Eagles

Hi Everyone,

I have been wondering and thinking about eagles, so I will just share what Dr Myles Munroe has to say. As you read be blessed!

7 PRINCIPLES OF AN EAGLE
Author Dr. Myles Monroe
1. Eagles fly alone at a high altitude and not with sparrows or mix with other smaller birds. Birds of a feather flock together. No other bird goes to the height of the eagle. Eagles fly with eagles. Never in a flock. Even when Moses (Old Testament Bible) went to commune with God on the mountain, he left the crowd at the foothills. Stay away from sparrows and ravens. Eagles fly with eagles.

2. Eagles have strong vision, which focuses up to 5 kilometers from the air. When an eagle sites prey- even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.

3. Eagles do not eat dead things. He feeds on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals but not eagles. Steer clear of outdated and old information. Do your research well always.

4. The Eagle is the only bird that loves the storm. When clouds gather, the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the wings of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher. Once it finds the wing of the storm, the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar the clouds and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. In the meantime all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees. We can use the storms of our lives (obstacles, trouble, etc) to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.

5. The Eagle tests before it trusts. When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she flies down to earth with the male pursing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her. Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground, then bring it back to the female eagle. The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male until she perceives it high enough, and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours, with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig which shows commitment, then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her! Whether in private life or in business, one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.

6. Eagles prepare for training. When about to lay eggs, the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach; the male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff, then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest. He flies back to earth picks thorns and lays them on top of the twigs. He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns, and then flies back to pick rugs to put on the grass. When this first layering is complete the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns, lays them on the nest; runs back to get grass and rugs and lays them on top of the thorns, then plucks his feathers to complete the nest. The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. During the time of training the young ones to fly, the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest and because they are scared, they jump into the nest again.

Next, she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest, leaving the thorns bare. When the scared eaglets jump into the nest again, they are pricked by thorns. Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them. Next, mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air.
As they shriek in fear, father eagle flies out and picks them up on his back before they fall, and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for sometime until they start flapping their wings.

They get excited at this newfound knowledge that they can fly and not fall at such a fast rate.
The father and mother eagle supports them with their wings.
The preparation of the nest teaches us to prepare for changes;
The preparation for the family teaches us that active participation of both partners leads to success;

The being pricked by the thorns tells us that sometimes being too comfortable where we are may result into our not experiencing life, not progressing and not learning at all. The thorns of life come to teach us that we need to grow, get out of the nest and love on. We may not know it but the seemingly comfortable and safe haven may have thorns;
The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us.

7. When the Eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out. We occasionally need to shed off old habits & items that burden us without adding to our lives...

”As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:” - Deuteronomy 32:11

So today my friends, SOAR!!!

Remember God loves you, so do I.....and I am eternally grateful for your friendship.

Sharmaine

PALM BRANCH

A very special friend of ours called Dave Goosen who is such an anointed prophetic teacher of the Word and a worship leader sent me this after reading our article about the olive branch:

John 12:12 On the next day, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, a great crowd who had come to the Feast

John 12:13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him. And they cried, Hosanna! "Blessed is the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord!"

Now I am sure that you would probably be as surprised as I was a getting this scripture. Not quite sure how I was supposed to use this, I started a study on the palm tree. What is amazing about a palm tree, is that in Israel, it is a symbol of victory, and any time a Jew carried a palm branch in his hand, he was indicating to the world that he was a person living in victory.

And so this morning, allow me to encourage you with a Word from the Lord, and allow me to offer you this palm branch as a symbol of your victory. Carry it with you wherever you go so that others too may see that you are a victorious Christian.

Well girls pick up your palm branch and start walking through your towns and cities with pride!!!

Lets hope Dave sends us more encouragement

Remember Jesus loves you

Hugs

Sharmaine

OLIVE BRANCHES

I have been thinking about olive branches and olive trees, seeing as someone extended an olive branch to me this week.....

At first I thought a lot about it, and sent them an olive tree, at first thinking that a tree is full of branches so I was extending many branches to them. So I started looking a little more closely at the meaning so here goes:

The olive tree. The biblical olive tree symbolizes fruitfulness and beauty and dignity. 'Extending an olive branch' signifies an offer of peace.

The olive tree. The biblical olive tree symbolizes fruitfulness and beauty and dignity. Extending an olive branch signifies an offer of peace.

How good God is!!!

But this took me on a journey of forgiveness and how very divine it is. What a price Jesus paid for us all on the cross. If He who is the Son of the Living God could die for me and for you, oh my friends who are we to even carry the smallest grudge in our hearts?

What is Christian forgiveness?

Defining Christian forgiveness is done with words and actions. The word “forgive” is a grace word in the English, as well as the Greek, meaning “to give or to grant.” The meaning is “to remit a debt, to give up resentment or claim for requital, or to pardon an offense.”

Christian forgiveness also encompasses action. Our confession with God involves us seeing our sins as He sees it, bringing God’s forgiveness. When we sin against others, we sin against God. For this reason, we ask God to forgive us of our sins, but we must also forgive our fellow man. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong” (1 John 1:9).

What guides Christian forgiveness if an offender is not willing to repent, when the victim has done nothing wrong? The Lord commands us to forgive, releasing the offense and the offender to Him. This is done in prayer to the Lord. God recognizes these situations with this Scripture. “Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, ‘I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

When we have been wronged, and know we did nothing to deserve harsh treatment from the offender, we normally begin to think of retaliation. Retaliation or revenge is not the right course of action. We no longer dwell on the offense when we relinquish forgiveness, allowing God to take care of the vengeance in a fair, just, and appropriate manner.

Steps to Christian Forgiveness
We recognize that we are sinners in need of forgiveness.
We make the choice to forgive others.
We believe and experience Christ’s loving forgiveness in our lives.
Christ helps us to overcome negative thoughts that are blocking our ability to forgive.
The Holy Spirit empowers us with the right attitude to forgive those who have hurt us.
Trust that God will judge all the wrongs in the world.
When struggling with forgiving others, talk with someone you respect and trust to give you wise counsel, such as your pastor or friend

So dear friends FORGIVE and LIVE!!!

Remember God loves you and so do I

Hugs and gratitude for your friendship

Sharmaine

TIME FOR CHANGE !!!

Well autumn had certainly arrived in Christchurch. I love autumn. Not only am I in the autum of y life but it is an eclectic time of the year, a time of beautiful days and crisp clear nights, a time of seasons change and a time to actually ARISE, SHINE FOR YOUR LIGHT HAS COME.

Girls it is time to get up from that feeling of depression and inertia, time to shake off the cobwebbs and time to NOT have the blueberry muffins.....

Seriously as we breathe the air of change there are so many old things that keep us bound up, so many responsibilities, so many cares....lets cast our burdens on Him, the Master, Jesus is calling us to lay down those things that so easily encumber and ensnare us...when last have you had time for you...let your hair down a little, watched a movie, read a good book.


Stress can cause a host of emotional, spiritual, and physical problems. None of us, however, can avoid stress completely. The key is not to eliminate stress, but to handle it in a way that is godly and productive. Holly G. Miller, in her article for Today’s Christian Woman, said if stress is carefully harnessed, it can create positive results in our lives. These results include increased productivity, greater effectiveness, and renewed energy.
How can we harness stress to make us more productive? What is the difference between stress and worry? How do we deal with the stresses of life without it affecting our physical, emotional, and spiritual health in a negative way? Is it possible stress can be good for us? How can we glorify God despite our stressful circumstances?

I read in Christianity Today that we should first: (adapted to suit)

1. Identify the Stress
2. Discover the eternal principles - Meditate on the Word of God
3. No matter what we are up against God will give us the peace and serenity and strength to face what we are going through
4. Realise you are GOING THROUGH and will not stay there unless you decide to camp there!
5. Find time to be alone with God
6. Worship your way through
7. Adjust your attitude
8. Give yourself time

It is time for change I encourage you today, LET GO and LET GOD.

Remember God loves you and I am so grateful for your friendship

Sharmaine

The following article is located at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2007/marapr/9.22.html
Deborah: A "Do Right" Woman
Judges 4:1-5:31
Liz Curtis Higgs posted 5/11/2007

Judge Debby she was not, dispensing criminals with a sarcastic barb and a wave of her hand. Instead, the biblical Deborah was a renowned prophetess, an honored judge, and an ideal role model for every woman called to lead others.
Three millennia ago Deborah convened her court under a palm tree where "the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided" (Judges 4:5). Undoubtedly their greatest disputes revolved around their oppressors, the Canaanites. Something had to be done, and Deborah was the woman for the job.
When she ordered Barak, her secretary of defense, to amass an army, Deborah made it clear who reigned as commander in chief: "The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you" (Judges 4:6). Unlike take-charge Jezebel, who sought no one's counsel, levelheaded Deborah obeyed the Lord and insisted his will—not hers—be done.
Even if our "army" is a small group of volunteers or a kitchen full of kids, we can learn from Deborah's leadership style by putting aside any personal agenda, listening for God's clear direction, and letting others know who's really running the show.
Fearless in Battle
As courageous as she was wise, Deborah promised to lure Sisera, the enemy commander, to the riverside and deliver him into Barak's waiting hands.
Levelheaded Deborah obeyed the Lord and insisted his will—not hers—be done.
But Barak balked. "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go" (Judges 4:8). What's the deal? Was he a weak-kneed wimp? Or did Barak think the Lord would bless his efforts only if godly Deborah was by his side?
Dig Deeper
1. How does Psalm 18:31-40 describe David's victory over his enemies? In what ways does that passage parallel Deborah's battle against Sisera's army?
2. According to Deuteronomy 32:35 and Nahum 1:2-3, how can we be sure ungodly souls like Sisera have a tent peg in their future?
3. Read Psalm 47:8, which reminds us that no matter who sits on any earthly throne, only One truly reigns. How does that knowledge comfort you in light of current world events?
Whatever the case, her response was swift. "Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you" (Judges 4:9). As her modern counterpart, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once quipped, "In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman."
Deborah indeed took action, yet warned Barak that he'd forfeited any claim in the victory: "Because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman" (Judges 4:9).
Keep that prophecy in mind, and be prepared for a few surprises.
Marching Orders
The two armies mustered: ruthless Sisera with iron chariots and countless men pitted against Barak with 10,000 foot soldiers and nary a chariot. Before Barak lost his nerve, Deborah told him, "Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?" (Judges 4:14).
Once again, Deborah resisted the urge to take credit or take charge, and made the chain of command clear. Oh, that I'd paid attention to Deborah's story a dozen years ago! In my short stint as an employer, overseeing three women who worked for me, I discovered my strong-willed nature didn't always serve me well. My management style was all about "follow me" and "do it my way." Yet as Deborah demonstrates, it's in following the Lord and doing things his way that we truly lead others.
Grand Finale
Just as expected, God's will prevailed on the battlefield: "All the troops of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left" (Judges 4:16). The one exception was Sisera himself, who fled on foot and sought refuge inside the tent of a woman named Jael.
Hardly a safe haven, since Jael owned a tent peg, a hammer, and two strong hands …
I'll spare you the gory story of Sisera's demise and jump to Deborah's response. When she learned her prophecy that God would hand Sisera over to a woman had come true, the sound of music rang out across the land. Her Song of Deborah, the oldest remaining fragment of Hebrew literature, was dedicated to the One she loved: "I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel" (Judges 5:3).
She also sang the praises of those who served her well—"My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people" (Judges 5:9)—and she commended Jael at length, calling her "most blessed of tent-dwelling women" (Judges 5:24). A final leadership lesson from Deborah: Acknowledge the efforts of others, rather than pat yourself on the back.
Beginning to end, Deborah was God's woman. If the Lord has called you to lead others, consider taking Deborah's motto as your own: "March on, my soul; be strong!" (Judges 5:21).Liz Curtis Higgs is the author of 25 books, including Embrace Grace (WaterBrook Press). She lives with her husband and their two teenagers in Kentucky. Visit her website: www.lizcurtishiggs.com.

WHAT WILL JESUS WRITE IN THE DUST OF YOUR LIFE

Once again Rebekah gets straight to a woman's heart. We at WFN praise God for her insight that she shares with us!

What Will Jesus Write in the Dust of Your Life?
By Rebekah Montgomery

Struggling to cover her nakedness, the woman writhed in fear and shame before a large, curious crowd. The crowd did not worry her as much as their religious leaders did. Surrounding her in a self-righteous, angry circle, these men already gripped rocks to hurl at her.
Moments before she was in the arms of a man, though not her husband. Then the religious teachers burst in and seized her. What happened to her lover she did not know. All she knew for sure was that these religious teachers were howling for her blood. In all likelihood, she would be dead in minutes.

Frantically, she looked for a way out.
Surrounded. Trapped. No place to run. No place to hide. No way to deny their charge of adultery. She was guilty. Guilty. Everyone now knew her sin. Nothing she could do or say could change her past, cover it up, or wash her shame away. No hope. No escape. She would die for it.
In a way, she wished that the stones would start flying and it would all be over. If she was blessed, the first stones might hit her on the head and knock her senseless. Then she wouldn’t feel the rest of the rocks — just the blackness of death.

But after death, what would come next?

Soon — very soon — she would face God. Then what? She had no hope of mercy. No escape. No place to hide. Only endless punishment.

One of the woman’s accusers addressed the Rabbi from Galilee teaching the crowd: “This woman was caught in the very act of adultery,” he shouted. “Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons.

“What do you say should be her punishment?” There was a note of challenge in his voice as if he was trying to trap the Rabbi.

The Rabbi’s attention turned to the woman. He wasn’t looking at her body. Or even her sin. He was looking at her soul.
Her tears flowed as she waited for Him to pronounce judgment. If only there was forgiveness for her. She was sorry, so sorry. If only she had a chance to live her life again. She would live differently. If only. If only.

The Rabbi stooped, reaching toward the ground. She automatically flinched. Was He searching for a rock to begin her execution?
To her amazement, He smoothed the dirt at His feet and began writing in it, His fingerprints tracing words.

The woman and the mob watched in stunned silence. Something profound was happening but the woman did not know what it was.

Then the religious teachers crowded around to read what He was writing.
Jesus’ Letter to the Guilty

In a millennium past, Almighty God reached out of heaven, took a handful of dust, formed it, breathed life into it, and created a man. Now, Jesus, the one and only God-man, was doing the same; He was writing words of life in the dirt and creating a new woman.
What did He write? Some have suggested that He wrote the secret sins of her accusers.

Whatever words He wrote, it wasn’t words the self-religious wanted to read. It condemned their devout but dirty hearts. They fled from Him — guilty, condemned, but unforgiven.
But for the repentant sinner, He wrote words of life and spoke them aloud:

Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Getting Honest, Getting Forgiven
For the admitted sinner, whatever mistakes we have made, whatever sins we have committed, Jesus bends down and writes across our past: “Neither do I condemn you. I can take your dirt and form you into a new creation. Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Paul put it this way: “You show that you are a letter from Christ … written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:3-NIV)

When you stand before Jesus, what will He write in the dust that is your life?
The self-righteous get left in the dust — unforgiven. But the admitted sinner gets forgiven and renewed.
© Rebekah Montgomery 2008For reprint requests, contact Rebekah at her website,

Marriage

Dear Friends

Marriage Question: How am I supposed to make a marriage work when my husband won't try? He won't talk and if I try to tell him something that is bothering me, he gets mad at me. There is no intimacy in our marriage as that is one of the problems that I tried to talk to him about yesterday. I tried to tell him that I wanted to be treated like a woman, not one of the guys and he got mad at me. He never just tells me that I'm pretty or that he loves me, never just gives me a hug or anything that is considered sweet. All affection is out the window and if I try to talk to him about it, I am the bad guy and he gets mad and refuses to talk to me. It makes me feel like I don't know how I ended up married to this guy, I just want to be happy and right now I am not at all.

Guidance: I understand your feelings. We women like to feel loved and appreciated by our husbands, and when they fail to "show" us that appreciation we start to become dejected and discontented. But let’s back up moment. Is there anything at all that we could do about the way we feel in marriage? Maybe we could be the initiator and try and be more caring towards our husband anyway. Or, maybe we can express ourselves in a productive way and let our husband’s know how we feel?

If we don’t do anything about our circumstances we become more and more discontented within ourselves and we’ll act out with those feelings in our behavior, and then our husbands REALLY don’t want to give us any affection. Uh oh, now what did I do? This is how breakdowns in communication get started. I know that for many wives it seems we’re the only ones who do anything for the marriage, but that’s mostly because our husbands really don’t think there is a problem, or they’re not sure themselves how to repair the problems.

It’s important in marriage that husband and wife take time out of their busy schedules to share a part of themselves with each other every single day! Our marriage can’t run on empty words. All marriages (no marriage is immune) go through periods where couples simply lose touch with one another. Why? Because couples take each other for granted. They don’t do it on purpose – it just happens overtime.

To stay spiritually fit and healthy we must study God’s Word daily and pray and get close with God because how can we have a relationship with Christ if we do not communicate with Him. The analogy is the same for marriage. You must daily share a part of yourself with your spouse every single day. Without the spiritual maintenance we lose touch with God - without the marriage maintenance, we lose touch with the one we chose to be married to for life.

Marriage needs love shown and acted out. The words "I love you" are nice to hear but couples in marriage also want to be shown love. Intimacy between couples gets lost somewhere out in left field because of the lack of togetherness that marriage needs to flourish. I’m not talking about sex here either; I’m talking about intimacy. Anytime couples are spending time together, whether it is on a picnic, a walk in the woods, playing a board game, etc, it constitutes together time, which is intimacy.

If your weekdays are busy and hectic then the weekend should be set aside just for the two of you, and if you have children include them, but make sure there is alone time for mom and dad too. Unfortunately some husbands just don’t know that their wives are unhappy about anything because she doesn’t speak up. I used to be that way. One thing that I have found in my own 24-year marriage is husbands can’t read our minds. We ladies can huff and puff, clatter around in the kitchen, throw dishes at the wall, etc, and our husbands will still be oblivious to anything wrong with the marriage. They just see it as us having a bad day. We have to sit them down and communicate our feelings to them in a good way.

Be assertive (not aggressive) with your feelings and tell your husband just how you feel, without having a tone in your voice. Be kind, nice, and loving. Remember our purpose for marriage is to be giving and loving, even if we are not always treated with that same respect. I know it’s often difficult to be nice to people when they have not been so nice to us, but it is the right way to do. Showing principled acts of love is not always going to be easy but if you first be the shining light on the hilltop, your will be rewarded for your goodness, so shine on.

You mentioned that he gets mad at you when you try to tell him something that is bothering you. I’ll tell you why. Your husband feels that you are blaming him for your unhappiness and that is why he gets mad. It does not make it right that he gets angry with you, but it is a defense mechanism. Your husband does not want to take the responsibility of a failing marriage. That is why you need to express your self in a different tactic by communicating without putting your negative feelings back onto your husband. Express yourself as being a part of the problems within the marriage. No one person is ever to blame for the disarray of a marriage.

Talk to your husband, let him know how much you appreciate all that he does for you, and spend more quality time together. Let your husband feel good about who he is as a man, husband, provider, etc, by reminding him of why you married him. Watch how later you will most likely receive some extra attention you weren’t expecting. Go out on dates, rent a hotel room for the weekend, go for walks in the woods or by the lake, in the mountains, but don’t allow your feelings to control you. Unhappiness is something that can be reversed by our loving actions.

Nine times out of ten, when you talk to your husband in a loving manner, expressing yourself and how you feel, he will come to realize he has not been the loving and giving husband he should be. And just because your husband has stopped giving affection does not mean that you cannot be the initiator and give your husband affection. A healthy marriage runs on all four batteries, physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental – make sure that all four batteries are recharged at least once a week. See the articles below for more about how you can bring more intimacy in your marriage.


Article Resources:
How To Bring Intimacy Back into Your Marriage
Marriage is a holy union....so many people have so many problems in this area. I have posted ANGIE'S MARRIAGE COLUMN FEBRUARY 2008 for you today. May it help you, bless you and restore you. Hugs Sharmaine

Dr. David B. Hawkins
source: Crosswalk

Fire is one of those elements that can either be our friend, keeping us warm and dry, or our foe, creating incomparable damage. Likewise, the tongue can either encourage or destroy. As the Apostle James said, "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness." (James 3: 9) James goes on to say the tongue is like a spark that can set a mighty forest ablaze.

Fire creates searing heat. Perhaps more destructively, however, is the fact that fire consumes the oxygen needed to survive. Fire robs us of life just as the tongue can set a mortal blaze in our marriages, stealing vitality from our life.
For any fire to continue it needs fuel. Thankfully, fire cannot burn on its own. I received a vivid lesson about fire and fuel one warm summer day when I was about ten years old. I was lying in the tall grass behind my house with a couple of buddies. With stalks of dried grass hanging out of our mouths we were telling stories and enjoying ourselves. Life couldn't have been sweeter.
To ten-year olds, those stalks of grass were temptingly similar to a forbidden cigarette and one of us wondered what it would be like to "smoke" a few of those blades of grass. It all seemed innocent enough. We gathered our "cigarettes" and proceeded to light up. Suddenly, without warning, a spark caught in a bundle of dried grass, and then another, until we were faced with an inferno beyond our control. Realizing the potential danger of the fire, we ran for the help of my dad. Three screaming boys immediately caught his attention. We formed a "bucket brigade" and were able to douse the fire and get on to the next important issue—explaining all of this to my very angry father.
An innocent outing, an impulsive act, a furious outburst of potential danger. We contained the problem quickly and limited the damage.
Like that field, a marriage can become tinder dry at times, ready for a spark to ignite things. A season of dryness, or ongoing conflict, can set the stage for an angry outburst of deadly proportions.
"But, I just can't help it," twenty-seven year old Karen said recently. "I just get so mad that I say what's on the top of my mind. I know I can be extremely hurtful. We have called each other the most horrible names, and are embarrassed about it. We both have biting tongues, and know it."

Karen and Doug, clients of mine, were newly married and already having problems. I watched as Doug nodded his head to Karen's rendition of the problem. I asked them to explain more about their problem.

"My husband and I can't seem to agree on anything. I mention to him that I want more help around the house, and somehow we end up in World War III. I hate it."
"It's true," Doug said soberly. "We don't know how it happens, but when we fight, which is not all the time, it gets bad. We say things we would never say at other times, and we've nearly called it quits because of it."
"Well," I said slowly. "I have a saying—'If it's predictable, it's preventable."
"It certainly is predictable," Karen said wryly. "The preventable part is questionable."
I could clearly see the pain Karen and Doug were in. They had hurt each other deeply with, impetuous, ill-spoken words.
"It takes a lot of self-control to slow things down enough to see what you two are doing so you can change the pattern."
"Doug is just as tired of my biting tongue as I am," Karen said.
"I can get pretty sarcastic and angry, too," Doug replied, "and we're both tired of our bickering."
"Good," I said. "Being tired of how things are going is a great place for God to work in our lives. We have to get to the point where we are at our wits end—then God can step in."
We spent the rest of our session exploring the roots of their anger and biting tongues. We discussed how their anger and sharp words had caused tremendous pain in their marriage, to the point where they had nearly separated several times. It had scared both of them, and they wanted to learn new tools.
One of the tools I shared was "speaking from your most vulnerable self." This requires slowing down the process and exploring what other feelings could be shared rather than anger—which so often is hurtful. We discussed how anger is a secondary emotion, and how we need to look beneath the surface and learn to share other more vulnerable emotions that lay below the surface.
We discussed common underlying feelings known as GIFT:
• Guilt: anger often covers feelings of unexpressed guilt.
• Inferiority: anger often covers feelings of insecurity or inferiority.
• Fear: this is often an emotion that is difficult to express, but can be powerful when expressed appropriately.
• Trauma: conflicts often reawaken previous trauma in your life, creating hypersensitivity to an issue.
Karen and Doug seemed relieved to hear that their problems were normal and could be remedied. They agreed to slow things down when they became defensive, to guard their tongues and to look deeply to see if there were other, more vulnerable emotions needing expression. They agreed to take time outs when needed. It would take work, but they agreed to take these new insights home to practice.
Are you using an untamed tongue in your marriage? Have you said things you regret later? Consider taming your tongue. Recognize and own your primary feelings, practice some of the tools in this article, and allow God to heal problems without anger and harsh words. You'll be glad you did.

KIM'S TESTIMONY

Testimony

Having gained employment from my Placement with a company in Wellington. I found myself manning their reception desk in the main office in Wellington, not a position I aspired to. However with a wedding coming up and a desire to contribute to our lives together I engaged in the job. It was to be for 6 weeks and challenge was the name of the game in an environment that was constantly changing.

I should be used to change as my whole life up to that point had been about change. I had been outside of church for the last 3 years due to several bad experiences that finally saw me give up in disgust with the church and all but turn my back on God.

During my years with the church I was a solo Mum of a child who did not fit into what was considered the ‘norm’ thus leading to being ostracised and labelled as a family unit.

However I have also been on the receiving end of God giving back to me the years the locusts had eaten and I believe that due to the last 20 years of loss and failure that I have come into a period of jubilee and God has begun to restore the education I had to abandon due to my life being swallowed in caring for my son and burn-out and work.

At 44 I am 3 years through a Degree in Social Work due to graduate this year, I no longer have to worry about where my next meal will come from or how I will pay the bills, in fact now I don’t give either a thought, I accidentally ended up with not one but 2 jobs both paying more than the supermarket job I once held that I had to work 60 hours a week in to survive. Both these jobs meant experience in Social Work was more concentrated and gave me work through-out the holiday period in the lead up to my wedding.

I have a man called to be my husband in the true sense of the word to enhance and add to my life after enduring years of abuse and unfaithfulness at the hands of another man whose mission in life was to take as much as he could from my identity. I stood this for 5 years before I moved on with my son.

These changes continued and snowballed despite my not giving God the time of Day, He in His infinite goodness still blessed my life.

One of the changes was in counsellors during my time at the company I was employed with, moving from one to another site to cover shortages; I met George and Sharmaine when they arrived for a stint of two weeks with the Wellington office, George to have a much needed break and Sharmaine to work as counsellor for the two weeks.

It was not until 2-3 days later that I discovered they were Pastors of a small church in Christchurch. I wasted no time in telling them my thoughts on the church and trying (in vain) to convince them I was tuff. I had always wondered why there seemed to be a connection between Sharmaine and myself, like we had always known each other and the feeling of warmth and friendship. Then I found out they were Pastors and “Oh the penny drops.”

The next two weeks felt like they had come just for me, they hadn’t and I struggled with the feeling that I was being egotistical until they explained that sometimes God will send people half way round the world just to talk to one person.

The time for me at this company in Wellington had started with me being incredibly grumpy and ended with me feeling incredibly grumpy but with the difference being I had made friends with people who had accepted me warts and all and I think God maybe wanted to get my attention just to say “Hey I’m still here and I love you.”

The time came to a close when they had had dinner with my partner and I and I had made plans to attend a conference in Christchurch in June. Yahoo I haven’t been to Christchurch since I was 20 and now I was going back to see people I now know and to meet others whom I will know soon.

God has His eye on the sparrow.

BROTHER LAWRENCE

Today I want to talk about Brother Lawrence, he was a lame monk working in the monastery kitchen.

He said, " For me the time of action does not differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are calling on me for many different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as when on my knees."

Can you imagine what his life was like, in the middle of everything he learnt the art of integration (incorporating the sacred with the secular). This is truely an art we need to learn as we rush around in our every day lives.

Being busay on the outside yet grounded and still, on the inside. May your week see you in the secret place, the shadow of the Almighty, swaddled in His love for you.

Remember Jesus loves you and I am so grateful for your friendship

Sharmaine

MARRIED

Our daughter got married on the 29th of December. What a flurry of excitement, our house seemed overflowing with giggling flower girls, chattering bridesmaids, then it was over all too quickly.

George and I returned home to a house which seemed to echo with our voices and we found ourselves sipping a cup of (very welcome) tea and wondering how Kerry-Lee grew up so quickly.

Seasons change in our lives, and although our son is still at home, (not for very long), (there seems to be another wedding looming) George and I have a new found freedom. Tiome to BE again.

Hows grateful we are to God for our son-in-law and his wonderful family who have embraced our daughter with such generosity of love.

God is indeed good!

Love and hugs

Sharmaine

MIRIAM

I have lately been thinking a lot about Miriam. So many thoughts have rushed through my mind when I think of her....

Firstly as a little girl following her mothers instructions, following her brother downstream to see what was to become of him, then later on we meet her as a worship leader, following the Hebrews successful crossing of the Red Sea.

She was a strong woman, a natural leader. As is often the case with some folk their very strength becomes their very weakness.

This forerunner, this woman who had ascended to the highest post ever held by a woman, had surpassed her boundaries. She overestimated herself and considered herself as on the same level as her brother Moses. In her pride she undermined his authority.

Miriam was a woman at the top, an exceptional woman, when jealousy crept into her heart and she asked if Moses was indeed the leader, were the 3 of them not on the same level. (Paraphrased)

However sadly Miriam slowly shifted away from God's control in her life to self control. I believe that this took place so subtly that perhaps she did not realise the change before it was too late.

Perhaps if she had ernestly searched her heart honestly in time she would have prevented God's judgement in her life, perhaps she would not have overstepped her boundaries by overestimating herself.

Miriam was a God gifted leader who had held an inmportant position in her nation.

If we are in poitions of leadership, we may also fail. Let us learn from her mistake, let us NEVER MURMUR asgainst God given authority. Many years of faithfulness do not armour us against sin. Every day evil can threaten to overtake you if you allow it.

Draw near to the Son, look full in His wonderful face, guard your heart, above all guard your heart for out of it the issues of life flow.

Remember Jesus and I love you

Hugs and blessings

Your friend

Sharmaine

The Girls

Young WFN Girls

ZIPPORAH

I have had Zipporah on my min d recently. Exodus 2:21 tells us, "And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter." KJV

So Moses the murderer to be leader/saviour of his nation, does not marry a young Jewish girl, devout and strong in their faith, he marries the daughter of a Midianite priest named Reuel or Jethro as we know him.


We are never told if she converted to the faith, and in fact her only action we know of is recorded in the scripture in the circumcision of one of her sons. The Bible tells us God was angered at Moses' disobedience, in fact God was prepared to kill him. Zipporah concluded it was because Moses had not circumsied one of their sons and unhappily did the job herself.


Zipporah is last mentioned briefly, in Exodus 18:2, when Jethro returns her and their sons to Moses.


We know Moses was spoken about because of his wife, and it made me think how we react when our husbands are critised because of how we look, or how we speak or how we perform.


How do we feel in the ministry when we are under the magnifying glass of the church?


Scholars also believe Moses left his wife and children with Jethro when he made the dangerous journey to Egypt. We see Zipporah did God's will only when her husbands life was threatened-when push came to shove....

Girls do we do the same? Will we wait until we face serious trouble before we obey, or will be always obey God?

To be the one to follow your husband is not always easy, often this jpourney is fraught with heartache and dispair, but never ever give up. "Keep your eyes on Jesus, look full in His wonderful face" if our eyes are on Jesus, on the Son then the shadows stay behind us!


Remember Jesus and I love you

Hugs and Blessings

Daddy's Girls

Well, what a wonderful time was had by the girls when they realised who they REALLY are in Christ!!

Thedy realised they were "Daddy's Girls" that they were unique and wonderful. They got rid of their baggage and lifted their heads...Praise God that in all things we are more than conquerors.

Hugs and Blessings

Sharmaine

Have you ever thought about Abishag? Abi who you may ask....well yes she is kind of obscure in the Bible!

She had the dubious honour of keeping David warm when he was old and failing. (1Kings1:2 KJV) The Bible does not state whether she enjoyed her task or whether she found it distastful.

How do we respond daily to the distastful, tasks we have to perform. Lets face it our feelings towards various jobs or studies or routine often vary, often we find ourselves in situations or jobs that are not what we had envisioned them to be.

1 Cor.2:3 says,"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful"

Well often we are not in our dream jobs, often we live in the valley of dissolusionment....however do your job the best way you know how, and of course keep praying that God will open other doors for you.

Hugs and Blessings

Sharmaine

Dear Friends

This was forwarded to me, and really touched my heart. May it minister to you

Battling Insecurity?

"May you be… founded securely on love."
Ephesians 3:17 AMP


Are you battling insecurity? If so, reflect on these ten Scriptural truths about yourself:
(1) I know God loves me and that He has a great plan for my life.
(2) Yes, I've faults, but God's working on me, changing me day by day; while He does, I can still enjoy my life.
(3) I realize I'll always have issues to deal with, so I won't be discouraged when God convicts me of areas that still need improvement.
(4) Everybody has weaknesses, so I'm not a failure because I'm not perfect.
(5) I want people to like me, but my sense of worth isn't dependent on them. No, Jesus has already proven my worth by dying for me.
(6) I refuse to be controlled or manipulated by others. Even if they reject me I'll survive, for Jesus has promised never to leave me nor forsake me.
(7) No matter how often I fail I won't give up, because God is with me, to strengthen and sustain me.
(8) I like myself. I don't like everything I do and I want to change, but I refuse to reject myself because God loves and accepts me as I am.
(9) In myself I may be nothing, but in Christ I'm everything I need to be.
(10) I matter to God. My life makes a difference. Regardless of the challenge, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13 ).
As you reflect daily on these principles, you'll be amazed at how differently you begin to feel about yourself!

©Bob Gass

Hugs and Blessings

Sharmaine

PEACE

Catherine Marshall writes

"A king once offered a prize to the artist who could paint the best picture of peace. Many tried, but there were only two the king really liked. One was of a calm lake. It was a perfect mirror for the peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

The other picture had mountains too. But they were rugged and bare. Above them was an angry sky from which fell rain, and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountains tumbled a waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the king looked closely he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest.

There, in spite of the rush of angry water, she sat on her nest - in perfect peace. Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Why? 'Because,' explained the king, 'Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. Peace means to be in the middle of all these things and still be calm in your heart."

My dear friends, to be in the place of "nothing missing, nothing broken, nothing lost" this is the journey we all embark on. Yet it is right there, to sleep in the midst of the storm, to walk while the world is raging around you....

Where you may ask, in the midst of Jesus. He is the only one who offers the peace beyond all understanding, He offers the ability to walk in the storm and not be afraid, He offers you the strength to see that illness through, He is the one.

If you have never met Jesus or do not know Him as your personal Lord and Saviour, write to me at the address on the top of the page and I will be happy to lead you in a simple prayer and send you a book which will help you.

May God bless you today as you walk with HIM!

Hugs and blessings

Remember Jesus loves you so do I

SHARMAINE'S ANGELS

Well as we know October is Pastor's appreciation month. (Hope you have shown your pastors how much you appreciate them!)

Do you remember the hit show "Charlies Angels" well I have "Sharmaine's Angels"....Leonie and Merinda. I had my house cleaned (thank you Jesus) and a meal on the same night (double thank you Jesus)

Thought you may want to know what these angels look like well here they are....THANK YOU GIRLS I APPRECIATE YOU!!!!

PS I took new phots of them still to be uploaded

ABIGAIL

I have been thinking much recently about Abigail, Nabal's wife. (Read about them from 1 Samuel 25:3)

He was very much like the meaning of his name, a fool, she was a wise dilligent wife.Nabal was wealthy and you probably find that her family had wed Abigail to Nabal for his wealth.

The Bible speaks very highly of her and shows Abigail as a woman of faith.What a mismatched pair they were. It would have been easy for Abigail to have been bitter and resentful, however she served her household with grace.

We read an account in scripture of how Nabal offended King David, Abigail in her wisdom did not argue with her husband, instead she set about righting the wrong, efficiently and wisely.

We read how King David appreciated Abigails faith and good qualities and thanked God for her.It is sad that while Abigail was negotiating a peace plan her husband was part of a drunken revelry.

Needles to say when Nabal heard wht Abigail had done he had a stroke or siezure of kinds and died. King David immediatly sought Abigails hand in marriage.

In a moment of favour she went from being a fools wife to being a kings bride.

There are so many examples of faithfulness in Abigails life. When I looked at her life I began to wonder how we would have reacted to being married to such a brutish lout? I wonder how gracious we would have been, and if we would have allowed biterness and resentment to embed their poisen deep within our beings?

Abigail clothed herself in humility, and through her eample she has paved the way for all women of strength to walk humbly before their God and make peace in broken and often violent relationships.

Abigail teaches us that God and God alone can bring tranquility to broken lives.

Through God we can experience life and life more abundantly.

Hugs and blessings to you all

Remember God loves you so do I

Sharmaine

Dr. Ed Young
The Winning Walk
source: CrossWalk
Over the course of my life, there have been several times when I thought it might be the end.

For instance, once when I was in college I had been very sick with chicken pox and then had to stay up all night studying before taking my mid-terms. And after my midterms I had to drive back home to my parents' house feeling just awful!

I'll never forget… it was pouring down rain, I was sleepy, and somehow I just dozed off. I remember waking up just in time to avoid hitting the car in front of me, and I swerved off the road not knowing what I would hit. In that moment I cried out, "Lord, help!" Needless to say, I made it through.

Then there was the time a few years back when I was in a private plane flying back to Houston and we had a crash landing. We were fortunate to have a tremendous pilot and thankfully, no one was hurt. But on the way down in the plane, the prayer that overcame me was, "Thank You, Lord. Thank You for my family and my life."

We've all had those moments when we've prayed prayers like the ones I prayed. But that's not really praying, is it? Those prayers are crisis prayers. They're last-second, desperation prayers!

As a pastor, I can tell you that most of the Christian men and women I talk to would like their prayer life to be more than just random outbursts to God in the midst of desperation. They would like to improve their prayer life. They want a real, intimate, interactive prayer life. Like the kind of prayer life Jesus had.

The apostles studied Jesus' lifestyle. They saw Him go off by Himself to pray at all hours of the day. And they would see Jesus come back from these prayer times with the Father invigorated, alive, refreshed, and motivated. So they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray!

Jesus gives them a model prayer in Luke 11:

"Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation."

Now, this is not the Lord's Prayer, but a model prayer. It is an outline for prayer, a pattern for prayer. And there are six basic ingredients in this prayer that I want to share with you today.

I have formed these six factors around the acronym CHRIST.

C stands for concentrate. The first word in the model prayer is "Father." Almighty God says that His children are to go to Him and call Him Father. We are to concentrate on Him as God, Father, His nature, His character, His dominion, His omnipresence. That's the first ingredient.

H stands for hallowed. "Hallowed be Your name." The name of God is not to be used in a pedestrian or profane sense. It is to be set aside, it is unique, it is holy. It is to be separate from all other names.

R stands for ruler. "Your kingdom come." It is His kingdom. His agenda in heaven is the same agenda He has for earth. We should not pray for God to bless our kingdom and agendas, but rather that we may be in the middle of His plan and kingdom…which is anywhere Jesus is Lord. Anywhere God's will rules and reigns is where you will find the kingdom of God.

I stands for I need. "Give us each day our daily bread." This is where the pattern of prayer changes. We are simply to pray for the needs of today… not tomorrow. And it's not what we want or what we desire, but what we need.

S stands for sin. "And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us." We are to ask forgiveness for our sin. This is a prayer for believers, not for unbelievers. If we forgive those who have sinned against us, we too will be forgiven.

T stands for temptation. "And lead us not into temptation." This does not mean, "God, do not try to trick or tempt me," but rather, "Lord, please make sure I do not get entrapped by the world. Keep me away from the wrong crowd."

Remember, this is not a rote prayer. This is simply an outline. A model for communication with the Lord our God.

Prayer can be as ordinary as picking up the telephone…but as awesome and incredulous as discovering that almighty God is on the other end of the call!

It's my prayer that you will remember the word CHRIST in your prayer time this week and in the weeks to come. I hope this powerful tool will help strengthen your prayer time…and your relationship with Him!

Email from God

As you got up this morning, I watched you and hoped you would talk to me, even just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday – but I noticed you were too busy trying to find the right outfit to put on and wear to work.

I waited again. When you ran around the house getting ready I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy…

At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair.
Then I saw you spring to your feet.
I thought you wanted to talk to me, but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip.

I watched as you went to work and I waited patiently all day long. With all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me.

I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that’s why you didn’t bow you head. You glanced over three or four tables and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't. That's okay.

There is still more time left, and I have hope that you will talk to me yet you went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do.

After a few of them were done you turned on the TV, I don’t know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there & you spend a lot of time each day in front of it, not thinking about anything – just enjoying the show.

I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal but again you didn’t talk to me.

Bedtime I guess you felt too tired.

After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time.
That’s okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you.
I’ve got the patience more than you will ever know.
I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well.
I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought or thankful part of your heart.
It’s hard to have a one-sided conversation.

Well you are getting up again and once again I will wait with nothing but love and hoping that today you will give me some time.

Have a nice day!
Your friend
GOD

The Armour of God

GOD’S ARMOUR FOR US.

We are engaged in a spiritual battle – all believers find themselves subject to satan’s attacks because they are no longer on satan’s side. Thus, Paul tells us to use every piece of God’s armour to resist satan’s attacks and to stand true to God in the midst of those attacks

Belt of Truth - Satan fights with lies, and sometimes his lies sound like truth; but only believers have God’s truth, which can defeat satan’s lies.

Breast plate of Righteousness - Satan often attacks our hearts – the seat of our emotions, self-worth, and trust. God’s righteousness is the breastplate that protects our hearts and ensures his approval. He approves of us because he loves us and sent his Son to die for us.

Footgear, And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace - Satan wants us to think that telling others the Good News is a worthless and hopeless task – the size of the task is too big and the negative responses are too much to handle. But the footgear God gives us is the motivation to continue to proclaim the true peace that is available in God – news everyone needs to hear.

Shield of Faith - What we see are satan’s attacks in the form of insults, setback, and temptations. But the shield of faith protects us from satan’s flaming arrows. With God’s perspective, we can see beyond our circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours.

The Helmet of Salvation - Satan want to make us doubt God, Jesus, and our salvation. The helmet protects our minds from doubting God’s saving work for us.

The Sword of the Spirit - The sword is the only weapon of offense in this list of armour. There are times when we need to take the offensive against satan. When we are tempted, we need to trust in the truth of God’s Word.

So today do not forget to put on the full armour of God.

Love and Hugs

Mum, here's a prayer for you to pray:

"Lord, help me to give my children the best - not of things, but of myself, cherishing them on good days and bad, theirs and mine. Teach me to accept them for who they are, not just for what they do; to listen to what they say, if only so they'll listen to me; to encourage their goals, not mine. Let me give them a home where respect and integrity are the cornerstones, and there's enough happiness to raise the roof.

May I give them the courage to be true to themselves; the independence to take care of themselves, and the faith to believe in You. May I discipline them without demeaning them, demand good manners without forgetting my own, and let them know they have limitless love no matter what they do.

Let me feed them properly, clothe them adequately, and have enough to give them small allowances - not for the work they do, but the pleasure they bring. Let me be moderate in all these things, so that the joy of getting will help them discover the joy of giving.

See that their responsibilities are real but not burdensome, that my expectations are high but not overwhelming, and that my praise is thoughtful and given when it's due.

Help me to teach them that excellence is work's real reward. And when it comes - let me revel in each honour, however small, without once pretending that it's mine - my children are glories enough.

Above all, let me ground them so well in Your truth that I can let them go. In Jesus' name, Amen!"

"God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try."

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Dear Friends

What an awesome syaing. How often have we suffered from burnout because we have had a need to succeed. What is success in God's economy....is it tramping over all to achieve and get what we want? Is it perhaps aggrsively challenging others, pouting and wanting our own way? Is it perhaps being the most popular, the most beautiful.............is it money, goods......what is it.

Well God says in His Word,

"Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. "

The way UP in Gods Kingdom is the way DOWN....God calls us to take the example of His Son into our hearts. The night Jesus would be crucified, do we find Jesus lounging back and the disciples washing His feet, no our Lord, our Jesus, took a towel and washed the feet of His disciples.

Success comes in many forms, but mostly we succeed as we serve, as we find ourselves amongst the crowds, helping them, bringing them the greatest gift of all time, the gift of Jesus.

Success is KNOWING Jesus and Him KNOWING you.

The things of this world will fade away...the things of heaven are eternal.

Today, consider your definition of success and meditate on what God says it is.

Remember I am praying for you

Hugs and blessings

Sharmaine

God is not looking for servants. He is looking for sons (and daughters) who will join him in the family business. Buddy Owens, pastor of spiritual growth at Saddleback

Not long ago I had two separate conversations with two different people who said the same thing. One is a man, the other is a woman. One is Presbyterian, the other is Assemblies of God. They each were worship leaders in churches that were experiencing great renewal. And they each said to me: "I wish what is happening in my church was happening in my life." Sad to say, their sentiment is not uncommon in the ministry.

In Song of Songs 1:6, the beloved laments: "My brothers have made me tend their vineyards, but I have neglected my own." Her words ring so true, and remind me of my two friends – and of myself.

If I'm not careful, the joy of service turns so easily into the drudgery of duty, and before I know it, I have replaced intimacy with responsibility. I fill my life with activities when God wants to fill it with himself. More meetings, more projects, more hours spent at work serving my master. All of these things are worthy of my time and effort. But as I learned from the Parable of the Prodigal, God is not looking for servants. He is looking for sons who will join him in the family business.

The frustration mounts. The emptiness deepens. I become restless and dissatisfied. I occupy myself with more activity – but that's just digging the hole deeper. Like the older brother in Jesus' parable who cried out, All these years I have been slaving for you!, my "being" is soon overshadowed by my "doing."

When I center my spiritual identity on the work of the ministry rather than centering myself in the presence of the Father, my passions change. My old passion for God is replaced by a new passion for service. Its rewards are more measurable and often more gratifying: acclaim, a sense of achievement and importance. I feed this new passion, and by doing so, starve the old one. The result is that I begin to measure my spiritual maturity by the load I carry rather than the freedom I enjoy.

But when religious activity takes the place of spiritual intimacy, my heart begins to harden and I end up – as the beloved lamented – having spent my energies tending my brothers' vineyards while my own vineyard has been neglected. The result is burnout, jealousy for the spiritual intimacy that others experience, and a longing for a taste from the spiritual feast that others have enjoyed at Jesus' feet while I was slaving away in the kitchen.

I justify my negligence with a Martha mentality that if someone else isn't working as hard as I am, then what they need is a good swift kick in the pants from the Lord – when what I really want is to be sitting at Jesus' feet myself. The fear is that if I sit at his feet, nothing will get done.

But the truth is that if I don't sit at his feet, nothing I do will matter in the long run. Like my two friends, I will miss out on the blessing of God's presence, and God will miss out on the pleasure of my company.

Sounds audacious, doesn't it? That God would miss out on the pleasure of anybody's company? But think about this: Why would God invite you into his presence if he didn't want to be in yours? He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden" (Matt. 11:28), and "Come to me that your soul may live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you" (Isa. 55:3). Is his invitation only for our benefit, or is it also somehow for God's benefit? After all, the
Bible says, "The Lord delights in those who fear him" (Ps. 147:11).

The dilemma is this: the "God-shaped void" that Pascal wrote about does not disappear. It gets larger. It's an appetite that, once awakened, grows into an all-consuming passion. We cannot get enough of God's presence because God continually makes more room for himself. He expands his sphere of influence with each encounter. Our capacity for true spiritual fulfillment enlarges with every fulfilling experience, until we reach the place where we say with the psalmist: "My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God…Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere" (Ps. 84:2, 10).

The fear is that if I sit at Jesus' feet, nothing will get done. But the truth is that if I don't sit at his feet, nothing I do will matter in the long run.

Buddy Owens, pastor of spiritual growth at Saddleback

I WILL BE AWAY

Dear Friends

George and I will be away for 2 weeks. I look forward to touching base with you when we return.

May your 2 weeks be joyous and bountiful in the Lord till we meet again.

Love always

Sharmaine

source: Crosswalk
Whitney Von Lake Hopler
Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Joni Grace Powers & Robert A. Pyne's new book, LifeSpace: The Practice of Life with God, (Regal Books, 2007).

Life's demands can suffocate you if you settle for less than the abundant life God offers. So take a breath of fresh air and expand your life with God beyond the limits what you can imagine and into an experience of unbounded adventure.

Here's how you can expand your life with God:
Seek worth beyond measure. Instead of trying to prove your worth to yourself and other people, remember that God's glory shines through you because He has made you in His image.

Be confident in the fact that you are valuable simply because you are God's child.

Pursue identity beyond circumstance. Understand that your circumstances don't define who you are. Know that your circumstances are simply tools for God to use to shape you into the person He wants you to become. Realize that God is able to redeem even the worst circumstances in your life to accomplish good purposes.

Seek love beyond performance. Rather than or trying to earn God's favor, accept the fact that God already loves you deeply and unconditionally. Rest assured that your relationship with God through Christ is sealed for eternity.

Embrace the messiness of being human. Understand that you can grow not by trying to transcend your human frailties, but by being honest about them and coming to God just as you are so He can use your weaknesses to make you strong.

Don't focus on trying to project an image of perfection. Instead, admit your flaws and let them reveal how much you need God. Be authentic in your relationships with other people and seek to learn from the messy interactions you sometimes have with them. Realize that being human isn't a problem to be solved; it's a calling to grow more like the God who chose to take on human form to save the world. Know that God loves real human beings like you because He chose to be incarnated as one.

Live fully in the present. Instead of wishing the present away and longing for your future in heaven, pay attention to where you are right now in life. Rather than trying to escape your life, start looking for ways that God is at work around you. Ask God to help you bloom where you're planted.

Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you. Remember that everything – even your next breath – is a gracious gift from God. Thank Him regularly for giving you life through His Spirit, and welcome the Holy Spirit to fill your soul and transform you. Ask the Spirit to enlarge your view of reality so you can envision more than just what you can see and embrace the full potential of your life.

Aim your love in the right direction. Ask yourself the key question: "What do I love?" Honestly consider what you might currently desire in place of God, such as comfort, stability, affection, opportunity, piety, or success.

Make sure that nothing knocks God out of His rightful place as your absolute top priority. Plan how you spend your resources (time, energy, money, etc.) around the fact that your relationship with God is most important. Choose to love for who He is instead of just what He can do for you. Expect that the more you get to know God, the more you'll fall in love with Him. Know that loving God for His own sake will bring you true joy.

Discover joy. Be alert to specific ways God is at work around you, and make time to reflect on the beauty of that work (such as something you appreciate in nature, or a quality you find charming in a person you know). Notice when and how God answers your prayers, and make time to thank Him for His generosity and creativity. Read, meditate on, and study the Bible to learn more about God, and delight in what you discover about Him through His Word. Be open to the mysteries of faith and avoid futile attempts to fit God's work into a box you can fully understand or control. Look for God's reflection in human creative expression, such as through art, music, literature, and dance. Make a frequent practice of getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new, such as traveling to a foreign country or learning an extreme sport.

Celebrate fresh joy whenever you encounter it.

Let God's love flow through you to others. Don't just take God's love for yourself and let it end there. Share that love with other people by reaching out to them as God leads you to do so. Draw a diagram that represents your sphere of community, listing the names of people you're closest to in the smallest circle and moving outward. Then, outside the largest circle, write the names of people you consider enemies or don't feel able to love for whatever reason. Pray about how your circles can expand to encompass all the names you wrote as people with whom you share God's love.

Recognize that God intends for you to be roped together with others in community. Don't practice your faith alone; build meaningful relationships with other believers and actively participate in church. Rejoice with others when they have something to celebrate; weep with others when they're suffering. To the extent that it depends on you, be at peace with all people. Slow down the pace of your life and make time to be with people face to face often. When you spend time with friends and family, enjoy their company instead of just trying to accomplish a set agenda during your time together.

Don't use love as a tool to try to manipulate others for your purposes. Ask God to help you love others as He loves them – unconditionally.
Make space for grace. Thank God that His grace gives you the space to grow as you're becoming more like the person He intends for you to become. Let your gratitude motivate you to extend grace to other people. For example, let your husband enjoy eating goat cheese or sauerkraut, even if it grosses you out, and give your son or daughter permission to join a garage band, even if that means loud practice sessions at your house.

Go easy on others when they make mistakes for which they're repentant. Just as you don't have to earn God's love, don't make other people earn your love. Don't parcel love out sparingly to others. Ask God to help you love people lavishly, whether or not you think they deserve it. Ask God to give you the humility you need to overcome pride, self-righteousness, and self-sufficiency.

Remember that you – just like everyone else around you – are a sinner, yet God still loves you and Christ still died for you. Be willing to help other people without expecting anything in return. Decide to love even in ugly situations. Believe the best about others and wish the best for them, encouraging them and supporting them as they pursue God's dreams for their lives. Every day, be proactive about doing small things with great love, such as forgiving an obvious slight, offering someone a ride, preparing a meal for someone in a crisis, or complimenting a colleague. Constantly ask yourself: "How have I seen God's grace extended by others toward me?" and

"How have I been the space of grace for someone this week?"
Forgive. Know that, just as God has forgiven you for all your sins, He expects you to be willing to forgive others who hurt you. Don't wait until you feel like forgiving; you likely never will. Instead, make the choice to forgive, and rely on the help God will give you to do so. Work toward reconciliation with those who are willing. Realize that by forgiving, you create a new beginning out of past pain. Understand that forgiveness opens up the space you need for healing in your relationships.

Sacrifice. Ask God to help you place your life at His disposal with gladness and eagerness to see how He will use you to accomplish good purposes. Let your love for God and gratitude for all He has done for you motivate you to give freely of your time, energy, money, and other resources to God's work on Earth. Don't just give what's left over after you take care of yourself; give the best of what you have. Be willing to make sacrifices for others as God leads you, even when your efforts aren't rewarded or even acknowledged. Remember that, though you main gain nothing from other people, God will give you joy as you serve Him.

Be welcoming toward others, taking a genuine interest in their lives and making time to build meaningful relationships with them. Let go of your own agenda for your relationships and invite God to use them however He chooses to help you and others grow. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to be humble and kind as you go about each day, willing to give yourself away one commitment at a time.

See clearly. Don't settle for a small vision that limits your concept of who God is and what plans He has for your life. Instead, ask God to give you the right perspective on Him and reveal His big vision for you. Let go of your own plans that don't align with God's plans, trusting that for every one of your own dreams that falls away, a better dream from God for you will take its place.

Place your hope in the reality of God's promises, and realize that doing so creates space for your faith to keep expanding.

Adapted from LifeSpace: The Practice of Life with God

~ BEAUTIFUL IN THE EYE'S OF GOD ~
Psalm 149:4 - For the LORD taketh pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with Salvation.
Outward beauty is just skin deep, but Inward beauty is for eternity. We don't need physical beauty in order to be loved by our Heavenly Father, He has given us one of His most precious ornaments for our beautification and that is His Salvation. Real beauty comes from the inside and then out!
Don't let your outward appearance reflect your inward but beautify your inward that it may reflect your outward!