Christian Meditation

Psalm 1: Blessed is the man who does now talk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

When I read this, one question comes to mind. "How do I follow this example?".  I began to think about the word "meditate". Meditating is a great way to retain the Word.  But how do I learn to mediate in a world so full of distractions?  For me, meditating on the Word often necessitates turning off the radio and TV while I do housework or drive.  Silence gives me freedom to mull over what I've studied and pray it into my life or the lives of others.

Meditating on the Word also means I will have spiritual "meat" to offer to others around me.  What I have studied and meditated on - developed in my own mind - may be the exact insight that others need.

Meditation Builders:

• How do you manage to reflect on what you've learned from Scripture when you're constantly battling distractions?
• What is something you've recently learned from God's Word that you might share with your friends/family/loves ones this week?

A Woman of Substance

Written by Cathy Whitney

"As a woman with many responsibilities, some self-imposed and others that I can't ran away from, I find myself going back to the same thing over and over again. I desire to be a pure, natural, approachable, available and all rounded woman after God's own heart. The woman that God intended for me to be.

Now approaching ten years of marriage, 2.5 kids later, I have at least picked up a few things that strengthen me, things that push me to the next day and hold me up in the midst of all things woman

• Being approachable: I have found this to be liberating, uplifting and a joy filler. For me, a woman upholds the community. A woman holds together the home. A woman encourages, blesses and nurtures. In our daily routines of life, how open am I? Am I a person that another woman would approach if they had a question, a prayer request, or a need? When people look at me, do I look arrogant? Am I snobbish? Am I closed-minded and would people avoid to approach me? The energy that comes from a woman should be one that is pure, joyful and exciting not just for ourselves but for others around us

• Being a builder: Many times as women, we are overwhelmed by the need to share information, give our opinions and views - but sometimes, it's no longer sharing, it's gossip. Instead of building, encouraging and lifting a person, we find ourselves participating more in 'sharing' about someone. Sometimes it's too late to stop...because the stories are juicy. So, we choose to continue and by the time we are done talking...we feel bad. Personally, in such moments, I can't wait to go home and repent. Now, I'm learning that it's ok to stop a conversation, pray for that person and leave it at that.

• Being available: We may not always have time, but as women we have more to give than anyone else. We are made to nurture, hug and make sure that all are ok. Of course we are to be careful on who we are available to, and how we approach some situations. Sometimes we are too busy engrossed in our pettiness to notice sisters who need us. Being of an open mind, not being arrogant and not being a snob can allow others to come to us for prayer, company and just to chat. It's ok to smile. It portrays a happy and an approachable demeanor. It's okay to take sometime to chat, encourage somebody, hug somebody and let them know that it will be ok. We don't have to be friends with the person.

• Being natural: Being vague, being vain and just plain enticed into all things vanity could destroy the calling in our lives. We can be sexy, do our nails weekly and hang on to Gucci and all....but let's not allow all of that to be what people see from us. Let others see a woman of substance. A woman who is beautiful inside and out, a woman who cares more about others than herself, a woman who is approachable, a woman who is pure, natural and all well rounded in all things"

To all my sisters, be approachable, be a builder, be available and be natural.

Love, Cathy Whitney

Job's Essential Lesson

Job's name has become a synonym for the suffering of life's derailments. Actually, "derailment" is too weak a word to describe what happened.  He lost everything: children, health, riches, the support of his friends and wife, and apparently the love of the God he had trusted and loved for so long.

What did he do when life came to a halt? The Bible says he "got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised' " (Job 1:20-21).

Job's perspective wiped the "why me, woe is me?" question from his mind.  He recognized that he had nothing when he arrived on this planet, and he would have nothing when he left it.  His nakedness was a dress rehearsal for his death and a remembrance of his birth.  In the end, it will have gone full circle and he would be back where he started; with nothing and no one but GOD.

Self Builders:

1. What are some of the struggles and losses you're experiencing right now?
2. How are you able to love and trust God, despite these painful experiences?

To all you special sisters!

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.. 'Don't forget your sisters,' she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.'

'Remember that 'sisters' means ALL the women...your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women always do.'

What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her mother. She kept contact with her sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her mother really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, sisters are the mainstays of her life. After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:
Time passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Men don't do what they're supposed to do. Hearts break. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors. Careers end. BUT.........Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you....Or come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family: all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I.. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

Happy days!

5 Ways to Let Go of a Grudge

By Sora Song
Forwarded by Lynn

Getting angry is one thing. Holding a bitter grudge is another. Over the long term, chronic feelings of resentment can harm your physical health, according to the authors of a new book, Embitterment.

The influence of negative emotions is so powerful that the authors think there should be a new diagnosis called post-traumatic embitterment disorder, or PTED, for those who can't forgive the people who have wronged them, reports CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen in her new "Empowered Patient" column.

Like other negative emotions — stress and depression among them — bitterness has physical consequences: high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, increased risk of heart disease. The longer you hold a grudge, the more likely your negative emotions will take a toll on your heart and your health.

"The data that negative mental states cause heart problems is just stupendous," Dr. Charles Raison, associate professor of psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine, told CNN. "The data is just as established as smoking, and the size of the effect is the same."

Life is nothing if not unjust, however, so we're all apt to feel bitter about something at some point in our lives. The trick is not to let it become a chronic problem.

Cohen offers five tips to keep your anger from festering. I've summed them up, below, but to get a fuller picture, you should read Cohen's column in its entirety on CNN:

• Vent to a friend about what's bothering you
• Remember that you're not the only person in the world who's ever been wronged
• Consider confronting the person who injured you
• Realize you're only hurting yourself by holding a grudge
• Try to see things from the other person's point of view

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/18/5-ways-to-let-go-of-a-grudge/#ixzz1VUbJa1XN

Seeking Forgiveness in our Children

I always felt that kids deserve the same respect we would give any adult, which is why I cannot affored treating my daughter less than the way my Father in heaven would treat me.  Now, this doesn't mean that I do anything perfectly.....

There are times when I am sick, grouchy, short, quick tempered, out of grace, tired, hungry etc....and who do I usually take it out on first? Unfortunately, the people closest to me - the ones I love.  This is probably right for you too...if you'll be honest. 

But I believe this is something we can strive not to do. 

Treating our kids any other way than God's best leaves us feeling horrible about ourselves, and leaves them feeling just as horrible about themselves.  That's why asking the little ones for forgiveness is a powerful moving-forward tool.  You have to allow yourself the freedom to be imperfect and vulnerable; thereby learning to seek forgiveness and still like who you are. 

I think some parents are fearful to be vulnerable with their children because they feel they will lose their children's respect if they open up.  How can we teach our children to seek forgiveness from others if they do not see that example in us?

Vulnerability Builders:

• When have you felt that you need to be open with your children or loved ones?
• How did you deal with that emotion?

Goals

How are you doing with your goals?  It is now the 8 month and you may find that you may have had to re-adjust some goals, or delete some goals, or re-set new goals, or move some timelines around..etc.

Whatever it is that you have done or thinking of doing, stay encouraged, stay focused.  Goals are there so we can see where a little motivation and achievement can get us....however, if you see that your goals are not realistic, there is nothing wrong in pulling back and making some changes here and there.  As long as you are doing something productive with your now, your present and your today....tomorrow will be promising.

Do what counts...