Encouragement For Women

A salutation as defined by Merriam-Webster is: an expression of greeting, goodwill, or courtesy by word, gesture, or ceremony... Have you ever noticed however that we use a few greetings/salutations that are neither of goodwill or otherwise? Such as, "How are you?" or "How are you doing?" This used to be a question of which a genuine response was expected. However, now it is used as a greeting and salutation with an expected scripted response. How are you? How are you doing? We begin letters and emails this way too. When used in a letter or email there is more time for the responder to elaborate. Either the responder chooses to give a surface level answer or one that shows the reality of one's disposition. When used as a verbal salutation however, one doesn't usually expect an out-of-the-ordinary response. Those ordinary responses are usually; "fine, great, okay, can't complain" or the like and is also immediately followed up with t...

Here I stand at the sink doing a mighty load of dishes. Our dishwasher racks are being repaired and doing every dish, pan and utensil by hand really makes me appreciate how easy I have it compared to those women of yonder years. Though I cannot say the work was done without sighing and moaning and some good old complaining to myself. I also do not have Palmolive hands. Nay dry, cracked, winter hands. Yesterday during church I just could not focus on what my Pastor was saying. My mind was adrift. I was swirling into another one of my "oh no, it just seems all too hopeless" life moments. The reality of life, a struggling marriage and the stress and responsibility of home schooling was seriously pressing down on me. I just totally felt hopeless, right there in church. My ears were perked when I heard my Pastor say, "Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present." As I clued in and listened he went on about a book titled "Unfinishe...

We are going through Philippians for my mid-week ladies Bible study and it has been so eye opening and instructive for me. I know many verses from Philippians, but through this study I have been placing them all together in context and have been learning so much more from them. Philippians 3 is a rich chapter, with many deep verses, but I have realized that I so often overlook one important verse that should be foundational for our lives. In Philippians 3:15 Paul exhorts his listeners “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” OK, what mind? Well, let’s go back to the prior verses and see. Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forwa...

Remember when Joshua led the Israelites around Jericho once every day for 6 days? Imagine how they were mocked from the city walls! Then to top it off on the seventh day they went around and around and then shouted and blew trumpets. The Jerichoians must have thought the people of God were insane, totally out of touch with society and norms, lacking in any clarity and then....whammo! The walls came a tumbling down! The Israelites had to do some strange things that week, but God asked them to do it to show them the battle belongs to Him. Their walking did not knock down the wall. God walked down the wall, they were just obedient - even when it made them look ridiculous. Their obedience was honored by God and He was victorious for them. Remember, the battle belongs to the Lord! Whatever your battle, seek the Lord. Whatever He asks you to do, even if it means doing something crazy like walking around a city for seven days - do it! Just don't try to do the battle part. You...

I wanna be more like my son. He tells everyone with a beverage container about the CA cash back program. It doesn't really matter where we are or what the person looks like, he informs them all. "You know that is a CA cash back bottle. If you recycle it and take it to the recycle center you can get cash back. So you better take it back." His innocence and passion always brings a smile and admiration for his knowledge on the subject. I imagine they think twice about throwing the bottle away. I want to have the heart that sees people who have a need or when I hear someone talk of the emptiness in their life I want to tell them about the CJ Christ Jesus program. "You know that there is hope. If you take your heart to Jesus and let him be the Lord of your life you can get a new life. So you better take your heart to Jesus." I want my genuineness and passion to bring them a smile and to allow me to see them someday in heaven. I want to be more like my son. ...

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. ( Romans 13:14 , New King James Version ) Having moved all the way across the country from one coast to another, I am growing in a new church family. This morning I was challenged by a few things my new Pastor said - and therefore wanted to share them as to challenge you and to spur you onward towards Christ as well. He pointed out that justification (the act, process of or state of being justified by God) and sanctification (the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion) go together and are what should be occurring in the lives of those who have salvation in Jesus. "We live life with the power of the Holy Spirit"...Instead of trying to accomplish it all on our own, and being bogged down by our disappointment of how we can't measure up to what we want to be - I found this reminder deeply encouraging. If we bend our...

Blessed Be Your Name In the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flow Blessed be Your name Blessed Be Your name When I'm found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness Blessed Be Your name Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name Blessed be Your name When the sun's shining down on me When the world's 'all as it should be 'Blessed be Your name Blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the...