“Pray without ceasing”
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| Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen |
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen | |||||||||
| The Lords prayer, or the “our Father prayer” is prayed daily by thousands of Christians, and can be seen both as a model for prayer, and as to be repeated as part of our daily prayer. It starts by addressing God as our Father in heaven, that although His name is honored, and above all other names, we are His children. As such, we occupy a place of privilege, and He wants us to spend time in prayer with Him. The Lords prayer then moves on to pray that God’s Kingdom, or rule, will become the norm on earth, replacing human rules and governments, which too often are driven by greed and power. Only then do we turn to our own needs, and ask our Father for our basic human needs to be satisfied, and that He would forgive the wrong things that we have done. We ask for God’s guidance and protection as we journey through life. Finally we turn back to God, and acknowledge His supremacy and position as the Almighty ruler. | ||||||||||
| Pointers for Prayer : Pray the Lords Prayer through, and then take one of the phrases. Spend a few moments reflecting on that phrase, for example, imagining what it means for God’s Kingdom to come, or how we forgive those who sin against us. Then use these thoughts for further prayer, finally coming back to pray through the Lord’s Prayer again.
Blessing“May the LORD grant all your requests” |
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Archives
THE HEART OF EXCELLENCE: Lesson 10 Bonus Content
True beauty comes from the inside. It comes from the heart. This is an everlasting beauty which is most precious to God. It’s a beauty that is gentle and of a quiet spirit. In God’s sight this is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it. 1 Peter 3: 3-4
God is most concerned with what 1 Peter refers to as the ‘hidden person of the heart’. Our heavenly Father understands that out of our hearts, our inner-being, flow the issues of life. He has a way of equipping our hearts for each season of our lives. There are three specific God-given elements to the heart of a woman of excellence: prayer, grace, and forgiveness.
Scripture Memorization
“A sound heart is life to the body” Proverbs 14:30 NKJV
This past winter I read RC Sproul’s book, “The Holiness of God” in his writings he reminds his readers that…The task that is given to us, mankind, is to bear witness to the holiness of God–to be His image bearer. We are made to mirror and reflect the holiness of God. We are made to be His ambassadors.
In this pursuit of excellence we embark upon, Matthew 7:14 tells that the gate is narrow, the path is difficult and only few ever find it. So this speaks to us, that living God’s way and being His reflection is not easy, especially when life experiences brings constant hurt, emotional turmoil and disappointments. So we must draw from the elements of the heart of prayer, fasting, worship,unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness. To be motivated to do this, you have to be passionate about your faith and intentional about living God’s way. In 1 John 5:3 says living God’s way and keeping His commandments are not troublesome to those who truly adore and love Him.
Living out our faith in love and commitment is seen in the way we conduct ourselves; in our family relationship, our work relationships and our community relationships.
The Study
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Even with our incredible drive, our energy and among our successes we get off track experiencing exhaustion, discontentment, unfulfillment, maybe even depression and discouragement. I know this has happened to me. Just the other day I must have experienced every emotion that a person can experience. Instead of laying my concerns at the feet of Jesus, I did the opposite I held on to every obstacle and every worry. Thinking I could control others and the situation I was facing, my misguided path only successfully put me on a emotional roller coaster ride.
Distracted and Riding a emotional roller coaster?
In this lesson you have the opportunity to write one of your stories where you were distracted, maybe treated unfairly and hurt. As you write this story. Take time to reread the words you have commited to paper. As you read , you will gain clarity of your struggle then pray for God’s healing. Give it to Jesus. Lay it down daily. Allow God’s divine strength move you pass the brokenness. Once again experience emotional health knowing confidently that God has it in His hands.
Between our work lives and our home lives, we all have moments that are chaotic, crazy, stressful, unpredictable and uncomfortable. This is reality. This is life. Life happens and it throws us off track. In all this chaos, there is one thing that I know is true: Women, we desperately need God and His healing touch. There is only One who can steady your heart. Take time to Worship, Read God’s Word, Pray, Seek His Grace and His Forgiveness. And when you have experienced God’s love, grace and forgiveness; then in His strength you will freely extend love, grace, and forgiveness to others.
“Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity, charity and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.”
― Mother Teresa, In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers
Promise
“a glad heart has a special supper all the time”
Blessing
“May He give you the desire of your heart”
GOAL SETTING–FOUNDATION AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH: Lesson 9 Bonus Content
Living with intentionality and purpose will put you on the path to excellence.The goalsetting
worksheet is a tool which will be used to write spiritual directed goals that lead to spiritual growth and health.
Scripture Memorization
Habakkuk 2: 2
“Take the vision, write it down, make it plain so that you can run with it.”
Read the book of Habakkak. Habakkak desired change. He was overwhelmed by the circumstances around him. Habakkuk lived during one of Judah’s most critical periods. His country had fallen from the heights of Josiah’s reforms to the depths of violent treatment of its people. Ungodly men were acting in ungodly ways. In the first chapter, Habakkuk asked God why? “O LORD, how long shall I cry” (1:2) His circumstances demanded that he ask God about the unrighteousness around him. Because he believed in God and believed that God had an answer to his problem. Habakkuk listened to God. God granted him the gift of a truth that satisfied his longings as well as provided the solution to his present situation. “The just shall live by his faith” (2:4) By chapter 3, the prophet’s prayer, we read that Habakkuk found his hope, strength and joy in God. “He will make me walk on my high hills” (3:19)
Dear friend, you also can find your hope, strength and joy in the God of Israel. As you approach lesson 9 with the desire for change, let your heavenly Father guide you. Like Habakkuk, we can desire change and find direction in seeking God’s plan for us. 1) Pray daily 2)Look with expectation for God to speak to you and read His Word daily 3) Listen for God to speak and receive it in your heart 4)Simply write the vision/dream down 5)Run with it knowing that God-given dreams are possible.
The Study
Lets review the terms GoalSetting/Assessment/Objectives
Goal setting involves establishing specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound goals. Work on the theory of goal-setting suggests that it’s an effective tool for making progress by ensuring that participants in a group with a common goal are clearly aware of what is expected from them. On a personal level, setting goals helps people work towards their own objectives—most commonly with financial or career-based goals. Goal setting features as a major component of personal development.
- Goals provide a sense of direction and purpose
- Goal setting capitalize on the human brain’s amazing powers of problem-solving and goal-achieving.
Goal commitment: People perform better when they are committed to achieve certain goals. Goal commitment is dependent on:
- The importance of the expected outcomes of goal attainment.
- Self-efficacy – one’s belief that he is able to achieve the goals.
- Commitment to others – promises or engagements to others can strongly improve commitment.
Goal-commitment: the most influential moderator, becomes especially important when dealing with difficult or complex goals. If people lack commitment to goals, they lack motivation to reach them. To commit to a goal, one must believe in its importance or significance.
Attainability: individuals must also believe that they can attain — or at least partially reach — a defined goal. If they think no chance exists of reaching a goal, they may not even try.
Self-efficacy: the higher someone’s self-efficacy regarding a certain task, the more likely they will set higher goals, and the more persistence they will show in achieving them”
Assessment definition:
The purpose of a personal self-assessment is to get to know who you are better. Understanding where you are helps to give you a clearer picture of where you want to be. Personal self-assessment assists in identifying your likes, dislikes, personal characteristics, values, wants, needs, strengths and weaknesses. First knowing who you are is a significant step that must be taken before you can begin writing goals for yourself .
First of all, you have to be honest. You should set aside your fears and insecurities. This step will determine the success of the self-assessment process. It is important to be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Look in the mirror and face the person that you see in front of you. Take time to reflect on your imperfections and take note of your best features as well remembering that God made you exactly the way you are and that you have value and purpose. You need to look at who you are inside and out. Reflect on your good and your bad characteristics: physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually.
As soon as you have reflected on your strengths and weaknesses, take note of your likes and dislikes. It will be better if you can also include the reasons why and what triggers you to like or dislike them
Next, take note of the things that make you happy and the things that make you sad. Ask yourself what makes you to get out of bed each day and what makes you feel frustrated. This will help you identify your joys and sorrows that will serve as your foundation for building on your happiness and learning from your sorrows.
Your personal self-assessment should also include a list of your interest. What are the things that you enjoy doing during your free time? Are you the type of person who spends time sitting and reading or do you prefer getting out and participating in a sport or any physical activity ? This will help you understand your interests and where you would excel in service to others.
Another factor to consider is your personality. Are you the type of person who likes to talk to other people a lot (extrovert) or are you the type of person who prefers to work on something alone(introvert). It is important to know your personality type to identify where you would be most effective in community service (work, career, volunteer, ministry)
Aside from understanding your personality, you should also take note of your skills and abilities. What are you good at? Talents and natural abilities can help you identify what opportunities would enhance your potentials.
In conclusion, making a personal self-assessment will make you more aware of what you are really made of. Personal assessment will assist in pinpointing areas of vision for your life regarding your faith, family and community..
Determine Objectives
List (in simple terms) what you will have to do to reach your goal. Create an exact detailed strategy! Be realistic whether the goal can be achieved short term (1-5yrs) or long term(5-10yrs).
Objective Definition according to www.businessdictionary.com: ” An end that can be reasonably achieved within an expected time frame and with available resources. In general, an objective is broader in scope than a goal, and may consist of several individual goals. Objectives are a basic tools that underlying all planning and strategic activities. They serve as the basis for policy and performance appraisals.”
TAKE THE VISION:
Step 1 decide what is your number one desire and overall goal; Label the desire your Outcome Goal
Step 2 Dream big, deciding what you want to have, to be and to do as it relates to outcome goal. To achieve an outcome goal you must decide on a Behavior Goal.
WRITE IT DOWN: kEY TO YOUR SUCCESS
MAKE IT PLAIN: Who are You?
RUN WITH IT! Once you have determined that your vision is 
worth any sacrifice it may cost you to accomplish, and you have scripted a route to reach it; it’s time to execute. Do what is required to accomplish the goal. Get an accountability partner and cheerleader to assist in your success.
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Tell everyone you know of your written goal. Telling others makes it official and brings about accountability. Know that I am cheering you on to excellence!!!
Promise
“God has given you everything you need for living a godly life.”
Blessing
“May God give you grace and peace.”
COMMUNITY: Lesson 8 Bonus Content
The Great Commission
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16: 15
Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally. Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age. Matthew 28:16-20
Your career and community service can be your outreach or mission field that will give you a platform to put
your faith foundation into action. Having a job affords you room to challenge yourself, to exercise your God-given talents, and to share God’s love. The commitment to community is the third step in building the foundation at leads to a life of excellence.
Scripture Memorization
“Love your neighbor”
As a woman of faith, community should matter to you. Jesus said to the scribes in the passage of Mark 12: 28-34, “The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Why should community matter to you? Because Jesus said there is no other commandment greater than loving the Lord your God and loving your neighbor. In obedience to our heavenly Father, we are compelled to love others. And so this is why we serve in our community.
The Study
Complete pages 43-44 in Excellence with Simple Elegance: The Study. 
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Become a mentor page 45 in The Study.
“God did not call us to have lots of friends, but to be a friend” Dr. Bill Anderson
As a mentor and a life coach for 20 years, I am totally convinced that we can positively affect our community one person at a time. We must first realize our need to have a lifestyle that reflects the excellence of God. We must actually live out our faith putting God first in all areas of our life. It is imperative that the actions of life model the words spoken.
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
― Mother Teresa
Mentoring is defined in the Merriam-Webster as “a trusted counselor or guide”. A mentor is a coach, a tutor, or an advisor. One who speaks encouragement and wisdom to the one being mentored. A mentor is an individual, usually older, always more experienced, who helps and guides another individual’s development. This guidance is not done for personal gain. To mentor, you must be sincerely interested in someone else’s growth assisting in goals setting and holding them accountable.
Be mentored page 45 in The Study,
Women’s ways of mentoring in the business world call it “wo-mentoring”. It is a refreshing new approach that’s more about commitment and learning. Women’s mentoring is about personal growth and development. You should pair with someone who, by her very nature, will challenge you.
New Rule of Mentoring: Everyone needs mentors. The old school taught that mentoring was for the young. The new style adamantly rejects such an antiquated notion.
The most important lesson that the women’s approach to mentoring has to teach: It’s not about a mentoring relationship. It’s about a mentoring mentality. You don’t need a single mentor. God can use different mentors during a lifetime. You need is a mind-set that allows you to learn from those around you. My husband’s saying is “you are the average of the people you hang with” so with that in mind choose mentors who will challenge you, who are passionate about life, and foremost women who are in pursuit of living God’s way.
Please let me know your progress. I want to hear your stories. Take time to comment on this blog site.
Our pursuit of excellence demands that we have a routine of sharing our faith. We have been called to share the biblical truth about eternity with those we love. It is wonderful that we have the certainty of heaven but how much more joy we would experience knowing that we are taking our family and friends.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” Matthew 28:19
I believe we are not bold when it comes to sharing the Good News, the plan of salvation. Why? Is it a possibility that we truly don’t believe that hell is for real or that a loving God would condemn good people to a life of eternal damnation. And if there is hell, an eternal separation from God, than it must only be a mere annoyance and mild displeasure. It certainly cannot be fire!
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” Rev 20:15
When we truly understand the nature of the Holiness of God, we then will understand how unrighteousness and unrepentant violates His Holiness, insults His justice and be littles His grace. Jonathan Edwards is known for the most famous sermon preached in America titled, ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’. In that sermon he says,” almost every natural man who hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for his own security; he flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is doing, or what he intends to do. Every one lays out matters in his own mind how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail.” God’s wrath is divine, fierce and everlasting. But God provided a way to escape His wrath by way of the cross.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
In your pursuit of excellence, make a routine that includes sharing this good news with your community. Women of faith your community’s eternal fate should matter because Heaven is real and so is Hell.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Promise
“love never fails”
Blessing
“Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.”
MARRIAGE: Lesson 7 Bonus Content
SERVE EACH OTHER IN MARRIAGE A husband and wife who walk in love, unity and mutual respect for each other is God’s intentional design for marriage.
Scripture Memorization
Ephesians 5:22 NIV
“Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the LORD.”
The Study
Submission?
When I think of submission to my husband, I view it as a journey of joy and privilege. I choose every day to walk beside him and support his many endeavors. This walk with my husband has been filled with wonderful adventures but also challenges. With each challenge we continue to face head on together. I am mindful with every step that we are ‘One’ and thankful for the man I chose 40 years ago to walk beside. Submitting is truly bending down to raise up with the utmost respect .
1 Corinthians 13 The Way of Love The Message
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no m
atter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good. We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Philippians 4:8 (MSG)
A close friend, a single woman, said to me not long ago, “if it were not for you and your husband, I would not believe that a faithful loving marriage was possible.” Your relationship with your spouse is a testimony to others of the goodness of God and His faithfulness. A faithful loving marriage is possible for you when we are obedient to His guidance. Proverbs 3:6 In everything you do put God first… The heart of submission is filled with love and respect that only God can provide. It is the power of the Holy Spirit within you that gives strength and courage to persevere through challenging chaotic moments in a marriage. Ephesians 5:21 says, Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. And after 45 years of married life, I can attest that it is a workout! Marriage isn’t easy, but NEVER GIVE UP! Stay the course of excellence in your marriage relationship. It is never too late to develop these attributes of unconditional love and respect in your marriage. Be committed, be loving, be respectful, but most of all be faithful renewing your mind to whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure. God, who makes everything work together, will work into your marriage His most excellent harmonies.
THE STUDY
Complete pages 39-41 in Excellence with Simple Elegance THE STUDY 
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READ Ephesians 5: 18-21.
To serve each other in marriage is a foreign word in today’s world. But lets consider what is means to submit. The wonderful truth to submission is found in vs. 21 “submitting to one another“. This means it is both ways. The husband and wife lovingly desires to serve, to lift up, and to fulfill each others’ longings. They are willing to set aside their immediate needs, preferences and comforts in humble sacrifice for each other. A mark of a marriage that’s filled with the Spirit there is mutual submission. The key to the act of submitting is stated in vs. 18 “be filled with Spirit“. When you are filled with His Spirit you are changed and you give from the heart.
Incorporate the following 8 disciplines of love in your marriage relationship
1.Respect your husband. A man’s greatest need in this world is to be respected, and the person he desires that respect from the most is his wife. The trap that we’ve all been ensnared by is that they only deserve our respect when they earn it. Yes, we want our husbands to make decisions that will ultimately garner our respect, but the truth is that your husband is a human being. A human being who makes mistakes. This is the man that YOU have chosen to walk alongside you for the rest of your life, and to lead your family and he needs to be respected for that quality alone.
2.Guard your heart. The grass is not greener on the other side. Guard your heart from things and people that will try to convince you that your life or your husband is not good enough. There will always be bigger, faster, stronger, or shinier – but you’ll never be satisfied with more until you’re fulfilled with what you have now. Live the life you have been blessed with and be thankful.
3.God, husband, children…in that order. My faith is of utmost importance, so God comes first in my life no matter what. Because of your faith foundation, your husband should come before your children. You cannot effectively parent your children if your marriage is falling apart. There will also come a time when your children leave the house to pursue their dreams as adults. If you have not cultivated a lasting relationship with your spouse, you will have both empty nests and empty hearts.
4.Forgive. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Forgiveness a decision you make daily for everything from major mistakes to little annoyances.
5.Communicate. Talk to him about everything. He is your best friend and always speak highly of him.
6.Schedule a regular date night. Be lovers.
7.Never say the “D Word”. Plain and simple, threatening divorce is not fighting fair.
8. Choose to love. Marriage is a commitment. In sickness and health, in good times and in bad. Those vows are sacred. “In good times and in bad”, implying that there will be bad times. It’s inevitable. So choose to love anyway. Your husband is worth it.
A faithful loving marriage is possible for you, but obedience to Proverbs 3:6 is key, “In everything you do put God first…”
The heart of submission 
is filled with love and respect that only God can provide. It is the power of the Holy Spirit within you that gives strength and courage to persevere through challenging chaotic moments in a marriage. Ephesians 5:21 says “Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.” And as this lesson’s memory verse says, we submit to our husbands as to the LORD. After 40 years of married life, I can attest that it is a workout! Marriage isn’t easy, but NEVER GIVE UP! It is never too late to develop these attributes in your marriage. Stay the course of excellence in your marriage relationship. Be faithful, be loving, be respectful, be humble and most of all be committed. And your reward will be God’s richest blessings on your marriage.
PROMISE
“the two shall become one flesh” BLESSING
“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”
FAMILY: Lesson 6 Bonus Content
BLESSING THE FAMILY
“He has blessed your children” Psalm 147:13
“Train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6
A sincere commitment to make your family the first priority above all human relationships is the second step in building the foundation that leads to a life of excellence. Commitment is an agreement or a pledge to do something in the future. It is a state of being obligated or emotionally impelled. (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary)
“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.” Kenneth Blanchard
Scripture Memorization
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16
The Study
Return to the story of Ruth. Note Ruth’s commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth was emotionally impelled to meet the physical and emotional needs of Naomi. Note that this commitment wasn’t convenient or easy. Identify the actions that demonstrated commitment. Also identify the sacrifice endured by this princess from Moab that lead to results of divine blessing and favor.
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BLESSING OUR CHILDREN
Blessing our children is as vital in today’s world as it was in biblical times. As women of faith and excellence, the c
ommitment to passing on the blessing to our family must be a priority. Throughout the Bible, we find evidence that the God of Israel was a God of blessing. The words bless or blessing is found in scripture 700 times. The people of the Bible, needed and desired the grace, mercy, power, and encouragement that could be poured into their lives through God’s blessing.
What is a blessing?
The Old Testament word for blessing is berakah. Berakah was the endowment of the power of God’s goodness and favor. The blessing was delivered through a spoken word and often laying hands on the one being blessed. The spoken blessing was commonly spoken by fathers to their children. In the New Testament, the word “bless” is the Greek verb eulogeo which we get our word eulogy. It means “to speak well of” or “to praise”. (New International Exhaustive Concordance)
Why should we embrace the act of blessing?
As parents, our ultimate goal is to help our children know and love God with all their heart. What better way than to help our children experience God by giving them a daily concrete encounter with His power and favor by laying hands on them and speaking a blessing. Secondly, the blessings brings security. The blessing has the ability to convey God’s love to children by our parental attention. Children desperately need our undivided attention. Thirdly, the act of blessing creates an atmosphere of openness and honesty. And lastly, when we continue to bless our children especially through difficult times in their life, it demonstrates to them an element of faith that they might never see otherwise. This steady, unwavering demonstration of confidence in what they’ll become helps them mature in accordance with those positive expectations.
In Mark 10:13-16, Jesus blesses the children. This story allows us to know the depths of Jesus’ concern for children and clearly demonstrates to us how we are to treat our children. Read this account in Mark 10.
How to bless your children.
Identify and use the five key components to bless your child. Choose the time of day in which you will routinely bless your child. Mornings were perfect for me and my husband chose bedtime. Refer to p 54 in Excellence with Simple Elegance. These elements are the tool to bless and to enhance the way you communicate love and acceptance to your children. Make a committment to bless daily.
Numbers 6:24-25 “The Lord bless you, and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; The Lord life up His countenance on you, And give you peace.” This is the priestly blessing the Lord gave to Moses for Aaron and his sons to bless the children of Israel. All Christian parents say “Yes” to t
he idea of showing God’s goodness to their children. Yet we are keenly aware of our failures to help them love God as we ought to love Him. So where are we going to go with that sense of failure? We must not go to guilt, but go to God for the grace to love Him as we should and as well as to show God’s goodness to our children. Begin using this written blessing to speak over your children nightly. Also explain to your children what a blessing is and why you are choosing to speak a blessing over them beginning tonight.
Complete pages 35-37 in Excellence with Simple Elegance-The Study (workbook)
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
The Deuteronomy text is definitely for those who are serious about passing the blessings of God to their family. God 
calls us to frame the entire day with talking to our children about the ways of God. Obviously, presenting God’s glory and goodness to our children is an essential part of our calling as parents. If God’s power, mercy, and grace has not melted your heart, shaping in you a profound love for Him, it will be difficult to impress His glory on your children. God’s Word must be precious to you for it to important to your children.
Passing the blessing to your children begins with being dazzled by God and His truths filling your heart. God’s goodness and love must fascinate you so much so that it’s the very pulse of your heart. So these elements of meaningful touch and kind words will be expressed to fully meet the need of the one to which you are bestowing the blessing. These acts of selflessness are expressed from a servant’s heart that truly comes from loving God. Simply living and blessing your children daily will impress upon them the excellence of God’s ways.
A mother’s devotion & prayer to her children
“To my grown children, you awoke a part of me I did not know existed, you are the greatest gift given to me by God.
I gave you life, but I cannot live it for you. • I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn. • I can give you directions, but I cannot always be there to lead you. • I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe. • I can teach you right from wrong, but I can’t always decide for you. • I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you. • I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish. • I can advise you about friends, but I cannot choose them for you. • I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can’t achieve them for you. • I can teach you about kindness, but I can’t force you to be gracious. • I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make your morals. • I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God’s Family. • I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God. • I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Him your Savior. • I can teach you to obey but I cannot make Jesus Your Lord. • I can teach you how to live, but cannot give you Eternal Life.”
I love you, mom SmileFMquote
Heavenly Father, we pray that the blessing spoken to our family will be an outpouring of love from the heart that truly adores You. May the blessing of our loving touch be a blessing to our children and to Your glory. In Jesus name, Amen.
Promise
“Train up a child…he will not depart from it”
Blessing
“I will pour out My Spirit on your children and bring good to your children’s children.”
PUT GOD FIRST: Lesson 5 Bonus Content
“In everything you do put God first, He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” Proverbs 3:6 Scripture Memorization
We, women of faith are fully aware that our value comes from God. Everything that is good within us is a direct result of His mercy and favor. As women of faith, we are passionate, intentional about living God’s way, and actively pursuing God.
Happy are all who search for God and always do his will.
Psalm 119:2 promises blessing for those who keep His testimonies, and who seek Him with their whole heart! So our commitment to seek Him grows strong, because we love Him. We are also reminded of the tremendous sacrifice Jesus made for us. We are so thankful, and our passion becomes to live God’s way and this commitment is seen in the way we conduct ourselves: in our family relationships, our work relationships, and our community relationships.
The task of mirroring and reflecting the holiness of God is difficult. This world is full of challenges. In the midst of crazy chaotic moments, we often compromise our conviction to bare the image of God. We discover this path of ‘putting God first’ is lonely at times, scary, uncomfortable, unfamiliar and require sacrifice.
FAITH: Lesson 4 Bonus Content
Faith
“[To have Faith in Christ] means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Scripture Memorization
Ruth 1:16 “Your God will be my God…”
Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:13 “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
These foundational verses of our Christian faith state that our faith is a belief, a trust and a loyalty to the God of Israel. Our salvation is in Jesus Christ who died on the cross and that God raised Jesus from the dead. Our faith promises us eternal life in heave
n.
John 3: 16 ” For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Study complete p 19-20
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Are we living with a confident faith? Are we so confident in who God is and what God has said through His Word that it genuinely never crosses our mind to doubt God?
May the remembrance of your first commitment to God motivate you to live God’s way. Living God’s way is a lifestyle that reflects the holiness of God, and those around you will know that God has saved you. They will see the gleam of Heaven inside of you.
In our story of Ruth, Ruth’s new-found faith and commitment to God required something from her. ( The story is found in the Old Testament in the book of Ruth)
Note the three points of sacrifice. In our own commitment we will experience sacrifice, share what God has required of you. How has your commitment to faith made things all new for you? Use this study to share how your faith in the God of Israel has changed you.
Commitment to faith takes an act of renewing your mind daily to the things that God has called you to. Daily read and memorize God’s Word, pray without ceasing, worship, and sing His praises.
When we renew our mind daily to things of God, I believe we restore the newness and freshness of faith that we felt when God first touched our life.
In Hebrews 11, you 
will not only find the definition of faith, but what faith will require of you. Please read and study this chapter in the book of Hebrews.
will not only find the definition of faith, but what faith will require of you. Please read and study this chapter in the book of Hebrews.(vs. 4) A woman of faith gives to God.
(vs. 5) A woman of faith pleases God.
(vs.7) A woman of faith fears God and recognizes His wisdom.
(vs.8) A woman of faith obeys God.
(vs.9) A woman of faith stays with God.
(vs.10) A woman of faith waits on God.
(vs.11) A woman of faith receives from God.
“Your God will be my God”…this simple, foundational statement lead Ruth to a life of purpose and fulfillment. Your commitment to faith in the God of Israel will also bring purpose and fulfillment in your life.
PromiseHis loving-favor has saved you, it is a gift of God
Blessing
May God bless you and grant you long lives
THE FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE: Lesson 3 Bonus Content
“Heavenly Father, good morning. I love you. Thank you for your mercy and grace. I ask for guidance as I establish a strong foundation in which to live. Lord, I desire to be committed, consistent, unwavering, and unshakable in my walk with You.” 
In Jesus name Amen.
Scripture Memorization: John 3:16 The Message (MSG)“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”
Establishing a solid unshakable foundation keeps you focused, and clearly defines your priorities. Here is where you will develop the spiritual aspect of your life. “Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (The Message)
Faith is your moral compass that you draw guidance, strength, and protection. It is your beliefs. It is your loyalty and commitment to God. It is what you put your trust in. Faith is something, which is believed with strong conviction. Hebrews 11:1: “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen“.
Leahann Pearson shares her statement of faith for you today.
My faith is unshakable because of the faithfulness that God has shown me through every season of my life. Despite my wind-whipped faith at times, He has always remained unchanging and has loved me unconditionally. Even though I have had vast obstacles in my life (including being on my death bed at the age of 15), the joy of the Lord has been my strength. He has remained faithful and brought rain in season, at just the right time, EVERY TIME. When I begin to feel dry again, He speaks truth into my heart, that He will bring rain (provision) just like the former rains He has supplied (Joel 2:23). It is not always easy walking by faith not by sight, but the Lord also shows His faithfulness and unconditional love through the unwavering support of my family and mentors around me. Through this community of supporters, what I would rather refer to as the Body of Christ functioning as it should, my faith has remained rooted and built up in Him (Colossians 2:7). This group of believers has encouraged me daily and given me a pool of multiple counselors to draw wisdom and insight from to help establish my plans (Proverbs 15:22) This has allowed me to run with endurance the race set before me. Indeed, He is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11).
Family being our number one priority when comes to human relationships. The word family is one of the most loosely defined terms in the English language; because it means something different to everyone. While one person may define family as the relatives who share their home, another may consider family to include extended relatives residing near and far. Still, someone else views their beloved circle of friends as family. Families are vastly different, but they all function under one single premise: shared love and commitment. Family structure has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. The Leave it to Beaver family is no longer the standard, and several variations on family have been created. The nuclear family is the traditional type of family structure. This family type consists of two parents and children. The nuclear family was long held in esteem by society as being the ideal in which to raise children. Children in nuclear families receive strength and stability from the two-parent structure and was God’s design for a family. But in America today, only 22 percent of families live in a nuclear family. The single parent family consists of one parent raising children. One in four children is born to a single mother. Single parent families are generally close and make up 25% of our homes today. While most people think of family as including children, there are couples who either cannot or choose not to have children. The childless family is sometimes the “forgotten family,” as it does not meet the traditional standards set by society. Many childless families have extensive contact with their nieces and nephews. As a result of a marriage where both married partners have children from previous relationship this creates a blended family. When they join their lives together they create a new family dynamic. Blended families are about as common as the nuclear families. They tend to have unique challenges.
For many people, family extends far beyond parents and siblings. Extended family refers to the many relatives connected by a person through DNA. In-laws, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles might be a part of someone’s extended family. Many family units, especially in other cultures from around the globe, live with extended family members under the same roof. Extended families can also live far apart, but remain connected through their common history, heritage and tradition, and commitment to each other.
Many people consider friends to be as close or even closer than extended (or immediate) family. People who have lost close family members or have become removed from them may create a family unit of friends with similar interests and goals to become replacements or enhancements to a lacking family structure. This type of family unit, while nontraditional, can be just as close, if not closer, than a traditional structure. You can’t choose your blood relatives, but you can choose your friends! In having the option to decide who to bring into your friends-as-family unit, you have the ability to draw in only positive and supportive beings. In addition, some people who have supportive families also have an extensive network of friends who they consider a second family or as additions to their blood or legal relatives. They have the best of both worlds; and highlight the notion that lives are made richer by the loving and supportive people you surround yourself with. family.lovetoknow.com
God calls us to care for family with upmost urgency and priority.
Community is the activities that take you out of your home: career, work, philanthropy, and more. Community is friends, neighbors, and people that you share common interests.
As humans, we all crave interaction with others and have a deep desire to be loved and respected. Feeling alone can be one of the most heart-wrenching emotions a person can experience, but sometimes it seems hard to build relationships with others due to different backgrounds, among many other factors. At times, it may not seem worth it to try and make the connection with someone, but community is important to both our physical and mental well-being. There can be different reasons for keeping to yourself, but ultimately it’s the fear of being rejected that keeps one from taking that step forward.
According to Wellbeing People, belonging to a community has several benefits, such as support or exposure to positive influences. Feeling as though you can count on others for support can take a lot of stress off of a person. Having someone to vent to or a shoulder to cry on can influence us to better ourselves and support others as well. When you’re surrounded by support, you’re less likely to relapse into old habits that you’re trying to get away from. People can hold you accountable and you can do the same for them.
Many people do not realize the importance of community, but a community is often what makes a home feel like home. It’s a place where we can share experiences and stories with one another, or simply ask how a neighbor’s day went. 
Also, our strengths may be someone else’s weakness within a community. That provides an opportunity to reach out and get to know someone else, to make them feel welcome and at home the same as you do. Not only can you provide strength for someone else, but by making that connection, you’re also increasing their level of health as well as your own. Community is important for our entire well-being, whether it is by relieving stress or finding a partner to go on runs with. Community is a place of acceptance and sharing.
The Center for Public Impact defines community as “a group of people who share an identity-forming narrative.” No matter what your background or ambitions are, there’s a community out there for you. Benefits of Community written by Archway
THE STUDY
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This is a short but significant lesson. It is an opportunity to write your statement of faith. What do you believe? Who is a priority? What is important to you? I want to encourage that you share your statement of faith with a friend or by posting on this blog site, www.bonnieliabenow.com or on the” Excellence with Simple Elegance” group page,
www.facebook.com/excellencewithsimpleelegance. I believe your statement will be an encouragement to others.
Take time today to Search for a life verse in God’s Word. Pray for God to lead in this search. You have the option to Use one of the scripture verses given in this study.
Stories shares truths; reveal life lessons. I love stories of women. Especially women in the Bible. Every time I read these stories, God is so faithful to give a refreshing perspective; bringing with it a lesson that is so timely and personal.
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One of my favorite stories is this story of Ruth; a Moabite princess who lived simply, lived passionately, intentionally and with conviction.
Read the story of Ruth. I would suggest reading the book of Ruth in three different translations. www.biblegateway.com It is a wonderful resource.
It is a wonderful story that gives a clear picture of how God orchestrates events in our lives to bring about His purpose.
The orchestration of events began in Bethlehem. “Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.”(A Jewish family)
Elimelech and Naomi and their 2 sons traveled to this neighboring country.
The Moabite princess, Ruth, became acquainted with this family. Now, we don’t know all the details of this story. I believe that Ruth is drawn to this family for reasons she just doesn’t quite understand yet. Ruth married into this Jewish family becoming Mahlon’s wife. We are told that they all live there in Moab together for ten years.
As a young Moabite princess, she may have had all her needs met, but it was apparent in her story that there was one need not met; a spiritual need that the heathen gods of Moab did not satisfy. An urgent need for a living god. The gods of stone and of wood did not provide an unconditional love. Hanging with this Jewish family, who loved and worshiped the God of Israel—I believe Ruth got just a taste of God’s extravagant—unfailing love. And she wanted more…Series of events orchestrated by the one true God, the God of Israel. In this story, it is evident that Ruth experienced the love of the Father. And from that encounter came a simple…simple statement of faith.
I will go where you go, I will live where you live,
your people will be my people, your God
will be my God, I will die where you die.
—Ruth 1:16–17, CEV
Promise
“In Christ you are a new person. Your past is forgotten, and everything is new.”
Blessing
“May the Lord bless you and keep you.”
WHEN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE IS MERELY A PURSUIT: Lesson 2 Bonus Content
Have you ever come to the end of a season in your life that you believed you have worked very hard, you were sincere in your efforts, and believed you were productive but to find no gain or reward? Then you know how it feels when the pursuit of excellence is merely a pursuit.
Heavenly Father, we ask for humble spirits. As we study your Word may we gain wisdom. May our heart and mind desire to pursue what is good and acceptable to you, Lord. May we always be thankful for your many blessings. In Jesus name. Amen.
Really in this life what pursuit is profitable?
Jesus asked this question to his disciples. In Matthew 16:24-27 Jesus is explaining the paradox of discipleship; to lose life is to find it; to die is to live. To deny oneself is not to assume some false, external self-discipline, but to put the interest of God’s kingdom first and foremost in one’s life. To take up the cross does not mean to endure some irritating responsibility, but to give up self-centered ambitions. Such sacrifices result in eternal life and the fullest experience of kingdom life now.
The Study
Complete p.7-12 which gives insight to the motivation that drives one to excellence. This is a tough lesson. I discovered things about myself….well lets just say God is not finished with me yet. Many things are not easy, there are few things in life you really enjoy doing that don’t require practice to be proficient. So don’t be discouraged. Be motivated to be the woman of Proverbs 31, a woman of excellence. Excellence with Simple Elegance: The Study.
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Identify what inflated expectations, unrealistic dreams, difficult seasons and unfair consequences that have emerged into your life hindering you from experiencing the abundance that God has for you. A life of purpose, hope, and fulfillment.
Read the story of Eve in Genesis 1-3.
Identify what motivated Eve. What did Eve hope to gain? Author Anne Graham Lotz wrote a devotional thought titled ‘Consider the Consequence’. She speaks of Eve’s sin and the consequence she endured.
“ There are serious consequences to sin. Always. Without exception. Adam ate the forbidden fruit his wife had offered, ‘Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked’ (Gen. 3:7, NIV).
Satan had told Eve her eyes would be opened and she would be like God, knowing good and evil. In one sense he had been right. Eve’s eyes were opened, but in a grotesque way. She knew good, but also that she was separated from it. She knew evil because now she was saturated in it. She knew good and evil in a way God never intended her to know — through her own experience. And she was deeply ashamed.”
Scripture tells us that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We have to concede that many times it is our actions, our choices and our reaction to life’s experiences that bring about disappointment, lack of purpose and unfulfillment in our life.
Excellence, Simple, Elegance Write their definitions down, and grasp the impact these principles can have on your life when fully embraced.
The principles of Excellence will change your perspective, your outlook, your plan and how you operate on a daily basis. This commitment to excellence can shift your thinking and bring about drastic change, not only in your own life, but in the lives you serve.
- Identify your day-to-day activities
- Identify the big things that matter to you and God.
- Are the activities that occupy your day taking you away from what really matters?
- Are you using your influence to further God ‘s kingdom?
- Are you truly experiencing the kingdom life in your day-to-day activities?
“If you know God’s purpose for your life and focus your energies into fulfilling it, you will run your spiritual race with excellence.” John Osteen
Promise
“delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desire of your heart..”
Blessing
“The Lord bless you, and may you see the prosperity all the day of your life.”
Bonnie Liabenow 