Wolfe Stew

When you realize that December is near, do you hear jingle bells or alarm bells? For me, the alarm bells are blaring: I cannot believe 2024 is nearly over! As you prepare for the festive season, we encourage you to take some time for yourself. Connect with God, family, friends, co-workers, and strangers, but don't forget to think about who you are and what you need. What is on your heart for you for next year? What is your biggest hope for 2025? What steps can you take toward achieving what you hope for? How can you partner with God in it? Will you trust Him even if it doesn't happen? My biggest hope for 2025 is that each one of you grow deeper in your relationship with Christ. That's my hope for me, too: to know  Him more.  We also hope to help you wrap up 2024 with a bow of JOY through this selection of activities we've stewed on for you. Our December 2024 offerings: December 2024 Ideas for  Every  Day Calendar  (family friendly, educational)  December 20...

As November nears our thoughts turn to thankfulness. I hope this year your gratitude lists are overflowing, and if they are not, I hope you are able to find a blessing or two in every day. They are there, even though they are harder to find on some days than others. A few ideas we're pondering this November are forgiveness and salvation. Often, we don't think we need forgiveness or salvation but are looking for ways to extend forgiveness and salvation to others. What if this November we took time each day to seriously consider, and be thankful for, the forgiveness and salvation we have been given? A few practices we plan to put into action include: Letting others - learners included - help us and express genuine appreciation for it.  Giving others - learners too - the chance to forgive us by apologizing when we've wronged them. Sure, you can do it on your own, and maybe an apology isn't necessary. But perhaps you need to learn to let others save you from time to time. M...

O-o-o-o-o-October. The month that tries to scare us. But we're not scared. No. We face a classroom of littles daily who stare directly into our faces and firmly tell us, "No!", in response to a gentle request; who hit other kids right in the face because they were too close; and who start crying uncontrollably because suddenly they miss their mom. No, we're not scared. Yet, truth be told, sometimes we are. Maybe we can face these kids seemingly confident, but on the inside, we're full of doubt. Like, "Please let this technique work, because I don't know what I'm going to try next if it doesn't." Or, "Do they know how much I actually care about them?" How about, "When others watch me, are they judging my response, or do they get it?" And the persistent one, "Are my efforts really getting anywhere?" The thing is, each day, you are serving those littles. You are using every tool you've been given to help them al...

 Hey Leaders!  Have you met your new learners yet? Or are you still frantically  calmly and collectedly preparing for their arrival?  We're one full week and two days into the 2024-2025 school year here, and it feels like every other school year beginning. How do we forget so quickly what these learners are like at the beginning of the year? There really is nothing quite so humbling as realizing you don't have it all together, no matter how well you plan. Thankfully, we have one another. Don't be afraid to admit your struggles and celebrate other leaders' victories. Every moment is an opportunity for a fresh start. So take that breath, remember He is with you, strengthening you, and start again. If you are looking for some fresh ideas for September, browse our 2024 offerings: September 2024 Ideas for  Every  Day Calendar  (family friendly, educational)  September 2024 Growth for Today Calendar  (personal growth, Isaiah study) Blank 2024 Calen...

Leaders! It's already back-to-school time!!  I hope you have had a summer full of relaxation and fulfillment, and that August's arrival finds you refreshed and revitalized. But, if you're anything like me, you wish you could slam the brakes on summer and rest here a little longer. I keep looking for that pause button. I haven't found it yet though, so I keep moving forward.  That's what we're called to do: to be faithful in today ( Hebrews 3:13 ). To do our best in each moment, and if a moment fails, commit to doing better in the next ( Ephesians 6:7 ). To face tomorrow with hope knowing the future is held in the hands of our Maker ( Jeremiah 29:11 ). To interact with love for others because we know the love God has for them by how well He loves us ( John 13:34-35 ). And to keep marching because we know we are where we are right now for a reason ( Philippians 3:17  & Ephesians 2:10 ). I'm here to encourage you in your faithful walk, just as I hope you...

Freedom! That's July in one word. We celebrate our independence this month, and we do it in many ways: cookouts, camping, music, and fireworks. It's a month that reminds us to celebrate what brings us together instead of fixating on what tears us apart. So while we celebrate our freedoms to govern how we want to govern, say what we want to say, and believe what we want to believe, remember that just because we can, doesn't mean we should: I have the freedom to do anything, but not everything is helpful. I Corinthians 6:12  CEB I must check my thoughts, words, decisions, and habits for helpfulness. Am I helping or hurting myself? Am I adding value to others?  This July, I'm homing in on celebrating freedom by saying what I want to say. I want to communicate in helpful, encouraging, and true ways. My action plan is to listen more and speak less so that when I open my mouth, intentional words of worth come out. Pray for me, would you? I know I'll need it. How are you c...

Oh, the sweet, sweet days of summer! What is your favorite summertime activity? Typically, summers find us visiting family, frequenting the library, going on long walks, and entertaining our nephew (in sneakily educational ways), all while planning for the next school year. Day trips and camping in the mountains are a welcome escape when we want to beat the heat. If you're looking for some sneakily educational ideas to use with your learners this summer, we'd love to help. Our June 2024 offerings include: June 2024 Ideas for  Every  Day Calendar  (family friendly, educational)  June 2024 Growth for Today Calendar  (personal growth, Isaiah study) Blank 2024 Calendars   Bible verses  Inspirational Quotes June 2024 Ideas for EVERY Day View the  current month's calendar   at the Learning Lab Tab. Or download your  June 2024 calendar  through  OneDrive . View  archived calendars  on our JOY for Today page. Add...

It's nearly May, Leaders! Which means the year is nearly at an end. We're on the downhill slope and the finish line is in sight. But, while we are racing right along with you to reach it, we also want to encourage you to slow down and savor these final moments with your learners. Take some snapshots. Plan some fun.  If you're stuck and looking for some inspiration, we'd love to come to your rescue. Our May 2024 offerings include: May 2024 Ideas for  Every  Day Calendar  (family friendly, educational)  May 2024 Growth for Today Calendar  (personal growth, Isaiah study) Blank 2024 Calendars   Bible verses  Inspirational Quotes May 2024 Ideas for EVERY Day View the  current month's calendar   at the Learning Lab Tab. Or download your  May 2024 calendar  through  OneDrive . View  archived calendars  on our JOY for Today page. Add  "Would you rather..."  questions into your daily holiday festivitie...

An Easter-less April? It's odd, right? April usually comes bedecked in bunnies, eggs, and chicks, but not this year. This year, I suppose we'll switch to colorful umbrellas, smiling raindrops, and bright yellow flowers. Regardless, April remains coupled with Easter for me. What is your decorating theme this April, leaders? Will you stick with bunnies and chicks or will you change your theme? The truth is, your learners care less about the decorations and more about where you're leading them. So keep leading them to goodness and truth.  And if you want to sprinkle in a little JOY, we have a few ideas we hope will help you. Our April 2024 offerings include: April 2024 Ideas for  Every  Day Calendar  (family friendly, educational)  April 2024 Growth for Today Calendar  (personal growth, Isaiah study) Blank 2024 Calendars   Bible verses  Inspirational Quotes April 2024 Ideas for EVERY Day View the  current month's calendar   at the Learnin...