Encouraging Women Today

Sunday, May 20, 2007

CONQUERING MY THOUGHTS!

The Word tells us in Proverbs 23:7 "FOR AS A PERSON THINKS IN HIS HEART, SO HE IS..." Our mind is the leader or forerunner of all actions. Our actions are a direct result of our thoughts.

This past week, I received some devastating news and I thought my heart would break. My mind raced with thoughts of doubt, fear and discouragement. I have found down through the years that these type of thoughts do me nor anyone else any good. POSITIVE MINDS PRODUCE POSITIVE LIVES. NEGATIVE MINDS PRODUCE NEGATIVE LIVES.

I have found that for everything I try to get rid of in my life, I must find a REPLACEMENT for it. Let's say if I want to stop smoking, I must find a replacement. A friend of mine was saying, "yes, that happened to her, and she replaced cigarettes with food". That's not a good replacement. What might be a good replacement would be exercise, carrots, celery. Doesn't sound fun, does it, but it works and a good replacement is necessary.

So when we have negative thoughts and worry sets in, we need to replace it with POSITIVE thoughts. We need to go to God's Word and find promises that will give us hope. A good one for me is Isaiah 43:2 "WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS, I WILL BE WITH YOU AND THROUGH THE RIVERS, THEY WILL NOT OVERWHELM YOU. WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FIRE, YOU WILL NOT BE BURNED OR SCORCHED, NOR WILL THE FLAME KINDLE UPON YOU."

Lou Holtz, former Notre Dame coach made the statement: LIFE IS NEVER AS BAD AS IT SEEMS, NOR AS GOOD AS IT SEEMS, BUT LIFE IS SOMEWHERE INBETWEEN. It is hard to REPLACE negative thoughts with positive thoughts when we are hurting, but it works.
1. STOP thinking negatively.
2. Take CONTROL of your thoughts immediately.
3. START thinking you are going to make it.
4. Do NOT give up!
5. CHOOSE life-generating thoughts.





O

Monday, May 14, 2007

NEXT PLEASE


One of my “dreads” in life is waiting in the Doctor’s office for my turn. When I was in college, I was a receptionist in a Doctor’s office. I would go the door and say: “Next please”. The patient who was next looked up, smiled, left the magazine on the couch and briskly walked to the next waiting room, where they sat still longer. Still no Doctor!

Finally after this process, there is a knock on the door and you say: “yes” and the Doctor enters. We rarely see the Doctor at the time we signed up. I realized that the time “in waiting” was not wasted time; it was part of the process.

Let us look at this process the patient must go through before the Doctor enters with a plan. When the Doctor enters, relief comes and we forget the time in waiting.

1. Call to make an appointment with the Doctor.
2. Getting ready and transport to the office.
3. Signing in at the desk, along with giving all information.
4. Sitting in a room waiting for my name to be called.
5. When the receptionist calls, I am led to another room for continued waiting.
6. Knock on the door.
7. Doctor enters and answers are very close.

If we are sick in body, soul or spirit, we must make the move to go to the doctor. This is a process and each move is of utmost importance. This is the plan:

1. We are experiencing pain and discomfort.
2. We make an appointment with Jesus, our Intercessor
3. “Be still” wait and listen for God’s voice.
4. When you hear the voice, get up and move.
5. The Doctor is in charge now.

I recall a few years back going through this process. There was a huge void in my life. And I was sharing this with my daughter. I was in the waiting room of life. I could not hear my name being called. Tami felt my frustration and asked what I had enjoyed doing in my life the most up to now. I told her being a support wife and raising my children. She went on to give me a direction in life I had never thought of doing.





All of a sudden I heard my name being called. I was getting up and moving from the couch to the next room. She went on to say (as the Doctor entered): “Mom, you need to help and show women what you’ve learned and what has worked for you down through the years” This sounded like music to my ears. I truly enjoyed this time in my life, and I was ready to encourage other women in these areas.

Now, I had the choice of listening to the Doctor’s orders or go back to doing what was not working for me. I chose to listen to the Doctor’s orders, and as a result “Home Improvement” was birthed in our church. I met with families who needed encouragement and coaching.

WE ALWAYS MAKE THE FIRST MOVE, THEN GOD.




Serving Him,

SHARON

Sharon Lebsack
sharonkaylebsack@yahoo.com

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

OPENED AND CLOSED DOORS -a dear friend of mine sent this to me and I thought it was worth sharing with you.

We need to learn to thank the Lord for closed doors just as much as we
do for open doors. The reason God closes doors is because He has not
prepared anything over there for us.

If he didn't close the wrong door we would never find our way to the
right door. Even when we don't realize it, God directs our paths through
the closing and opening of doors. When one door closes, it forces us to
change our course. Another door closes; it forces us to change our
course yet again.

Then finally, we find the open door and walk right into our blessing.
But instead of praising God for the closed door (which kept us out of
trouble), we get upset because we "judge by the appearances." And in our
own arrogance, or ignorance, we insist that we know what is right.

We have a very present help in the time of need who is always standing
guard. Because He walks ahead of us, He can see trouble down the road
and HE sets up road blocks and detours accordingly. But through our lack
of wisdom we try to tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour
signs. Then the minute we get into trouble, we start crying "Lord how
could this happen to me?"

We have got to realize that the closed door was a blessing. Didn't He
say that "No good thing will He withhold from them that love Him?"

If you get terminated from your job - don't be down, instead thank God
for the new opportunities that will manifest themselves - it might be a
better job, or an opportunity to go to school. If that man or woman
won't return your call - it might not be them, it might be the Lord
setting up a roadblock (just let it go).

I'm so grateful, for the many times God has closed doors to me, just to
open them in the most unexpected places. "The steps of a good man are
ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way." (Psalms 37:23) The
Mountain top is glorious, but it is in the Valley that I will grow!

Always Remember God gives you...
Enough Happiness to keep you Sweet
Enough Trials to keep you Strong
Enough Sorrows to keep you Human
Enough Hope to keep you Happy
Enough Failure to keep you Humble
Enough Success to keep you Eager
Enough Friends to give you Comfort
Enough Wealth to meet your Needs
Enough Enthusiasm to make you look forward
Enough Faith to banish depression
Enough Determination to make each day a better day than
the last.

Life must be lived forward but can only be understood backwards.
Commit to the Lord in whatever you do and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3)

If you love God share this and He will continue to open and close doors
HOW IS IT GOING?

I want to remind you to give yourself a check of attitudes and actions that live up to God and to yourself. At the beginning of the year there was a list of suggestions that I want to remind all of us to "check".

1.I will live through this day only! I will not brood about yesterday nor obsess about tomorrow.
2.I will be happy! I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me.
3.I will accept what is, I will face reality, I will correct those things I can correct, and accept those I cannot.
4.I will improve my mind, I will read something that requires thought and concentration.
5.I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will strive to be kind, gentle, patient, loving and forgiving.
6.I will refrain from improving anybody but myself.
7.I will do something positive to improve my health.
8.I will strive to do what is right and take responsibility for my own actions.
9.I will open my eyes to someone who I can encourage today.
10.I will not forget to pray to Jesus Christ for my family, my country, and my spiritual growth.

Some of you may recognize part of this list from the original credo of Al-Anon.

Each one of us need to be reminded of what brings happiness and joy to our lives.

Dear Heavenly Father:

I thank you for who you are in my life. Forgive me for allowing circumstances, people and trials to forget who you are as my Savior, Lord and King. My desire is to follow your leading, direction and guidance which comes from The Word. I want to do better in following your teachings and commands for my life. I need your help in getting to a place where I am content in all that I do and say.

In Jesus' Name I pray Amen.