some matching ribbons.

Viola! Now I have Bible bookmarks to pass out to friends, display at craft shows and include in my online orders.

Let's Get Ready for Halloween!

I love Halloween! It comes in a close second after Christmas for my favorite holiday. What do I love about it - the crisp weather, spooky decorations, running around the neighborhood after dark...it all makes me feel like a kid again!

Most of you know about etsy.com, but Artfire is another awesome handmade marketplace. Check out these cool Halloween items I found:
Green Fuzzy Monster Bag by PandaWithCookie

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=371523

Coffin Pendant by Night Owl Jewelry

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=385216

Frankenstein Shirt by AshlisArmoire

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=350813

Bloody Choker by Tiana

This is my favorite...so creepy!
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=398699

The Doctor Will See You Now

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance."

Luke 5: 30-31

Jesus is the ultimate champion for the underdog! He doesn't want us to surround ourselves with the righteous (really the self-righteous, because we all have sin). He wants us to court the sinners and bring them to Him. He wants us, in all of our wickedness, to accept the Holy Spirit into our hearts. So do not turn your back on the addicts, the thieves, the adulterers. Welcome them, love them, bring them to Jesus. We cannot overcome sin without Christ, and they can't either.

M.I.A.

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted anything here, but things have been just crazy in the Mayer house! Between back to school and Ryle craft show prep I haven't had much free time. I did want to share our new family pictures, though. My super-talented sister-in-law Amy is a professional photographer and does an awesome job. Check out her blog at http://capturedmomentsbyamyleigh.blogspot.com/. She also does custom invitations, so look for her on etsy at http://www.capturedmomentsbyamy.etsy.com/. As you can see, we had a great photo shoot!

Setting an Example

No matter how hard I try to stop it, my sons are growing up. Now I know they are only 7 and 4, but I worry about the pressures they will soon face to join the greater non-Christian culture. Society's call to fit in usually requires some unsavory behaviors, like promiscuity, drug use and profanity. I was a teenager once, and I made some bad choices...I did many things that I would never do now that Christ is guiding my life. I pray that my boys will not turn down the wide path of sin that fills our culture today, but that they will take the less travelled, narrow path with Christ.

1Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.