What Are Your Dreams?
by Sandi Sanford
If you’re like me there’s no end to them. Maybe you yearn for a specific career or ministry. Maybe your dream is simply to live in peace and be loved. Maybe it is something you have never spoken aloud.
We all have dreams. But how do we make them come true?
Do we work hard enough or attend the right schools? Do we go to the right places to meet the right people? Do we connive and scheme, plot and plan?
Nothing I did made my dreams come true. I know because there were many things I tried to make happen that didn’t. Looking back, I can see those that have come true were a result of one powerful practice. It was my secret weapon –
PRAYER
.
I can point to specific successes in my career that I can only attribute to prayer. I can’t tell you how many times I stopped to pray and difficult situations worked out right before my eyes. There are few things as sobering as realizing you are not the creator of your own universe or the granter of your own wishes.
I am living one of my dreams right now. Meeting my husband and becoming a Mom were answers to prayer. Being able to stay at home to raise my children is another.
What are you praying for right now? James 5:16 …The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Overcoming Joblessness Discouragement Through Hope
by Jodi Bishop
I know most of you already know about Randy getting a job. Randy’s job is temporary (in hopes of becoming permanent). If it does not become permanent we know God has something better in store for us. He is working for Wyeth in vaccines so Randy is gaining a great deal of experiencing which opens more doors for other job opportunities.
Thank you so much for your prayers. You know this has been a good journey for me and I thought when Randy lost his job this was all about him. God has taught me so much through this journey. I knew the day Randy lost his job before he knew because God showed me through some encouraging scriptures. When Randy lost his job I knew right away God was going to provide for us and we would have no worries. And He did provide for us. At the beginning I was standing on His word, trusting Him, and studying His word. I was praying for God to open the right doors for the right job and close the doors that were not for Randy. After awhile we were not hearing anything from any of the jobs Randy was applying for, but that was ok because I was trusting God. Around the end of April I was beginning to get a little antsy and was struggling. I was still happy telling people, “yea Randy lost his job but God is so good, bla bla bla.” Deep inside I was questioning why it was taking so long but God kept reminding me of Jeremiah 29:11. That was one of the first scriptures He gave me. The word Hope kept coming into my path. I saw that word constantly. Also praise and worship songs kept crossing my path that were so encouraging and gave me a peace over the situation.
Sometime in April I picked up the book “The Battlefield of The Mind” by Joyce Meyer. This book has helped guide me through my journey. I didn’t buy this book thinking it was going to help me out with the situation we were in. I just felt there were some areas in my life where my mind could use some training. Around chapter 4 things in my life started lining up with every chapter this book was talking about. I was feeling very discouraged at this point yet the word hope kept appearing in my mind, in reading the word, through the bible study I began taking, and even Pastor Glenn at Church Alive began teaching on hope. But I was still fighting discouragement. Then, in Chapter 4, I learned that discouragement destroys hope, without hope we give up. Wow, that was powerful, so I decided no more being discouraged. So I kept plowing through and standing on His word. Then I found myself reasoning why we were not hearing back from this job and wonder why this is not happening and maybe God this and God that. I was getting myself so consumed in trying to reason out and understand what God’s plan was in this situation. The second thing I learned from reading this book, was that reasoning leads to confusion. Then I realized that I was not allowing God to be in control and I was not completely trusting Him.
In May I took the kids and we went to Tennessee. Wow, the things He taught me there. Randy called me on Monday and said Wyeth offered him the position. The pay was a little more than half of the pay he was making at GSK. So we were taking a big cut plus we would have to pay for insurance and of course this is temporary. I tried to be excited over the phone knowing Randy was actually a little excited about this job. But I was busting his bubble because I was questioning everything. I got off the phone and was in so much doubt over this job, but the next chapter I picked up that night was titled, “A Doubtful and Unbelieving Mind.” That chapter was so encouraging and I felt better and knew I needed to encourage Randy to do what he thought was best and I would support him. The next day I called Randy and told him I supported his decision and to accept the position if that is what he felt. Then he told me he saw a couple of postings at GSK. So he decided to wait about calling Wyeth back and apply at GSK. I was kind of excited. So I prayed about it and that night I read my next chapter, “An Anxious and Worried Mind.” After reading that chapter there was one scripture that stuck out in my mind. I actually read over that scripture and what Joyce said a couple of times. The scripture says, “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? Matthew 6:26. Joyce points out you never see birds nervous about where their next meal is coming from and aren’t you worth more than a bird. So the next morning Randy calls and said Wyeth had called and they have reviewed his resume and they feel they are offering him too low and possibly are going to offer him $10 more an hour. I was so excited. Whew, that was what I needed to hear to feel better about things. Then later that afternoon, my sister and Brianna came in and told me about some small bird outside the door. I opened the door and there it sat. Of course I begin talking to it and it actually turned its head toward me blinking it’s eyes and it dawned on me what I had read the night before from Matthew 6:26. I smiled and said, “God you are confirming what you showed me in your word last night, God you are good.” My journey is far from over. I have grown so much and I thought I had grown so much before. Like I said above God has so much more in store for us because he doesn’t settle for temporary he settles for permanent.
God Made Sunscreen!
by Kristielynne Cutler
Sunscreen is most often advertised in weekly circulars and on television in the summer months. There are all kinds of sunscreens and SPF (sun protection formulas) ranging from 10-85%. Newsflash, the sun comes up in the fall, winter and spring as well. Interesting, how the advertisements slow down during those times of the year. Also, do not be tricked if the day is cloudy, you can still burn without sunscreen.
The particular rays of the sun that we are mainly concerned with are UVA and UVB. These rays contain ultraviolet rays. When choosing a sunscreen, the brand is not the issue but the SPF is.
Whether you choose 15 or 85%, you need to be certain that you choose a sunscreen that has protection against UVA/UVB.
Also, after reading studies on sunscreen, even the ones that list 85% protection really do not protect any better than a 15% sunscreen does.
Some sunscreens boast waterproof or water resistance. Be careful! If you swim in a chlorinated pool or in a salt filled ocean, don’t you think that any sunscreen will be less effective? Sure. The sunscreen bottles usually will explain that you need to reapply after profuse sweating or swimming. Read the bottle and follow the directions exactly. Wearing hats (no not straw hats, they have holes remember), and sunglasses can protect you from overexposure to sun that may affect the skin on your head and rays that may affect your eyesight.
Whether you are Caucasian or African American, you can still receive too much sun and potentially burn. All people regardless of race need to use some protection against overexposure to sun.
There are typically three kinds of skin cancers associated with sun exposure. Basal cell, Squamous cell and Melanoma. You should check over your entire body and be familiar with moles, skin tags, warts etc. so you can detect any changes in shapes, colors, or raised areas on your skin. Watch particularly any uneven skin markings or changes in colors and report to your doctor immediately. When caught early (basal cell or surface cancer), skin cancer can be removed and no further issues may develop as a result. Squamous cell is a little deeper than basal and may need stricter watching from a dermatologist. Melanoma which may appear very dark or black can be a killer and warrants removal and potentially chemotherapy/radiation.
Golfers, watch any skin changes on your ears as this is the most common place for skin cancers for you. Truck drivers, keep an eye on your left arm when you hang it out the window when traveling. Any one who works out in the weather, have some one examine the back of your neck for any changes. Women, check the backs of your legs as this seems to be an area we forget about.
Finally, treat your skin as you treat your babies’ skin. Protect with long light weight clothing during any lengthy sun exposure and do not forget, wear your sunscreen ALL YEAR ROUND!
In addition to younger looking skin, you will be healthier.
God Bless
Defining Moments
by Nora Neal-Daggett
As had been my custom for several months, I dialed the number into my phone key pad. I waited for the prompt to dial in the access code. The moderator begins the introduction of the speaker. “We are blessed to have with us today, Elder Eric Williams,” she said. He had a solid baritone voice; one that I was quickly drawn to. I listened as he spoke, “Hold on to the beauty of the day, embrace the now, let go of the past!”
Immediately, I was aware that *El Roi (El raw-EE) “the God who sees” me had a special message for me today. My pulse quickened in anticipation!
The speaker continued, “Often we find ourselves in an ‘unlikable’ space.” That’s an understatement I thought. Humph! I’m in an unlikable space that’s for sure! Not one I would have chosen nor expected nor thought was even likely! But never-the-less, I was in an unexpected, unlikable space! The issue – what was I to learn from it? So I could move on!
I mused as I listened… So far, God had already revealed to me that I am a “Certified Card Carrying Caregiver!” And while that is one of my strengths, it also has become a very definite weakness in my relational life. I have also come to understand that I do not always set safe boundaries for myself and that undoubtedly leads to pain and disappointment.
Knowing these things about me is all so very enlightening! Allowing God to manifest His power through me ~ to make me into the person He has called me to be, causes me joyful angst! Joy, because Ephesians Chapter 1: Promises that God has blessed me with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus! Angst, because I’m impatient to grasp what He has for me right now! My soul finds comfort in remembering what Donald Lawrence says on one of his CD’s “God will hold together until I get it together.”
I turned my full attention back to the speaker. I knew something powerful was coming because he prefaced by saying, “I heard Mark Chronna say this years ago, I wrote it down and when the words fade I recopy it.” This is going to be awesome, I thought. He continued…
“In the pursuit of one’s life purpose there strategically occurs a defining moment in the form of a refining crisis…enabling one to be set free from a confining limitation…thus empowering that one to step into greatness!”
Wow! Now that’s it! That is what this situation is…A DEFINING MOMENT!