Reasons I Owe My Mother

1. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC:
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”

2. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM:
“Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

3. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY:
“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”

4. My mother taught me about STAMINA:
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

5. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION:
“Just wait until we get home.”

6. My mother taught me about ESP:
“Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”

7. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT:
“If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”

8. My mother taught me GENETICS:
“You’re just like your father.”

9. My mother taught me WISDOM:
“When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”

10. And the favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE:
“One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.”

Happy Mother’s Day!

Traditions and memories are one of the things that ties a family together. You feel a part of something special that you share with your family. People are always reminiscing about family traditions during the holidays. How they always had a certain meal on Christmas eve or went caroling every year. This common element made the holidays special because it happened every year and everyone loved it!

Make a memory with your children,
Spend some time to show you care;
Toys and trinkets can’t replace those
Precious moments that you share.
by Elaine Hardt

Creating traditions can be as simple as serving favorite meals on birthdays, eating black-eyed peas every New Year’s Day, coloring Easter eggs together, having a fourth of July cook-out and then watching fireworks, sharing what you are thankful for every Thanksgiving, and baking Christmas cookies and decorating the tree while singing Christmas carols.

Traditions are usually passed on from one generation to the next. Remember to include your faith in those traditions. Say a prayer every night together or at every meal giving thanks.

Attend Sunday morning services together and share what you learned on the way home. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most!

]]> http://www.christianwomenfriends.com/making-memories-while-creating-traditions/feed/ 2 http://www.christianwomenfriends.com/a-joyful-smile-brings-positive-results/ http://www.christianwomenfriends.com/a-joyful-smile-brings-positive-results/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:05:43 +0000 Judy http://www.christianwomenfriends.com/?p=142 A smile is a gift to others. It’s contagious and spreads joy. What better way to start the day then with a smile? It’s an uplifting message that is well received by all.

If you want to make an impact on someones day then offer them a smile. You may be the first person that has smiled at them all day! Smiling is an act of kindness that is very much appreciated.

A smile speaks volumes. It tells your children you are happy to see them, it welcomes your spouse home from work and it lets everyone know that everything is alright. Life is good.

Even when you don’t feel like it make an effort to smile at others. It will make you feel better and may change your attitude for the rest of the day.

The bible tells us to “Be joyful always.” Godly joy brings happiness, satisfaction and purpose to our lives. It’s a blessing to give and receive a smile.

A smile is welcoming and sends a message of happiness, friendship, amusement and beauty. Everybody understands a smile and responds to it.

A smile is a beautiful thing so share it everyday!

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ~Mother Teresa.

Balance is a hard thing to find in the day of a mom. With the kids activities, school, work and a spouse who doesn’t want to be neglected either, how do you fit in time for yourself? You schedule it just like everything else!

Wake up a few minutes early and start your morning with a prayer of thanks and a request for guidance. Unburden your problems, concerns and thoughts in prayer. This will help you release a lot of tension you don’t realize you carry with you all day!

Take time to take care of yourself. Make sure you get in some exercise and focus on eating well. Eating the kids leftovers is not a good balanced meal for you! Make time for a hobby you enjoy whether it’s reading, gardening, scrapbooking or whatever it is that interests you.

Moms are the heart of the home and are often taken for granted. Don’t allow this. You are an important part of the family and you deserve equal time without any guilt!

I’m not talking about a 5 day spa vacation, I’m talking about 20 minutes everyday for you time. You need this to avoid exhaustion, physically and mentally. Don’t forget to have fun. Laughing makes you feel better and releases stress.

What do you look forward to everyday? Anything? Or are you just trying to make it through the day? Emotional fatigue will overtake you if you don’t stop the roller coaster of overextending and neglecting yourself.

Becoming a mother does not mean giving up your identity. Don’t lose yourself in motherhood instead make motherhood a part of who you are. This is the key to well adjusted kids and a happier you.

Your spiritual and emotional well being is important to your family. So take time to nurture yourself!

According to WebMD, a medical professor at the University of California Irvine has found that laughter plays a role in helping to fight viruses and bacteria, and possibly cancer and heart disease. Laughter reduces the secretion of stress hormones.

Life is funny. Our kids make us laugh. Our husbands do crazy things. Our friends bring us humor. We need to laugh more often. When we are laughing we are not worrying. Laughter brings relief from everyday life and happiness. Everybody needs that!

Have you ever noticed how people are drawn to those that express laughter and happiness. They want to be like that. To experience the feeling of joy.  Some people are just naturally that way. Others have to work at it. It’s worth the effort.

Children seem to always find laughter and happiness. Simple things make them happy. They love to laugh and play. We need to watch and learn. A child embraces fun in everything they do. This is what is missing from most adults lives. Fun and laughter. We don’t seek it out and we should.

The Benefits of Laughter

• Relieves stress
• Enhances relationships
• Defuses conflict
• Improves mood
• Eases anxiety

The bible talks about laughter. There will be no tears in heaven, only joy.

Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”
Genesis 21:6

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
Job 8:21

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
Psalm 126:2

Choose to be happy and welcome laughter into your life everyday!

Mankind holds a special place with God. After all we were created in his image.  We are his physical representative and the ambassador for his work.  But do we do a good job? God gave us free will so that we can decide to follow. We are not forced to believe but are left to choose to believe.  And I do believe.  I believe in the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Christ is the head of the church. The church is referred to as the body of Christ.  It is through the Church that his good deeds are done through a life of faithfulness and servitude.  How do you become a member of his church? By baptism into Christ  – Ephesians 4:4-5;  Galatians 3:27.  Mark 16:16 states: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Once you become a christian it is important to live your life accordingly.  Deuteronomy 7:9 teaches us that God is a faithful God.  “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.”

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 states: “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” We live by faith. However, faith is not seen. Only the effects of our faith can be viewed.

A faithful Christian lives in harmony with God’s word and reaps the blessings that come from a life of faithfulness. Faith is not only believing what the bible says but also acting on this belief.  Are you living a life guided by faith?

Let’s face it when you work 8 to 5 everyday of the week and you have a husband and kids to care for and feed along with chauffeuring them to after school or summer activities it is hard to squeeze in time for friends.

Friends are an important part of our mental stability. I find that my friendships are comforting, healing, open and fun. So why don’t I make more time to nurture them? Why do they get pushed to the back burner? After all friendships between women are special and soothing and I need that! Don’t you?

According to Helen Keller, “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” Amen. This is so true and it’s why cultivating friendships is so important.

Even when friends move away it is important to stay in touch by email, phone or facebook. They are a connection to you and your past and provide a sense of consistency in life.

It is also important to nurture friendships with other christian women. This bond enhances our spiritual side and builds on our faith. Sharing our faith, fears and doubts with friends helps us strengthen our relationship with God.

Not only do we need to cherish our friends but we need to remember to be a good friend. Pay attention to the needs of your friends. Ask questions and show interest in their lives. Share in their lives and share your life with them.

Women need women for heart to heart talks, emotional support, strength and encouragement. Friends always know just what you mean.  Appreciate friendship and always remember to keep your friends close.

John 15:13 (New International Version)
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Why We Should Believe That God Exists

1. The big bang theory alleges that some twenty billion years ago all of the matter in the known universe was tightly packed into a microscopic cosmic “egg.” According to Dr. Robert Jastrow, The Big Bang theory asserts that in the beginning “all matter in the Universe was compressed into an infinitely dense and hot mass” that exploded. Over time, “the primordial cloud of the Universe expands and cools, stars are born and die, the sun and earth are formed, and life arises on the earth.” So where did this cosmic egg come from? Scientists cannot answer. However, we do know that something cannot come from nothing.

2. Chaos could not create our complex Universe. Everything is orderly here. Gravity is consistent, the speed of light remains constant, the Earth remains at just the right distance from the Sun. This does not happen by chance.

3. The human body is proof enough that God exists. Otherwise, how did living organisms come from nonliving matter?

4. Even the demons believe that God exists. “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble.” James 2:19.

5. God is eternal. He is without beginning or end.

6. It has not been proven that he does not exist.

God’s existence cannot be proven or disproved. We must accept by faith that God does exist.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” Hebrews 11:6.

God does exist and we are accountable to him for our actions.

Do you think that a new car will make you happy? Are you waiting to lose weight so that you will feel happier and better about yourself? Are you wishing for more money, a bigger house, or more stylish clothes to make your life better? Why wait? If you believe that God is your provider then learning to be content with what you have and not always needing something bigger and better will feel your heart with peace and contentment.

If we dwell on our wants and needs or our difficulties then we tend to be discontent and unhappy with our life. Dwelling on negative situations in our  life brings discontented thoughts, anger and bitterness. We cannot be grateful servants of God  if we are not practicing contentment in our lives.

Overindulgence brings discontentment because we are never happy with what what we have or our situation. Challenging circumstances can cause us to become unappreciative. Sometimes life does not seem fair but we need to remember to be grateful and content with what we do have and to believe that “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13).

We can learn from Paul who said “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). We can learn to change our perspective by looking for the positives in every situation and realizing that God loves us and will be with us throughout the good times and any difficult times.

Life may throw us some curves but God is our voice of hope and will provide for all our needs. Contentment will bring you peace and closer to God. Pray for strength, contentment and understanding for you and your family.

Metabolism Facts

1. You don’t have to live with a slow metabolism. Lifting weights and working out will help you speed up your metabolism. You can raise your metabolism rate from 10 to 20 percent.

2. Your metabolism does not have to slow down after 40. Your metabolism may slow down by 5 percent each decade but it is mostly self-induced due to inactivity. Muscle tissue burns three times as many calories as fat so you can prevent muscle loss and ward off weight gain as you age by strength training regularly.

3. Caffeine has little effect on how many calories you will burn. Caffeinated beverages won’t help you burn more calories as you exercise and caffeine can dehydrate you. But it may give you an energy boost to help you exercise longer.

4. Eat more often to lose more weight. Small frequent meals help keep your metabolism up resulting in burning more calories. If you have too many hours between meals actually slows down your metabolism.

5. Eat fat burning foods to help bolster your metabolism. Eating hot peppers and very spicy foods may have a slight impact on metabolism for a short period of time.

6. Don’t skip breakfast. Eating a healthy breakfast may increase your resting metabolism by 10 percent.

Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

• Aerobic exercise
• Strength training exercises
• Avoid a very low-calorie diet
• Eat plenty of protein
• Avoid bad carbohydrates (such as white bread) and eat high-fiber carbohydrates instead
• Get plenty of low-fat dairy
• Get plenty of sleep
• Avoid stress
• Avoid eating late

Exercise is the best way to jump start your metabolism. The perfect combination of exercise is aerobic  and resistance training. This offer the best optimal metabolism and fat burning boost.