Blog Archives
Happy Thanksgiving
“Make it a habit to tell people thank you.
To express your appreciation,
sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return.
Truly appreciate those around you,
and you’ll soon find many others around you.
Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.”
Ralph Marston
Related articles
- Thanksgiving Humor Week Begins Now (inandaroundthegarden.net)
- Putting the “Thanks” in Thanksgiving (gthankyou.com)
The Best Valentine’s Gift
(My apologies. This was scheduled to post on 2/14/11, but ended up in my drafts instead.)
The best Valentine’s Day gift is simply to give.
It still amazes me how many people have never had anyone do anything “nice” for them. Whether it’s paying for their lunch or offering them a ride home when you see them at the bus stop in the cold, there are still many people who have never been shown a kind gesture.
This February 14th, I challenge you to do one kind thing for someone else - stranger or not. This could be holding the elevator an unbelievably long 35 more seconds for someone who is carrying multiple bags and cannot move as quickly today. It could be paying the extra quarter that the kid in front of you at the grocery store is short for a loaf of bread. It could be simply smiling and saying “hello” to an elderly neighbor. Whatever it is, do it in the spirit of love because an expression of love is the very best gift.
P.S. Share your acts of kindness in the comments below. One person will be selected to receive the journal and bookmark pictured here.
This could be your new journal/bookmark!
Post A Week 2011
It's hard work, but I can do it!
I know you’re probably thinking “but you post more than once a week”. I understand the inquiry; however, seeing that I usually post only Monday through Friday, it wouldn’t be accurate to sign up for Post A Day 2011. So this is my commitment to you: I am going to continue to post blogs Monday through Friday during 2011. That’s a huge time commitment, but YOU are worth it!
If you truly find encouragement in my blog posts, then share the link with a friend. We all could use more positive influence as fuel to keep making a difference. Live to impact!!
And the winner is….
Just for you!
Our blog subscription contest ended at midnight on 12/18/10. One name was randomly drawn from the list of subscribers to this blog. Our December 2010 blog subscription winner is….Ms. Irel Broadnax. Congratulations to you, Irel. You will receive a $25 Visa gift card, just in time for some last minute shopping!
Thank you to everyone who continues to spread the word about this site. It is truly meant to be a place of encouragement and inspiration as we go through our daily lives.
Is Your Marriage Fireproof?
Cover of The Love Dare
Many have not seen the movie “Fireproof“, but it is recommended viewing for every married couple. After I saw the movie, which came out in 2008, I went and bought the book “The Love Dare” to eventually pass the 40-day challenge to my children in a handwritten journal. Here’s the trailer. It’s available on DVD.
Plan Now to Avoid Holiday Nightmares
Image by eugene via Flickr
Holidays should be a joyous occasion that everyone looks forward to. Unfortunately, the holidays can lead to stress, sibling squabbles, parental pressure, marital mayhem or just too much tension. It is not uncommon to feel like you “have to do” what the other person expects in order to decrease problems. We don’t intend for the holidays to turn into a nightmare, but things start to spiral out of control. How can you choose to do what you enjoy without things getting out of control? How can we keep the peace and prevent things from falling to pieces? We cannot change others, but we can change our outlook and how we respond.
When I think of holidays, I think of mama in the kitchen making a delicious meal. I remember hearing about others’ “Big Mama” singing songs or humming hymns as they worked hard to make a hearty meal for their family. It is with those visions in mind that I embrace Colossians 3:23-24 which says ” Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”(NLT)
Can you think back on a time when the holidays created a happy memory for you? What was different then? Even if you were a child, how did your parent(s) make it memorable and enjoyable? Give yourself a break. Don’t expect everything to be perfect. Don’t even worry about resolving underlying family issues. Focus on creating loving memories. The thought of problems will eventually fade. Although the effort may not be appreciated to the degree that we would like, God is pleased when we show love and meet the needs of others. Let’s seek to glorify Him in all that we say and do this holiday season.
Related Articles
- Sibling Stress: Welcome to the Holidays (psychologytoday.com)
1000 Hits!
Image by bemky via Flickr
Today (Wednesday 11/3 at 9:40 a.m.) we reached 1000 hits on the blog! Thanks to everyone who reads and comments on the posts as I attempt to encourage the Body of Christ. To celebrate, please share what your favorite post has been thus far. What’s your favorite part of the blog? What can we do to make it better?
My favorite post is also the most transparent one so far and that is “You Made Me Stronger”. It’s good to be able to reflect on how far you’ve come, but sharing truly blesses others to know they are not alone. God is no respecter of persons…what He did for one, He can do for you. I’m looking forward to your favs, too, so don’t forget to comment below. Why is commenting important, you ask? It’s a part of building relationships, finding accountability and letting your voice be heard.
P.S. If you don’t already subscribe, please do. Just click the link to your right that says “Sign Me Up” for you to get new posts delivered directly to your email. I’ll have a special treat for my subbies in December, so don’t miss out!
Red Ribbon Week
Image via Wikipedia
“I pledge to make healthy choices, to be a positive role model for my friends, and to support the mission of Ribbon Week “No Use of Illegal Drugs, No Illegal Use of Legal Drugs.”
For more information, visit http://www.redribboncoalition.com/
Do you care how Christians are portrayed in movies?
My husband and I had a date night and decided to see “Lottery Ticket“. We went in knowing this would be good entertainment, as it featured comedians/actors like Mike Epps, Charlie Murphy, Ice Cube, Brandon T. Jackson (son of Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, Detroit, Michigan) and Loretta Devine. In general, the movie ended in a positive way, but the beginning presented several snapshots that had us raising our eyebrows.
This is not the first show that I’ve seen which portrays the church in a negative light. During the church scene, Mike Epps is speaking to the congregation with an animated slide show of him with money raining down. Really? Tithes and offerings is no “get rich quick scheme“. There are many upstanding ministries that are not “just out to get money”. When did it become okay for preachers to be narrow-minded and mean-spirited (directing his comments to one person in particular)? There once was a point in film-making history when the Church was viewed as a source of comfort and stability within a community. For current movie producers, this just doesn’t sell.
God gives us choices, but those choices should reflect the lifestyle of holiness that we’ve chosen. This was not evident with Loretta Devine’s character who chose to choose lottery numbers based on a dream where Jesus was driving a city bus. She goes on to find it difficult not to gossip, even with the safety of her grandson at stake. Why is the “saved” person in the film the one who seems to compromise the most? The church gets enough flack without blemishes as related to gambling, gossiping, the lack of self-control and other issues. We all have something we struggle with, but it should not be the basis of comedic value in a film.
Does this mean that Christians should stop seeing movies? Not at all. I will continue to view movies that I believe will be enjoyable, but I will go in with my eyes wide open, not desensitized to the “acceptable norm” of society. Do you care how Christians are portrayed in movies? What movies have you seen that made you squirm as it related to the Church? Are there any good shows that still portray the Church the way we strive to be? I’m looking forward to your comments.
Related Articles
- Review: ‘Lottery Ticket’ (sfgate.com)
From Clutter to Clarity
Image by sindesign via Flickr
“From Clutter to Clarity: Simplifying Your Life from the Inside Out” by Nancy Twigg is the book that we will be using for our next Woman 2 Woman series. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to de-cluttering my physical, as well as my emotional life. Too often, we have moved on, but have not cleaned out the baggage left behind. This series will be life-changing. Are you ready to move forward in God? Is there something that may be lurking in the corner, hidden under a box that needs your attention? Join us for the next Woman 2 Woman series, beginning November 4, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Impact Church in Detroit. If you don’t live in the area, but would like to receive the lesson handout, send me an email to elderwiggins@yahoo.com with the subject line “Add Me”.
Related Articles
- Less Clutter Equals Less Stress (mysweetgreens.com)
