This article came across my computer at the perfect time for me. For the last several days, I could have used some "forward thinking" in my life. My one and only child, a mere toddler, has been in rare form lately. I have been doing my best to justify his actions (you know the drill) - "Maybe he doesn't feel good;" "I bet he's getting his 2 year molars;" "He must be tired;" "He must need to get out of the house." No matter the reason for the crankies, they were there and they were driving me nuts! A number of thoughts ran through my head, including "why do I want another one?," and "why do I stay home?." I know these thoughts are irrational, but I can't seem to help it. Then he does something cute, like kiss me without being asked or patting my head. It's then that I know the answers to my internal questions.
Thinking Forward by Marsha Maung
Sometimes it appears as though there isn't any point in cleaning up the house because the moment you're done picking the things up, cleaning, mopping and sweeping, the kids are going to do their thing and everything's going back to...being a mess! And after spending a considerable amount of time mulling in the kitchen cooking up a storm, all you get is 'yuck' or 'I don't want to eat'. And just when you thought you could spend a couple of hours relaxing in the tub with a book you've started reading AGES ago, the kids are fighting and tearing each others' hair out.
You sit there and wonder...gosh, is this what I bargained for? Is this what motherhood is all about?
I voiced my concern to a close friend whom I knew wouldn't think I was looney or a bad mother and this is what she said to me, "Appreciate the noise and the ruckus that they create now because there will come a time when YOU have to make a whole lot of noise for them to notice you. It's far off in the future...but the time will eventually come".
What she said struck a chord in me (although I sniggered in her face, rolled my eyes skyward and gave her a 'yeah, right' look) and I came home thinking. The kids were out in the in-laws' place, so, the house was pretty quiet then. There was nary a sound to be heard throughout my small but comfy condo. The only sound that I could hear was the sound of the fan spinning madly and my keyboard.
Sitting there, I imagined what it would be like to live in a home like this for the last 10, 20...or 30 years of my life. What an unbelievably scary thought? No kids screaming and knocking things over? No children to come complaining to you about how the other siblings have snatched his or her toy? No kids whining and pleading about that extra cookie before bedtime? What would life be like then?
It's when we do this type of forward thinking that we will appreciate the kind of noise that is here in the home now. We may define the noise that they make as 'stress' or 'annoying' but at the end of the day, it's precisely this type of noise that we will one day miss.
So, when you start thinking 'Is this what I bargained for? Is this what motherhood is all about', think forward and you'll start wishing that the day will never come.
About the Author
Marsha Maung is a freelance work@home graphic designer and writer who resides in Malaysia. She designs tshirts, apparels and print stuff for http://www.allmomstuff.com. For more information, please visit her website at http://www.marshamaung.com
Christian mom
Christian women
stay at home mom
stay home mom
Showing posts with label moms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moms. Show all posts
Monday, January 15, 2007
Friday, January 12, 2007
Believe!
This article was screaming at me. It was saying, "Read me, you need to read me. This is you. You have done these things. Do you always seek God first in every situation?" Recently, we have been struggling with our budget and have come to the conclusion that I need to return to work by February. The first week, I did nothing but worry about it and fret over it. Then, a light went on. I knew I needed to trust that the Lord would provide and make something happen for me. Things are happening now that just might allow me to stay home with my son. Trust and Faith are all it takes.
Christians in America - An Unbelieving Generation?
In a lot of ways I'm pretty average. I may be a bit taller than some, and probably weigh more than I should, but there isn't really anything extraordinary about me. So when I read the stories in the Bible, and think about how the majority of the people who were there reacted, I assume that I would have done what everyone else was doing. One example is the story in Mark 9:14-29 about a father who brought his demon-possessed son to be healed. When the father came to the disciples, Jesus wasn't there. He was with Peter, James, and John and they were on their way back from the mountain where they had seen Jesus transfigured before their eyes. As they approached the other disciples they noticed that a large crowd had gathered, and that the teachers of the law were arguing with them. When Jesus asked what they were arguing about, the man whose son was demon-possessed came and explained to Him how his son was being tormented by the spirit, and that he had asked the disciples to cast it out, but they hadn't been able to. It's at this point that Jesus says, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." (Mark 9:19) Like I said, I'm pretty average. If I had been one of the disciples it's a good bet that I would have been in the middle of the crowd, arguing with the teachers, and trying to figure out why I hadn't been able to cast them demon out. And it's not like casting out demons was a foreign concept to them. When we look at Mark chapter 6 we see that Jesus sent them out, two by two, and gave them authority over demons. This was actually something that they had done before. But when I look at my life, I realize that even though there are things that I've done before, it doesn't mean that it will be easy for me to do it again. All I have to do is look at how I spent the last few days, or weeks, in my life and realize that Jesus could very well look at me and say, "O unbelieving Rob, how long will I have to stay with you? How long will I have to keep reminding you of all that I've already taught you?" I don't know about you, but when I'm faced with a new problem, or just an ongoing old one, I tend to forget all that God has already done for me. When struggling with financial issues I usually get discouraged and depressed. I focus too much on the problem, or what I don't have, and I forget that all things are possible with God. One of the scriptures that I battle with the most is in Matthew 6:28-34, especially verse 33 which says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." I find myself worrying about what I'll eat, or wear, or how I'll pay my mortgage this month. In other words, I worry about "all these things." This verse isn't hard for us because God is asking to do something that is impossible. We have difficulties with it because it's so unnatural. If we look around us we can see dozens, hundreds, maybe even millions of examples of people who worry about how they are going survive, let alone doing any better than that. The fact that we worry about it is normal in the sense that it's something everyone does. But I wonder if Jesus would look at us, those of us in America and other countries where the Word of God is readily available, and just shake His head in frustration. Would He look at us and say, "O unbelieving generation, when are you going to finally understand? When are you finally going to believe?" We are surrounded with God's word, it's being preached in our pulpits, over the airwaves, and at us in our daily email devotionals, but do we believe it? In all fairness it is a frightening thing, the prospect of really believing God's word, or really trusting Him. And it's not about us having to do anything that is really crazy, or risky, but just trusting Him with our daily battles. It's sad to think that Christians in America are just as likely to get divorced, struggle just as much as everyone else financially, and are just as unhappy with their lives as people who don't believe in God at all. But I know that taking a step to trust God, to begin to pray with the expectation that He will answer and do amazing things in our lives, won't be easy. Too often we end up like the disciples who watched helplessly as a demon-possessed boy fell to the ground and foamed at the mouth. We end up overwhelmed by our circumstances and unable to see how God can change things. Because I'm not particularly extraordinary, I'm just an average Christian; I have to realize that the same thing applies to me that applies to everyone else. I have to allow God to change me. I need to ask Him to open my eyes so that I can see beyond what's happening to me and finally see what's possible with God. I must let Him put my faith to the test so that He can remove my doubts. And even though that will be hard, the reward is that I will finally begin to truly have faith in God. About the Author Get two chapters from Rob Marshall's book, "Taking On Goliath - How To Unleash The David In All Of Us" when you sign up for his free weekly Faith-Full Life Newsletter. Visit: http://www.takingongoliath.com/
Christians in America - An Unbelieving Generation?
In a lot of ways I'm pretty average. I may be a bit taller than some, and probably weigh more than I should, but there isn't really anything extraordinary about me. So when I read the stories in the Bible, and think about how the majority of the people who were there reacted, I assume that I would have done what everyone else was doing. One example is the story in Mark 9:14-29 about a father who brought his demon-possessed son to be healed. When the father came to the disciples, Jesus wasn't there. He was with Peter, James, and John and they were on their way back from the mountain where they had seen Jesus transfigured before their eyes. As they approached the other disciples they noticed that a large crowd had gathered, and that the teachers of the law were arguing with them. When Jesus asked what they were arguing about, the man whose son was demon-possessed came and explained to Him how his son was being tormented by the spirit, and that he had asked the disciples to cast it out, but they hadn't been able to. It's at this point that Jesus says, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." (Mark 9:19) Like I said, I'm pretty average. If I had been one of the disciples it's a good bet that I would have been in the middle of the crowd, arguing with the teachers, and trying to figure out why I hadn't been able to cast them demon out. And it's not like casting out demons was a foreign concept to them. When we look at Mark chapter 6 we see that Jesus sent them out, two by two, and gave them authority over demons. This was actually something that they had done before. But when I look at my life, I realize that even though there are things that I've done before, it doesn't mean that it will be easy for me to do it again. All I have to do is look at how I spent the last few days, or weeks, in my life and realize that Jesus could very well look at me and say, "O unbelieving Rob, how long will I have to stay with you? How long will I have to keep reminding you of all that I've already taught you?" I don't know about you, but when I'm faced with a new problem, or just an ongoing old one, I tend to forget all that God has already done for me. When struggling with financial issues I usually get discouraged and depressed. I focus too much on the problem, or what I don't have, and I forget that all things are possible with God. One of the scriptures that I battle with the most is in Matthew 6:28-34, especially verse 33 which says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." I find myself worrying about what I'll eat, or wear, or how I'll pay my mortgage this month. In other words, I worry about "all these things." This verse isn't hard for us because God is asking to do something that is impossible. We have difficulties with it because it's so unnatural. If we look around us we can see dozens, hundreds, maybe even millions of examples of people who worry about how they are going survive, let alone doing any better than that. The fact that we worry about it is normal in the sense that it's something everyone does. But I wonder if Jesus would look at us, those of us in America and other countries where the Word of God is readily available, and just shake His head in frustration. Would He look at us and say, "O unbelieving generation, when are you going to finally understand? When are you finally going to believe?" We are surrounded with God's word, it's being preached in our pulpits, over the airwaves, and at us in our daily email devotionals, but do we believe it? In all fairness it is a frightening thing, the prospect of really believing God's word, or really trusting Him. And it's not about us having to do anything that is really crazy, or risky, but just trusting Him with our daily battles. It's sad to think that Christians in America are just as likely to get divorced, struggle just as much as everyone else financially, and are just as unhappy with their lives as people who don't believe in God at all. But I know that taking a step to trust God, to begin to pray with the expectation that He will answer and do amazing things in our lives, won't be easy. Too often we end up like the disciples who watched helplessly as a demon-possessed boy fell to the ground and foamed at the mouth. We end up overwhelmed by our circumstances and unable to see how God can change things. Because I'm not particularly extraordinary, I'm just an average Christian; I have to realize that the same thing applies to me that applies to everyone else. I have to allow God to change me. I need to ask Him to open my eyes so that I can see beyond what's happening to me and finally see what's possible with God. I must let Him put my faith to the test so that He can remove my doubts. And even though that will be hard, the reward is that I will finally begin to truly have faith in God. About the Author Get two chapters from Rob Marshall's book, "Taking On Goliath - How To Unleash The David In All Of Us" when you sign up for his free weekly Faith-Full Life Newsletter. Visit: http://www.takingongoliath.com/
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Top 5 Most Important Things I Have Learned as a New Mom
Top 5 Most Important Things I Learned as a New Mom
My son, who is now 21 months old, has already given me many life lessons. It's funny how someone so small can teach you so much.
5) I am the Adult
When my toddler throughs a tantrum or lashes out in a fit of emotion, I remind myself that I am the adult in the relationship. I know better than to get angry in response to his actions. It is my duty to remain calm and show him what to do with his feelings. It is also my job to teach him that tantrums, hitting, kicking, screaming, etc. are not acceptable at his young age or ever. I am not perfect and don't always have the ideal reaction to his actions, but I am working on it through deep breaths and prayer.
4) Naps are Best Kept in the Crib
I told myself over and over that my son was just a bad napper. Three 30 minute naps per day for a 3 month old certainly must prove that he was, in fact, a bad napper. Somewhere along the line, when he reached about 5 months, I realized that his nap routine was more learned than natural.
It started because he fell asleep easily in the comfy swing (you know the kind you, as an adult, want to crawl into and take a little nap). As a woman in desperate need of a break, the swing became where he would take most of his naps. The problem was, he would only sleep for 30 minutes. Then, I found the solution, I let him sleep on me. Any parent will tell you what a comfort having an infant sleep on you is! It was then that I learned he would sleep for 2 hours when he was on me. Not only did he sleep, but I got to sleep. Yikes! Mistake!
You can not go through the entire napping years with a child sleeping on you. At some point you will reach the phase where you are not an exhausted shell of your former self, but a mom that needs to take advantage of that precious nap time to get things done. Once that dawned on, we started what I called "Mommy Boot Camp." We quit the naps in the swings and the naps on Mommy all at once. It was a truly painful process (and I may have caved in a couple of times), but it was worth it. He never did, however, recover from his short naps. They remained at 30 minutes until he moved to one nap a day. Now he is at 1.5 hours, which is still not fantastic, but I have learned to deal with it.
3) You Can Never Have too Many Friends
Friends are a life line for new moms. Who better to keep you sane? As a new mom you will make many new friends; friends who have babies the same age as your precious little one or maybe a bit older. These are the women that give you the most helpful advice. They give you advise that they, themselves, have already tested. They tell you what mobile is best, which sling works like magic, which songs are the most stimulating. In addition to being a wealth of knowledge, these women know exactly what you are going through and can empathize with you at 3:00am.
Don't forget about your old friends too. They are your source to the outside world, your source for sanity. It is when you have watched Baby Mozart for the 30th time that you need to pick up the phone and engage in adult conversation that doesn't not revolve around your precious little one.
2) Buy a Blanket Made for Swaddling
It's been proven that newborns are comforted by the snugness of swaddling. After fussing with the many receiving blankets, I gave up the fight. My precious little one always found a way to wiggle out, which resulted in screaming wakefullness. Arghhh! There had to be a better way. A friend (see lesson 3) told me about the swaddle blankets on the market. These things have actual velcro fastners. Hey, why didn't someone tell me about this sooner???
1) Invest in a White Noise Machine
It has also been proven that infants like white noise. It makes sense when you think about it. Think of how loud in must be in your uterus. The constant noise of the organs working, you talking, laughing, coughing, sneezing.... It has been said that these sounds can be as loud as a vacuum. It must be a scary experience to come out and have complete slience! I tried the recommended loud shushing (from a book, not a friend), but it just didn't work for me or maybe it was too much work for me. Regardless, a friend (See lesson 3) told me about the white noise machines. Magic! It calmed my fitful little one in an instant.
It is also my vow to get any new mom I know a swaddle blanket and a white noise machine. A new mommy-to-be will most likely find these gifts dreadful and boring, but I will attach a note that says, "Trust me."
Christian mom
Christian women
stay at home mom
stay home mom
My son, who is now 21 months old, has already given me many life lessons. It's funny how someone so small can teach you so much.
5) I am the Adult
When my toddler throughs a tantrum or lashes out in a fit of emotion, I remind myself that I am the adult in the relationship. I know better than to get angry in response to his actions. It is my duty to remain calm and show him what to do with his feelings. It is also my job to teach him that tantrums, hitting, kicking, screaming, etc. are not acceptable at his young age or ever. I am not perfect and don't always have the ideal reaction to his actions, but I am working on it through deep breaths and prayer.
4) Naps are Best Kept in the Crib
I told myself over and over that my son was just a bad napper. Three 30 minute naps per day for a 3 month old certainly must prove that he was, in fact, a bad napper. Somewhere along the line, when he reached about 5 months, I realized that his nap routine was more learned than natural.
It started because he fell asleep easily in the comfy swing (you know the kind you, as an adult, want to crawl into and take a little nap). As a woman in desperate need of a break, the swing became where he would take most of his naps. The problem was, he would only sleep for 30 minutes. Then, I found the solution, I let him sleep on me. Any parent will tell you what a comfort having an infant sleep on you is! It was then that I learned he would sleep for 2 hours when he was on me. Not only did he sleep, but I got to sleep. Yikes! Mistake!
You can not go through the entire napping years with a child sleeping on you. At some point you will reach the phase where you are not an exhausted shell of your former self, but a mom that needs to take advantage of that precious nap time to get things done. Once that dawned on, we started what I called "Mommy Boot Camp." We quit the naps in the swings and the naps on Mommy all at once. It was a truly painful process (and I may have caved in a couple of times), but it was worth it. He never did, however, recover from his short naps. They remained at 30 minutes until he moved to one nap a day. Now he is at 1.5 hours, which is still not fantastic, but I have learned to deal with it.
3) You Can Never Have too Many Friends
Friends are a life line for new moms. Who better to keep you sane? As a new mom you will make many new friends; friends who have babies the same age as your precious little one or maybe a bit older. These are the women that give you the most helpful advice. They give you advise that they, themselves, have already tested. They tell you what mobile is best, which sling works like magic, which songs are the most stimulating. In addition to being a wealth of knowledge, these women know exactly what you are going through and can empathize with you at 3:00am.
Don't forget about your old friends too. They are your source to the outside world, your source for sanity. It is when you have watched Baby Mozart for the 30th time that you need to pick up the phone and engage in adult conversation that doesn't not revolve around your precious little one.
2) Buy a Blanket Made for Swaddling
It's been proven that newborns are comforted by the snugness of swaddling. After fussing with the many receiving blankets, I gave up the fight. My precious little one always found a way to wiggle out, which resulted in screaming wakefullness. Arghhh! There had to be a better way. A friend (see lesson 3) told me about the swaddle blankets on the market. These things have actual velcro fastners. Hey, why didn't someone tell me about this sooner???
1) Invest in a White Noise Machine
It has also been proven that infants like white noise. It makes sense when you think about it. Think of how loud in must be in your uterus. The constant noise of the organs working, you talking, laughing, coughing, sneezing.... It has been said that these sounds can be as loud as a vacuum. It must be a scary experience to come out and have complete slience! I tried the recommended loud shushing (from a book, not a friend), but it just didn't work for me or maybe it was too much work for me. Regardless, a friend (See lesson 3) told me about the white noise machines. Magic! It calmed my fitful little one in an instant.
It is also my vow to get any new mom I know a swaddle blanket and a white noise machine. A new mommy-to-be will most likely find these gifts dreadful and boring, but I will attach a note that says, "Trust me."
Christian mom
Christian women
stay at home mom
stay home mom
Helping Your Children Grow
As the mother of a 21 month old, I am reminded that it is never to early to set an example for my son. Just praying that I am raising him to be a God-fearing Christian man is not enough.
Helping Your Children Grow in a Sinful World by Eric Engel
So your kids are getting older and you're worried about how to deal with the world outside your door. When you open it, you're flooded with a multitude of temptations...all inviting your children to join the new order of instant gratification. The seduction is hard enough for adults to deal with, so how can the underdeveloped Christian mind ever hope to resist. Especially when the don't understand the serious harm some of these things can do.
It Starts with Example
Needless to say, it all starts with example. Johnny might not buy into Mom and Dad's strict life policies, but he'll at least always remember it. It'll gnaw at the back of his conscience and continue to urge him towards holiness throughout his life.
And it works the other way too. A bad example from parents will always be an excuse for poor behavior from young adults. Think of how many times you've thought to yourself, "My dad used to do it...it can't be that bad."
But it Doesn't End There
Parenthood calls for more than example. After all, many selfless parents have raised selfish (spoiled) brats. There has to be more. There has to be some intervention. But how much? Do we keep them in a bubble until they're eighteen? Or do we allow them to experience and learn from the world?
This subject is much too large for one article. But there's an important aspect to parenthood that was probably not passed on from our own parents...because when they were parents, it wasn't as big an issue.
The fact is, we're no longer living in a Christian world...and we have to adjust our approach to life. We can no longer rely on any sort of rating system from the entertainment world. We can't trust that our schools (even the Catholic ones) are going to provide a Christian education.
This means that you'll have to pay more attention and teach your kids what it means to be Christian. You have to make them realize that they are different. They have to feel separated from the rest of the world. At first, this could mean something as simple as teaching them not to pay attention to the Jones's. But eventually, they need to know their unique position. They are children of God...and that carry's responsibility.
Telling them once isn't a cure-all. There has to be a continuing reminder that our duty to God comes first. And of course, it'll only work with prayer and example.
Helping Your Children Grow in a Sinful World by Eric Engel
So your kids are getting older and you're worried about how to deal with the world outside your door. When you open it, you're flooded with a multitude of temptations...all inviting your children to join the new order of instant gratification. The seduction is hard enough for adults to deal with, so how can the underdeveloped Christian mind ever hope to resist. Especially when the don't understand the serious harm some of these things can do.
It Starts with Example
Needless to say, it all starts with example. Johnny might not buy into Mom and Dad's strict life policies, but he'll at least always remember it. It'll gnaw at the back of his conscience and continue to urge him towards holiness throughout his life.
And it works the other way too. A bad example from parents will always be an excuse for poor behavior from young adults. Think of how many times you've thought to yourself, "My dad used to do it...it can't be that bad."
But it Doesn't End There
Parenthood calls for more than example. After all, many selfless parents have raised selfish (spoiled) brats. There has to be more. There has to be some intervention. But how much? Do we keep them in a bubble until they're eighteen? Or do we allow them to experience and learn from the world?
This subject is much too large for one article. But there's an important aspect to parenthood that was probably not passed on from our own parents...because when they were parents, it wasn't as big an issue.
The fact is, we're no longer living in a Christian world...and we have to adjust our approach to life. We can no longer rely on any sort of rating system from the entertainment world. We can't trust that our schools (even the Catholic ones) are going to provide a Christian education.
This means that you'll have to pay more attention and teach your kids what it means to be Christian. You have to make them realize that they are different. They have to feel separated from the rest of the world. At first, this could mean something as simple as teaching them not to pay attention to the Jones's. But eventually, they need to know their unique position. They are children of God...and that carry's responsibility.
Telling them once isn't a cure-all. There has to be a continuing reminder that our duty to God comes first. And of course, it'll only work with prayer and example.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Spend Your Morning With The Lord
It's amazing to me how a gentle reminder to spend time with the Lord can be such an inspiration. My husband gets out of bed at 5:30 each day to get ready for work. Instead of continuing to sleep until 7:30 when my son gets up, I should (and plan to) get up and spend time with the Lord. Like the author says, I will do this for 21 days and see how things change.
Practicing Early Time With God by Demetria Zinga
"Spending time with God is something every Christian woman should set aside time for." Perhaps this is a fairly common statement that we've heard all too often. We all know this to be true, and yet it still seems to be a most incredible struggle to obtain that blessed time with God each and every day of our lives. So, how do we wear all the hats and still have time to be still and quiet in God's presence? How do we make the time to sit quietly before our Savior when our toddlers are stampeding through our living rooms with permanent markers only inches away from our furniture and walls? When do we find the time to say a prayer long enough to our Savior before we are interrupted with "MOM! She hit me!", or "Honey, I can't find my keys!" True, we all wear different hats--some of us are mothers, some of us are married, many of us work from home or have full time jobs outside of the home…but one thing we all have in common is our need for the peace of God in our lives. We ALL need the Lord!With that said, let's talk for a minute about some practical things we can do each day to allow the Lord first place in our lives. We are not only discussing our time in general with God each day, but the fact that we can also give God the first of our day. "Impossible!" you might exclaim…but it's true. We can do this! I am a living witness that despite the busy-ness of each morning, it is VERY possible for me and anyone else to give God the very first few minutes of each of my day. Try the following steps for 21 days and see if you'll notice a difference in your outlook on life. Also note any changes in your relationship with God (you'll most definitely feel more aware of how close the Lord really is to you, especially during many of your stressful times)! In addition, take note of your relationships to your family and friends, and to people around you. As you spend time, and EARLY time with the Lord, you will find your relationships with others changing as YOUR heart changes. Your heart will change because you start to become more like Christ as you draw closer to Him in fellowship each and every morning when you first awake. Here's how I do it:1.)Upon awaking each morning, thank God for a brand new day. Believe it or not, this very small act of gratitude takes you a long way during your stress throughout the day. 2.)Look out your window. Appreciate the nature. Thank God for what you see. Observe the weather. Whether it be raining or sunny, thank God for the weather. If it's raining, don't complain, but thank God for the rain. Thank Him for the sun. Thank Him for the birds in the air, and the trees. Thank God for His handiwork. 3.)If your children and husband are still asleep, that means you still have time to spend with God! So get started! Open your bible and read some scripture, then MEDITATE on it. Think about what it means to you. Consider how you might apply the scriptures to your life that day. 4.)Journal your thoughts and prayers to the Lord. Haven't invested in a journal yet? Get yourself one--it doesn't have to be the cutest and most expensive journal. You could even buy an inexpensive notebook…but do keep one on hand for your prayer times. Keeping a journal will help you monitor your growth in your relationship with Christ throughout the years. 5.)And if you are STILL the only one up for the morning, NOW you can take the time to retreat to a place in your house where you won't awaken anyone, and talk out loud to the Lord. Talking out loud does several things for you. Haven't you noticed that when we simply keep our thoughts inward and never verbalize them, many times they don't feel real to us? But once we verbalize our thoughts, they become tangible. It's the same with our prayers to our Savior. When we can, we should try talking out loud to Him as we would anyone else. It helps us to realize the tangible-ness of our Lord, and that He is as real as talking to our friends and family, and actually hears us. Talking out loud also cements our prayers and thoughts in reality. As our voice echoes our resounding prayers and conversations with God, we are able to hear these prayers with our own ears, and are confirmed with our hearts the truth and reality of our relationship with God, because after all, we were just talking to Him! Do you see how spending time with God first thing upon awaking each morning is not only possible but quite do-able, even for those of us with the most hectic schedules? We can do this! The benefits of spending time with our Savior each morning are awesome. We'll begin to notice our hearts become more pliable to His word. We'll start to notice a difference in our feelings toward others and our relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. We'll find the peace of God transcending our thoughts and minds. We'll begin to notice how strong and steadfast we are as we stand firm in our faith. As God becomes our rock and our fortress, we'll find ourselves unmoved by the chaos and stressors of life. Let's aim to strive for EARLY time with our Savior. Once you begin to implement this discipline, your life is sure to change!-- Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
About the Author
Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
Practicing Early Time With God by Demetria Zinga
"Spending time with God is something every Christian woman should set aside time for." Perhaps this is a fairly common statement that we've heard all too often. We all know this to be true, and yet it still seems to be a most incredible struggle to obtain that blessed time with God each and every day of our lives. So, how do we wear all the hats and still have time to be still and quiet in God's presence? How do we make the time to sit quietly before our Savior when our toddlers are stampeding through our living rooms with permanent markers only inches away from our furniture and walls? When do we find the time to say a prayer long enough to our Savior before we are interrupted with "MOM! She hit me!", or "Honey, I can't find my keys!" True, we all wear different hats--some of us are mothers, some of us are married, many of us work from home or have full time jobs outside of the home…but one thing we all have in common is our need for the peace of God in our lives. We ALL need the Lord!With that said, let's talk for a minute about some practical things we can do each day to allow the Lord first place in our lives. We are not only discussing our time in general with God each day, but the fact that we can also give God the first of our day. "Impossible!" you might exclaim…but it's true. We can do this! I am a living witness that despite the busy-ness of each morning, it is VERY possible for me and anyone else to give God the very first few minutes of each of my day. Try the following steps for 21 days and see if you'll notice a difference in your outlook on life. Also note any changes in your relationship with God (you'll most definitely feel more aware of how close the Lord really is to you, especially during many of your stressful times)! In addition, take note of your relationships to your family and friends, and to people around you. As you spend time, and EARLY time with the Lord, you will find your relationships with others changing as YOUR heart changes. Your heart will change because you start to become more like Christ as you draw closer to Him in fellowship each and every morning when you first awake. Here's how I do it:1.)Upon awaking each morning, thank God for a brand new day. Believe it or not, this very small act of gratitude takes you a long way during your stress throughout the day. 2.)Look out your window. Appreciate the nature. Thank God for what you see. Observe the weather. Whether it be raining or sunny, thank God for the weather. If it's raining, don't complain, but thank God for the rain. Thank Him for the sun. Thank Him for the birds in the air, and the trees. Thank God for His handiwork. 3.)If your children and husband are still asleep, that means you still have time to spend with God! So get started! Open your bible and read some scripture, then MEDITATE on it. Think about what it means to you. Consider how you might apply the scriptures to your life that day. 4.)Journal your thoughts and prayers to the Lord. Haven't invested in a journal yet? Get yourself one--it doesn't have to be the cutest and most expensive journal. You could even buy an inexpensive notebook…but do keep one on hand for your prayer times. Keeping a journal will help you monitor your growth in your relationship with Christ throughout the years. 5.)And if you are STILL the only one up for the morning, NOW you can take the time to retreat to a place in your house where you won't awaken anyone, and talk out loud to the Lord. Talking out loud does several things for you. Haven't you noticed that when we simply keep our thoughts inward and never verbalize them, many times they don't feel real to us? But once we verbalize our thoughts, they become tangible. It's the same with our prayers to our Savior. When we can, we should try talking out loud to Him as we would anyone else. It helps us to realize the tangible-ness of our Lord, and that He is as real as talking to our friends and family, and actually hears us. Talking out loud also cements our prayers and thoughts in reality. As our voice echoes our resounding prayers and conversations with God, we are able to hear these prayers with our own ears, and are confirmed with our hearts the truth and reality of our relationship with God, because after all, we were just talking to Him! Do you see how spending time with God first thing upon awaking each morning is not only possible but quite do-able, even for those of us with the most hectic schedules? We can do this! The benefits of spending time with our Savior each morning are awesome. We'll begin to notice our hearts become more pliable to His word. We'll start to notice a difference in our feelings toward others and our relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. We'll find the peace of God transcending our thoughts and minds. We'll begin to notice how strong and steadfast we are as we stand firm in our faith. As God becomes our rock and our fortress, we'll find ourselves unmoved by the chaos and stressors of life. Let's aim to strive for EARLY time with our Savior. Once you begin to implement this discipline, your life is sure to change!-- Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
About the Author
Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
Inspiration
Below is an article that inspires me. It is my desire to be the kind of mom she is talking about.
Mom's Joy by Demetria Zinga
"Mom, what am I going to do?" I moaned as I shared with my mother my woes of the hour. I was working a full time job and my heart was aching to be home with my daughter instead. This was a pretty difficult decision for me, especially since my job was providing a source of financial security for me and my family. Without it, we would definitely be in a rut to make ends meet. Very calmly she replied "Did you seek the Lord about it?" "Yes!" I cried, "and, well…I'm just not sure that He'd have me leave my family in a financial rut just so I could stay home with my daughter. What do you think?" The smile in her voice when she spoke eased my mind, and I knew immediately what I should do. Months later I had quit my job and was home with my daughter, raising her and being there to see her most precious moments and milestones. The Lord had protected our financial well being and had blessed my husband with a raise at his job. But before long, I was calling Mom again. "Mom?" I began slowly. Mom waited. "Well…" I hesitated, "I love being in school right now and everything, but…" and there I continued my woes of the hour as Mom patiently and attentively listened to every word I spoke. And once again, she not only listened, but spoke words of truth to me that I knew only God could have given her to share with me for that very moment.I have never seen her falter. In the face of adversity and moments of desperation, I have seen her call out to our Heavenly Father, and with such faith and trust in Him that it literally moves me. In the midst of her troubled situations I have observed the peace of God which resides upon her life and the joy of the Lord that radiantly shines from within.Oh, and although joy is something each individual has to receive on her own, I believe my Mother's joy is contagious, because I feel quite joyful around her!"The joy of the Lord is your strength" the psalmist David says. And it's true. Mom is a strong and determined virtuous woman who would go the extra mile just to have the assurance that our Savior is pleased with her. Because Mom never gives up on God, she is always joyful. And the joy of the Lord will cause one to smile even if she feels unhappy. So, although I've done my share of crying, when I go to visit Mom and tell her all about my woes of the hour, I can't help but to leave with a bright smile on my face. She leaves with me a kindled fire within my soul and continually reveals to me with her quiet smile and patient words how I can attain the same joy. As a treasure of jewels found in the desert sand, is the joy of the Lord I have found in my mother. My prayer is that I will reflect her image of extreme joy in Christ, now and in the years to come.-- Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
About the Author
Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
Mom's Joy by Demetria Zinga
"Mom, what am I going to do?" I moaned as I shared with my mother my woes of the hour. I was working a full time job and my heart was aching to be home with my daughter instead. This was a pretty difficult decision for me, especially since my job was providing a source of financial security for me and my family. Without it, we would definitely be in a rut to make ends meet. Very calmly she replied "Did you seek the Lord about it?" "Yes!" I cried, "and, well…I'm just not sure that He'd have me leave my family in a financial rut just so I could stay home with my daughter. What do you think?" The smile in her voice when she spoke eased my mind, and I knew immediately what I should do. Months later I had quit my job and was home with my daughter, raising her and being there to see her most precious moments and milestones. The Lord had protected our financial well being and had blessed my husband with a raise at his job. But before long, I was calling Mom again. "Mom?" I began slowly. Mom waited. "Well…" I hesitated, "I love being in school right now and everything, but…" and there I continued my woes of the hour as Mom patiently and attentively listened to every word I spoke. And once again, she not only listened, but spoke words of truth to me that I knew only God could have given her to share with me for that very moment.I have never seen her falter. In the face of adversity and moments of desperation, I have seen her call out to our Heavenly Father, and with such faith and trust in Him that it literally moves me. In the midst of her troubled situations I have observed the peace of God which resides upon her life and the joy of the Lord that radiantly shines from within.Oh, and although joy is something each individual has to receive on her own, I believe my Mother's joy is contagious, because I feel quite joyful around her!"The joy of the Lord is your strength" the psalmist David says. And it's true. Mom is a strong and determined virtuous woman who would go the extra mile just to have the assurance that our Savior is pleased with her. Because Mom never gives up on God, she is always joyful. And the joy of the Lord will cause one to smile even if she feels unhappy. So, although I've done my share of crying, when I go to visit Mom and tell her all about my woes of the hour, I can't help but to leave with a bright smile on my face. She leaves with me a kindled fire within my soul and continually reveals to me with her quiet smile and patient words how I can attain the same joy. As a treasure of jewels found in the desert sand, is the joy of the Lord I have found in my mother. My prayer is that I will reflect her image of extreme joy in Christ, now and in the years to come.-- Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
About the Author
Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Networking Tips for Moms At Home by Demetria Zinga
Plenty of christian moms today stay at home. After a year of battling the decision to quit my job, I finally "put my foot down", as they say, and returned home to raise my daughter. It wasn't the easiest decision, but, let me tell you, it sure wasn't the toughest! I enjoy every minute of being home to raise my child. Furthermore, being home has done wonders for my family as a unit, and drawn us closer together. When I was working my full time job I barely had time to prepare a decent meal. But today? I'm a health nut, and so is the whole family (ha)!But now, there's another dilemma. Being a stay at home mom has not affected my personality, of course, so I still have a lot of creative energy pent up inside! I thought to myself one day, "what better way to use this energy than to work towards a goal--perhaps start a business?" Not only would it bring in a nice supplementary income for my family, but having a business (or craft or hobby) would enhance my creative skills and strengthen my business expertise. I call it the project of my lifetime.The first thing I did was a little soul searching to seek God's direction for the type of business or project He would have me to embark on. I realized right away that although my personality was suited for several types of business ventures (selling crafts, designing websites, or providing secretarial services), I would soon either have to narrow it down to one choice, or start a business that combined all or most of my skills and interests. For me, choosing the right business was the hardest part. Once I settled on freelance web design and writing, it soon became my ultimate goal to find out as much as possible about these particular industries. In my thought, education and information is what separates the amateurs from the professionals. My goal was to be a professional in my field. This is where networking is highly important.If you're like me, the internet is probably one of the very best tools you can use for research. Not only is it a few feet away from me as I embark on my daily chores, but I keep my computer on at all times. Thankfully, we are using a broadband connection and can stay online 24/7 without having to worry about tying up the phone line. This, I should stress, is very important for moms who have businesses that require them to be online quite often, but who will need access to the phone as well. Once online, I begin my networking research by going to a search engine. My favorite one is Google (www.google.com) just because of its enormous searching capabilities. As a former library assistant, I can attest that Google is highly recommended in the academic and librarianship fields. I search for information in my fields using as many search terms and combination of terms as possible. With each result that I feel is important to me, I visit its webpage and bookmark it for future reference. Once I've bookmarked a bunch of pages, I go through each of these websites and study them, taking notes on what I feel is important to me in my field. I promise, you will find contacts this way, and it will be so much easier to network once you have a list of people whose companies and organizations you have researched online. In addition to an internet search, I feel that it is also important to find any books or other publications that are related to your industry. Study them and find out more about the authors. Find out if they have websites and how to reach them. Now that you have a compiled list of contact people, it's time to work the list! Before contacting these people individually (they are probably very busy), see if they offer newsletters, or other mailbits. You are looking for information on how they got where they are today. Remember, you are the amateur. They are the professionals. So, any information you receive from this contact list regarding their biographies and information on the field itself is important enough for your notes. Take plenty of notes, and keep them in a file folder. Every time you find a new piece of information on your subject matter, drop it in your file folder. And finally, if you absolutely need to contact your list of professionals for more information, I would recommend sending an email.But don't forget about networking with fellow amateurs! You can make some of your best friends and closest contacts online by joining mail lists such as Yahoo groups or MSN groups. These groups along with technologies such as Instant Messenger make it easier for you to find people with similar personal and professional interests and literally network with them on a regular basis. You will find out so much about your industry and probably learn more from each other regarding your profession than in any other way.Last but not least, be sure to network with the most important contact of all: your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember that it is He who gave you the passion and the calling, and it is He who will be with you each step of the way on your new journey.Happy networking!-- Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
About the Author
Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
About the Author
Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
