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...

Finished Work

At what point do we truly grab a hold of the salvation power and redemptive work of God for our lives? Why is it so difficult to receive and apply the finished work of the cross?

My real question is this: why are we so stagnant in our emotional state?  Is it that we really do not know that we are victors and that we are adopted into spiritual equity OR is it that we are much more consumed in the attention we get when we stay hurt and broken? What is more important? Our freedom or our bondage?

Knowing is half the battle, right? 
The problem is that we know that we know that we know that God is who He is, but we only believe this truth for everyone else.  For some odd reason, we don't believe the same truth for ourselves.  It gets so bad that when the victory does come, we spend a lot of words thanking the people who held us up in prayer (during our difficult times), so much more that we forget to thank God who has been our Savior, all along.

Ladies, we have to get our minds and hearts in a place that is completely and totally trusting in God; where our actions & emotions are in complete submission to the promises of God. 

We've got to believe it without a shadow of a doubt.

Freedom Builders:

• What area of your life, do you find really hard to let go off? 
• How are you dealing with that?

A Hike & the Beach

Hey ladies!


It's Summer Time! And time to get out there....to Stinson! It's gorgeous!
Bring a blanket, some snacks, lunch, picnic stuff....we'll eat together @ the beach after we hike. Or you can sign up on the items to bring (after you RSVP here, or @http://new.evite.com/#view_invite:eid=00AFAAQZXGK5ZYMDWEPAVSPNOHJ4YU).
If you'll like to carpool, let me know and we can arrange something. Otherwise, we'll all meet there at 9am, so we can get done with the hike in good time... :)

Date: August 6th
Time: 9am

**********************************

Location: Stinson Beach is located on Highway One, just north of San Francisco, California. The scenic highway is just one of the great reasons to visit Stinson Beach. Panoramic Highway also provides access.
Directions to Stinson Beach are shown below, whether you are traveling from the North, South, or East!
From San Francisco after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, take Hwy. 101 North approximately three miles to the "Hwy. One, Stinson Beach" exit. Follow the signs and enjoy your drive down one of the most scenic highways in the nation. Stinson Beach is approximately 20 miles from San Francisco.
From Sacramento take Interstate 80 West to 580 West to Highway 101 South. Take exit "Hwy. One, Stinson Beach", approximately three miles north of San Francisco. Follow the signs and enjoy your drive down one of the most scenic highways in the nation!

From Northern California follow Highway 101 South to exit "Hwy. One, Stinson Beach". Follow the signs and continue on Hwy. One which will bring you directly into Stinson Beach.

ALTERNATE TO HWY. ONE
While on Hwy. One traveling to Stinson Beach, you will come to a sign giving notice to Muir Woods and Mt. Tamalpais State Park. If you wish, you may turn right at this point and take Panoramic Hwy. through the park. It will take you back to Hwy. One and will end only blocks south of Stinson Beach.

However you choose to come, both highways are extremely scenic and extremely curvy. Vehicles over 35 feet are NOT recommended.

Good Listener

Ever needed someone just to hear you out?  Someone to talk to that doesn't necessarily have to say anything back....just a listening ear?  A lot of times, I find myself not being that friend.  Not all the time, but sometimes.  I have a really good sister who tells me that I do this often .... or she will often say at the beginning of her conversation "Queen, you do not need to say anything, just listen"  :).  Naturally, I am a good listener, but (it is true) I often find myself mentally preparing a response as I am listening.  Although this is a good thing, its not always great. 

I don't know about your friends but each one of mine are totally different....opinionated, desperate, competitive, strong-willed, dramatic, emotional, non-confrontational, scared, full of life, tired (all the time), hurt, broken etc.   Yeah, this just about sums up all of my close friends.  And we need all these types of personalities, to keep life fun and balanced.

And this listening without necessarily responding thing is something that I need to learn hard.  Its good to know that I can talk to someone and they are truly there (in the moment), to hear me out.  Not to say that you do not have an opinion, but it doesn't always have to be heard!

Let's practice this....

Draw Closer to God

Forwarded by Treva

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you...” (James 4:8, NLT)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

God promises that He will draw close to you when you draw close to Him. How do we draw close to Him? First of all, this verse goes on to say that we must turn away from sin because sin separates us from God. When we turn away from the things that displease Him, we are turning toward Him. That’s the first step.

Then, the Bible tells us to come into His presence with thanksgiving in our hearts and give Him praise. When you have a thankful heart, you are drawing closer to Him. Thirdly, scripture tells us that God opposes the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. When you live with an attitude of humility, you are drawing closer to Him.
Friend, there’s nothing more important in life than drawing close to God the Father. Seek Him with your whole heart, and you will find Him. Let Him speak to your heart by reading your Bible, praying and meditating on His promises every single day.

Worship Him with a humble and open heart because when you seek Him, you will find Him, and He will fill you with His peace, comfort and joy all the days of your life!

FUNNY!

Hi ladies,
You have probably read this somewhere but I thought I share :) Enjoy!

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed: "Dear Lord: I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through, so please allow her body to switch with mine for a day. Amen".

God, in His infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish.

The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman. He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids, set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast, packed their lunches, drove them to school, came home and picked up the dry cleaning, took it to the cleaners and stopped at the bank to make a deposit, went grocery shopping, then drove home to put away the groceries, paid the bills and balanced the checkbook. He cleaned the cat's litter box and bathed the dog. Then it was already 1pm and he hurried to make the beds, do the laundry, vacuum, dust, and sweep and mop the kitchen floor. Ran to school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home. Set out milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homework, then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing. At 4:30pm he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for supper.
After supper, he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher, folded laundry, bathed the kids, and put them to bed. At 9pm, he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint.

The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said: "Lord, I don't know what I was thinking. I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day. Please, oh please, let us trade back."

The Lord, in His infinite wisdom, replied: "My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were. You'll just have to wait nine months, though. You got pregnant last night."

:)

A Healthy Thought

Being pro-active is definitely a healthy practice.  When you find yourself involved in an organization, system, or department etc..., you may encounter different instances that may need a few adjustments or changes. You may need to shut some ideas down or put some other ideas on the shelf. This is called an evaluation of practice.

The key to self-assessments and evaluations is being honest with yourself, and being real with the situation you are facing and open to new approaches.  Don't stay boxed-in!

This practice is very essential and can be very beneficial to you, your company, your business, your ministry, and your personal journey in life; because not only does it humble you in many ways, it also positions you to be pro-active and ready for the future.

The Bible teaches us that Noah built an ark.  The interesting and bizarre thing about this ark is that it was built BEFORE any possible signs of rain.  Noah was directed by God to build something that seemed ridiculous at the moment but was infact what was going to save & protect them in the future.
Naturally, Noah faced criticism, judgement, finger pointing & rejection from the people but he stayed the course. 
Let me ask you this: have you ever felt this way?  Where you feel that you must prepare for the future but no one understands and everyone is criticising you for it?

Being proactive is healthy!  You might actually be the vessel that saves your job, the ministry you are a part of, your company etc..

Ladies, do not be afraid to speak up if you see that something is not going right.  God will give you wisdom to verbalize it properly, but please do not box yourself in and become a part of the problem!  Release the anointing within you and bring solutions to chaotic situations.

The Heart of Matter

- Shared by The Maddox's

The Great Commandment: Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself. Our primary responsibility in this life is to love God which then allows us to love ourselves and others.

 

Barrier to receiving God's Love: In relationships, the real issue isn't love, it is the condition of our heart. When our hearts are in the right position, love flows automatically. The heart is the vital core of one's being (Proverbs 4:23).

 

The condition of our hearts need to be open, not closed. An open heart feels involved, concerned, connected, emotionally alive, loved, tender and available. When we live a willful life of sin, our hearts become closed and disconnected from God. When a relationship does not feel emotionally safe, our hearts will close and we will withdraw from that person (Genesis 3:10). Other issues might be that we have allowed past hurts to embed themselves in our hearts, and therefore, we have believed the lies that come with it. Or we have willfully chosen to be selfish and proud; rather than selfless and humble.

 

 

Heart Builders:

• How do we address our hearts, if they are in fact closed?
• Choose to live a life that is alive
• Identify what lies are written on your heart (Hebrews 4:12-13)
• Discover God's truth about you (John 8:32); Psalms 139)
• Take what people say and do to us to the Lord and discover His truth
• Give your heart a voice and learn to manage your emotions (Proverbs 16:32)

More than words

God intends for prayer to be an easy, natural way of staying in touch with Him - like having a conversation with a close friend.  But I don't think we see prayer as being that simple. As a matter of fact, I think a lot of us (Christians) have difficulty maintaining a strong, consistent prayer life because we're stuck believing what the enemy has told us. Things like: "God is mad at us. He's not answering our prayers right now", or "we don't pray long enough anyway, so our prayers won't really make a difference".

The truth is, everytime we pray in faith, God answers.  He wants our prayer life to be fulfilling, exciting and full of hopeful expectation. You can have great freedom and creativity in your prayer life - but you need to stay focused on God and His promises, not the enemy's lies.

Prayer Builders:

• How often do you pray?
• Do you feel a connection with heaven, in prayer?

What a friend!

One of the greatest gifts God has given us as His children is His Holy Spirit!  Think about it! How many people do you know that you can call a friend, a counselor, a comforter, and advocate, an intercessor, a standby?  Do you know anyone that you can call all that? The truth is that the Holy Spirit wants to be that friend to each and every one of us...everyday!

He wants to help us have a good life....and enjoy it too.  He wants to strengthen us in hard times,  and comfort us when we're sad or grieving.  He also wants to listen to us when we need to talk...fight for us when we're weak..pray for us when we can't....I mean, who wouldn't want a friend like that!

With all that is going on in this world, He simply wants to give us the power to get through the situations we face victoriously.  He also wants to work in us to change us for the better from the inside out, so we can maintain victory in our everyday lives..

Be thankful for the Holy Spirit in your life!
- Joyce M

The Holy Land

A little Monday humor :) Thanks Ms. G!

****

A man and his ever-nagging wife went on vacation in Jerusalem . While they were there, the wife passed away. The undertaker told the husband "You can have her buried here in the Holy Land for $150 or we can have her shipped back home for $5000. The husband thought about it and told the undertaker he would have her shipped back home. The undertaker asked him, "why would you spend $5000 to have her shipped home when you could have a beautiful burial here, and it would only cost $150?" The husband replied, "Long ago, a man died here, was buried here, and three days later, rose from the dead. I just cant take that chance!


:)

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

Forwarded by Mary A, thanks cousin!

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed

I have Holy spirit power
The die has been cast,

The decision has been made

I am a disciple of Jesus

Therefore, I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still

My past is redeemed

My present is empowered

And my future is secure

I'm done with low-living

Sight walking, small planning, smooth needs, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, positions, promotions, praise or popularity

I don't have to win, be first, be right, recognized, regarded or rewarded

I now live by faith,

Lean on his presence

Love with patience

Live by prayer and

Labor with power

My goal is God's glory

My face is set

My pace is fast

My road is narrow

My way is rough

My companions are few

My guide is reliable

And my mission is clear

I cannot be bought, comprised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice

Hesitate in the presence of adversity

Negotiate at the table of the enemy

Ponder at the pool of popularity

Or meander in the maze of mediocrity

I won't give up, or slow up

Until I stayed up, stored up, prayed up, payed up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ
Christ has qualified me to become a part of the fellowship of the unashamed
I am His and He is mine
By. Bob Moorehead

Whatever a woman sows, she reaps

This is a fundamental truth.  What you sow is exactly what you will reap.  NO doubt about it.  If you sow in hatred, you will reap in bitterness; if you sow in desperation, you will reap results of unfulfillment and dis-satisfaction; if you sow in envy, you will reap a life of emptiness; if you sow selfishly, you will reap a selfish attitude....etc.

Note that we are not always the victim of a result of negative sowing. Sometimes, we are the initiators of negativity; thereby causing something negative to be produced in the reaping harvest of someone else's life.

I know we immediately, and naturally, think of how someone else's choices / sowing has negatively affected our results / reaping, but don't be too quick to point fingers. Let's examine ourselves too... we too, are not perfect, we are just as much sinners as the person next to us.

On the other hand, if you sow in cheerfulness, you will reap happiness; if you sow selflessly, you will reap an abundance of blessing; if you sow in total submission to God, you will reap in prosperity from heaven; if you sow sincerely into your friendships, you will reap rich long-lasting relationships.....etc.

Ladies, be intentional in your sowing, as its reaping will definitely come your way. Make your seed GREAT!

Seed Builders:

• What areas of your life, can you start sowing with cheerfulness and gratitude?
• How often do you sow negatively? How can you change that?

Learn from Others Successes

Without even noticing we are greatly influenced by others. Whether it is consciously or not. Therefore, surround yourself with people who are physically active, emotionally stable and continously growing. Focus on their successes, on their strategies to reach their aspirations, and their motivation. You may be able to get some ideas and be further inspired to achieve your own dreams and goals.

This can be applied to many areas of our lives: our eating habits, our life decisions, our emotional responses, the way we carry ourselves ets. If you surround yourself with people who aim to balance their personal, professional and emotional lives with decision and quality, you are more likely to stick to your own plans, too.

“The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.” (Pearl S. Buck)

 

Success Builders:

• Can you identify areas in your life that needs a little adjustment?
• Who have you identified - that you would like to be mentored by?

Pressure or Excellence?

Supergirl: 5-year-old, Queens, N.Y. prodigy can speak seven languages, play six instruments


BY Erica Pearson; DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER - Sunday, May 15, 2011


Seven languages. Six musical instruments. Two types of dance and two sports. It all adds up to one busy little Queens girl.

Five-year-old Mabou Loiseau's parents spend $1,500 a week on tutors and lessons - and she spends seven hours a day in some type of instruction, with Sundays off.

She grew up speaking French, Creole and English, but her immigrant parents didn't want to stop there. She's also learning Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic and Russian.

"Russian is my most favorite. I just hear something, and if I don't understand I say, 'What does that mean?' and they'll tell me," said Mabou, whose Laurelton house is plastered with flashcards in different languages.

She can sing her ABCs in Spanish, count in Mandarin, read fairytales in Russian, and already has an ambitious list of career goals.

"I want to be a firefighter, and I want to be a doctor, and I want to be a dancer, and I want to be a princess," Mabou said with a smile, sitting shyly on her mom's lap. "And I want to be an actor, and I want to be a musician, and I want to be a singer, and I want to be a veterinarian, and I want to be a mom."

Mabou has her own dance studio with a mirrored wall where she learns tap and ballet. Her mom recently got rid of the kitchen table to make room for a full-size drum set. She's also learning to play the harp, clarinet, violin, guitar and piano. When she's not taking ice-skating or swimming lessons.

"All the sacrifices in the world for her," said her mom, Esther Loiseau, a piano teacher who taught French at an American school before leaving Haiti for Queens 15 years ago. "Furniture is not important. Education is."

Loiseau, 47, said friends and neighbors were initially shocked that she was starting Mabou on such a regimen so early - instead of just letting her be a kid. "But I make sure I leave enough time for her to play," Loiseau said. "All she knows is learning. What becomes fun for someone is what they know."

Loiseau tells the tutors to play with Mabou, speaking in their native language, for half of the lesson. They spend the other half reading, writing and practicing vocabulary.

She said a sure way to make the opinionated only child behave is to threaten to cancel one of her lessons - especially Russian.

"It's a great experience for me, honestly. A lot of even adult people can't understand what she does," said Rogneda Elagina, 24, Mabou's Russian tutor. "We like to read together ... we started with the alphabet and connecting letters, and now she can read real folklore."

Mabou's dad works 16 hours a day as a parking attendant in Manhattan to pay for everything, and the Loiseaus have also started hosting other students for classes at their house.

The proud parents homeschool Mabou but found out last week that she scored in the 99th percentile on the city test for gifted and talented schools.

"Honestly, I just want to open doors for my daughter," said Loiseau. "She is really my princess."

******************************

What do you think ladies? 

Strengthen Each Other

1 Corinthians 14:26 (New Living Translation) - Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

I read this scripture a couple of days ago and it really ministered to me, in the sense that, it showed me once again how important it is for all of us to be good at what we do. And more importantly, how amazing it is for us to support each other in what we do; because every joint supplies.  That is, each and everyone of us plays a very important role in the big picture.

Ladies, let's continue to edify and encourage each other to step out into our giftings, so we can be full of strength as a team!

Strength Builders:

• Have you identified your role in life?
• Do you know someone who needs a little help in functioning in their calling?

Hiding from God

Nehemiah 1:5-6

I think the real reason we pray so little is fear: fear of facing God, fear also of facing our own and others' brokenness.  Our hearts are saying: "Can I really trust God? Will He really show me His love when I don't keep anything hidden from Him - or will I be crushed by His anger and lose the little bit of freedom I have so carefully carved out for myself?"

"Do not be afraid" Those are the moments where you can get closer to God.  God is a jealous God, yes, but His jealousy is not filled with possessiveness and suspicion; as is our human jealousy.  This is why we have a relationship, and not a religious contract with God.

God loves us with a perfect love.  A love that casts out all fear and allows us to approach Him and His people in complete freedom.  He loves us so much that He in fact, passionately desires our love in response.

So, ladies, pray without fear, enter God's presence with a vulnerable openness. Learn to be silent in His presence, so He can first speak to us and reveal us to ourselves as women created in love and created free to love. Then we can respond with a full "yes", affirming from the depth of our hearts that we are indeed made in the image and likeness of God.

Love Builders:

• What fears keep you from sharing openly with others?
• What fears keep you from feeling free to approach God in prayer?

Refine Your Goals

As we set goals and refine goals, make sure your goals are at an appropriate level for you. Remember, you can always change them at any time. If they are too low, you may not feel challenged or motivated to increase your drive.

On the other hand, if you're consistently reaching your goals, then set new ones. Your goals will most likely be different than those of a friend or co-worker. If your goals are too high, you may feel too frustrated by not reaching them. Be sure to adjust your goals according to your needs.

Goal Builders:

• How often do you set goals? And how do you get them accomplished?
• Do you ever adjust your goals, if you are having difficulty reaching them?

Judge-and-Jury Syndrome

 

 
Great Article!

 

I was at the local pool when I noticed a frightened adolescent taking swimming lessons.  "No! No, please, I can't!" she begged.  She stood a head taller than the rest of the beginner swim class, but she sobbled like a four-year-old.

"Jump in, I'll catch you!" her teacher called.  The girl bawled, "No! I can't!"

"Why do they pamper her?" I said to my friend. "Her fear only gets worse the longer they delay."

A third coach tossed the weary instructor a life preserver. It took both adults to drag the girl to the water and lower her into the arms of the teacher.

"Well, its about time!" I thought.  "They should have done that fifteen minutes ago"

Another instructor appeared before me.  "That girl went boating with her parents and brother last summer.  The boat capsized, and her father managed to save only her.  She watched her mother and brother drown. Now her father insists she learn to swim."

Those words stung.  I looked at the drenched child as she climbed out of the pool. I had not witnessed typical childish fear - I'd just seen a young girl cross a terrifying mountain.

Forgive me, child
Forgive me, Lord

Character Builders:

• Have you ever discovered that your perception of someone else's attitudes or actions was inaccurate? What did you learn from that experience?
• How can you be more wise in your discernment about others?

Happy Mother's Day 2011

Your life is a replica of the very existence and reality of the beauty of God

You stand strong, fearless, full of compassion and grace

Thriving to walk and live a life of complete righteousness

God's hand is upon you daily

And your desires are guided by your trust in Him

Seek God deeper

Look forward with anticipation

And survive harder!

You are like a teabag, and you never know how much you can handle until you are immersed in a hot climate

Be your biggest fan!

Happy Mother's/Women's Day to you RW!

ThExchange

The launch of THEXCHANGE (formerly 7Times, formerly IMPACT) is HERE! - May 6th @ 7pm! We are so excited about what God is going to do in our generation, in our church and in our lives through this new movement! There is such a sense of expectation and anticipation in the air, and we’ve come to believe, that we are on the brink of a fresh move of God!
It is with this excitement and joy that we want to invite you out to THEXCHANGE service night at Shiloh Church, 3295 School St, Oakland. Come with an expectation to see God move in your life, and in our city! Bring a friend, a family member, somebody!
We are super excited...are you?

Let's change our city and change the world!

THEXCHANGE Crew!

Unfinished Business

Everyone, knowingly or not, comes into a relationship with the hopes that their significant other and their relationship will heal past wounds.  That's the unfinished business we bring to the table, unfortunately. Many of us carry wounds from our childhoods, and sometimes, as it happened to me,  the wounds manifest later, and later in life.

Growing up with the challenges that I had to face, and I am sure some of you had to also, or maybe you are still facing them; I recognized my heightened need for trust.  I found myself fearful of the end, or waiting for something to fall apart, or unconsciously yearning for uncertainty. 

Listen, there are no quick fixes to these issues that we deal with (these unfinished businesses), but God is the healer of all wounds.  If you give God the time, and your heart, He will fix you and restore your ability to trust again.  I'm not talking about the kind of trust that comes with the tiny bitty undertone feeling that someone is out to get you, to hurt you or to destroy you.  I am talking about the kind of trust that doesn't rely on human.  The kind that if human does fail you (and they will), that you don't automatically run into a cave and push blames or blame yourself for letting your heart go this far again blah blah blah, ....and then you start orchestrating ways to avoid people, avoid relationships, avoid commitment etc.... and before you know it, you end up old, bitter, mad and sad!

Ladies, if we don't deal with these issues, and attack them head-on; I'm sorry to say but we will continue to live a trust-less, fearful, lonely, dissapointed, controlling, depressing, .....life.  God desires us to be free, and full of liberty.

AND THE CHURCH SAID "AMEN"! :)

Trust Builders:

• What "unfinished business" have you inherited from your parents or relatives?
• How can you become strong in that area of weakness?

Listen to Your Body

Here's another Helpful Tip from my 10,000 Steps Program

Yes, your body does talk to you about its needs and wants. Are you listening? Although improving your habits may be challenging at times, your body wants what is best for you. Once you overcome the barriers to improving your habits, your body is able to collaborate with you in order to maintain these newly adopted healthier habits.

People who have been active for a while do report feeling like their body asks for physical activity! Make sure you insist on progressing with this program to reach the point where your body actually asks (if it’s not already doing so) you to be active! It does not feel like a chore anymore; it feels more pleasurable (if you are not there yet, you will get there)! Allow yourself to reach that point – you deserve it!

The same actually happens with eating more nutritiously. The more you try delicious nutritious new options, the more your body will ask for them! Remember that your body can only ask for what it knows. If you have not tried some foods, it can not ask for it! Eating nutritiously is not something you do because you have to. It is something you learn how to do because you try delicious nutritious recipes and love them!

Body Builders:

• Try something new and nutritious and see how your body loves it
• Decide on a physical activity that you can add to your day...and do it!

Be certain of God's limitless love for you...no matter what!

Article from Joyce Meyer

Throughout the course of our lives, negative things happen...dissapointing things....heartbreaking things. People let us down. Situations we expect to turn out one way end up turning out another way.  It's really just part of life, but Satan always tempts us to wonder: God, what is going on, don't you love me?

The Bible makes it clear, very clear that God does love us (Ephesians 2:4-5). Still, every now and then, we find ourselves trapped in that mindset (of God, don't you love me?). 

If you struggled with fears and doubts, I want you to get a revelation today - a heart knowledge that no one can ever take away from you - If God loves me so much and He's so strong and capable of doing whatever needs to be done, then I don't have to live in fear because He's going to take care of me.

If we will simply believe that God loves us and wants to bless us, we will see good things happen in our lives.

A lot of women don't love themselves or see themselves as valuable because they've had life experiences that make them feel worthless, or because they struggle with sin and they think God is mad at them. And they become so accustomed to having disappointing things happen that they just kind of vaguely expect things to go wrong.

The only way to break the chains of fear and doubt is to know in your heart that God loves you - no matter what.

Sticking it out

So ladies, as you know, I hardly ever write about marriage, as I like to encourage women in general. But forgive me on this one :), I needed to put this down... Hopefully, we can all take something from it.

There is woven into the fabric of marriage a sense of something ongoing.  One woman, one man, together for a lifetime, right? But somewhere in the beginning, in between, somewhere along the journey, we adapt to some reasoning that as couples, we do not have to be "communicating" or having fun or constantly setting goals together.  We literally live single lives in a married home. We accept that all it takes is that we have to be together - and intend to stay that way.  This is faithfulness to each other and to God, according to feelings and whatever guards we have set up. 

Unfortunately, too many times, and too many people have been deceived to think that marriage should not be fun or fulfilling, or entertaining.  The dissapointment sets in when we get married and deep down inside, we know that we know, that things should not be this way, and should be vibrant...but we can't do anything about it...so we take it for what it is.  Or we bail out of one marriage and keep searching and find even more frustration with another marriage setting. 

As I read through scriptures, I see teachings on joy, yes, joy - the kind that flows with obedience, submission, tenderness, love, compassion, sensitivity, service (to each other), from glimpses of the Holy God.  God wants us to do that which glorifies Him - to be faithful, to keep His commandments, to love and cherish our spouses/fiancees (not just doing the works, but actually loving each other deeply). 

Sticking it out means being faithful, and out of faithfulness there is peace. It's being tender, and out of tenderness, there is reciprocity, joy and love. I see too many couples these days with a lack of tenderness...and it really breaks my heart because marriage really should be founded on Godly perspectives, should be fun, has to be loving and something to boast about.

Married ladies out there, please.....stick it out - let this be our first principle!

Marriage Builders:

• What are the challenges you are facing as a wife/fiancee as you try to be faithful to God?
• What challenges are a part of faithfulness in your relationships?

Walk to it...

                                            

I have been on a 10,000 steps program (offered by Kaiser) and I love it! https://members.kaiserpermanente.org/redirects/10000steps/10000steps.htm.

The program is designed to help you increase your physical activity level and work toward a goal of walking 10,000 steps each day. IT'S REALLY EASY, LADIES. As a part of the program, you get a pedometer to record your steps each day.  And all it does is motivates you to get up and walk a little more each day...we do it already, while we are walking up and down, here and there, in and out of work, school, life etc.... Why not start tracking the steps?


When you sign up you can use the 10,000 Steps Web site to set personal goals, track daily steps, and monitor your progress online; maintain your motivation to stay physically active through daily e-mail tips that provide encouragement and support.

If you are a Kaiser member, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this program. If you are not a Kaiser member, not to worry....you can still participate - just do the work, just the same.  In any case, we all can add a little more to our physical activity, right?
 
Here's a Helpful Tip from the 10,000 Steps® Program (I received this morning)
 
Get Motivated: Stay motivated by focusing on the many benefits you’ve experienced by becoming more active. Look for new and exciting places to walk — check with your local park and recreation department, community education department or park district for a list of walking trails in your neighborhood. Team up with family or friends and enjoy the walk together. Remember to connect your own values to what you get from being more active. If you value family, remember that being more active brings benefits to them, as well — more energy and better health to support them. If you value your professional life, you remain more focused, sharper and productive the more active you are!

Staying motivated also depends on discovering what you get for your efforts. Be sure to remind yourself that it pays to be active and manage your weight!

(Kaiser Members) Please read more on staying motivated in the Be Your Own Coach article in the reading room at http://kp.10k-steps.com/

Fun stuff Righteous Women! :)

A More Excellent Life

From the Leader's Edge Column, by John Maxwell

Do you need help in your career? Your marriage? Or maybe you're searching for a better life in general? If so, consider pursuing excellence, which is a generally consistent state of high quality that may bring to mind unmatched performance, unusual expertise, or consistent high-quality performance.  In our mnds, we often associate excellence with talent. To be the best, surely you have to be gifted, right?  Excellence has taught me that talent, while important in no way explains excellence. 

Consider this: are people born with a natural gift of marriage excellence?  No matter what area of life you want to improve, you can develop it to a level of excellence with a little know-how.  In fact, the primary pathway to excellence has 3 main steps, none of which depends on talent.

1. Find your passion - you are nothing unless it comes from your heart. If you perform functions only and go to work only to do processes, then you are effectively retired.  And sadly, most people are retired by age 28.  You have to bring passion, commitment and caring - that's what makes you a human being. People of excellence love what they do.  They have learned how to fuel the fire that keeps them moving. What does a passionate person look like? - they work with their whole heart, they work with undistracted attention, and they work with maximum energy.
2. Never cease practicing - passion won't take you anywhere unless you combine it with disciplined practice.  Practice is not the thing you do once you're good, its the thing you do that makes you good.
3. Honor your values - we all could give examples of talented, charismatic people who sabotaged their careers by abandoning their values.  Passion and practice bring excellence, but character eventually topples talent. People cannot climb beyond the limitations of their character.  Eventually, the limelight of success brings to light the cracks in their integrity. 

The fact that excellence isn't something a person is born with should be encouraging ... all you have to do is determine what your passion is and then put in the hours of practice. As long as you stick with it and honor your values along the way, you will reach a level of excellence.

I LOVE THIS ARTICLE!  :)

What does it mean to you?

Happy Weekending Ladies.... and Happy Resurrection!

This link was forwarded by Lynn Wariara and it's quite a powerful clip.  I hope you are challenged by it... :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-EVfxABSoU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The peace of God be with you :)

Leave, Get and Live

Shared by Cathy Whitney

So.....Leave The COFFIN there, Get to The CROSS, but Live in the COMMUNITY! - This is a message that I've so much dealt with in my life - especially the last 2 years, and I thought I should share.


Let the past be, leave it there, say bye bye, it's not coming back and it won't be of much help. Learn from it and move on. Today is new, do it differently, do it better than yesterday. Tomorrow will be the best.

Let Jesus take control of this day going forward. The cross is the place to take it all to Him. At the cross is where we lay ourselves and all that we carry, we lay it down and He picks up and carries it for us. Our burden becomes lighter and it's in the greatest hands ever. We are free, we are set free. We are free if we surrender all.
You were created for a purpose. We are not just women to be seen, looked at and used. We are vessels and temples and we've been placed here to leave a mark, make a difference and be the best examples. As wives, as mothers, as sisters, as aunties, as grandmas or just friends - let's all give it our best, we are to love, serve, accomodate, encourage, inspire and bless. We are to be best in all that we do. As we shop, as we relax, as we chat, as we build, as we uphold - we should give it all that we have. It will bless, change and build our communities. It all starts with us.

We are all great women of substance. We need to believe it. We all are.

What would you ask for?

If you could have anything, absolutely anything in the world simply by asking, what would your request be? Would it be a perfect job, perfect health, a better family, better friends, lots of money, or tickets to the superbowl?

The real question is who's asking? And when was the last time someone came around to grant you all your wishes?

Well, it happened to King Solomon in 1 Kings 3:5-12; when God appeared to him in a dream, asking him to request whatever he desired.  Solomon could have asked for a few other things which personally, would have been on the top of my list, but he asked for "a discerning heart" - wisdom; so he could govern the people and be able to know the difference between right and wrong. He asked for the right tools to do his job well.

Now, back to us. If God were to ask you the same questions...what would your request be? An end to our debts?  The perfect marriage? The perfect job? All these things are end results. Perhaps we need to request qualities that will make us better, attributes that will guide us in making better choices, characteristics that will qualify our judgements in high places. A good place to start is by seeking discernment - wisdom. 

Self Builders:

• What is your request?
• If you could improve any two areas of your life, what would they be?
• In what ways do you need to change to help bring about those improvements?

Hello, Self!

Ever being introduced to yourself?  What I mean is, have you ever had to have a real one-on-one conversation with yourself? Day in, day out, we put in a lot of hours doing what we think is right, but really, it is what others want for us.  Unfortunately, this isn't something that is usually discovered at an early age; we can go on for years and years, struggling and doing everything possible living out someone else's dreams and expectations. 

At what age do we realize that not only are we  dissatisfied with the way our lives are going, but we are also frustrated that we haven't done anything that we actually love and enjoy.

I shared in one of our group meetings that for about 17 years, I was led to believe that I was going to be some type of an Engineer.  The only part of the puzzle that was up to me, was to choose what field of engineering I was going to focus on. I decided to go with Chemical Engineering.  I really didn't know what that meant, all I know was that it sounded serious and prestigious.  In addition, my brother was majoring in Computer Engineering so it was perfect! 

Growing up, my brother and I were 1st and 2nd in everything, literally (simultaneously). When we had school-wide results, my brother scored 1st, and I scored 2nd.  This was our reputation all the way from primary school (1st grade) until secondary school (high school).  So, the level of achievement that I had gained really motivated me to stay focused in my engineering dream.  AND..my dad was really proud of us, so that was even better. 

Well, when I was 18yrs old, good ol'fashioned reality started sinking in when I started junior college (Laney College, Oakland).  I took Pre-Calculus and that wasn't bad at all...it was actually ok.  My brother and I were in the same class, we had the same study group, same tutor etc. With all my energy and efforts into the class, I got a B as my final grade...pretty good for me.  The next semester, I took Calculus 1.  It started getting testy. I couldn't stay focused, I hardly knew what the instructor was talking about, the math language was not making sense etc.  I couldn't get by an assignment without at least 4 hours a night of studying.  As a final grade, I barely made it...but ended up wtih a C (which was a breakthrough in itself).  But when I enrolled for Calculus II, I knew that if I couldn't handle the class, then possibly, this was not my field.  Things were really hard at this point, and to make things worse, if I was going to be a Chemical Engineer, I needed to also take Calculus III!!!!!!!!!

HUGE DECISION POINT...

So, I had an intervention with myself. I remember praying to God to help me get through those ridiculously hard classes.  And as I was praying, I saw myself come out of myself...and turn around and face me.  This was the first day I was introduced to myself.  It was pretty sureal!  I saw then that the only reason I was so stressed out with ife and having a hard time with my classes was because I never had ANY DESIRES whatsoever to be an Engineer. I loved people, loved talkng to people, loved walking people through life challenges and changes, loved studying behavior etc...and none of that was the job description of an Engineer.  I then realized that all my 18, 19 yrs, I was acting out on the expectations of someone else. None of those Engineering desires were mine!  No wonder I was getting really hard on myself when I didn't get something right!  

That was the day that I vowed never to be anyoone else, because no one else would be me! I knew what I wanted to do with my life and I was determined to focus on that and that alone.  The burden of expectations were lifted off and buried far away from me. I waved goodbye to my old self and said hello to my new-found self.  The person who God had put many other great things in.  It was great to be me, and not a version of someone else's me.

Ladies, examine your hearts and see if you are truly walking out your own desires or someone else's.  As women, we have 1000 + 1 things that the world, our spouses, our families, our friends already have planned-out for us...so it's really important that somewhere within us, we are fulfilling our own plans. And if you are unable to see or carry out your own vision for your life, then, let's talk deeper.  If you are up to it, please contact me (@ arighteouswoman@ymail.com) and we can discuss some key things, and pray together.  Time is too short to find out 10yrs from now that you have done absolutely nothing with your life but done a whole lot for someone else's life.

Self Builders:

• Do you know what things make you happy? Are you doing those things?
• If not, what adjustments or changes do you need to make to accomplish the vision and destiny for your life?

A Letter to a Young Woman

http://blog.ransomedheart.com/stasi/2011/04/a-letter-to-a-young-woman.html by Stasi Eldredge

A friend’s daughter is turning 16 and asked a few friends and family members to write her a (short) letter about their memories of being sixteen and perhaps a little advice…here’s mine. I dedicate it to all the young women reading this…whatever their age.


Dear Beauty,
Sweet Sixteen! What a milestone! Hooray for you! On my sixteenth birthday, I got my driver’s license. Now that was sweet. Sixteen is a year of transition and wonder and enlargening circles and increasing freedom and more deeply stepping into the lovely young woman you are.

When I was sixteen, most of the girls I knew had entered into the fray to attract a boyfriend. A date. An invitation. A kiss. A something. (Is it the same for you?) An intangible grid shifted in too many hearts around me (including mine) which gave an enormous amount of weight to the young men while robbing it from the young women. What did “he” think, say, do, ask? Those were the engrossing questions. What had begun in elementary school, increased to obsession in middle school, and became defining in high school. Girlfriends were sacrificed on the altar of “I’ve got a boyfriend, now.” Friendships that may have lasted for years were set aside in the interest of a relationship with a boy that may have lasted barely a few months or even days. You know it happens.

Something internal inside of too many of us handed away our self worth to the cutest boy who made our heart skip a beat. Yikes. When I was in high school, I accepted this. It can be a girl thing. This valuing boyfriends above girlfriends thing.

But you are not a girl. You are a self possessed, loved, and cherished young woman. Still, you are living in a world of girls. So guard your heart. Who you are is the most valuable treasure you possess. Be vigilant against handing away your self worth to anyone else. Male or female! You matter! Your heart matters! I still have girlfriends from high school. But…not any boyfriends. Friend boys. Yes. Boyfriends, no. (My most important friend boy from high school is now my husband!)

There is only One who can tell you to the core of your being who you are. And He has spoken and He continues to speak. Through creation, through His Word, and through the life, death, and triumphant resurrection of His Son. You are priceless. You are immeasurably loved. And nothing and no one can ever change that!

Enjoy being 16! Soak it in! There is the temptation to “rush” it…to rush life in the looking forward to the all that is coming. But I encourage you to savor it. Relish it. Stay in it. Be present to your own life and to the stage you are in; the glorious, wonderful age of sixteen!

Happy Birthday, dear heart! You’re marvelous.
Your Aunt Stasi

Unforgiveness, Find it and REMOVE it

Six Ways to Find Unforgiveness and Remove It

by Joyce Meyer - posted April 12, 2011
http://www.joycemeyer.org/articles/ea.aspx?article=six_ways_to_find_unforgiveness

Most all of us like getting promoted, and there's nothing wrong with that. But sometimes we fail tests in certain areas that keep us from getting promoted. Areas like forgiveness.
If someone has hurt you, don't spend the next 10 years of your life hurting yourself by hanging on to that offense. Most likely, that other person isn't even thinking about you, while you dwell on the incident for years. That only hurts one person—you. You see, when you forgive someone, you are helping yourself. To help you understand the importance of forgiveness, here are six ways to detect unforgiveness in your own heart. Once exposed, you'll be one step closer to your personal promotion from God.

1) Unforgiveness always keeps score. - In Luke 15:29, the elder brother of the prodigal son said, "Look! These many years I have served you." Peter wanted to know how many times he had to forgive someone. Unforgiveness is always looking at the score. But 1 Corinthians 13:5 says, Love takes no account…. It doesn't count up the evil done to it.

Back in the early days of our marriage, when Dave and I were fussing and fuming at each other, I would bring up stuff that happened years before and Dave would say, "Where do you keep all that stuff?" Well, I had a place, and it was all in there eating at me. And every new thing Dave did wrong would get added to this list, and it kept growing until it became a bitter giant in my heart.

2) Unforgiveness always boasts of its own record. - In Luke 15:29, the older brother of the prodigal son says "These many years I have never done wrong." Judgment always says that I always do good and others do bad. An unforgiving spirit keeps us from God's best for us.

3) Unforgiveness always complains.  - "You never do anything for me." Ever catch yourself thinking that about someone? This attitude only sees what others aren't doing and doesn't see what they are doing. God's Word clearly shows that we're not supposed to complain. And if you're continuously using your mouth to complain about some incident of offense, you won't get past it. Don't waste time by complaining.

4) Unforgiveness has a martyr syndrome. - "I do all the work." Workaholics are particularly susceptible to this one. Sometimes people who work all the time and don't know how to enjoy their life get jealous when other people are enjoying life. Is there someone who aggravates you when you see them having a good time? If yes, you could have unforgiveness toward them.

5) Unforgiveness always alienates, divides and separates. - When the kids are acting up, we say "my husband's kids" or maybe something like, "What are you going to do about your son?" Those are divisive statements. Maybe you have a coworker who you stay away from as much as possible or a sibling you don't talk to much…why do you separate yourself from them? Maybe you need to forgive that person.

6) Unforgiveness is always envious and jealous when angry at someone who gets blessed. - If someone who has hurt you gets a blessing, it grates on you…at least it did for me until I learned how to forgive. Forgiveness is a decision—not a feeling.

When you pray for people who have hurt you, it's a choice. But there's healing in that for you. Bless and do not curse them means to speak well and not evil of them when that person is not around. And be good to them in various ways as wisdom allows.
Improve Your Life I want to encourage you today to make a decision to start living a lifestyle of forgiveness and refuse to be offended.

A forgiving lifestyle helps you become more like Christ. As you learn the importance of forgiveness and begin to practice forgiving others, your heart will heal from bitterness, and your personal growth will lead you to the promotions God has planned for you.

Transition

When Rosa Parks stepped onto the bus and sat down in the front of it, she had already determined that the past of moving to the back of the bus was over. She didn't know what the future held but she determined that she would never move back to the bus again; that is called transition! By Gene Quiocho

Transition Builders:

• Are you in a place of transition?
• If you are, what steps are you taking now, that will position you in the right condition for transition?

A Green Pasture

I just read this and this is actually a very practical way of a blessing (in passing).
************************************
Article:  Every family has a spot in their house through which everybody passes on their way in and out the door.  It's the spot where everything gets dumped.  In our home, Stuart piles his papers there and wants them there when he comes looking for them two weeks later. I always have a Bible opened at that household intersection.  As I pass by, I stop for a moment, glance at a verse and take it with me out the door. I don't think its a travesty to nibble a bit of grass from the green pastures on your way past, do you?
************************************

Pretty good huh?

Getting Too Much of Vitamins And Minerals

The health consequences of going overboard on vitamins and minerals
By Cari Nierenberg WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Nowadays, everything from bottled water to orange juice seems to have souped-up levels of vitamins and minerals in it. That may sound like a way to help cover your nutritional bases, especially if your diet is less than stellar. But are you in danger of getting too much of these important nutrients? And can these overloads hurt you?
Yes, if you're routinely taking megadoses. For instance, too much vitamin C or zinc could cause nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Too much selenium could lead to problems including hair loss, gastrointestinal upset, fatigue, and mild nerve damage.
Most people aren't getting megadoses. Still, if you eat a fortified cereal at breakfast, grab an energy bar between meals, have enriched pasta for dinner, and take a daily multivitamin, you could easily be over the recommended daily intake of a host of nutrients.

When it comes to vitamins and minerals, more is not necessarily better. Here's what you need to know to avoid overdoing it.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/effects-of-taking-too-many-vitamins

Bless This House

In this society of broken homes, where can people turn to, to see the reality of God's love and the picture of a stable home? What they see, should show them that it will take more than our carnal human love to repair brokenness and instability. 

 

As women of faith, we need to respect and honor the people we live with, pray for them daily and show the power of God's love working in our homes.  A home that honors and respects love, faith, commitment makes a great impact on others...because the world is watching and looking for some serious answers.

Remember always, that if you say that you are a devoted Christian, then you are of the house of God.  Nothing should seperate you from this!  You are called to bless your house, and the residents in it!  They too are to know that they are of the house of God, and nothing less.  If we establish this type of foundation, it makes living easier when our children / family members step out of our homes.  They can stay focused because they know and understand where they come from and what legacy to carry on.

It is your responsibility to pray this fervently over your children, over your family, and over your house. 

 

2 Samuel 7:28-29 (The Message) - "And now, Master God, being the God you are, speaking sure words as you do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me, please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You've already as much as said that you would, Master God! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently!"

Blessing Builders:

• How does your faith make your home different from the homes of some of your neighbors?
• In what ways can you encourage each other (in your household), to carry on the legacy of Godly principles?

The Measure

Forwarded by Treva...

Let the grace of the Lord be the measure of your sufficiency;
Let the peace of the Lord be the measure of your quietness;
Let the power of the Lord be the measure of your strength;
Let the goodness of the Lord be the measure of your contentment;
Let the love of the Lord be the measure of your service;
Let the faithfulness of the Lord be the measure of your trust;
Let the beauty of the Lord be the measure of your worship;
Let the fullness of the Lord be the measure of your joy;
Let the sovereignty of the Lord be the measure of your confidence;
Let the promises of the Lord be the measure of your expectations;
Let the coming of the Lord be the measure of hope.
You are my portion, O Lord. Psalm 119:57 AMP

by Roy Lessin

Obedience is better

1 Samuel 15:22 - Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

I have been more or less consistent with my early-morning ritual of prayer.  Usually, I pray through a list of concerns, needs, confessions, praises etc. Sometimes, its hard not to feel mechanical about the whole thing, as if I'm quickly discharging a morning duty: wake up, pray, brush my teeth, get ready etc.  You know the drill....

But "duty" is not a bad word.  If it helps stay focused, then great!  Our prayer time gives us a refreshing stride in our morning rush.  Prayer is all about obedience!

Prayer Builders:

• What items would you like to pray about daily?
• How can you create a prayer time regularly?

Living with Unmet Desires - Week One

What is Jealousy?
Envy, covetousness, resentment, suspicion, distrust; jealous resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, etc., or against another's success or advantage itself; mental uneasiness from suspicion or fear of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims; vigilance in maintaining or guarding something; a jealous feeling, disposition, state, or mood: to be zealous, in a bad sense or envy; to create, to procure, jealousy, as of a husband, or an enemy, malice, emulation, envy, fervent mind, indignation (annoyance) to be hot and fervent.

 

According to our workbook (Living with Unmet Desires), jealousy is defined as the following things:

 

• Symptom of a broken heart
• Symptom of a deeper heart issue
• Unbelief that beckons jealous thoughts through the doors of our heart
• We are unable to think well of others
• Pure devastation in our relationships

 

The four core issues of a jealous heart:

1. God, can I trust you? This question is not do I trust you, its can I? This is much more personal. It’s like telling God that you have heard of all the great things that He can do and has done, but can you trust Him with your life? Specifically, you! Trust is a big issue for us because we have been broken and burned so many times that our trust radar is always up and on alert. We just cannot afford to go through one more hurt, right? We play this game with God as if he is just a regular friend of ours; which we share a secret with or some story and we start off like that… friend, can I trust you with this?

 

Trust defined: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something: one in which confidence is placed

 

If we cannot place our trust in God, then we cannot believe anything that comes from Him. Trust and faith are joined together. They are both something that you cannot rely on your own strength for.

Our trust in God is something the enemy would LOVE to steal from us…. Psalm 22:9 tells us of when our need for trust began and with whom. Exercise on lower page 14 is what happens when our trust in someone is broken. These emotions that we feel is something that the enemy is looking for…because when we feel alone, rejected, and confused…then, he decides to come in with the lies.

  

2. God, do You love me? – LOVE – have to have it, right? This is something that most, if not all of us, yearn for…single, married, dating, whatever…. We all want to love, and to be loved.

 

5 different types of love:
Eros is a passionate love, between a man and a woman with sensual desire and longing. The Modern Greek word "erotas" means "(romantic) love". However, eros does not have to be sexual in nature. Eros can be interpreted as a love for someone whom you love more than the philia love of friendship. It can also apply to dating relationships as well as marriage. Although eros is initially felt for a person, with contemplation it becomes an appreciation of the beauty within that person, or even becomes appreciation of beauty itself.

 

Phileo, which means friendship in modern Greek, a dispassionate virtuous love, was a concept developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity. In ancient texts, philia denoted a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers. It is as the affection between two people drawn together in a relationship based on common interests.

 

Agapē means "love" in modern day Greek. It is the unfailing, selfless love that every single one of our hearts longs for. Agape is used in ancient texts to denote feelings for a good meal, one's children, and the feelings for a spouse. It can be described as the feeling of being content or holding one in high regard. The verb appears in the New Testament describing, amongst other things, the relationship between Jesus and the beloved disciple. This kind of love always considers the other person’s interest. The only way we can love this way, is if we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

 

The problem with this is that we come to God with the understanding of what we have experienced love to be from the world…because that’s all we know. And so when God tells us He loves us, we have a hard time grasping the concept.

 

Storge means "affection" in modern Greek; it is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family.

 

Thelema means "desire" in modern Greek; it is the desire to do something, to be occupied, to be in prominence.

  

3. God, are You good? The question in the book is “what do you do when the person who we believed has disappointed us the most in the area of being good to us is God Himself? This is a great question! Then the other part of this question deals with the presence vs the presents of God. Is God good only when we get things from Him or is He just a good God all together? How much do you and I equate the goodness of God with our personal happiness and comfort?

 

4. God, are You just? You know we look at our lives and compare it to the lives of others and we start asking God if certain things are fair….are they just… etc.

Read 1 Sam1:1-8

 

Making the choice to leave the pit. How do we get out of it? With God’s help, of course. First we need to recognize who God is, and secondly, examine our feelings and emotions…and see if they agree and accept God for who He is.

 

This is the battle in our minds.

Self Builders:

• Are you honest with yourself that you have once in your life asked one of those 4 questions?
• What has been the outcome?

Risk, and Reward

Have you ever thought of taking a risk?  Doing something entirely different from the way you are used to? A little change here and there....might actually bring you a greater reward.

We think of something different as a catalyst for stress. Taking risks does not have to be stressful.  If we go into it trusting and hoping for good results, we'll get it!  Just as Ruth (in the book of Ruth) took a huge risk, stepped out of her comfort zone and traveled with Naomi, it strategically put her in a lineage of blessings.

We have that part of us that wants to hold on to tradition, to the safe, to the norm, to the comfortable, the way its always been.  But like Ruth, I want to trust that change - even unwanted change - can be the threshold to a new dimension of growth. 

I pray this for you too ladies! :)

Risk-Taking Builders:

• Are there any unsettling changes that you are currently facing?
• Despite the risk of change, how can you look forward to new areas of growth?