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Hello Happy October www.familyfosterbags.com https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Ly3iEhy_4/?igshid=rm9bjm98iy61

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Can’t wait to see these two get married this afternoon!!! ❤️❤️❤️ (at Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxAaVZuhmqo/?igshid=eoe6fby6os7m

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Do YOU want your Wishes to Come True? Today is DAY 2 of of the terrific Giveaway Event, which will conclude on August 21 at 8 pm with a drawing for fabulous Thirty-One product valued at OVER $200. • EACH comment, question and/or response you post in this thread will be counted for ADDITIONAL ENTRIES into the Giveaway Drawing. Today’s question: How interested are you in this NEW opportunity? Are you a 1, 2, or 3 (see below) and tell me why! 1. I think I’m in! I’d love the extra cash, free products, and Disney® & Visa® Gift Cards! Maybe even a debt-free Holiday! What do I have to lose? 2. I probably owe it to myself to get a tad more information (PLUS the opportunity to earn a FREE all-inclusive trip to Maui for two). 3. Not interested in extra cash, free products, Disney® Gift Cards, Visa® Gift Cards or a free vacation to Maui. However, I AM excited to shop the new Fall Catalog coming soon! If you haven’t made any comments or posts to the Group Page yet, no problem! You are welcome to jump in and play along at any time! Commenting on the Day 1 post any time prior to the drawing on August 21 earns an EXTRA ENTRY. I WISH I COULD PLAY SO I COULD WIN!! #caniwin #sojealous #thirtyone #thirtyonegifts #ilovemyjob #familyfosterbags #wishescomestrue #purses #totes #thermals #jewelry #backtoschool #shopping #giveawaycontest

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Did you HEAR about the Most Fabulous Giveaway of the Fall? If you want in, you NEED to head to Janelle’s Pink Bag VIPs on FB and post “I’M IN!”. Bring your bestie and some fall spice - it's gonna be huge! #freestuff #ilovemyjob #31giveaway #totes #thirtyone #thirtyonegifts #thirtyonegiveaway #janelles31 #familyfosterbags #thermal #jewelry #purse #organization #homedecor #photoby31 #photo #craft #crafting #homeideas

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I’m in absolute love, but need help personalizing my new fall stuff that is coming out next month! HELP!! #craft #thirtyone #31 #ilovemyjob #teacherlife #artistsoninstagram #diy #diycrafts #organization #31gifts #thirtyonegifts (at Stanhope, New Jersey)

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Who wants to enter a contest?! Contact me when you have 2 Parties or orders and one lucky person will get a signature enrollment kit for a big discount! I cannot wait to see who wins!! #thirtyonegifts #thirtyone #totes #purses #partyideas #workfromhome #snacks #organization #organized #directsales #utility #jewelry #contest #discount #ilovemyjob #31gives #31 #31gifts #unemployed #job #extramoney #money #girltime #diyhomedecor #homedecor #photogift #pillow #celebrate #encourage #reward

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When you hear something in church that really makes sense and you’re proud of your father for saying it!

Sermon for Sunday, May 06, 2018

Sermon Texts:​John 8: 3-11; 15: 14-17

Acts 10: 44-48

Romans 1: 22 - 2: 16, 21-23

Sermon Title:​“Everybody Has Something”

Sermon Topic:​Tolerance within the Church

Sermon Purpose: to teach the need to tolerate even the most difficult person, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Sermon Prayer: ​God of love, your servant Jesus gave us but one commandment: to love each other. Help us to follow this commandment that our burdens may be like. Now, may the words of my lips and the meditation of my heart, the acceptable in your sight. In Jesus' precious name, we pray. Amen.

By a show of hands, how many of you have known people to either say, or seem to live by the adage: “Do as I say, not as I do”? (Raise your hands.)

And yet, I’ll bet that most of those people claim to be Christian, even though that’s not how Jesus commanded us to live.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no statement in all the Gospels that the Lord repeated more than this one: "Love one another … as I …have loved … you." In fact, in Matthew’s Gospel, when a lawyer of the Pharisees tried to trick Jesus by asking him which was the greatest commandment, He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” And then, He went on to say, “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

In John’s Gospel, when Jesus was asked to summarize all the law into only one, concise commandment he came up with: "Love one another as I have loved you."

For a long time, now, here at LPC, we have claimed to be “A family church for the whole family.” More recently, we changed that motto to what we see at the masthead of our Sunday bulletin and on the face of our newsletter, and other documents: “Constantly evolving to serve the Community and impact lives, bringing people to know Jesus and to experience God’s love.”

As a family in Christ, living and working and worshipping as brothers and sisters in the faith, do we really do that? I really don’t know!

As you know, by now, I am actively involved in our Presbytery and I am aware of many situations within various congregations within our Presbytery, our town, and elsewhere. I have pastor friends - across the denomination and across the country – with whom I am in regular contact. Permit me to share with you a real situation.

A particular church’s governing body has been asked for permission to use their sanctuary for the wedding of a couple – neither of whom is a member of the church. This is something that has taken place several dozen times, in recent decades, and permission was always granted – as long as the pastor of the church was willing to officiate the ceremony and the couple appeared to be truly committed to one another.

You must know that this particular congregation (like many others) is composed of people who claim to “Welcome everyone,” but are truly very close-minded when it comes to certain types of people.

They fuss at parents of young children who become restless during worship or meetings. They tend to hold themselves above others who might not be as educated, or have similar financial resources, or who seem a little more “common” than they can tolerate.

Meanwhile, the membership of the congregation is composed of liars, adulterers, slanderers, bullies, underhanded and scheming people, people who seem to worship money more than God or Christ, people who stir up dissension among the membership, thieves, alcoholics, addicts, gossips, jealous and envious people, ungrateful, bitter, judgmental, malicious, conceited, cruel and heartless, and spiteful people: all of whom claim to be willing to welcome people just like them into the congregation. These are people for whom Jesus died on the cross in order to purchase their redemption and to intercede on their behalf with God the Father so they will not go to hell – to eternal damnation - for their sins.

They are all too quick and willing to hurl insults and judgments at people who are different from them, but they’re not willing to demonstrate the grace they have received, themselves, to allow a same-sex couple to be married in their sanctuary. Some say, “It’s against the Bible!” Others say, “It’s sinful.” And, still others claim it will cause a split in the congregation. Some even make the ridiculous claim that these people will lure the church’s youth into adopting the same lifestyle.

No one is arguing the sinful nature of this couple’s lifestyle. But, likewise, no one is admitting to the lifestyles of those members of the congregation who are just as sinful and just as much in need of grace and forgiveness, in need of the tolerance demanded by Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, that we read as our Epistle Lesson, this morning.

“Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, … for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. … Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? … God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all. …you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You that forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? … You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?”

If any members of that congregation would truly examine themselves, according to the scriptures, they would see that absolutely no one is pure enough, “without sin” enough, to be casting stones – casting judgment – against anyone else!

The shepherd of that congregation is a long-time friend of mine and has been around long enough to know – and to remember – the indiscretions of many of his sheep, but has been tolerant of them and their ways because he also remembers some of the things in his own past that were not perfect and pure. In addition, he has accepted the Call of the Holy Spirit to love these people into living out Christ’s claim on them.

But, this decision by the governing body, is pushing him closer to the point of speaking out against all those who are casting judgment: revealing histories he knows they want kept secret. In doing so, he would possibly face charges of breaching his vow of confidentiality, but – to him – it might … just … be … worth it! It would definitely mean being terminated as the pastor, even though he has already informed the board of the actual date of his departure to begin his next ministry.

To those being judgmental, it would mean embarrassment and ridicule. To the congregation, it would mean either dissolving or facing greater struggles to survive (as true Christians) than they have ever experienced. All of this would be the result of intolerance and the judgment received for the judgment given. All of this would teach a scriptural lesson that everyone would remember and needs to live by.

I continue to hold that congregation, its leaders, and its pastor in prayer: that they listen to the guidance of the scriptures and are guided by the Holy Spirit. As I said, it is a real situation and the final outcome has yet to be determined.

God’s grace is for everyone, not just for those who claim it for themselves but deny it for others. Christ went to the cross for my sins, for your sins, for their sins, for all sinners – that they might be forgiven by the God and Father of all.

This is the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the message we must carry into the world. And this is the standard by which we must live as Christians. This is what we must do in order to demonstrate our belief in what we say on that masthead of our bulletin, and in order to be that church that ministers to the whole family – the family of human beings that God created, whether we agree with his methods or not.

Jesus did not just command us to love. What Jesus said was, "love one another as I have loved you!" Remember what Paul says in Romans, chapter 5? "It was while we were yet sinners that Christ loved us." Christ loved us while we were yet sinners: his enemies.

I know that I'm somebody only a loving God – only a God who loves unconditionally – could love. So … are … you! And that's precisely the good news that we call the Gospel. By laying down his life for us, Christ made us his friends.

As difficult as we are to love, God has found it in his heart to love us. He calls us in Christ, to do the same, to reach out in love to those who are different, and yet are the same: sinners in need of some demonstration of God’s love and God’s forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice.

Because of the way our world is going, there are those who speculate that Christ’s return is more imminent than we might imagine. There are those that say He’s coming very, very, very soon.

Given the message of this morning’s Gospel Lesson, who is willing to be caught red-handed, throwing stones as He arrives? Is there anyone who thinks he/she is beyond judgment and has the right to consider him/herself without guilt and above reproach? Is there anyone, here, who is willing to risk Christ’s judgment of your guilt or blamelessness, should He arrive and catch you with a stone in your hand – either physical or verbal: actually throwing a stone at someone or hurling judgments against someone without considering where your own guilt lies? I – for one – am not.

However, if you think you’re better than everyone else in this sanctuary, here’s a basket of stones for you to use.

But, be “darned sure” you have nothing in your life that will cause you to be damned, again. Remember: The judgment you give will be the judgment you get.

This is the season, at LPC, when we celebrate “the family:” Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Children’s Day, Fathers’ Day, … Let’s reach out in love to the whole family; to all the members of the human family that God created. And, practice what Jesus commanded us to do: "Love one another as I have loved you."

Let us pray:

Eternal lover of souls: grant us the strength of faith and the peace of your Holy Spirit to deal with our brothers and sisters as you would have us deal with ourselves. Grant us the wisdom to serve in a manner pleasing to your sight, and faithful to the Christ we proclaim. In His name, we pray. Amen

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#31snowday

When a snow day combined with a sick hubby working from home throws a curveball in your plans, what are you going to do? Here’s a list of 31 ideas...

1. Make Hot Chocolate. ☕️

2. Make French Toast with all that Bread, Milk, and Eggs your neighbors went crazy over at the grocery store. 🥛 🍞 🥚

3. Play Board Games. 🎲 🎲

4. Put together a BIG puzzle.

5. Make Popcorn and Watch Movies. 🎥 🍿

6. Play Video Games. 🎮

7. Make a Fort in your favorite spot.

8. Put up a small tent and pretend you are Camping Inside. ⛺️

9. Snow Ball Fight while clearing the driveway, walkway, and sidewalks.

10. Do you want to build a ⛄️ or snow fort? ❄️

11. Sledding down the nearest hill. 🛷

12. Make yourself into Mary Poppins and make a game out of cleaning a room.

13. Bake cookies. 🍪

14. Have the kids help you plan fun meals for the day. 👩‍🍳 👨‍🍳

15. Find a neighbor parent who is also going out of their mind and double team those kids. 👫👭👬

16. Put on a Play or Puppet Show. 🎭

17. Put loose change into rolls and teach the smaller kids how to count and organize the different coins. 💰

18. Read a fun book with the kids. 📚

19. Paint or color a picture for each month and make your own calendar. 📆 🎨

20. Break out the Play-Doh.

21. Write letters or make cards for family members to send out about the kids’ day. 💌

22. Put a blanket on the floor and each lunch there like a picnic or tea party. 🍵 🥪

23. Work on activity books.

24. Play Cards ♦️♥️♣️♠️

25. Windchill Ridiculous? Put some old towels down on a kitchen floor and bring some snow inside to play with. ❄️ ⛄️☃️🌬💨

26. Bubble Baths.

27. Troll Pinterest for extra crafts and ideas. 💡

28. Have your kids help you go through items in closets and room to donate to those in need. 👚 👟 👖 ⚽️

29. If you have a direct sales business like I do, go through your party stuff and take videos with your kids using them. 🎥 🎬

30. Have your kids help you organize what product you have that you want to highlight to your groups.

31. Have a #31SnowDay Sale! Oh come on, you knew I had to work that in somewhere. This is, after all, a list of THIRTY-ONE things to do. 👜🎒👛🤪

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Shells in the Sand I tried to type this out a few months ago, but I think God had other plans. It seems whenever I have something really pressing on my mind, He finds a way to remind me the He is in control and I need to let go and let Him deal with things. This has always been something that has been difficult for me. I try to remind myself every single day that I don't need to control how things pan out. My expectations may not even come close to what He has planned for me on the biggest scope of my life. So many times I have felt like one of these shells in the sand with the storm hovering in the distance. Think about it. We all have these rough edges; we are tossed and worn down by different storms in our lives. Those rough edges eventually become smoother over time, but the memory or imprint that is made remains. But, what about that end result? After the storm has lifted and the smoothed edges are exposed, aren't we different from how we were when we started? In many cases, haven't we developed into something or someone more beautiful and mysterious and stronger than we were even an hour before the storm? There are days when these storms in our lives make us feel like we will never be the same or be able to recover from what has happened. Maybe we aren't supposed to be the same. Maybe the plan is to have us use this experience to help others and inspire change for the future. I've experienced some beautiful and pretty downright, heart wrenching storms. I'd like to hope that I have helped other because I was able to move forward after these moments in my life. The next time you see a storm coming your way, will you hide from it and bury it all, or will you absorb the energy it brings and transform it into something better? It's a choice you have, but make no mistake - His plan shines through whether we try to hide it or acknowledge and accept it.

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Who were the education professionals who impacted your life? There are favorite teachers, challenging professors, instruction that makes you reflect on who you are and who you want to become in the future, administrators and counselors who push you to the next limit and kick your butt when you need it. Maybe you had one for each grade, or one for each phase in your life, or a group of teachers or administrators who affected the way you see the world and yourself in it. Yesterday, the world said goodbye to one of those people for me. There have been quite a collection of individuals who have impacted how I see the world and individuals who are included in my life. This man was one of the most interesting additions to that collection during my high school tenure and up until the point my brother graduated. He turned around a high school that we weren't sure could come back from darkness. He encouraged students and tried his hardest to make them feel safe when we were on the campus. He took his role seriously, but tried not to take himself too seriously. His sense of humor was very much intact when he was "off-duty," but he always gave respect and expected it in return. Many don't know this, and I -to this day- still don't know all of the details, but this man also had a great part in protecting my life when I didn't even know it needed protecting. His primary goal was not only to keep me safe, but also to make sure I would become distracted or involved in the threats that were being made in my direction without my knowledge. I will forever be grateful to Joe Martino for his dedication to his position, his encouragement and faith in my abilities, and most of all his friendship. Rest In Peace, Joe. Say hello to my other "greats" who have gone before you. You will be missed.

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It’s that time of year again, as the saying goes, to be “out with the old, and in with the new.” What better way to kick off spring cleaning than to simultaneously enter a contest to win a free giveaway that will help speed along the organization process? 1) How to WIN! Anyone can participate; participants must first follow Janelle on Instagram & Twitter using the handle @NJCrash98. Participants must post a cute or funny picture or video to either Instagram or Twitter that shows them in the act of spring cleaning. Participants must include a caption describing how a free 31 product will help them with spring cleaning, along with the hashtags #My31iversary and #ThirtyAndThriving. 2) Participants must tag a friend in their original post. At the end of the contest, the winner will be notified via Instagram messaging and will be announced on both platforms. 3) There is no cost to be a part of this celebration. Participation is entirely free, and the winner will receive a free product at the end.

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Message at church today - You don't thank someone for loving you. You accept it, love them in return, and pay it forward. Happy Palm Sunday!

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There is something that we should all work on a little more as time passes. We have technology that gets in the way, along with busy schedules, work, errands, and of course being there for friends and extended family. This weekend I decided to focus on family date nights. We need to hit the pause buttons, out devices on silent, and spend some quality time with our core support system. Last night, I took my girls to see the local high school production of "Wizard of Oz" and they had a great time. They got autographs from the characters, celebrated their favorite cast member in the ensemble with some flowers, and have some ice cream when we got home. It was a long night, but they were still talking about it this morning and insisted on putting the movie in the van to watch. If you know anything about me and my history with this movie, you'll know that the flying monkeys absolutely freak me out! Mind you, "Wicked" is one of my favorite musicals, but I still cringe when those flying primates emerge to terrorize Dorothy and her friends. Today, Mark and I finally were able to get the girls to see "Beauty and the Beast" and relive that magical childhood moment of seeing the animated for the first time. I love the additions and slight changes they made! Charlie and Sammy were so excited to see "Hermione" as Belle and "Nanny McPhee" or "that other Harry Potter professor" as Mrs. Potts. I loved how the CGI and music really brought it to life all over again. Now, we may snuggle and figure out something else to watch (other than the Lollipop Guild currently playing in the background as we drive home). Maybe the original Beauty and the Beast is on our agenda today. No matter what we decide, I love that my children are learning to appreciate theatre and musicals as much as Mommy. It's a great way to escape for a short while. If you're local and get a chance to support the high school production, these kids have been working extremely hard to put on a production that is family friendly.

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When you have a concussion, the doc says, "Limit your screen time." Since I've started this, I've found I have more time to color (because I'm allowed to do that), appreciate Siri a lot more than I used to - misspellings and all, and learned the true meaning of power hour! I'm calling people more, using my voxer and voice messaging more, and really connecting with people on a better level. I used SNAIL MAIL more. How often do you skip an email, voicemail, or text? If you get an actual letter, don't you read it first? Maybe you'll call me old fashioned, or losing it-after all, I did hit my head twice in one week-but there's something to be said for that type of connection over ("gasp") using the Internet. Don't misunderstand me, I use the internet for so many aspects of my life including my businesses. It is convenient and fast! I have found other ways to make it more personal, but nothing quite meets the level of face-to-face, a handwritten note, or listening to someone's voice even for less than a minute in a message. And since my screen time is limited, those are my little thoughts for the moment.

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Top 5 of fun

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While this is one of the monthly specials this month, it is also the theme of my day.  After two snow days following a weekend away, children out of sorts because schedules are out of whack, subbing in my daughter’s class, and digging out my mailbox from the mound of snow, I came inside to a message that truly made me smile from the inside out.  When it’s been a busy, crazy, roller coaster week, I have to say it’s amazing to come home to an unexpected message that you made someone’s day. I love what I do, and if I can help and encourage people to be who they truly are and express that inside and out, then what better goal could there possibly be with my business?  We are so much more than bags and jewelry.  I hope that I’m setting a positive example for my girls to be open, welcoming, and accepting of differences and exceptionalities in everyone.  There are so many doors that can be opened in our minds and hearts by immersing ourselves into the presence of those who lead different lifestyles from our own.  I hope my children are able to appreciate those around them who can give a different perspective on life.

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As today is another snow day I’m extending the sale through 10 pm tonight. Check it out at www.facebook.com/groups/Janelles31 The posts from yesterday still apply 😘

Today, hopefully there will be some sledding with friends followed by some tired little girls. It’s been one heck of a week already here and my girls NEED to go back to school. Mommy cannot maintain the higher levels of entertainment and exercise with cabin fever.

For those of you in warmer climates, we received the lovely blessing from God of 20 inches of snow yesterday. Luckily, as I’m the one who has to clear the snow, ours was much lighter and dryer than the snow my friends and family received closer to the coast. Of course it makes me worry about those friends and family who SHOULDN’T BE SHOVELING IN THE FIRST PLACE! (Note: the irritation and concern is for a certain audience - YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!). My snowblower was able to handle it (Thank You, Jesus) and hopefully the accumulation we get today will not be too much.

Hubby was able to work from home yesterday as the main building was closed, but today he is in the office and the girls and I are home. So, I guess it’s time to shower, attempt to straighten up this wreck of a house and get some fun on! Happy Hump Day everyone, and for my local friends - stay warm. ❤️