March 03, 2008
Making Life Work! --Issue #004
March 2, 2008
Successful Christian Living brings you monthly information, advice and resources for living a Christ-centered life in every area.
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In this issue...
1) Not so simple ripples
2) Transitions
3) Tell your story - make a web page
A Quick Focus
No matter how your day has gone so far, no matter how hectic it is, no matter your state of mind right now - Christ is with you.I invite you to close your eyes for just a few seconds. During that time just allow yourself to know that He is present with you. Let yourself know that He loves you, is there with you because He wants to be, and that He has a plan for not only this day but all your days.
If you find something in the way then clear it up with Him right now. If that leaves no time to read the rest of this then don't read it. Your relationship with Christ is THE most important thing in your life.
When you feel at peace - not that everything in your life is perfect - just that you know He is with you, then I invite you now to the rest of the ezine.
Not so simple ripple
It is not always a big splash that is needed to bring about change. A simple, subtle touch can cause ripples that spread far and wide. Sometimes they bump into ripples coming from another direction and that intersection causes new waves at different angles changing the pattern and creating a whole, new effect.
Our lives together are like that, sending out ripples in all directions. We can send ripples into those around us that move them in unexpected ways. As their ripples bump into ours, we are both changed and send out new ripples in new directions.
Now, I started out thinking about the positive changes we can make, but I suppose we can certainly make negative ones as well. If we assume that every conversation, every relationship causes ripples in another for good or bad and that the impact will cause the person to bump another in a negative or positive way as well, then maybe we should be a bit more careful about what we are sending out.
Maybe it is mostly about the source of the ripple. When we allow Christ to start the movement in us, then the ripple outward will come through us rather than from us and when Christ touched others they were changed. That means we need to get serious about our lives with Christ because they absolutely do effect others.
Even the quietest among us cause a ripple that travels the globe heart touching heart. Be aware this month of not only your life with Christ but your life with others. Do not take lightly the impact of your life or what it could be as you walk closer to the Lord.
Transitions
There are transitions that bring us great joy and others not so great. There are transitions of life stage that happen to us all and those that happen just to me or just to you. All transitions are a time to take stock of our lives, who we are, our particular path, possible new directions. It may be a time for grief or for rejoicing, sometimes both. No matter the type of change that is happening, it is always a time to check in with Christ.These times are ripe for seeking the Lord’s perspective and renewing our commitment to walk with Him regardless of what has come our way. He has a hand in every transition and every outcome and without Him we can never have a complete perspective of the events or prepare for what comes next.
For myself, my last child has just left the nest. I am thinking of what I did right and what I didn’t in raising her as I watch her drive away. My heart is grieved at my suddenly quiet house yet rejoices with her new life and adventures. It is a time for me to think of the years to come and how I will serve the Lord – and where. In this transition, I am going to spend lots of time with Jesus closing that chapter with Him and watching Him open the next. I am diving into the good and bad of this transition so that I can close the past well and be prepared for the future. If the past transitions are any indication, I can only try and imagine what is going to come next, what probably will come is something I did not anticipate but I will be ready.
As we walk with Christ and keep short accounts of our lives with Him then the big transitions are easier to travel through and we are able to greet what is to come with His peace and His perspective.
Tell your story - make a web page
Christian women are serving the Lord in different places and ways all over the world. Those stories need to be heard. If you are a Christian woman then I invite you to visit the web site and tell us how and where you are serving the Lord. Just go to the Christian Women page, scroll down and fill it in. Your story will create a new web page that others can read. As they do, these stories of how we love and serve God and His world will be encouraging, inspiring and empowering. It will also help us to see the Kingdom worldwide and how Christ is moving.I would love to read your story, see you on the net.
New Book
On March 15th "Make My Christian Life Balance" will be available on the web site. This is the first in a series of books that will provide practical and Biblical insight into living a deep, intimate and growing life with Christ and our world. Areas covered are:
-- Spiritual Growth-- -- Personal Development-- -- Your Environments-- -- Career-- -- Family and Friends-- -- Finances-- -- Intimate Relationships-- -- Health and Self-care-- -- Balance for a Kingdom Life--
You can learn more about it by
clicking here.