TAMING THE TONGUE AT THANKSGIVING

LAST NIGHT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE BEST MOPS GROUP AROUND!  NORTHRIDGE CHURCH MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS!

Mops is a great break for moms to connect with other Moms. You’ll be refreshed and encouraged to carry on in this important stage of your families life.  Northridge group meets the 1st & 3rd Thursday of every month.

Check out a MOPS group in your area, they meet all over the US.

I remember taking my children to MOPS in my younger years! So refreshing it was listening to speakers care and encourage younger moms.

Last night I was blessed to speak into the lives of many moms with young children. Oh what a season that can be. So rewarding and yet exhausting all in the same breath.

The title I was asked to speak on was:
 TAMING THE TONGUE.

THE REALITY IS...THAT IS MY BIGGEST WEAKNESS. MY BIG MOUTH GETS ME IN TROUBLE MANY TIMES.

I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT JESUS IS MY BRIDGE TO MY PREFERRED TOMORROW AND HE HELPS ME TURN MY TONGUE INTO A BEASTLY BLESSING!

HOW DO I TRAIN MY TONGUE?

PLEASE READ THE VERSE I SHARED WITH THE LADIES LAST NIGHT. THEN I WILL SHARE SOME EXERCISES I AM PUTTING INTO PRACTICE!
(PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE HIGHLIGHTED WORDS)

JAMES 3:2-13
² For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. ³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ¹² Can a tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

What a powerful word to chew on before the Holidays. The season can be stressful for some families ESPECIALLY when the tongue really gets going. If you know what I mean!

The rudder to the ship and the horses bit describes the power in our tongue. We can steer our entire lives, families and communities into death or life with the power of the tongue!

When the Holy Spirit helps us with our tongues that is the only way anything Good is going to come out of our mouths.
Allow the Holy Spirit to be our rudder steering our lives into destiny!

I needed this reminder, I have not been asking God to help me with my mouth lately. I have been critical to my oldest daughter, sharp with the tongue to my youngest and very irritated in tone with my oldest son, gossipy with friends and even swear words when stressed and the list goes on.

WOW, yes and I am a Godly fearing woman who is a 100 percent flesh!

My flesh is not an excuse for my SIN.

I have a responsibility to follow Christ and work out my stumbling with God.
I love the first part of the verse listed above... WE ALL STUMBLE IN MANY WAYS.

I shared a couple exercises that we can practice together now and even more so during the holiday season.

Remember that small tongue can get us in a lot of trouble...

How many times have you regretted saying something the instant you said it?
How many times have your words hurt a friend or a family member without you meaning to?
 How many times have you said "yes" when you really wanted to say "no"?

Why is controlling this small beast, our tongue, so hard!

Try this exercise over the holidays... It really helps!

 

 

 

I ALSO LIKE TO USE THE BAXTERS MEASURING

SCALE:

 

 NO SALSA = NO HARSH WORDS TODAY

MILD SALSA=SOMETIMES HARSH, NO HARMS

MEDIUM SALSA=OFTEN SPOKE HARSHLY BUT GOT OVER IT

HOT SALSA=EXPLODE  AND BROKE OTHERS SPIRITS TODAY

 

 

AS A FAMILY YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WHAT KIND OF SALSA IS BEING TASTED AROUND THE HOUSE.

 

THIS WORKS WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN BURNED BY OTHERS WORDS, EXPRESS TO THEM YOUR HURT.

 

I LIKE TO ASK MY KIDS TO LET ME KNOW MY TONE...I TEND TO FALL IN THE MEDIUM SALSA CATEGORY, I NEED TO PRACTICE BEING MORE GENTLE.

 

LASTLY FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO AFFIRM FAMILY MEMBERS OVER THE HOLIDAY.

 

SPEAK SOMETHING POSITIVE INTO SOMEONES LIFE. MAKE IT HAPPEN!

 

 

Always speak words...
*That build people up
*That are good and peaceful
*That teaches lessons
*That are the truths
*That glorify  Jesus Christ

 

 

MAY THIS ENCOURAGE YOUR HEART AND PREPARE YOU TO HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FRIENDS!

 

 

 

 

 

TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THAT OPPORTUNITY

Isaiah 57:11-12 (TODAY'S MAIN VERSE)

CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF TODAY'S DAILY READING
11 The LORD will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

I believe God daily leads us to opportunities to help us repair and restore so we can line up with His overall purpose for our lives. If we do not SEIZE the OPPORTUNITIES we will miss our destiny.
Opportunities. Every one of us has them. Opportunities for greatness, success, to better ourselves, and to serve God in a greater capacity. I'm sure you've heard the phrase "seize the opportunity!"


Opportunity is defined as a combination of circumstances favorable for a purpose. To seize means to take possession of suddenly and by force, attack, or strike.


Why do you suppose it's important for you to take possession of it suddenly? Because opportunities do not wait around for the fainthearted nor the slow to move. They must be seized! Opportunities are being presented to you on a daily basis. You will either seize them or you will let them slip by.


Many times the reason we let them slip by is because we are insensitive to them.
It's work! Most people want accelerated results before dark. A lot of people want what has happened to others but they're not willing to do what others have done to get there.


Have you ever said, "I wish I would have thought of that?" That means you only recognize opportunity after you see someone else doing it first. We're going to have to become more sensitive to the opportunities and the open doors that God presents in our lives.

For a great door and effectual is open unto me and there are many adversaries.
(1 Cor. 16:9)

The Amplified says it this way, "For a wide door of opportunity for effectual service has opened to me there; one great and promising and many adversaries."


Notice Paul says that a wide door of opportunity has been opened unto him but with adversaries. It would be wonderful if he had left that part out. But he didn't. The devil is not going to sit down, roll over, and play dead and let us seize this opportunity without some kind of fight.


Every opportunity that God gives you demands a steadfast, persevering spirit. Ambition alone is not enough. You've got to be willing to take risks, lay it all on the line, and even be willing to lose it all in order to seize an opportunity.


Your attitude and perspective about the situation has everything to do with your outcome. When the armies of Israel saw Goliath, they said, "He's too big to kill!" When David saw Goliath, he said, "He's too big to miss!" Same problem, different perspective!


Someone once said that if all you see is obstacles, then you've taken your eyes off the goals. You're no longer focused on your vision. You're no longer focused on Jesus. If you hear someone talking about all their problems, that's a good indication that they've taken their eyes off of Jesus (The Answer)!


God never gives us opportunities without first giving us the ability to achieve them. So, quit making excuses.

In the last week this has happened to me:"For a wide door of opportunity for effectual service has opened to me there; one great and promising and many adversaries."

I will seize this opportunity friends!
 
Opportunities become realities to people of great passion.

When God gives a vision, you have to put your all into it!
Progress is never achieved by people who have no passion. Successful people become successful people because they don't know when to quit.


The fear of failure will keep you from seizing opportunities. All of us have failed at some time in our lives, but failing is not final. Setbacks are not permanent. We cannot allow ourselves to become stagnant and non-operative because of the fear of failure.

I have many weaknesses but my God will help me move forward in the calling He is preparing me for!

Friends I believe in your NEW opportunities for 2013~
Lets believe together!

 

WEEKLY RECIPE

GREEK CHICKEN LEMON RICE SOUP

Budget friendly, great for weekends and for after school snack before dinnner!

• 2 cupscooked chicken, chopped
• 2 mediumcarrots, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cuponion, chopped
• 1 teaspoonlemon zest
• 1/4 cupfresh lemon juice and keep adding to your liking! ( I used a whole bottle)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, pressed (or finely minced)
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can fat free low-sodium cream of chicken soup ( I used 3 large cans)
• 3 (14 1/2 ounce) cans fat-free chicken broth
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2/3 cuplong-grain white rice, uncooked
• (I did 6 cups of rice and 3 large cans of soup add milk to get the thickness I desired)
• TOP WITH CHOPPED UP CILANTRO

Put everything in a crock pot! cook rice separately and then add to the pot!

MOM'S NO PEEK BEEF TIPS!

I JUST MADE THIS RECEIPE AND THE KIDS LOVED IT!

YOU MAY ALSO MAKE MASHED PATATOES INSTEAD OF THE WIDE NOODLES!

No Peek Beef Tips

Ingredients:
2 lb. - Beef tenderloin tips, Stew Meat, Chuck Roast or Chuck Eye, cubed
1 - 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1 – packet brown gravy mix
1 - packet lipton dry onion soup mix
1 – 4 oz can mushrooms
1 - cup water or ginger ale soda

Directions:
Add cubed meat to a 9 x 13 inch pan. In a big bowl mix the remaining ingredients together and pour over the meat add mushrooms and stir to coat.

Cover with foil and bake at 300 degrees for 3 Hours do not remove foil until done. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes or noodles.

ENJOY!

Black Bean WrapServes 1

1 Black Bean Burger patty
2 swiss chard or butter lettuce leaves
1 small tomato
1/4 avocado
pinch of salt & pepper
Cook the Black Bean Burger patties. Wash and dry lettuce. Cut the tomato into slices. Remove 1/4 of the Avocado “meat” from skin. Place half of the Black Bean Burger patty and half of each ingredient into the lettuce leaves, creating two wraps. Sprinkle with just a pinch of salt & pepper to taste. Wrap the leaves into tight rolls and then slice in half. Enjoy right away or refrigerate and take to the beach for a light lunch!

GOD DREAMS

God gives us hopes and dreams to prepare us for the... "ON PURPOSE "things to happen in our lives! 

 He doesn't usually allow us to see the exact timing of His plan.

Although frustrating, not knowing the exact timing is often what keeps us in the program. There are times when we might give up if we knew how long it was going to take, but when we accept God's timing, we can learn to live in hope and enjoy our lives while God is working out the final destination . We know that God's plan for our lives is good, and when we entrust ourselves to Him, we can experience total peace and happiness.

God wants us to live by discernment—revelation knowledge, not head knowledge.
It's difficult to exercise discernment if you're always trying to figure everything out in the flesh.

. But when you're willing to say, "God, I can't figure this out, so I'm going to trust You to give me revelation that will set me free," then you can be comfortable in spite of not knowing.

Trusting God often requires a comfort in not knowing how God is going to accomplish what needs to be done.
We often say God is never late, but generally He isn't early either. Why? Because He uses times of waiting to stretch our faith in Him and to bring about change and growth in our lives.

I love this scripture... Habakkuk 1:5
"For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told"

WOW, That is so powerful!
God has a plan to work a work in our lives. Something so amazing.

What I am learning is while God is working His work we need to...WAIT WATCH and LISTEN.

We spend a lot of time waiting because change is a process.
Many people want change, but they don't want to go through the waiting process or the change and testing of character.

If we decide to wait God's way, we will learn to become patient and embrace the place. It takes practice, but as we let God help us in each situation, we develop patience, which is one of the most important Christian virtues. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22). It's developed only under trial, so we must not run from difficult situations. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing (James 1:4).

The book of Genesis tells the story of Joseph, who waited many years for the fulfillment of the dream God had given him.

He was falsely accused and imprisoned before the time came for him to do what God had shown him he was to do. Exodus 13:17-18 tells us that God led the Israelites the longer, harder way on their journey to the Promised Land because He knew they were not yet ready to go in. There had to be time for their training, and they had to go through some very trying situations.
They wasted a lot of time wondering about God's timing, but God never failed to take care of them and show them what He wanted them to do.

The same is true in our lives. It has been many years after I received my call from God in June 2000 before I began to see bits and pieces of talent and gifts line up with His plans. Still today I am dreaming bigger yet waiting on HIS timing for the bigger plans.

look at the waiting as God's training period!

This time requires us to do what He tells us to do when He tells us to do it...without questioning or trying to figure everything out.

Proverbs 16:9 says, A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.

Proverbs 20:24 Man's steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a man understand his way?

When God directs our paths, He sometimes leads us in ways that don't make sense, we're not always going to understand everything.

If we try to reason out everything, we will experience struggle, confusion and misery.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

When Dreams develop the desires of your heart begin to manifest— you see your bigger dreams.

Are you frustrated, crying out, "When, God, when?" Then you need to understand that God's timing is often a mystery.
He doesn't do things on our timetable.

His Word promises that He will not be late, not one single day.

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day" (Habakkuk 2:3 )


I just love that scripture!

God causes things to happen at exactly the right time!
Your job is not to figure things out but to keep your mind focused that you won't give up until you cross the finish line.
You will then line up with the radical, outrageous blessings of God!

Trusting God brings life

Believing brings rest

OBEDIENCE is the key to keeping the momentum. When God is silent, He is really working in those secret places!

Keep on Keeping on!

ARE YOU A CHICKEN OR AN EAGLE?

WE HAVE ONE LIFE AND WE NEED TO LIVE IT RIGHT!

I CHALLENGE YOU TO ASK YOURSELF SOME QUESTIONS TODAY.

DO YOU FEEL STRONG, ADVENTUROUS, WISE, EXERCISING YOUR BEST VISION WHILE FLYING HIGHER AND STRONGER WITH THE STORMS THAT LIFE PRESENTS?

 

OR

 

DO YOU LIVE A COOPED UP LIFE. SCURRY FROM ONE PROBLEM TO ANOTHER, FEELING CONFINED, PREDICTABLE AND CAKED WITH BARNYARD MUD?

 

 

 

 

 

GOD CREATED US FRIENDS TO LIVE LIKE EAGLES!

 

WE WERE BORN FOR THE SKY!

 

 

THE LORD HAS CALLED US TO LIVE IN HEIGHTS, YET TO MANY OF US HUDDLE TOGETHER IN THE BARNYARD OF LIFE'S CIRCUMSTANCES CONTENTEDLY SCURRYING FOR THE SAFETY OF FAMILIES, OUR FINANCES AND OUR CAREERS. WE AT TIMES SETTLE FOR COMFORTABLE CRUMBS OF FAITH!

 

DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND...YOU WEREN'T MADE TO LIVE LIKE A CHICKEN

 The eagle loved his "chicken"  home and family but it seemed his spirit cried out for more.
One day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring. ”Oh,” the eagle cried, “I wish I could soar like those birds.”
The chickens roared with laughter, “You cannot soar like those. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar.” The eagle continued staring at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be like them.

Eagle’s Dream

 

Each time the eagle talked about his dreams, he was told it couldn’t be done.

That was what the eagle learned to believe. After time, the eagle stopped dreaming and continued to live his life as a chicken.
Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle passed away.

Moral: You become what you believe you are. If you ever dream to become an eagle, follow your dreams, not the words of chickens

Do not let today's situation determine your self worth!

Dream big and be Determined to sore like an Eagle!

                                  Chicken

                                      or


                                   Eagle

                             

 

 

 

 

 

WEEKEND COMFORT FOOD

MOM'S NO PEEK BEEF TIPS!

I JUST MADE THIS RECEIPE AND THE KIDS LOVED IT!

YOU MAY ALSO MAKE MASHED PATATOES INSTEAD OF THE WIDE NOODLES!

No Peek Beef Tips

Ingredients:
2 lb. - Beef tenderloin tips, Stew Meat, Chuck Roast or Chuck Eye, cubed
1 - 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1 – packet brown gravy mix
1 - packet lipton dry onion soup mix
1 – 4 oz can mushrooms
1 - cup water or ginger ale soda

Directions:
Add cubed meat to a 9 x 13 inch pan. In a big bowl mix the remaining ingredients together and pour over the meat add mushrooms and stir to coat.

Cover with foil and bake at 300 degrees for 3 Hours do not remove foil until done. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes or noodles.

ENJOY!

7 "S" WORDS FOR OUR CHILDS SCHOOL YEAR

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT AND VISIT MORIAH PETERS BLOG!

SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY WITH A HEART AND VOICE FOR CHRIST!
SHE IS RISING UP AND GOD IS USING HER WITH HER PEERS!
BELOW I COPIED AND PASTED HER BLOG ENTRY TO YOUNG STUDENTS AS THEY START OFF A NEW YEAR IN SCHOOL!

Moriah's music video!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAKE TIME AND SHARE THIS WITH YOUR PRECIOUS JEWELS!

What a rare jewel you are. You shine like a diamond in the rough, a pure and precious stone in the middle of the rubble. You have caught God’s eye and He is preparing you to accomplish something great! Just as a diamond is cleaned and cut, you are going to be challenged during your unique experience at school but the end result is beautiful.

Here are 7 “S” words I wish I would’ve been given last year before my first day of college at Grand Canyon University.

Start. This is a fresh semester and you are entering as a new person. Whatever mistakes you’ve made before, give them to God. He’s got a perfectly designed path for your life and it will be easier to walk if you take off that shame-filled backpack.

Sharpen. Experience God’s provision as He brings sisters and brothers into your life. He desires for us to have relationships where we can encourage and be encouraged like iron sharpening iron. That awful feeling I get in my stomach before introducing myself to a stranger or stepping into a new church soon fades and new friendships are always made.

Set Standards. There is going to be a whole new selection of items on the honey shelf if you know what I mean! It’s okay to get excited about the prospect of finding romance but don’t for one minute lower your standards. Know your worth and don’t settle for anyone who can’t see it.

Stand Strong. Protect that innocence inside of you. When others shout out, “Follow us down this path!” listen for a still small voice that guides you in a different direction. Making the decision to say “no” to what is popular is always difficult, but in time, you will experience the benefits of taking the road less travelled into paradise.

Speak. Share the truth. You know the secret to freedom from the chains of this world and people are dying to find it, especially the ones who say it doesn’t exist. If you have nothing important or interesting to say, don’t let anyone convince you to speak but if you know the spirit is guiding you, open your mouth and speak the truth in love and confidence.

Seek. Never stray from a pure and simple devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:3 ESV). Spend every morning on your knees in quiet obedience to God and He will give you specific guidance. Don’t worry when you experience doubt like I did because understanding can often be a result of faith. Science is a helpful tool in testing material truth but it is not the ultimate authority*.

Serve. I was insecure and unsure during my first month of college because I was focused on myself. I found that the best way to combat that self-consciousness is to simply serve in whatever capacity possible. In whatever activity I volunteered in, I was surrounded by other selfless people who became great friends.



THANKS MORIAH FOR THESE WORDS!

LIFE HURTS BUT KEEP RUNNING

Hello Friends!
I have taken a little break this summer from blogging to work on NEW sites, prepare NEW messages for fall classes and upcoming speaking events for 2012-2013.

This Blog is still a work in progress but I hope you enjoy the NEW look and extra information!

In between trips to the family lake house, lazy pool days, marathon training and kids I manage to find time to work on all these projects due by fall.
Yes...FALL is right around the corner, I just love summer so that 4 letter word makes me cringe a bit.

Within the last few weeks I received emails from friends and strangers stating they missed my daily posting. WOW,  this really blessed me  and made me realize even more the great opportunity God has given me to share and make friends!
Thanks to so many of you that have emailed me with your struggles, praises and encouragements.

The last couple personal emails grabbed my attention and my heart. Both emails came from complete strangers that strolled across my website while looking for comfort due to life's struggles and pains. Both concerns had to due with a hurting marriage and relationship.

Now I am going to take a fast turn for a second but follow me because it will all come together in the end!

I have been training my body for a full marathon that will be this October 7th.  The training has been VERY hard and extremely SWEATY due to Michigan's unseasonably HOT weather. 
The training has provided a challenge to my fitness level and I feel the aches and pains on a daily basis but I also see results and new shape taking over my body.

I tell my body during each run that WE WILL complete the 26.2 miles on race day.

A grueling yet satisfying experience this training has become. It has required dedication and commitment on a daily basis.

KEY FACT:
Runners stay in shape by running.
But there's a process involved... they have a PLAN.
If they stick to the plan it will help the with endurance and strength training.

I have always stunk at sticking to any type of plan! So this training has me talking to myself on a daily basis to get myself moving and focused on the specific weeks plan. I have to tell myself to JUST DO IT!

Last night on my LONG run I began to HIT THAT WALL that all runners seem to experience,  it was HARD and I felt  the word impossible creep over me! I began to think about how hard it felt at mile 13 and visualized another 13 miles and I felt discouraged!

I immediately grabbed my mental state and stated out loud while I was running "I GOT THIS" over and over repeatedly.
My mind began to tell my body how to feel. My race is 99% mental most of the time.

Think about this verse with me:
" let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus."
  Hebrews 12:1-2 

In the race of life, the joy of knowing Jesus is what its all about!

Life's tests are worth the sweat,  tears, training, and straining. Even when you think the next breath just might be your last due to the difficulty  just mentally picture yourself  keeping your head up, and keep your eyes on the prize. 

"When I see the vision God has for my life, even as I am mired in the mundane, I can keep running. When I see the tapestry of life, even as I live on the edge of a frayed thread, I can keep trying. "

But inevitably, my head gets heavy with the weight of the worries or problems. My head droops even as I will it to look forward. 
When I run my legs get so tired and sore and full of weight that I just want to stop. This is when I tell myself, "Keep going, you can do it!"

My race friends cheer me on, reminding me to keep my chin up. Yet my head drops, full of doubt and fear.

We all hit WALLS in life.
Whether it be our marriages, family relationships, fiances or careers. We HIT those WALLS.

You and I have so many opportunities to feel sad or discouraged and have a bad attitude, but God wants us to stay strong in Him.  Those who do will eventually come out on top, because there’s no way the enemy can hold you back if you will trust God and keep your hope in Him.

Train yourself to Trust Your Helper

Not only will God deliver you, but He will also sustain you while you’re waiting for your breakthrough. He keeps us strong while we’re waiting and keeps us from going under!

Even when we’re tempted to think, It’s not going to do me any good to pray after the way I’ve acted, we can’t let that stop us from asking for God’s help. Why is that? Because when we go to the Father in prayer, we don’t go in our name…we go in the name of Jesus.
When you’re hurting, in trouble, or  WAITING IN A MUDDY MESS  you need to believe that your help has been sent out from heaven and it is on the way. God may not come early, but He won’t be late.

No matter what your circumstances look like or what the world may say, hang in there. Because help is on the way!

During my long runs I am praying for marriages and families.
 Again, the enemy wants us to HIT the wall and stay down.
I pray when we do HIT those walls and get back up even stronger with Gods help.

If you feel like you have HIT A WALL and need extra prayer feel free to email me, I will be taking time during my long runs to pray for you. I know its hard and you just want to give up but tell yourself that...

 YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHOM STRENGTHENS YOU  PHILIPPIANS 4:13

A personal shout out to Deborah..."Keep running and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, I believe in you friend"


"strong is what happens when you RUN out of weak"

Running with you my friends,
heather@hbministries.com

CHANGE IS GOOD

"My abilities + experience + personality + appearance + lucky breaks + the cooperation of others = my destiny."
No you've left God out! Here's the right equation: My weakness x God's almightiness + my (true) gifts and desires = more blessing, more territory, and more impact for Him."

Every miracle begins with a bold request. When you don't take a step of faith, you don't need God. But when you cry, "Enlarge my territory," He provides everything you need to fulfill His purposes, and He gives you a front-row seat in the life of miracles. Today, why don't you pray, "Oh that You would enlarge my territory

For the past year my son has struggled at his school with the idea that "There Must Be Something More".

This week he has been brought to the edge of his comfort zone.
I know God moves and relocates individuals to prepare us for Bigger and Better things!
It always involves risks which requires FAITH.
Jesus has certainly called Bens talents and gifts to a new place, new territory.

Lets take a personal look at a person in the bible that can help us relate to Change in order to experience more!

JABEZ is his name

He stood out in scripture and was popular because he was...

HONORABLE, INTENSE, ZEALOUS, SINCERE and VERY DETERMINED.

Jabez directed a prayer that many know in 1 Chronicles 4:10...

"Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, and that I may not cause pain!"

So God granted him what he requested.

Jabez trusted in the dependence of everything that he needed from the one true GOD. He understood the verse "Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Jabez requested a personal blessing.
He desired some divine favor and asked God to... ENLARGE HIS TERRITORY!

Let me encourage your dreams today friends. If you honor God with your life, the right doors will open. God has someone to promote you and bring you into the Bigger that God has for you.

ONE TOUCH OF GODS FAVOR CAN THRUST YOU RIGHT INTO YOUR PREFERRED DESTINY. GOD WILL PROVIDE, ENLARGE, GUIDE, PRESERVE and DELIVER!


Therefore, we can trust Him to answer our prayers for the Bigger and Better. He will provide what He knows best and it will be in harmony with His will, just as He did with Jabez.

ONLY...if you are doing business Gods way! Please, repeat the last sentence.

Its not only ok to ask God for more but He is waiting for you to ask.

For what purpose do you want God to enlarge your territory?

What is your intent?

If your intent is to be used by God in bigger and more influential way?

Lets take a survey right now on our territory!

I had my son Benjamin examine his territory in the last few months because I knew deep inside he was sruggling with the feeling of having something more. He is currently a freshmen in highschool and enjoying the basic, robotic program of everyday living. But recently he said that he felt that his artistic side and desires felt trapped and that he wanted to do more. God put so many people in our pathway to help us examine other territories or programs to challenge and motivate his passions.
Going to school, playing sports, making friends is all good but Ben felt a huge VOID in the area of his music and artistic side.
Yesterday God opened doors that Ben walked through and explored. Ben loved what he seen and felt behind these new doors. This now means he will transfer high schools. This takes alot of faith to transfer your sophmore year and start over especially for a teenager in high school.

I am proud that he is following his number one passion and desire. God will grow this gift inside him in his future NEW environment!

Below is a great way to examine the territory you may be currently in and then determine if this territory is the BEST for all you can and should be!

1. Discover exactly what your territory looks like
now?

Territory=a region marked off for other purposes.
an area of knowledge or interest.

2. What is the territory of your work, school or
homelife? Can you define it?

3. In that territory what makes up for your passions
for life? what areas of your giftedness are being
used?

4. What really captures your imagination in that
territory?

5. What is the "territory" of your passions in
life that you'd ask God to grow?

6. KEEP awareness of your specific territory at all
times, Don't settle for Voids and please don't
ignore your primary gifts or talents.

7 Be open to see things in a New way, be guarding
knowing Gods will and purpose for your life.

LIVE LARGE FOR GOD FRIEND

If again you can say its your driving ambition to find something more then by all means ask God he could relocate you and drive you toward your purpose and passions!

Be prepared for Him to bring new challenges, new adventures and new opened doors as He delightfully ENLARGES YOUR TERRITORY!

ITS NEVER TO LATE!

May you grow in exciting ways and allow the CHALLENGING work God has in mind for you to enter in!

HE IS GETTING READY TO EXPAND

BELIEVE and RECEIVE

I LOVE see my son Benjamin stand on the edge with much courage believing and asking God to touch my his life and bless him in the seasons to come.

I encourage you all to stop and make the prayer of Jabez your own today!

Blessings,

RAISING TWEENS WITH FIRM BOUNDARIES

Raising tweens can be a frusterating expereince this is the age that the child begins to grow up and develop more mature interests...like boyfriends!

Well let me share whats been turning in my heart the past year.

“What is perfect character?
It is the ability, in a separate entity with free moral agency, to come to the knowledge of the right from the wrong—the true from the false—and to choose the right, and possess the will to enforce self-discipline to do the right and resist the wrong.”

It is your responsibility—your DUTY—to teach your children the absolutely vital, all-important, lifelong pursuit of character development.

 Character forms the greatest defense that a human being can have against every conceivable pitfall, threat, roadblock and hurdle that life can throw at him

With this in mind I feel the area of Teen Dating is corrupting good character.

I'm shocked at the number of parents that let their children date as early  as 11. I know that children have crushes and all that at that age but let's face it, they are still babies at 11 or 12. To each his own, I guess. 

I know its not easy to work on good character when everything and everyone is doing something else. Now I am not stating that girls dating at 11 or 12 have bad character.
 I am focusing only on my child in today's post.

Character development is huge at this time for a young girl and part of her development is to learn healthy boundaries. I feel many girls are beginning to date way to early. Just my opinion.

I know many moms will say "the girls will do it anyway if you do not let them."

Well that is the lesson we're learning at the Baxter house.
The Baxter Boundaries

This hard boundary is teaching my daughter about TRUST and HEALTHY CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.

She may break the rules and step over the boundaries we have for dating (at this time) several times but each time I begin to see her heart break over the trust she broke between her and dad.

Today before school  she cried when something was revealed again... but she said this, " I do not want my dad to never trust me again, I am sorry."

That was the point God wanted us to see as a family.
We may hang here for several months in our family as we
Learn to trust, love, obey, respect and mature all while failing to obey a boundary.

While doing my morning reading in LUKE 22:31 it reminded me of Simon Peters failure...Let me share the verse,
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Cross references:

1. Luke 22:31 : Job 1:6-12
2. Luke 22:31 : Am 9:9
3. Luke 22:32 : Jn 17:9, 15; S Ro 8:34
4. Luke 22:32 : Jn 21:15-17

I thought of it like this.... "BRITTNI, BRITTNI, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat, But I your mom have prayed for you that your FAITH will not FAIL and when you have turned back, strengthen your friends and family."

The facts are:
1. We all Fail
2. We all need boundaries
3. We all test and break the boundaries
4. We all need someone to pray for us
5  We all need a foundation of faith to pull us back

I think Peter can best be described as a volcanic, explosive and impulsive individual.
He was ruled by his heart and not his head.
He was quick, impetuous; a man who must express his feelings, experienced difficulty keeping his mouth shut, acted according to the way he perceived things even when his perception was incorrect. He acted first and thought later.

Why does this sound like me?

The point I feel God really gave me this morning as a mother to a tween-age girl is  that I must still keep the boundaries.

Not fall into the rut of letting her do it because she will do it anyway syndrome.

The boundaries she will FAIL just as Peter did but look below how Jesus loved and taught Peter.

Jesus, with supernatural vision, looks at Simon Peter's imminent failure and his recovery before the failure had even taken place.

 Jesus looked beyond temporary brokenness toward a permanent wholeness.

 He told Simon about the downward way up.

He articulated a strange route to spiritual power.


Regardless of how the world tries to convince us otherwise, our best learning comes the hard way.

BOUNDARIES TEACH WISDOM

 Wisdom is often born out of weakness. Insight comes through pain, strength is gained through suffering.

 We rise to spiritual power by way of peculiar paths.

WHAT PECULIAR PATHS ARE YOU FACING TODAY WITH A CHILD?

WHAT NEW OR OLD BOUNDARIES HAVE YOU ENFORCED?

BROKEN BOUNDARIES LEAD TO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND WHOLENESS

Pray this verse today parents for your child,
I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
LUKE 22:31

PRAY FOR YOUR CHILD TODAY IN WHATEVER SEASON THEY MAY BE IN. I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE BOUNDARIES.THIS WORLD IS TO DANGEROUS AND TRICKY TO JUST LET THEM TASTE IT ALL AT ONCE.

THEY WILL NEVER LEARN ABOUT BOUNDARIES IF THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN GIVEN ONE.

Thanks again Jesus for helping me in the tween age dilemma!