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)

The Heart of a Woman 2

A dominating woman, as we are finding out, is one that unconsciously desires to be seperated from her femininity, so that she can control the fate of the man in her life, and thereby secure her own fate. This trait often morphs us into the CONTROLLING WOMAN! CONTROLLING WOMAN She does not trust anyone else to drive her car, or help in her kitchen, or speak at (HER) church retreats or meetings, or carry something for her, or make a decision that she prefers to make herself...she does not want you to suggest a different dress, or agenda, or restaurant, or route. She travels alone and rooms alone. She plans perfect parties for her children. According to the book (Captivating by Stasi Eldredge*), this type of woman may appear to be a good mom, or a good friend but what they are really doing is arranging other people's lives...because secretly, they want to take all the credit. Controlling women are the sort of women who live for others. She tends to be very well rewarded, and often receives corporate promotions. She is often put in charge of women's ministries and huge projects. She is the ultimate CAN-DO, BOTTOM-LINE, GET-IT-DONE kind of woman! Although this attitude gives us a rush of perfection, unfortunately, by living a controlling and domineering life, we are really refusing to trust God. And it has also never dawned on us that something precious in us is lost. Something the world needs very much. Selah... (meditate on this) Captivating by Stasi Eldredge - http://www.ransomedheart.com/p-207-captivating-paperback.aspx

Making Pancakes

Six year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky. And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon 's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process! That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to ‘make pancakes' for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried... I was thinking and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling or three words needing to be said, sometimes, 'I love you' can heal & bless!

The Heart of a Woman 1

I have been reading a book called Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge - and the beginning was a bit challenging for me because it seemed a little boring and predictable. I loved the husband's writings so much that without the writer identifying themselves, I could tell who wrote each part of the book! The wife's writings were good too but it seemed to me that she had already gotten to her point and had reached her maximum at the first couple of chapters of the book. Nevertheless, I continued reading, as I MUST finish everything I start...(another problem of mine :) Anyway, the more I read, the more I fell in love with the wife's writings...and it kept me engaged. The book reveals the "unveiling of the mystery of a woman's soul". The writers focus on the strength of a woman, the essence of a woman, and the need of a woman. As a part of this book, Stasi goes on to talk about the different challenges or different encounters we have had as children or even as adults that has shaped our thinking, and our mentality. Often times, she will bring in characters from movies that possess certain personality and strengths. And then she ties them in to how we have become attached to these personalities that we watch, and how it has affected the very essence of the heart of God, which is the heart of a woman. Over a few weeks, we will talk about the different types of women that are discussed in this book. It certainly was an eye opener for me, as I could identify with some of these traits. For example: DOMINATING WOMAN: This woman is sharp, sophisticated, and incredibly controlling. She handles crisis by dominating the people around her. She needs no one, she is in charge and on top of things. (Stasi says that some of us might even admire this trait). She knows how to get what she wants. This might be a good thing if we know how to control the rush but it could be terrible, if we go to the other extreme; which is, that there is nothing merciful about a dominating woman. She is not tender at heart, and certainly not vulnerable. She has essentially forsaken every essence of her femininity. She has forfeited her femininity for masculinity! A woman who has fallen in some area of her life will pick up such an attribute. She will decide from the start that she will be the controller of all her relationships, and will never be vulnerable. And if she cannot secure a relationship, she will kill every desire for intimacy, just so she is safe and in control. She becomes a woman "who does not need anyone - especially a man". According to the book, how this plays out over the course of her life, and how the wounds of her childhood shape her heart's convictions are often a complex story, one worth knowing. But beneath and behind it all, she dominates and controls her relationships because she fears intimacy and fears her own vulnerability. This, to such a woman, would seem a perfectly reasonable way to live. Please ladies, know that this self-protective way of relating to others has nothing to do with real love, and nothing to do with deeply trusting God. It is our own gut-level response to a dangerous world. Consider this: whatever is not from faith is sin (Romans 14:23 NKJV) To be continued......

The Finishing Generation

The church has to stop living in Jesus postponement, and start living in Jesus Now! We have to come to the conclusion line. God is bringing everyong to a one-option policy. We are not just sent ones, we are actually the food of God. Our desire is to please Him and His heart. Every day we rise, we need to be desirous to finish His will. We need to be passionate to bring to conclusion the will of God; the will to go to the final end. The connection to the finished line, is the Lord's appearing. A good fight is one that you do not loose, or give up on!

5 Fingers

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty." 2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers. 3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance. 4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them. 5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

The Doers of the World

We need to hear the Word of God To know what we should do But listening is not enough Without our followthrough Just after we moved to a house in a new neighborhood, we invited my sister-in-law and her husband over for Sunday dinner. As we were greeting Sue and Ted at the door, an odd noise directed their eyes toward the kitchen. As I followed their gaze, I froze in horror. An errant hose of our old portable dishwasher was whipping about like the trunk of an angry elephant, spewing water everywhere! Sue went into action mode. Dropping her purse, she was in the kitchen before me, shutting off the water and calling for towels and a mop. We spent the first 15 minutes of their visit on our knees mopping the floor. Sue is a doer - and the world is a better place because of the doers of the world. These are the people who are always ready to pitch in, to be involved, and even to lead if necessary. Many of the doers of the world are also doers of the Word. These are the followers of Jesus who have taken the challenge of James to heart: "Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only" James 1:22. Are you doing all that you know God wants you to do? As you read God's Word, put what you've learned into practive. First hear - then do. God's blessing comes as a result of our obedience. The value of the Bible does not consist merely in knowing it, but in obeying it!

Read James 1:19-27 Posted by Shelia, a fellow RW

A New Season of Increase and Greatness

Every day, you and I are reminded of how tough life can be. It's true that life can be really hard but don't ever give up on your tomorrows! Keep believing, keep looking ahead, keep pressing into more and more of what God has for your life. Please believe your best days are ahead. That's why so much is taught about favor. God's plan is bigger than just what He wants to do for you — it grows into what God wants to do through you. The power of God's increase is so great that there are no challenges too big and no circumstances too difficult to be radically transformed. When you keep on believing in the midst of your storm, not only will God lead you out, but He will lead you into His supernatural increase! What you see as a major setback is really a divine setup. God's working through the circumstances in your life to create an incredible moment of progress and promotion. He has pre-ordained seasons of increase in your life — not because of anything you do, but because He wants to pour out His goodness in your life. God's plan for your life is bigger than simply solving today's problem — He wants to promote you. Through His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit, you will be amazed at what God will do in your life. There's a path to this season of increase, and I want to encourage you to take it. I am believing a new season of increase like never before will spring forth in your life. Always remember that God is for you and loves to give to His children. ~From Joel Osteen Ministries

The Lord's Prayer

Me: Our Father who art in heaven. God: Yes? Me: Don't interrupt me. I'm praying. God: But -- you called ME! Me: Called you? No, I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father who art in heaven. God: There -- you did it again! Me: Did what? God: Called ME. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven" Well, here I am.... What's on your mind? Me: But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty... God: Well, all right. Go on. Me: Okay, Hallowed be thy name. God: Hold it right there. What do you mean by that? Me: By what? God: By "Hallowed be thy name"? Me: It means, it means…good grief, I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean? God: It means honored, holy, wonderful. Me: Hey, that makes sense... I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thanks. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. God: Do you really mean that? Me: Sure, why not? God: What are you doing about it? Me: Doing? Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control, of everything down here like you have up there. We're kind of in a mess down here you know. God: Yes, I know; but, have I got control of you? Me: Well, I go to church. God: That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money -- all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read? Me: Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church! Excuse ME... God: I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you -- for example... Me: Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others. God: So could I. Me: I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free. God: Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together -- You and ME. I'm proud of you. Me: Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread. God: You need to cut out the bread…You're overweight as it is. Me: Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups. God: Praying is a dangerous thing. You just might get what you ask for. Remember, you called ME -- and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying… (pause…) Well, go on. Me: I'm scared to. God: Scared? Of what? Me: I know what you'll say. God: Try ME. Me: Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. God: What about Ann? Me: See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her! God: But -- your prayer -- What about your prayer? Me: I didn't -- mean it! God: Well, at least you're honest. But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness and resentment isn't it? Me: Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her. Boy, have I got some plans for her. She'll wish she had never been born. God: No, you won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. You know how unhappy you are -- Well, I can change that. Me: You can? How? God: Forgive Ann. Then, I'll forgive you; and the hate and the sin, will be Ann's problem -- not yours. You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned. Me: Oh, you know, you're right. You always are. And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with you… (sigh).All right, all right . .I forgive her. God: There now! Wonderful! How do you feel? Me: Hmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all! In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight. I haven't been getting much rest, you know. God: Yeah, I know. But, you're not through with your prayer, are you? Go on.... Me: Oh, all right. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. God: Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted. Me: What do you mean by that? God: You know what I mean. Me: Yeah. I know. God: Okay. Go ahead... Finish your prayer. Me: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. God: Do you know what would bring me glory -- What would really make me happy? Me: No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you now… I've really made a mess of things. I want to truly follow you...I can see now how great that would be. So, tell me...How do I make you happy? God: YOU just did.

You are one of the GREAT ONES!

To my sisters in the Lord... There comes a time in every woman's life when she has to take a close look at herself. Not at her circumstance, not at what she did, not how unfair life is, or at who made you do it. She has to just look at herself in all her glory and imperfection. Have you ever admired a woman who has been through changes in her life? Or have you made up in your mind that she is just messed up. Before you make this mistake, take a closer look.. A woman who has endured the most unusual life is someone of wisdom, someone who has been chosen by God to go through things that have made her stronger. Think of all the great women in the Bible: Mary Magdalene, Ruth and Naomi, the woman with an issue of blood, and Esther, to name a few. Mary was a prostitute, a very uneasy woman. But by the time Jesus was done with her, she was His closest follower. Esther was unfortunate in marrying an abusive man, but by the time God was done with her, she had married one of the wealthiest men in the land. Women are so quick to beat the next one down instead of trying to hold her up. Before you wonder, ' What's up with her?' ask yourself, 'What's up with me?' That woman could be my mother, sister, aunt, in-law, stepmother, niece, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, friend, or co-worker, etc. That woman could be ME. Women are the carriers of life, not the channels of death. Let's build and encourage each other, as did Ruth and Naomi. Shared by a RW - Debra King-Cooper

Moods and Emotions

Psalm 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still Self awareness is not an attention that gets carried away by emotions, overreacting or amplifying what is perceived. On the contrary, it is a neutral place that maintains self-reflectiveness even in the midst of chaotic emotions. In short, self awareness means being aware of both our moods and our thoughts about those moods. It really can be non-reactive, and non-judgmental. This process will allow us to internally re-evaluate each situation and how we respond to it. It allows us to be sensitive to our thoughts; hence, thinking more about it and as a result, reacting differently. We tend to fall into different styles for attending to and dealing with our emotions: Self Aware: Those of us in this category are aware of the moods as we are having them. When we get into a bad mood, we do not spend a whole lot of time obsessing about it; we are able to get out of it sooner by being mindful in managing them. I know some of my friends who time themselves, on how long they'll stay in that space...and they literally come out of it, when time is up! Engulfed: Those of us in this category are often swamped by our emotions, and we are helpless in escaping from them...as though the emotions have taken complete charge. We are typically not aware of the feelings we are having; and as a result, lack any kind of perspective. So we do very little to try to escape from the bad moods. This process leaves us completely overwhelmed and emotionally out of control. Accepting: Those of us in this category are often clear about what we are feeling and we actually accept the moods and do absolutely nothing about changing them. This style usually brings out two different people: 1) the ones who are usually in good moods and so have little motivation to change them and 2) the ones who, despite the understanding on their moods, are susceptible to bad ones but accept them with a nonchalant attitude, therefore, doing nothing to change them...even though its a distressful situation. This pattern is often labeled as depression, as we tend to resign to the despair. Ladies, it is important that we know who we are and how we handle our emotions. Our goal is to grow and be stronger, in all aspects of life. Please re-read this and consider doing things differently. Psalm 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still