I'd love to share some profound wisdom as a new year is fast approaching. But today, I needed to do something simple to take care of myself.
I need my car. It's almost 12 years old and has well over 100,000 miles on it. I used to take such good care of my car; keeping up with maintenance and having it washed every Saturday.
However, lately it seems that I put the key in my car, get on the freeway to go to work each day as I pray that it won't break down despite the brake light being on for some time now.
I'm happy to report that during my two weeks off from work, I got new brakes and four new tires! I know my work partner Heidi will be happy to hear this news. :)
Many years ago I read a book called "One Minute For Yourself". I remembered that one of the questions in the book was to ask yourself the question "what is one simple thing you could do right this minute to help you feel better?" The author gave an example of getting his car washed.
So on this December 31, 2011 morning I took my car to the car wash. Not a big deal but ...check this out!
My 2000 Lexus looked almost brand new! And it worked as I did one thing to take care of myself right now. The inside is clean and I feel better driving it.
And since I've changed my perspective as I've been counting my everyday blessings, I even noticed the beautiful waterfall at the car wash. Go figure ...
There's beauty all around us. We just have to take the time to notice.
Let me ask you the question.
What one simple thing could you do right now to take care of yourself?
Blessings and love,
These past few years have been very challenging for me. I haven't been able to see in advance what would happen next. God asks me to walk with Him even when I don't know where we're going. It's called walking by faith and He has my best interests at heart.
What I'm learning is that ...God is trustworthy.
I'm linking up with the Internet Cafe Devotions for Word-filled Wednesday.
Blessings and love,
What I'm learning is that ...God is trustworthy.
I'm linking up with the Internet Cafe Devotions for Word-filled Wednesday.
Blessings and love,
Lisa Shaw has become a good friend to me. You may know her through her blog Lisa Shaw Cares.
I had the opportunity to meet Lisa in person and I can say that ...Lisa really does care. She's the real deal and is a joy to know.
Lisa published her first eBook entitled "You Are Beautiful in God's Eyes". I asked Lisa questions regarding this new venture and I want to share her answers with you.
So now go and check out this book of Lisa's. I read it and loved it. I was not asked to conduct this interview by Lisa nor was I given anything in exchange for this recommendation.
Blessings and love,
I had the opportunity to meet Lisa in person and I can say that ...Lisa really does care. She's the real deal and is a joy to know.
Lisa published her first eBook entitled "You Are Beautiful in God's Eyes". I asked Lisa questions regarding this new venture and I want to share her answers with you.
1.
“You Are Beautiful in God’s Eyes” seems to be so personal to you
Lisa. Why did you choose to write this book now?
For 10 years I have tried to finish
writing a book. I have several started on my hard drive or on paper but never
completed. Several reasons for that but
one day, the end of May of this year, I was at lunch with my friend
Johnine. I was showing her a very small
pocket-sized booklet written by Marilyn Hickey that I’ve had since 1999. It spoke
about how God uses women in His kingdom purposes, a subject that has always
been important to me especially in the roles in which God uses my life. As I shared with Johnine she was not very
interested in hearing about that booklet but rather she asked the question that
has changed my life and the lives of others and I’m so humbled by that and
grateful to God! The question she asked
was, “Lisa,
where is your booklet?” During
the 30 minute ride home from lunch I pondered that question. I asked myself,
“Lisa, where is your booklet?” I began to cry. I began to pray. With hot tears
streaming down my face I heard myself ask God, “Abba Father, where is my booklet”.
Within my heart I could hear Him say, “Within
you”. I began over the
next day or so. I prayed and asked God
what to write about. He gave me the topic from the heart of which I’ve lived
and from which I’ve ministered to many women over the years; helping them to
see themselves through God’s eyes. I
laid my hands to the keyboard and the Holy Spirit took over. Within two months You Are Beautiful In God’s Eyes was completed by God’s grace. By the beginning of September it was
published and in my hands. That was all God!
2.
In your ministry, do you see many Christian women who struggle with these
issues of not feeling beautiful? Doesn't becoming a Christian heal those
areas of hurt?
Yes
Debbie, many women struggle with seeing themselves through God’s eyes--the eyes
of His Word. Often women in certain
positions of ministry or business are apprehensive about admitting that. I have also found that at times women who
have been saved a long time are also timid in being transparent in this
area. We must get beyond the masks,
titles and positions and be transparent about the wounds we carry around so
that we can seek Jesus for full healing and wholeness and live the lives He’s
provided for us to live abundantly.
Becoming
a Christian does not automatically heal the hurts. That is why we can be a Christian for so many
years and live discouraged, depleted and defeated. The healing begins when we walk in genuine
fellowship with the Lord and answer His question. He asks, “Do you want to be
made whole?” as He asked the man at the pool in John 5. We have to be willing to answer that
question. We have to want the healing that Jesus provides. The woman with the
issue of blood in Mark 5 went after her physical healing. The sinful woman in Luke 7 went after her
spiritual healing. Jesus wants us to be
healed and whole but we have to want what He is offering to us and then go
after it in His Word and in prayer and receive all that He has for us. Not an
easy thing to do but doable with His help.
Healing and wholeness in the area discussed in my Book is often not
instantaneous. It’s often a process and
that’s ok as long as we begin the process to define ourselves by the Word and
not the world by learning what God sees when He looks at us and then daring to
believe Him!!
3.
I loved how you addressed 7 reasons why women find it difficult to see
themselves as God sees them. Straddling the fence was a chapter that
could have been taken from my life story. Do you think we in the church
miss opportunities to help new believers grow in their faith? Or is it
that people believe that when they pray the prayer inviting Jesus into their
heart they have a ticket to heaven and don’t focus on how they are to live NOW?
Sadly
yes, we often do miss opportunities in the church to help new believers to grow
in their faith. I would add not just new believers Debbie but struggling Christians
and even Christians who have been saved for a very long time. Often when people
meet me in ministry circles they ask me one main question: What
church do you attend? I think a better question is, “Do you have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ? How long have you been really walking with Him?”
There’s usually the date we become a Christian and then the date that we
really begin to walk with Him up
close. Not true for everyone but often
true for many people.
If
we reached the heart of the person and not just asking surface questions then
we’d probably see people open up more as we show them that we care in Christ
about their lives, and that gives opportunity for us to help people more.
4.
How are you getting the word out about the book? Who is marketing it?
Have social media platforms been helpful to you?
My
hubby and I published the book by God’s grace with a very good company. Then, God has put this book into hands I would
not have anticipated in the last three months. Women of various ages and backgrounds,
young ladies and teenagers have read it. I have been told that some husband
have read it as well! My book has traveled to India and that blessed my
heart. Our pastor and congregation have
embraced the Book without my pursuit or request. My pastor actually read it at night while on
a very intense mission’s trip to Madagascar!
God has opened doors for me to do
the Book as a 9 week Bible Study beginning January 4th at the
church. As a result I am also working on a Study Guide. I’m excited about the
doors God has opened already. I’m looking forward to being invited many places
to share God’s story to penetrate the hearts of Christian and non-Christian
women!
5.
Do you think this would be a good book to share with women friends who are not
Christians?
Absolutely. My sister in law, Kenya said that one of
things she loves about the Book was that it was not “churchy” sounding and that
it was conversational, relatable and relative.
I believe that all women can benefit from the message and prayerfully by
the time they read Chapter 7: Living Apart from His Truth will cause
them to give their hearts to Jesus Christ. That chapter was written for that
purpose.
6.
Lisa, you are beautiful. Have you finally come to the point where you
truly believe that and see yourself through the lens of God’s eyes?
Debbie you are beautiful too! Yes, I truly believe that I am beautiful in
God’s eyes and that was a long journey my friend! I truly believe that I am defined by His Word
and not by the world. There are times
when the enemy will whisper his lies but I have learned how to handle him
through 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. There are
times when negative thoughts will creep in my mind or the hurtful words of
others will attempt to distract me from my purpose in God but I grab those
negative thoughts and hurtful words and cast it down out of my mind and make it
subject to Christ. I then fill my mind and my mouth with His Word. I speak His
word aloud and encourage myself and fill myself with His truth over and over
until my mind is at peace.
If I could I would hug every woman who reads
this and tell her that she is beautiful in God’s eyes. I would encourage her to
read His Word and find out what He sees when He looks at her and then, dare to
believe Him and live her life based on that truth!
Debbie,
you are beautiful in God’s eyes and I love you! Thank you for the opportunity
to share more about my book: You Are Beautiful In God’s Eyes. For Book details and Book purchase or Kindle
or Nook information: www.lisashawcares.com
So now go and check out this book of Lisa's. I read it and loved it. I was not asked to conduct this interview by Lisa nor was I given anything in exchange for this recommendation.
Blessings and love,
Counting everyday blessings has finally become a part of my life.
When I first began to participate in Multitudes on Mondays with Ann of A Holy Experience, I had to intentionally make the choice to focus my attention on searching for everyday blessings.
I wasn't in the habit of giving thanks for those seemingly ordinary occurrences in life. But the habit is taking root and for that ...I am thankful!
The weather in the Phoenix area this time of year is beautiful. The temperature ranges from nights in the low 40's with daytime highs in the 60's. I'm originally from New York so I grew up with snow and cold winters. I love to bring out my sweaters but I also get to experience flowers and sun and mountains.
Greg and I had a quiet Christmas this year but much time to spend together. After all, I'm on a two week break from work. That's the beauty of working in a school. When I worked as a nurse, I worked many holidays over the years.
I'm so grateful to my friend Terri for an annual invitation to the Phoenician Holiday Tea. This tradition began about 14 years ago when Terri's mom was a patient in the cardiology practice where I worked. The three of us went each year at Christmas. However, Terri's mom died but we've continued the tradition now including her cousin Janet. As we sip tea, we often reminisce about all three of our mothers in heaven.
I wrote about my family's Norwegian American Christmas traditions here. I was delighted to learn that my niece Katie is interested in continuing many of these traditions. She lives in Brooklyn, New York as she works as a colorist in a hair salon in Manhattan. She was home visiting her parents in Florida for Christmas. I received a call from her mom asking for the family recipe. So we had the smell of cardamom in Arizona and in Florida!
My dad is in his 80's and is currently living with my sister and her husband. He's had numerous health issues with his heart over the years but we're so thankful he's doing well now. He used to love to paint using oils. But it's been some time since he picked up his paintbrush. He recently asked me to send him a picture I had taken of The Lone Cypress along 17 Mile Drive in Carmel, California. He thought it would inspire him to begin painting again.
I was happy to do so but instead I entered a giveaway on Jennifer's Studio JRU blog. She was offering a 16" x 20" rolled canvas print from UPrinting.com. I could use the photo I had taken of The Lone Cypress and possibly win a canvas print of it to send to my dad for Christmas. So I entered and ...I won!
My brother took a photo of my Dad with his gift as I wanted to see what the finished product looked like. It was beautiful and I hope it will inspire my dad to begin painting again.
#277 Beautiful weather in Phoenix
#278 Two weeks of vacation from work
#279 Wonderful friends who share fun experiences
#280 Norwegian traditions that are being continued in the Sumstad future generations
#281 The smell of cardamom in the house
#282 A beautiful Christmas church service
#283 Singing Christmas carols together
#284 Helping a friend begin blogging
#285 Receiving a box of Norwegian treasures from my Aunt Ruth
#286 Seeing the face of my dad smiling despite the miles that separate us
#287 Praise that Greg's mom is getting stronger everyday after several health issues this past year
#288 The fun of reconnecting with friends and family on Facebook
#289 The joy of watching a family friendly movie called "Dolphin Tale" on my new Kindle Fire
#290 The gift of Jesus
#291 Peace with God through Jesus
#292 Joy despite ongoing challenges in life
Will you begin to make the daily choice to be on the lookout for those everyday blessings? It will change your perspective on life.
Blessings and love,
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