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  • Welcome to the OLM blog!

    Genesis 8:11 "When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth."

    Nancy Douglas speaks, teaches, and writes through the Olive Leaf Ministries where her testimony of discovering God in the midst of great pain and tragedy touches the hearts of all who hear her speak. She and her husband, Jimmy have two children and currently reside in Kansas City, Missouri.

    Olive Leaf Ministries resources:
    Intro Video
    OLM Website
    OLM Bookstore
    Original Blog 2008-2011
    Christian Women's Speaker Page
    Nancy's on-line lessons
    OLM Amazon Book Store

(Podcast) Intro: Draw Me Near Study Begins Today!

by Nancy DouglasWhat a joy it is to present Draw Me Near via podcast here on OLM’s blog. This is a great opportunity for individuals or groups to use at their leisure. The podcast method enables you to participate from literally anywhere you are at your own pace and in your own time. You don’t have to purchase costly DVD’s and can sample the study before you commit. Now, who says technology is a bad thing? When used properly it’s excellent for the body of Christ as well as the heart of His beloved children.

Along with free audio sessions, printable handouts will also be available at no extra charge. Simply click on the handout link below to download and print your outline. This means all you need purchase is your book(s).

Draw Me Near is available at the Olive Leaf Ministries Bookstore, Barnes and Noble online, and a host of other spots, give it a Google and you’ll see. The best deal in my estimation is to purchase through Amazon.com. Choose “New” books and buy through Olive Leaf Ministries and you’ll not only get the lowest price but your copy will be autographed. Don’t forget that there is a Leader’s Guide. If you’ve ever wanted to begin your own study group but didn’t know where to begin, this will guide you ever step of the way.

To read a sample lesson visit: Sample Reading

To download your outline click HERE

To listen to the Intro Podcast select the “play” button at the bottom of this post.

Blessings to you all and enjoy!

See you next week when we present week two.

Nancy Douglas

Christian Speaker and Author, Kansas City Mo

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Podcast: Your Child vs Your Expectation

Have you ever felt let down or disappointed as a parent? Perhaps you expected your child to be more like you only to discover he/she couldn’t be more opposite. Maybe parenting itself isn’t what you expected and you’re struggling with disillusionment.

If this sounds familiar, take let me offer this presentation I gave to a MOPs group. Parenting is just plain difficult and you don’t have to have a special needs child to find yourself struggling with your youngster. I don’t think one parent couldn’t relate to the topic of their child verses their expectations.

Click on the link directly below to print the event’s outline. You can listen to the podcast by selecting the play button on the bar at the bottom of this post.

OUTLINE

Share with your fellow parents and enjoy!

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Happy SAD

Today’s Valentine’s Day aka Single’s Awareness Day. It’s the day Cupid’s arrow prods us to express our love to that special someone. While the intent of the red, white, and pink day is fine, I feel bad for those who don’t have a “Valentine” on this particular day, the single, widowed, and divorced. Then there are those who are in a relationship but it’s not happy a one and those who are fairly happy but can’t help but compare what their Valentine did for them verses what others receive from theirs. February 14th is full of pressure no matter how you look at it.

That’s why Jimmy and I are blessed to have been Valentines for 28 years. We’ve learned over the years to set up rules before the occasion clarifying things with questions like, “No cards this year, right? Cards only, right?” This year our Valentine prenup went something like this, “BBQ for lunch only, no cards, no extra stuff, right?” We agreed and that was that. No awkward surprises or feeling bad because one out did the other. Just a simple lunch. So off we went to a local BBQ spot.

 

Half the experience is that wonderful BBQ smell.

We hardly talked. We just feasted and said every so often, “this is so good!”

After our meal we traipsed to Hobby Lobby where I bought pillow stuffing for a few sagging couch pillows. Romantic huh.

 

I hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day. Whether we have a special someone to celebrate with or not, we all have and need God. He is our Father and Savior every day, year after year, all our days.

Blessings!

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Tuesday Tidbit: Become Like a Child

Children love animated characters. To the young nothing is too bright, bold, or colorful. While adults strive to stand out in a “fit in” kind of way, kids wear whatever they like, simple as that.

Dani’s favorite little socks are her snowmen socks. They are thick, comfortable, and forever on her feet here at home, even at night. To her they reflect comfort, which explains why she reaches for them first thing upon arriving home after a busy day.

This fun little duo is 3-D too. Each brimmed hat, which is stuffed and lined with red ribbon, hangs over each smiling marshmallow faces. The most enhanced 3-D feature was the carrot noses. Now gone except for one dangling by a thread, each nose once poked out like a mandarin nail, resembling spiked shin guards.

Old fuddy duddy that I am, I wouldn’t dream of wearing these socks even around the house, but perhaps spiritually I should strive to be more open-minded for as I folded her favorite warmers this morning after making her bed, the verse below popped into my head,

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”

Matthew 18:1-5

The greatest in God’s kingdom are those like a little child; simple, honest, and humble. Not proud, self-righteous, or powerful in their own eyes, children of the Lord feel free to wear tacky holiday socks without a second thought caring little how they rank in the world’s eye. I admire our little Dani and her happy holiday socks. It teaches me that it’s good to be a more childlike when approaching God. I don’t have to clean up or look a certain way. I need only come as I am.
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Super Bowl Sunday

What fun it is to watch the super bowl. I was raised in a home where football ruled. My mom loved watching the Kansas City Chiefs as much the burliest of men. When I was young we’d enjoy a few occasions cheering our team from the ice-cold stands of Arrowhead Stadium. And don’t think for a moment the Chief’s stadium isn’t called the “Red Sea” for nothing. In full swing it’s not only deafening loud but scarlet in every directions.

My folks have passed away but the football tradition continues. Our son inherited my dad’s passion for sports and watches all teams with equal enthusiasm. I’m so used to Sunday football that even if I’m alone with no husband or son in the house, I turn on a game just for comfort. It reminds me of all the men in my life I’ve loved and laughed with through the years.

Today is our prep day for tomorrow’s big event. So we don’t have to rush after church, we are preparing lasagna, homemade garlic bread, chips, and salsa in advance. I so look forward to enjoying one day of eating all I want with no guilt on the horizon. Just munch, crunch, and watch the Super Bowl game and commercials.

 

 

What are your plans for Super Bowl Sunday?

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