​How are you with forced quiet time? Solitude?  There are probably people with all kinds of answers depending upon whether you are normally a social person or introvert.  Over the years I have had several “forced” or “unplanned” quiet times such as when I have been sick or taking care of a sick family member, or when plans have been canceled. Another reason for this “forced” time has been due to weather occurrences, such as the snow/ice we received this weekend. During these times I still find myself working hard to stay busy, not necessarily productive, but not trying to be quiet either.  In reflecting on the times that I have intentionally set aside times for solitude, I have appreciated a few moments of quiet, spending time reading the Bible, praying and writing in a journal. I can still remember when I had small children at home desiring for any kind of “down time” and wondering if it would ever happen. Now that my four children are grown and gone, I do have the opportunity each day to spend some of it quietly, although I believe I do not take advantage of it often enough.
Psalm 37:7 says “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him” and Psalm 46:10 says “Be still, and know that I am God.” These verses seem to be the exact opposite of our world today; everything and everyone is moving faster and faster and many of us even “multi-task”, doing several things at once, like watching a movie, checking email, and texting a friend at the same time. In our hurried state, we may miss the beauty of the moment, the calm state of relaxing our mind, and even being willing to wait and listen for God’s answer to our prayers or direction. So, here’s a challenge to myself and to others, to be more intentional about making good use of times of solitude and incorporating more of it in our day or week. Set the phone down and turn off the T.V. or music apps, and give yourself permission to “not be accessible” and “not accomplish anything” for a length of time. Decompress for a few minutes, do a devotion or follow a Bible reading plan, write in a journal and then reflect without rushing to the next thing. I’m pretty confident that we will appreciate and be thankful for some solitude or “forced” quiet time a little more.
Blessings,
Jeri
 

​Blessed Girl Blog #23
A Time of Remembrance
     This year Memorial Day for the USA will be on May 27th; it began to be widely observed in May in 1868, to recognize and honor those who gave their lives to defend our country.  These soldiers were on a team, united to achieve a common purpose, ensuring that we have Freedom. Taking time to remember important events and people is not a new idea and Jesus even gave a command to Christians in Luke 22:19 as He was meeting with the disciples prior to His arrest and death. He said, “Do this in remembrance of me”, as they were meeting in the upper room. Churches have been calling this “The Lords Supper” or “Communion” and it is to be taken by those who have professed their faith in Jesus as Lord. Most of the churches I have been a part of do this on a monthly basis, although some churches observe it more and some less. The point is to have a devoted time to reflect on your life, and on your relationship with Jesus, as you remember the events leading to His death and then His resurrection.
     Memories come and go in our lives as we have some designated days of honor, or sometimes it is a Facebook or Google reminder that “pops up”; we are taken back in our minds to a previous day, by a special post or picture. Taking a look back can help us move forward so that we have a clearer understanding of our direction and renew our resolve to achieve our purpose. We can get off track because there are so many distractions from people and things around us, yet we can take time to remember where we came from and what we have been saved from. Perhaps you can look at it as a memorial for the end of your old nature. Ephesians 4:22-24 says to “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life… let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.”  Remember how you made a decision to follow Him and “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”, as stated in Philippians 3:14.  
     You may never know all the times you were protected from trouble, or how many prayers were offered for you to continue in your journey with Christ. So, take some time to remember how Christ laid down His life for us. Remember how you made a decision to follow Him and look for His leading. And yes take time to remember those who have sacrificed for our country, who have given their all. Let these remembrances propel you forward with renewed strength and dedication, and also encourage you to share the good news of Jesus with others for God’s glory and His Kingdom.
     Blessings,
    Jeri

​Blog # 22
   Shine Your Light!  Wow we had an amazing time at Blessed Girl 2024 where we were challenged to have God’s light in our own lives but also to shine it for others. The logo for Blessed Girl has the two S’s bigger than the other letters, and if you look closely, you can see that it says “Saved” on one and “Secure” on the other. We can know that God holds us and we can rest in Him once we have made the decision to follow Him as Lord of our lives. As we continue on our journey, Jesus wants us to share the good news with others; this means we need to shine His light!
    I love this focus on light in our theme verse for the year and in many more verses in the Bible. Our speaker, Taylor, reminded us that God is the Creator of Light, Genesis 1:3. Revelations 21:23 says there will be no need for a lamp or sunlight because “The Lord God is the source of light.” So we see from the first book of the Bible, many verses in between and in the last book, light is mentioned many times; one source has discovered it over 200 times.
    Jesus tells us He is the light in John 12:46, saying “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” As we go about our days, let us then shine so that others may see the light of Jesus and come into fellowship with Him as well. Praying and reading God’s word revives the light in us, or we could say powers up and recharges our light. Psalm 119:105 tells us “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” We cannot continue to grow without these basics of the Christian life. Also, as a visual at the end of Blessed Girl, we gave each girl a lantern and stood together; we could see how light shines brighter when we are with others doing the same.
   Keep the faith and Keep shining for Jesus!  Prayers for you and your group of young ladies!
   Blessings,
   Jeri

​BLOG #21  December 29, 2023
We have come to the end of 2023 and it seems it is natural to want to reflect on the past as well as look forward to the future. Some see this as futile or trivial, but I like to embrace the possibilities that lie ahead with a new start. Each day is actually like that, we have the opportunity to make the best choices each day, no matter what has unfolded in the past.  As a Counselor, I definitely know the power and necessity in looking at our past, however, we must be careful not to dwell on the past so much that it hinders the future.
History is important as we think back over the many years and occurrences that transpired before we were born. We can learn so much from the choices and consequences that others have made, if we take the time to do so. Even in parenting, I would read stories of others situations so that it would help me be a better parent.  Although our situations may not be exactly the same, we can still enhance our knowledge by gathering as much information as we can to make a better decision. I believe one recognition of being mature is the ability to consider what has happened before and to others, therefore not forging ahead just on one’s own opinion. The phrase “learning the hard way” comes from this very process, something teenagers are likely to do, rather than taking the time or effort to consider the outcomes.  We cannot, however, spend all of our time reviewing the past, or we will fail to move forward. Having dependence on God helps us have the hope we need to embrace the newness and eagerly anticipate a bright future.
Here are some questions to ask over the next couple of days:

1. What were some blessings I experienced this past year? Are there blessings I failed to recognize at the time but now realize their importance?
2. What struggles did I go through this past year? How did I make it through the struggles, was I strong or weak? Who did I go to for help? Did God show that He is trustworthy?
3. What good decisions did I make? Did I start any good habits?
4. Looking towards the new year, are there good habits I have that I want to continue? Are there bad habits I want to stop?  Who can help me with my habits or am I only dependent on myself? What are some small steps I can take to move forward in a positive manner? Who can I get on my team to encourage me and/or walk with me?
5. Are my spiritual disciplines strong enough? What can I do to improve or to increase their frequency?

Remember to pray and ask God for wisdom and direction. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously.” James 1:5  He wants to give good things to His children. He has also given us the Holy Spirit to help us discern what is good and right and godly. “The prayers of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”  James 5:16 
So, as we reflect on the past year, keep a healthy perspective, recognizing failures but also appreciating the victories (even small ones). Look with anticipation on the future, being willing to make some changes and choices that will increase positive results and deepen your relationship with God.
Blessings,
Jeri

​BLESSED GIRL BLOG #20  September 2023
Skepticism – the thought that what is true might not be true.
With the advancement of technology and the easy access to many different cultures we have seen an increase of misinformation as well as valid information. During the teen years, young people naturally begin to make their own assumptions about the world, as they are pulling away from their parents. While it is necessary for each individual to formulate their own worldview, some guidance is a healthy approach.  I can still remember standing in the library of my college and realizing for the first time that there is a great deal of information and things to learn, outside of my degree, more than I could ever attain. This leads to the need to trust someone and their beliefs; so how does that work? How do we decide who to believe? One way is to find out who are the people that many people believe;  but, wow, that can go wrong pretty quickly, because the masses are not always right, and certainly do not always have godly values as their basis. I’m going out on a limb to name some Christians who are followed by a lot of people and by their statements are following the best-selling book of all time, the Bible. I will start with Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, a renowned evangelist who led a world-wide ministry for many years and is now led by Franklin. The Statement of Faith begins with the belief that the Bible is the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative word of God revealing the love of God to the world. Other aspects are the belief in the Trinity, the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, that all will face judgment leading to eternal life or eternal punishment. Another prominent Christian leader Rick Warren includes these same beliefs as well as the Focus on the Family organization founded by James Dobson. Two well known pastors that have passed recently, were Adrian Rogers and Charles Stanley, both who pastored large churches and had world-wide ministries as well. Their statements of faith are very similar to those previously listed. We can look to these as the basis of those who want to follow the Christian faith. I will note that there are some differences in some other areas of their statements of faith but the common basics are the best place to start. 
Study with your child or teens these basics of the Christian faith so that they will have a foundation. Help them know that the Bible is a trusted book but more than that it is the Word of God. In a way that cannot be explained, it has the power to change us and convict us, as well as to lead us. Following God’s ways are the best and the more we can help our children have values and standards the more that carries over to what they believe about their identity, the meaning of life, and other searching questions. Google listed 5 big questions of life:  Origin: Where did I come from?  Identity: Who am I? Purpose: Why am I here? Morality:  How should I live? And Destiny: Where am I going?  As individuals we will search for these answers, and I believe God and His Word gives us those answers. We can have discussions about what others believe and where their values come from, but do not neglect reading the answers in God’s answer book. Where did I come from?  Created by God. Known in the womb by God. Jeremiah 1:5.  Who am I? “ I will be a Father to you and you will be my sons and daughters” We are His children. II Corinthians 6:18. God wants us to serve Him by loving others and telling others about Him. Matthew 22:37-40  How should I live? “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.: Micah 6:8 Where am I going? John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”  Recognize that these are only a few of the verses in the Bible; the whole gives us more depth and shows us how to live and how to love God and others.
Back to the skepticism…we choose what to be skeptical about. What will you choose? Who will you look to for answers? How will you help others search for those answers? Renew your faith, your beliefs and your trust in God and His word. We must also be diligent in standing strong and putting on the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:13-17. We must remember our fight is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Lord, I personally ask for patience and love for those who are skeptical about You. Lead me in my conversations and my attitudes. Increase my faith and my time spent knowing You more. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:7
Blessings,
Jeri

      As we enter springtime, we notice that certain flowers bloom first; usually I see the daffodils and when I was growing up we could occasionally catch the blooming of pink lady slippers in the woods beside our house. We knew then it was “Springtime.” I have always enjoyed the “newness” of a month and a year; making resolutions and envisioning a brand new start. One of the greatest quotes I have ever heard is “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” We can have this perspective every day and live in anticipation and letting the past go. There is some need to remember parts of the past to help us learn and to grow, yet we need to be careful to not let the past negatively impact our today and tomorrow.
        Another great statement I have heard is to “Bloom where you are planted.” Where are you? Do you have a positive attitude about the home you are in, the family you are a part of, the workplace or school you attend daily? We are in charge of our attitude towards where we are. Our thoughts impact our feelings and actions, therefore we need to be intentional about having  our focus in the right place.  If our current situation is less than our ideal, we can make the choice to wait expectantly for a “new place”. In our waiting we need to trust God and seek His help daily, and sometimes minute-to-minute. It’s also possible we are in a great place at this time of our lives and are blooming as He intended. We are letting the fruit of the Holy Spirit flow in and through us as given in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.
    What do you need to Bloom? Soil, fertilizer, sun and water; and how deep are your roots? Colossians 2:7 “Have your roots planted deep in Christ, grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. “  Once we are planted, we need nourishment which will come from time with the Son. As we grow, we also need the fellowship of others, the truth from God’s word and the opportunity to shine.
Our Blooming brings beauty and encouragement to those around us. We do not even know, as flowers do not know, how many people are observing our blooms. Our responsibility is to use the gifts and talents God has given us, blooming where we are, and let Him take care of the rest. Even when you have a challenge where you are, you can embrace the newness of the day and shine. Shine in your attitude, in your care for others, and in your acceptance of your place; which, although it may be tough, is not unknown to God. As Romans 3:38-39 tell us, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Further strength comes from the writer of Hebrews who says: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…. So that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” 
       So, bloom where you are planted and remember to get the nourishment you need. Take note also that flowers do not show their outward bloom all of the time; some of their growing time is invisible to others. Be careful of having too high of expectations of yourself, or feeling like a failure because your blooming is unseen. I have not thought of that before so I will encourage myself to be careful of this for my own life as well as observing how others are “blooming.” Sometimes the growing takes place where others cannot see, and at the right time, God’s time, blooming will appear.
Blessings
Jeri

​What stones do you need rolled away? What do you need resurrected? During this time of Easter with reflection upon Christ and His sacrifice for us, we can be reminded that He overcame persecution and death. The same POWER that raised Him from that grave is in us, if we have asked Him to be Lord of our life. Let’s not be like the children of Israel who often forgot that God had rescued them and saved them with His power before, and yet they would complain and wonder how they would survive. Let us REMEMBER and go forward, knowing that God does not neglect us or forget us.  As Romans 8:38-39 says, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” Jesus even tells us in John 14:12 that:  “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.”
Let us first identify the stones in our life, whether they are issues with family, schoolmates, coworkers, finances, stress, anxiety or medical concerns. Next, have faith that God is able. He is the overcomer, the all-powerful and our Redeemer. Come to Him, call upon Him and receive His peace. Rely on His strength and His promises. He truly does: ”Work all things out for our good, to those who trust in Him.” Romans 8:28  He looks after us: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.  God cares for us as Matthew 6 tells us: “Do not be anxious about your life… look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap or gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? …But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow.” The Bible is God’s word, His words, and yes His promises to us. The more I read them the more secure I am in my faith and in the God of Heaven. Take time to read and reflect, and let His truths bring you joy and peace as you wait for the stone to be rolled away.
Blessings,
Jeri

Blessings for Others – As I was reading a devotional recently, it began with this verse, “Praying always, in the Spirit, with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Ephesians 6:18.  Written by Andrew Murray, he explains by reminding us that God wants us to pray for others which is an extraordinary responsibility that we are privileged to have. “He has taken us into partnership in His work.” Supplication means to ask God or pray for some need or concern. So how is your prayer life? How much time do you take to pray for others’ needs, ministries, families, direction as well as safety and health? What a great opportunity we have in the lives of those we are closest to, and for some we do not even personally know. You can receive daily, weekly or monthly reminders, emails, and newsletters from many sources that will allow expansion of your prayer life. For me, as I read the struggles that a Christian has in China or of a new believer in India, or how 10% of the world does not have clean water or 1680 groups do not have a Bible in their own language, I realize that my focus on my own concerns sometimes does not compare.
Prayer is not magical yet it is unexplainable, except by believing in God Almighty and the power we have through Him to intercede, or be an advocate, for others. At times I have said to others, I wish I could do more for you, during their struggle or grieving time. Many will respond by acknowledging the importance of those prayers and express their heartfelt thanks for remembering them. God can even transcend time if you are “late” in praying for something. Maybe the surgery already took place or event happened, and you did not pray until afterward; it is still fine to pray and God will still hear this prayer. We can take comfort in this and in the multiplication of our prayers as it comes into the presence of God. Sometimes we feel as though our prayers are hitting the ceiling and are pointless, but as we persevere we see the impact that can still occur. The main thing is to keep praying! Yes, pray for yourself, but increase time spent praying for your family, friends, coworkers, schoolmates, team associates, church staff, missionaries, non-profit ministries and more. Not only will you be asking God to bless them, you will be blessed by being a part of their lives and ministry going forward.
Blessings,
Jeri
 

​What is Community? Community is defined as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.” Who is your Community?  We think of our families, extended families, friends, school mates, team members, coworkers, church members and community partners. Which group encourages you, lifts you up, speaks positive words to you, prays for you?  We may be around a lot of people, but to become all that God has for you to be, we need to intentionally be around those that know God and acknowledge His power, grace and mercy. We can wander here and there and not put any roots down, hindering this deeper connection to take place. We can isolate ourselves and withdraw from social situations but this also hinders deep connections. Galatians 6:2 tells us to “carry one another’s burdens, in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” James 5:16  tells us to “confess our sins to one another”.  I John 4:7 tells us to continue loving one another” and several verses tell us to pray for each other. God’s plan is that we interact with one another, to encourage and to be held accountable. It is good to be together and to have trusting relationships, and even better if they are centered on God.
Our best decisions come from our thoughts and beliefs, with our feelings going through the filter of our goals and values. A person who gives into their feelings, without being grounded in beliefs, encounters more consequences from making reactive and irrational decisions. Again, be intentional about who you spend time with and what you ”input” into your mind; we are affected by what we hear, even what we hear us telling ourselves.  Many studies have concluded that positive reinforcement plays a big role in what people are able to accomplish.  Even on a small scale, we can all think about a time we were told we did something well, and that encouraged us to make the effort again. We also have many opportunities to speak positive words to others. Make a new goal to encourage someone daily, send a note weekly and even have some responses ready to repeat to yourself when a negative thought comes into your mind. 
Now think again about the groups of people you are around, are there any who do not fit with your new goals? Are there people or groups you need to back out of or stop spending time with?  You may face a hard situation if you are in a group that you cannot get out of at this time. First is to have hope that there will be a day when you are not forced to be around those people who are being negative instead of lifting you up. You may have people who live in your home, or are near at school, a team or at work that you cannot change at this time. God will help you deal with this situation, and will give you strength, patience, perspective and peace. Trust in Him as Philippians 4:6 tells us: “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Blessings,
Jeri

​    The School year has begun! Just those words bring up a lot of thoughts and feelings, right??  Although the days of parenting my children through their school days has ended, I have plenty of memories and continue to work with teens as they navigate through middle school and high school.
   One of my “go to’s” for adolescent information and expertise is Mark Gregston who leads the Heartlight ministry in Texas.  His article on “Helping our Teens make the Grade” gives some good points I would like to share.

1. The Balancing Act –“Our Teens are faced with a balancing act every day. Each day is a performance. But the balancing act gets difficult because as kids become more connected socially, they tend to become disconnected academically.  Parents may tend to overreact.”
2. Finding Connection – “Any encouragement for academic growth should be couched in the arena of relationship. Our teens are already facing a lot of pressure….school…to fit in with other kids..transitioning from childhood to adulthood… defining their identity. Sometimes our encouragement and guidance may sound like just another pressure. We can encourage them to do well, but if they fail we need to be ready to rely on the relationship we’ve built. A relationship built not on scores but on their inherit value.”

   These two points cover many aspects but note that he points out that your relationship with your teen is more important than the grades they receive. Students are pressured to decide what vocation they want to pursue when they haven’t yet figured out who they are and what talents they possess. With the heavy presence of social media, it is quite likely they present a different image in different situations. They want to be noticed and liked, providing them with a sense of value. These adolescent years are the years of transitioning from a child to an adult and how we as parents, and other adults, interact with them is very important. Instead of continually focusing on their grades or sports achievements, they need to hear that they are a friendly, honest, hard-working young person. They may be creative, caring and passionate about animals or challenging themselves in games, yet struggling in a particular class or subject. Many brain cells are going to their changing body and much time and effort is spent processing these changes, fears and anticipations. Our role as trusted adults and parents is to help them navigate through this time, even allowing failures to occur, so that we can be a safe place for them, ensuring them that there is stability through trusted relationships.
    In the U.S., mental health issues in teens have more than doubled in the past few years. Many teens face pressures and situations that are hard to deal with, either personally or through social media and news media. We hear about disasters and violence, inflation and inequality, sickness and diseases more often and distrust of most authorities has become normal. If your teen needs help please seek out a Christian counselor, call the Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255 or get more info from the NIMH (Nat’l Institute of Mental Health).
    Yes encourage them and give them the tools they need to succeed in their school assignments, but through the lens of if/when they “fail” or “don’t meet  expectations”, they know that you are there to help them adjust and go forward. We are a human example of God’s grace and forgiveness, as the 13th chapter of I Corinthians tells us “Love is patient, it is kind, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”
    Pray, pray and pray for wisdom from God as you parent your teen. Spend unstructured time with them. Play games of luck not skill. Throw or kick a ball with no instruction. Watch America’s funniest videos. Find out which type of instruction come easy and which is frustrating for them. Suggest a break when they have studied too long. Give them a “reward” for no reason. And yes take them to Church youth group to hear about God’s truths and have a safe place of belonging.
    Blessings,
    Jeri