Today’s Truth

Proverbs 14:1 (NCV) “A wise woman strengthens her family, but a foolish woman destroys hers by what she does.”

Friend to Friend

Family means different things to different people. What is a family? Well, I can tell you that a family is no longer simple. Family is complex and has changed to include many different relationships. But the bottom line is that family is a group of persons with whom you are doing life. Family is where we learn about God then live out the very nature and character of God in relationships.  Family is important to God. He created it before He created the church and, as with each of His creations, He made a plan for it to succeed. At the heart of that plan is love. To trust God with our family demands that we first love and trust God in our own lives then allow that love to spill over into our family.

What a crazy day it had been! It was a day probably like many of yours. I was a young mom with two small children. My husband was the youth pastor at a large church in town. I taught a weekly Bible study for senior high girls and directed a youth choir that practiced one night a week and sang for the early worship service every Sunday. We hosted a youth Bible study in our home every Monday night … and, well, you get the idea. My schedule was almost to the point of ridiculous, and I was exhausted most of the time. But this particular day had been crazier than most. Both kids had a cold and were grumpy. The house was a mess, the laundry was piled high, and I had a meeting at church that night. I was counting the minutes until my husband came walking through the front door. I needed rescuing. The phone rang. “Honey, I won’t be able to make it home before church visitation tonight,” Dan said. He sounded so tired that I could not muster up one ounce of anger. Instead, I shifted into overdrive. I snatched both kids off of the backyard swing, plopped them in the bathtub for a quick rinse and impatiently shoved little arms and legs into clean clothes while spooning food into little mouths before firmly depositing both kids in their car seats. Off we went to church for the third night in a row.

At a stop sign, I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw two miserably silent children, tears streaming down their sad little faces. I heard His voice, “Mary, what are you doing and who are you doing it for?” My heart broke. I suddenly realized that I was running the race of life for the wrong audience. Turning the car around, I headed home.

“Hey guys! Would you like to go home, put on your pajamas, make some cookies and watch a movie with me?” Cheers and clapping erupted from the back seat as tears gave way to smiling faces, and laughter and giggles filled the car and my heart. It has been over twenty years and I still remember that precious night of ministry.

Women are so busy. As believers, we delight in finding creative ways to touch hearts and are often passionate about introducing those hearts to God’s love, forgiveness and transforming power – and rightly so. However, I wonder how many of us miss the hungry hearts that greet us each morning across the breakfast table or wait for us to come home each night. Do we overlook a child’s silent longing for the kind of love that is spelled “t-i-m-e?” Do we miss the opportunity to encourage a weary husband who has, once again, returned home without a job? When was the last time you gave your parents a hug and thanked them for everything they have done for you over the years? Do your grandparents know how valuable their legacy of love and wisdom is to you? We make the erroneous assumption that the people in our lives know how we feel about them. Do they? And even if they do know, wouldn’t it be great to tell them again?

It is so easy to lose focus and scramble priorities. We get so busy doing good things and miss one of the highest things God created us to do – family. Our public life is only as valid as our private life. Family is the perfect framing for God’s highest work, the litmus test for authentic service and our greatest opportunity to meet needs in His name.

When our daughter, Danna, was a little girl, one of her favorite activities was to color a page in what she called her “special” coloring book. The book had several “special” pages, one in particular being a dull, gray picture of a butterfly. Frankly, I couldn’t understand her excitement. When I asked why she liked that picture so much, Danna grinned and said, “Watch, Mommy!” She rubbed her little hands together to create warmth; then laid them on the butterfly drawing. The touch of her hand caused the special inks in the printing to react, and the dull gray was transformed into a vivid rainbow of color.

Everyone is hungry for the warm touch of someone who cares – a kind word, an act of compassion, a hug of encouragement. I believe God created the family to be the first place where that hunger is best satisfied. Yet, I am amazed that we can stand in silence, watching homes, marriages and families disintegrate before our very eyes. Silence is agreement. It is time for us, as women of God, to boldly stand against anyone and anything that undermines our marriage or threatens the solidarity of our family. It is time for us to trust God for and with our families.

Let’s Pray

Father, I want to please You by the way I love my family. Today, I choose to see each family member through your eyes of love and mercy. I will wage peace in my family. I will be quick to forgive and slow to condemn. I will encourage my family members with my words, my prayers, my love and my time. I want my home to be a safe place filled with kindness and compassion, a place that illustrates Your presence and power. Today, I choose to trust my family to God.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Now it’s Your Turn

Read the following verses of Scripture. Make a list of the action words in each verse. After completing the list, come up with steps you can take to illustrate the character of God in your family relationships.

• Proverbs 31:26-28 (NCV) “She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind. She watches over her family and never wastes her time. Her children speak well of her. Her husband also praises her.”

• 1 Timothy 5:8 (NCV) “Whoever does not care for his own relatives, especially his own family members, has turned against the faith and is worse than someone who does not believe in God.

• Galatians 6:10 (NIV) “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

• Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.”

More from the Girlfriends

For more information on learning how to trust God with your family, check out Mary’s video download, How to Love Your Family. Need help learning how to live a life of power and purpose? Check out Mary’s weekly online Bible Study, How to Dress for Success and learn how to live a life of victory. Connect with Mary on Facebook or through email. 

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106

info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

Because we all live in the natural world, it’s so easy to judge with our eyes whether we’ve accomplished “enough.” We tend to rate ourselves on what we can measure or behold as practical proof of our advance. In fact, if you’re like me, you can fall prey to a silent pressure when those satisfying notches don’t appear as fast as you’d like. Some folks get anxious about what they feel they could/should have done or be doing now.

To combat our penchant for self-measurement, I paused today to review what has transpired in the past season…the actual, life-impacting activities and lessons of this season. What a remarkable list! What contentment I experienced when I took the time (maybe 10 minutes at the most) for this simple exercise.

To name a few, my husband and I have deepened our purpose and integrated life as a couple and as family business owners. We’ve begun to expand our life’s calling of “restoring order” (it’s not just a business name) into other spheres of life including restoring our health and finances back to simpler times. We’re starting with ourselves, and you can be sure that as Restoring Order® grows as a company, you will be benefiting from our journey into reclaiming every area of life!

The prefix “re” means back or again. The word “view” means to see, look, or observe. To review our activities of this past season has been to look back in a new way at our progress. What are you measuring by spreadsheets, dollar signs, and pluses and minuses that may be better evaluated by impact? What are you feeling pressured by, that may not even be real? All too often, we become trapped by the world’s measurements of things and by facts and figures instead of by relational, natural, and spiritual advancement.

I invite you to set some time aside to simply re-view your year so far and take another look at what really has taken place in the fabric of your life. Consider the advancement of your marriage, your family, your work life or business, and your relationships. Think about the lives you’ve touched that otherwise would not have been helped had it not been for YOU. We often dismiss the most meaningful impact of all – sowing into the lives of others who need our wisdom, friendship, and support.

As we review 2012 so far, we conclude that it is indeed a year of all things coming into deeper order. Our resolve to live congruent and strong lives has become our heartbeat.

As we look back: Our growth has been internal. We’ve put down even deeper roots, going way beyond the manuals and processes into our very soil. We’ve found it sweet and receptive soil that we can plant more in as the right timing and opportunity meet. We’ve spread our wings wider in faith, and have been delightfully pleased by the lift beneath our wingspan.

As we look ahead: we’ve beheld a future of replication, expansion, and miraculous living. We are ever grateful for you allowing us to deposit into the soil of your life and sharing the journey together.

http://restoringorder.com/

Today’s Truth

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV).

Friend to Friend

In my last 4 devotions, I’ve looked at steps to taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I’m proud of you for sticking with it! Today’s the last of the series. If you’ve missed any of the series, you can read them all on my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com. Let’s review:

Step One: Recognize the Enemy’s True Identity
Step Two: Recognize Satan’s Lies
Step Three: Reject the Lies

And today we’re looking at step four: Replace the lies with the Truth

Just as Satan tempted Eve in the Garden, he tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. How did Jesus fight the enemy? He fought him with Scripture – He conquered him with the truth. Each time Satan put an evil thought before Him, Jesus said, “It is written….”

It is not a sin to be tempted. The Bible says that Jesus was tempted and yet did not sin.  It becomes a sin when we act on the thought or accept the lie as truth. As Martin Luther once said, “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hat.”

Let me give you this example. I believe that Satan sends us e-mails all day long (evil-mails). If you get a seductive e-mail on the screen of your computer, is it your fault? Not unless you’ve placed yourself on some bad e-mail lists. When does that e-mail become a sin? The moment you click on it and accept the invitation.

Likewise, when the enemy tempts you to believe a lie, the temptation is not sin. It becomes sin if you accept the thought as your own and act on it. Your responsibility is to delete the lie and replace it with the truth.

When it comes to defeating Satan, Dr. Neil Anderson said it well: “You don’t have to out shout him or out muscle him to be free of his influence. You just have to out truth him.”

Below are some common lies of the enemy and the truth that “demolishes” them. I have listed each lie in the first person, “I,” because that is how the enemy puts them into our thoughts.

Satan’s Lie Nobody loves me.                                                                      
God’s Truth  For God so loved the world, He gave  His only Son.  (John 3:16)

Satan’s Lie I’m not able to do this job. I don’t have the right gifts.
God’s Truth Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:5)

Satan’s Lie God couldn’t love me.
God’s Truth  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (I John 3:1)

Satan’s Lie I’m so worried about this. I can’t help it.          
God’s Truth Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving; present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6)

Satan’s Lie I’m a loser.                                 
God’s Truth I have been blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

Satan’s Lie  I can’t help myself.                   
God’s Truth Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  (James 4:7)

In order to win the battle for our minds, we must refuse the lies and replace them with the truth. The more we think on the truth quicker we will recognize the lies and replace them with truth.

Girlfriend, I’m proud of you for sticking with me these five days. T he Bible says “Wisdom brightens a [woman’s] face and changes its hard appearance” (Ecclesiastes 8:1 NIV).  I’d say you are absolutely glowing. Stunning.

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, today I am choosing to believe the truth. Help me realize the enemy’s true identity, recognize the lies, reject the lies, and replace his lies with Your truth.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

It’s seems the key to this entire process of taking every thought captive is knowing and applying the truth! So let’s commit 2 Corinthians 10:5 to memory. In this series, I quoted from several different translations. Chose the translation that is most comfortable for you and write this verse on a card. Put it on your dashboard, by your kitchen sink, or on your bathroom mirror.

See if you can name the four steps to taking every thought captive without looking.

Had to look? That’s OK.You might want to write them on the back of  your 2 Corinthians 10:5 the index card.

Visit me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and tell me where you’re going to put your card!

More From the Girlfriends

Whew!  It takes a lot of thinking to think about our thinking. Now that was confusing! If getting a grip on your thoughts and emotions is something that you would like to read more about, see Sharon’s book, I’m Not Good Enough..and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. You’ll learn how to apply God’s transforming power to your life, and  you’ll find a handy reference guide of 75 common lies women believe and the truths with which to replace them.

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106

info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

Photo of article in Women's Health May 2012 Issue

This month’s article in Women’s Health covers a topic that we believe is critical to business success. It’s about the importance of passion and purpose in entrepreneurship. Many successful entrepreneurs have talked about this topic. Deb DeArmond of My Purpose Now has owned her own leadership training and coaching practice for 10 years. She says passion and purpose “are the fuel that motivates movement. Without purpose you’re not sure where to go, and without passion you don’t have the desire or the energy or even the initiative to go.”

After an ID theft for almost $1m Becky Harmon launched Success Not Sabotage to help people build a bold identity and make money. She only sells what she deeply believes in and passion and purpose for her are 90% of successful entrepreneurship. “The reason I would leave out the 10% is because there are days when I’m just tired and my kids are bouncing off the walls or I want to throw my shoe at my husband and I’m distracted but at that point you just have to get up and go but because it’s my passion it’s not hard to get refueled.”

Passion, Purpose – What’s the Difference?

Deb DeArmond

Passion and purpose are often linked together, but is there a difference between them? There certainly is, says Deb DeArmond: “Purpose is a clarity or an understanding about what it is that you’re supposed to do – whether that’s business, ministry or family. Without clarity of purpose, you’re going to get somewhere; it just might not be where you wanted to go or where God wanted you to go. Passion is the energy, the gumption, the ability to push back obstacles because you’re so clear about what that purpose is that passion just propels you towards accomplishing it.”

For Becky Harmon, having a purpose is a maturity issue. While teens may be passionate about lots of causes, purpose is about believing “at a deep level that you have been sent to serve people. That specific purpose is different from passion.” She adds that the trifecta is “When you align your passion with your purpose and you learn how to profit from it.”

Other Ingredients for Success

Becky Harmon

So are passion and purpose all it takes to become successful as entrepreneurs? Not at all. For Deb DeArmond, wisdom and knowledge are also important: “You can know a lot of things, but if you don’t know how to apply what you know then you’re not going to be successful, regardless of how much clarity of purpose and how passionate you are.” And having a supportive community is also essential. “Those are probably the five pillars on which I built my profits in the last 15 years and those five pillars have become the foundation for confidence in moving forward and success that has come more quickly than I might have expected or even hoped.”

Becky Harmon has even more practical advice: “If you don’t have a strategic plan for marketing you’d better get a second job because, the passion and the purpose won’t be enough.” She adds that passion and purpose also help determine the people she wants to work with: “I really love helping people who feel called to justice – whether defending sex trafficking victims or the homeless or animal shelters. I love helping those people make money because they are not selfish people, they are thinking about the world, transforming and serving the world with their passion.”

Deb DeArmond’s story also shows the importance of being tuned in to the signals that might reveal your purpose. “Without passion and purpose my story would never have taken place. It came out of left field. I never saw it coming. It came from a series of conversations that sparked an awareness of a need. Once the awareness was there and I began talking with people about it, there was such a passionate response and their passion was contagious. It led me to My Purpose Now and My Purpose Now has led me to authoring two books. ”

She concludes:”Passion and purpose will take you places you never dreamed of and fuel opportunities that you could never have imagined on your own.”

Sharon Hurley Hall has been writing professionally for almost 25 years, and she does it because she loves it. She is a word nerd, a Scrabble fiend, fanatical about grammar, and is fascinated by learning new things. Since 2005, Sharon has mentored other writers at “Get Paid To Write Online” to help them improve and build sustainable and successful writing careers. Sharon subscribes to the ‘fine wine’ theory of aging – getting older also means getting better! Find Sharon on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.

Proverbs 31 questions the reader, “Who can find a virtuous woman”? The scripture is talking about finding a wife, but so much of it reminds me of all the hats we as women wear who are wives and mothers. The scripture says her price is far above rubies. That is like something we might say today, “she is worth her weight in gold”.

How much would it cost if a man had to hire someone for all the jobs his wife does? We will look at this Scripture and compare it to our own lives. Women were created by God to be a helper to man. In this Scripture we see how versatile women are. Her husband trusts her completely and she enriches his life. The scripture says he is known in the gates, which may be partly because of his wife’s influence.

She works with her hands. Many women are talented in doing crafts, sewing and other things to enhance their homes and many of them sell these things they make with their hands to help provide income for their families. She goes out and gathers food for her family. She tries to get the best she can afford for the best price and brings it into her home and prepares it for her family.

Many times mothers are up early, before everyone else in the house getting ready for the day and preparing meals for her family. My Mother was a good cook and this is one of the things she taught us as we were growing up. I have passed the love of cooking on to my daughters. Now, I am teaching my grandchildren how to cook and prepare food for the family.

In this fast pace world we live in today, this is one thing that is not as prevalent in our homes, since we all eat out a lot more today than we did in years past. Preparing and having family meals together are some of the best memories I have of my mother. Don’t underestimate your influence on your children in your home. These things may seem trivial to you today, but they are some of the memories your family will have of you long after you are gone.

A mother is always busy; she goes out and buys things for her home and her family such as: food, clothing and household furnishings. A lot of women today work full time jobs and take care of a home and family. It looks like the woman described in this scripture also worked hard in buying and selling things to enhance her family’s life. She is a wise woman, she is kind, she is generous, she gives things to help the poor, she serves her family and she serves God.

The scripture says her husband and her children call her blessed and praise her. A mother’s children are her pride and joy. They see how hard she works and all the jobs she does in taking care of her family. They are the recipients of it all and they appreciate everything she does and they let her know they appreciate it. Many times as women we may feel unappreciated for all the things we do in taking care of our families, but, God knows our hearts and He values us as people and the work we do to care for our family.

Verse 30 tells us that: Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Charm is deceptive, beauty fades, but a woman that fears God, her beauty shines from within. She can be trusted, even though with age her beauty fades, her glory shines through. Her love for God, her love for her family and her love for people makes her the beautiful person she is inside and out. She will be known for the way she loves God and cares for her family and for others. This is a beauty that never fades but grows deeper and deeper every day of her life.

One of the things that I am most grateful for that my mother passed down to me is her faith in God. 2 Timothy 1:5 tells us: When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. This Scripture reminds me this is the most important thing of all we as mothers can teach our children and grandchildren is to love God and serve him. My prayer for you is that you have a Happy Mother’s Day and you honor God as you serve your family.
Proverbs 31:10-31

• 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.
• 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
• 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
• 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
• 14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
• 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
• 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
• 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
• 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night.
• 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
• 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
• 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet.
• 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple.
• 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
• 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
• 25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
• 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.
• 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
• 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her.
• 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
• 30 Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
• 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Dear God,

Thank You for this Scripture that gives us an example of what a Godly woman looks like. Help us to be the helpers to our husbands and families that we were meant to be. Help us to teach our children and grandchildren about You and teach them to love You and serve You. Thank You for our family. Help us to be a good example to them. Help us to be the women of God that You would have us to be. We love you, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.

• What do you feel is the most important thing you learned from your mother?
• What are some things you can pass down to your children?
• Do you teach your children about God?
• What are the gifts God gave you that you share with your family?
• How have you used those gifts to serve your family, your community, and God?

Christian Video:

The Proverbs 31 Woman

Deborah H. Bateman is a Christian author, publisher, blogger and website designer. She is the author of The Book of Ruth: A Story of Love and Redemption and The Book of Esther: A Story of Love and Favor. She is the founder of Christian Daily Resources, a Christian online ministry dedicated to “Sharing God’s Word.” If you would like, you can join Deborah on her blog Daily-Bible-Reading for her daily Bible studies.

Today’s Truth

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB).

Friend to Friend

In my past three devotions, we looked at two steps for taking every thought captive.  Today, let’s look at step three: Reject the Lie.

Once I had a door-to-door vacuum salesman come to my house. To my detriment, I let him in. Before I could convince him I did not need a new vacuum cleaner, he had his demonstration trash sprinkled all over my foyer floor. Almost two hours later, I finally got him to leave.

What was my first mistake? You know it! My first mistake was to let him cross the threshold of my doorway and enter my house. Once he was in, it was difficult to get him out. It is the same way with our thoughts. Once we entertain a thought, once we allow the “salesman” to scatter his “trash” in our minds, it is hard to dismiss it or push it back out again. The place of easiest victory is at the threshold; don’t even let the trash in the door. It has been said, “Every spiritual battle is won or lost at the threshold of the mind.”  I think victory is possible once the thought has passed over the threshold, but it sure will save us a lot of heartache and pain if we begin to recognize Satan’s lies and reject them from the start.

Let’s go back to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and dig a little deeper by discovering the rich meaning of some of the key words in the original Greek language of the New Testament.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

This verse tells us that through Christ, we have the power to demolish strongholds. What is a stronghold? The Greek word for stronghold is echo, meaning, “to hold fast.” A derivation of that same word, echuroma means “a stronghold, fortification, fortress.” Bible teacher, Beth Moore, describes them as “anything in our lives that we hold on to that ends up holding us.” They are formed when thoughts or habit patterns “echo” time and time again in our minds. They are negative thoughts that are burned into our minds through repetition (such as verbal abuse) or a one-time traumatic incident (such as a rape). These thought patterns have the potential to grab hold of a mind and rule a life.  Many strongholds are built brick-by-brick for protection, but inevitably they become prisons. Beth goes on to say, “No matter what the stronghold may be, they all have one thing in common: Satan is fueling the mental tank with deception to keep the stronghold running.”

The word demolish implies a kind of destruction requiring tremendous power – divine power.  One reason many Christians have remained in a yoke of slavery to past sins and lies of the enemy is because they swat at strongholds like they are mosquitoes instead of blasting them with the truth like they are concrete fortresses formed by years of construction.

We cannot destroy demonic strongholds on our own strength even on our best days.  The Holy Spirit can destroy strongholds with His power even on our worst days. The power of the Holy Spirit is the Greek word dunamous, which is where we get the word dynamite. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

The verse goes on to describe another area that needs to be destroyed.“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.”  I don’t know about you, but on a few occasions, (OK, on more occasions than I can count) I have argued with God and against the knowledge of God. Guess what? God always wins.

The Greek word for arguments is logismos, meaning “a reckoning, calculation, consideration, reflection.” A calculated thought might be a conclusion that you are a failure, after you have failed at something. That seems logical. It all adds up. Upon reflection, it seems highly probable. However, that’s not what the Truth says. It is against the knowledge of God. Regardless of your calculations, God says you are a saint who has been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, a child of God, and a co-heir with Christ. You are not a failure and you need to reject the lie. When the thought comes into your head, simply say, “I reject that thought. It is a lie of the enemy and not the truth of God. I failed in this instance, but I am not a failure.”

So far we’ve looked at three steps to taking every thought captive:

Step One:  Recognize the Enemy’s True Identity
Step Two: Recognize Satan’s Lies
Step Three:  Reject the Lies

Join me next time as we look at the final step to taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Let’s Pray

Dear Father, I’ll admit that I toy with thoughts that I know are not true. I feel sorry for myself, entertain thoughts of rejection, and sometimes even feel like nobody loves me.  Those are lies. All of them. Right now, I commit to reject the lies of the enemy as soon as the thought comes into my head. Thank you for the truth that sets us free from feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength – and that’s the truth.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

I want you to write down five lies that you tend to believe about yourself and leave some space between them. Now, I want you to write down a truth from the Bible for each one that lets you know it is a lie.

Let me get you started.
Lie: I can’t do anything right.
Truth: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Lie: Nobody ever prays for me.
Truth: Jesus said: “I pray for …those you have given me. John 17:9

I’d love to hear your truth to replace a lie. It might be just what one of your GiGs needs to hear. Share the lie and the corresponding truth to replace the lie at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.

More from the Girlfriends

This series of lessons is taken from Sharon’s book,
Becoming Spiritually Beautiful – Seeing Yourself from God’s Perspective. However, the lessons had such a great impact, she wrote a follow-up book, I’m Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves that goes into much greater detail on how to overcome the lies of the enemy. If this is an area where you struggle, I’m Not Good Enough is the book for you. You can find both on her website. This resource will help you change that stinkin’ thinkin’ and see yourself as God sees you!

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106

info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com

According to the United States Census Bureau, baby boomers are those Americans who were born between 1943 and 1964. During this span of time, the birth rate was higher than usual, a fact which has had a ripple effect across the US economy as the boomers have moved through the various stages of life.

Now, many baby boomers are either already in retirement or are approaching their “golden years”. This has caused a mini-boom of sorts in the vacation travel industry, since older Americans are the ones most likely to have both sufficient free time and funds to travel widely. Ideal destinations for those in or near retirement, however, can be a world apart from the family destinations the same individuals might have enjoyed when their children were young.

1.     The Napa Valley, California

Boomers can generally afford to take leisurely vacations because even those who are still employed have often reached the stage of their careers in which they receive several weeks off per year. Many boomers are finding that they appreciate an extended tour of the California wine country located in Napa Valley, which extends through the central area of the state.

An ideal way to enjoy the Napa Valley is to rent a car in Los Angeles and drive north along California State Highway 1. Once in Napa Valley, boomers can spend days or even weeks attending wine tastings at the various wineries open to the public.  

2.     Italy

Another top destination for 2012 is Italy, where boomers often prefer to enjoy all-inclusive vacations so that they will not have to worry about the language barrier. The wealth of attractions available in Italy is literally staggering, ranging from ancient gladiatorial combat arenas in Rome to priceless masterpieces of Renaissance art in Florence. Pompeii, of course, is best known for the massive eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, which buried the entire city in the first century A.D. Today the city has been excavated and can be explored at length.

3.     Costa Rica

Natural wonders are the main attraction in this tiny nation situated in Central America. One-fourth of the land in Costa Rica is protected from development. Since many boomers came of age in the 1960s when the modern environmental movement was beginning, seeing the rain forest in person can be a dream come true. Another adventure not to be missed in Costa Rica is seeing the Arenal Volcano at night, when the frequently emitted lava flows can literally light up the sky.

4.     Ireland

Due to massive immigration in the late 1800s and early 1900s, a significant number of Americans can trace their ancestry back to Ireland. This makes it an ideal place for boomers to visit in 2012; Americans entering their golden years often yearn to connect to their ancestors in another time and place. Summer is the best time to visit this island since it brings pleasantly warm weather and longer days for touring the castles, gardens, and beautiful green hills that characterize the “Emerald Isle.”

5.     Las Vegas, Nevada

Sometimes, the best type of vacation of all is one replete with entertainment. The desert Mecca of Las Vegas is world-famous both for the gambling opportunities that abound and for its fantasy casinos, which include the Venetian, complete with gondola rides; Excalibur, where King Arthur holds court; Treasure Island, with pirate battles taking place nightly; and the Bellagio, home to hundreds of water fountains that dance to music four times per hour each evening. In addition to ample free entertainment designed to attract tourists into the casinos, Las Vegas also hosts a large selection of dozens of top-name entertainers including both comics and musicians.

Adventure travel for boomers: myth or reality

Today’s retired Americans are far more fit and active than was the case with their grandparents or even their parents. While many boomers do enjoy a relaxed vacation such as a cruise to Alaska, a significant number are eager to explore far-flung destinations such as the Middle East and the Amazon Basin, even if it means camping out, zooming along zip lines, and “roughing it” in hotels that are less than luxurious.

Tips and advice: before and during a trip

Even boomers in excellent health may find travel more challenging than was the case when they were younger. Boomers should be diligent and make certain to get all recommended immunizations before each trip and should take special care when it comes to bringing along the medication they may need. Some countries will not allow prescription medication through customs unless a physician’s written documentation accompanies it, so boomers need to plan ahead.

Anna Dewinter is freelance writer who loves traveling and meeting new people.

Women are usually prepared for everything from patching scraped knees to managing a huge work load to whipping up dinner at a moment’s notice. We keep ourselves and our families together and running smoothly. But is our faith prepared to withstand difficult circumstances and trials?

Unshakeable Faith, an 8-week Bible study for women, explores the life of Peter to help you build a rock-solid faith that is strong enough to weather the harshest storms of life. Here are a few highlights:

• Each week focuses on one “faith trait” found in Peter’s life and writings.
• Each week includes purposeful life examination and application.
• Each week introduces a real woman and her story of trial and faith

2 Excerpts from “Unshakeable Faith for Life: 8 Traits for Rock-Solid Living”:

Clinging to the Peace of God
Wende’s Story

How does a mom keep going when she knows she could lose her son any moment? Wende’s answer comes without hesitation. “I couldn’t have done this for five minutes without God.”

Ethan was diagnosed with an extremely rare condition when he was just ten years old. Arterio-venous Malformation (AVM), an abnormal formation of blood vessels in the brain, can cause seizures, hemorrhages, and strokes. Larger AVMs, like Ethan’s, results in progressive neurological deterioration. And a ruptured aneurysm is a daily possibility.

Wende smiles when she describes Ethan’s early childhood years. He was in the gifted program at school, could beat his dad at Chess, and loved to write and garden. Ethan was a beautiful and happy child with a contagious grin.

There was no hint of a problem until ten-year old Ethan’s hands started shaking. It took eight months and several doctors before they received the AVM diagnosis. Shortly after that Ethan suffered a stroke.

The stroke left Ethan with some physical challenges but it did not weaken his spirit or his faith in God. He never asked “Why me?” Instead Ethan firmly believed that God wanted to use his illness for a specific purpose.

Wende agrees completely. “I’ve seen God use Ethan to change people’s lives. They’ve caught his joy. He loved people just the way they are. The way he lived taught people not to get caught up in things that don’t really matter.”

But how did Ethan’s mom cope? Wende remembers a specific moment just days after the diagnosis. “I was washed by an overwhelming sense of God’s peace and I felt God whisper, ‘I’ve got this.’ And I believed Him.”

The Holy Spirit continued to pour peace into Wende’s life. “Those moments were a rest from all the things I had to deal with, so I could keep going.”

Wende experienced the Holy Spirit working in other ways as well. Joy when she was grieving. Strength when she felt weak. The constant awareness of God’s presence and love. And the physical support of God’s people.

After nine years of battling AVM, Ethan went home to heaven. Today, the day after Ethan’s memorial service – Wende is choosing to cling to the peace God continues to provide.

God Loves You and Wants You
Karen’s Story

Bill physically left Karen the day before their 25^th wedding anniversary, but he had been in the process of leaving for a long time. He started to drift away about five years earlier. He pursued interests on his own, resented the demands of family life, and even denied the God he had once believed in. Karen did everything she could think of to draw her husband back, but all her attempts seemed to push him further away.

Karen felt like she had lost her husband long before Bill admitted he wanted out of their marriage. His long disengagement had made her feel ignored, devalued, and ugly. His final act of walking out the door told Karen she was unwanted and unlovable. “The one person who promised to love me forever said he didn’t anymore.”

Karen begged God to fix everything – to fix Bill, to fix their marriage, to fix her. Many times she poured out her anger and distress while meeting with God on the floor of her dark closet. But the divorce still happened. So Karen clung to God.

“God did not save my marriage, but He did save me. He faithfully cared for me. Like when His people showed up to serve me, listen to me, or sit with me while I cried. And when the money I needed was there, and the lawn was mowed, and the children were loved on.”

After three years and a lot of prayer, godly counsel, and Bible study, Karen knows she is dearly loved and wanted by God. “I was told that if I let Him, God would fill my every need as a single woman – my need to feel safe, secure, and loved. I did not fully believe that when I heard it, but God has certainly done it.”

Kathy Howard calls herself a “confused southerner.” Raised in Louisiana, she has moved with her engineer husband around the U.S. and Canada. She says “pop” instead of “Coke” and “you guys” as often as “ya’ll.” But those things are just superficial – she’s still a southern girl at heart! Kathy and her husband have three children, two son-in-laws, and one precious grandbaby. When the family gets together there are also four dogs in the mix.

Kathy helps women live an unshakeable faith through Bible teaching, writing, and speaking at women’s retreats and events. She encourages them to stand firm on our rock-solid God no matter the circumstances of life. Find out about her books and speaking ministry and get discipleship tools and leader helps at her website: www.kathyhoward.org.

Being single in your fifties is interesting, to say the least. The rules have changed a bit since I was in high school. Now people go for “coffee” to meet a prospective date to help you decide if you even want to go on a date. It’s a great idea.

In February I wrote about my “second love”, which really, is my first love. I have never loved a man as I love Tom. A few years back, God took me through a time of preparation. This preparation had to happen before I could meet Tom.

I was single for about five years. I did not fit the profile of most singles, as I did not date. It’s not that I didn’t want to date, I just didn’t get asked. I blamed it on the fact that men seemed more interested in younger women. I know now that my age had nothing to do with it. I had put up so many walls that no man could get through. One of those walls was fear. Fear that I would choose wrong again. Could I ever trust a man enough to be vulnerable around him? This was just one obstacle. There were many more I needed to overcome. And one by one, God began to tear them down.

In May 2008, God told me He wanted to give me a husband. I was skeptical. I asked why. He said it was the one area in which I did not trust Him. He told me not to believe everything I see. This was difficult for me to accept. Every day I looked in the mirror and what did I see? I saw myself aging and unable to stop the effects of time. I asked Him why He wanted to give me a husband – the answer surprised me a bit. “I want him to be me for you.” That one brought tears to my eyes. I was in awe that the God of the universe cared about my loneliness.

Keep in mind – I was not sure I even wanted to marry again. So God began to teach me to see Him as a husband. I tried to make a list of what I wanted in a husband. Must cook, financially secure, good looking, to name a few. Then I felt God ask, “What are you doing?”

One evening I asked Him what a “man of God” looks like. As women, we are to mirror Proverbs 31. We are clear about the description. But I could not find anything beyond Ephesians 5 as to what I should look for in man. Then God took me to I Samuel 16:14 – 18. God had removed His spirit from Saul and sent a tormenting spirit – it filled Saul with fear and depression. Saul’s advisers thought it would be a good idea to find someone to play soothing music which would calm Saul. Saul agreed and his advisers said “we know a man” and they began to describe him. He plays well, he is a man of valor, a warrior, he speaks well, he’s good looking and the Lord is with him. Finally a list I could work with.

1. He plays well – yes I know it is referring music here, but who doesn’t want a man who knows how to have a good time?

2. He is a man of valor – a man of honor and integrity. Brave and courageous. Stands up for what he believes in.

3. He is a warrior – he will protect the relationship, guard the physical relationship while dating, and he will be on the front lines and climb over the walls I have built up. He would not only die for me, he will live for me – become the man God wants him to be for me.

4. He speaks well – his words would build me up not tear me down.

5. He is good looking – this is relative, he may not be drop dead gorgeous, however if he has the characteristics above then he will be attractive no matter what he looks like.

6. The Lord is with him – this is key. A man could be all these things, but if the Lord is not with him he is an imposter.

This sounds like a lot for a man to live up to, but I did not make the list. God did. This does not mean the man is “perfect”; there is no such thing. That’s good news since I am far from perfect myself. When I met my husband to be, Tom, I did not know if he was this kind of man. As we got to know each other, I began to see his character and that he possessed the traits of a Godly man. I watched as he interacted with other men and women. I saw how respected he was. This caught my attention.

If I would have stuck to the list I had made myself, I would have missed out.

I would ask you those of you that are single women, do you have a list? Throw it out. Begin with the list from 1 Samuel. If you do, everything else will fall into place. If you truly want to be married, learn what it is to be a wife. Only then will God be able to bring you to the man He has for you. If you don’t know what being a wife looks like, ask Him. He would love to show you.

Karen DeArmond Gardner: I found myself in my early 50′s shattered, divorced and without a job – moving to a new state to begin over again. There were times I thought the “start would stop me.” I had no clue what my purpose was and quite frankly thought I had messed up so bad that even God couldn’t put my life back together again. Within the last 6 years I started a new career, enjoyed being single, became a grandmother, reconnected with my family and at 57 I married the most amazing man ever. Because God never does anything small, He asks me to step out of my box and begin writing. Only God….if He did this for me, He will do it for you. Join us on the journey to discover Your Purpose Now. www.mypurposenow.org

Upper eyelid drooping is a common problem. With age the upper eyelids begin to sag and can make your eyes look hooded and tired.

There are several nonsurgical options and, of course, the surgical option – an upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Treatment options are determine by the amount of hooding you have.

For mild eyelid sagging, either eyelid Thermage or eyelid Fraxel will provide great results. Special small tips are used to treat this problem. Thermage generally offers a little more tightening, while Fraxel is slightly better for treating those fine, crepey lines. These options are best for those aged 30-50 years old.

For moderate hooding, a fractionated CO2 (like the DEKA DOT) is best. Depending on how severe your hooding is, 1-3 laser treatments will be needed.

For severe hooding, the CO2 can be used, but best results are usually achieved with surgery. If you decide to go the CO2 laser route, you will most likely need at least 3 treatments to tighten and lift your sagging upper eyelids.

Dr. Brandith Irwin is a board-certified Dermatologist who has been a guest medical expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the Weekend Today Show. She is the author of The Surgery-Free Makeover and Your Best Face: Looking Your Best Without Plastic Surgery! Dr. Irwin created http://www.skintour.com/ to provide expert, unbiased skincare information to the public. She has no financial ties to any cosmetic company and all of the content on SkinTour comes directly from her. 

Last week, I was on my way to the Life Services Network (LSN) Expo in Chicago to connect with elder care professionals. As I approached Navy Pier, I saw a dapper older gentleman dressed in a sport coat and a felt fedora. What a coincidence; it was my Uncle Ed who was about to hop on the bus! I hollered his name. He turned around and greeted me with loving excitement.

Edward Kramer is 83 years young. In 1949, as a recent high school graduate, he took a job for the holiday season with a jewelry company. Over 40 years later, he retired from that industry. He has served in the army, married, raised a family, survived cancer, and considers both Chicago and New York his home. Uncle Ed taught himself to be computer literate; a rare feat among people of his generation.

Uncle Ed stays active. His mantra is “doing nothing produces nothing”. He enjoys his retirement and dedicates his time towards volunteer work. Uncle Ed’s newfound passion with volunteering has allowed him to develop a second set of skills. He would advise the youth of today to get both a good education and career counseling.

When I saw Uncle Ed, he had just finished his almost daily volunteer work at WBEZ Radio, where he helps with data processing. He is involved in the City of Chicago and is working with his condo association to get ready for the upcoming NATO events. He lives in the heart of the red zone with his equally youthful wife, my Aunt LoriLei.

As an elder care professional, I take a moment this May to honor those older Americans we have the privilege of working with daily. When marketing to seniors, elder care professionals must look beyond the client’s current age to consider their rich individual histories and productive lives. Older Americans can teach us all life lessons. I am fortunate to have Uncle Ed in my life and love to hear his interesting stories.

Marla Levie, BSW, MA, President and Founder of Focus on Aging, has successfully been providing marketing consulting, social media and recruiting services to the elder care market and to other service-related professions in the Chicago area for over 20 years. Use the contact tab to email Marla for additional information about her services.

Originally posted on Focus On Aging.

Today I’m thrilled to have my friend Janet Thompson - who is a grandmother several times over – share with us today about ways we can spiritually nurture our grandchildren. (These tips would work with your own children too!) Janet, the author of a dozen books and Bible studies, has just released a new study in the New Hope Publishers line of Bible studies for women. “Face-to-Face with Lois and Eunice: Nurturing Faith in Your Family” helps women learn to pass their faith on to the next generation.

The only woman in the Bible referred to as a “grandmother” is Timothy’s grandmother, Lois. She and her daughter Eunice received accolades from the Apostle Paul on their rearing of his protégé and future pastor, young Timothy: “I [Paul] have been reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5, NIV).

He later adds: “And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15, NIV).

As a grandmother of 11 grandchildren who all know about Jesus (and some know Jesus as their Savior), here’s what I’ve learned from Lois:

Pray for, mentor, and nurture the faith of your adult children—the parents of your grandchildren.

Give with a purpose. Choose gifts that introduce grandchildren to Jesus at an early age. Shop at Christian bookstores or online to find age-appropriate games, books, DVDs, CDs, and toys.

Look for opportunities to talk to grandchildren about Jesus and His love for them.

Be a role model that family members admire and respect.

Assume an active role in your grandchildren’s lives, even if you live far apart. Stay current and don’t criticize the things that interest them. Learn their communication style and method—email, texting, Skype or FaceTime, cell phone, social networking, etc. Remain relatable and relational with each generation.

Lois and Eunice were intentional in raising Timothy in the faith. The world didn’t set standards for their home, God did. They knew God’s Word and taught it to Timothy. I’ve found songs are one effective means to help children (and their parents) learn Scripture. Most kids love to sing along to CDs in the car and soon Mommy and Daddy are learning the words too.

Parents are often so busy raising their children that they rely on the church to educate the kids spiritually. We grandparents are usually at a stage of life where we can help parents nurture faith in the home. If relationships are strained with adult children or you don’t live close, you can still pray for them and/or keep in touch in different ways.

My prayer is that my legacy to my grandchildren will be: “Grammie taught us about the Bible and Jesus, and she lived what she believed.”

Share with us what are you doing to leave a spiritual legacy with your family.

Find out more about Janet, her speaking, and books.

Get your own copy of “Face-to-Face with Lois and Eunice: Nurturing Faith in Your Family.”

Originally posted on Unshakeable Faith for Life.

Dough needs to be chilled before baking.

Ingredients:

• 1 C  Sugar
• ¾ C Butter
• 1 Egg
• 2 T Corn Syrup
• 2 C Flour
• 1 t Baking Soda
• 1 t Baking Powder
• 1 t Lemon or Orange Extract
• lemon or orange zest (optional)

Directions:

Cream butter with sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, corn syrup, and citrus extract.

Stir in flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

Cover and chill dough at least an hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Roll chilled dough into walnut sized balls*, then roll in sugar.

Place on baking sheet.

Bake 10 – 12 minutes (less baking time makes them chewier)

Recipe in original format was: Lemon Sugar Tea Cookies from CookieRecipe.com

*I doubled the recipe with no problem and I used the small end of a melon baller to “scoop” out the dough. I would scoop out about fifteen to twenty at a time, then roll them, then place them in a wide bowl to coat with sugar.

The plate holding the cookies above is a small dessert plate so it gives you an idea of the size of the cookies. If not making them for a buffet, I probably would scoop the dough with my usual cookie scoop.

I think they would also be good baked without rolling in sugar and then drizzled with a light glaze of confectioners sugar mixed with a little lemon juice after they cool.

Originally posted on Coffee Tea Books and Me.

The makings of lemon bars!

The sum of my days… and you will be thankful to know… never combined!

I rarely get any computer time these days so my writing between now and after the wedding will be sparse. I may get in one Sunday Afternoon Tea post and a few weekday posts. So, I thought I’d share my baking and gardening progress today.

The freezer is full of lemon bars, lemon tea cake, peanut butter-toffee-chocolate chip cookies, and citrus tea cookies. I will be baking more lemon bars, regular chocolate chip cookies, and small loaves of quick breads this afternoon and tomorrow (I am taking Sunday off).

Then I begin the 200 to 250 cupcakes, mini cupcakes, and the cake balls I’m making (Bakerella style)… which will be presented in candy size papers instead of on sticks like those works of art Stephanie is making.

Oh, someone had asked in comments why we didn’t just bake cakes in sheet pans?  Because Stephanie and I are making an attempt to create… magic (Narnia magic, of course). The dessert buffet is to look beautiful and absolutely amazing! As we have texted each other… “Let the angels sing!”.

I love working with my daughter (even if at the moment we are 1,000 miles apart). I don’t have to explain anything, she gets it already. A few words texted back and forth and we both… understand.

A small wedding cake is being baked for the bride and groom to cut for pictures (by a professional bakery) but we are in charge of the rest of the food. It started out to be just a dessert buffet but tea sandwiches are being added to prevent over-the-top sugar highs.

I’m learning that I can’t do everything in one day so I’m also learning how to juggle baking, gardening, and the keeping of the house (with Christopher living here needing to be fed and extra laundry, too). Not to mention a high maintenance Maine Coon.

But I’m well aware that there are only a few days left when Christopher will be here chatting with me after midnight or yelling at the TV during a Chicago Bulls game with his father… especially last night.

Our car is still in the shop being fixed and Christopher will hopefully get his car back today. It has been a faith building experience for all of this to happen at once. I never like going through such experiences because they are inconvenient but when they are past, I can see God’s hand at work.

Below are pictures of the garden as it looked yesterday (and it changes daily). I still have to plant a few more items but we’re already reaping the rewards of the garden with kale, lettuce, a little spinach for a salad (as only one survived the March heat), and mint or lemon balm for tea.

We just passed the last frost day so tomatoes and bush beans were planted. I think I’m going to try pole beans where the lettuce is located right now.

Five tomato plants went in last week.

The lettuce "crop", I've thinned some but mostly harvested by cutting

This is what happens when you forget to lay landscape fabric before adding soil to your raised bed!

Hubby cleared out the weeds yesterday (their roots were too strong for me!). So I’ll be planting nasturtiums in the front of that raised bed and “something else” in the back. When I have a car again and a few extra dollars, I’ll be heading to my favorite nursery for ideas.

I love my favorite nursery. I could spend the morning there just coveting admiring their selection.

It has been good to share my morning break with you (after baking five dozen citrus tea cookies).

Off to the garden now for a little planting and reaping and then back to make a second double batch of lemon bars.

Originally posted on Coffee Tea Books and Me.

We are fighting a battle right now at my house. It’s me and my husband against a massive army of Leaf Cutter Ants. They have stripped the leaves off numerous bushes in our yard. Thousands of them follow their tiny ant paths long distances across the grass. We’ve watched them work. The “empty-handed” ones leave the hole, following the one in front of them. When they arrive at their destination, they deftly snip out a big semi-circle of green foliage. Then weighed down with the fruit of their labor, they return to their hole.

We have a large yard, a long growing season, and the desire to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation in our own space. Yet, as we work to realize this summer dream, the persistent cutter ant works to destroy it all. So, I just finished doing some online research to find out how we can defeat this enemy. Armed with a list of tactics, I’m now ready to do battle!

God has prepared us, equipped us, and provided everything we need to realize His purposes for us as individuals and as the local church. Meanwhile, the enemy constantly works to derail, discourage, and defeat us. But that won’t happen unless we allow it. We must be prepared to battle the scheming ways of Satan and our own sinful desires.

Wrapping things up

Before we consider how we can equip ourselves to stand firm, let’s do a brief review. This is our last lesson together in Ephesians. God has taught us many wonderful truths through the study of His Word. Here are some of the things we’ve considered:

• God has given us every spiritual blessing we need to reach our full potential in Christ.
• The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is living and working in us in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
• Our salvation is an eternal demonstration of God’s marvelous grace.
• God has a purpose for your life and He fashioned you to fulfill it.
• God strengthens us for trials and works through them for His purposes.
• God calls us to love, unity, and spiritual maturity within the church family.
• We have a unique place of service in the church that God designed us to fill.
• Conforming our thinking to God’s thinking will produce Christ-like behavior.
• When we follow God’s design for our relationships we will find joy, peace, and fulfillment.

Which of these truths above have impacted you the most? Why?

Know Your Spiritual Enemy

Read Ephesians 6:10-20.

Paul begins the conclusion of Ephesians with a call to arms. In his letter, Paul has beautifully shown God’s glorious purpose for His church and for us as individual believers. God has given us everything we need to fulfill His purposes but we must be prepared to meet the opposition. We can “be strong” in God’s purposes for us by “putting on His full armor” so we can “stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Based on verse 12, write a description of our enemy.

Read 2 Corinthians 11:14. Will Satan and his activity always immediately appear to be evil? Explain.

Sin (and Satan) is attractive and enticing. At least at first. He baits us, draws us in, tempts us with things that seem fun, harmless, and even fulfilling. That’s why we must “suit up” for protection. Twice Paul uses the term “full armor of God.” This phrase is translated from one Greek word, panoplia. According to Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, the panoplia was the complete equipment used by heavily armed Roman infantry.

Paul’s audience would have been familiar with the panoplia. His description of God’s armor would have conjured up a picture of every offensive and defensive piece – even the ones Paul did not mention. While Paul gives his readers a sampling of the spiritual weapons we have at our disposal, his intention is that we employ “every spiritual blessing” in our struggle against the devil. God’s “incomparable great power” is available to us who believe. Let’s not leave any weapon in its sheath. Like the Roman soldiers, let’s cover everything. Leave no part of the body vulnerable to attack.

What have you learned about these pieces of armor from our larger study of Ephesians?

• Truth (see 4:21):
• Righteousness (5:8-9):
• Gospel of Peace (2:14-18):
• Faith (1:15, 2:8):
• Salvation (1:13-14):
• Sword of the Spirit/Word of God (1:17, 3:16, 5:18-19):
• Prayer (1:15-21, 3:14-21):

Arm Yourselves for Spiritual Battle

Paul’s imperatives in this section are plural. Although also relevant for us as individuals, God’s call to arm ourselves for battle is communal, to the church. Like Roman soldiers who were considered virtually invincible when they stood together in full armor on the battlefield, the Christian “whole” is stronger than the individual parts.

Also, our call to battle preparation closely reflects God’s own in Isaiah 59:17. Just as we are to “be imitators of God” (Eph 5:1) by living a life of love we should also imitate Christ when we “stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Read the following passages and draw a line to the corresponding way that Jesus fought Satan’s temptations.

Matthew 4:1-11                            Pray, watch for God’s activity, guard against Satan

Matthew 16:21-25                       Rebuke, Submit our will to God’s will

Matthew 26:36-41                       Know the truth of God’s Word and stand on it

Reread Ephesians 1:19-23. How can we be certain that victory is ours?

Closing Request & Remarks

Paul has been praying for the believers in Ephesus “ever since he heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus.” Paul battled in prayer for his fellow believers. Now he asks them to do battle on his behalf.

Read Ephesians 6:19-20. List the specific ways Paul asked them to pray for him.

God calls us to pray for each other. My fellow Christians need me to pray for them. I need them to pray for me.

Do you have one or more Christians who pray for you on a regular basis? If so, do you give them very specific requests? List some ways you can ask others to pray for you:

Read Eph 6:21-23. Compare verse 21 with Colossians 4:7-9. What similarities do you find?

This is some of the evidence that shows Paul wrote both letters from prison very close together. Tychicus was Paul’s representative to these two churches and delivered both letters. I would love to hear the additional news Tychicus shared about Paul and their ministry with the churches. Wouldn’t you?

As we close our study together I would like to say Paul’s benediction to the Ephesians over you – my fellow sojourners of God’s Word.

Good-bye, friends. Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:23-24, The Message

Weekly Challenge

Find a prayer partner. Share specific requests with them. Ask them for specific requests. Meet regularly. Be real!

Click here for a complete 8 week study of Emphesians.

Originally posted on Unshakeable Faith for Life.

Meditating on an encouraging scripture….. 

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].” 1 Cor 10:13.

Isn’t it assuring to know that temptations sent our way have to be “common to man”? The Amplified translation reads that it has to be within our “human resistance.” The temptation cannot be a supernatural act from Satan to force us to sin or give up. We see that confirmed in Alcoholic Anonymous and similar meetings; that even without a personal relationship Jesus Christ, recognizing only a “higher power,” they are able to overcome since it’s still possible with “human resistance.”

Also notice that the verse does NOT say that God has put this on us! Of course He would not tempt us to sin, yet so many people say… ‘Well, God won’t put on us more that what we can handle.’ So they think God is beating them up with situations that either they opened themselves up to or the enemy has taken advantage of them in. (James 1:13, 14)

It does say that God, with every temptation, will make sure we have a way of escape…I like that!…so that we can have the victory!

One of the tricks of the enemy is to make us feel that we are the only ones dealing with this temptation, so that we pick up condemnation and feel defeated. No it says, It is COMMON to man…Hello! It is “common”…EVERYONE deals with it in some way or other! Jesus was tempted in every way, yet He did not sin. He went through this life as man, dealing with things as man, though He was God. (Phil 2)

God has given us weapons of our warfare that are for the overthrowing and destruction of strongholds! (2 Cor 10:3) “For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Ohhhhh, He has given us weapons, but WE have to use them! We have to cast down the imagination that goes against the word of God! Ohhhhh, WE have to bring our thoughts into captivity and not let them run wild (or read anything or watch anything we want)! Ohhhhh, WE need to discipline our flesh when it gets out of control! We have to guard our hearts!

Watch yourself to learn what your “trigger points” are. When you want to over eat, drink, or take pills, what is triggering that desire? If it’s sexual thoughts, what are you dwelling on? I had one woman tell me, “CarolMarie, I’m not dead!” That’s right, there is a part of us that keeps wanting to be resurrected when it should be dead. But God has given us a way of escape…and we have the ability to choose to take it!

Don’t wait to try to put out the fire when it blazing! Try not playing with matches in the first place. This is so much easier! Replace the craving with what is good. The Lord knows what we each need and what will work for us. And the Word of God always works! I write scriptures on 3×5 cards and carry them with me, to help me. It’s like taking my vitamins and building me up ahead of time so I can be strong!

We are not in this alone! We are all dealing with stuff, if we are living in this world and living in a human body! But He has given us a way of escape. Let’s take it and use it even before we are in a dangerous situation. If we feel the flames around us, He will still walk us out of it if we will trust Him and practice His principles…He’s provided the way of escape!

Then take one day at a time! We can handle each day…He gives us what we need!  

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.” Matt 6:33, 34.

Be ready to bring those areas into obedience…like fasting to bring the flesh in line. My body straightens right up when I take everything away, if it’s craving what’s not healthy! If I am dealing with negativity or depression, I fast TV and only allow my mind to receive what is uplifting and edifying, putting on worship music and teachings that keep me on track.

We are not singled out by the enemy or by God! God is not a respecter of persons and He has provided a way of escape for us all! Ohhhhh, I love that about Him! If it works for me. It will work for you too! He paved the way!

We are mighty in Him,
CarolMarie

He’s My Husband International
www.hesmyhusband.com

]]> http://www.livingbetterat50.com/cup-empowerment-51412/feed/ 0 http://www.livingbetterat50.com/10-questions-top-tips-blog-trip/ http://www.livingbetterat50.com/10-questions-top-tips-blog-trip/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 17:43:46 +0000 Zoe Dawes http://www.livingbetterat50.com/?p=19379 [continue reading...]]]> By Zoe Dawes, www.thequirkytraveller.com –

What is a Blog Trip? It’s an updated version of the Press Trip, often offered by tourist agencies, PR companies and tourism businesses which generate publicity for their venue, resort, hotel, attraction or other holiday destination. They are similar to Press Trips and may include journalists from newspapers or magazines as well as online bloggers.

Here are 10 questions for first-time blog trippers to consider before accepting a tempting invite or leaving for that dream destination.

1. Will ALL your expenses be covered? Sometimes you will get paid everything from the time you leave your house to the moment you return, but other times you may find yourself quite out of pocket. Remember that even if meals, accommodation & transport are generally covered, drinks, taxis, duty free/souvenirs (well, sometimes you have to!) all add up. You will need some currency so get your travel money before you go – you may not have much time to change money on the trip.
2. What is expected of you in return for the trip? What does your client want re Social Media ie Twitter, Face Book, StumbleUpon etc. How many blog posts are you expected to write? You’re going to be busy and it can be tiring so don’t overpromise. Do they want you to write them whilst you are away? Which leads to …
3. What’s the WiFi or internet connection going to be like when you get there? Is it included in the package? Uploading photos can take ages when you have a slow connection. Remember – if you are using a smart phone abroad those Roaming charges quickly add up.
4. Who else is going on the trip? Where are they from? You may be the only blogger going in which case you will have an exclusive or you may be part of a group. It might be a Press trip as opposed to a dedicated Blog Trip, in which case you may be along with journalists from newspapers & magazines. If you are on your own, check if you will have a host or someone to show you around and help if anything goes wrong.
5. What’s the itinerary? Does it coincide with your interests? You may be given a choice of activities so do think about your readers and what they might like to read about. WARNING – some companies put together really great things to do but remember – you will need some time to yourself so don’t be afraid to ask for free time.
6. What research do you need to do beforehand? You may like to just turn up at a place and go with the flow, but it can pay dividends to find out some basic info about the country, customs and culture. (I usually get the Culture Smart guides when I go somewhere new.) There are some fantastic travel Apps that you can download before you go.
7. What clothes do you need to take? Of course you need to know what the climate is like, but also whether you will be expected to dress up for a special dinner or doing adventure activities. Some countries are more formal in dress code than others so do check.
8. What are the rights to your writing? Does the client expect exclusive use of your articles and photos or can you use the material elsewhere? There are all kinds of regulations over Intellectual Property and it’s changing all the time for internet use, so it’s helpful to clarify it beforehand.
9. On your return what is expected from you? Do you let the client know when articles are posted or links used? Is there anything else they want from you? Let them know you value the relationship and hopefully it will lead to other opportunities for travel …
10.  What else do you need to remember? Of course you have to have your passport – do make sure it’s up to date as you may be asked to leave at short notice. Keep a bag packed with essentials – ie passport, travel money, toiletries, travel plug, sun cream, mosquito repellent, first aid kit. Charge up your laptop, cameras, smart phone, camera prior to departure and make sure all the right leads and plugs are packed.

Finally, remember that this is supposed to be fun so make sure that you really do want to go on this trip – your readers want to share your enjoyment too!

This article is kindly sponsored by Tesco Bank.

Travel Bloggers, please share your own tips & experiences from your travels around the world …

Originally posted on Quirky Traveller’s Tales.

With 12,000 boomers a day turning 65, that’s one every 8 seconds for the next 18 years; and with 50% of women over the age of 50 projected to have an osteoporosis related fracture in their lifetime, Osteoporosis is already a huge age-related issue and shaping up to be a monumental problem.

Besides the human cost in loss of mobility, quality of life and even premature death, Osteoporosis doesn’t come cheap.

“In 2005, osteoporosis was responsible for an estimated two million fractures and $19 billion in costs. By 2025, experts predict that osteoporosis will be responsible for approximately three million fractures and $25.3 billion in costs each year.” National Osteoporosis Foundation

But it doesn’t have to go like this. “We can reduce the impact of osteoporosis the same way seat belts have reduced injuries in car crashes; an ounce of prehab is worth a pound of rehab” says Mirabai Holland creator of Skeletal Fitness® Osteoporosis Exercise Program

Taking care of your bones is a no brainer like watching your cholesterol and lowering your blood pressure.

You don’t have to do anything extra. We all need to exercise anyway. Just refocus your workout a little bit to include the areas most at risk for osteoporotic fracture: the spine, the hip and the wrist.

We know that bone loading works since the 70’s. Studies with tennis players show that bones in the racquet arm grow stronger and more dense than the bones in the non-racquet arm just by whacking a ball back and forth.

The original Skeletal Fitness by Mirabai Holland® DVD is endorsed by the National Osteoporosis Foundation. It’s a beginner’s full body bone loading strength workout with special emphasis on the areas at risk for osteoporosis.

When it was first released in 1997 it was called “Best Workout For Bones” by Prevention Magazine. It’s gone through 4 revisions to keep the data current. The video begins with an Osteoporosis Education section by Felicia Cosman, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons

New York, NY, and Medical Director, Clinical Research Center

Helen Hayes Hospital West Haverstraw, NY who then introduces Mirabai’s exercise program which focuses on full body, weight-bearing exercise, with special emphasis on the areas of the body most at risk for osteoporosis. These include the spine, thighbone at the hip, and the forearm at the wrist. It’s a beginner’s full body bone loading strength workout with special emphasis on the areas at risk for osteoporosis. When it was first released in 1997 it was called “Best Workout For Bones” by Prevention Magazine. It’s gone through 4 revisions to keep the data current.

Pearl Romero, Skeletal Fitness user says, “It has helped me increase muscle strength and maintain my bones. My balance is greatly improved – less tripping; and when it does occur infrequently, I can catch my balance without going down.”

She is now expanding the scope of Skeletal Fitness with a 3 New DVDs to address other Osteoporosis related issues like fall prevention, core strength, balance and limited mobility.

They are scheduled to roll out one by one between May and October of this year.

Upon release, each will be submitted to the NOF for review.

All DVDs retail for $19.95 at www.mirabaiholland.com

Skeletal Fitness by Mirabai Holland®
Interval Cardio/Strength
(Scheduled for release May 2012, National Osteoporosis Month)

Ten-minute intervals of weight bearing cardio dance movements specifically designed to address agility and fall prevention issues associated with Osteoporosis are alternated with intervals of weight bearing and resistance bone loading upper body strength exercises.

This routine helps prevent or manage Osteoporosis, protects your cardiovascular system, strengthen and sculpts all at once.

Skeletal Fitness by Mirabai Holland®
Core & Balance Workout
(Scheduled for release July 2012)

Focuses on core and balance, which are so important for spinal protection and fall prevention.

Strengthens abs and back muscles without putting the spine at risk. Standing balance exercises improve body awareness and alignment that can be transferred to every day movements to help prevent falls.

Skeletal Fitness by Mirabai Holland® Chair
(Scheduled for release October 2012 in time for World Osteoporosis Day)

A full body strength workout for people with limited mobility.

Consists of weight resistance training exercises using a towel and hand weights while seated.

What with my birthday last month, this month the sixth month anniversary of his death followed by his birthday two days later, life has been, as you may well imagine, full

~ pond where there should be none ~

of shadows. Daily it seems, I’m stepping on shadows and memories of days gone by, trips taken, words spoken, dreams past, present but not future. At least, not with Dave. The danger is in falling into and staying in the rut of memory; it’s so much easier than dealing with daily life.

Yet, daily life is what pulls me through the day, towards the night, bed, sleep, wakefulness and dreams to get up and do it all over again daily. Life like water, being poured out toward eternity trying to make intelligent decisions, wise choices and not coming across like a lunatical moron. Some days it’s easier, more difficult, than others. Some days I’m believable, other days…not so much.

~ drops, gradually filling even a large container ~

Recently Ann Kroeker wrote that a Pastor Kirk preached on Four Decisions That Will Change Your Life. His life changing decisions were work out/exercise daily, journal daily, memorize Scripture daily and give the Lord the first hour of every day.

Kroeker quotes A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, ”The idea of cultivation and exercise, so dear to the saints of old, has now no place in our total religious picture. It is too slow, too common. We now demand glamour and fast flowing dramatic action. A generation of Christians reared among push buttons and automatic machines is impatient of slower and less direct  methods of reaching their goals. We have been trying to apply machine-age methods to our relations with God.”

~ life like water ~

In that slowness, that common pace, I am, at least, on target. I could no more rush or speed ahead right now than I could fly without wings. There are those who tell me I need to do this or that or the other; I listen, sometimes I even think politely, and then do exactly what I need to do right now. Take care of me, the animals, the farm, me. In the meantime, I work on my four decisions, some I’ve been doing for decades, others I do sporadically and rue my lack of discipline.

Joyce Meyer once said she spends the first few hours each morning with the Lord because “it takes me a long time to get nice in the morning”. That amused me because it also takes me a while to get nice in the morning. Unlike you, I’m not a naturally nice person; spending the first couple of hours with God means I have a better chance at making it through the rest of the day without doing harm to others or myself. And, yes, sometimes I am even successful.

Decades gone by, people would take a year to grieve and mourn the loss of a spouse. Now, if you’re not back at work the Monday after the Saturday funeral, people wonder what’s the problem. The problem is emotions are messy and most want to rush by them without letting them have an impact. Call me crazy but I’m trying to deal with the grief now so it doesn’t pop up later. Is that possible, do you think?

Life has taken a turn and I’m trying to adjust, watching my life pour like water, feet attempting to dodge stepping on shadows. And, no, I’m not always successful.

Blessings ~ rain ~ sunny days ~ decisions ~ Kirk ~ Tozer ~ Meyer ~ Kroeker ~

Originally posted on Thistle Cove Farm.

Biggest priority now:
To own my own days. Oddly enough I was 50 years old when I took a job as a college professor. In my second life, I realized something: I couldn’t retire without a pension, and I needed medical insurance. My health problems had become more intense. I still have the same autoimmune disease from the past but then I had youth on my side. I wanted money and time now. Being poor– and always strapped for cash as I was as a free-lance writer– has its own price.

Biggest professional difference:
It blew me away that I didn’t have to prove anything to myself. The other thing was that all my colleagues and my students thought I knew a lot and could teach them things.

Biggest concern:
Physical changes. I wear glasses. I forget words. It terrifies me because I am a writer. I did a lot of public speaking in my first life. I’m not as articulate anymore. I say to my students you know what I mean. I make fun of myself, make them allies, group think, what word am I trying to get at. These are brain changes. We are not getting stupider but you have to learn to work with a different brain. I am terrified about becoming debilitated. It’s the biggest question in starting a relationship, a permanent relationship: what’s the end game going to look like?

Starting a new relationship: One of the ways it is different at this age is your eyes are wide open. You don’t think how is the person going to fulfill me but rather how is this person going to make demands, what will this person cost me? At this stage of life, you have paid your dues, you have respect, you have children and grandchildren you love. I came into a relationship without a lot of needs. I became aware how wonderful it is to have someone who cares for me, knowing I am on someone’s mind all the time, has the right wine for dinner or just wants to know what is the biggest thing that happened in my day.

Hardest thing about a new relationship: You come into a relationship as a fully-developed person. You have to spend a lot of time filling in the background, telling the person who you used to be, how and why life has made you the person you are. I come as a package with lifetime friendships, grown children, and I’m never going to be exclusively his. Never ever.

Recognizing a good man at this age: Whenever you meet a man who gets it, there’s one woman –probably two– that got him there. Something caused his previous relationships to end. Is he always going to blame her—or is he going to change himself? So you’re looking for that: you are looking for what the man has learned. When he talks about the past, he can’t exactly articulate it but you can hear it. Don’t get involved with a nit-picker.

On being a grandmother:
The hardest issue is to stay out of the way of the mother and the father. Grandchildren are such a clean relationship. You don’t feel you’re ruining them. It’s uncomplicated for me to love those kids. They don’t blame me for anything. I’m not there everyday.

On taking care of her mother:
People always say I am never going to put someone in an institution but it happens all the time. We put children in daycare. The challenge is to make the institutions better. We all need help taking care of dependent people. Who has a 24/7 life to give away? I found myself at a stage where my life was my own, and now I had a dependent parent. And you don’t know when that is going to end. It could be one year or it could be 15 years but you know it’s not going to end well. Everybody’s parents say ‘I don’t want to be a burden’. But the time comes, and they are a burden but they don’t think they are. I wanted to give my mother an embroidered pillow that said: ‘I am a burden, and I’m proud’.

Rewards of caregiving:
My mother was most content in my company, even though I was her most difficult child. Half of her arguments were to tweak me to be a perfect woman. I was grateful when my mother told me ‘I love you’. I had been waiting all my life to hear those words. There was no unfinished business by the
time she died.

Biggest regret:
Why did I smoke for 40 years?

Biggest fear:
I have lived with chronic illness. It was manageable because of youth and luck. But now it’s back. It’s frustrating. I want remission again. One time I am going to yearn for remission and it’s not going to be there. I’d hate to have stroke. I’ve handled diabetes for 30 years. It’s not scary. I could never handle having a stroke. The things you think you can’t handle, I already know I can handle. I say I can’t handle a wheelchair until I can’t walk. I used to say I can’t handle assisted living, wearing bibs at the dining room table. I burst into tears when I visited those places when my mother needed care. I said I can’t handle this, and neither can my mother. You do–and you end up revising your process. What’s unacceptable becomes acceptable.

Five years from now:
I plan to work until I am 68 ½. Right now I work three days a week, and it’s still too much. I never have enough time to write. In five years, I want to have gotten rid of my house. I may still live in the same city but travel more–not to exotic places but I want to go see my friends. I have always learned what I need to know about life from my friends.

Originally posted on Second Lives Club.

Are you looking for ways to save time and yet still cook like a rock star? Do you love stretching one meal into two? Do you like spicy flavor with a little kick? Then you are going to adore this recipe and cherish it as a family favorite!

My husband David loves spicy hot flavors so I created this just for him. But on my journey I discovered that the sauce from this recipe works beautifully with both tender steak stir fry as well as peel-and-eat shrimp! And since life has been super busy lately, nothing makes me happier than cooking like a top chef and stretching one meal into two!

The time saving approach is simple. Make the sauce from the pan drippings from the roasted chicken, then use the sauce in a fusion style stir fry the next night. Say adios to the typical teriyaki and oyster sauce routine – using this sauce will elevate your stir fry experience to a whole new level of sophisticated flavor. What could be better than getting two great meals for half the work?

Spicy Roast Chicken with Jalapeno Cumin Cilantro Sauce

Recipe Type: Main
Prep time: 30 mins
Cook time: 120 mins
Total time: 2 hours 30 mins
Serves: 6-8

The ingredients for this recipe are ample but simple and affordable. When combined together with a slow roasted chicken they create a luscious and delicious sauce. I increased the amounts so that you can make extra sauce and use it the next day for another amazing recipe. This is part of my new series: One Sauce – Two Great Recipes!

Ingredients:

• One 5 lb whole farm raised chicken

Marinade Ingredients:

• 2 jalapeno peppers, cut into thin
• 1 fresno chili pepper, cut in thin strips
• 3 medium sized shallots, sliced
• 38 cloves of garlic, peeled and smashed (20 for marinade, 10 inside the cavity when roasting, and 8 for basting sauce)
• 2 scallions, sliced
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped, reserve 1/4 cup for sauce and garnish
• 3 limes, 2 juiced, reserve 1 for garnish
• 2 lemons, reserve 1 for garnish
• 2 tbsp ginger, finely grated
• 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 3 for marinade, 3 for basting sauce
• 3 1/2 tbsp cumin powder; reserve 1/2 tbsp for sauce
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp salt

Additional Sauce Ingredients:

• 1-2 cups vegetable stock
• 1 tsp Asian Chili Paste (available at most Asian and or specialty food stores)
• 2 tbsp beurre manie (a dough, consisting of equal parts of soft butter and flour, used to thicken soups and sauces)

Instructions:

Place chicken in a stainless steel roasting pan, lightly salt and pepper all over.

In a bowl combine all the 20 cloves of garlic and all the marinade ingredients; mix well.

Reserve 1/2 cup of marinade for the sauce. Use the remaining portion to coat the outside of the chicken, pressing into any opening under the skin.

Place 10 cloves of garlic, and 2 tbsp of marinade inside the cavity. Then add 1/2 lemon with the skin side up, to the opening of the cavity to seal in the flavors.

Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

Place chicken in center of preheated 350º oven and cook for approximately 2- 2 1/2 hours or until the skin is golden brown.

Prepare the basting sauce. On medium low, heat 4 tbsp of EVOO, then saute 8 cloves crushed garlic with a pinch of salt and pepper and 1 tsp cumin. Add 2 tbsp of the remaining marinade, 2 thin slices lemon and 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, stirring frequently for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat so the sauce does not evaporate. Baste the chicken all over the top, legs and wings every 30 minutes. If you need more liquid in your basting sauce, add 1-2 tbsp of butter or evoo.

When the chicken is done, remove from pan, cover and keep warm.

Straddle the roasting pan on two stove top burners and turn the heat to medium -low. Add the vegetable stock, 1 tsp of the Asian chili paste, 1/2 tbsp cumin, 1 tbsp cilantro and the remaining marinade. Scrape the brown bits on the sides of the pan down into the sauce. Reduce for 10-12 minutes. Add 2 tbsp of Buerre Manie, mix thoroughly.

Strain the sauce through a sieve and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove the fat off the top. If needed, reheat on medium for 2-3 minutes before serving.

Slice the chicken and serve with your favorite vegetables. Pour a generous amount of sauce over the chicken and garnish with chopped cilantro and 3 thin slices of alternating lemon and lime.

Reserve all leftovers to create another great recipe using the same delicious sauce! Bon Appetit!

Recipe and Photos by Erica Galindo
Courtesy of Sonoma Christian Home Magazine
http://sonomachristianhome.com/

Today’s Truth

Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV) “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

Friend to Friend

Discipline is obedience, a lifetime process that brings us to a state of order by training and controlling our behavior. Discipline is focusing and eliminating, zeroing in on what is important in every area of life. Discipline not only leads to right thinking, pleasing behavior and balanced emotions but also produces a purpose-driven life based on right goals and priorities.

Time management is a dreaded and often ignored spiritual discipline for many of us. We have either forgotten or failed to realize the truth that our minutes, hours and days are precious commodities — gifts from God that can be unwrapped only once. Time is wasted unless it is invested in goals and priorities that are rooted in God’s plan.

A busy life is not necessarily a productive life, girlfriends. Oh, I can hear it now! “I am very busy, but I am busy doing good things.” Those words were the cry of my heart just before I crashed and burned and landed in a pit of clinical depression. The problem with my list of “good things” was that it was just that – my list – which was the wrong list for my life. The result was exhaustion, burnout and disobedience.

One of the most important lessons of my “pit experience” was that my perspective of time was skewed. I had poured years into making my plan successful only to discover the truth that God resources and empowers His plan alone. Outlook determines outcome. It was painfully obvious I needed an outlook adjustment, an eternal perspective. I needed to understand the truth that my time is not really mine to do with as I please. It is a resource on loan to me from God. As a result, every plan, priority and goal should be held against the backdrop of eternity because it is from that backdrop that our priorities are validated, our calling confirmed and our time best invested.

Learning how to trust God with our time is a challenge for us all. I am, by no means, an expert in this area, but I do want to share some simple ideas that have worked for me.

Tithe your time. Just as we tithe our money, we should tithe our time. God blesses and multiplies the time we set aside to spend in Bible study, prayer and service.

Get organized.  In 1 Corinthians 14:40, we are challenged to “do all in a fitting and orderly way.” In other words, being organized is a spiritual discipline, freeing us from the tyranny of the urgent while making room for the eternal things that matter. Here are some simple organizational tips

• Buy and keep a calendar. Writing things down keeps me from wasting time and “bunching up” activities. It takes the pressure off to remember everything and allows me to see, at a glance, what is important. My weeks and months are more evenly scheduled and I am forced to prioritize, doing the important things first.

• Choose one day a week to plan. Every Sunday afternoon, I plan the week ahead, recording the main tasks I need to complete and scheduling the appointments I need to make and keep. Pray over your week, asking the Holy Spirit to make clear those things ordained for each day.

• Simplify and eliminate. Experts advise us to approach spring cleaning by dealing with one closet at a time. The same principle works with time management. Break jobs up into manageable steps so that the large tasks seem doable.

• Tackle the dreaded task first. I have discovered that tackling the job I dread the most energizes me for the rest of the tasks. I have also learned to use my best time, the time of the day when my energy is highest, for the most important and the most difficult tasks. 

• Stop activity when it becomes unproductive. Sometimes, a 10 minute break will boost energy, refocus attention and get creative juices flowing.

• Begin a task, even if you won’t have time to complete it. I hate doing laundry and frequently long for the day of disposable clothing. As a result, I often do the laundry in phases. For example, I will start the wash and go answer email. I then toss the wet clothing into the dryer and work on a writing assignment. You get the idea!

• Delegate. When we delegate work to our children, we are teaching them godly discipline as well as basic life skills they need to learn. The church is filled with people waiting to be pushed out of their comfort zones in service. Look for those potential leaders and delegate.

• Leave margins in your schedule. I tend to fill every time slot during the day. Therefore, when the “unexpected” comes along, I am overwhelmed and unprepared. Building margins of time into our schedules is a step of faith, trusting God to fill them in any way He chooses.

• Yield to the seasons of life. When my children were small, I did not travel and speak as much as I do now. Do not sacrifice your family on the altar of a career or even a ministry. Our greatest mission field is our home, our marriage and our children. It does not matter how much we do or how successful we are, if home and family get the leftovers of our time, energy, emotions and spiritual service, we are walking in sin and disobedience.

Let’s face it. If we don’t set priorities — others will. Time thieves will steal our time as we allow them to impose their plans and standards on us. While it is true that different women have different priorities and different seasons of life, it is also true that one priority remains steadfast. Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…” Once that priority is firmly established, the rest of life will surely fall into place, and we will be trusting God with our time.

Let’s Pray

Father, I want to live a life of power and purpose. I now surrender my time to You, Lord, and choose to invest each moment wisely. I will no longer put off doing what I know You want me to do. I will line up my priorities according to Your Word and will seek to be more disciplined with my time. I will set boundaries that please and honor God. Today, I choose to trust You with my time.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read the following verses of Scripture. Memorize at least one and record it in your journal. What one new truth has God given you about time through today’s devotional?

• Psalm 90:12 (ESV) “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
• Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV) “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

• Psalm 39:4-5 (ESV) “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!”

More from the Girlfriends

For more help learning how to manage time, check out Mary’s E-Bible Study, Time: Friend or Foe. Need help learning how to live a life of power and purpose? Check out Mary’s weekly online Bible Study, How to Dress for Success and learn how to live a life of victory. Connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

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Have you ever tried bresaola? (pronounced breh-ZOW-la) It may look a little like prosciutto, but it’s beef, not pork — and it’s a specialty of Italy’s Valtellina, the Alpine area in the region of Lombardy (the area in red below). Nowadays, you can find it all over Italy, and in the U.S. too – at least where I live in the Northeast. It’s made with top round or another cut of lean beef, seasoned with salt and spices, then dried and aged for a few months.

It’s sliced paper thin and eaten raw, making it perfect for an easy lunch or dinner — especially on a warm day when you don’t want to turn on the oven. A classic way to serve it is with some arugula and shavings of parmesan cheese, freshly cracked black pepper, a drizzle of olive oil and a squirt of lemon.

If you’re looking for a quick, unusual and delicious appetizer, try mixing a little goat cheese with some chives. Place a dab of the mixture on a slice of bresaola.

Then pick up the edges, bring them toward the center and tie with a chive stem (or a thin slice of leek.)

Originally posted on Ciao Chow Linda.

My First Mother's Day ~ Welcome to the world: Mackenzie Campbell

Happy Mother’s Day…Happy Valentine’s Day…Happy Father’s Day…Happy? Really? NOT if you aren’t married, in a loving relationship, or a parent!

Oh, how I remember so well all those Mother’s Days I dreaded. Flashback: twelve years ago. I downright despised all the jovial moms having cause for celebration and showing off their pictures with cute babies. Every little handmade trinket I saw hanging on a refrigerator door only served to remind me of my lack.

And don’t get me started on receiving invitations to baby showers…OMG – especially from a gal much younger than me that wasn’t even married…and we’re supposed to celebrate and bring gifts? Surely the list maker of invitations to this party didn’t consider it very well. Oh, I think I was told that I should have been grateful to be included and that “they” thought it would be better to invite me than leave me off the list…No, please just exclude me from this kind of merriment.

Do you get the picture I was just a tad bit bitter? I guess after ten years of wanting and trying to have a baby, three miscarriages, tons of money spent on doctor bills with infertility that insurance did not cover, two surgeries and a failed adoption, I felt I had a right to be bitter. Add in a husband who simply could not relate to the toll taken on my body physically and emotionally, and who had his own issues with loss to deal with, mix in a sex life that revolved around ovulation, and you’ve got one hot and bothered wild thang looking for a fight to pick.

Now this southern Baptist raised good-girl was taught that God had a plan for everything and that during the trials of life you are to “rejoice”. Well, can I just be honest and say how I really felt? Screw that, life sucks, it isn’t fair AND rejoicing while bleeding for 25 days straight wasn’t the answer that consoled me. However, because I did hide God’s word in my heart and had “other” scriptures come to mind during those difficult years, I was able to cling to some promises that kept me future focused. I also began to find that caring about others and meeting their needs made mine slowly fade. I wasn’t able to rejoice in my pain – both heart and body pain – but I DID rejoice with others in their gain. I shifted my attention from what wasn’t happening for me, to what WAS…and I became very grateful! Advice I would give anyone going through a terribly difficult time of loss: Stay active, Involve yourself with others, Get some accountability, Serve! Grieve, yes…then get up and move forward. You must rest in hope that “this too shall pass”. Things do not come to stay – they come to pass…the good and the bad!

So this Sunday, as I reflect back to having my first daughter, Mackenzie ten years ago last month I will never forget that first Mother’s Day of elated, ecstatic joy that I experienced. I am ever so grateful to share in that celebratory act with other moms around the world this weekend. There’s nothing like the joy and exhaustion, the challenge and the satisfaction of being a mom. Oh how I love watching the crisalis grow its wings and push out of the cocoon…yet I know a day is coming when your wings will take you away. Though I carried you in my belly, I will always hold you in my heart!

I will also remember…the pain. If you’re not yet a mom and want to be – hold on to hope! Disappointment can either keep you down and out, or help you grow roots. 
HAPPY Mother’s Day!

Originally posted on Naked to Knockout.