I just added a whole new section to Moms of Faith. It's called Healthy Moms, and it is intended to be a resource to staying healthy and obtaining knowledge that will help us prevent the enemy from attacking our health.

A High Fiber Diet is Best for Better Health

A high fiber diet is crucial for many reasons. Good amounts of fiber are a must for good health. It keeps your digestive system working properly, helps elimination from the body, and is rich in vitamins and nutrients.

An increased amount of fiber can also help you feel fuller longer, which is very important if you are trying to lose weight.

A study conducted at the Harvard School of Medicine found that men who consumed 12 grams of fiber a day were twice as likely to develop precancerous colon changes as men whose daily fiber intake was 30 grams or higher.

Scientist are not exactly sure why fiber can help reduce the risks of colon cancer. However, it is thought that insoluble fiber adds bulk to stools, which helps speed their trip through the intestines, which leaves less time for carcinogenic changes.
Other studies have shown that healthy levels of fiber can also help prevent breast cancer, heart disease, digestive disorders, diabetes, and even obesity.

If you suffer from constipation, increasing your fiber content may help. Drinking adequate amounts of water daily will also help the fiber travel through your system.

On a side note: You should drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day for better health.

Here are a few tips to help you increase your fiber intake:

~ A simple way to start your day with an adequate amount of fiber is to have a fiber-rich breakfast cereal with fresh fruit. And...a nice glass of water.

~ Eat vegetables with as many meals as you can, preferably, RAW.

~ Limit processed carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta. And switch to whole grains instead. Most people tend to eat breads and cereals which are very low in fiber. Even some brown bread varieties only have a small amount so it is best to check labels and make sure you're getting a natural whole grain product with sufficient fiber. You should look for breads with whole wheat and at least 3 grams of fiber PER slice.

~ Add beans to casseroles, chili, or many other foods. Beans are a great source of fiber.

~ Snack on fruit with the skin on. Fruits like berries are very high in fiber. Also, apples and pears should always be eaten with the peel still in tact.

~ Eat dried fruits such as prunes, figs, and apricots. These are easy to sprinkle on cereal or add to homemade muffins. They are an easy and healthy snack on the go as well.

Source: http://momsoffaith.com

Names of God (a series)

Jealous

For you shall worship no other god; for the Lord, Whose name is Jealous, is a jealous (impassioned) God. Exodus 34:14

I love my God...our God! I love that He is filled with real emotion. Our emotions came from Him. Unfortunately, we put sin in the mix and emotions can be ugly...VERY ugly! The coolest part of God's emotions is that they are felt and expressed without the sin equation. They are expressed in the purest form.

We serve a jealous God. He does not want to compete for our affections or time. The other "gods" in our lives can be many things we may not even realize have become gods.

Let me give you some examples of some of the gods you and I may be worshiping. There are MANY more that I can name...but...I believe this will be enough to get us thinking more, and our eyes will be opened to our own "personal gods."

The work god, the time god, and the activities god ~ Is the work you do inside or outside the home so time consuming, that you never seem to have enough time to spend with the Lord. Or, maybe there are so many activities filling your days. On most days, you may only get a quick prayer in at the end of the day...and silently think, "Oh, how I wish there was more time" or "I'll do better tomorrow."

The problem with these gods, is that we sometimes get so caught up in making money, being successful, trying to build our future, enriching our children's lives with activities, going to lunch, hair appointemtns, etc...that we completely cut God out of the picture. Unfortunately, the results of cutting God out will never get us what we are working so hard to gain. It will only leave us lost, tired, confused, searching, dissapointed, and defeated.

We serve a jealous God, Whose name is Jealous.

The children god ~ This is one that many of us Moms have been guilty of at one time or another...I'm sure ;) We are Moms. Life is busy. Some of us homeschool. Some of us work outside the home. It does not matter the scenerio. We are all Moms who love our kids and they mean the world to us. Many times, we put them before God. Note: This is not just one god...We even put our friends, families, and husbands before God.

The problem with this god, is that we tend to put the kids and their needs before everything else. We think that's the way to be a "good Mother." Wrong. The only way to be the kind of Mother that will raise up children who really love and serve the Lord, is to model it before them. If they never see us study the Word, pray, or spend time with our Daddy in Heaven...they will not do it either.

We serve a jealous God, Whose name is Jealous.

We DO have time. We just don't make time. We MUST make the time, and put forth the effort. We must, not only for us, but for the children we want to love the God that we "say" we do.

Let's Pray;

Daddy God, thank you for loving me with such passion. Please, forgive me for putting work, people, activities, and anything before You. I am so sorry for forgetting my First Love. Help me to organize my life better. Help me to take the time to find You, know You , and really love You. Help me to teach the beautiful children You gave me how to love you through the life they watch me live. Lord, show me where I have created gods in my life that I do not even see. Thank You, my Beloved. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara ;)

Note: All Scripture is taken from the Amplified Bible.

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

Well fall is here! Below you will find some great craft and activity ideas to do with your kids!

Note: Our next feature will have some wonderful ideas AND recipes for Thanksgiving!

Fun Fall Activities and Crafts for Kids

ACTIVITIES

Fall winds blow and leaves make their decent from tree limbs. It is the perfect time for fun autumn activities for kids. Here are some ways to have fun with your kids this fall:

Create a fall collage for the yard: This is a great way to get your kids involved in beautifying your front lawn for the fall season. Materials you will need to create your autumn yard collage include hay bales, pumpkins (all sizes), scarecrows, etc. Anything related to fall will look wonderful. Stack your hay bales to create a backdrop. Next, place a huge scarecrow on the center of the stack. Then add other complimentary fall accessories.

Happy Autumn or Fall Cards: Supply each child with markers, paper, glue, glitter, stickers, etc. Let them make several cards and write a special message on the inside of each one. After any wet appliqués are dried, gather the cards and take them to your local nursing home to distribute among patients.

CRAFTS

Fall is such a fun time. Leaves turn shades of golden orange and brown. Use this beautiful creation of nature to your advantage. Focus on leaves for inspiration with these fun autumn craft ideas.

Leaf Tracings: Fold 10 sheets of copy paper in half and crease in the center. Bind the booklet by punching two holes in the spine, threading yarn through the holes, and tying the ends. Take your kids to the park. Challenge them to find and trace as many unique leaves as possible.

Book of Fall Leaves: Make a booklet, as described above. This time, have your child search for odd-looking fall leaves to collect and place in their book. Then give them an encyclopedia and let them research their leaves. Have them write down the name of each leaf and three or four interesting facts about the leaf.

Leaf Characters: Draw and copy different types of leaves onto thick construction paper. Let your children cut out the leaves and apply glitter to add sparkle. Next, have them create leaf characters by gluing leaves together to create a face, body, and limbs. After the glue dries, they can draw faces on the leaves with markers. If time permits, instead of just drawing faces on them, you can have them add squiggly eyes, button noses, tc.

Leaf Collage: Gather as many types of fall leaves as you can find. Glue the leaves in any kind of arrangement onto a piece of construction paper or cardboard. Or, spread white school glue across an entire sheet of paper or piece of cardboard. Crumble leaves at random over the glue. When the glue dries, you will have an awesome leaf collage.

http://momsoffaith.com

We just kicked off a new feature at our new Moms of Faith Forums, The Room of the Week Challenge. It is a way for us Moms to glorify Daddy by taking care of the home He gave us to live in...no matter what the type.

I hope you will come join our wonderful community...and grow with us into the woman that God created you to be!

De-cluttering Your Home - Tips and Ideas

Three words to keep in mind when it comes to de-cluttering your home, storage, storage and storage. De-cluttering simply comes down to finding a place for everything, making sure everything is in its proper place and getting rid of what you no longer need. It won’t happen overnight, so now is the time to being making a plan of attack.

First, get each bedroom area organized. Take a day and sort through clothes and toys in the kids’ rooms, and either sell, give away or throw away what isn’t needed anymore. Get age appropriate storage units, label things and help teach the kids to put their own things away.

Next, get a laundry basket for each family member and start with the least cluttered room of the house, so you’ll see success quicker and stay motivated. Put everything in the baskets that doesn’t belong in that room. Then each person has a deadline to find a home for everything in the basket, or you will (even if it’s file thirteen). Keep a big trash bag nearby for stuff you know needs to be gotten rid of immediately (like junk mail). Do this for each room of the house.

Once everything is in the correct room, evaluate each room and decide what kind of storage is needed to keep things organized. If there is very little clutter left in the room once the personal belongings are gone, then you’ve got less work to do. If the room still looks chaotic, decide if the items really need to be in that room or relocated, stored or sold/given away. If you use the basket trick daily, going from room to room, it should be easy to stay on top of things.

Different rooms have different storage needs, what works in the family room won’t necessarily work in the kitchen. Take your time and research the options out there and find a system that works best for your family.


http://momsoffaith.com

With Labor Day a few days away, I though it would be a good idea to share some yummy recipes! If you try them post about it!


BBQ Burgers

1-1/2 pound ground sirloin
1 medium onion, finely chopped1 bottle of favorite BBQ sauce
2 tsp brown sugar1 Tblsp mustard1 Tblsp grill/steak seasoning
8 hamburger buns
Favorite burger toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion, etc)

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and shape into 8 burgers. Grill or fry to desired doneness


Homestyle Potato Salad

4 large potatoes
3 eggs
1 ¼ cups chopped celery
1 c. mayonnaise
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ c chopped coriander (optional)

Boil peeled potatoes and eggs together for 30 minutes. Let them cool. Take the shells off of the eggs. Cut the potatoes into cubes and the peeled eggs into small slices. Combine the potatoes and eggs with celery, mayo, salt and pepper, stirring well. Add the coriander, right before serving. Makes 6 servings


Snickerdoodles

1 cup butter (not margarine)
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure bourbon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups old fashioned oats
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease cookie sheets. Cream together the butter, brown sugar and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. In a small bowl beat together the eggs and vanilla, then mix into the butter mixture. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, two teaspoons cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Blend the flour mixture into the butter mixture and stir in the oats. Drop by the teaspoonful onto the prepared sheets. In a small bowl mix together the two teaspoons sugar with the teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the cookies. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheets, then remove to wire racks to finish cooling. Store in airtight containers or freeze.

Copyright © Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.momsoffaith.com

PRODUCT REVIEW

Product Name: Zoo Tycoon
Name: Sandra Winn
State: FL
City: Pensacola
Rating: 10+++++
Where to buy: amazon.com, walmart.com

Description: Series of games put out by MicroSoft (tm). The child puts together zoos including the animals' habitat and also has to be responsible for making sure that the animals needs and needs of guests are met.

Review: Our daughter is 8 years old and she has learned so much from this wonderful series of games put out by MicroSoft (tm). The child puts together zoos including the animals' habitat and also has to be responsible for making sure that the animals needs and needs of guests are met. Graphics are awesome especially in Zoo Tycoon 2 where you can get up close and personal.

Not only does the child care for the animals but has to train zoo keepers, hire maintenance workers, add decor, put up stands (and make sure they are a profit and not a loss).

Zoopedia gives an in-depth look at each animal as well as their classifications; genus, species, family, etc. She even takes the time to make sure that the zoo guests are satisfied and if not, she finds out what they want and gets it.

When we went to our local zoo our daughter was naming animals before we even got to the signs telling what they were and on top of that pointed out what was wrong or right with each habitat!

The Zoo Tycoon series is an awesome experience for any child but especially those who love animals. It also brought attention to endangered species, led to our daughter wanting individual books about endangered species, tigers, pandas and more. She has also donated to a couple of places in order to help animals.

Criticism: I have no criticism of these products. In my opinion this series of games is a very well rounded and educational product that not only allows a child to have fun but gives "true" learning. As a home schooling family, that is important.

Names of God (a series)

Almighty God

God first revealed this name to Abram, in Genesis 17:1. The original Hebrew name for Almighty God is El Shaday. And it means; almighty, powerful, and impregnable.

Impregnable is the word that excites me! The Webster's dictionary definition is; not able to be captured. Firm.

Our God is AWESOME! We are serving a God that NO FOE can capture, defeat, or overthrow. That little worm satan tried, and God kicked him to the curb! We have a God that can NOT be conquered. Period.

God has given us AUTHORITY over the enemy. The enemy can only defeat us if we let him. James 4:7 says, Be subject to God. Resist the devil, stand firm against him, and he will flee from you. It didn't say he might flee...it said he WILL FLEE! The enemy has no choice, because God's Word says so, and God's Word is the FINAL authority.

God cannot be defeated or outwitted. He is IMPREGNABLE! And He's our Daddy!! WHOO HOO! And through Him, we can overcome ANYTHING that worm throws at us!!

Let's Pray;

Daddy God, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I just love You and am completely and totally in awe of You. I am honored that You love me so much. You are My God. You are God Almighty, El Shaday. Praise, Glory, and Honor be to your Name, FOREVER! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara

Note: All Scripture is taken from the Amplified Bible.

Avoiding The Morning Rush

It’s stressful isn’t it? Having to get all those things ready, trying not to forget anything, not to mention bickering kids, tantrums about what to wear or the sleepy head who doesn’t want to wake up. No, the morning rush isn’t any fun but luckily there are a few things you can do to bring peace back into your family’s morning routine.

Prepare Ahead – Sounds simple enough but did you know you could actually leave just about everything ready for the next day? It might take a few extra minutes out of your evening but you’ll be much faster if you prepare everything once the kids are asleep rather than rushing in the morning.

Lay out the kids clothes for the next day - Include things like hair clips, socks and shoes. And don’t forget to lay out your clothes too.

Leave breakfast ready (or nearly ready) - Depending on what you have for breakfast you can often pre-prepare a lot of it. If you have pancakes make the batter the night before and stick it in the fridge. If you have cereal and toast, leave the cereal out, bowls, spoons and bread. You can even set the table to save time.

Pre-Pack Lunch Boxes - If your kids take a packed lunch to school prepare it the night before. Most things like sandwiches will be fine left in the fridge overnight.

Pack Their School Bags – Look through their bags and make sure there aren’t any last minute dates or events you’ve overlooked. Pack all their books and things in their bags and leave everything by the front door.

Get The Kids Involved – The responsibility of getting the kids to school shouldn’t completely lie on your shoulders. As soon as children are old enough to help out then they should. Even the youngest of kids can help.

Make a Chart – If your kids (like most kids) are forgetful, make a chart for each one which explains in order all the things they need to do in the morning. You can draw pictures for the really young ones and write a description for the older ones. For example, you can have a picture of a toothbrush, then the school clothes, hair brush, etc.

Talk to your kids about the list beforehand and explain it to them. Then stick it up in a prominent place in their rooms and the next time they ask you “mom, what do I do know?” tell them to go look at their list. This is a great way of getting kids a little more involved and to start teaching them responsibility.

By preparing ahead you can’t avoid all of your family’s morning stresses but it will certainly help a lot, and who knows you may even have time for that extra cup of coffee.

Source: http://www.momsoffaith.com

Copyright © Moms of Faith, all rights reserved

Tips in Choosing the Right Kids Games for Your Developing Child
By: Dave Poon

Kids games play a major role on the development of every child. It is not only a leisure activity but also helps in the growth process of a child. It is important to choose the right kids game for your child. Kids games enhance the emotional, physical and intellectual development of children.

Here are some tips to remember when choosing the perfect kids games for your child.

1. Determine the games that are suited to the age of your child. Kids games that involve physical activities are perfect for toddlers. Children who are at their toddler age love to do physical activities.

2. Identify the interests of your child. When choosing games for your child, make sure that your child would enjoy and have a wonderful time learning. If your child has interests on puzzles, then you may let your child engage in trivia games, word puzzles and jigsaw. Identifying his interests will also help you choose games that will get your child off on the right foot.

3. Educational kids games are also perfect for children who love to discover things and ideas. They will surely learn many things and will develop their intellectual abilities. Educational kids games are also perfect for parents who would like to engage in their children's activities.

4. Make sure that the games that your child engages to are safe. Safety among children is the most important factor to consider. Kids games should help children grow and have fun. They should not cause harm to your child. Make sure that the games would not cause harm to your child even when elders are not around.

5. Also make sure that the games will help your child in developing his social skills. Make sure that the games are interactive. It is also better if parents and other members for the family can join. This will not only help your child develop his social skills but will also serve as a family bonding activity.

6. Observe your child with the games he is playing. Make sure that he is always excited about it. Once you see that he is already bored with the games, and then you may consider introducing a new one for your child.

7. Do not forget to set rules. Games should be played at the right time and the right place. Setting rules would make your child more responsible and disciplined. Do not forget to explain to your child the reason why he has to follow such rules. Make sure that he understands them so that he may follow even when you are not around.

Once you have chosen the perfect games for your child, you may be assured that your child would have a wonderful time and at the same time develop as an emotionally, intellectually and physically fit individual. Find time to join with your his activities to ensure his safety while playing and at the same time spend a quality time together.

Source: http://www.momsoffaith.com

About the Author: Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in the latest in Home and Parenting. For more information regarding Kids Games please drop by at http://www.childrenspelling.com/

Names of God (a series)

GOD MOST HIGH

Genesis 14:18-22 (feel free to read the whole chapter)

Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine for their nourishment; he was the priest of God Most High,

And he blessed him and said, Blessed (favored with blessings, made blissful, joyful) be Abram by God Most High, Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth,

And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your foes into your hand! And [Abram] gave him a tenth of all he had taken.

And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons and keep the goods for yourself.

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand and sworn to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth.

OK...let's get the technical stuff out of the way! In this text God Most High comes from the following two Hebrew words;

'el (ale) - strength, mighty, power, strong. And, 'ayil (ah'yil) - an oak.

Also, the word Posessor comes from the Hebrew word quanah (kah-naw') - to create, to own, to take care or, surely redeem and possess.

Look at verse 20...Who has given your foes into your hand! He has already won ALL of our battles. He has ALREADY giving us the victory. For Abram it was then and there. For us it was an all in one deal with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

God Most High is Mighty and Strong...He has ALL the power...and guess what? He's got your back!! And guess what else? THE BATTLE HAS ALREADY BEEN WON!!! We need to stop focusing on the immediate "issues," and start focusing on the knowledge given to us through God's Word. The knowledge that the victory is ours!

Trust me, I KNOW hard...I KNOW pain...I KNOW trials...and I know life can throw some MAJOR curve balls. However, when I read this...when I really open my eyes to see WHO my Daddy really is, and His Character...I KNOW it will all be OK. I KNOW that God Most High has me covered...even in the darkest of darkness!!

I also remember that ALL things work for the good to those who love the Lord and are called according to HIS purpose. Hold onto that when the enemy comes knocking with trials and struggles!

In closing, we must realize that the ball is in our court. God has made His strength, postition and authority clear. He has shown us who we are in Him. He has outlined the path for each of us in His Word. He has already given us the victory....now, all we have to do is RECEIVE it and WALK IN IT!

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, My God Most High, You are an awesome and wonderful God. Thank You for caring for me. Thank You for giving me victory in every circumstance. Help me to remember this and walk in it. Help me to REALLY receive this Word from You. I love You, Lord. And I want to WALK in the victory that you have given to me. Thank You, my God Most High! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara

Note: All Scripture is taken from the Amplified Bible.

The Importance of Routines
By: Liza Asher

At 8:30 p.m. at the Osborne family house in Burlington, Vermont, an exemplary bedtime process is underway. The three children are upstairs changing into their pajamas, brushing their teeth, and settling into their beds to read. There is remarkably little protest or variation. "Bedtime is the one area where our routine has not wavered," says mom Eleanor. "Since the boys were toddlers, we've been doing the same thing, and now it's automatic. This is usually the calmest period our day."

Regular schedules provide the day with a framework that orders a young child's world. Although predictability can be tedious for adults, children thrive on sameness and repetition. "Knowing what to expect from relationships and activities helps children become more confident," says Dr. Peter Gorski, assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Massachussetts.

Routines begin from the first days of life, says Susan Newman, a social psychologist in New Jersey, affecting the relationship between parent and child, setting the stage for rocky or smooth sailing as your child gets older. Babies, especially, need regular sleep and meal schedules and even routines leading up to those activities (a story every day before nap- or bedtime, for example).

As she gets older, when a child knows what is going to happen and who is going to be there, it allows her to think and feel more boldly and freely, Gorski adds. When a child does not know what to expect, his internal alarms go off. Ultimately, parents benefit as well: "Knowing what is expected cuts down on parenting struggles," says Jodi Mindell, child psychologist and author of Sleeping through the Night (HarperCollins).

Tips for Implementing Routines

Plan regular mealtimes: "It is so valuable to the developing spirit of children to have one meal together each day as a family," Gorski says. Sitting together at the dinner table gives children the opportunity to share their day's experience and get support for whatever they're feeling. The emphasis is on togetherness, so if your children need to eat earlier, at least give them dessert while you eat your meal. This is also an ideal time to introduce routines that give children responsibility, such as setting or clearing the table. Older children can be pre-dinner helpers and washer-uppers.

Wind down before bed: Consistent nightly rituals are soothing and take the battle out of bedtime. But after an exhausting day, it's tempting to skip the preliminaries when bedtime finally approaches. Don't, stresses Mindell: "About 20 to 30 minutes of calm, soothing, and consistent activities get children ready." Find what works best for your child—some children are revved up
by a bath or fidgety when listening to a story. Yours may prefer doing a puzzle together or listening to music. For older children, bedtime is an ideal time for conversation. My 12-year-old son likes me to sit on his bed and talk for a few minutes before he goes to sleep.

In general, make the room conducive for sleep. Set aside a time each week for room cleanup (another important routine!), when your child puts away toys and books and you change the linens.

Be consistent but flexible: Routines are essential, but allow some room for flexibility. Although the Osborne family thought their bedtime routine was a blessing, there have been some problems recently. "I was completely rigid about my oldest son's bedtime, and he is now incapable of veering from that routine. If we are out later than his bedtime, he becomes upset," Eleanor says.

Unexpected events, like surprise guests or errands that cannot be postponed, may result in a nap in the car seat or a skipped meal. But if we react with frustration when this happens, our kids will, too. Try to prepare your child ahead of time for the change and reassure them that things will return to normal tomorrow.

Liza Asher is a mother of four and writes on parenting issues for national magazines. She lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

Copyright © 1999-2004 ClubMom, Inc. All rights reserved.

Here's another devotional from my Names of God series...

OMNIPRESENT (EVER-PRESENT)

Psalm 139:7-12

Where could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol (the place of the dead), behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me and the night shall be the only light about me,

Even the darkness hides nothing from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.

He is always here...He is always there. He is EVERYWHERE...AT ONCE! We are never alone. What other "god" can say that? No matter what we are going through...no matter how deep or dark the valley...HE IS WITH US!

Isn't that awesome?! He never leaves us! NEVER!

Hebrews 13:5b says; ...for God, Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up, nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake, nor let you down (relax My hold on you)! Assuredly not!

It reminds me of that old footprints poem we all know and love...There are many times in life we do not think we can go another step...and yet we do...We do, because He carries us! Thank God, He carries me! Thank God!

So, the next time you think you have reached the end of your rope...LET GO AND LET GOD! He's already there waiting for you to give it to HIM!

Let's Pray;

Daddy God, Thank You for NEVER leaving or forsaking me! Thank You for Your CONSTANT presence. Thank You for all the times you have carried me through the darkness. Thank You for all the times You wrapped Your loving Arms around me. Thank You for loving me, even when I don't acknowledge or see. I love You, Daddy. I love YOU! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara ;)

Note: All Scripture is taken from the Amplified Bible.

I just began remodeling The Recipe Finder. My plan is to integrate it with Moms of Faith. I strongly believe that we are called to bring glory to God in EVERYTHING we do...including COOKING! SO, here are some great summer salad recipes. Bon appetite!

Summer Salads

Green vegetables are the food most missing in modern diets. Nutritionally, greens are very high in calcium (120 -190 mg per cup!) They're also high in magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and they are a power house for Vitamin A, C, E and K. Believe it or not, they are also crammed high with fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micro-nutrients and phyto-chemicals. You just can't get any better than this. Take a look at the following two recipes to help move you into a sensational summer!

Sensational Summer Salad
For a summer snack that will cleanse the kidneys and help the body to unload toxic wastes from the blood, use the following high powered recipe.

1/2 cup of watercress
1/2 cup of dandelion greens
1/2 cup of arugula
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp grated ginger
pinch of Sea Salt
Mix washed greentogether. Stirir lemon juice and ginger. Pour over greens. Season with salt.

Tomato Basil & Feta Salad
This is a simple salad that requires no salad dressing.

2 cups tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup red onions, finely chopped
2.25 ounces sliced black olives
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt

Add all ingredients in a medium serving bowl and toss! Enjoy!

To your health and success,
Heather

Source: Heather Dominick - http://www.individual-health.net

We just started a new devotional series, Names of God. Usually I post the devotions on my faith blog, the forums, and main site. However, I wanted to give everyone a sneak peek!

Names of God (a series)

OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL): Jeremiah 32:17 says; Alas, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard for you.

Our God is ALL-Powerful. This is something that we need to get into our thick skulls! No matter what life throws at us, we have the assurance of knowing that our God...our Beloved Daddy in Heaven... is ALL-POWERFUL. Not a little powerful. ALL-Powerful!

We may not have the courage, power, or will to handle the obsticals or issues in our life, but our Omnipotent God does! And His power is available to us.

We need to learn to release EVERYthing to Him, and trust Him with it. He can handle it. He has All the power. Nothing is to hard or difficult for Him...NOTHING!
The devil has ALREADY been defeated. When we choose to focus on the "issue" and forget that the end has already been Written, we set ourselves up for failure, depression, and defeat. We need to remember that our God is All-Powerful and has ALREADY won the battle!

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, You are All-Powerful and Mighty. Thank You for already putting the enemy under my feet by your Great Power. Help me to recognize that I have access to all of Your power. Help me to remember that the enemy has already been defeated and is UNDER my feet. Help me to be VICTORIOUS! Thank You , Daddy for giving me the strength to overcome anything. I submit all to you and receive the victory that you have already given to me! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

In His Love and Service,
Lara

MOF Update!

I just added two new forums to our Message Board.

FORUM IN THE SPOTLIGHT ~ This is so that you can become familiar with all the great forums that MOF has to offer!

MOF BIBLE STUDIES ~ This is for those who would like to have mini Bible Studies. Simply post what you are studying and as others are led, they will join. MOF may also host some of these studies. BUT, feel free to post your own! We can NEVER get enough of God's Word!

Proverbs 31:10-31

A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of honest gain, or need of dishonest spoil.

She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands to develop it.

She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far country.

She rises while it is yet night and gets spiritual food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

She considers a new field before she buys or accepts it; with her savings of time and strength she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

She girds herself with strength; spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task, and makes her arms strong and firm.

She tastes and sees that her gain from work with and for God is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night of trouble, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust.

She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy whether in body, mind, or spirit.

She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.

She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made.

Her husband is known in the city's gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles.

Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it!

She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness giving counsel and instruction.

She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness, gossip, discontent, and self-pity she will not eat.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; and her husband boasts of and praises her, saying,

Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well, but you excel them all.

Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates of the city!

MOF Update!

I have been remodeling Moms of Faith. I have also added some new content. I updated and re-did the Daily Devotional section and now I am working on a HUGE project for our Home Life section. I will be combining my recipe site with MOF. So soon MOF will have a large library of recipes, cooking tips, and food articles to help Christian Moms glorify Daddy in the Kitchen! I have completed the first of MANY recipe sections, Appetizer Recipes.

Please feel free to post ideas and suggestions for Moms of Faith. I am always open to new ideas and making Moms of Faith a place for ALL Christian Moms to come and learn, share, grow, and to become all that God created them to be!

Tips for Promoting Your Newsletter:

Promoting your newsletter can be a daunting task...However, you can be successful if you do the work. Here are some things to do that will help get you started in the right direction...

~ Place a sign up form on the top of EVERY page of your site and/or forums.

~ Use your Sig's to promote!

~ Place a link on your blog

~ Have contests for subscribers

~ Have prizes for referrals

~ Be unique...originality goes a long way

~ Swap newsletter links

I'm sure that you will see a steady increase in subscribers if you put these tips into practice!

Happy Promoting!!

Copyright © Lara Velez

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Business and the Bible (part 10)

Copyrighted, written and edited by
Lara Velez of Moms of Faith (momsoffaith.com),
Rachel Lower of Christian Mommies (christian-mommies.com)
By the grace of God


Be Prudent

Proverbs 4:20-27
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Keep thy heart more than anything that is guarded; for out of it are the issues of life.

Put away from thee perverseness of mouth, and corrupt lips put far from thee.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be well-ordered.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.

R: Prudence is all about figuring out the right course of action [our guide ultimately being the Bible!], and doing it. Know the godly [often the hardest] path and take it! It can be as difficult as figuring out the solution to a complex problem and seeing it through despite difficulties, or as simple as putting effort in to what you do each and every day.

Proverbs 13:16
Every prudent man acteth with knowledge;
but the foolish layeth open his folly.

Most everyone jumps the gun now and then in the life altering decisions they make, especially when young, lacking a great knowledge base or much prudence. Some of us are pretty stubborn when God's will isn't exactly matching our own desires, so we stall or act of our own will, even when we should know better.

I wouldn't be surprised if every person who reads this can think of one or more ways they've gotten ahead of themselves in online business. Surely all of us can recall times when we didn't show prudence, and made unwise choices in hopes of fast results. Even being adults! We've all probably said to ourselves, “You live, you learn!”

Proverbs 8:12
I wisdom dwell with prudence,
and find the knowledge which cometh of reflection.

Prudence develops as we grow in wisdom, submission to God, and patience. The former can't exist without the later. To grow in prudence, we must continue to learn how God wants us to live. In other words, we need to make reading the Bible and prayer top priorities. From there it is a matter of remaining faithful to the Lord and doing His will. “Commit thy works unto Jehovah” (16:3) and you'll see His blessing as your work is fruitful.

L: God's Word has everything that we need to live righteous lives, be good parents, have peace of mind, joy, and abundance, be content, and run a profitable and successful business. Everything we have learned so far shows us that. Now, we must put into practice all that we have learned on a daily basis.

When we come to a cross road, stumble upon a difficult situation, or lose our focus, we must turn to God and His Word. That is where we will find our answers. If we humble ourselves to Him and submit to His authority and direction, we will have it all. We will lack nothing. It will take our entire lives to accomplish this, and when we get to Heaven we will get the final adjustments made. However, if we let Him take the wheel now, we will enjoy the journey and finish the race in glory!


More References
Pr 8:5, 13:19, 14:8, 14:12,
14:15, 14:16, 14:18, 15:21,
15:28, 15:31-32, 16:17, 16:25,
19:2, 21:2-3, 21:5, 21:7, 22:3

Business and the Bible (part 9)

Copyrighted, written and edited by
Lara Velez of Moms of Faith (momsoffaith.com),
Rachel Lower of Christian Mommies (christian-mommies.com)
By the grace of God

Continually LEARN From Wise Mentors

Proverbs 13:18
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction;
but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

R: Only a fool thinks he knows everything. Believe me, I know- being a “know it all” runs in my family.

Even the wisest know that they simply don't know it all. The only exception to this rule is God Himself.

Those who continue to receive instruction throughout their lives will grow in ways that make them look back every year and say, “oh my, how far I've come! I can't wait to see where God takes me this year!”

Continual growth in all ways, including your work, is only possible with the help of others. We need others knowledge, advice, counsel, and encouragement.

Proverbs 15:22
Without counsel purposes are disappointed;
but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

A variety of learning actions exist: reading articles, reading professional publications, growing in Christ, staying in the Word, listening to interviews, observing others, learning prudence, finding help, going back to school, asking questions, and finding a mentor are some examples.

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes;
but he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.

Some people resist “being told what to do,” or considering that someone else may have a better, even workable, idea. That doesn't mean you have to take every suggestion ever given to you- not at all. It does mean you should kindly consider them.

If someone goes out of their way to correct a mistake, pride can construe it into a personal attack. It is often pride [and the resulting ignorance] that prevents some from even getting their businesses a hay pennies width off the ground.

Have you noticed? Most if not all of these devotions have mentioned pride as an underlying problem. Pride from within is what coaxed Satan to fall. I guess it should be no surprise that pride makes man fall to pieces as well.

L: We must always be willing to learn. If you are blessed enough to have found even one Christ loving business mentor, become a walking sponge.

While we are on this earth we will never “know it all.” We need to continually set our minds to learn all that there is about our craft. We need to ask questions and receive constructive criticism with a willing heart.

If we ever get to a place where we feel that we do not need advice, that is when we really need to do a self checkup. We may be running into pride. And only failure can result.

There is also a benefit to a humble heart and willingness to learn. We will be honoured. The original Hebrew word for honoured is kabad (kaw-bad') or kabed (kaw-bade') and it means abounding with, glorify, make glorious, very great, prevail, and be rich.

That sounds like a no-brainer to me.

God is such a wonderful Parent. He is always finding ways to reward us for obedient behavior. If we would just humble ourselves and be willing to learn and receive instruction in ALL areas of our lives, we would have not only a lot more peace, we would also have all that we are promised. We would prevail and God would bless us with His riches.

More References
Pr 6:23, 9:7-10, 10:8,
10:14, 10:17, 11:2, 11:14, 12:1,
13:1, 13:10, 13:20, 14:3, 14:6,
15:5, 15:10, 15:12, 15:25,
16:20-23, 17:10, 18:1, 19:8, 22:17-18, 23:12, 27:17, 29:1

Business and the Bible (part 8)

Copyrighted, written and edited by
Lara Velez of Moms of Faith (momsoffaith.com),
Rachel Lower of Christian Mommies (christian-mommies.com)By the grace of God



Make Amends

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirreth up strifes; but love covereth all transgressions.

R: Being slow to anger and forgiving others (70x7 times or more if need be!) are both major Christian virtues. However, it is very easy to slip into defense mode when we feel our livliehood is under attack. Our tongue can take command. Everything can spiral out of control.

Proverbs 18:19
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city;
and contentions are as the bars of a palace.

2 Out of 3 people (my estimation) won't react kindly to a riled up reply, even if it seems to you like you didn't cut into them. If you wrote it out of anger, the anger probably noticably crept in. “A soft answer turneth away fury” (15:1) applies in most cases. You must carefully guard your tongue, or fingers in this age. Remember it is best to diffuse a situation out of love, not react out of emotional pain.

Sometimes no answer is best, when you're dealing with a stranger who is obviously unreasonable and just trying to cause trouble for you or discourage you. I learned that the hard way. There will probably be people along the way who just want to mess with your head with vile sayings and curses, especially if you wear your faith on your sleeve.

If you have any contact with customers or web site visitors, you are going to deal various stirrings now and then, in business. You'll probably need to remind yourself to stay cool and level headed, especially the first dozen or so times. Walk away. Cool down. Ask the Lord for guidance.

Remember:

Proverbs 11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble...

Lara makes a brilliant point below...

L: In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus compares hate to murder. He takes hatred that seriously and so should we. As Christians we should be striving to walk in love on a regular basis. Yes, there may be times when we fail. However, our lives should consistently be lived out in love and forgiveness.

Jesus set a higher standard while He was here. Even adultery was no longer committed only by an action. It only takes a lustful thought. Our minds and hearts are what God is watching. It's one thing to make a mistake. It's another to live in sin of the mind and heart.

Making amends can be very difficult. Especially when we think that “we” are in the right in the situation. If we choose to remember what Jesus has said we will have a better chance at success. We can always react out of the Spirit, of love.

(James also compares Hate to murder in James 4:1-2a)

I certainly do not want to commit murder. Do you?



More References
Pr 10:19,11:13, 12:16, 14:21, 14:29,
15:1, 15:18, 16:6, 17:9, 17:14,
17:17-19, 17:22, 18:18, 19:11,
20:22, 21:14, 25:21-22, 29:22

Business and the Bible (part 7b)
Copyrighted, written and edited by
Lara Velez of Moms of Faith (momsoffaith.com),
Rachel Lower of Christian Mommies (christian-mommies.com)
By the grace of God

Bad Attitude(s) - Part 2

R: Here is a simple list with verses showing attitudes to avoid or grow out of, in life and in business:


Paranoia and envy
Proverbs 24:19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, and be not envious of the wicked.
Rushing in
Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.
Futuristic illusions of grandeur
Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day will bring forth.
Tooting ones own horn
Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Flattery
Proverbs 27:14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be reckoned a curse to him.
Imitating infallibility
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.

This list could top 100, even 1,000 PAGES if I went on, so I'll simply urge you to keep in God's word and remember to consider how each verse applies to your entire life, including the business side. Stay in the Word, reading your Bible daily. Study Proverbs often. Oh, and did I mention “Read your Bible?”

Next we have some specifics from Lara:


Paranoia and envy
We have nothing to fear from those who hate us in this world. They have no authority or ability to permanently hurt us unless we ourselves allow them to.

Jesus did not leave us without a defense. He left us the Holy Spirit and His Word. When you are faced with evil and the trouble in this world, pick up your sword (the Word) and fight. The Word is not powerful unless it is spoken.

God Himself used words to create all things. Words are to be spoken. And the Word of God is a weapon that no foe can withstand if it is USED!

Rushing in
Before we make important decisions, we need to make sure that we are asking God for the plans. He knows what is best for us, much better than we do. When we jump in to something blindly, we are risking our peace of mind. However, when we ask God to be at the helm, we can be assured of keeping our peace. He will NEVER steer us wrong.
We need to keep God at the center of every area of our lives. He should be included in every task from grocery shopping to what we will be making for dinner. This may sound radical to some, but really it's not. We want to know God and have all the “fringe benefits” that come with being His heirs. Yet, we never take the time to know Him on a deep and personal level.

He wants our childlike love and friendship more than anything. He wants to be our All in All. And when we get to a place where we really delight in Him, all of the benefits are just a bonus!

Futuristic illusions of grandeur
It's always good to have a plan, goals, and a good attitude. The problems start when we get so full of our selves and all the “things” that we want. All we think about is more success, more stuff, more, more, more!

No one cannot predict tomorrow. Tomorrow is unknown to us and comes with no guarantees that our own plans will come to fruit. If we put all of our hopes and dreams into tomorrow, we will miss out on all of the glory of today!

Tooting ones own horn
Meekness goes a long way with God. He is unimpressed when we become full of ourselves. When we do this, we are forgetting Who gives us blessings and success. It does not come from what “we” can do. “We” can do nothing without the grace of our Beloved Father. Every good thing comes from God and God alone. Every talent, success, increase, and goodness, it all comes from God.

As soon as we get that into our hearts and minds, we will gain the fruit of meekness and lose that dreaded horn!

Flattery
It's one thing to compliment someone, it's quite another to flatter someone for our own gain.

Christians need to be authentic and sincere. If we are not, then we are giving our Savior a bad name. It is part of our calling to live lives that bring glory to the Name of Jesus- not shame!

Imitating infallibility
When you make a mistake, own it. Admit that you were wrong and ask for forgiveness. We are allowing pride to enter our hearts when we think or act like we are never wrong.

We are ALL imperfect and we ALL make mistakes. Admitting them makes us better. Denying them is sin and fills us with the deadly seed of pride.

Business and the Bible (part 7a)

Copyrighted, written and edited by
Lara Velez of Moms of Faith (momsoffaith.com),
Rachel Lower of Christian Mommies (christian-mommies.com)
By the grace of God

Bad Attitude(s) - Part 1

R: Here is a simple list with verses showing attitudes to avoid or grow out of, in life and in business:

Know it All - Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

All Talk and No Walk - Proverbs 14:23 In all labour there is profit; but the talk of the lips tendeth only to want.

More, more more! - Proverbs 15:27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

Going on half the story - Proverbs 18:13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.

You wanna mess with me?! - Proverbs 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.

I want what they have! - Proverbs 23:17 Let not thy heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day;

Discouragement at failure - Proverbs 24:16 For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.

Here are some specifics from Lara:

Know it All

Only God knows all. When we get filled with arrogance and think that we are the infallible experts at something, we are setting ourselves up for failure. We must NEVER forget Who has given us knowledge and Who should be given all of the glory.

As soon as we forget this and puff ourselves up, we are basically announcing that we do not need God. We can handle it and we know what's what; those are huge lies from the enemy. We know NOTHING. We are but dust. Without the grace and favor of God we would have nothing. Acknowledge God, and never put the spotlight on yourself.

All Talk and No Walk

Hypocrisy is one of the Church's biggest faults. We love to blame everything on the devil. Unfortunately, he is not our only threat. We are a threat to ourselves. “We” meaning our flesh.

We “talk” a good game. We tell others how to be a “good Christian,” and what is right and wrong. But when push comes to shove, many times we become the spitting image of the very things we speak so passionately against!

Jesus had more disgust for the hypocrites in His day then the prostitutes! Let us be careful and keep our flesh in its place. Let us not assume that we “have it all together.” Let us wear humility and represent our Savior properly and truthfully. Let us squash hypocrisy in the Church once and for all. And then, maybe we will see more of a desire for the lost to know our God!

More, more more!

If all we think about is money and material items we would like to own, we are becoming greedy and self centered people. We must learn to be thankful for what we have.

Paul mastered this character quality. Listen to what he said in Philippians 4:11b, 12, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.

This is what we should be greedy for! Contentment. When we live this way it gives God the opportunity to bless us way more than we could EVER work for!

Going on half the story

We must take the time to hear the whole story. If we do not, then we will not have the wisdom to handle the situation. When we don't listen in fairness we are being prideful and wrongly thinking that we “know” offhand how to handle everything, or tale, that comes our way.

There will be times when we will have a quick answer through the Spirit. And there will also be times when we will need to give the effort to listen to all angles and then, prayerfully, make decisions.

You Wanna Mess With Me?!

I believe that strife is one of the most damaging problems in the Church. When we harbor anger and bitterness for others, we are crippling our effectiveness as a Body. We will never have any of the wonderful blessings that God has for us if we allow strife to sneak into our hearts.

When you are faced with a possible disagreement or a wrong has been done to you, it is an opportunity for growth. It is an opportunity to give up what you want for another's sake, forgive and forget, allow another to receive the honor, and die to self.

Think of it this way, Jesus humbly laid down His life. He was completely shamed and dishonored. He was spit on and ridiculed- willingly! And what did His Father, our Father, give Him? He gave Him a seat at His right hand, and the Name above all names.

Let go of strife, anger, and the need to be right. And when you do, God Himself will bless your socks off!

I want what they have

My husband calls this, “keeping up with the Jones's.” Contentment is the only way to overcome this. And the only way to gain true contentment is to have a thankful heart. Take the time every day to remember all of the reasons you have to be thankful. Then praise the Lord for them!

We ALL have things to be thankful for. Yes, even you! Be thankful that you have eyes to read this, ears to hear a bird singing, a mouth to speak, hands and feet, your child(ren), your spouse, a roof over your head, food to eat, you are a child of the King of Kings, and I could go on forever with all that we have to be thankful for.

When you start seeing all that you really have, you will realize that what God has blessed you with is more than enough. And then you will see the real treasures!

Discouragement at failure

God chose us before we were in our Mother's womb. He knew everything about us before we were a thought in our parents minds. We are His beloved children. And when we fail, we have the assurance of His Loving Hands to help lift us up. We cannot receive this wonderful help unless we get up. When we fall or fail, we must not give up. We must GET up!

We must remember Who's we are and the power that is given to us to succeed. We are the children of God. No weapon formed against us shall prosper. We have the power of the Holy Spirit guiding us. So, the next time you fail, remember who you are in Christ, and GET UP!

Have a GREAT day!
Praying for your success,
Lara ;)
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Business and the Bible (part 6)

Copyrighted, written and edited by
Lara Velez of Moms of Faith (momsoffaith.com),
Rachel Lower of Christian Mommies (christian-mommies.com)
By the grace of God


Ants vs. Slugs

Proverbs 24:30-34
I went by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding; and lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction: --A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest! So shall thy poverty come as a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.

R: Laziness. You'll get what you give in business. No work done, no pay.

A lazy businessman is called brother of the destroyer (18:9), perhaps because he destroys his spirit and any chance at success. No one can start a business without actually doing any work, even if many internet scams and MLM pyramids claim so. Real businesses always take an enormous effort in the beginning. Start ups can take a toll on the entire family. Eventually things settle down, but work is still an every week day matter. Sometimes it requires an entrepreneur to always be on call.

Proverbs 26:16
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that answer discreetly.

Laziness is tied to various undesirable traits in Proverbs, such as vanity and foolishness. Perhaps foolishness begats laziness, and then vanity arises in an attempt to cover up the lack of results, i.e. “I can slack off as long as no one notices! Alas, I have my own business! I'm such an fab entrepreneur!”

Proverbs 12:9
Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant,
than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

I recall reading a post on the CWBN on Ryze eons ago that warned about taking advice from just anyone, because you never know how successful someone online truly is. Success can be faked online, much more easily than in real life. You can't peer in an online stores window to see if they have any customers browsing the isles.

Be sure to put into action what you've envisioned for a business. Do your research, learn and learn some more, and ACT! Otherwise you may end up deluding others, and eventually yourself.

L: There is another verse that goes well with this one...

Proverbs 6:6-11 (Amplified Translation)
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways and be wise!
Which, having no chief, overseer, or ruler, Provides her food in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest. How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down and sleep-- So will your poverty come like a robber or one who travels [with slowly but surely approaching steps] and your want like an armed man [making you helpless].

It takes more than a positive attitude to have a successful business. It takes a lot of hard work and determination over a long period of time. If we do not put forth the effort, we cannot expect a good harvest. No amount of praying and believing will change that. Even the ant has to prepare for the winter, so that she will eat. We must also work hard and not grow weary in doing good. The Lord will bless our hard work with abundant success.

Ephesians 5:14-16 (Amplified Translation)
Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,
and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.
Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately,
not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity],
because the days are evil.

We must live our lives on purpose. We must make a choice to be steadfast and work hard. Not just in business, but in all areas of our lives. Then and only then will we have joy and peace and true prosperity. The kind that no amount of money can create!

More References Pr 6:6 (the famous ant proverb),
6:9-11, 10:5, 10:26, 12:24, 12:27,
13:4, 13:7, 13:11, 15:19, 19:15-16,
19:24, 20:4, 20:13, 21:17, 21:25-26, 28:19-20

Business and the Bible (part 5)

Copyrighted, written and edited by
Lara Velez of Moms of Faith (momsoffaith.com),
Rachel Lower of Christian Mommies (christian-mommies.com)
By the grace of God

Choosing Business Associates

Proverbs 14:7
Go from the presence of a foolish man,
in whom thou perceivest not the lips of knowledge.

R: You take on the attributes of the people you associate with. It's a Biblical fact and can be attested to by parents of teens everywhere. Mimicry is human nature. Obviousy if we associate with business people who lack integrity then we are setting ourselves up for disaster.

Another bad practice often overlooked is dealing exclusively with people in the “same boat,” just starting out or going nowhere fast. Doing so is like setting yourself up for ruin by proxy.

The mix of people just starting out can be caustic, no offense meant to them. We've all been in this mix. Certainly there will be people who will be successful among the newbies, but as of now not many of them have developed the tools that will get them there. The greater number of people just starting out can be a bad influence, especially if they come into it thinking they know it all and have got all the right stuff to be instant successes. Among the gems you'll find an even larger sour mix of the foolish, the proud, the vain, the flatterers, those that lack integrity, the angry, and the lazy. Those types probably make up the majority of beginners because the myth of the Internet gold rush attracts millions.

Proverbs 19:27
Cease,
my son,
to hear the instruction which causeth to stray from the words of knowledge.

You'll usually get bad advice from people just starting out, if any advice at all. After 4 years of steady progress, I've received bad “advice” on occasion from people who haven't been successful in the least. In my case, they were just trying to discourage me because the loss of my site would be their gain, at least they thought so.

Many fools think they know it all, even after years of failure, and boy, they want to tell you how to do the same! That is precisely why they haven't gotten off the ground! I wouldn't be surprised if those at the very “top” of internet business, like Google, get the occasional “this is what you should do” letter from a guy who hasn't learned anything, but thinks he knows everything. On the same note, those successful businesses never stop learning- from people who know what they are talking about!

This doesn't mean you must dump all of your current online buddies. Just add to them! It is better to include online friends and business partners from all stages of business development in your circle. If you can't find many who will personally associate with you, you can still learn from many of those that came before you through their articles, books, interviews, etc.

Fortunately for some, if not all business niches, this is easy. There are various forums for different businesses attended by a great mix of people. Some groups have even set up business related mentorship programs, like Mom Masterminds or the upcoming Our Christian Family Network.

L: We need to be smart in business. When we seek the council of others we need to make sure that they have done their homework, and that we do ours. You can take that “Berean” attitude to work! Just because someone seems to know what they are talking about does not make it so.

Another thing that we must always keep in mind when seeking advice is to make sure that the advice given does not compromise our Christian walk. We are called to represent our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We must keep our business doings and lives upright. We must never even dip our toes into murky water.

If we are wise, and we honor God in our business, He will guide us into success. We will be fruitful. Proverbs 3:6 (amplified) says, In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Who better than God is there to lead us in life and business?


More Reference
Pr 17:4, 20:19, 22:24-25, 22:26, 24:1-2, 28:10, 29:9