Creatures of Habit

Two weeks ago, I got the news that I was going to be moving into a new house and I became SO excited about the change that I immediately starting seeing all my stuff in the new house, what I was going to change and how I was going to live!

  So, of course, my administrative OCD kicked in and I had to pack RIGHT NOW!  Forcing myself to downsize, to only my daily essentials, for the next two weeks.  So, I consolidated everything into one drawer until the move.

To my frustration, even though I knew I had emptied all the drawers and put everything into one, I kept going back to the old drawers only to find them empty.  Every day, I kept making the same mistake and found it to be so frustrating!!  WHY couldn't I simply remember that I moved everything? I had created a "habit", so without even thinking about my choices I kept making the wrong one!

 How many areas of our life are going the wrong way because of the "habits" we have formed over the years?  Even though we have given our life to Jesus and we have made the decision to change and live for Him, we still find ourselves doing things we don't want to do!  

Maybe it's have a habit of gossiping, or talking negative or always seeing the glass half full. Maybe you have a habit of getting angry or walking in bitterness or whatever area that has control over your life.  

Don't be discouraged! Look at what the Word says!

Romans 12:2   Amplified Bible (AMP)

² Do not be conformed to this world, [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].   

You can have victory in every area of your life, but the change has to come through the Word of God!  Here are a few steps to renewing your mind.

1. Change the thoughts about yourself: replace your thoughts with God's thoughts (the word of God) The Word of God has the power of transformation! Whenever you begin to renew your mind through the power of the Word of God, you will begin the process of unlearning what you learned in the past.
2. Change your focus. Do not focus on your present situation. God is our ever present help in our time of need. (Psalms 46:1) Instead begin to focus your attention on where you want to be. The most effective way of changing your focal point is to focus your mind on God. God has promised to keep your mind in perfect peace if you keep your mind focused on Him. 
3. Change Your Habits: Through the power of words—God’s Words, the world which we see was called into existence. Through the power of words—the negative words of others, we were shaped or conformed to think unbelief. Through the power of the Word of God you can renew your mind and be transformed into a new creature.

 

 

“There are many great women, but I am the BEST!”
 Bible Proverbs

You need to feel like you are the BEST because you really are! There is no one like you; you are one of a kind. I have always said, “You are the WAY you are because of WHY you are”. It’s your uniqueness: personality, style, ideas, and ways that make you amazing! Your inner beauty will shine when you remember to Love yourself and not worry about what others think.

 You are the most beautiful at being you! Shout this out “Free to be ME!” Love yourself and your inner beauty will shine!

God Thinks about You!

I know it might be hard to believe that an infinite God would think about "you", but He does!

Psalm 8:4 What is man that you are mindful of him.

The word "mindful" means aware. He is aware of you, your desires, your struggles, fears, and joys.

It is so easy to get stuck with the mentality that God is only thinking of the "church worldwide" or thinking of those who we perceive as good or spiritual; maybe those that have the perfect family or lots of money. But He is not a respecter of person. (Romans 2:11) It doesn't matter your life experiences, failures or mistakes, He has thoughts towards you, to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE!

Psalm 137:19 "How precious to me are your thoughts O God, How vast is the sum of them"

The word Vast means: in size, degree and intensity!

God thinks of you and He is intentional with His thoughts towards you~

Remember Today: God LOVES you and THINKS about you!

Girls, need a better outlook?

Okay girls! Have you ever had that feeling like your outlook on life has dropped a little bit? It's not that you are depressed, it's just that life seems blah? Well, there are a few natural supplements you can begin to take that will help with the cognitive function.

I will share the brands I am taking:

Udo's Oil DHA

3/6/9 Blend Omega Fatty Acid

Omega 3/6/9 supports congitive function and eye health. Omega 3 fatty acids are poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Studies show that a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids may help lower triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). Omega 3 fatty acids may also act as an anticoagulant to prevent blood from clotting. Several other studies also suggest that these fatty acids may help lower high blood pressure.

Nature's Life
Vitamin E 1,000 IU
with Tocopherals

Vitamin E has earned itself a reputation - from spicing up your sex life to banning wrinkles and old age. One of the most important functions of this vitamin is its antioxidant properties. Vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that includes eight naturally occurring compounds in two classes designated as tocopherols and tocotrienols.

Vitamin E is an effective chain-breaking, lipid-soluble antioxidant in biological membranes, and aids in membrane stability.

Source Naturals
SAM e

Benefits of Sam-E
•Commonly used as to help with mild depression.
•Helps you regain control of your good mood, helping you have brighter days and a restore a healthy balance.
•Beneficial for joint disorders and connective tissue
•May help lower levels of homcysteine, an amino acid associated with cardiovascular disease.
•May help protect the body against cellular damage and slow the aging process.

Supplements are so wonderful because you benefit in so many ways!!

Hope this helps you!!

Greener Grass?

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ~Epicurus

What a delusion it is when we continue to look at other people’s lives and wish you had what they had! It is so easy with human nature to peek over into the lives of other people that we admire or perceive are living the life we wish we were living. Whether it is a better marriage, children, the house you live in or your status in life.

In 2 Corinthians 10:12 it says, “But, they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise".

This is such a powerful scripture! When we begin to focus on the areas of our life we are unhappy with, we have a tendency to zone in on people who have what you truly desire. The Bible says this is unwise. As you keep looking at someone else, everything in your life will become distorted and you find yourself very unhappy with your life and you cannot see the wonderful blessings you do have, because you are blindsided by what you wish you had! It is important to have desires in your life, but keep your eyes focused on Jesus the "author and finisher of your faith"

Philippians 4:11 says, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”

To be content means to be satisfied. Have you ever heard the saying "I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I was" I encourage you today to take off your distorted glasses, stop looking at others lives and begin to look in your own life and see the wonderful blessings that are there. Here is a simple assignment that will really help you!

Number 1: Get a notebook and every day sit down for a few minutes and look into your life and write down the things are Thankful for, the things you can appreciate! It can be from the smallest things to the biggest. As you begin to focus on the good, you will see just how blessed you really are!

In Psalms 100:4 it says “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”

Number 2: Begin to thank God every day! As you have a thankful heart, you will be covered by the anointing and love of God! It will remove the sorrow of your heart and you will begin to see how wonderful God is and how wonderful your life really is!

Number 3: Let others around you know what you are thankful for. Share with your family how blessed you are, how thankful you are! This will be contagious to everyone around you and will create a positive, happy atmosphere in your home!

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” ~ Frederick Keonig

~Barb

Esther's Court Part 2

H3: Health Healing & Hormones

We are very excited to launch our Health Series as a part of Esther's Court. Our heart and passion is for woman to have Beauty from the inside out. We truly believe for woman to be the success they are called to be; they have to experience good health, strength and energy.

We believe woman are to walk in the fullness of who God designed them to be!

May 3rd, 10th & 17th at 7:00 pm FREE CHILDCARE

For more information and to register click HERE!

My HERO: My MOM!

I have seen a lot of contest going on for people to write about their “hero” and see if their story would win. Well, there is NO contest in which person is my hero. She is my mom! She is truly the most amazing, self-sacrificing woman I have ever met. She has been such an amazing example to me even as a little girl.

LOVE: Her LOVE for God is the first quality that you could never miss when you meet her. She has such a deep love for God and a commitment to the Word. She has never wavered knowing how much God loves her or how much she loves Him. She lives out the scripture.

Luke 10:27 “Love God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. Love others as you love yourself."

Because of her love for God, she has such an amazing love for people. Everywhere she goes, you will find her sharing the love of Jesus every chance she gets. She has a passion for the lost. She is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ!

SACRIFICIAL: She is willing to do whatever God calls her to do no matter what sacrifice it requires. I have seen her leave everything she loves twice in her life to follow the calling of God and to push and encourage the dreams of her husband. She has left family, houses, ministry and everything familiar to her; to launch a ministry in Beloit, WI and then to do it all over again in Phoenix, AZ. I have seen her sacrifice financially over and over to build the Kingdom of God. She has lived out the scripture.

Luke 18:29"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

SUBMISSIVE: She is a strong woman, anointed and powerful and yet knows that beautiful boundary of submission to her husband. If he say’s it, she will stand by him forever. You don’t dare come to her about her man, all 5’ 1” of her will go nose to nose with you to protect and honor him. She loves him with an amazing unconditional love. Will never see or hear her disrespect her husband with her words or actions, it is first instinct to honor and respect him. I know this comes from her LOVE for God and her ability to submit to the Holy Spirit in her life.

Ephesians 5:22- 24 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,
his body, of which he is the Savior.
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should
submit to their husbands in everything.

LOYAL: She is a loyal friend and she is my best friend. If you are in her life, no matter who you are or what status you are; she will ALWAYS protect you first. She will not let others talk about you to her; she will stop you dead in your tracks and say “you will not talk about them without them here too”. I love that about her.

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times"

MINISTRY: She has the most beautiful call of God on her life. She is rich with the word of God and full of wisdom! She is a woman that has lead the Proverbs 31 life, without question! I am blessed as her daughter to have been able to watch her, learn from her and model who I am today because of her. I would NEVER be who I am if it wasn’t for her!

Proverbs 31 "Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised"

I Love you mom, YOU are my hero!!

~Barb