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Godstruck Ministries 4 Kids is a children's music division of Godstruck Ministries, LLC,
owned and operated by Kim and Karen Langdon, 8180 Talon Ct, Falcon, CO 80831

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This is the first month that our monthly
newsletter will be published bi-monthly
(the next newsletter will be March 2016)

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of a $500 donation to Godstruck Ministries 4 Kids
in December 2015!!

January 2016 Newsletter





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Blessings Blog: The Gift of Time

I do not consider time as being my friend! It never has been, and I don’t believe it ever will be. There doesn’t ever seem to be enough minutes in an hour, enough hours in a day, and enough days in the week for me to stay on top of things. I realize that I do bear some responsibility in the matter, and I can hear a little voice echoing, “plan, plan, plan; cut back; cut back, start a little earlier.” I can’t argue with that. But it seems that no matter how much I plan, no matter how many activities I weed out, and no matter how early I start, things tend to fall behind. I remember when my children were young, especially on Sunday mornings. I’d have the kids bathed the night before, breakfast assembled, clothes laid out for everyone, the Bibles by the door. It would look as if I would be able to drop the boys off at Sunday School and the girls at the nursery, get to choir rehearsal early, and be able to chat with the gals in the alto section, maybe even say hello to a soprano or two. Well, guess what? The baby would decide that not only she should expel the previous three feedings at that moment, she would make sure it was well outside the diaper area, in her bouncy seat, down in her shoe – you get the picture. By the time we did a clean up and a change, I was huffing and puffing to get out the door. As the kids got older, the rush remained, it just took different forms; the dog would get loose, the keys would be inexplicably lost, someone would hit their head, toe, elbow – it didn’t really matter. It all added up to a late start, a frustrated husband, and a race to our destination. Here is a more recent example.

Last month our Christmas plans changed drastically at the last minute. Instead of heading to Texas to visit our daughter and her husband, they decided to come home so that our son who lives here and could not spare much time away from work would have company throughout the holiday weekend. They had just been blessed with the news that they would have the entire weekend off, so it made sense to have them come our way. This altered arrangement came on the heels of three weeks of traveling for us as well as almost an entire week of representing Godstruck Ministries at our local military exchange. I had done some decorating, but more set up and food preparation was required, as another last minute plan came into play. It was decided we would host a gathering of relatives and friends in Colorado on the 26th so they could see the kids during their visit.

My husband had a doctor’s appointment on the 22nd, and we were going to follow that with some errands and our major grocery shopping run so that the rest of the week could be spent at home getting everything else ready. The only problem is that our car didn’t get the memo. After the appointment as we were on our way to do the planned errands, the car repeatedly just stopped dead, once in traffic on a main thoroughfare. At that point my husband put on the flashers, got out of the passenger seat, opened the driver side door, motioned me out, got in, and turned the car around to head for the dealership. Immediately when we arrived, our mechanic let us know that they were booked up and backed up for days, and whatever the problem was would likely cause the car to spend its Christmas weekend in the shop. We sat for quite a while in the waiting area until our son could come and rescue us. When we got home we stayed put as my husband needed to rest.

Although we enjoyed the blessing of a wonderful service at our church on Christmas Eve and the company of our son, daughter and son-in-law on Christmas Day, I experienced the domino effect from our malfunctioning car all the way up until the gathering on the 26th. There were many things I opted to eliminate, rather than struggle with even more to do. In regard to those things that absolutely needed to be accomplished, thankfully, my very sweet friend, Cindy, came early to help us finish before the rest of the company arrived.

There are so many things to be learned from this incident, but one thing has continued to occupy my mind and my heart: I am so grateful that while I have my issues with time, my God is timeless. Time does not confine nor define the Lord. His Word explicitly tells us that He is eternal, “the Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the end,” Revelation 22:13 (ESV). Isaiah 57:15 (ESV) calls Him “the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy.” Psalm 90:2 (ESV) says, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

In the account of creation in the book of Genesis, God gave us time when He divided darkness from light, day from night on the first day, and He created the lights in the heavens as markers for seasons, and for days and years on day four. As the creator of time, He also controls it, but He does not live by its dictates. Psalm 90 states, “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night,” Psalm 90:4 (ESV). 2 Peter 3:8 (ESV) basically says the same: “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” So while in His wisdom and His care over us God knows that time is a necessary component of human lives, He lives above time and dwells in eternity where He is preparing a place for those who know Him to come and live with Him.

Now that I have been able to think about it, I believe I need to amend my very first statement. Time is my friend because it is a gift from God and part of His creation. When things don’t go quite right and I feel as if time is running away from me, perhaps I need to just continue to view those situations as an opportunity to trust and allow God to bring about the results that He desires both for me and for those around me. Anytime I turn my time over to the Lord is time well spent. May your time be God’s time all throughout this year!

Family Activity: Time to...

Whether you find time getting away from you, or conversely, you have time on your hands, it is always good to decide how to prioritize your activities. Sometimes when those decisions are nothing more than verbal they become harder to incorporate in our lives. Having a written record of what has been decided goes a long way in helping us to stick to our decisions.

Here is an activity to help create a fun way to remind you of your family-time priorities. You are going to make a clock picture with moving hands that will allow you to prioritize the activities that you want to incorporate into your weekly schedule. While it is a clock, it will not show exact times for your family’s choices, but at each numeral place, it will list. through words, drawn pictures, and clipart, what you have decided are the most important ways to spend time as a family throughout your week.

Here are the materials you will need:

  • One sheet of white or light colored poster board (most common size is 48” x 36”)
  • One sheet of a different colored poster board (same size as the light choice)
  • Scissors that are appropriate for the ages of your children, but also, one pointed pair; a hole-punch would be useful for some parts of the project
  • Crayons, markers, and/or colored pencils
  • A yardstick, ruler or other measuring tool
  • A piece of cardboard tubing (wax paper tube works well; a wrapping paper tube cut to the appropriate size would also be fine)
  • Laptop or desktop computer and a printer to procure clipart and create captions, if desired
  • Picture magazines
  • Glue sticks
  • Clear Packing Tape
  • One metal paper brad (fastener)

To make the clock, take the white/light sheet of poster board. Measure both ways to find the center of the board. Poke a small hole there. Measure and cut the cardboard tube to half the width of the poster board. About a half-inch in, carefully poke or punch one hole into the cardboard. On the other end, about one inch in, poke or punch two holes directly across from each other. Insert the paper brad into the side where there is one hole (head of the brad should be inside the cardboard tube). Poke the brad with the tube on it down into the hole in the poster board and flatten the metal prongs on the underside. The tube should be free to move in a circle. Insert a pencil into the two holes on the opposite end of the tube. Touch the pencil to the poster board and continue to move the tube and pencil to draw a circle. Once the circle is complete, remove the tube and paper brad. Put the brad aside for later. Cut out the circle. Make markings on the circle in the same places where numerals are found on a clock face.

Take your full sheet of poster board. Cutting across the width, cut a strip from one end, about an inch wide. Cut this piece in two so that one part is about an inch and a half longer than the other. These will be the clock hands. Further trim one end of each piece to a point.

Through prayer and discussion, decide as a family what your family priority list will be. The goal, of course, would be to have a twelve-item list. It may work best to not make a daily schedule, but think of the things in which you would like to engage or you need to do as a family throughout the week. If you do want to list daily items such as homework, practicing an instrument, good health practices and taking care of family pets, just write the word “daily” next to these items (or five days a week, or whatever your schedule for those items needs to be). Consider such things as reading together, visiting a neighbor or friend, having a family cooking or baking session, or taking a leisurely drive together. Choose those activities that will work well in your family situation, things that will draw you closer together and bring joy to each of your family members.

Of course, making time for the Lord is a priority. I’d like to recommend that you consider taking one day a week to have a Sabbath rest with your family. Think of the things that tend to rob your time with God and your family such as cell phone monitoring and texting, watching TV, playing video games, paying bills, etc., and set those things aside for this day. Alert other people that you have made this choice so they can respect your decision. Early in your day, do a family devotion and pray, and then take time to talk with one another; play board games together; leisurely share a made-ahead or leftover meal. Genuinely listen to your family members to hear their hearts, their hopes, and their dreams. If your day of worship tends to be hectic due to ministry, another day of the week can be chosen in which to follow this practice. Don’t be legalistic, as a legitimate need or problem may arise – Jesus had no problem with His disciples picking some grain to eat on a Sabbath day. But, this observance was important enough to God to include it in the Ten Commandments. Therefore, it should be important to us too. As God rested on the seventh day after six days of creation, so should we follow His example.

Now that you have your list, put these things on your clock face. Your top priority should be at the top of the clock. The idea here is that you would point the longer hand to that item always so as to remind you of its importance. The obvious choice for that spot would be one of your list items that draws your family closer to the Lord. You may just write out your priorities in order of importance in each of the twelve spaces, or you can take time to find and cut out magazine pictures, print and cut out pictures/clipart from the Internet, have your children draw representations of list items, or use actual photos. The more creative you can be, the better. Glue the pictures in the appropriate places.

Once the clock face is complete, glue the circle in the center of the other piece of poster board. Re-poke the center hole with a pointed scissors. Attach the clock hands by poking a hole near the end of each hand and then putting the paper brad through each and into the hole in the center of the clock face. Put a piece of tape on the the prongs of the brad on the back side of the poster board.

To enable the shorter hand to be fastened at each of the twelve spaces, put a piece of tape on each space at the place where the pointed end will reach. Put a rolled piece of tape on the short hand and easily attach it to the flat piece of tape to point it to the appropriate activity. Velcro could also be used if you want to splurge a bit. In the same way, the longer hand can be taped pointing to the top activity.

Place or mount your clock in a central place in your home so it can be checked often. Dedicate your time to the Lord and spend quality time with your family as you carry out your priorities each week. It will bring joy and benefits that will not just last a lifetime but into eternity. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV).

Living the Word: Sharing Your Experience

As you and your family enjoy the blessing of a Sabbath rest, take some time to bless another family by sharing your experience with a loved one or friend. Talk about the spiritual, physical and social benefits. Give suggestions for make-ahead meals or dishes that provide plenty of leftovers for that day. Share ideas for low-key family activities that this family might enjoy. Recommend that they make this choice known to other people so their rest day can be respected. Offer your prayer support, and make sure that this suggestion is given in love and with no guilt or condemnation attached. Seek to make a difference in the life of this family by passing on what God has deemed to be best.

What's New?

Verse for January – Habakkuk 2:2b-3 (ESV)

2bWrite the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.


New Product

Click here to view our newest (non-music) product; a Pen & Stylus Tip combination which features 3 lines of our company information, a sleek and stylish barrel, chrome accents, jumbo ink cartridge and convenient built in stylus! Choose from Black, Gunmetal, Purple or Burgundy.




Stuffie Makeover

The seamstress working on our Stuffie characters (Matt Cello and Joni Microphonie) is making great progress on the updates. Our hope and prayer is to have several of each character in hand, starting with our March events. Please pray along with us!


Major Recording Announcement

We've shared in the last few newsletters that we are currently in discussions with a recording company from Germany who desires to translate Sing God's Word - Psalms in Tune CD #1 and Sing God's Word - Way to Praise CD #2 into the German language. This is a huge step of faith and commitment on our part, so we ask for your support through prayer! We should have more concrete information early 2016.


Ministry Partners

  • Living to Worship - promotes wellness and fitness in your spirit and body, all for the glory of God

  • Little Giant Steps - provides life-changing solutions for accelerating learning abilities in individuals whether they are gifted, typical or challenged

  • MY HOMESCHOOL ROADMAP - provides life-changing solutions for parents to homeschool their children without fear of failure

Upcoming Events



Look for us at the following venues in the upcoming months:


2016

As the theme verse for Godstruck Ministries 4 Kids, Colossians 3:16 speaks to the heart and soul of why this ministry exists. Our mission is to help children hide God’s Word and principles in their hearts through His wonderful gift of music.

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