A Call To Love

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16, KJV).

A love that is patient, a love that is kind, a love that holds no record of wrong, a love that makes the impossible, possible; that love entered the world over 2000 years ago. As we prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate Christmas, we reflect on the magnitude of how we see God's love in his grace and mercy.  Looking to John 3:16, we rest our focus on the word love, a love reflected as a selfless sacrifice.

God's love led him to come to earth and to die on the cross, knowing that some may never even choose to love him back. The love displayed through Jesus Christ is not meant to be only be looked at but to strive for. Each day we are on this earth is an opportunity to be more like Jesus.

As we celebrate Christ in this season, we ought not to lose focus of our commitment to love. God has called us to love, and God's love learns to love in and through all things. We are called to love our spouses, our children, and even those that do not love us back. Christ-like love is not just a word, it is an action. It is a person. Love is Jesus.

Holiday Housekeeping & Hospitality (3 tips)

As you may have read on the blog before, we try to keep a tidy house even with our two boys. The holidays, however, can be a challenge. We often host the family and with people comes stuff and germs and dishes.

Holidays can be more overwhelming than usual, but I have developed a very simple system to stay on top of things while hosting events at our home (since we seem to be the go-to spot for parties).

So we have developed a plan for our home and we each have assigned duties to make sure that our guests feel welcome, but the house remains clean and organized. Here are a few tips for the wife who wants to make her home a place where Jesus Himself could visit.

Tip #1: Clean ahead of time.

I cannot stress enough how helpful it is to clean your house, apartment or living space BEFORE guests arrive. First, it puts you in the mindset of keeping everything in its place. Secondly, you are able to identify what areas need more help than others. Thirdly, you are less likely to be embarassed with an area that you have overlooked.

We do put our boys to work helping out as well. They are in charge of taking out trash, moving furniture and setting tables. My hubby handles all the floors and and I do the organizing for everything else.

Some additional tips are to quickly spot clean floors and baseboards. People notice these things. Keep in mind that people look at everything. 

 What are you advertising or representing in your home?

Also, be sure that your restrooms are visitor-ready. Being a mom of boys, this is a MUST for me. Stains and spots and smells are a huge no-no. Be that Proverbs 31 woman and just say no to dirty bathrooms, lol! I also like to air out my house so that dust does not settle.

Tip #2: Don't stress about the mess.

While you are hosting, please enjoy the people and do not worry about cleanliness. Homes are meant to be lived in. It is a time to enjoy your visitors and engage with your guests.

Maurice is often the greeter when people come to visit. He takes coats and welcomes everyone. The boys are in charge of all kids attending. They need to make sure that nothing gets broken. Our everyday rules also apply for events we host in our house!

Quickly offer food and drinks and make everyone feel comfortable in the atmosphere that you have provided. Do be aware of the noise level from screens (tv, computer or other devices). These can distract from your present company and create a stressful space. Even music should be in the background not the forefront.

Tip #3: Clean up right away.

This is the biggest tip of all. I am always tired after hosting a party or event in my home, but I do praise God for a tidy husband. We tackle the mess of the party right after, every time. It makes a world of difference! Wash the dishes, mop or vacuum and clear the counter spaces and couches.

We also either throw a lot of things away or recycle for something else. For example, at Christmas time, we take all the decent bags and wrapping paper and store them away for another ocassion or last-minute re-gifting. Decide immediately if something is worth keeping or not and put it in the proper place (re-gift, storage, recycle or trash).

After I am finished, I congratulate myself for a successful gathering and look at all the pictures, or just take a well-deserved shower and nap!!


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Hopefully this was helpful and you learned something new, or perhaps it was a good refresher. In any case, please pay it forward and share these tips with someone else.

How we serve and host is for the glory of God. A Titus 2 wife is a keeper of her home. This is just one of the many ways. Find more in The Titus Ten book HERE. Also, leave a comment on this post and you may be the one subscriber chosen to get the book for FREE!

Holiday Shopping for Tween and Teen BOYS

Ah...the boys! Well, after some hilarious discussion about how they would NOT be getting a million dollars for Christmas or a car or other outrageous gifts, we finally got a real list of potential items for a twelve and thirteen-year-old.

When they reach this age, they know what they want. We find that other people ask us as the parents what our boys want because they are also at a loss. We try to get their lists early so that we can, first, get over the emotional shock, and second, actually see what is affordable.

So here it is:

Twelve-Year-Old

1. Nintendo Switch console
2. Fortnite game for nintendo switch
3. Zelda Breathe of the Wild for nintendo switch
4. Carrying case for nintendo switch
5. Nerf Nemesis
6. Beanbag chair for my room
7. Spygear
8. SD card
9. Hotwheels
10. Beyblades
11. Kpop BTS sneakers (black canvas - RM)

Thirteen-Year-Old

1. Nintendo switch
2. Fortnite game for nintendo (if you get the switch)
3. Money
4. Amazon Fire 10
5. Nerf Nemesis (if you love me)
6. 32 GB SD card (if you get Amazon Fire 10)
7. Wireless earphones (bluetooth please)
8. Giftcards (Amazon, Five Below, Walmart)
9. Cellphone
10. Credit card

It was explained to them that a list is just that, a list. It is not a promise or a contract at all! IF we decide to get you something for the holiday as part of tradition, you will be grateful. We are not trying to raise kids who are demanding, ungrateful and entitled.

As you can see, our older son was much more specific, but copied off his brother too, lol. They often want the same things since they are fifteen months apart. Too cute! After compiling their lists, we attempt to get at least one of the things they really want at a discount or sale. We have even traded toys and gifts with friends who have kids close in age. For instance, last year, Chay got a scooter that was brand new from a friend at church who's kid was no longer interested!! Those run at least $200-$300!

Another idea is for the boys to go online and see how much these things cost. They often will shrink their lists for us once they realize that we don't live like celebrities. It is wisdom to help them to count the costs.

Christmas is about giving anyway, so we also encouraged them to make another list of things they can give away. That one is taking a bit longer! BUT, I do encourage you to follow my instagram stories this December for our instamas vlog through the holidays! www.instagram.com/anitamckaney

Gift-Giving Guide for Christian Couples

Buying gifts for your spouse can be a really fun experience if you know them well. As the holiday season approaches we are all preparing to buy gifts for many people. We have experienced times when gift-giving has been hectic and other times when it has been a joy.

Here are a few tips before we offer you a few of the best deals out there for couples right now.

(This post does contain affiliate links that we may be compensated for if you click them - so we don't mind at all)

1.  Pay attention. Know your spouse well. I know this goes without saying, but when buying gifts you want to take note of what your spouse really loves and what they really do not.

Notice when they smile, when they linger over certain items in the store or make comments. Be a detective and take note!

I really do not like chocolate much, but Maurice used to buy me chocolate all of the time. Once I purchase a men's devotional for Maurice but then realize later that it merely collected dust. These were not good gift choices for us obviously!

2. Be wise.  It is so important that you are on the same page financially with your spouse. Buying gifts can be a pleasure but it can also be a detriment to your finances.

You may need to discipline yourself to save money for a special item, but giving with heart is so much sweeter!

A husband may want to "surprise" the wife with a $5,000 upgrade on her wedding ring which would be very nice, but you could be really surprised that you are still paying for that gift 5 to 20 years later!

One is usually the spender and the other the saver. Plan accordingly. See this post for more on managing your money as a couple.

3.  Ask the Lord for help. As cheesy as that may sound Maurice and I have learned to put God in the center of everything!

God knows your spouse better than you do right? He can direct you. Give gifts that make your spouse better, not harm them. We should never give gifts that will indulge sinful habits or addiction.

Not all gifts are tangible, especially for married couples (as you know)!  your spouse may prefer an experience of sorts rather than a gift that comes in a box.  Get creative with the Creator!

NOW... We have come up with a  few ideas for gifts for engaged or married couples.  It does seem to be getting harder and harder to find things that christian couples can both enjoy, so we have scoured the internet for you and found some amazing deals!

Together Shop



Our new store with two lists: Gifts for Her and Gifts for Him! New items added daily!

OOLA Tea

A great variety of teas infused with healthful essential oils!





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PatPat.org

A clothing site for families.



Christmas Family Outfits up to 70% off - New Customers get 10% off, enter code NEWCUS10, love PatPat

*** With additional purchases, you get higher percentage off coupons! ***

ChurchSource.com

A website for christian books and gifts.





*** Also, get up to 60% OFF couples books, bibles and gifts with our LINK!! ***

Find your spouse a bible, christian T-shirts, mugs, decals and MORE.


We hope that this is helpful to you and your spouse. Wishing you a very Happy ThanksGIVING!!

Planning Holiday Giving Together

We decided to do the craziest thing this year. We gave all of our Christmas gifts out already to our family members. They have been bought, paid for and delivered to their recipients. We decided to do it over Thanksgiving to really emphasize the "giving" part of the holiday. People were definitely surprised  and that was the point.  They had another reason to be grateful and our hearts were full from giving. After paying off all of our credit cards not too long ago, we realized that debt had us enslaved. Never again! Yeah we know, it is a little non-traditional and different to spend for Christmas this way, but let us tell you why we did it.

One of us, {Anita}, is the spender of the couple. The other one is the saver. In order to really enjoy the Christmas season (which for a lot of Americans begins the week of Thanksgiving), we decided to do something different in order to focus on each other, the real meaning for the season and less on money.

Many married couples struggle with their finances. We didn't want this to be a burden and so we needed to be proactive. By making a plan to pre-purchase all of our gifts and to give them all out, it curves the tendency to keep buying because we see sale signs everywhere. In most instances, opposites attract in marriage. This goes for most financially as well. Usually one person enjoys the opportunity to save money so that they can purchase later.  The other person enjoys spending and can barely contain  their shopping habits.

We can use our financial habits to refine us or to  divide us.

Managing money is huge in marriage. Some couples have budgets, some don't. Some couples combine all of their finances together and some choose to have separate accounts. The Bible speaks to oneness. No matter how you govern your finances, there should be mutual agreement.

How you plan your money together is similar to how we should be in our spiritual lives. We know that we have an enemy. We know that the enemy comes to steal kill and destroy us. We know that we need to be proactive by making sure we put on the whole armor of God every day. We need to tuck scripture deep in our hearts and save it in advance for the appropriate attacks that we know are coming!  This applies to marriage, to finances and to everyday life.

Financial accountability is a spiritual discipline!

So here are 3 suggestions for any married couple:

1. Make a money plan for now and for the future. It is wise to determine how money should be spent and saved, earned and invested for now and for the future.

2. Bring about what changes need to be made and your family finances. Perhaps you need to reevaluate how money is being spent on a daily basis or start a savings account that will be used later on.

3. Since financial accountability is a spiritual discipline, the Lord must be Ruler over it. Keeping God as first in your finances means that you are somehow helping the kingdom of God to grow whether that is through tithing, offerings at your local Church or Ministry giving.

You may not be radically led to purchase all of your Christmas gifts in advance like we did, but do be willing to make great changes in your finances in order to stay close to the Lord and keep your marriage financially sound.

Staying married over the Holidays

When we first got married the holidays were the best times for us. We look forward to meeting each other's families and growing relationships. Then it was the children! Oh boy, what fun it was to share our newborn bundles with everyone. There was plenty of picture taking and sharing stories.

Then, as our family grew, it was a matter of who was hosting during the holiday season. Who has an apartment large enough? Who has a house? How many people can you accommodate? There was always a question about the food. Who is bringing what? So and so is a vegetarian, pescetarian or they're just a super picky eater. "I don't like the way she/he makes this/that". Then there was the matter of the activities. What are we going to do after we eat? Should we watch a movie? Should we have a singalong? Share testimonies? Maybe we should read a Bible verse or two since we are christians and everything.

After a while, holidays can get to be a hassle because it is more of a chore then enjoyment. Some family members might not get along as well as others. People are now divorced. Somebody is having a baby and it's not a good thing. What happened to our joy? As a couple, we began experiencing more stress and anxiety during the holiday time. The season that was supposed to be happy and joyous suddenly got the better of us. It got the better of our marriage too! We had disagreements about who should come and who should not. There issues about the food, the setting, the music. It was all too very complicated. After all the festivities are over, who wants to cuddle up by a fire and be romantic? We were TIRED! No mistletoe or New Years Eve kiss. And you can forget about sex!

What happened to the simplicity of Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's Day? Aren't these supposed to be the happiest times of the year? For many couples, it is not. Some couples are struggling with losses as well during the seasons. For whatever reason, it's not the way it used to be because so-and-so is gone. We miss grandma, grandpa, the kids before they were teens and had "better things to do". We missed seeing familiar faces that made the holidays so much better. This person is gone and so is their famous pie. Gosh! The holidays will never be the same.

Well let me give you three tips to ensure that you can stay married over the holidays. It IS possible to enjoy the holiday season with your spouse, even if you differ on if you should have a table just for the kids or not.

1. Plan a date. You may be thinking with all that I have to do and all of my appointments and all of the programs who has time for a date? Exactly! Make the time. Every November my husband and I get together to celebrate each other. It is a time to reconnect towards the end of the year and reminisce about our marriage. We talked about where we've been and where we're going. We enjoy each other's company and plan for the future. If your marriage is supposed to be your most important relationship, the others can wait.

2. Make your own traditions. I love our family traditions of how we open gifts and singing songs and many other things. However, when I got married I wanted us to have our very own family traditions. It is important to establish what you do at your house between each other. This will make your marriage stronger and will help you to navigate the holidays knowing that the two of you are working together, not against each other.

3. Remember the Reason for the Season. Among all the things that we have to do and all the to-do lists that we make for the holidays, there is nothing that will bring a couple closer together than keeping Jesus at the center. He is the reason that we made it through the year and the reason that we have a new one to look forward to. He is the reason that we celebrate Christmas and we can thank Him all year long, not just at Thanksgiving. All good marriages are held together by that glue.

So never fear! You can stay married during the holidays. This will be our 15th! Happy Every Day to you and your family from ours :)

The Prince of Peace

The opposite of peace is war. There is much war in our world today. Countries are fighting. Races of people are fighting. There is fighting in marriages and homes. We even fight ourselves mentally. Where is the peace in this world? Does it even exist?

In Isaiah 9:6, it is prophesied that one would come who would be the Prince of Peace. One of the first attributes given to Jesus was by the angel and heavenly hosts when they exclaimed to the shepards:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Luke 2:14

With all the chaos, natural disasters, crime, violence and injustice the same Jesus brings peace to the world and to our hearts. As a matter of fact, we can experience a peace that surpasses our comprehension.

As a storm raged above Him, Jesus was resting quietly on a boat. Those with Him were freaking out and Jesus rebuked the winds and waves and calmed the sea. No matter what is happening in our world, from sea to shining sea, He is still our only hope and source of true peace.

There is also another prophecy to come. Jesus will come again to bring peace to the earth. The bible says that He will rule as divine royalty not just as a baby in a manger. All government, authorities and majesties will bow before Him not just as Prince, but as KING!

Here is today's scope:

Prayer: https://ktch.tv/4Hr1

Prince of Peace, come and rule in my heart today. Bring me to a place of rest and peace in the spirit. Calm my restless mind and my anxious heart. Come quickly to bring peace in this world's chaos in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Action:

His royal highness wants you to live with a royal mindset. Stop thinking so lowly of yourself. Set higher goals. Reach further. Remember that you are a King's kid!

No Other Savior!

Once I took my boys swimming at a friend's house. We were having a great time until one of my sons decided to go down "the big slide". This boy had no swimming lessons and yet he took the plunge just trusting that he would be ok. He went down and did not come up. We could not find him....

My heart sank. I was the worst mother on planet earth. My husband would never forgive me. Would I go to hell? Perhaps you know this feeling. You want to vomit. It was the scariest 5 seconds of my life...until he was saved by my friend who dove down and rescued my baby. He was SAVED!!

Any person who has ever been rescued knows the feeling of gratitiude to their Saviour. The bible tells us that we are drowning in sin of our own choosing. We trust the things of this world more than the One who made it. God, in His incredible mercy has provided our salvation in Jesus Christ - the ONLY Saviour who took on death for us so we could live. We can be SAVED!!

Watch today's scope here: https://ktch.tv/4Fwy

Prayer:

God, I receive your salvation in full. Thank you for saving me from myself, sin, death and hell. When nothing else could help, Your love lifted me and I am grateful. Thank you Jesus for being my Saviour. It is in Your name that we pray, Amen.

Action:

Now that you are saved, who can you identify that needs to be saved around you? Start praying about how God wants you to share the gift of salvation with them as well.

Know the Great "I AM"!

We usually think of the Great I AM in reference to Moses at the Burning Bush in the bible, however, today I want you to consider that the I AM was here on earth way before the time of Moses or Abraham or Adam. Saying I AM is a current tense of speech but the truth is that Jesus was, is and is to come.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago, He became God in the flesh. He revealed Himself as the first and only divine and human person. It was so miraculous. There was no burning bush involved, but boy did He light up the world.

Now He is able to be more, do more than any other person who has ever lived! He can be whatever you need Him to be whenever you need Him. Due to the fact that He lived, died and rose again, He has become salvation for whoever will receive Him. He is a Spirit who existed before time and will remain for all time, even when time is no more. It's amazing to grasp that idea, but we don't need to understand. We need only to believe!

Here is today's scope: https://ktch.tv/4CCG

Prayer:

God, You are the Great I AM! No one compares to you and there will never be another like you. Help our finite minds to simply trust you. As you were with Moses, be with us, forever. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

Action:

Knowing who God is demands our faith in Him, our reverence and our obedience. Ask the Lord how you can serve Him today. Don't be surprised if the job feels bigger than your capabilities. Remember Moses!

The Shepards went to see THE Shepard!

The shepards were watching their sheep by night when.....behold, they saw a brightness in the night sky. It was a very important announcement! Jesus had been born and was laying in a manger. Angels showed up and encouraged the shepards to see where the baby boy was laying. What a remarkable sight it was!

Did the sheep follow their shepards to the manger or do you think they left them behind? No good shepard leaves their sheep alone. These were rough-necks, the fighters and protectors of their flock. Do you think that because the sheep followed their Shepards they were privileged above over animals to be among the first to meet Jesus?

For every leader there are lessons here. Someone needs to be able to follow you to Jesus. It was nighttime and dark, yet the Shepards were watching the flock. They might have missed this amazing event if they had been sleeping. In John 10, Jesus calls Himself "The Shepard of the sheep". In Psalm 23, we see that the Shepard neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is always paying attention and protecting the sheep. You may not think of yourself as a leader, but if you are a boss, a parent or an entrepreneur you are leading others. Who are you pointing them to?

For every follower of the Shepard there is another lesson. The sheep ONLY hear the voice of their own Shepard and another they will not follow. They trust Him for direction. Trust the Shepard of your soul this Christmas. He knows the road that you take and He will guide you every step of the way!

Here is my scope for today: https://ktch.tv/4zWN

Prayer:

Lord, be my Shepard. Let me lean and depend on You not people. Teach me to hear Your voice clearly and not follow another. Give me discernment even in the night seasons of my life. Thank you for the leaders in my life that point me to Jesus, make me one of them! Amen

Action:

Think about how to point someone to Jesus this season, then ask for The Good Shepard to guide you and DO IT!

Countdown to Christmas vlog

We started the countdown to Christmas vlog last week. We find that it is an interesting way to show how we weave the gospel and following Jesus Christ in our daily lives as a family. We hope you enjoy it!

Countdown to Christmas #12: http://youtu.be/DX6pzhCtoxQ

Marriage Mistake

Have you ever felt that getting married was a mistake? Perhaps you married the wrong person? Perhaps you married too soon? Maybe this was your idea and not God's idea? You did not realize that they were like that. You didn't know they had that habit, or that their life would change so drastically later on and affect you as well. Maybe you thought this family would look differently once you got married. Welcome to Zecharias and Joseph's world!

Joseph had plans to marry a beautiful girl and to have beautiful children with her. He planned to marry a virgin. He planned to marry a woman without kids, or a "reputation". How about Zecharias. He had plans too. By this time, he had hoped to be a grandfather or maybe even a great- grandfather with an awesome family legacy! He had plans to be fertile and marry a woman who would bear him an heir - a son who would carry HIS name. But my how God disrupts our lives to bring His plans and His purposes.

You may not regret your marriage, but you may have some disappointments in who you married, the surrounding circumstances and how many kids or lack thereof you have at this time. It's almost understandable disappointment....from our perspective.

Look at how these two men reacted. Zecharias did not believe that anything miraculous could happen. God did not allow him to speak until the word from the angel was performed. Then he had to give that child the name John, not his family name, as he had hoped. Joseph on the other hand was perplexed. He needed to hear from the angel himself so God sent an angel to him. He also had a dream and God confirmed everything. I think it's because he believed. God will bring things to light in time for the believer. But he still had to endure the mocking, and comfort Mary in times of other people's doubt. What misunderstandings! These were illegitimate circumstances. They looked like sinners. They looked like liars. They look like idiots to those who could not comprehend God's mysterious plan.

If you are married,  you may be facing perplexing circumstances. No you do not have the exact set of issues as Joseph and Zecharias but it's hard to keep the faith.  Don't doubt that the God you took your vows before is able to reconcile and mend your marriage into a beautiful picture for His glory. You may be hurt, embarrassed or disappointed but God specializes in the miraculous.

Trust Him!

In your confusion, believe that He is with you as you go through this time. Whatever has happened has been allowed in order to shape you for what he has planned in the future. Remember to keep the right perspective. Marriage is SO daily. I mean, you can't really run away from your spouse. So trust God. Do what He has told you to do. You are only responsible to be obedient to His commands. Anything that happens after that He has allowed. Keep your eyes on Jesus. If you are not sure what to do ask him. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. If God cannot go back on his own word, then he is trustworthy to do it. He will answer you. Stop asking other people and stay before God until the next step is clear. He is a revealer.

Even when what we call "mistakes" happen, that word is not in God's vocabulary. If you trust Him, even those will be for His glory. Jesus was not a mistake and Joseph (who had a choice) did not make a mistake by marrying his fiance. It's all in God's plan.

Luke 1-2, Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 1-2

My husband and I feel strongly called to marriage ministry. If you have questions, comments or desire prayer, please feel free to email me at coach@wifestyleimagenetwork.com.

Christmas 2012

My Christmas meditation:

This Christmas season I find myself in the book of Isaiah recalling all that the prophet foretold of Jesus Christ. I noticed that he is King of kings and Lord of lords, The Mighty God and the one who's Kingdom has no end. The thing that strikes me the most this year is that the government would be upon His shoulders. I asked the Lord what that meant. The Holy Spirit tells me that He is the upholder of every ruler (ie, kingdom) of the world. He bears the weight of all leadership. Government is His burden to bear, not ours.

I am a voter but I am not highly involved in politics for a reason. I am an Independent and rightfully so. My Lord and ruler is not of this world. I am merely an ambassador of the Kingdom of God here and am Holy Royalty at home. The other kingdoms, rulers, leaders and kings of this world are under His government. I thought that was a great encouragement considering the current state of affairs of this world. I simply cannot spend my time arguing about being a Democrat, a Republican, a Constitutionalist or otherwise. My mission and mandate in this brief life is to represent the Kingdom of God on this present earth. One day, praise God, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is indeed Lord and Christ, The mighty God and The everlasting Father whose Kingdom never ends. Hallelujah! Merry Christmas!

Lil' cousin with his new toy microphone. Classic!

Lotta gifts, but the only one that matters is our hearts and lives for Jesus!

My Holiday get up.

Kaz's Christmas loot!

He wanted this snuggie so badly. Thanks grandma :)

Chay was under the weather, but still managed to open his gifts on Christmas.

Soooo handsome....if I may say so myself. Totally biased and I don't care <3

Tru-Image ministers to the elderly for the Christmas season.

Train them up in the way they should go...thinking of others and what they can give.

Reading the Christmas story as a family. Priceless $$$

A superhero with the Armor of God

The day after Christmas

What to play with first...decisions, decisions! O to be a kid again...