Heart of Flesh Literary Journal

By Veronica McDonald, author, artist and mom!

Don’t miss Veronica’s collection of Christian testimonies on her Heart of Flesh web site as she rolls out Volume 8! Previous Journals are available in print version as well as archived on line. She has a children’s journal as well, “Pure in Heart.”

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Heart of Flesh Literary Journal

Professional Mom’s Mother’s Day Post!

Mom’s The Boss

If you’ve never had that moment with your child or grandchild when they said, “You’re not the boss!” or behind your back, overheard, “She says that, but she won’t do anything!” Then you either don’t have kids, or you are not paying attention. They have said it, I promise.

If you have heard this and done nothing, shame on you. No wonder the world is in such a chaotic state. It is my opinion that, although this lack of consequences for childish mischief may have made it too late for some (and lack of discipline in the courts have made it worse,) we can only start NOW, with the children in front of us, to make it right.

Ok, so, stepping back a bit, why did I entitle this “Mom’s The Boss’? Speaking from my own experience as a “stay-at-home” mom, it was I who spent 90% of the time with our 6 children. If you are a single mom, you’ve then got 100%, not counting daycare, if you work outside the home. When my kids acted up and needed discipline, I was the one who delivered. I was and still am a believer in “consequences.” Whether that is a switch, a wooden spoon, a paddle, time out (without devices) or manual labor, something’s gotta give! For larger infractions and larger children (teens) sometimes I deferred to “wait ‘til Dad gets home,’ or “Dad and I will have to work out your punishment.” I tried to “build up” the fact that Dad had the first say in all things discipline, with God as his “boss” in the hierarchy of the family.

God is the ultimate Boss.

But you are with the children, whether a stay at home or a working mom (outside the home.) So, you must be ready to deliver on infractions as they come up. I would not be so bold as to say you get up every morning ready for a fight, however, I did have twins (my firsts) that made it hard to just relax and enjoy them!

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⏳ 60-Minute EASTER Challenge for Kids

***Another great Easter activity from Teach Sunday School ($7.99 download) that not only keeps the kids occupied but teaches them about Jesus! By the way, Escape Rooms are really in right now!

Hi

 

Don’t let Jesus take a backseat to the Bunny this Easter.

 

Go print out the Easter Escape Room and put your kids to a challenge!

 

There are 4 Printable Easter “Mysteries” for kids to solve in 60 minutes or less (all related to the arrest, trial, crucifixion, & resurrection of Christ).

 

You can print it out here.

 

Happy Escaping,

Mary-Kate

✝️ Christ-Centered Easter Basket Idea

*Here’s a treat that will keep on giving! This Bible Wheel is $7  for hours of learning and fun. Order today, free shipping! Professional Mom Patti McDonald

 

Hi!

I think all Easter baskets need a few treats that are Christ-centered.

Check out this adorable “Bible Wheel” surprise I’m tucking into all my baskets this year.

It’s something that kids & teens will all be excited about and actually use to deepen their faith.

Plus, it will last a little longer than those mini eggs and peeps!

Check it out here.

Talk Soon,
Mary-Kate

Nobody Wants To Talk About Hell by Professional Mom

 

I’m going to start the New Year off with a subject that, in my opinion, has been avoided of late. The subject of Hell. The place, and it is a place, the purpose, the problem, and the person.

When I say, of late, I mean that for the past few years I’ve noticed a Heavenly Gospel, which is good, as there is a Heaven also, but it seems to me that the subject of Hell has been left out of the conversation (sermons) in the last few years.

It is only appropriate to discuss Hell because when we speak of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His whole reason for coming to Earth was to save humanity from Death and Hell.

So, let’s start with “the place.” It is a place of eternal suffering. When you die, you either go to Heaven or Hell, there is no “in between” or limbo, as is thought in some religions. You live, you die. It seems trite or disrespectful, but it is the truth. Hell is described in the Bible as “a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth…” Among other descriptive words found in scripture, it is a horrible place, separated from the God who created us.

There is a purpose for Hell. It was created by God for the Devil and his angels. As time has no limits with God, before the Man was on Earth, the angels rebelled and Lucifer, God’s favorite angel decided he could be God and was remanded to Hell. That he has some power before the end times is not for me to speculate, however, when the end of the world as we know it happens, and it will happen, the Devil and his followers will be cast “into the Lake of Fire” for eternity.

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