Develop your Potential and Do Something Now

I wanted to share the devotional I read today from Joyce Meyers:

You may know that God's created you with great potential, but you can't stop

there. You have to develop your potential.  I believe that many people are

unhappy because they aren't doing anything to develop their potential. If you

want to see your potential developed to its fullest, don't wait until everything

is perfect. Do something now. Start laying your hand to whatever is in front of

you. You must give your potential some form by doing something with it. You

will never find what you are capable of doing if you never try anything. 

Don't be so afraid of failing that you never take a chance. Don't stay in the safety

zone. You may feel safe, but you will never succeed at developing your full

potential or being fulfilled in what you are doing. Step out into what you feel 

God is leading you to do, and you will soon discover what you can and cannot

do. You are full of God-given potential, and He wants to do more through your

life than you could ever imagine, but it requires your cooperation. Step out and

serve Him wholeheartedly today. (Colossians 3:23) Prayer Starter: Lord, in

everything I do, I want to serve You wholeheartedly. Thank You for encouraging

me to step out and take action, developing the great potential You have given me.

Upcoming Events

Friday, March 23rd, 2012, 7pm-9pm
Cal Skate Grand Terrace
Skate for $8.50

Saturday, March 31, 2012, 11am-2pm
De-stress, Detox, Delight (3D): Mind, Body and Soul

You are cordially invited to attend the 3D, Mind, Body and Soul experience.  

Come for "Fun," "Food" and "Fellowship."  Skin care, relaxation techniques, 

neck/back messages, praise dance line, and much more.  

Everything is "FREE" but you must RSVP by Wed. March 28th.  

How to Get a Church Girl!!!

Check this out and enjoy!!!

Are You Too Busy For God?

Most people know the importance of spending time with God.  But in the midst of life, sometimes it’s just hard to find the time.  Schedules fill up quickly, work consumes our thoughts at night, family and friends vie for our attention, and then there’s this thing called sleep.  There can be many reasons and causes for our busy lives.  But, no matter the season, no matter the busy schedule we have, God demands our worship.

Prayer: Father, Help us to look to you, no matter how busy our lives may be.  Be our number one priority and help us to trust you to provide the needed strength for the other events of our day.

March Collective Recap: "Tapping In"

Big HUGS to all the ladies that attended the March Collective.  I had a geat time!  This collective was focused on activating what's inside each of us (Tapping In).  Mary Pearce gave an outstanding presentation on "Growth and Development". She will be back next month for another segment, so those who did not attend this month will have an opportunity next month to gain some insight.  Here are some of the activities we did at the meeting.  You can try them at home and post a comment about them:

Journal Entry

Identify one habit you want to break

Identify one habit you want to form

“Questions that make you go Hmmm”

Which is worst, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend

who lives right near you?

If you knew that everyone you knew was going to die tomorrow, who would visit today?

Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become

extremely attractive or famous?

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

Would you rather lose all your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

“Connecting”

Put your hand on your heart, close your eyes and think of a blessing you had in your life. One that really changed the course of your life, but you might not think about as often.

Share that blessing or moment with someone.

Upcoming Events

Skating: March 23rd (check your inbox)

Next Collective: April 15th (check your inbox)

Movie Night: "Think Like a Man" April 21st

God can use YOU too!

"You probably can think of someone whom you admire and respect.  Perhaps you admire her ambition to learn new skills.  Maybe it's her perseverance to overcome difficulties and hardships.  Why can't that person be you?  It CAN!  The key is connecting with God.  God loves you, even if you don't believe it.  Each of one of us is confronted and tempted by an endless stream of temptations; many of which aren't all that important.  When you learn to refuse to satisfy all of them, and choose to satisfy those that are in line with your priorities, you sharpen your willpower and strengthen your self-discipline." -Unknown.  First, you must accept Jesus into your life.  By accepting Jesus, God now has the opportunity to reveal His plan for you.  You now have access to Him.  Fully submit to God; Allow Him to work on you, in you, and through you.  Then  you will have the willpower and self-discipline to fulfill your divine purpose.

Confession: God is ordaining my steps, placing me in the right place at the right time, so that blessings will come over me and they will over take me.

Ladies, have we lowered our standards?

As I was reading an article and I saw a posted comment that really mirrored my sentiments:

"I also believe this article allows the opportunity to discuss a very important subject, the standards of our society and who sets them. My mother always told my sister that females are the standard bearers for society. That males, wanting to impress a female or gain her attention, would most likely try to live up to HER standards.

One of the problems our society faces is the lowering of standards that some females require of a male. If a female doesn't require the standard of a male mate to be respectful of himself and others, drug/addiction free, employed, well-groomed, etc., then a male will most likely do only that which is necessary to gain her attention.

I had relationships in my youth where the only standard was that I call the next day, after sex. Of course, MY lack of standards was ALSO to blame for these "relationships".

Most males will confess that they did whatever they had to do to impress their female mates in the beginning. Of course there are always exceptions, but, I believe that as a general rule, females are the standard bearers."

What do you think ladies?  Please leave comments!  Let's hear it!!

International Women's Day- March 8th

Yesterday was International women's Day (IWD).  Last year (2011), President Barak Obama proclaimed March to be "Women's History Month", calling Americans to mark International women's Day by reflecting on "the extraordinary accomplishments of women" in shaping the country's history. In 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched the "100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges",


International Women's Day is marked on March 8th every year.  In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements. Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia. In many regions, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day or Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the original political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.


This year’s theme is empowering rural women to end hunger and poverty.

Disturbing Breaking News

We hear it all the time:  "These are the last days".  Growing up in church, I had the pleasure of hearing sermons, seemingly dedicated to scaring us into accepting Christ.  Ya'll remember "Left Behind" movies.  I must say, at this point, I am a BELIEVER.  Seriously!! Every day I hear about senseless crimes and lack of value for human life.  I have heard haunting stories that are just too horrible to believe.  Makes me count my blessings.  I Thank God for dispatching, more than ONE, angel to protect me.  Please pray for the human beings experiencing terror, injustice, loss, and persecution.  I heard something today that urged me to post a blog bringing awareness to crimes against humanity.  It's so easy to live in a place where civil unrest is not in your front yard.  Americans have trouble. I dare not trivialize our problems.  However, it just blows my mind the horror people in other countries face on a daily basis.  How can someone sell young girls into sex slavery or chop up a young child. "There can be no better measure of  governance than the way we treat our women and children, and no greater failing on our part than to allow them to be subjected to violence, abuse or exploitation (Lange)".  Please add any other stories you want in the comments section.

Clinic Shooting (Pennsylvania): http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/09/justice/pennsylvania-shooting/index.html?npt=NP1

Sterilization Victims (North Carolina): http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2012/03/09/ac-cohen-sterilization-victims-compensation.cnn

Ohio School Shooitng: http://www.cleveland.com/readers/index.ssf/2012/03/covering_chardon_high_school_s.html

11 y.o. Gang raped by 18 men (Texas): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/us/09assault.html
http://www.care2.com/causes/11-year-old-girl-gang-raped-by-18-men-in-texas.html
11 y.o. Gang Raped by 7 Teens (MORENO VALLEY):
http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20110328-girl-11-lured-to-park-gang-raped.ece


Jospeh Kony (Uganda Dictator): http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Kony-2012-Video-on-African-dictator-goes-viral/articleshow/12194689.cms

Go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/world to learn about World News or http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/
Darfur (Western Sudan) : http://www.savedarfur.org/

Crimes Against Humanity: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/our-work/crimes-against-humanity/
Restrepo: http://movies.nationalgeographic.com/movies/restrepo/

Rescue Project: http://www.dreamcenter.org/

You can also visit http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/world.htm to check out the geography and location of these countries.

Pitfalls in Seeking God's Will

Pitfalls that interfere with hearing His direction accurately
- Beware of desires of the flesh (longings become unhealthy when they consume
   your thoughts)
- Faulty Advice
- Be careful when feeling impatient, doubtful, or pressured in any way (Be patient;
   what God has is worth the wait)
- Ask God to cleanse your heart and for guidance
- Listen to God and Follow His lead

Why do we fall?
- Path of self-indulgence
- Too proud to admit weakness
- Living in denial
- Lack of discipline

Given the slightest chance, sin will infiltrate your life and affect
every aspect.  Including your faith, job, and relationship with family
and friends.  Do you need an example to learn how to overcome
temptation?  Read about Joseph in Genesis 39.  In times of weakness,
depend on God, obey Him, and seek strength to overcome. 

Dispel Fear

Fear is not a way forward.  Move away from fear by:
- Prayer (Phillipians 4:6-7)
- Seek Counsel: Talk to a 3rd party that is trust worthy
- Action Plan: Actions leads to confidence

Because of fear we:
- procrasitnate: "I don't want to face it right now"
- retreat: "I cannot take it"
- doubt ourselves: "I cannot do it"
- doubt others: "I am in this all alone"
- doubt God: "He's abandoned me"

We tend to move towards the direction of our focus.  If we focus on fear, we will move towards where fear leads us.  If we focus on our faith in God, we will move towards where our faith leads us.

Example
Problem: "I have more debt than I can pay" (fear)
Solution: Stop using credit
              Make minimum payments
              Negotiate lower balances or have a qualified person/ organization do it for you
              Take a 2nd job and build savings
              Down Size

What are most important issues facing young women today?

New America Media, a nationwide network of over 700 ethnic-media organizations, conducted a survey (2006) of young people in California to better understand what young adults ages 16-22 feel are the primary issues impacting their lives. Of those people, 31 percent attended public high school, 21 percent were enrolled a four-year college or university, 19 percent went to a two-year college, 19 percent weren’t going to any school in California, 4 percent were students at private high schools, and 1 percent of students were in a General Equivalency Diploma program.
The results of the study paint an interesting picture of the upcoming generation. Among the major findings:

• One in eight of the nation's young people live in California. Three-fifths of those in the age group are people of color, and almost half are immigrants or the children of immigrants. As the report cites, "This poll paints a portrait of a generation coming of age in a society of unprecedented racial and ethnic diversity -- the first global society this country has seen."
• Twenty-four percent of the respondents consider the breakdown of the family to be the most pressing issue facing their generation today, followed by violence in neighborhoods and communities, and then poverty and global warming. However, several significant differences among racial and ethnic groups existed.
  White young adults named family breakdown as number one, followed by poverty and global warming. African American and Latino youth, however, believed violence in their communities was the most pressing issue facing their generation, followed by family breakdown and poverty. Asian American young adults, meanwhile, named family breakdown as the number-one issue, but they felt neighborhood violence was almost equally important, while poverty and global warming tied for third.
• Personal finances and school ranked as high stressors. One-third of respondents said school causes the most stress, followed by money, personal relationships, and peer pressure. Asian Americans were significantly more likely than other groups to mention school as their biggest source of personal stress, while African Americans were more likely to mention money.
• Young Californians embraced the state's increasing diversity. Most said that the majority of their friends were of a different race. They were just as likely to identify themselves by personal tastes in fashion and music, for example, as by traditional identity markers such as race and ethnicity.
• Sixty-four percent of young Californians though they would be married or have a life partner at some point, and 63 percent believed they would have children.
• Young Californians understood that postsecondary education is important. Over two-thirds expected to earn at least a four-year college degree, and 96 percent of respondents believed that if they work hard, they could achieve their goals.

What do you feel are the most pressing issues facing young adults today? What do you think about the results of this study? Please feel free to share your thoughts!

Just wondering!!!

What's more important good deeds or God deeds?    Is there a difference?