Relax…Just Be You!

One morning I was out, doing my normal morning routine.  I was taking my kids to school and then on to work.  It was a great morning, I was on time and the hustle and bustle of getting out of the house went well.  But then….the song “I Could Just Be Me” by Laura Story came on the car radio.  By the end of the verse, I was sobbing, in a good way. 

The song was so touching.  I just felt God saying, “Yes, I’ve called to you to be many things; to follow me, to be a help mate to your husband, to the ministry of motherhood, a team playing co-worker , an available friend and perhaps more one day.  I’ve called you to do these things.  Just be YOU doing them.  Then let me do the rest.”  It was a relief to hear, I didn’t have to be strong or rescue anyone.  I think in the business of life, I take for granted or just plain forget to call out to God to be my strength, my healer and my God!  For someone who “created my inward parts and knitted me in my mother’s womb”, why would I think He’d want me to be anything else?  I’m unable to do anything in my own capacity.  This song was a sweet reminder. 

Take a look at Laura Story’s the official lyric video of “I Could Just Be Me” .  It’s a great song with wonderful lyrics.  Be Encouraged! 

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0012FFNU


By Temika Middlebrooks

I have been a Floridian most of my life.  Several weeks ago, while on a mission trip, I had the opportunity to see fall leaves.  It made me miss the natural transitions that climate change makes in our everyday lives.  There is always something different to look forward to with each new season.  While we don’t have much variation in temperature here in the south, life has seasons of a different kind.  

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”  Ecc. 3:1

Fall reminds me of change.  I’m not a big fan of change.  I like the predictable and familiar.  I find things that I like and stick with them.  I’m still married to my high school sweetheart.  I still go the same church where I met the Lord.   I arrange my furniture and it stays in place until I am forced to move.  

Sometimes the Lord in his love for me has to kick me out of my comfort zone.  I need a lesson in faith that can’t be learned in my comfy nest.  Changes in circumstances bring come new challenges to be overcome and new experiences that drive me to seek the Lord.  Then the Lord uses those very experiences to equip me to comfort those around me.  

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”  2 Cor. 1:3,4

I still don’t like change, but I love being used of the Lord.  I hope you do too.

Beverly Chesnut

I just spent a wonderful weekend with 6 beautiful women. There was great conversation, listening, sharing our joys and sorrows, tears, laughter and words of wisdom. What a joy, and privilege to get to know each them. New relationships were formed that I hope will continue to grow.

As women we need the relationship of other women. After all who better understands the joy of a child taking their first steps or the worry of an ill spouse? Who else can laugh with you when you get funny looks at the grocery store and find out later you had something on your face or your hair was really messed up? For relationships to grow we have to spend time together sharing the hardships as well as the joy.

We also need that same relationship with our heavenly Father. He wants to have that relationship with us. He wants hear to about our joys and sorrows, he wants to laugh with us.  Just as our relationship with other women takes time and effort so does our relationship with God.  We have to make the time to spend with him in prayer and reading his word.  Not just talking but also listening. Not just reading but meditating and acting on what we have read.  Our relationship with friends wouldn’t be much of a relationship if we did all the talking and no listening, if we never did anything they asked us to do, never make time for them, or took them seriously.  How can we expect our relationship with God to grow if we never listen, never act on his word, never make time for him?

I cherish the friendship of other women. But I cherish my relationship with God even more. Only his love and grace, his friendship, can truly satisfy. What an awesome God we have that he wants us to have a relationship with him.

James 4:8 - Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.

Hi sisters, my name is Carol Bridges, I am the Leadership Team Assistant.  My responsibilities in Women’s Ministry include supporting our Director and Team Members.  This requires quite a bit of organization, which is one of my favorite things. 

Organized people are not born organized. They have to develop healthy habits, which then help them to stay organized. Here are some tips that have helped me and may help you in your busy day to day life.

1. Write Things Down We all know someone that remembers every birthday and sends cards for every holiday. It’s not magic and they don’t use memorization. Trying to remember things will not help you to stay organized. You should try writing things down.  You can also use a computer or a smart phone.

2. Make Schedules and Deadlines They recognize that keeping things organized goes hand-in-hand with staying productive. They make and keep schedules for the day and week. They make deadlines and set goals.

3. Don’t Procrastinate The longer you wait to do something, the more difficult it will be to get it done. If you want your life to be less stressful and less demanding, then organize as soon as you can. Putting in the effort to get things done as soon as possible will lift the weight off of you from doing it later.

4. Give Everything a Home It’s easy to get lost if you don’t have a home. Keeping your life organized means keeping your things in their proper places. Make easy-to-access storage spaces for things you use all the time, and don’t let your storage spaces get cluttered. Be creative about finding places for things. In addition, as a BIG NO: never label a storage space as “miscellaneous!”

5. Declutter Regularly Find time each week to organize. Stuff does not stay organized on its own; it needs to be reorganized continuously and consistently.

    6. Keep Only What You Need More stuff means more clutter. People who live organized lives only keep what they need and what they really want. Having fewer things also means that you enjoy those things more and feel better about using everything you own, rather than letting half of what you own collect dust.

7. Know Where to Discard Items Do whatever you can to get rid of stuff. Less stuff means less clutter. Donate to thrift stores. Sell on Craigslist or eBay. Take a trip to the recycling center. Set up a garage sale. Find a place to get rid of your things.

8. Stay Away from Bargains You have removed the things you don’t need. Will you replace them when you see something on sale? Instead of bargain shopping without planning ahead, write down exactly what you need and buy only those items.

9. Delegate Responsibilities A really organized life is not overfilled with responsibilities, meetings, and deadlines. In fact, it has less because things that create stress have been slowly organized out.  Go through the list and find one task that you can remove from your list or give to someone else. Now feel the stress of having to do it fall away.

10. Work Hard

Put in a little effort. Actually, put in a lot of effort when necessary. Once you have delegated responsibilities and made a schedule, then you can organize what you have to do and when you can do it. Staying organized is not all a breeze. It requires that you work hard with recognition that when you work harder, you can enjoy your clutter-free home life later.

Most of all don’t worry, give it to Jesus!

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.                                                           Philippians 4:6

Thank you,

Carol Bridges