Getting Out of the Dumps

Ok...this one is not about us, it's about another person....for a change, right?  The question is: how do you help someone else get out of their dump?

I am certain that we all know someone who falls into the category of "being in the dumps".  We all have that friend that is trying to finish a degree or achieve a goal, and is unable to hang out or do the fun things that you used to do together, or that person who is going or has gone through a challenging marriage/relationship, or that neighbor who has suffered a loss, or that family member who just doesn't seem to want to change anything about their current situation, etc, etc...and the list goes on and on. 

Well, as a fellow human being, what do you do for that person? Are you part of their problem or a part of their solution?  Do you keep hammering in the obvious situation, or do you walk them through redemption?  Are you patient with them, when they just want to remain where they are or is your frustration of not seeing them change quick enough taking over your endurance? 

While we may feel that this is something that requires a whole lot of time and commitment, it is in fact a key indication of your commitment to that person, that you are not in the relationship to judge or point fingers, but you are in fact willing to help them get through to the other side.  Whenever that day actually comes.... :)

It takes time, sure it does!  But if you get into it with a timeline or a mental capacity of how much you'll invest in it, then that deadline will keep approaching, hence, your carnal nature will submit to it...naturally!

But on the other hand, if you are willing to walk through the season with that person, they'll totally appreciate you for it in the end.  AND the best part is, you'll ease yourself off of any expectations you have of them, or the stress that comes along with all the emotions involved. Keeping in mind that one day, you'll also need the sentiment....

Be good, ladies... :) I'm trying too :)

Friendship Builders:

• What challenges are your friends/neighbors/family members/co-workers facing for which your encouragement would provide a boost?
• What are two practical things you can do this week to encourage someone?

Slow to Anger

What happens inside of us when someone criticizes us? I know for me, the first impulse is to defend myself; especially if I think my actions were justifiable, ... right?  While turning the tables on our "attacker" is natural, it is also potentially dangerous to our relationships (any type of our relationships that we have).  This is how daily everyday events quickly turn into major blow-ups.

Believers@Work: Contending For the Faith

http://believersatwork.blogspot.com/2011/02/contending-for-faith.html?spref=bl: "Jude 1:3 (New King James Version) 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary..."

The Forgiveness Process

This one is a big one for me and for most of us, I am sure. Forgiveness is a very challenging part of our daily walk and it’s something that we frequently try to eliminate or pay little or no attention to. We all have our own explanations of what we consider to be forgiveness, and for the most part, our definitions naturally support what we are feeling, and specifically how we want to deal with our emotions. Whether it's the right way to forgive or the God-way to forgive....we do what feels right (for that moment) and what protects us from future hurts....right? (breathe) Well thankfully, forgiveness is a process... When we pardon someone of a wrongdoing, basically, we are doing three things: 1. First of all, we give up our right to “get even”. If we have been wronged, getting even is the likely reflex reaction. BUT we CAN resist the impulse! 2. Secondly, we revise our misrepresentation of that person who hurt us. When we have been deeply wounded by someone, without knowing it - we automatically re-draw a picture of that person, making him/her not primarily our friend or family, or the person we know...but they now become "the person that hurt us." So, in forgiving, we need to re-construct that image and see the person as a flawed, weak, imperfect human being - not much different from us - who hurt us plainly out of weakness. 3. Thirdly, we re-study our feelings. Prayerfully, our feelings of rage are transformed into a desire for that person's blessing and for that person's change...hopefully :) Of course, this is a gradual process. God can forgive in a single moment, but we are finite, temporal creatures for whom almost everything takes time. Forgiveness Builders:

• What are some ways you quietly "get even" when someone hurts you?
• How can you handle the hurt more constructively?

Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

The Difference Between Relationship And Friendship

Ladies, I'd like to know your thoughts on this... :) Specifically, the bold section at the bottom. *******************

What is the difference between a close friendship and a close relation? Most of us believe that when friendship becomes stronger, it may turn into relationship. The truth is different. Think about the kind of talk you have with your friends. You are always very open about your failures and shortcomings. You are not shy of talking about your problem and asking friends to help. In a close friendship, you expect to know everything about each other. How about a relationship? Think about animals. They also show their best side to their mate. We human beings keep lot of secrets away from our partner. We do not want to tell about our failures and shortcomings. We also try to impress our partner when we are in romance. This difference between friendship and relationship is very deep. We calculate our moves in a relationship but are very open in a friendship. We are like a child in friendships but behave like an adult in relationships. If you remain inside your boundaries in a relationship and not try to change it into a close friendship, you will have longer relationships. Telling all does not help in relationships. Share your thoughts at arighteouswoman@ymail.com or on the comments page on this blog...

Time to Slow Down

The most relaxed relationships enjoy what we call periods of fallow time. "Fallow" means to lie dormant, or idle, and it's a concept that has been applied in most situations. In Biblical times, farmers would use a rotation system of seven-year periods to revitalize their fields. For six years, they would plant and harvest, but during the seventh year, the field was allowed to lie fallow. The fallow year was a time to replenish and nourish. We need to build this concept into our various relationships (marriage, soon-to-be-married, family, friends, co-workers, new friends etc). After we fill our minds with information and fill our days with activity, we need to make an effort to provide some fallow time and space for our closest relationships. But a sabbatical every seven years won't do the trick! (smile, please).... Instead, you need to include fallow time every now and then....to spend some quality time, seeing the sunset / sunrise, hanging out, going shopping, without any particular purpose or agenda in mind. To find fallow time, you'll most likely have to cut out some other activity or commitment. But when you take the step, you'll find that it'll help you connect and build more on your closest relationships.

Relationship Builders:

• What adjustments can you make in your schedule to have "fun" times with your friends, family or new acquaintances?
• What benefits to your relationships might come from adhering to a regular "fallow" time together?

The Hard Work of Waiting

Have you ever found yourself somewhere you weren't supposed to be? Or working somewhere and doing something that you didn't intend to be doing, @ this point in your life? This can be a very frustrating place to be, and it truly can affect our attitudes.

As I searched the scriptures for answers, I began to notice how distorted my attitude had become. I was focusing on my past accomplishments and the ministry I hoped to have. Why has God put me on hold? Why aren't I doing what I want? Did I hear God then? Are my desires now, totally off?

Moses had the best educaiton and training that was available in his day, yet he found himself a few years later out in the desert tending sheep. To the obvious, he was doing a job that he was clearly over-qualified for. For 40 yrs, he tended a flock that belonged to someone else....Have you been there?

We could look at this period of Moses' life as a waste of time, but in reality, it was a time of transition and preparation. Unknown to him, he was learning the ways of the desert, the ways of surviving in the heat and sand, because he was going to re-visit the desert again....years later (and for a much longer period).

I wonder how often, when he later led the children of Israel through the wilderness, he must have looked back at that earlier tiresome period and seen its value. It prepared him for leadership, endurance, in ways the best schools in Egypt couldn't have.

Ladies, we have the responsibility to pursue what God wants to teach us during this time of seeming inactivity. Our usefulness is not contingent on our education, our family or our possessions, but is dependent on our willingness to be used in whatever surroundings the Lord places us in.

Waiting Builders:

• When has your relationship with God encountered a "desert" period? How did you respond in that situation?
• What positive consequences can you identify as a result of going through a dry or difficult time in your life?

Exodus 2:11-3:10

Running this Race

I heard a really simple, yet challenging teaching on Sunday about the "Race" we are running. While this is something that we are in some way or form doing, we hardly take the time to assess our journey. A lot of us have a goal in mind, or have a target as to where or what we want to be in life. The distance between where we are today and where we want to be, is what I call the "Race". The basics are obvious: starting point and finishing point, but the space between both is the hardest part. Some of us are currently in our starting point, some of us are somewhere in the middle or away from the starting point but I doubt that any of us are at the finishing point. The starting point is where we make the decisions, its where we set some goals, its where we anticipate the end, its where we are fired up! It is here that we pick a purpose; and then train towards that purpose. Then, we set off! And we somehow shoot off into the future....and we then, begin to face different challenges, obstacles, roadblocks, crossroads etc. How we handle these are very critical. At this point, we might feel the need to compromise or we might feel a little bitter with life or the people in our way or both :). We start losing sight of the goals we set in the starting point. We start bending a little here and a little there. We start losing the grace of God, due to the seed of bitterness that we have allowed to germinate in our hearts. We tend to forget that we are in a training season and the training eventually produces a reward, if we stay focused and unwavered. We start giving ourselves up to things that are not proper to our bodies; and to things that can and will contaminate our physical and emotional state. Before we know it, we are no longer training to win the race....we are now trying to run the race. Training is beneficial to the spirit, mind and soul; because it produces discipline! Training teaches you to deny yourself of what your body wants, and only feed it what it needs. Its like a diet...you naturally want to eat what will destroy your body, but you really should eat what will help you fulfill your long-term goal. It's just like in a race, the last lap is the most important. This is where your training is tested. It is the determinator of your training. How focused can you get? Can you hang on until the end? Will you give up and give in? Will your habits along the way, up until this point, cause you to be disqualified? It's just like our faith. Our faith is always challenged along the way, but what will you do with that challenge? Will you submit to this world? Will you stay focused and stand your ground? Like the Hebrew boys in Daniel 1. They openly decided NOT to partake of the King's meal, as it was not appropriate for their diet. In fact, it was contaminated and they chose to decline. Ladies, whatever goals you have set for yourself, or whatever life-changing decisions that you have made, or whatever steps you have decided to make; remember to stay on track...stay in your lane...as your race is yours and yours alone and MUST be completed. You cannot afford to be disqualified! Self Builders:

• What kind of race am I running?
• What type of training is needed for this race?

Filing your Taxes

http://www.daveramsey.com/article/the-dangers-of-not-filing-your-taxes/lifeandmoney_taxes/ (original site) We all sweat a bit at tax time, no matter how confident we are in our record keeping. The stakes are high, and one little miscalculation can bring a world of trouble. Sometimes, fear and embarrassment can prevent us from filing a return at all! That’s what happened to Sheri Lawrence. “I had always completed my returns faithfully. Then, because of some difficult things I was going through, I fell behind filing for three years,” she explained. “I was supposed to be a responsible adult!” Sheri continued. “By the time I faced it, I was so afraid—the tension just kept getting worse.” Sheri had good reason to worry. Failure to file a tax return is a crime punishable by a fine up to $25,000 and one year in prison for each year you don’t file. While jail time is rare, you’ll pay in other ways: •Penalties – If you owe taxes, you’ll be hit with a “failure to file” penalty and interest on the amount owed, adding as much as 25% to your tax bill.

•Loss of Refund – If you’re due a refund, you won’t be penalized, but you won’t be able to collect your refund, either.

However, you do have three years to file a return and receive your refund. The IRS may file a return for you. It won’t include any additional exemptions or deductions, so you’ll get a bill, including penalties and interest, that won’t represent your true tax liability. Sheri knew she needed help catching up, but she had previously been burned by her CPA. “My CPA left the company, and I was dropped,” she said. “I had signed over power of attorney to them to handle this for me, and they didn’t.” She wanted a professional she could trust, so she went to daveramsey.com. “I had listened to Dave (on the radio),” Sheri said. “Anyone he would endorse would bring that trust level I needed.” Sheri met with Darrel Ingram, a tax services Endorsed Local Provider (ELP) in her area. “After meeting with them for 10 minutes, I knew they would be there to guide me through the whole thing,” she said. “They told me my situation was not that bad, that I was not the only one, and no matter the situation, there was a fix,” she added. That was great advice. The IRS says if you haven’t filed, do so as soon as possible, even if you don’t think you’ll be able to pay all you owe. Pay as much as you can as soon as you can to minimize charges. So what’s Sheri’s situation now? “The experience has been such a blessing,” she said. “The process is moving—letters have been sent to the IRS, back taxes are getting paid. It’s a great feeling.” She continued, “If anyone’s considering using an ELP, you can feel confident that it really works. These people are what they say they are!” Need help with your taxes? You don’t have to be in a situation like Sheri’s to benefit from the help of a tax services ELP. Dave’s team can find a tax professional with the heart of a teacher in your area today.

Outspoken Blessing

Words of blessing communicate care and high regard for someone you care about or something you know. Of all the ways people express love, speaking words of affirmation is one of the most important. Words of affirmation are statements that show you value someone. "You look nice today," "Thanks for taking care of this." These statements focus either on something the person did or something that they are.

I hear people say all the time, "I didn't grow up in a home where we expressed feelings. Or I am not a verbal person." In my opinion, these are just excuses that we have picked up through the years to validate our own personal choices. There are lot of things that don't come naturally to us, of course, but we learn to do them anyway. Even if it's difficult, you can learn to express your feeling in words. If we want to do something new, we spend time learning to do that thing. And as they say, practice makes perfect.

When you hear someone pay a compliment to you or to someone else, write it down. Or as you read things, pick out expression of gratitude and love and start making a list. Then practice reading your list out loud. After a while, it'll begin to feel more comfortable. Then, of course, start saying these things to a friend, a co-worker, a family member, a loved one etc. Once you start, it becomes much easier.

Genesis 49: 28 - All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and ths is what their father said to them when he blessed then, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

Blessing Builders:

• Tell someone three things that you value about them
• Describe to someone close the types of expressions that make you feel most loved and appreciated.

Set some goals

We had an exceptionally great start today! I encourage you to get acquainted with your behavior profile (see below), set some goals for yourself (not your family, not your spouse or boyfriend/fiancee), but for yourself...and THEN do all that you can to achieve those goals. Pace yourself, of course. And don't forget to pray for your fellow righteous women, as we all strive to accomplish our short/long term goals. We will be working with a new curriculum - "Living with Unmet Desires". Let me know what arrangements you want to make to get yours...as we'll start using it at our March 19th meeting. They are $7 each. Have a great day ladies and be good... QQ _____________________________________________________________ YOUR BEHAVIOR PROFILE: Behavior profiling began in the late 1920’s as a result of psychologist Dr. William Marston’s theory that there are four basic personality types - D for Dominant, I for Influencer, S for Steady and C for Compliant (or DISC for short). Over the years, different versions of the same theory developed including BEST (Bold-Expressive-Sympathetic-Technical) and Dr. Gary Couture’s version using bird names (Dove, Owl, Peacock and Eagle). The ‘bird’ version has become quite popular as most people can relate easier to a visual object like a bird, rather than just a descriptive word. For this reason, we’ll go with Dr. Couture’s ‘bird’ version – besides, wouldn’t you rather describe yourself as an ‘Eagle’ or ‘Dove’ instead of ‘Dominant’ or “Compliant’? You and I fit into one of these basic personality types, which define the way we interact with other people, the way we go about life, our personal drivers and how we succeed. We will often relate better to people who have a similar behavior profile, and find other behavior patterns annoying and maybe even a little intimidating. But more importantly, these behaviors have a major impact on how we progress through life. So what are the 4 behavior types? In a nutshell they are: Dove The compassionate and peaceful dove. The dove is people-orientated, loyal, friendly, hardworking and a great team player but tends to avoid change, confrontation, risk-taking and assertiveness. Owl The wise owl. The owl is logical, mathematically minded, methodical and sometimes seen as a perfectionist. The owl can be slow to make decisions and inflexible if rules and logic says otherwise. Owls are not big risk takers but love detail. Peacock The showy peacock. The peacock loves talking; being the center of attention has passion/ enthusiasm and is happy/ optimistic. Peacocks can be accused of talking too much, and aren’t good with detail or time-control. Eagle The bold eagle. Eagles are dominant, stimulated by challenge, decisive and direct. Eagles can be blunt/ stubborn, can lose sight of the big-picture and can be insensitive to other people’s needs. Eagles are natural achievers. Think about yourself for a minute. Do you fit any of the above profiles? Perhaps you have traits of a couple of profiles (which is more than likely)? If one of these behavior types fits you perfectly, then start working on your goals and see how your behavior type may affect your goal setting process. www.achievegoalsettingsuccess.com

Communication

How many non-verbal conversations do you have in your head?

Statistics show that our nonverbal communication accounts for 58% of the total message. Our tone of voice - the way we say things - makes up 35% of the message. The actual words that we do say account for only 7% of the total message. WOW! Now, think about the ways you, and the people around you communicate without using words. Think about what your nonverbal actions ACTUALLY mean....then, consider how that action is perceived. Is the perception accurate to what you were thinking or is the receiver completely off! Now, think about those results. Isn't is just safer to say what you really want to say? If your nonverbal communication is not safe to communicate, then you need to deal with that..and then re-visit the conversation. On the other hand, if it is safe to say what you are thinking mentally, then you need to just come out and say it. Either way, if you keep it inside, you will be mis-heard or un-heard. Nonverbal Actions vs What Those Actions Mean - 2 very different things..

Psalms 139:23

Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.

Powerful or Pitiful

I read this article this morning and thought it'll be nice to share it with you wonderful ladies! :) Are your thoughts powerful or pitiful? Sometimes thinking correctly seems to be a battle - and I'm here to tell you that it is a battle! The mind is the battlefield where we win or lose in life. Thoughts are powerful, and according to Proverbs 23:7, they have creative ability. If your thoughts affect what you become, then it should be a top priority to think right thoughts. And I want to make sure you understand the absolute necessity of getting your thinking in line with God's word. Here's the bottom line: you cannot have a positive life and a negative mind. A couple of positive power thoughts:

• God loves me unconditionally - Psalm 139
• I will not live in fear - 2 Timothy 1:7
• I am difficult to offend - Proverbs 19:11

Meditate on these power thoughts, as meditation is being interactive with information. Meditating on a scripture simply means to roll it over your mind, apply it to your life and visualize the scripture in action. We can choose our thoughts by exercising self-control, which is called "on-purpose thinking." Power thoughts, when applied, will help you gain more control. See for yourself how this practice will radically transform your life.

Practice the Presence

Genesis 28:16 - When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

We need to give God a time slot in our lives every day, but even more than that, God needs to be a presence in our lives all day long, every day. I have decided to establish a habit of practicing the presence of God; and I pray you will too. If it helps to set a timer/watch to remind you every 10-15 minutes, then do so. When your timer goes off, stop and think on God. I heard of a lady who wrote "Jesus" in huge print on a piece of paper and put it on the floor beside her bed, so that when she swung her feet out of the bed in the morning, she'd be reminded to turn her attention to Him. I'm beginning to be more aware of God. I talk to Him about my tensions, and my intentions. I desire to move from knowing theoretically that Christ is in my heart, to desiring intensely a conscious awareness of His nearness. I was like Jacob in Genesis 28:16 who said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." I still fall on my face. At times, my busyness and all my distractions take me far off. In that place, away from His presence, I get uptight, upset and totally ungodly. But by a deliberate act of my will, I submit, re-direct my thoughts and return to His presence and think upon His Word. Self Builders:

• Why is it that a sense of God's nearness is so difficult to keep foremost in our minds?
• What steps can we take to remind ourselves to rejoice in God's presence all day long?

Full Passage: Genesis 28:10-17

Be Encouraged

Forwarded by Debra King-Cooper, a fellow RW I'm too blessed to be stressed Too anointed to be disappointed I refuse to be discouraged To be sad, or to cry I refuse to be downhearted And here's the reason why I have a God who is all-mighty Who is sovereign and supreme I have a God who loves me And I am on His team I refuse to be defeated My eyes are on my God He has promised to be with me As through this life, I trod What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. ~ author undisclosed

Overpowering Love

I was reading Romans 8:31-39 this morning and was really blessed by how much God's overpowering love will never change....no matter what we do or don't do. There are so many things that try to sway us away from our love with God; there are other things that just happen to us in this life that can easily distract us and cause us to doubt God and His love for us; BUT, this paragraph of scripture is so encouraging and gives a sense of peace that embraces all fear and overpowers all doubt. God is still God, and that's that! NO MATTER WHAT. Whether He does want we want Him do or not...the fact remains that HE is still who HE said He is.... - our Father, friend, and comforter. Sometimes, we may be feeling stale and dry, or too busy, or physically exhausted, or guilt from not spending time alone with God. The guilt starts to remind us of all the teachings we have received, all the Bible College classes we have taken, all the great sermons we have heard - or even preached at times, all the notes we have taken - but never studied them again, all the powerful books we have read - but yet to apply them to our day-to-day lives, all the people we know - that we have learnt nothing from, all the critical things we have done or said, all the lazy moments we have had, all the unkind words we have spoken or thoughts we have entertained etc..... Then it begins to get really clear to us that we are not the saint that we want to be, or the saint that we have been portrayed to be. When we get all these feelings bundled up in one, its the best time to read Romans 8:31-39 - to remind us AGAIN, and bring to our consciousness that God's love is with us...no matter what. God loves you in spite of you! Sometimes, as ladies, we think that the less we deserve God's love, the more we have of it. If you have kids, you know that the one child who struggles the most, is the one that you reach out to the most. If you have any friends, the same logic applies - you find yourself emotionally or physically present with the friend(s) that struggles the most. Now imagine if you are exerting this kind of love and attention to a struggling person, how much more does our Heavenly Father love us even when we've fallen flat on our faces? Love Builders:

• When have you felt spiritually dry?
• When have you felt like a failure?
• How does receiving God's enduring love encourage you in times of staleness or spiritual dissapointment?

Hang on 'til Joy Comes!

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. — Psalm 30:5 http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/EverydayAnswers/dailydevotionals/ I gained an excellent piece of wisdom through personal experience: do not be afraid of pain! As strange as it may seem, the more you dread and resist the pain of healing, the more you increase the effect that pain has upon you. An example of this truth happened years ago when I went on a fast for the first time in my life. God called me to a twenty-eight-day juice fast. In the beginning, I went through some really hard times. I was very, very hungry. In fact, I was so famished that I was in actual pain. As I cried out to the Lord, complaining that I just could not stand it any longer, He answered me. Deep within me I heard the "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12 KJV) of the Lord say to me, "Stop fighting the pain; let it do its work." From that time on, the fast was much easier, even enjoyable, because I knew that every time I felt discomfort, it was a sign of progress. The rule is that the more pain is resisted, the stronger it becomes. When a pregnant woman goes into labor, the advice she is given by her attendants is, "Relax." They know that the more she fights the pain, the stronger it will become, and the longer the delivery process will take. When you are experiencing pain, do not fight it. Allow it to accomplish its purpose. Remember this promise, "they who sow in tears shall reap in joy and singing (Psalm 126:5)". Learn to endure whatever you need to, knowing that there is joy on the other side!

Walking with God

Genesis 6:9 - (The Message) This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. We see scriptures of people who have walked with God. We see it in Abraham, and here also in Noah...and I sometimes wonder how I could add this to my life testimony - my walk with God. Depending on how long we know someone, most of the time when walking with them, we walk silently. Meaning, we do not do a lot of talking, we do not make a lot of comments, but there is a silent understanding that we are seeing the same thing, we are experiencing the same sounds and smells, we have the same reactions to things, or we understand the other person's reaction without them saying it. In fact, the better we know the person we are walking with, the less we have to say and the more we enjoy our walk. AND although this may sound like a relationship or a marriage, it can be but totally isn't. It applies to a friendship also. What about walking with God? Can we pray without ceasing as simply as we breathe without ceasing? Prayer could include our nonverbal communication with God. Just as we reach out in our other relationships, we can reach out to God without words. Just as we smile at a close friend, we can also offer a smile of appreciation to God. As I began to focus on my walking with God, I was able to see where I had been walking in my own direction, and how much of a distance there has been between God and I. Now, its harder for me to go on with business as usual when I am not at peace with God or with another person. Ladies, for us to walk with God, our whole self - body, soul and spirit - needs to be in order. Walk Builders:

• In what ways do you reach out for fellowship with God?
• How would you characterize your "walk" with God? Comfortable, close, distanced, awkward, serious,?
• What might make walking with God a more natural habit for you?

I AM fixing the broken things..

Forwarded by Treva... Some of us (@ our various churches) are participating in a 21-day Daniel fast. This should help encourage us :). And even if you are not participating in a fast, apply your situation to this story. *********** Hello, I just wanted to share a personal experience that I had today with each of you to encourage during the fast. I have had a CD stuck in my CD player in my car since 2008. I have pushed, prodded, tried to trick it to release the CD over the past several years. This morning after dropping my son off at school, I was trying to push the FM button and accidentally pushed eject. (I had stopped intentionally pushing eject, because I had given up on the CD EVER coming out!). To my amazement, the eject button worked and the CD came out with ease. I wish someone was there to take a picture of my face. If you understood the struggle I went through on my own trying to get the CD out, you would understand.(lol) The CD player operated just like it was supposed to and I was stunned. I was ready to scream with excitement about that when I heard in my spirit "I AM fixing the broken things." Things in our lives we have toiled over, worried about and pushed through are going to be fixed and ejected out of our lives with the anointing of ease! Sickness-ejected! Doubt-ejected! Debt-ejected! I was trying to push the FM button and a book I am reading refers to FM frequency as the "Faith Mode". We must stay in "Faith Mode" during this fast and expect God to show up. Now I believe He is even going to do some unexpected things just because He loves us so much. When we change our mindset to "Faith Mode" we also have choices! Now I have a choice of what CD to listen to in MY car! Praise God! When we are whole we have choices. Healing opens up choices. Finances open up choices. Situations you thought you would NEVER come out of are going to be fixed. I just have the faith to declare it! Choose to listen to the voice of God and eject the old voice out! (change the CD playing in your mind that says doubt, fear, discouragement and put in conqueror, fearlessness, encouragement) My CD player operates correctly now. Command your body to operate correctly, your finances to operate correctly! It's the season! I was trying to fix the CD player on my own, I never took it to a specialist. During this fast we have the ear of 'The Specialist'. Take those things to him that you had given up on and stopped believing and praying about. He can fix in a moment what we have been trying to fix on our own for years. Be encouraged, Joshua 3:5 says "Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow I will do wonders among you!" We are sanctifying ourselves through fasting and prayer. Be on the look out for the wonders!! Sister in Christ, Michelle Brown

Goals stretch your faith

by Rick Warren forwarded by a fellow RW According to your faith will it be done to you. Matthew 9:29 (NIV) "No goal is really a goal by default. If you don't set a goal, you've already set it and the goal is to stay the same." Every time you set a goal, you are saying I believe God wants me to do this by such and such a date -- and that is a statement of faith. Now, if you state a big goal, God will work in a big way. If you state a medium-size goal, God will work in a medium way. If you state a small goal, God will work in a small way. So you can see how goals stretch my faith. They affirm that I trust God, but that also are statements of how much I trust God. The Bible says, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” (Matthew 9:29 NLT) This means that no goal is really a goal by default. In other words, if you don't set a goal, you've already set it and the goal is to stay the same.

See how this works –

• When I ask you what's your goal for your health in 2011? If you say, ‘I don't have one,’ then your goal is to stay the same.
• When I ask you what's your goal in your relationships? If you say, ‘I don't have one,’ then your goal is for them not to get any better.
• When I ask you what's your goal for your finances and getting out of debt? If you say, ‘I don't have one,’ then your goal is to stay in debt.
• When I ask you what's your goal for your business career? If you say, ‘I don't have one,’ then your goal is to just drift along.

That’s why the Bible teaches us to have goals. They are a spiritual discipline. They challenge our faith. They develop our character and they build our hope

Tithing and Giving

Giving money to help meet the needs of others can seem financially impossible, especially if you are on a tight budget. This is why every woman needs to establish and follow a giving plan that is consistent with the financial priorities that are set in the bible. If we don't, then life's inevitable surprises (car trouble or repairs, illnesses, etc) will consistently interfere with our plans and desires - and our abilities to give freely. First and foremost, tithing is essential. The bible teaches us to give our first fruits onto the Lord. (Genesis 4:4). This must be our top priority! And then, the giving. Unfortunately, much of our giving is done with discretion. Meaning, we give the money that is left over after the bills have been paid and our family is fed, clothed and housed. The problem is that for most people, there simply isn't much left over for anything else! And we feel somewhat frustrated and guilty that we aren't able to give or even give more. This is why it's good to avoid leaving the amount of your tithe and gift to whatever cash is left over at the end of the month. Instead, prioritize and set aside a certain amount every week (if that helps). When we do this, we are making giving a top priority and we are removing the temptation to regard "the giving dollars" as discretionary funds to be used for family or personal expenses. God will bless you richly in your giving habit! Builders:

• How satisfied are you with your present level of giving?
• How can you make giving a higher priority each month? each year?

Genesis 4:4 (New International Version) And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

Committed to Love

These days, there is a widespread belief that the real problem people have in relationships is they haven't learned to take care of themselves properly. You hear people say all the time, that we should love each other as we love ourselves. AND we interpret the teaching as "we're pretty good at loving others; but our problem is loving ourselves". This may be true in some respect but not entirely. I believe that what Jesus was saying in Mark 12:31 is for us to love others with the same kind of commitment that you already have in loving yourself. The scripture does not justify learning how to love yourself before you love others....which is sadly, what we hear most of the time. If your commitment to loving yourself is invaluable, uncertain, low and dim, then guess what, your commitment to loving anyone else will be just the same. It's just the way it is! Love builders:

1. What do you think "loving yourself" means?
2. Why are you responsible to love others, even if your self-esteem is often low?

{"The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these." (The Message - vs 29-31) }

Great year - and looking ahead!

This year has been a tremendous year. A lot of different things have happened in our lives and many changes have taken place. The future is ahead of us and its bright with potential. I want to personally encourage you to continue to be fervent with expectation; and be zealous with your faith. Genesis 13:14-15 (King James Version) And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. Are you going to partake of this generational blessing? I pray you do! Happy New Year ladies, and I cannot wait to hear the greater things that you will be walking into in the new year! Much love :) What you see depends on what you're looking for - Source Unknown

Looking back in forgiveness

http://www.examiner.com/christian-inspiration-in-oakland/looking-back-forgiveness 365 days in a year is a lot of time to make history. Much happens in a year whether you feel like it went quick or slow. Life in a year can bring fond memories or horrible nightmares. One thing is certain in 365 days, a lot happens in a year. As we wrap-up the year 2010, it’s important to prepare our hearts, minds, and spirits to successfully transition from the year 2010 into the New Year 2011. In order to move forward, we have to let go of some ‘things’ and leave some ‘things’ behind. Moving forward is a choice and it doesn’t automatically happen at 12:00 am January 1, 2011. Memories which make our history can never be forgotten because they are part of our journey, our past, our history; whether it’s an event, person, or thing we’ve experienced. History is created by occurrence, experience, and memories which can serve to push us into our future or keep us locked in our past. The memories that you should be concerned about the most in these next couple of days are the memories in 2010 and earlier that have historically hindered you from moving forward spiritually and mentally. Memories that act as mental and spiritual prison cells are caused by pain, rejection, fear, disappointment, and failure. These negative memories that are connected to emotions paralyze you from any forward progress and keeps you from your destiny. You can’t deny these occurrences and experiences never happened nor can you ignore the fact that they affect you. In order to move forward with these memories as simply memories and not hindrances, is through forgiveness. Forgiveness is the prerequisite to moving forward. As long as you hold on to unforgiveness and regret, that same grip will keep you from progressing; and from moving forward. You have to ask the Holy Spirit in these next couple of days to help you forgive yourself for making bad decisions, forgive your past for the disappointment it may have brought, and most of all to help you forgive others that may have caused you pain. When you learn to forgive, you allow God to remove the power of negative memories so that you can move forward in faith. Zig Ziglar said ‘Mistakes are events, not people, and yesterday ended last night’. You are not a mistake or an accident, and your future has not been determined yet. Allow yourself to forgive so that you can receive healing and faith to move forward. Matthew 5:23-24 (New International Version, ©2010) 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Relationships

A story of a relationship between a man and a little bit over 4,000 people is told in Matthew 15:32. The story is so simplistic yet it depicts a lot about the kinds of relationships you and I experience daily (or try to experience…or even avoid experiencing). Relationships are tough! They are by choice and every one of us chooses the relationships that we have. We decide which ones to invest in; which ones to hold on to; which ones to patch up; which ones to let go of; which ones to disregard; which ones we don’t even bother with, etc…the list goes on and on. The bottom line is that all the relationships we have are based on our personal choices. When you walk with someone for a little while, it’s only natural to see the different hats they wear; the different faces they carry; the different moods they have. The more time we spend with someone, the more we are introduced or invited into their world – and vice versa. And this is usually where the choice is challenged. Are you going to let them into your life? Are you going to let yourself into theirs? How much compassion are you willing to have with the people that are around you? Compassion is an inward affection, a form of mercy, a tender heart towards someone. The Encarta dictionary defines compassion as sympathy for the suffering of others, often including a desire to help. Webster’s dictionary defines it as a sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. This exact trait is a strong key into another’s heart; thereby allowing you to offer sympathy and/or empathy. One of the important parts of a committed relationship is that you don’t hesitate to give something of yourself; AND sadly, a lot of us flop in this area. We should always take something good away from every relationship (no matter the outcome). Realizing that no perfect person exists is a great perception that will keep you committed in staying close to someone. You can freely persevere through a friendship or abide with a person; knowing that their/your destination is ahead. It also helps not to be bitter or unforgiving, if things don’t turn out quite as expected. Jesus said in Matt. 15:32 that He wouldn’t send the multitude away fasting (hungry, without food); lest they faint in the way. This is a very significant statement. It’s as if Jesus was so empathetic with the people for walking with Him for so long already (3 days) that He was worried about their well-being, more than why they were following Him in the first place. Unbeknownst to them, what He offered them was the reason why they were drawn to Him anyway. They needed sustenance, strength, hope and faith; and they received that and MORE! Think about this - How many people are connected to you? Do you know why they are so attracted to you? Are you able to give them a bit of what God has put inside of you; so they can gain some hope and strength for their own personal journeys? Our relationships are not always about how it feels to us; but it’s also about how the other person can grow from your legacy, your way of living, your outlook on life. Ladies, if you see something in someone that you feel needs some attending to, please attend to it. Don’t be selfish. Don’t say “that’s someone else’s job” or “that’s someone else’s ministry”. You might actually be EXACTLY what they need to make it through their next crossroad in life. Selah… (Meditate on this)

And so it was thought

The word of God is astounding; it has the power to cause what is not seen, to be seen. It speaks life, enters into our minds, and changes something and everything. The word of God gives us new energy, and allows us to run for miles and miles with a new focus and a new direction. God is in the business of renewing us and extending us to higher heights. To be renewed means to cause something to go back to its original condition; God’s original intention. Have you ever thought that your situation is way too deep for redemption? Or your case is beyond restoration? Do you feel so lifeless, that nothing can ever change your situation? Well, God is more than you can ever imagine! You’ve got to believe it! Your situation is ripe for change and He is the change maker!! The Lord has a way of arriving after your crisis has completely manifested! He arrives at the end of the end, and when all options have exhausted, and the situation is way beyond dead; and has essentially perished and spoiled (or so it seems). We see a short phrase in Luke 3:23 of the story of Jesus and his father – “or so it was thought”. The expression is significant because it shows how easily and somewhat unknowingly, people can think one thing of a situation, but in reality, it’s quite different (especially in God’s eyes). You know how you drive on the road or the freeway and you see a dead squirrel, bird or whatever; and you find yourself swerving away from it, so you don’t get tainted by it…or the dead skin does not get on your car (think about this). Of course you do this, because it stinks, and/or its messy everywhere. You might actually say out loud “that is nasty!” Well, God will often allow something to die, in order to allow something greater to come forth. Think about it, if Lazarus didn’t die, then resurrection wouldn’t have been manifested; if the blind man wasn’t blind, then his healing wouldn’t have been significant; if the red sea wasn’t there, then the miraculous parting of the sea wouldn’t have been glorifying. God arrives when the situation is good and dead! Even to the point that the situation has a smell to it. The smell only shows that death is approaching or is in the works. And let’s face it, smells are not appealing to us; we are human. We tend to walk away from people that smell and we – in the name of leaving them up to God – give up on them, and we do not want to be associated with them. Or if you are the dead one, you tend to give up on yourself when you get an aroma of your own smell, and you completely forget what you are made of and who you are made in the image of…and you willingly surrender and call it quits. For us, the smell might signify the end of the end, it might mean that our situation has gone too far for help; it could also mean that we have run out of options and our only answer is death or surrendering to the dark side. Or so it is thought……. The wonderful news is that the Lord does not like tombs and smells do not deter Him. He didn’t stay in one, and won’t allow His children to stay in it either. We remember the work He did for Lazarus (John 11). When He came to Lazarus, Lazarus was good and dead. And the people were sure of it! As a matter of fact, when it was brought to Jesus’ attention that Lazarus was sick, Jesus responded that his sickness will not bring him to death. To top it off, Jesus stayed a few more days away from Lazarus. Have you ever thought that God should have arrived to your situation sooner? Of course! It would be easier for us to understand because sooner would make the situation more predictable and it would suit us better; but God never works on our schedule. He arrives on time!!! The other part of this puzzle is that you and I play different roles in this. You might be waiting on God to do something BIG in your life, and get you out of the situation that you are in. Or you might know someone that is going through a tough hopeless situation. You may be the one that drives past the dead / stinky mess and want nothing to do with it. You might be the one that cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel for your life; actually, you might be waiting for death to overtake you. None of us are exempt from this. When the Lord was about to resurrect Lazarus, He asked the people around to roll away the stone. He then resurrected Lazarus. And then He asked the people to loosen Lazarus and let Him go. ISN’T THAT AMAZING?!?!?!?! Will you be available for the rolling of the stone on someone else’s life? Will you be willing to walk out of the tomb when your stone is rolled away? We need to stop dwelling on the dead things and actually move on from them! We need to stop thinking the “and so it was thought” thoughts that we have. We need to remove those limitations from our thinking. God is here to heal and resurrect us, and it’s our choice to work with Him. He wants to take us out of the emotional realm and remove the boundaries that we have placed on ourselves, and the ones we have placed on others. Only God can walk into a dead place and bring life out of it. Do not give up, stay encouraged and believe that God can do it! Adapted from Pastor Patrick's Sermon 12/5/10. http://www.shilohchurch.com

Not like trees

There was a blind man that had been blind for quite sometime. One day, he happened to be in the midst of a man, who could possibly help him with his problem. Some believed that the man could help this blind man. As a matter of fact, others around begged him to help the blind man. Although everyone was probably looking for an outward display of a miracle, instead this man led the blind man outside the town......and then he spat on the blind man's eyes. Miraculously, the blind man was able to see but not quite clearly. When asked what he saw, he explained his vision as "I see men, as trees, walking". This was not good enough. The man then placed his hands on the not-so-blind man's eyes again and asked him to look up one more time and explain what he saw. Now, his sight was completely restored, and he saw men, as men. This story is recorded in Mark 8:22-26. Great story! I heard a very simple message today (regarding this scripture) and I was really challenged. Well, it showed me something that I/we easily and comfortably overlook. And that is - the way God sees people vs the way we see people. We often see people as trees, and we know that this is NOT the way God sees them. In fact, we get so burdened with our own perspectives, agendas, justifications, selfish thoughts that we are not able to see lost souls as nothing more than trees. Keep in mind that lost souls are not only the unchurched or the unsaved. Lost souls are people like you and I...people that are only familiar with traumatic lives, people going through difficulties of life, people dealing with diverse trials, people that are not able to make any decisions in life, people that are stagnant between their past and their future, people that are just trying to make it, people that are not able to navigate through their every day life, people that you and I actually know....etc. I really believe that God wants to restore my vision in respect to how I see people. I want to see people the way God sees them, not the way I see them or what I think they look like. I don't want to have to go through the lesson again, I want to get it the first time around! I believe that the blind man's first response had a judgmental edge to it....because I know I do that sometimes. When I see people, I immediately judge them by what I remember of them or whatever mindset I am in at the time. This is selfish and IT IS NOT God's way. How am I going to reach people if I keep this type of attitude, right? God always looks at us with the heart of a father, with compassion, grace and mercy. And I am forever grateful to Him for it. If He looked at me with the lens of all the things that I have done wrong, then I wouldn't have a chance. And neither would you! I pray for us ladies, that we allow God to restore or renew our vision, so we can see people the way He does. “People only see what they are prepared to see.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sinful Humanity

It's often very hard to be-friend anyone who is of or lives a sinful nature. You can hardly commune with them or converse with them. And no matter what you say, it doesn't stick! Why is that? I often battle with this question and lately, I have spoken with other women/men and this seems to be a burning question for them as well. It is somewhat troubling and heartbreaking when you see the potential in someone and you know what they are capable of, (even if they don't know it yet or have forgotten), but you see what victories lie ahead for them but for some reason, they don't see it! Or is it that they do not want to see it? It's hard to say! So I ran into this scripture (below)and although it is extreme, I admit, but its not too far from the truth...of the cases I have seen. God is such a loving God that He tugs on us constantly to stay connected and in Him. But there comes a day when He gives us up to our reprobate (good-for-nothing) minds and by then, it might be too late. You know how you see folks and you think "oh, this one has gone too far"...well, I believe that this is what has actually happened. They have meddled so much in the corruptible things that they have been given up to those desires. Not saying that they are beyond redemption because God is faithful to bring them out and set them totally free but this walk of salvation and this walk of life that we are all in, is a daily choice. If we do not stay connected and plugged into the things of God and His will for our lives, its very easy to steer away in our own fleshly desires and lusts. Ladies, do not be one of those women who are filled with (The Message version): rampant evil, grabbing and grasping, vicious backstabbing, envy, wanton killing, bickering, and cheating, mean-spirited, venomous, fork-tongued God-bashers, bullies, swaggerers, insufferable windbags, inventors of new ways of wrecking lives, disobedient to their parents when they get in the way, stupid, slimy, cruel, cold-blooded. These attributes do not lead you to a healthy place. On the contrary, it opens up a wide door of hell-ish works. We've seen it and its evident! My prayer for you is that you stay plugged in to God, you find yourself in Him, and only look unto things above for your identity. No man, no one, no job, no friend, no gimic, no bank account, no career can satisfy you the way God can. You are a vessel of the King, and you need to remember that always! Do not find your identity in temporary things or you'll end up building your future on sinking sand. God loves you and wants the best for you! ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT! :) ************************************************************************************* Romans 1:18-32 (King James Version) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Be a Woman, Again

Good Evening ladies, I trust that you are all doing well. I just wanted to encourage everyone ...that in all of the little things that we are all involved in, and doing...to remember to also keep strong and healthy. THINGS come and go but your life is your primary responsibility. I know, I tend to do for others and rarely remember me....and I have come to realize that this is somewhat true of every other woman I know. So please, take good care of yourselves and be well. Read something new. Eat something different. Take a different route. Be kind to other people. Be kind to a different person. Slow down a little. Steal a little kiss here and there. Watch a movie @ home. Treat yourself to a mani/pedi. Walk this time. Take a dance class. Call a friend and laugh about old times. BE A WOMAN AGAIN :)

Comfort in times of trouble

2 Corinthians 1:4-5 (New International Version) Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. A lot of times, we are quick to pass judgement or quick to react to people and situations based on our past experiences and hurts .... But are we really exercising the extended grace of God? Or are we so caught up in ourselves that we truly forget to BE what we are really supposed to be? Sometimes it's not about what you have been through, it's about what you can do for someone else. That's the good gospel, right? God is the God of all comfort and if we are truly striving to be like Him, then we MUST exercise this gift....w/ absolutely no excuses I am guilty of this too myself...so, you are not alone :) Although tough love is needed, we have to be careful that we do not become a barrier for someone else's growth. Empathy is not always about proving to the other person know that you and only you, have the remedy for their situation. It's ALWAYS about praying, and comforting, and seeing them come through and out of the mess they are currently in....and hopefully, with your prayers and counsel, they'll walk towards greatness and not catastrophe. Why? Because someday, you'll need the same favor :) SELAH

Believing that you have received it!

Mark 11:24 (New International Version) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. How often do we pray to God about something, but really do not believe that God can do it? Is it that we think that the request is too far fetched, that God cannot deliver, or do we rather not ask for something that extreme? So many things can go on in our worlds but no matter what you face in life, you can ALWAYS ask your heavenly father for a way out! Whether your challenge is bringing yourself to asking God, or believing that you are a child of God and you are entitled to peace or love or joy or whatever it is that you need; always know that God is waiting on your request, so He can show Himself strong in your life. A request requires you to put your need out there. And who better to ask from, than your Father? Ladies, do not be afraid of going before God. Do not be hesitant to throw all your cards on the table. Do not expect anything less than what you deserve. God is a loving, caring and providing father, and He will give you what you need, for when you need it.

2010 RW Christmas Party

HELLO LADIES, PLEASE SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR RW CHRISTMAS PARTY.

I AM HOPING THAT WE CAN GET TOGETHER LATER IN THE DAY (4PM) BUT I AM OPEN AND WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK, IF YOU PREFER A DIFFERENT TIME - BRUNCH, LUNCH OR WHATEVER (WELL, NOT MIDNIGHT :)

K, LET ME KNOW... IN ANY CASE, PLEASE SAVE THE DATE :) IT'LL BE OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS PARTY SINCE THE LAUNCHING OF THE GROUP. WE'VE MADE ONE YEAR! WOO-HOO!!!! PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH YOUR FEEDBACK

@ ARIGHTEOUSWOMAN@YMAIL.COM

THANKS MUCHO!

Host: Queen Quiocho Location: TO BE DETERMINED When: Saturday, December 11, 4:00PM

Strong Woman vs Woman of Strength

A strong woman works out everyday to keep her body in shape… But a woman of strength builds relationships to keep her soul in shape A strong woman isn't afraid of anything… But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of fear. A strong woman won't let anyone get the better of her… But a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone. A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future… A woman of strength realises life's mistakes can also be unexpected blessings, and capitalises on them A strong woman wears a look of confidence on her face… But a woman of strength wears grace. A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey… But a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

Greatness vs. Catastrophe

Personalized version I heard a very simple, very powerful, very real message and although initially, it sounded kind of regular, it was really worth listening to and it changed the way I saw things or should I say, how I thought about things. Our thoughts are very powerful and can actually determine our reality. We have the ability to determine what we are going to think about. Be careful on what you dwell upon as each thought that we have can either lead us to our destiny in God, or lead us far away from it. Greatness vs. Catastrophe. Everything starts with a thought, therefore, medidate on the word of the Lord. There are two types of thinking: Stinking thinking and Syncing thinking STINKING THINKING: This type of thinking is based on lies, it causes anxiety and causes you to doubt God. It can be derived from or can lead to jealousy and covetousness. These are certain things that we say:

• I can't
• I do not have what it takes
• God does not love me
• That always happens to me
• I knew this marriage would not work out
• Who is going to love me now?
• I accept my limitations
• I am ugly
• I hate myself
• I never will be happy again
• Nothing good can come from me
• This is why these types of things happen to me

SYNCING THINKING This type of thinking is based on the truth, on hope, on trust and on restoration. These are certain things that we should be saying, as they are in fact true!

• I trust God
• I surrender to God
• I believe God
• I expect God to move
• I am a new creation in Christ
• I am called
• I am anointed
• I am saved
• I am restored
• I am renewed
• I am bought with a price
• I am letting go now, and letting God
• I am making progress
• I am surrounded by greatness
• The future is promising for me

We, as women have the ability to choose to be positive (greatness) or negative (catastrophe). If we focus on things that are true (truthful things), noble (things deserving of respect), reputable (things that are not wrong), authentic (things that are not mixed up with something else - originality), compelling (delightful things), gracious (things of good reputation), best (not the worst memories)....we'll be far far away from yesterday's tears! Phil 4:8 Revised from PPK's Message - www.shilohchurch.com

The Mouth Has a Mind of Its Own!

Revised.... What if I told you that the source of most of our problems could be found within us —from the neck up? You’ll find it in the thoughts that come from our minds and the words that come out of our mouth. We must realize and understand the power carried by our thoughts and words. They’re so powerful that they can either bring blessings or curses into our lives, depending on their nature. Our thoughts and words may seem small, but they affect the very direction of our lives and also the lives of the people that we are around. When you encounter so many disappointments because of all the devastating things that have happened to you; you might find yourself afraid to believe that anything good could EVER happen to you. Like me, your philosophy of life could be, “If I keep my expectations low, i'll never be disappointed.” Over the years we become very cynical and negative. Our thoughts are negative, which causes our words to be negative…which all reflects poorly on our lives. Someday, we'll need to decide to change our ways and stop talking so negatively. After a while it'll take more than not talking negatively because cutting out the negative wouldn't be enough; we have to begin to think and talk positively! When we react negatively, we allow fear to take over our thinking. We begin to dwell on things that haven’t even happened and may not happen. Our negative thoughts cause us to speak the words that’ll shape our future. We’re constantly tempted to think wrong thoughts, but we don’t have to accept them! We have a choice! We need to purposely choose right thinking and speaking. Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue…. We must choose life generating thoughts. When we do, positive, powerful, life-giving words will naturally follow. I think some people try to control their mouths but do nothing about their thoughts. That’s like pulling off the top of a weed—unless the root is dug up, the weed always comes back. You’ll never control your mouth unless you first learn to control your mind. Believing is the first important step to switching our thinking from being negative to positive. Remember, what’s in our hearts and minds will come out of our mouths. If our soul (mind, will and emotions) is full of negative things, we’ll find those things coming our way. On the other hand, when we hear, read, think and talk about God, the Truth and more positive things, we’ll find that those good things will come our way. The choice is ours!

How Do You See Yourself?

by Joyce Meyer Do you like yourself? After years of trying to help people emotionally, mentally, spiritually and socially, it was a major breakthrough when I discovered that most people really don’t like themselves. Some of them know it, while others don’t even have a clue that this is probably the root of so many other problems in their lives. God wants us to have great relationships, but self-rejection and even self-hatred are the roots of many relationship problems. In fact, I’ve found the Bible to be a book about relationships, providing valuable advice about my relationship with God, other people and even myself. How are the relationships with other people in your life? What about your relationship with God…and even with yourself? Did it ever occur to you that you have a relationship with yourself? While I’ve never given it much thought, I spend more time with myself than with anyone, and it’s vital to get along well with me. Remember, you are the one person you never get away from. We all know how agonizing it is to work day after day with someone we don’t get along with, but at least that person doesn’t come home with us at night. We can’t get away from ourselves, not even for one second, so it’s of the utmost importance that we have peace with ourselves. Many of us fall prey to self-rejection because we feel that nobody really loves us or accepts us. We figure that if nobody else loves us, then why should we love ourselves? Because we think others don’t love us, we feel that we must not be worth loving. But that’s a LIE we’ve believed for way too long! We should love ourselves—not in a selfish, self-centered way that produces a lifestyle of self-indulgence, but in a balanced, godly way that affirms God’s creation as essentially good and right. We may be flawed by unfortunate experiences we’ve gone through, but that doesn’t mean we’re worthless and good-for-nothing. We must have the kind of love for ourselves that says, “I know God loves me, so I can love what God chooses to love. I don’t love everything I do, but I accept myself because God accepts me.” We must develop the kind of mature love that says, “I know I need to change, and I want to change. In fact, I believe God is changing me daily, but during this process, I will not reject what God accepts. I’ll accept myself as I am right now, knowing that I will not always remain this way.” Many times people who reject themselves do so because they can’t see themselves as good, proper, or right. They fail to see themselves the way God sees them—as precious children He dearly loves. As you begin to see yourself through God’s eyes—someone who’s loved and cherished—your view of yourself will begin to change. You’ll begin to see yourself not as rejected, but as loved and accepted…unique and beautiful in His sight. http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/EverydayAnswers/Articles/art33.htm

Paraprosdokian

A paraprosdokian (from Greek "παρα-", meaning "beyond" and "προσδοκία", meaning "expectation") is a figure of speech" in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes producing an anticlimax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists. Examples: I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's on the list. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public. War does not determine who is right - only who is left. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station. How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire? Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish. I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted pay checks. A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't need it. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "If an emergency, notify:" I put "DOCTOR". I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you. I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it...so I said "Implants?" Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet? Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy. Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America ? Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas! Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back. Hospitality: Making your guests feel like they're at home, even if you wish they were not. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with. I discovered I scream the same way whether I'm about to be devoured by a great white shark or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot. Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water. You're never too old to learn something stupid. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be. Some people hear voices. Some see invisible people. Others have no imagination whatsoever. A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it as when you are in it. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. Laugh a little :)

Integrity

Integrity is a trait that grows with you. It is a conscious effort to live right, do right, and constantly maintaining the drive to practice what you preach. One of my mentors would often say "when you make a declaration about something, you either believe it or you don't. If you don't, dont' fool anyone; and if you do, then live like it". Integrity has been defined a few ways: as a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcomes; it is also regarded as the quality of having an intuitive sense of honesty and truthfulness in regard to the motivations for one's actions; it is also the inner sense of "wholeness" deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character. The way you carry yourself completely depends on what you believe in and what your morals and convictions are. As righteous women, it is essential that every move we make is keyed into what we value in life and the principles we desire to live by.

Invite Him In

There is a famous scripture that many people have heard in the context of an invitation to know Christ, as Savior. Rev 3:20 (Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in)". God does not force Himself upon us. He is quite a gentleman :) He knocks, and waits for us to ask Him in. There is an initial step, the first step of this, which we call salvation. We hear Christ knocking and we open our hearts to Him as Savior. It is the first turning. But the principle of this "knocking and waiting for permission to come in" remains true, well into our Christian life. We all pretty much handle our brokenness in the same way - we mishandle it. It hurts too much to go there. So we shut the door to that room in our hearts, and we throw away the key....but that does not bring healing to our souls, not at all. It might bring relief - for a while but never healing. Usually, it orphans the little girl in that room, leaves her to fend for herself. The best thing we can do is to let Jesus come in, open the door and invite Him in to find us in those hurting places. He knocks through our loneliness, through our sorrows, through events that feel too close to what happened to us when we were young - a betrayal, a rejection, a word spoken, a relationship lost, He knocks through many things in our lives, waiting for us to give Him permission to enter in. The question is, will you let Him heal you? Will you give Him access to your broken heart?

Running this race!

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (New Living Translation) Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified It is not easy running the race of life, and it's certainly not easier running the race of a saved and anointed life. Life in general (away from the joys and successes that it brings) is hectic, challenging, expensive, tiring, tempting, tricky, full of surprises, demanding...and more! It takes a lot of faith and determination to stay in a sane and healthy place. This scripture above talks about the race of life that we are all a part of and the decisions we have taken, or are taking, or should be taking in following-through with our course. Hopefully, as we are reading this, we know what path of life we are going in. And if you are yet to discover your path of life, I hope that you have at least identified what you are looking for. NO matter what choice we make, make sure that in the end, it'll bring us eternal joy and satisfaction! Athletes run with the end in mind; however, to get to that finished line, they have to take one step in front of the other...each and every time, until the race is over. NO BREAKS, NOTHING! Moving at a steady pace is progressive. But if we run aimlessly, without focus or motivation, with no particular goal in mind, and no purpose at hand....then, we'll find that we'll waver, and lose perspective of what we are doing. It's at times like this that we tend to make adjustments to suit our present conditions, thereby gradually moving away from our first intention, and our primary decision(s). The word of God tells us to discipline our bodies to do the right thing, so when we talk to others, we are not found guilty of hypocrisy! In essence, PRACTICE what we preach! Don't let the desires of your flesh win you over and overcome you. Trust me, it'll take you off track, you'll slowly lose momentum and slowly welcome habits and cravings that you will not be able to easily shake off!!! As Righteous Women, it's important that we take life and our primary decisions seriously. DO NOT compromise what you believe in, DO NOT run aimlessly, DO NOT be one who is just running to kill time!!! Let your life and work speak meaning and define integrity! Don't be caught disqualified!!! 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (Amplified Bible) Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].

The Heart of a Woman 4

Whether we tend to dominate and control, or withdraw in our desolation and hide, still...the ache remains. The deep longings we face in our hearts as women, just do not go away. And so, as a result, we indulge! INDULGING WOMAN She buys herself something nice when she is not feeling appreciated. She allows herself yet another scoop of ice cream or a super-sized something when she is lonely. She moves into a fantasy world to find some water for her thirsty heart. She is a fan of romance novels, soap operas, talk shows, gossip, myriads of women magazines that all feed into an inner life of relational dreaming that only substitutes - for a while- for the real thing. But none of these things satisfy, so she finds herself trying to fill the remaining emptiness with her own little secretive indulgences. These are what we call "bad habits" a.k.a "little affairs of the heart". They are what she gives her heart away to instead of giving them to the heart of God. She daydreams her way through traffic. She imagines meaningful conversations or difficult ones where she speaks brilliantly. She spends her imagination on cheap novels, picturing herself as the beautiful heroine - winsome, pursued, and beautiful. She is endlessly creative in her indulgent pursuits, and adulteries of the heart. She certainly does not limit herself to just one. Now, take a moment and consider what your indulgences are. Where do you go instead of to God when the ache of your heart begins to make itself known? Do you spend too much money, gambling, bingeing, purging, shopping, drinking, working, cleaning, exercising, fantasising, too many movies, sitcoms, talk shows, even our own negative emotions can become indulgences. When we camp our hearts in self-doubt, condemning thoughts, or even shame because these emotions have become familiar and comfortable, we end up faithlessly indulging...rather than allowing our deep ache to draw us towards God. Unfortunately, our indulgences make us feel better...for a while. They seem to "work", but really only increase our need to indulge again. This, ladies, is the nightmare of addiction! Addiction is not only about drugs. We give our hearts to all sorts of other "lovers" that demand our attention, demand that we indulge again. We taste something that we think is good, our longings cease to ache, for a minute, but later we find ourselves empty once more, needing to be filled again and again, and again. It is a lonely prison of our own making, each chain forged in the fire of our indulgent choice. Do not be ashamed that your heart aches; and that you need, thirst and hunger for much more. All of our hearts are at some level of unsatisfaction and longing. It is the insatiable need for more that drives us to our God. Realize that all of your controlling, hiding and indulging, actually serves to seperate us from our hearts. We lose touch with those longings that make us women; and the substitutes never, ever resolve the deeper issues or our souls. Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 (New Living Translation)

The Heart of a Woman 3

If on one side of the spectrum, we have the hard, rigid, controlling and dominant woman...then on the other side, you'll find the desolate, needy and far too vulnerable woman. DESOLATE WOMAN She is naive, lost, and bereft of any sense of self. She falls under the abuse of a bad man and does not have the will to get herself out. She is quick to give herself over to an untrustworthy because she is desperate to be loved, and typically ends up heartbroken. She buys/reads books like "Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them", and "Women Who Love Too Much" and " Co-dependent No More"! She is consumed by the hunger to be in a relationship. Sadly, she also tends to hide her true self. She is certain that if others really knew her, they would not like her, and she definitely cannot risk losing that relationship. She hides behind the counter when an attractive man walks in to a cafe, a shop etc...and might also hide behind big reading glasses. She wears baggy clothes, and keeps her hair frumpy - because certainly, these will not draw attention to her...since she believes she is not worth paying attention to. She can also be a busy woman that hides behind "there is so much work to do". She is kind, funny, intelligent and bright...yet timid and afraid. She spends some, not most, but some of her time camped out in front of the TV. She declines invitations to go out. She is wounded and heartbroken in some ways, and finds comfort in sitcoms and snacks. She is too insecure to enter into the real world, and chooses to hide from it instead; but ventures out occasionally to attend classes and restock her food supply. She hardly speaks up at a Bible study, PTA council or any kind of meetings. She stays busy at family gatherings and parties she can't avoid. She'd rather go to a movie than out to dinner with a friend. She does not initiate sex with her husband..ever! She dismisses every compliment and hides behind her make-up and humor. She does not make any major decisions. She hides with angry silences and punishing withdrawals. She hides her true self and offers only what she believes is wanted, what she believes is safe. She acts in self-protective ways and refuses to offer what she truly sees. She does not risk rejection or looking like a fool. She has been wounded and wounded deeply...and chooses to hide to remain safe, thereby hurting less. This is not an extremity that'll do us any good. It does not please God. When we hide, something precious is lost - something the world needs very much. We also lack fellowship with others, and lack sharing any pain, dissapointments and hurts that we personally face. We end up taking matters into our own hands and don't return to God with our broken and desperate hearts. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:17)