Having kept a journal the greater part of my life, I was amazed to discover how much blogging is like journaling.  For the most part, my writings tended to stay between me and God.   Blogging however has opened my life to a plethora of new relationships and incredible adventures in Jesus that I might never have experienced except in the multifaceted world of the internet.

One such adventure is ‘Fleece for the Flock’.  Early this year, my friend Mary shared an idea God had impressed upon her to create hand tied blankets and distribute them to our neighbors, especially the neediest who could really use a hug from God.

Each blanket has the opportunity to cover the recipient not only in warmth, but to be the hands, feet and loving arms of Christ as we are called to do in 1Peter 5:2-3.

In the short months since beginning this ministry, God has grown it into something Mary and I never imagined and it’s all His doing. We have more than 150 flock members as we call them , from across this country and several outside of the US.  Word has spread due in large part due to sharing through Facebook, Video’s, emails and blogs. Our members have embraced this ministry with their whole hearts, giving time, money and fleece and most importantly prayer to see these projects completed.

Currently Fleece for the Flock is committed to providing 500 blankets and wraps to our Appalacian neighbors in McDowell County, West Virginia.  Due to a series of economic and natural disasters, the community of McDowell has the distinction of being one of the poorest counties in the United States.  This video does an excellent job explaining how this once thriving community became the poster child for the war on poverty.

See the video here: VIDEO

Since joining my friend Mary on this mission, not a day passes that 1 Corinthians 2:9 is not pouring from my heart.  God’s goodness and grace to this old grandma takes my breath away.  I am not sure where He is leading next, but wherever it is, I will follow.

About Tammy: I am a wife, mother, grandmother and blogger but most importantly, I am an all out lover and follower of Jesus Christ.  Call me whatever you like, but know that because of my Lord and Savior, I am and always will be Grateful, and for now…in Georgia.

I’m still in my pajamas, enjoying a quiet morning, reading my bible, reading a chapter or two of Max Lucado’s Every Day Deserves a Chance, and listening to our garden fountain. The birds have arrived for their morning breakfast buffet of birdseed and sunflower seeds scattered around our yard, and the peanut butter mix that I stuff into a homemade feeder. This is one of my favorite times of day. I am relishing these quiet moments when I hear “whack!”

“Oh no!”  Another bird has mistaken the reflection in our glass window for it’s intended flight path.

I rush to the window, look around the patio and see a baby cardinal lying on the cement. My heart sinks.

As I open the door I realize he is still breathing and a little stunned. I sit on the ground beside him, pick him up and begin to stroke the soft feathers on his head. I gently fold his right wing back into place, inspecting it for any injuries and realize this little fellow will be okay.

He has just been pushed out of his nest. This may have been his first flight attempt as his parents are now entering their empty nest journey. The male cardinal will continue to feed him for a few weeks, while the female cleans her nest of baby feathers. After a few moments my gentle friend takes flight to a nearby tree.

The empty nester cardinals may have been watching, or maybe they were looking at each other thinking, “What now? The babies are grown, they have taken flight, and we are alone. We will only see the kiddos when they are hungry.”

I remember when my youngest daughter moved out of the house into her own apartment. I was so happy for her, and enjoyed watching her as she grew into her new role as the keeper of her own home, but I was also very depressed. I was not sleeping, my mind raced all of the time, my body hurt and I wondered if I had a purpose.
I remember telling my husband, “I have made brown bag lunches and driven kids to school for 24 years. I was room mother, drove dance team girls and cheerleaders to football and basketball games all over Louisiana, served hundreds of lunches in school cafeterias, and went on as many field trips as possible. Now I don’t know what to do with me. I am lost. Who am I now?”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

A season for every activity, hmmm. Even empty nesters have a season, but mine was
bitter-sweet. I struggled to adjust to this new season of my life.

It has been six years since I found myself asking that question – Who am I? – and my journey has led me to a few discoveries.

1. I have enjoyed watching my children fly away. Yes, they may fly into an obstacle or two, it has been a joy watching God unfold His plan in their lives. I will always be here to stroke their feathers. God will always be there to show them His way. They have become college students, pastors, professionals,  business owners, and parents. One of my greatest joys are our six grandchildren.
2. My husband and I have recreated our love for each other. We are a blended family, so when we got back from our honeymoon twenty years ago, our lives were thrust full steam ahead into family life. We often tried to make time for ourselves, but our plans were often changed because of our commitments to our children. Once all of our kids were gone, it was just the two of us. Now there were no more excuses to not talk to each other or go in two different directions because of our busy lives.
   One of the highest divorce rates is among empty nesters. Why? They forget why they fell in love. My husband and I have had more fun in the last six years than we have ever had! We serve each other more intently, pay attention to each other more, and have even found out a few things we didn’t know about each other after two decades together, which leads me to number three.
3. I intentionally make quality time to spend with my husband. Time together is the greatest asset, other than God, in my marriage. I will spend the rest of my life with my husband and I want the second half of my marriage to be the best! We talk to each other, we listen and we care for each other. I refuse to be the woman staring out of the passenger side window of a car as her husband drives while they say nothing to each other. I refuse to be the couple sitting in the restaurant sharing dinner together as they stare in opposite directions, saying nothing. That is not time, that is tolerance. I want quality time for the time we have left together.
4. We reinvented the word fun! Some friends (who are empty nesters) related a story of when they recently went on a trail ride on horseback in Colorado. She made the statement that it was the first time she and her husband had done anything together, alone, in years. They now own several horses and take trips frequently, with horses in tow. They enjoy each other, have rediscovered each other and are more in love today than ever! My husband and I have taken a cruise to Alaska, travel to see our children and grandchildren who now live in three different states, go to the movies, sleep late, take Sunday drives down country roads, share a gelato at a café  . . . whatever, as long as we are having fun together.

The second half can be the best half. But, my husband and I must be intentional about making it so. And the best part is, no one is asking from the back seat, “Are we there yet?”

Paige Becnel and her husband Moe are natives of New Orleans, Louisiana,and reside in Baton Rouge with their dog, Belle. They met in 1987 and married in 1989, blending a family of five children. Formerly in the utility business, medical field, and Singles Pastors at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, (leading singles, single parent,divorce recovery and Blended Family ministries), the Becnels founded Blending A Family Ministry in 2002. The Becnels are available for:

• Blended Family Seminars
• marriage seminars and conferences
• discussion groups
• singles conferences
• individual Blended Family guidance

Young ladies we must develop the characteristics of a “Proverbs 31 Woman“. It is important to develop this before you marry anyone. When one fully understands and develops these characteristics, you can then submit yourself to the love and guidance of that man. I am not saying that you should forget about your dreams and visions, but you must build your home on a solid foundation. A home built on the Word of God will be successful and strong, not allowing room for the enemy to creep in. For Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy.

When a woman realizes that within her husband is the seed for the family, she should take every precaution to protect him. Scripture states that “What God has Joined Together Let No Man Put Asunder” (Mark 10:9). That means that no one should be able to approach you and verbally attack your husband. No one should be able to come into your home and disrespect your husband. No one should be able to come in and lure you into sin or competition. A woman with the characteristics of a “Proverbs 31 Woman” should provide a dwelling place of safety and an atmosphere of peace. Scripture states that “He Who Finds a Wife Finds a Good Thing” (Proverbs 18:22).

She provides a home where the presence of the Lord lingers. A home filled with a  sweet aroma of love, peace and joy. Not a home comprised of complaining, whining, silence, argumentative, misery and financially broken, nor a home that is unclean and filled with clutter and confusion. A husband should enter into a home where he has to worry if his wife is backstabbing, gossiping, lying, cheating or crucifying him.

When your husband looks at his watch and it is time to go home, he should be overcome with excitement, and a sense of “I can’t wait to get home to my wife and family”. This type of excitement will keep the enemy from creeping in. The enemy must know that there is not even a minute crack in this area of the foundation.

Scripture states that your husband should be known in the city. This means that by the stride of his walk, his talk, his peace, his joy, the love of his wife should be seen wherever he goes. So ladies that means that the self-confidence of your husband should be well maintained by you. His inner and outer appearance should reflect your patience, prayers, and confidence in him. This will draw favor and the blessings of God to him, through him and overflow onto his wife and family.

This is not to imply that a wife must STOP pursuing their dreams, but instead to take into account the passage that states “Seek Him first the Kingdom of God, and all of these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). It is just that simple.

This is why it is so important to wait until God brings you your mate. He may not be dressed the way YOU want, he may not be making the money that YOU think he should be making, he may not speak as eloquently and as educated as YOU think he should ,but if God sends him, then God has a plan to bring shaping and molding through His breaking. With His plan of preparation comes promotion and success that He plans for him. Beware, because while He is working on him, He will also be breaking, shaping and molding you. Then what He has joined together will be perfect in His eye sight, and the promises of God will begin to manifest.

He will give small trinkets along the way, just to show how awesome He is. But the “big stuff” (His plan) will not manifest until He completes the total purification (of your heart) and the renewing of your mind.

Gods plan transforms husband and wife (man and woman) for His Glory. So as you grow and develop together, God will use the two of you to build His Kingdom for His Glory.

Phyllis Martin is the Executive Director and Founder of The Root of a Woman Ministry and Christian Magazine. Phyllis has a strong calling on her life for women and children. She has worked side by side with her husband as co-pastor for ten years. She’s a dynamite motivational speaker that “keeps It real”. She has a gift and passion to empower women to be all that God has created them to be. Her motto is “When the woman is empowered, her husband and family are empowered”.

To request Phyllis for Empowerment Seminars, Counseling, Parental Training & Speaking Engagements she can be reached by email @ pkpmartin@yahoo.com  and please visit her website @ www.rootofawoman.org

Phil.  4:8,9 - Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – I will think on these things.
Ephesians 4:23, 24 – I will be made new in the attitude of my mind. And I will put on my new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

You know, so many of us – well, let’s be honest – ALL of us battle something in our minds -insecurities, trust issues, lust, lying, fear, negativity, depression – you name it, I bet we have each battled one, if not more of these things. And I’m sure I’m leaving the list way too short.

A few years ago, God really changed my life. It’s too much to type here but suffice it to say that the enemy had major control of my mind – to the point that I felt like I was going insane. How’s that for being real? A friend of mine introduced me to a wonderful book by Joyce Meyer called The Battlefield of The Mind and I read it. And quite honestly, the book ticked me off. How dare someone tell me that I had control of my thought life? She obviously didn’t know what she was talking about. But the more I read, the more I saw that Joyce had been exactly where I was. And she did know what she was talking about.

It took a lot for me to push through my urges to make excuses as to why I couldn’t possibly get control of my own thought life – and a lot of prayer from close friends and my wonderful husband who had to endure a lot of attacks from the enemy – through me – because of the battle I was going through. But God’s grace prevailed. And so I chose – look at that word – I chose to change.  I wrote down scriptures dealing with our minds and memorized them.

Every time a thought would come over me that wasn’t supposed to be there, I would say my scriptures out loud. I would sing songs – even if I had to make them up – that would lift up Jesus. I would choose to respond positively and not negatively. I kept myself accountable to my husband and to a few close friends.  They would keep me in check if I started going down the wrong road again.

I hated having to do so much work to become free from this negative thought pattern.  While I hated it, I loved it.  Being broken and admitting there was so much junk in my life wasn’t fun. But it was necessary. And I’m thankful I did it. Many, many days all I could do was say, “Jesus, please give me strength to do this.”

You see, we live in a time where people expect to get everything quickly. We forget that some things we really have to work for.  When you work for something, chances are you appreciate the end results even more than if it was just handed to you, right?  God knows that about us of course! He created us! So, there are times in our Christian walk we have to push through on purpose to get the victory in a battle. And it isn’t easy. And there will be battle wounds – wounds that turn into scars. But those scars will definitely remind us where we came from and help us to toughen up for the next battle!

So I encourage you today to take inventory of your thought life. Are there things you allow to dwell there that aren’t pleasing to God? There’s a saying I’ve heard my entire life: “You can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you sure can keep it from building a nest in your hair.”

While that sounds silly, it’s very applicable to what I’m talking about today. I can’t stop a thought from going through my mind, but I sure can keep myself from dwelling on it. The enemy places the thought there and then waits to watch for your reaction to it. If he continually sees you reacting the opposite of that thought he’ll move on to some other tactic.

Even today, I still have times where it will try and trip me up again. I haven’t reached perfection in this area of my life. But I make sure to keep quoting those scriptures (I carry index cards in my purse with them written on it), sing those songs, pray those prayers and hold myself accountable to those I’ve entrusted with my life. Together we make a GREAT army for God! And we need each other!

Here are a few scriptures (taken from NIV) that I have used to help me. I’ve tweaked them a bit to be more personal but the overall theme is there. I hope they help you as much as they have me.

Ephesians 4:23, 24 – I will be made new in the attitude of my mind. And I will put on my new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Isaiah 26:3 – You will keep me in perfect peace because my mind is steadfast and I trust in You.
I Corinthians 2:16b – I have the mind of Christ.
Romans 12:2 – I will not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but I will be transformed by the renewing of my mind.
I Peter 1:13 – I will prepare my mind for action. I will be self-controlled. I will set my hope fully on the grace to be given to me when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Phil. 4:8,9 - Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – I will think on these things.
I Peter 5:8, 9 – I will be self-controlled and alert – the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking to devour me. I will resist him and stand firm in the faith.
I Corinthians 14:15 – So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
Ephesians 6:12 – My struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers to this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
II Corinthians 10:4, 5 – The weapons I fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. I demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God . . . and I take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Mary Hess is a thirty-something mom to 2 beautiful girls (13 & 2) and wife to an amazing man!  She has been involved in ministry for most of her life teaching, leading worship and serving wherever needed.  She and her husband own Purses and Such and have been enjoying learning how to run a successful business of their own.  Her most recent adventure has been to re-enroll in college to finish her degree in Psychology: Christian Counseling.  Hopefully by the time her youngest daughter is in school she will have her Masters Degree and be on her way to completing her doctorate.  While all of these things are important to her, Mary stresses that her main purpose in life is simply to pursue God.   Wherever He takes her and whatever He wants her to do is her ultimate desire.

Have you ever had an anxiousness in your heart that just makes you feel whiny?

I  had that feeling one morning recently.  There were some things going on that were causing me to fret.  You may know them, too – the ‘what ifs’ and the ‘yea, buts’ that creep in and try to steal our joy.

My daughter Missy and my grandchildren Logan and Lana were on their way from out of state to visit for a week of summer fun.  I was excited about having them come.  It was my first thought when I woke up that day.

As I started my day, I grabbed a cup of coffee, looked out the kitchen window and thanked Him for my family.  I looked at the small creek gently cascading down the sloping backyard and envisioned my grandchildren having fun playing in it as usual.

“Adam’s girlfriend said she saw a big snake and 2 small snakes out here last week when she came to water the flowers,” a nagging little voice said within me.

“Oh my! Maybe I’d better not let them outside to play unsupervised!” I responded as I felt anxiety creep in.

Grabbing my Bible, I headed to the front porch swing for my quiet time.  Lucky beat me to the swing. She must’ve slept on it because dog hair was all over the cushion.  I shook it off, flipped the cushion over and vowed to vacuum it later.  I sat down and almost immediately my ankles started to itch.  As I leaned over to scratch the itch I saw Lucky scratching, too.

“Oh great! Now we’re going to have fleas in the house because the kids will lay all over the dog!”  Anxiety level up yet another notch.

I looked at the empty hummingbird feeder, noticed the dirty patio door windows, the ferns in the hanging baskets need attention…anxiety level up three more notches.

As I began to pray, it seemed as though everything I prayed for raised that anxiety meter.  I was feeling like the Winnie the Pooh character Eyore, just a whiny little donkey that can’t enjoy anything without seeing the gray clouds over head.

It’s a good thing we live in the middle of the woods with no neighbors because at that point I stood up, looked out over the porch railing and shouted at myself saying, “That is enough!   You’re sounding like a whiny little child! Stop it now!  Lord, rescue me from myself!  Save me from these debilitating thoughts, quiet my anxious heart and help me to see things with a heart of gratitude rather than being so anxious and grumbly.”

Immediately His Spirit brought to mind Zephaniah 3:17.

“The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

I whimpered ashamedly as I curled back up on the swing, picked up my Bible and said a ‘yea, but’ to the Lord.   As I grumble back at the Lord I was reminded of the ‘Worry List’ I keep in my journal.  It contains all the two or three word thoughts that distract me when I’m trying to talk to the Lord.  You know them, thoughts like the dishes need washing, laundry needs folding, bathrooms need cleaning, that article is due tomorrow. I’ve trained myself over the years not to focus on the list, but to use it as a way to set distractions aside as they pop into my mind.  As quick as they come, I jot them down and leave it just as quickly.  I don’t allow my mind time to mull on it at all.

While I was talking to Him and jotting things on my Worry List  occasionally, He would gently calming me down.  “I’m here. No need to fret. Just close your eyes to all the distraction and listen quietly to my heart beating out love for you. It’s my love song just for you.”

Calm and peace began to replace the anxiety.  I knew He was with me and in control.  Suddenly the ‘Worry List’ was no longer the focus.  The tune in my achy, breaky heart was replaced with the beautiful love song He was singing over me.  As I sat at His feet listening, a ‘new’ song flowed from my lips. It was a familar children’s song, but so fitting for a child of God no matter how old.

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong.   Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus love me! Yes, Jesus loves me!  The Bible tells me so.”

Thank You, O Mighty One, for always being with me.  Thank You for quieting my anxious heart with Your love and rejoicing over me with singing.  I love You, Lord!

Your humbly grateful daughter,

Marsha Harwood lives deep in the woods of western North Carolina with the love of her life Mike, their dog Lucky, and an occasional bear that comes by for a visit. Married for 35 years, they are blessed with 3 children and 6 grandchildren.  She and her husband started Snowbird TEAM Ministries 12 years ago to reach the Cherokee Indians and people of Appalachia for Christ.  Her ministry is with at risk teen girls, pregnant teens and counseling women and children who have been abused. She knows and understands the shame and fear that fills the hearts of abused women and children. She can be found daily on her blog, Marsha’s Musings.

Remember the old Jackson Browne song “Runnin’ On Empty”? It was brought back into my recent memory during the last election campaign of John McCain. As I revisited those lyrics, I realized that this could be the theme song for a good many of our lives.

“Running on – running on empty

Running on – running blind

Running on – running into the sun

But I’m running behind.” *

Even as Christians, we can be “runnin’ on empty” and “runnin’ blind.” Do you realize that? We have the race marked out for us, with Christ’s help to run it unwaveringly, but so often we train our own way and race with our own resources.

As I’ve grown in my faith over the past five years, this is a topic I’ve had to wrestle with and allow the Lord to win. It came to a point where, until I dealt with this issue specifically, I’d have to take a water break from the race God had designed for me.

My poor training started in my childhood. With no one to show me how to cope with the horrible realities I faced, I ran. Between choir and theatre and cheerleading and track and student council and color guard and friends’ houses and church events and softball and running blind into wherever I thought the sun was shining, you can bet I was empty. To fill up, I’d watch my regular television programs, all with families I wished were my own. I’d stuff my face with junk food at the same time, knowing that my taste palette would be satisfied eventually. It never was, but I kept swallowing anyway.

“But you were just a kid and weren’t taught any better,” you might say. “Besides, you coped the best you could.” This is true, but I was long into my adulthood before I realized I was still running the same way I had begun many years before. Only now I had my driver’s license.

“Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels,

I don’t know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels.

I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through.

Looking into their eyes, I see them running too.” *

All of a sudden, it occurred to me that I wasn’t the only one wearing the tread down on my tires. Surprisingly enough, I was in a great deal of traffic, with people just like me. Probably all for different reasons, but pedals to the metal, just the same.

On the race the Lord has marked out for us, sometimes we have to sprint, and sometimes hurdles are a part of our endurance training. Some seasons are busier than others, and we have no control over it. But I’m not necessarily talking about being too busy. I’m talking about running with the wrong source of energy. About becoming distracted with the audience on the sidelines. About taking shortcuts when the path marked before us gets too rocky. About going just because we’ve always gone.

Featuring Browne’s album, Rolling Stone magazine** wrote, “The title track was actually written when Browne was driving back and forth to the studio each day to make The Pretender. ‘I was always driving around with no gas in the car,’ he said. ‘I just never bothered to fill up the tank because — how far was it anyway? Just a few blocks.’”

Wow. What a description of my life for so many years. Does this apply to you?  Are you running on fumes, thinking that your fill-up is only a few blocks away?

The Lord desires that we run our races with a full tank of Him, my friends. For our own good, and also for the sake of those witnessing the race.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

No matter if we are on a city road or a country one, a road under construction or one fully paved—God designed us to live with our eyes fixed on Him and our hearts full of Him. Otherwise, we’ll keep “running behind, running on empty—running blind.” With the joy of Heaven set before us, let’s allow the One who ran the race before us to retrain us, perfect us. Let’s keep running on—running on full.”

*Running On Empty—lyrics by Jackson Browne
**Rollingstone.com—Dec. 9th, 2004

LauraLee Shaw is a disciple of Jesus Christ disguised as a wife, mom and writer. Day-to-day experiences are what scribble life into her pen as a writer, but they stem from a deeper story. A painful childhood filled with abuse, tragedy and dysfunction lines the border of her paper in the form of hope, and it shapes every word that she types or speaks. Please join her at her ministry blog, Selah~ Pause. Ponder. Praise (http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com), <http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com),/>  or sign up to receive her edevos at her website, http://www.lovinthearts.com/subscribeform.html. LauraLee also loves to chat via twitter at http://www.twitter.com/LauraLeeShaw.

Magazine covers, billboards, and television screens—you can’t escape their screams–telling you how to look and dress, what size you should be. Living in a world filled with manipulated visuals of beauty is more than hard to swallow—it’s plastic, Photoshopped non-reality. The world’s view of beauty is downright unattainable and unreal—no wonder it’s extremely hard to see ourselves as beautiful.

“Do not confuse beauty with beautiful. Beautiful is a human judgment. Beauty is all. The difference is everything.” —Matthew Fox, actor on the Fox hit series “Lost.”

When I was playing around on my computer, I googled the word “beauty” and saw this meaning floating around in the online dictionary—

Beauty: plural –ties. 1. The quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

Interesting, huh? You don’t see anywhere in this definition a supermodel’s name under the word “beauty.” However at times we look in the mirror and fail to see ourselves. Instead we see who we want to be –supermodel so and so, our younger self, or a distorted image we have created in our minds takes over the mirror reflection. Don’t you think its time we opt for the clearer view—capturing our true beauty?

The first step to true beauty is changing our concept of the word—knowing that the source of beauty is created by God and that we are made in His image.

Take a few minutes out of your day today and step in front of the mirror (without any makeup) and say the following:

• I believe in me, because God believes in me and God don’t make no junk! This was part of a quote from years back and it’s as true today as it was way back when.
• My Father is enthralled with my beauty and sings over me with delight, therefore my face reflects His Glory.
• I am a divinely hand-sculpted masterpiece. I am fingerprinted body and soul by the most amazing Designer in the universe—none other than my Lord and Savior.
• I will not be squeezed by media propaganda—trying to tell me who I should be. My Lord has great plans for me—Hope, love and an eternal beautiful future.
• _______(put your name in the blank) was made on purpose for a purpose therefore I am highly favored by God.
• I believe I am truly uniquely crafted, with purpose. My Father is the potter and I am the clay—take away my self-center mindset and mold me God-centered to fulfill the destiny you’ve created me for.
• The comparison trap is a losing game I no longer want to participate in; so look out world, mama’s got a new set of eyes and they won’t be looking at you! (Not for approval that is)
• Today is a new day and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it. I am alive and living in the now—not who I was or what I use to look like. Aging is not a disease it is a privilege! Every day is a gift from God.
• I will smile as an embrace to the God who loves me!

Speaking of the smile factor, if you really want to look better work to do it more often. Here are several more grinning dividends:

1. Besides looking more attractive— you attract people. They will want to get to know, what is so good going on in your life. A frown will only bring others down.
2. A smile can trick the body into changing your mood.
3. It will brighten the room and others’ days.
4. It boosts the immune system
5. Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. In other words it makes us feel good and is a natural drug. It makes others feel good. It makes you feel good. With a simple lifting of the corners of your mouth it’s a win-win for everyone!
6. It can shave ten years off you, by lifting your face muscles. Who would’ve thought a smile could be the alternative to plastic surgery!
7. Smiling will help you stay positive. Go ahead and look in the mirror, now smile—keep smiling. Now, throw in a giggle. Just do it. I promise it will help lift your spirits

When you get to a place where negativity sets in as it will (we do live in a fallen world) just breathe in Scripture—God’s redeeming love and exhale the toxic overload of manipulating media and the devils lies.

Sometimes meditating on His Word will include a walk. Allow your pace and breathe take hold then introduce favorite Scriptures to calm the mind and rinse all worry and fear. Take in the beauty of the trees, the color of the sky, the lush green grass, the birds’ joyful hymn and the Master’s fine details of distinction.

Echoing the words of Dr. Seuss remember, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

You are a beauty by God.

Shelly Ballestero is the author of “Beauty by God, Inside Out Secrets for Every Woman” (Regal January 2009) and produced the DVD Behind the Scenes for Beauty by God. Shelly serves as an esthetician/makeup artist, and beauty expert for CBN.com- monthly columnist for Christian Women Online, The Family Groove, and contributor for Beautiful One Magazine, Natural Solutions Magazine, HairCut & Style Magazine, Celebrity Hairstyles; Short Hair Style Guide & OnCourse magazine. She has also appeared as a beauty expert for Better TV New York, NBC Midday Nashville, NBC Morning Show Orlando, Every Day With Marcus & Lisa Atlanta, TBN International- Praise The Lord Show, and CBS Better Mornings Atlanta.

When you consider water at its source, like a mountain spring, what qualities come to mind?

It’s water at its purest. Clean, untainted, untouched. And then it begins to meander. Along the way it picks up impurities: dirt, dead plants, animal waste, rocks, garbage. And yet it has a purpose at every point along the way. Consider purposes of water:

• Water is cleansing.
• Water sustains life.
• Water provides power.
• Water allows transportation.

And yet as soon as water comes in contact with the earth and even the air, it’s impure. But God works out the purpose through those impurities. Because they’re God’s purposes, they’re pure purposes. What God intended as the purpose for each drop of water that bubbles out of the spring or falls from the cloud remains the purpose for that drop despite all the impurities that it encounters along the way.

It’s the same for you. He has had a purpose for you since before you were born, and even though your life has meandered through some muddy waters and picked up unnecessary and unwelcome junk along the way, God’s purpose hasn’t changed. He works through the impurities. Because God’s purpose is pure purpose.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. – Psalm 139:13-16

God doesn’t make mistakes. He created you to be you, and he has every intention to use your strengths and weaknesses, experiences and skills, heartaches and passions to guide you along your road of pure purpose. Whether you march forward with determination or stumble along with sore feet and uncertain steps, your focus can match God’s focus, which is on the horizon. Some days it looks beautiful and inviting, and sometimes the haze and swirling rains obscure our view. But whether we see it or not, whether we acknowledge it or not, God’s purpose is set before us.

God knows our pain. He knows all our experiences, our baggage, and our weaknesses. Growth in our relationship with God is gradual. He works through our triumphs, and he works through our pain. God often heals us in layers.

When we have a major gash in our lives, the most critical thing is to stop the bleeding. God puts on a tourniquet or stitches us up, but that’s only one piece of the healing. When we experience pain again, we begin to question whether or not we’ve actually dealt with what we thought we’d already dealt with. But the reality is, God heals us in stages based on what we need. Reconstructive surgery hurts every time we go through another procedure, but we’re also one step closer to full healing and recovery. Sometimes there’s no “all at once” solution. Can God heal us all at once? Of course! But when a child, parent, or spouse dies, because of the deep ties of our relationships that impact many areas of our lives, we’re not going to heal from the pain all at once. God doesn’t prune pain from our lives. He reconstructs us through the pain.

God’s reconstructive healing is for our benefit. We must be cautious not to hide behind it. God’s reconstructive healing is a forward moving process. We will experience setbacks, but we must recognize and accept the purpose of moving forward instead of being paralyzed.

I’ve had several friends and acquaintances killed by drunk drivers. I’m leery of driving late at night on weekends and holidays (although only one of the accidents took place in that time frame). Being leery isn’t the same as being paralyzed. I’ll still drive during those times if necessary, but I’m acutely attentive.

I grew up on a farm, and I had many pets. Mainly dogs, but also kittens, horses and cows (yes, as pets!). They all died or were sold eventually. The transitions weren’t easy. And yet, I’m not going to deprive myself and my daughters of the joys of having pets because of the traumatic experiences I had as a young pet owner.

I’ve been deeply hurt and betrayed by people in my life. People I trusted and had significant relationships with. I’m not going to cease investing in people because of my experiences.

When a house catches on fire, what’s the first step?

The priority is to put out the fire. Eventually, the goal is to rebuild, but we don’t start rebuilding while the fire is still burning. There are many stages in between…put out the fire, check for smoldering embers, assess the damage, tear down all affected areas of the structure, clear the debris, rebuild, redecorate, refurnish, and move in. Each step of the process takes work. God’s reconstruction takes work. It can be tiresome and painful. It may look easy to just unpack your bags and set your junk aside and move on, but it’s a process. Be patient. Stay committed. Seek long-term growth.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. – Ephesians 3:16-18

Make a commitment today. Seek his pure purpose, starting today, one step at a time.

Susan Lawrence is passionate about connecting individuals and teams of people in purposeful and healthy ways. As a Ministry Consultant, I strive to equip women in leadership to meet the needs of other women while balancing their own needs. We all need support and encouragement! I live in central Illinois and love to encourage women through writing and workshops. Visit her at: http://susanhlawrence.blogspot.com/.

Do you ever sense a theme going on in the background of your life? A certain struggle, a similar scene-all pointing to a problem that has not been uprooted.

I have and it has to do with finishing something I have begun. For instance there is my cross-stitch drawer. It is filled with unfinished work. Things I had hoped to complete for someone-good intentions of mine that never saw the light of attainment.  It is a struggle of mine…

…for I ENVISION the finished product. I see it in its glory on display. I purchase the materials, sort through them and get started. Many days may pass with my faithful work applied. And then one day, it gets set aside. It gathers dust. It gets moved out of the way before company comes. Finally it is lost.

Until one day, I pick it back up again and begin again. The cycle may ensue once again. It may even be relegated to my “craft drawer.” With the drawer closed, I feel no guilt to my unfinished task. For I do not have to open it again. I do not have to think about it.

Best Intentions. Goals! Aims, aspirations, objectives, designs and targets. None attained. Why is it that we set up these goals and miss the mark every time? Where do we begin?

I’ll tell you, we begin by getting the rest of our priorities straight. We begin by asking the Master Organizer how to finish–for the strength and the will to do it. And He will help us. He knows how to go about the finishing of those things–He is indeed a God of ORDER. Ask Him to order your life and the things you begin. Ask Him for a plan.

For these are qualities that our Mighty God possesses…Qualities that He uses THROUGH us, if we are willing. Some of those things may be like one tree in our back yard that has YET to turn color for the fall–a WORK in progress. But a finished task or project will come…and with it? Some feelings of happiness and the good kind of pride. I think God has instilled in us a need to accomplish. It may be just a quality, where we look an awful lot like our Daddy!

Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

John 4:34
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

2 Corinthians 8:11
Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

James 1:4
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

So persevere, my friends–ask God to inspire you to finish every good work that He has planned for your lives. He most certainly will!

Holly Smith is wife to Chris and mother to Noah, Kylie, Tabor and Sydney.  She is a stay at home mom, who very much loves her job as a mom.  On the side, a web and graphics designer and she believes God has gifted her with a love of all things creative–from painting and wall-papering to scrapbooking and design-work.