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3rd Quarter 2022 Newsletter
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What's Been Happening?
Our Pre-Marriage/Married BootCamp is continuing to be held quarterly. We enjoyed the couples we worked with this last quarter and look forward to this quarter. It is important that young married couples educate themselves and acquire some useful tools for their marriage tool pouch. It is just as important for married couples to refresh and/or gain new tools for their pouch too.
Life Coaching with Sissy will host another Vision Board class for ladies in early December. These group sessions provide ladies an opportunity to focus on their dreams, goals, identity, values, and needs in a very safe environment. They walk away with a new spring in their step and confidence in their God.
Heart Builder was successful at increasing our social media presence, and we are continuing to grow and develop along the way. The one thing very important to this ministry is that we remain real, raw, and vulnerable and provide useful content. It is the belief of this ministry that God is the source for all fulfillment in each and every life. It is our passion to continue to point couples to Him for the answers to whatever question and need they have.
We have been working tirelessly to create and publish a new workbook for our upcoming EXPLODE Marriage Conference. We are happy to announce God is faithful and it is completed. Each couple will receive two workbooks at the conference as well as a copy of our book. We are grateful to the Freedom Center Church and Pastors Greg and Lenda Crawford for co-hosting the EXPLODE Conference. We are ready to see God EXPLODE marriages to the next level. Please continue to cover this event in prayer.
Heart Builder is moving forward with great momentum and we are focusing on hearts. God is looking at our hearts. As we focus on building Wholly Healthy Hearts, relationships start to take on an improved dynamic. How is your heart?
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Busy, Busy, Busy
Any of these statements sound familiar:
- I am as busy as a one-armed paperhanger.
- I am as busy as a bee.
- I am busier than ants at a picnic.
- I am busier than a dog scratching fleas.
A simple definition of the word, "busy" might be "having much to do." One thing for sure, we live in a very busy world today. All you have to do is ask anyone, "How are you?" Many times their response is, "Busy, just busy, been very busy." If I had a dollar for every "busy" I have heard, we might just go on vacation paid for by, you guessed it, "busy."
If I could tell my younger self something of value, one piece of advice I would definitely share would be do your best to NOT BE BUSY! I realize this is not a popular position; however, I also realize busyness is destroying many individuals, couples, and families today. After all, we are BUSY because we said, "Yes" to too many things.
Dr. Dharius Daniels stated in a message, "If the devil cannot get you to sin, he will get you busy." Isn't that the truth! We see it everywhere today. It should not come as a surprise to Believers. Busyness is the very opposite of where we find God. Don't believe me, read the scriptures below:
- Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
- Exodus 14:14, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
- Isaiah 30:15, " This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."
- 1 Peter 3:4, "Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
- Isaiah 26:3, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
An interesting fact to note is the person sharing their busyness is not doing so in a positive and rejuvenating sense. However, scripture is full of positive results from slowing down and stilling oneself. There are plenty of other scriptures exposing the lie that the world is telling many about busyness. Despite the fact that this world applauds busyness, God created us with a need to be still, not hurried and rushed. In just the few scriptures mentioned, you will discover, inner peace and strength are found in stillness, not busyness. Are you lacking strength and peace today? You might want to see how busy you are.
The Bible tells us He will keep us in "perfect peace" if we keep our minds on Him. It is impossible to keep our mind on God when we are running ourselves ragged. It is not until we are at our breaking point that we try to find God. Of course, God is always ready to help. However, He never wanted any of us to get to such a desperate spot before communing with Him. He desires constant communication and stillness with us. Many times the choices we make increase the challenge to our lives.
Unfortunately, the enemy has dug his claws into every area of life with busyness. Most employers today are looking for how much time they can steal from you. The forty-hour work week has long been replaced by 50-60-hour work weeks (if not more). Most employers have constant contact with employees through their cell phone with email. Where individuals once got to leave their work at the office, now work is with them all the time.
As work is a constant now, our family time has been affected negatively. We are found many times with our heads down checking our email. Of course once we look, we are hooked. Now we need to go respond to the email and/or produce what is being asked of us. What once might have been family time is replaced with, "This will just take a minute." We all know how that turns out. Sad faces and disappointment fill the home with the exception of Satan and his cohorts. They are quite pleased with the outcome.
What about children's activities? Oh the busyness of running children all over the place to attend their practices and competitions. This can be time consuming with one child, and with two or more children tremendous time is consumed. Many times their practices are on different days. Isn't that great? Not necessarily. This means the family time is greatly reduced because someone is always needing to be somewhere besides the house. What was supposed to be a great activity has now become a source for the enemy to divide and conquer the parents. It's worth noting too that the majority of activities no longer honor Sunday as a family time of worship and gathering.
It gets even more complicated with energy levels for mom and dad. They are not only working full time jobs, but they are Uber drivers (children) as well. Let's not forget their job is still attached to their hip through their phone while they function as an Uber and parent. By the time the evening has come, mom and dad are hosed and really struggle to have anything left to give to each other. They are done!
How do we combat the pull and tug of this world on our lives? There truly is only one way and that is to set up your schedule with God first. Everything else must fit in around that time. We also must learn to not only create healthy boundaries, but apply healthy boundaries. However, we have it backward today. We plug in everything else we need and want to do, and then see where we might be able to fit God in.
It all comes down to choices and their affects on our lives. What do we want MOST out of this life? Once we are truthful with ourselves about what we want MOST, then every choice we make should be one step toward what we want MOST. For example, if I want to be ten pounds lighter by the end of 2022, then I will put into place a plan that will make that happen. I won't just randomly eat whatever is placed in front of me. I will be intentional. Everything I put in my mouth is a choice either moving me toward or away from what I want Most.
Now, think about your marriage and your family. What do you want MOST in your marriage and family? Each and every day you are making choices. How are those choices moving you toward or away from what you really want MOST in your marriage and family?
I understand life gets busy and we are about to embark on the busiest time of year, the holiday season. There is always an increase of places to go and people to see during the holidays. It is my prayer that despite the busyness of the season, you will take a few seconds and ask yourself, "Is what I am saying, Yes to, moving me toward what I want MOST"?
Busyness is one of the hardest areas for many of us to get a handle on. If you have tried in the past and it did not pan out, I want to encourage you to dust yourself off and go at it again. If you get knocked down again, dust yourself off and go at it again. As long as you keep getting up, you are making progress. Never forget...God is not wanting you BUSY, but Satan is definitely wanting you BUSY!
Sissy
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Pre-Marriage/Marriage Bootcamp IN-PERSON
Saturday, October 22nd 9 AM to 5 PM
ENGAGED? MARRIED? WE WANT YOU to join us for BootCamp!
Engaged? Did you insure her ring? Better yet, what marriage insurance have you purchased? We believe Pre-Marriage BootCamp and other pre-marriage training can act as a form of "Marital Insurance" if you will by strengthening your relationship. Added bonus...get $60 off your Texas Marriage License! You have absolutely NOTHING to lose and EVEYTHING to gain when you attend our Pre-Marriage BootCamp. Don't delay, register today!
Newly married or married since dirt... However, you value your marriage and want a refresher or even new tools? We got you covered! We are confident that when you spend one Saturday at BootCamp, you will walk away with something to enhance and/or grow your relationship. Skeptical? You will never know until you give BootCamp a try!
Do you know couples who are looking to anchor their marriages? Gift them a BootCamp or better yet, make it a double date. Learning doesn't have to be boring, join the fun!
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Celebration Corner - Newlyweds
We CELEBRATE marriage! Please join us in congratulating and celebrating the special union of these beautiful couples. They attended BootCamp and/or SYMBIS. As they have become husband and wife, we pray God's empowering presence to walk with them for many years ahead. Congratulations to the beautiful newlyweds!
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Christian and Robin
April 2, 2022
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Dameron and Kiana
September 24, 2022
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Slow Cooker Greek Chicken
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Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash
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Firecracker Sausage Balls
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Turmeric Latte
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UPCOMING EVENTS
October 8th - 7:30 PM
Berry Center | 8877 Barker Cypress Rd, Cypress, TX 77433
Friday, October 14th - 7 PM - 9:00 PM (Dessert Bar after)
Saturday, October 15th - 9 AM - 3 PM (Lunch included)
(Child Care provided both days)
Click to Register NOW!
Heart Builder - EXPLODE Marriage Conference
Hosted by Freedom Center Church, Missouri City, TX
October 27, 2022 - 6 PM
Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
October 31, 2022 - 5 PM - 8 PM
Freedom Center Church, 2303 FM 1092, Missouri City, TX 77459
November 11-12, 2022
Spark '22
A Marriage Conference
Lakewood Church, Houston, TX
November 12, 2022 - 7 PM
Toyota Center - Houston, Texas
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We want to hear from you...let us know what you like, dislike or any suggestions for future newsletters.
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Heart Builder Ministries is a 501c(3) organization and welcomes any and all donations to help us continue to educate singles and engaged couples PRIOR to engagement and marriage! Should you feel led to donate any amount or become a monthly partner of any amount, please click the "Donate Now" button below.
We greatly appreciate all donations and prayer support! Blessings to each of you!
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