Living Brightly with Elayne Cross

Fear and Shame Have No Place

In The Pilgrims Progress John Bunyan mentions 4 reasons people backslide or fall away from their faith. Join Elayne as she examines these 4 examples in light of scripture and letting your light shine.
The Pilgrim's Progress is over 300 years old and continues to inspire believers on their journey. Pick up a copy, there are many to choose from. https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=john+bunyan&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCQ&nav_search=1&cms=1&ps_exit=KEYWORD%7Clegacy&ps_domain=www
 
07:58     1. Fear of Hell
20:14     2. Fear of Missing Out
25:23                James 4
28:00                Dealing With Mistakes
34:5        3. Shame with Religion
41:03                The Abundant Life
44:25     4. Guilt is Grievous
47:22      Relationship NOT Religion
 

What Role Does the Environment Play in Your Life

Elayne uses a river and its banks to describe to two extremes of environmental stewardship. On one side is the admirer and on the other is the active doer. But is that all it takes? Should we be in the water? What does it require to take your responsibility to tend this garden, the earth, seriously? Can the environment be your idol?  For some it can be allowed to get out of balance with what God has planned. Have you made the environment an idol in your life? Are you ignoring your duty to be a good steward?

7 Tools for Raising Future Leaders

7 Tools for Raising Great Children Future Leaders
1 Be the Best You, You Can Be
2 Be Fully Connected & Committed to Your Spouse
3 Build an Effective Environment
       (Keep Your Love On by Danny Silk)
4 Hold Family Meetings
5 You Are Raising Adults NOT Children
       (Loving Your Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk)
6 Remain a United Front
7 Keep Your Word - Praise Often

What is a Mother?

What is a Father?

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray he said “Pray in this way, Our Father who is in Heaven”. Why address God as Father? Does that mean anything to men? Join Elayne as she defines the role of men and fathers and their vital role in Living Brightly and preserving our freedoms.

Happy Birthday America 2022

Liberty is messy because people make choices individually but ultimately we still need each other to flourish. While discussing the gift of Liberty and the United States, Elayne delves into recognizing God’s move in our freedom and our need for community. To keep the American light burning bright we must move again toward unity. Not sameness but as an intricate divinely inspired machine, each dependent on each other.
On July 2 1776 a decision was reached to declare independence from Brittan and on July 4th Independence was declared. The very existence of the United States of America is in part from those willing to risk everything; their wealth, life, and sacred honor for an opportunity to forge out a new nation not run by kings or dictators but by the people for the people. God helped their cause and in turn God has used the United States of America to impact the world. Christians, and our Jewish brothers and sisters, have a duty to celebrate our liberties that come from God and filter through all people as we continue Living Brightly.
Mayflower Compact https://www.mayflowercompact.org/
William Bradford https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/william-bradford
Madison County Alabama Schools https://www.al.com/news/2022/07/federal-judge-approves-madison-county-schools-desegregation-plan-whats-next.html

The Supreme Court is NOT Chicken Little

Chicken Little begins with an acorn falling and ends with many acorns saving Henny-Penny's life. Though this has been a unique year of win's for both sides - SCOTUS is fighting against evil that has tried to dismantle our Representative Republic by returning to the Constitution.

Responding NIT Reacting to Make Schools Safe

Terror erupts when tragedy is eminent but we cannot prevent all tragedy. Evil is in the world and the world desperately needs followers of Christ to seek God’s Wisdom and formulate plans and preparedness to lower the anxiety and fear by being a Bright Light in the darkness. We all ponder how people cope without God – we can and must step into that void and offer thoughtful solutions to complex problems. Current school shooting debacles need more than prayer – we need planning, preparing, and real life saving options to change the potential for evil to flourish. We have an enemy but it is not human, it is spirit so we must fight it in Spirit.

What Begins With Y? Yielding

What begins with Y – Yielding. Today Elayne completes BRIGHTLY by finalizing the fourth and final wall representing your interpersonal relationships with others. First we focused on a personal intimate relationship with God through BRIG. Now the final element completes your structure. We all are free to decide how we will live our lives. Today Elayne investigates the iconic red-pill/blue-pill choice we all must make. God created us to live in relationship with Him but He refuses to force us. You must choose if you will yield to God or not. Whom will you serve?

What Begins With L? Liberty

God created in us a desire to control our life free from external control. Unfortunately, or fortunately, He also created us to live in communities or tribes. What does that mean? Elayne investigates how living from a spiritual perspective with God enables you to exercise your freedoms and love others in their freedom. This is the seventh in the Living BRIGHTLY series.