Saturday, September 29, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Monday, October 31, 2011
Forgive and Forget
Recently, more like a year and a half ago, I formed a grudge on another girl. And yes, it was over a boy. Don't pre-judge me. I am not usually the grudge-holder type. This was a special exception though. So after having a grudge for the last year or so, I have officially decided that I need to let it go. It has taken me way longer than ever to forgive and forget but I am working on it now. Forgiving people is really important. I have distant relatives that all fought over a piece of land that was left to them and none of the siblings speak anymore. It is a really sad story and it just caused the family to break apart. Being unforgiving only causes a life of regret. So forgive your friends and your enemies. Here are some tips!
Realize the magnitude
One person who has done you wrong is such a small, minuscule, and tiny thing. Is one person really worth all of the fuss? There are so many other important things in your life to worry about. Seriously though, if you are so caught up with this grudge you are holding, you may need to rethink your priorities. The magnitude of this grudge should be microscopic compared to what else is happening in this world.
Decide now
Make a solid decision. Don't be wishy washy or think that you will forgive them only if they're nice to you. Make a decision and stick to it. Don't try and back out half way through the process. Make sure you make a conscious decision. If you need to you can tell a friend or write it down but you don't have to.
Be nice
Nice is such a broad and overused word but it is effective in this case. BE NICE to the person who wronged you. I know it's hard but in order to forgive them you must treat them like a human being, which they are. I know it's hard to believe because to you, they are the scum of the earth. Remember that they are a person with feelings also. I write the word “Nice” on my hand every day to remind me to be nice to people. If it works for me, it can work for you.
It's in the past
Remember that what happened is in the past. It already happened and there is not much you can do about it anymore. If you realize this, it will be a lot easier to forgive. The Amish know how to do this. After a man named Charles Roberts shot five of their children, an amish family immediately forgave him. “They not only used words, but also acts of forgiveness, attending Roberts' funeral and setting aside some of the approximately $4 million they received from well-wishers as a gift for the Roberts family, with a special concern for the shooter's children.” This Amish family forgave him instantly because they knew it was more important to do that than to hold a grudge.
If someone like your room mate or your teacher or your family member does something that has offended you, forgive them. It saves a lot of time and energy and will help you live without regrets.
About the Author
Meagan Hollman is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them understand which courses are available through accredited online colleges to help them reach their goals.
Realize the magnitude
One person who has done you wrong is such a small, minuscule, and tiny thing. Is one person really worth all of the fuss? There are so many other important things in your life to worry about. Seriously though, if you are so caught up with this grudge you are holding, you may need to rethink your priorities. The magnitude of this grudge should be microscopic compared to what else is happening in this world.
Decide now
Make a solid decision. Don't be wishy washy or think that you will forgive them only if they're nice to you. Make a decision and stick to it. Don't try and back out half way through the process. Make sure you make a conscious decision. If you need to you can tell a friend or write it down but you don't have to.
Be nice
Nice is such a broad and overused word but it is effective in this case. BE NICE to the person who wronged you. I know it's hard but in order to forgive them you must treat them like a human being, which they are. I know it's hard to believe because to you, they are the scum of the earth. Remember that they are a person with feelings also. I write the word “Nice” on my hand every day to remind me to be nice to people. If it works for me, it can work for you.
It's in the past
Remember that what happened is in the past. It already happened and there is not much you can do about it anymore. If you realize this, it will be a lot easier to forgive. The Amish know how to do this. After a man named Charles Roberts shot five of their children, an amish family immediately forgave him. “They not only used words, but also acts of forgiveness, attending Roberts' funeral and setting aside some of the approximately $4 million they received from well-wishers as a gift for the Roberts family, with a special concern for the shooter's children.” This Amish family forgave him instantly because they knew it was more important to do that than to hold a grudge.
If someone like your room mate or your teacher or your family member does something that has offended you, forgive them. It saves a lot of time and energy and will help you live without regrets.
About the Author
Meagan Hollman is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them understand which courses are available through accredited online colleges to help them reach their goals.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
5 Ways to Cut Spending and Start Saving
Are you living from paycheck to paycheck? Do you worry about how you would manage if you were facing some type of emergency? Gaining control of your finances so that you are actually able to meet all your monthly expenses and start saving money may seem like an impossible task, but there are many things you can do to cut back on spending.
1. Find out where your money is really going.
Most people fritter away a great deal of money on small things; candy, gum, cappuccinos, bottled water, energy bars, magazines and the list goes on. But if you pay attention to the little things, you’ll discover they really add up quickly. To get a good idea of how much money you are spending, make a commitment to track your spending for at least two weeks, preferably a whole month. During that time get a receipt for every single purchase you make, right down to each and every pack of gum or chocolate bar you buy. At the end of the time period, add it all up. Once you know how much you are spending on the small stuff, you can determine whether some or all of that spending can be eliminated.
2. Cut way back on impulse purchases and casual spending.
Many of the small items you buy are impulsive purchases. With a little planning you can eliminate that type of spending without sacrificing the things you really need or want. If you can’t do without your energy bars, buy them in bulk rather than paying high prices at the corner shop. If you drink bottled water, stop. Studies have shown that bottled water is no safer than tap water and it’s certainly more expensive. If you don’t like the taste of tap water, consider filtering your own water. If you have a favorite magazine that you always read cover to cover, then get an annual subscription instead of picking it up when you are doing your grocery shopping. You can usually save thirty to fifty percent off the cover price of magazines with a subscription.
3. Re-evaluate all your regular monthly expenses.
If you are paying for something you don’t actually need or use, cancel it. Also take a close look at things like insurance, bank fees, cable or satellite television, cellular, telephone, and internet services, as well as credit card interest rates. Often you can save money by renegotiating contracts, switching service providers, bundling services or transferring credit card balances to cards with lower interest rates.
4. Create a budget and stick to it.
Operating without a budget is like embarking on a journey with no idea of your destination. Very few people manage to save money without clear financial goals and a specific plan on how they are going to achieve those goals.
5. Never pay full retail price for anything.
Getting a good deal on almost anything has never been easier. It may take a little extra effort on your part, but shopping around for the best prices can save you a great deal of money. You can find price comparison sites online, that will search for the best deals available. Often local retailers are willing to match lower prices that you have found, providing you ask. Cutting spending and saving money requires discipline and perseverance. Take it one step at a time but think long term. It takes time to establish new money habits, but once you do, you’ll never look back.
My name is Muzammil Bashir. I’m working with the Senior Editor of Net Effekt –specialising in white label email marketing white label email marketing.
1. Find out where your money is really going.
Most people fritter away a great deal of money on small things; candy, gum, cappuccinos, bottled water, energy bars, magazines and the list goes on. But if you pay attention to the little things, you’ll discover they really add up quickly. To get a good idea of how much money you are spending, make a commitment to track your spending for at least two weeks, preferably a whole month. During that time get a receipt for every single purchase you make, right down to each and every pack of gum or chocolate bar you buy. At the end of the time period, add it all up. Once you know how much you are spending on the small stuff, you can determine whether some or all of that spending can be eliminated.
2. Cut way back on impulse purchases and casual spending.
Many of the small items you buy are impulsive purchases. With a little planning you can eliminate that type of spending without sacrificing the things you really need or want. If you can’t do without your energy bars, buy them in bulk rather than paying high prices at the corner shop. If you drink bottled water, stop. Studies have shown that bottled water is no safer than tap water and it’s certainly more expensive. If you don’t like the taste of tap water, consider filtering your own water. If you have a favorite magazine that you always read cover to cover, then get an annual subscription instead of picking it up when you are doing your grocery shopping. You can usually save thirty to fifty percent off the cover price of magazines with a subscription.
3. Re-evaluate all your regular monthly expenses.
If you are paying for something you don’t actually need or use, cancel it. Also take a close look at things like insurance, bank fees, cable or satellite television, cellular, telephone, and internet services, as well as credit card interest rates. Often you can save money by renegotiating contracts, switching service providers, bundling services or transferring credit card balances to cards with lower interest rates.
4. Create a budget and stick to it.
Operating without a budget is like embarking on a journey with no idea of your destination. Very few people manage to save money without clear financial goals and a specific plan on how they are going to achieve those goals.
5. Never pay full retail price for anything.
Getting a good deal on almost anything has never been easier. It may take a little extra effort on your part, but shopping around for the best prices can save you a great deal of money. You can find price comparison sites online, that will search for the best deals available. Often local retailers are willing to match lower prices that you have found, providing you ask. Cutting spending and saving money requires discipline and perseverance. Take it one step at a time but think long term. It takes time to establish new money habits, but once you do, you’ll never look back.
My name is Muzammil Bashir. I’m working with the Senior Editor of Net Effekt –specialising in white label email marketing white label email marketing.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
By Golly...Don't Give UP!!
In these tough economic times many churches and ministries are tempted to scale back on planning events so that it won't put any added burden on women who are struggling to make ends meet. The problem is that this is exactly the time when we need to gather for fellowship and encouragement. Here is a "Top 10" list that can help women's leaders plan more effective events that are perfect for this tough economy.
1. Use your own members: Organize an event that uses your own members as the leaders. You can find different women who have specialties and have them lead small groups or you may have someone who would be able to teach a large group time. Look around and see who has a story to tell that others can relate to and go from there. You may want to gather several women and hold a panel discussion on a specific topic. be creative and allow God to direct you to the right women.
2. Reinvent the covered dish: Most often the cost of an event is largely tied up in the food. Keep costs down by either asking everyone to bring a dish to share or enlist a team of women to organize the different dishes you want to offer and let them designate who brings what. You could decide on a theme and plan the food around that.
3. Network with Other Churches: Find some other churches in your area and share or trade Bible Study materials with them. Your church could buy one study and theirs a different one then after you finish, trade studies.
4. Plan 1 night events: Schedule your next event on an evening so that your costs can stay low. You even start a little later so that everyone has dinner before arriving then offers a dessert fellowship after the program.
5. Serve Others: Remember that if the economic crisis has hit you hard then it has devastated many others. Organize your women to focus on helping others. Service projects are a great way to build strong bonds and show people the love of Jesus in a practical way. The bonus is that your struggles tend to diminish in the face of what others may be dealing with.
6. Start a Support Group: Offer the opportunity for women who have lost their jobs or whose husbands have lost their jobs to gather for support and encouragement. Let your community know it is available and you may be surprised at the outreach it can become.
7. Get Out of the Church: Take your Bible Studies out of the church and hold them in different homes in the community so that people don't have to spend much time or money on gas to be involved.
8. Decorate for Less: Women's events always have the issue of decorating. Go old school and use things you already have at the church or enlist different women to hostess each table and make decorating her table part of her duties.
9. Simplicity and Relevance: Don't ignore the issues that people are dealing with but rather plan an event to specifically address them. Make it a brown bag night or just very simple in all details. Offer topics such as how to dress, dine, and decorate on a budget. Consider inviting a financial specialist to speak on practical advice in troubling times.
10. See the big Picture: Plan your events to coincide with other large gatherings like just after church or when the youth or children are already doing something. Take the stress off of women who are worried about being all things to all people and who feel guilty for taking time out for themselves.
These are just a few ideas. Whatever you decide to do, don't give up on ministry. Women need encouragement and support more now than ever before.
1. Use your own members: Organize an event that uses your own members as the leaders. You can find different women who have specialties and have them lead small groups or you may have someone who would be able to teach a large group time. Look around and see who has a story to tell that others can relate to and go from there. You may want to gather several women and hold a panel discussion on a specific topic. be creative and allow God to direct you to the right women.
2. Reinvent the covered dish: Most often the cost of an event is largely tied up in the food. Keep costs down by either asking everyone to bring a dish to share or enlist a team of women to organize the different dishes you want to offer and let them designate who brings what. You could decide on a theme and plan the food around that.
3. Network with Other Churches: Find some other churches in your area and share or trade Bible Study materials with them. Your church could buy one study and theirs a different one then after you finish, trade studies.
4. Plan 1 night events: Schedule your next event on an evening so that your costs can stay low. You even start a little later so that everyone has dinner before arriving then offers a dessert fellowship after the program.
5. Serve Others: Remember that if the economic crisis has hit you hard then it has devastated many others. Organize your women to focus on helping others. Service projects are a great way to build strong bonds and show people the love of Jesus in a practical way. The bonus is that your struggles tend to diminish in the face of what others may be dealing with.
6. Start a Support Group: Offer the opportunity for women who have lost their jobs or whose husbands have lost their jobs to gather for support and encouragement. Let your community know it is available and you may be surprised at the outreach it can become.
7. Get Out of the Church: Take your Bible Studies out of the church and hold them in different homes in the community so that people don't have to spend much time or money on gas to be involved.
8. Decorate for Less: Women's events always have the issue of decorating. Go old school and use things you already have at the church or enlist different women to hostess each table and make decorating her table part of her duties.
9. Simplicity and Relevance: Don't ignore the issues that people are dealing with but rather plan an event to specifically address them. Make it a brown bag night or just very simple in all details. Offer topics such as how to dress, dine, and decorate on a budget. Consider inviting a financial specialist to speak on practical advice in troubling times.
10. See the big Picture: Plan your events to coincide with other large gatherings like just after church or when the youth or children are already doing something. Take the stress off of women who are worried about being all things to all people and who feel guilty for taking time out for themselves.
These are just a few ideas. Whatever you decide to do, don't give up on ministry. Women need encouragement and support more now than ever before.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Choosing Spiritual Team Members
Choosing worship team members is a critical yet often hurried step, especially in the early stages of building our ministry. Often times just for the sake of building a group, we will rush into this process and we will end up getting ourselves in a tough situation. By that I mean we can end up adding someone to the group who really doesn't have the same vision or priorities that you have. That is why it is so important to have a plan in place for creating a band and choosing new vocalist and instrumentalist. So today we will take a look at some guidelines that you can use in creating your worship team that will lessen or even eliminate some issues down the road.
As you build your ministry no matter the style or affiliation, there are a few basic things to consider.
Pray, pray, and pray some more. When choosing group members your #1 priority should be to pray. Pray that God would lead you to the right people for the positions that are needed. What are some specific things that you might want to look for and pray for?
Choose heart over skill. The key qualification for being part of the group must be more spiritual rather than practical. The group must be made up of worshipers. I mean that is the purpose and the goal of the worship team right. Though I know it can be tempting to choose someone simply because of their musical skill, we must not loose site of the goal and remember that the heart must come before the art. Believe me you will save yourself a lot of frustration by choosing someone who though might have the lesser skill as a vocalist or an instrumentalist but they are spiritually strong. Just trust me on this one. Someone who plays or sings well and just wants to be in the band is not a good candidate. In worship there is no room for performance. The goal is to glorify God not themselves. A person that is considering being a part of this ministry must have a passion for glorifying God. The bottom line is to look for calling over gifting.
What are some other areas that we might want to consider? Are they committed to the church? Do they regularly attend? What kind of personality do they have? Do they seem to get along well with others?
A word of caution must be pointed out here. Be careful not to become judgmental. That is not the purpose here. The goal is for us to heed the leading of the Holy Spirit in choosing team members. Again can't stress this one point enough, pray! The focus of the worship team must be first on glorifying God and second leading His church in worship.
As you build your ministry no matter the style or affiliation, there are a few basic things to consider.
Pray, pray, and pray some more. When choosing group members your #1 priority should be to pray. Pray that God would lead you to the right people for the positions that are needed. What are some specific things that you might want to look for and pray for?
Choose heart over skill. The key qualification for being part of the group must be more spiritual rather than practical. The group must be made up of worshipers. I mean that is the purpose and the goal of the worship team right. Though I know it can be tempting to choose someone simply because of their musical skill, we must not loose site of the goal and remember that the heart must come before the art. Believe me you will save yourself a lot of frustration by choosing someone who though might have the lesser skill as a vocalist or an instrumentalist but they are spiritually strong. Just trust me on this one. Someone who plays or sings well and just wants to be in the band is not a good candidate. In worship there is no room for performance. The goal is to glorify God not themselves. A person that is considering being a part of this ministry must have a passion for glorifying God. The bottom line is to look for calling over gifting.
What are some other areas that we might want to consider? Are they committed to the church? Do they regularly attend? What kind of personality do they have? Do they seem to get along well with others?
A word of caution must be pointed out here. Be careful not to become judgmental. That is not the purpose here. The goal is for us to heed the leading of the Holy Spirit in choosing team members. Again can't stress this one point enough, pray! The focus of the worship team must be first on glorifying God and second leading His church in worship.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
An Interview by Terri Terry as to Women in Christian Leadership
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