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!