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Happy New Year!!! How quickly another year has come and gone! Another year to reflect on our lives and to be thankful in all things. It is good to look back and reflect, but please don’t stay there. It is time to move forward in your dreams and hopes. Try something new this year, do something that you never did before. Be adventurous! Finish projects that you started years ago, pamper yourself... go to a spa, start the business you always dreamed of doing, work on a character flaw... maybe you need to have a positive attitude or you need to work on being patient. It is never too late to dream and do those things that are in your heart... So I say go for it! Have a blessed & safe New Year!!!

The holidays are usually a busy time of the year with shopping, parties, the children’s school programs, trying to entertain unpleasant relatives... LOL! It can be a hectic time if we let it. But let’s not get so busy that we forget to remember why we do it all in the first place. Christmas... the birth of our Savior, Jesus. " For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11 The greatest gift that we can give to our families is Jesus... to know Him, to learn about Him, to be that example to them, to let His light shine in our lives. What more is there, really? Have a safe & blessed Holiday Season!

Month of November

It is easy to be thankful when everything is going great. Right? Right! But what about those times when all hell is breaking loose, like you lost your job, your car broke down, you don't have enough money to buy food, your son or daughter got into a fight at school... the list can go and on!
I know it is difficult to be thankful in those situations. But it is so important to develop an attitude of thankfulness. I was having a rough day recently, nothing was going right. And in the mist of it all I made a conscience effort to start thanking God for what I had and not complain about my circumstances. Peace overcame me instead of worry. Being thankful does work. It will give you a new perspective on your life. Also your children will see your thankfulness and that will influence them to be thankful. Everyone has something to be thankful about, no matter how small it may be. So make it a practice to be thankful daily. " Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father." Ephesians 5:20

Take care & be thankful,
Webmaster - Pam

Has fear kept you frozen in your tracks? You may have been through a terrible experience. Maybe your husbband or boyfriend cheated on you. And you are afraid to trust again. Or you lost your job and are fearful because you do not know how you are going to support yourself and your children. We all go through difficult situations in our lives. And those circumstances can cause fear to creep in. But we cannot let it overcome us to the point of paralyzing us from moving forward in our lives. So how does one overcome fear? Stare that problem right in the face and do what needs to be done. Don't hide or run away from it. Ask God for giudance in your situation. Also meditate on these verses :" For God has not given you the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." I Timothy !:7, " Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10, "And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be still." Exodus 14: 13 & 14. I encourage you to take that word today, "fear not and stand firm, the Lord will fight for you" in whatever situation you are going through.

Take care,

Month of September

September 11, 2001 will be in our hearts for a long time to come. Please take the time to remember all the people who lost their lives in this tragedy and pray strength and comfort for their families. Pray God's protection over our country and that God would give President Bush the wisdom and guidance to lead our country in this time. If there is something to be learned from this tragedy it is that life is precious and we shouldn't take it for granted. We should not be afraid to give and to love with all of our hearts. Make each day that you have count for good! And finally make sure that Jesus is Lord of your life and let Him have control of every area of your life. Jesus really does care and He loves you. His arms are open wide just waiting for you to come to Him. John 3:16 states, " For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." The choice is yours to make!

Take care & be strong

Webmaster - Pam

Month of August

Does your mind ever feel like it is on overload and you are going to blow a fuse at any minute? Are your children pulling at you from every side demanding your constant attention? Do you ever feel like you don't have enough of you to go around to meet everyone's needs...your children, your work, your aging parents, your friends... Well, now is the time to make the time for yourself. You absolutely need a REST! Yes, but how do I rest when I feel like I am on a merry - go - round and it is in constant motion, you may ask. Some definitions of the word rest: relief from anything distressing, tiring; absence of motion;to be quiet and still for a while. It is possible for you to find a place of rest within yourself. Matthew 11: 28 & 29 states,"Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls." You need to give all of your concerns and worries to God and leave them in His hands. I Peter 5:7 states, "Casting all your cares on Him; for He cares fof you." When your children are in bed, find a quiet place where you can totally turn off all your thoughts about what you didn't accomplish today, or what you need to do tommorrow. Put on your favorite music or meditate on a verse from the Bible or read your favorite poem. Or you may want to do stretching exercises or take a soothing bubble bath. It is possible to find that rest you so need, but you must make an effort to get there. So take that break you so deserve!!!

Take care & be strong,

Webmaster - Pam

Month of July

Do you ever feel your life is in a rut due to unforgiveness? Are you struggling to forgive someone who has deeply hurt you? Unforgiveness toward someone over time can lead to deep seated bitterness. And that can eventually lead to health problems. It is not worth the energy you are exerting to hold that unforgiveness in your heart. Yes, I know, it does hurt deeply when you have trusted someone and they betray you. It seems like no amount of comfort can help. So you figure that if you hold unforgiveness in your heart, you are getting back at them in some way. Wrong! Actually you are only hurting yourself, not them. It is important to release that unforgiveness for your sake, not theirs. Forgiving them does not mean that you are agreeing with them concerning what they did. Forgiving them is releasing them and not holding on to that hurt. It is giving it up so that you can be free and have peace of mind. We can't control other people's actions, but we can control ours. I encourage you to forgive that person so that you will stop spinning your wheels in the same rut and getting no where in your life. Think on these scriptures: "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Colossians 3:13
" And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Mark 11:25
Take Care & Be Strong, Webmaster - Pam

Have you ever said something that you wished you could take back? Words are very powerful. They can bring healing or crush a person. Proverbs 15 :4 states:
"A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit." A word spoken in anger or harshness can wound someone quicker than anything.
It is not always easy trying to juggle the responsibilities in raising our
children. And sometimes at the end of a difficult day we may say words of anger or frustration to our children. We have all been there at one time or another in our lives. But the most important thing to do when that happens is to explain to your children what you are going through. Say that you are sorry for the words spoken. Our children need to see and hear that we make mistakes. And they also need to see that there is redemption for those mistakes. There is forgiveness!
Here are some verses on words that I hope that you find encouraging.
"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones."
Proverbs 16: 24. "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1. "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances." Proverbs 25:11. "She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26

"Children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is His reward." Psalms 127:3 Motherhood is a privilege not to be taken lightly. No doubt about it, it is difficult at times being a single mother. But I believe there are more positives that negatives. You just have to keep your heart open and give thanks for the simple things in life. My daughter, Hannah, told me the other day that she wished that she could drive so that she could go to the store to buy the groceries so that I wouldn't have to do it. That just melted my heart. How sweet is that!!! Something very simple that totally blessed my heart! And how about those unexpected little hugs and kisses and the "I love you, momma." We hold in our hands the awesome responsibility of raising children that may some day have a significant voice to change the world. Sunday, May 12th is Mother's Day and I want to applaud all you mothers out there, but I especially want to give all you single mothers a standing ovation for all you are and do for your children!!!! I salute all you single mothers who are going to college, working several jobs, and then going home to take care of the needs of your children. Give yourself a hand also! You deserve it! So single mom May 12th is your day and I celebrate with you! Being a single mom is not the easiest job on earth, but it is the most rewarding one!!!

Do you sometimes feel troubled in your mind over a situation or problem and there seems to be no way out? And peace is no where to be found! How do you get to that peace that you so desperately need? You can have peace in the mist of the storm. When you have done all that you can do and you are hanging on by a thread, just " give it up"! Yes, that's right, give it up to God! In total surrender hand it over to Him and don't take it back. Leave it in His hands to work it out. Allow God to come and take over in your life. Here are some verses that I like to meditate on when I need peace of mind over a situation.

1. Thou wilt keep him( you ) in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee. Isaiah 26:3

2. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

3. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15

4. I will both lay me down in peace and sleep for thou, Lord only makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

5. The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalm 29:11

6. Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1

7. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed; but not in despair; perscuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed. II Corinthians 4:8&9

Take courage, you can peacefully sail your ship through any storm, when you allow Jesus to come and take over! God bless you all, Webby- Pam

Disappointments, naw, never been disappointed in my life. Not! If you are still breathing then disappointments are inevitable. You may be facing some kind of disappointment now. Maybe you lost a job or a promotion you have been working towards, or your ex is late again with the child support payments, or you don't get any child support whatsoever, or a trusted friend betrayed you, or you may be suffering from unrequitted love. We all face disappointment from time to time. But the key is not to let your disappointments turn into discouragement and in turn causing depression. Yes, acknowledge your disappointment, but don't stay there and camp out! If you do it will eventually turn into depression. People will let us down and disappoint us, after all we are only human, far from being perfect! It may seem like no understands the hurt you are going through, but in Hebrews 4:15 it states that Jesus is touched with the feelings of our infirmities or weaknesses. Also in Psalms 34:18 it states that the Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. So take comfort in the fact that Jesus understands your disappointments and feels for what you are going through. I encourage you to make an effort to not let your disappointments turn into depression. Have a great week! Take care & be strong!!! Pam

Do you let what other people think of you keep you bogged down? Do you feel like you are being judged because you have to work to support your family and you must put your children in daycare? Or do you sometimes feel that people think you are not a family because it is just you and the children? Sometimes people are so quick to judge without really knowing all the details. They hear bits and pieces and don't really know the whole truth. Or what's worse they don't care to know the truth. Yes, I used to let people get to me and keep me under. But I have come to the conclusion that people will think what they want to think. And I know who I am, I know my heart, and my situation. But what gives me comfort is that God knows me and He is the final judge, not people! It is what you think in your heart about yourself and your situation. Proverbs 23:7 states, " For as he/she thinks in his/her heart so is he/she. "Don't be intimidated by people's words and actions. It is time to stand up for yourself and not to be a doormat for people to trample upon. I encourage you this week to take control of those nagging thoughts of what people are saying about you and replace them with good positive thoughts about yourself and your children. Be strong! Take care, Webby-Pam

Hey, single mom, this is the best time of your life, whether you are single by choice or because of some unwanted circumstance!!! This is your opportunity to soar! Use this time of being single to your fullest. Spend your time and energy into raising your children and pursing your dreams. We all need something worthwhile to aim for. God created every person for a purpose. You are unique and have something special to offer. Find out what you are good at and do it with all your heart. Stop grieving over what could have been, stop wallowing in self-pity, and pull yourself up by your boot straps, and start marching forward!!!

If you don't have a goal to aim toward, I encourage you take some time out and think about what you would like to accomplish in this life. Remember it is never too late to pursue your dreams. " ... but this one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead." Philippians 3:13 ( Amplified Version)

The Webster's Dictionary defines content as happy enough with what one has or is ; satisfied . Do we ever really have enough of what we need or want? Are you content in your present situation? Are you content in your personal life? Are you happy with how you look? Do we want what everyone else has? " I want a better house, car, job, or a different life." The single person says I want and need a mate, the married person envies the single person wishing they were there again. Sometimes what we want is not really what we need. Can we be truly content and how do we get there? Yes, I believe we can get to the place of contentment in our lives. When you are not happy with who you are, then you will be dissatisfied with everything that surrounds your life. The first step in reaching a place of contentment is accepting yourself as your are. But if you are unhappy with your looks and can change them, then do so. Maybe you need to work on your attitude. But it is those things that you can't change that you have to learn how to accept and be content with. The next step in reaching contentment is being grateful. When you start concentrating on the positive in your life, then contentment starts to take root.

Our circumstances may change from day to day. We may feel like we are walking into a brick wall, but if we let contentment take root, the negative circumstances can't over take us. Philippians 4: 11 states: " Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content( satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.( Amplied Version) "I encourage you to work on those areas of dissatifaction in your life. If you can change it, then have the courage to do it!!! Be strong! Webby-Pam

It is so important to take time for yourself. But you say I don't have time. I know, but for your survival, you must take time even if it is only 10 minutes. There you are trying to do it all. You are not only the parent, but banker, plumber, doctor, maid, cook, waitress, teacher, cab driver, and the list goes on. Feel like you can scream and yes, have on many occassions, "Hey, I am only one person, I can't do it all, please leave me alone!" No we can't do it all. So don't feel guilty. Tommorrow is another day! Now take a deep breathe and relax! Yeah, right! But try getting up before the children and take that time for yourself. Or take that time before you go to bed. I like to start my day by reading and praying. My favorite verse is : But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

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