Girls In My Circle

When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'
Another, 'Let's fight together,'
Another, 'Let's walk away together.'

One friend will meet your spiritual need,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier,
Another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,
On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself ..
Those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several..
One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.
 
So whether they've been your friend for 20 minutes or 20 years …
Share this with the women God has placed in your life to make a difference.

"You are the instrument, let God play the song."

~ Jeannie Gilbert

Ways to Reduce Stress

An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'

Ways to Reduce Stress...

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus.'

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

• When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
• When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
• When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.
• When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.
• When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
• When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.
• When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
• When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
• When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.
• When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
• When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
• When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say 'thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking' .

I am sending this to all of the people I know who do so much for others...but think that no one ever sees. Little Eyes see a lot. Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child.


How will you touch the life of someone today? Just by sending this to someone else, you will probably make them at least think about their influence on others.


Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

What's your number?

Malachi 3:3

Malachi 3:3 says; 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

This verse puzzled some women in a bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the
flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Focus on YOU!

1. Never think or speak negatively about yourself; that puts you in disagreement with God.
2. Meditate on your God-given strengths and learn to encourage yourself, for much of the time nobody else will.
3. Don't compare yourself to anybody else. You're unique, one of a kind, an original. So don't settle for being a copy.
4. Focus on your potential, not your limitations. Remember, God lives in you!
5. Find what you like to do, do well, and strive to do it with excellence.
6. Have the courage to be different. Be a God pleaser, not a people pleaser.
7.  Learn to handle criticism. Let it develop you instead of discourage you.
8.  Determine your own worth instead of letting others do it for you. They'll short-change you!
9. Keep your shortcomings in perspective - you're still a work in progress.
10. Focus daily on your greatest source of confidence - the God Who lives in you!