Shame...not something we want to admit we deal with in our lives. We keep it hidden. We deal with it in the dark, alone. Until now.
Alison Hodges came to speak at our group tonight to talk to us about Shame.
As women, we feel shame and we feel alone. We may have a bad day and yell at the kids, or our husbands. We may feel bad about that day, ask for forgiveness but deep down we feel shame because it's not just a bad day, it's who we think we are.
Alison encouraged us to "say no to Shame". She told us to find out what triggers shame in our lives, to practice critical awareness, and reaching out to the community by finding safe people in your life.
She shared a story about her neice writing a note to her that said "I like how you be". She told us that's how God sees us...He loves how we are no matter what...he likes how we be.
She encouraged us to have personal acceptance of the forgiveness of our sins when we ask God to forgive us. God grace is enough.
Join us next week as we hear Shelly Beach talk about "Caregiving:Blooming and Thriving when you're waist deep in weeds."
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tending to your family
Tonight we had Pastor Rich talk to us about taking care of our parents. Statistically speaking, many of us will be taking care of our aging parents in one way or another: financially, emotionally, physically. Pastor Rich talked to us about what the Bible tells us about caring for our parents. The 6th commandment tells us to "Honor our father and mother" in Exodus 20:12. Ephesians 6:1-2 tells us to honor and obey our parents.
He gave us some very practical advice on how to deal with our aging parents. He encouraged us to have "the talk" with them--not "the talk" they had with us about the birds and the bees but "the talk" about finances, wills and living wills.
He encouraged us to show them respect, to honor them and most of all, be patient. As our parents age, we need to be patient with them as they were patient with us once upon a time when we learned to tie our shoes, potty train or ride a bike!
**A huge thank you to the sacred dancers who performed their dance for us this evening. What a special treat to see the dance before they perform for the congregation!
He gave us some very practical advice on how to deal with our aging parents. He encouraged us to have "the talk" with them--not "the talk" they had with us about the birds and the bees but "the talk" about finances, wills and living wills.
He encouraged us to show them respect, to honor them and most of all, be patient. As our parents age, we need to be patient with them as they were patient with us once upon a time when we learned to tie our shoes, potty train or ride a bike!
**A huge thank you to the sacred dancers who performed their dance for us this evening. What a special treat to see the dance before they perform for the congregation!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The grass is always greener...where you water and fertilize
One of my very favorite speakers came to Club Mom and Girlfriends tonight: Karen Ehman. Karen is a writer and speaker from St. Johns. I love having her come to our group!!
Tonight, she spoke to us about her own Extreme Makeover in which she lost over 100 lbs--you go girl--by more exercise and less eating, but in the process, realized that God gave her a make-over of the heart.
So much of her life, she always thought life was greener in someone else's yard...her neighbor who only had one child compared to her three, or her friend who just got a new car...when in reality, God taught her that comparison is the killer of contentment.
She realized that when she stopped comparing her life to others, and worked on enjoying her life and her family, that she was very happy with her not so perfect family God gave her and that God gave her the husband and children she had to help shape her into who God planned her to be.
She encouraged us to let go of bitter feelings we may have towards others in our past, to shower them in kindness.
She left us with the thought "Being a genuine you is better than being a cheap imitation of someone else."
Tonight, she spoke to us about her own Extreme Makeover in which she lost over 100 lbs--you go girl--by more exercise and less eating, but in the process, realized that God gave her a make-over of the heart.
So much of her life, she always thought life was greener in someone else's yard...her neighbor who only had one child compared to her three, or her friend who just got a new car...when in reality, God taught her that comparison is the killer of contentment.
She realized that when she stopped comparing her life to others, and worked on enjoying her life and her family, that she was very happy with her not so perfect family God gave her and that God gave her the husband and children she had to help shape her into who God planned her to be.
She encouraged us to let go of bitter feelings we may have towards others in our past, to shower them in kindness.
She left us with the thought "Being a genuine you is better than being a cheap imitation of someone else."
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Everyone has the ability to be creative!
Don Perini came from Cornerstone University to talk to us about "How to develop a Creative Life." He told us that everyone had the ability to be creative. We were made by a creative God. Our Father had an idea to create the world and since we are made in His image, we are creative and can come up with ideas.
He gave us 10 places that most people have creative ideas:
10) Taking a shower
9) Driving
8) Sitting on the toilet
7) Falling asleep or waking up
6) During a boring meeting
5) Reading
4) Exercising
3) Waking up in the middle of the night
2) Listening to a church sermon
1) Manual Labor
During these times, our brain is in an Alpha state and we are able to organize our thoughts and that is when our most creative thoughts happen. He challenged us to think about when our best creative time is and to be intentional about using that time to capture our thoughts.
He talked about how God's son, Jesus came to earth from heaven...this was an activity and when we have a creative idea, we need to see an idea come to fruition. He encouraged us to look at our environment where we are creative, to change routines, let an idea "marinate", observe, brainstorm, make a prodotype and implent our ideas.
He encouraged us to not just have 10-20 ideas but go beyond that and have 100 ideas!
He then went to talk about how the Holy Spirit gave us power and how we can use our ideas in a powerful way.
Thank you, Don for encouraging us to dig into our creative side and bringing it out in a purposeful way to glorify God.
Make plans to bring a friend next week as we listen to Karen Ehman talk about Contentment.
He gave us 10 places that most people have creative ideas:
10) Taking a shower
9) Driving
8) Sitting on the toilet
7) Falling asleep or waking up
6) During a boring meeting
5) Reading
4) Exercising
3) Waking up in the middle of the night
2) Listening to a church sermon
1) Manual Labor
During these times, our brain is in an Alpha state and we are able to organize our thoughts and that is when our most creative thoughts happen. He challenged us to think about when our best creative time is and to be intentional about using that time to capture our thoughts.
He talked about how God's son, Jesus came to earth from heaven...this was an activity and when we have a creative idea, we need to see an idea come to fruition. He encouraged us to look at our environment where we are creative, to change routines, let an idea "marinate", observe, brainstorm, make a prodotype and implent our ideas.
He encouraged us to not just have 10-20 ideas but go beyond that and have 100 ideas!
He then went to talk about how the Holy Spirit gave us power and how we can use our ideas in a powerful way.
Thank you, Don for encouraging us to dig into our creative side and bringing it out in a purposeful way to glorify God.
Make plans to bring a friend next week as we listen to Karen Ehman talk about Contentment.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
No Soup for you!
Tonight we had a wonderful speaker, Lorilee Cracker. She talked to us about Maternal Gatekeeping, which means when we need help, we don't allow our husbands to help us because we don't like the way they do it and we constantly correct or nag.
She compared our controlling ways of wanting things done just so to the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld. But when we are so controlling, we don't allow our husbands to be who they are and be a true partner in our marriage.
She gave us 3 ways to open the Maternal Gate and let our husbands be a true partner:
1) Quit hogging and hovering: We have a system of how we do things and just because we have found a way that works best for us, that does not mean we need to hover over our husbands and take things away from them because we think we can do it better.
2) Watch how we ask for help: Not making a honey do list or be condesending but ask for help using encouraging words. For example, "I would consider it the best thing in the world if you would..."
3) Your husband has something for your kids that you don't: Let Dad be Dad
She encouraged us to let go of the little things like wiping the counter or picking up the toys to see the big picture of allowing valuable time your husband is spending with you or your children.
Thank you so much, Lorilee!
Next week, we look forward to hearing Don Perini talk to us about "How to Develop a Creative Life"
She compared our controlling ways of wanting things done just so to the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld. But when we are so controlling, we don't allow our husbands to be who they are and be a true partner in our marriage.
She gave us 3 ways to open the Maternal Gate and let our husbands be a true partner:
1) Quit hogging and hovering: We have a system of how we do things and just because we have found a way that works best for us, that does not mean we need to hover over our husbands and take things away from them because we think we can do it better.
2) Watch how we ask for help: Not making a honey do list or be condesending but ask for help using encouraging words. For example, "I would consider it the best thing in the world if you would..."
3) Your husband has something for your kids that you don't: Let Dad be Dad
She encouraged us to let go of the little things like wiping the counter or picking up the toys to see the big picture of allowing valuable time your husband is spending with you or your children.
Thank you so much, Lorilee!
Next week, we look forward to hearing Don Perini talk to us about "How to Develop a Creative Life"
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Layettes anyone??
What a fun evening we had putting together layettes for Lansing Christian Services/Love INC. These layettes will be given to women in the hospital after they have a baby. The layettes included a beautiful blanket, a book, a sleeper, a onesie, and socks.
The ladies at Club Mom and Girlfriends worked hard together to make 22 complete layettes and 9 that need one or two items to make them complete. What a blessing it is to work with generous women of this group who brought in the supplies for the layettes, worked to put them together and took time out of their night to pray for a fellow Club Mommer.
We are praying for Sandi Shults who received word today that the medicine she has been taking is not working to help her and she will soon be put on the list for a lung transplant. We are praying for her during this frustrating time.
May God bless each and every woman who is part of Club Mom and Girlfriends.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tending the Garden of Self
Tonight we had our first Bible Study/Pastor Rich talk. Pastor Rich talked to us about gardening. He gave us four elemental steps to gardening and compared them to taking care of our selves:
1) Preparing the soil: We need to turn over the soil and make it receptive to seed--we need to not have a hard heart. We need to pick out the rocks--look at people in our life who we may need to remove. We need to Spray with weed killer--Get rid of bad habits in our life.
2) Planting the seed: Choose the seed wisely--choose what you put into your mind through books, movies and TV. Fertilize liberally--Using the word of God . Water abundantly--Give lots of time to develop a relationship with Christ.
3) Tending the garden: Watch-be on guard, be alert, weeds will come back. Weed--Bad company corrupts good character. Wait-Patience is part of tending our lives
4) Harvest: You will receive more than what you put in. You will receive enough for yourself. You will receive plenty to share.
Our memory work for the week is Galatians 6:7 "Do not be deveived: God cannot be mocked. A woman reaps what she sows."
We look forward to next week when we will be putting together Layettes for Lansing Christian Services. We are still in need of infant socks, sleepers and bibs.
See you next week!
1) Preparing the soil: We need to turn over the soil and make it receptive to seed--we need to not have a hard heart. We need to pick out the rocks--look at people in our life who we may need to remove. We need to Spray with weed killer--Get rid of bad habits in our life.
2) Planting the seed: Choose the seed wisely--choose what you put into your mind through books, movies and TV. Fertilize liberally--Using the word of God . Water abundantly--Give lots of time to develop a relationship with Christ.
3) Tending the garden: Watch-be on guard, be alert, weeds will come back. Weed--Bad company corrupts good character. Wait-Patience is part of tending our lives
4) Harvest: You will receive more than what you put in. You will receive enough for yourself. You will receive plenty to share.
Our memory work for the week is Galatians 6:7 "Do not be deveived: God cannot be mocked. A woman reaps what she sows."
We look forward to next week when we will be putting together Layettes for Lansing Christian Services. We are still in need of infant socks, sleepers and bibs.
See you next week!
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