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Emphasis
On Moms
You are a Mom ~ You are a Wife ~ You are a Lady ~
~ Embrace who God created you to be ~
Emphasis On Moms is focused on giving moms words of en- couragement and support. Our goal is to bring you hope and help for your life as parents, individual women, and wives. We know that your family means everything to you. Yet in our stressed, busy, overwhelmed world a mom can struggle with low self esteem, finding time for her marriage relationship, maintaining family values, and just being a positive parent. Emphasis On Moms is here to help you feel good about who you are, while bringing inspiration and perspective to your heart through our resources, blog, and parenting tips. You put everything you are into caring for your family - now its time to be lavished with some love, honesty and a reminder that you're not alone.
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Emphasis On Moms April 2011 Issue Issn: 1529~269X
Inside:
Impact: Inspirational Quote Home Impressions: Eat Your Vegetables Heartstrings: An Unachievable Standard Memory Lane: Weekly Family Time A Mom Minute: Still Working It Through Applause! (Lady of the Mont): Maryke Symington Nurture Your Soul: Apology to My Daughters Potpourri: Idea Sparkers For Your Home Timeout: Loving Uniquely Treasure Box: Philippians 3:1 All About Relationships: The Good Shepherd Social Graces: Take Time For T.E.A. 3
Between You and Me ~ Â
Hi  ladies!    , GRQ¶W NQRZ DERXW \RX EXW where  I  live,  the  sun  and  ZDUP ZHDWKHU DUH MXVW DURXQG WKH FRUQHU DQG ,¶P FUDYLQJ WKHP VR EDGO\ 6R , JHW H[FLWHG WKLV WLPH RI \HDU LQ DQWLFLSDWLRQ RI ³ZKDW LV WR FRPH ´   +RZ DERXW \RX" 'R \RX JHW H[FLWHG LQ DQWLFLSDWLRQ RI ³ZKDW LV WR FRPH´ LQ \RXU OLIH" 'R \RX KDYH VRPHWKLQJ RQ WKH KRUL]RQ WR work  towards?  If  not...why  not?  We  all  need  something  to  set  our  sights  on!   May  God  work  personally  on  your  heart  this  month  and  show  you  that  He  has  something  exciting  for  your  life  that  is  just  around  the  corner.   , FDQ¶W ZDLW WR KHDU ZKDW LW LV«    Keeping  It  Real, Â
Dionna Sanchez madetomom@yahoo.com Â
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Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to. ~John Ed Pearce 5 Â
Apology To My Daughters
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,¶m  sorry  for  letting  the  weight  of  my  world  fall  off  of  my  shoulders  and  onto  yours.  Â
,¶m  sorry  for  letting  my  impatience,  my  single  focus  and  my  exhaus- WLRQ ZHLJK RQ \RX WZR ,¶P VRUU\ IRU OHWWLQJ P\ LQDGHTXDFLHV P\ IODZV and  my  impulsivity  to  shape  your  childhood.  I  yelled,  no  screamed  at  \RX ERWK , VKRXOGQ¶W KDYH , VKRXOG QHYHU XVH P\ ZRUGV WR KXUW \RX  Â
I  need  to  be  the  strong  wall  you  run  up  against.  I  should  be  unmoving  and  distinct  and  like  a  fence,  hold  you  inside  safely.  Instead  I  melted  into  a  lump  on  the  bathroom  floor  and  I  cried.  You  watched  me  cry  and  I  know  that  you  felt  responsible.  Because  you  cried  too.  And  by  doing  that,  I  exposed  you.   Â
It  LVQ¶W \RXU IDXOW ,W LV QHYHU UHDOO\ \RXU IDXOW <RX PD\ IUXVWUDWH PH with  disobedience  or  with  slow  ears,  but  I  always  choose  how  I  react.  I  choose  how  I  parent  and  how  I  love.  I  also  choose  when  I  wound  you.    6 Â
I  GRQÂśW ZDQW \RXU GD\V WR IHHO KHDY\ E\ P\ LUULWDWLRQ , GRQÂśW ZDQW you  ever  to  live  in  fear  of  my  anger.  I  want  your  after-Âschool  back- yard  exploits  to  be  light  and  happy,  your  cozy  after-Âbathtime  eve- nings  to  be  soft  and  warm,  and  your  sleep  to  be  peaceful  and  quiet.  I  never  want  you  to  feel  my  weight  on  you.  Â
You  heal  me  with  your  ready  kisses  and  quick  hugs.  You  fix  my  heart  with  your  kindnesses  and  your  little-ÂJLUO VPLOHV ,ÂśP WKH DGXOW but  sometimes  I  need  you  to  help  me  get  up  off  of  the  bathroom  floor.  Â
,ÂśP  sorry,  girls,  for  screaming,  for  forgetting  my  love  for  you  for  a  few  minutes.  Please  forgive  me. Â
SarahMarkley is a freelance writer and a stay at home mom. She lives in Southern California with her husband, Chad and her daughters Hope and Naomi. She blogs daily about faith, marriage and mothering at www.sarahmarkley.com. ´2ULJLQDOO\ SXEOLVKHG DW ZZZ VDUDKPDUNOH\ FRP LQ -DQX DU\ Âľ   Â
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Weekly Family Time By Zhanna Mikhno
Several years ago, a worship leader at my church was asked to share his thoughts on parenting during a series on raising godly children.
To this day his words have never left my mind. He stressed again and again how imperative it was for parents to set a weekly date for family time.
As moms -‐ stay at home or working -‐ we lead some busy lives. At times it can get chaotic with all the errands and obligations.
Even though we try our best to keep our homes in order for the sake of ĞǀĞƌLJŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ƐĂŶŝƚLJ͕ ŝƚ Ɛƚŝůů ŚĂƐ Ă ǁĂLJ ŽĨ ĨĂůůŝŶŐ ƐŚŽƌƚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŝƚ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ƉŽƵƌ a sense of security and comfort into our children.
Yet, that is what they desire the most. That is when they flourish the most, in moments of refuge and warmth.
Weekly family time creates those moments. It offers them stability and predictability.
Most importantly, it leaves a huge imprint on their heart about what ͞ŚŽŵĞ͟ ŵĞĂŶƐ͘
And we all know that the definition of home depends heavily on the memories and traditions that we create. 8
So no matter how hectic ŽƵƌ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞƐ ĂƌĞ͕ ůĞƚ͛Ɛ ŵĂŬĞ ŝƚ Ă ƉƌŝŽƌŝƚLJ ƚŽ spend time with our children.
>Ğƚ͛Ɛ ĚĞǀŽƚĞ a few hours once a week to have some genuine fun with them with no distractions whatsoever.
Can you imagine the impact we could have on their life by having a family ŐĂŵĞ ŶŝŐŚƚ ĞǀĞƌLJ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ Žƌ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ŽƵƌ ŽǁŶ ƉŝnjnjĂ͛Ɛ ĞǀĞƌLJ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ Žƌ ŐĂƚŚĞƌͲ ing around the table for Fondue Friday.
This is the kind of stuff they thrive on. And the beauty of it all is that it will never get old. In a world where things never stay the same, their heart, as well as ours, finds assurance in consistency. Love, Z Zhanna Mikhno is a stay at home mom to 2 little girls and a wife to her best friend. Aside from having the most important job in the world, she holds a B.A in English Literature & Creative Writing and wants her words to give God all the glory. 9
Potpourri
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Idea Sparkers for your Home Â
As an avid scrapbooker, I have gotten extremely far behind since returning back to work full time a few years ago. When I finally sit down to create a few pages, I have trouble remembering exact dates, feelings and occurrences. The Family Journal is something that has helped tremendously with this problem, as well as brought my daughter and I closer together. The concept is simple ² a small notebook kept in a central location at home in which family members can jot down feelings, thoughts, or ideas about their day. It can be exWUHPHO\ EDVLF ´, JRW D % RQ P\ PDWK WHVW WRGD\ Âľ WR PRUH complex, such as describing a family vacation. The journal becomes a place where you and your family can jot down anything that is on their minds. The end result is a wonderful journal to save. It also makes journaling in my scrapbooks extremely easy. Just remember to date the entries in your journal! 0\ GDXJKWHU DQG , GRQ¡W SXW SUHVVXUH RQ HDFK RWKHU WR write in the journal, but at the same time we both seem to levitate towards it when we get home from school. We even let Grandma and Grandpa join in the fun from time WR WLPH 7KLV ZD\ HYHU\RQH¡V SRLQWV-of-view will be included in the final product (the scrapbook)! Â
~  Amy  McCormick Â
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Take Time For T.E.A.
Recently, my neighbor invited several la- dies in our neighborhood over for a fun af- ternoon of tea and fellowship. I was not sure what to expect, but went and found a beautiful table set for a formal tea and learned that our T.E.A. stood for "Teaching, Encouraging, and Affirming"...what a blessing that afternoon was! We had a lot of fun trying different hot teas and treats and spent time in the Word and getting to know each other better. Whether you are a "tea" person or not, I encourage you to take this idea and make it your own...invite other ladies on your street or from church over and take some time for T.E.A.! ~ Edie Bunch 11
Loving Uniquely ~ By Jenn Whitmer Every child is different. If you have spent any time with more than one child, you know this to be true! The challenge as parents is to shepherd, discipline, and love our children each specifically to their own personal- ity and gifting. Keep the Goal in mind Our desire is to raise children who love God and demonstrate His rule and author- ity in their lives. As families, we all have different expressions of the call of God on our lives. My husband and I feel called to St. Louis County, while many others in our church live in the city. We want our children to grow to make those decisions that match their personality, giftings, and weaknesses. We want to avoid raising children who will need us to make those choices for them. To help them make those choices we must discipline them according to their own unique qualities.
Different Rules In our society of equality, we have trouble applying different rules for different Ǥ Dz ǯ Ǩdz is the battle cry of every child. We often tell our children, ǯ ǯ Ǥ ǯ Ǧ cious and merciful. There are times when one child needs a different rule than an- other. One child may need a more rigid bedtime or study schedule than another. One child may need more physical activity, another more fine motor practice. As the parent, you are charged with discovering what works best for each child and balancing that with what is best for your family as a whole.
Communicating the Difference 12
When you establish different rules or procedures for children in your family, explain why. The bible explains that God loves us enough to discipline us, to lead us toward self-control and reliance on Him. Discipline of our children is the same; explain this to your child. As well, share experiences from your own life. There are rules and limits we all place on ourselves because it is more beneficial to us. Let your child know about those struggles and paral- lel that to the limit you are placing on them. As well, explain that privileges come with increased responsibility. Finally, explain that because they are an individual, you want to love them uniquely, not equally. This will irritate your child at a very basic level, but consistent proof that your requirements are for his good and the best for him will create security and trust.
Loving our children by disciplining them according their own unique challenges and communicating through that process is how
Dz Ǣ Ǥdz
~ Jenn Whitmer lives and laughs with her husband, two sons, and 2
daughters in St. Louis, Missouri. Send Email Jennifer at jenniferwhit- mer@gmail.com with any thoughts or questions.
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Still Working It Through ~ By Dionna Sanchez Â
It  seems  to  me,  that  a  great  deal  of  our  lives  are  spent  on  working  emotionally  WKURXJK WKH ³WRXJK´ VWXII WKDW KDV KDSSHQHG WR XV )RU PRVW RI XV ZH FDQ¶W seem  to  get  past  the  injustices,  unfairness,  and  deep  pain  that  have  wounded  our  souls.   ,¶P ULJKW WKHUH ZLWK \RX   , IHHO WKLQJV GHHSO\ , NLQG RI KDYH JURZQ WR ORYH WKDW DERXW P\VHOI , GRQ¶W MXVW ³OLJKWO\´ ORYH VRPHRQH , ORYH WKHP DOO WKH ZD\ WR P\ WRHV , IHHO SDLQ QRW MXVW like  a  pin-Âprick,  but  I  feel  it  penetrate  and  go  through  me  straight  to  my  heart.  7KDW¶V MXVW WKH ZD\ , ZDV FUHDWHG , IHHO HYHU\WKLQJ ZLWK JUHDW LQWHQVLW\ 6R when  I  go  through  something  particularly  painful,  hurtful,  challenging,  or  a  hurdle  that  stretches  me  to  no  ends  ±  it  can  pretty  much  take  over.  I  have  to  be  mindful  and  intentional  to  not  let  it.  Â
Life  is  full  of  disappointments ,W¶V IXOO RI VLWXDWLRQV ZKHUH ZH HQG XS being  taken  advantage  of,  for  granted,  and  just  plain  used.  Not  everyone  is Â
going  to  see  our  value,  potential,  or  core  heart.   ,I ZH FDQ DFNQRZOHGJH WKDW , WKLQN LW¶V D KXJH VWHS LQ KHOSLQJ XV FRPH WR WHUPV with  the  bad  things  that  happen  to  us.  For  just  because  something  horrible  may  have  occurred  ±  GRHVQ¶W PHDQ ZH QHHG WR NHHS OLYLQJ LQ WKDW PRPHQW IRU WKH UHVW of  our  lives!  I  think  the  majority  of  us  are  still  working  through  those  issues;;  instead  of  moving  on  from  them  and  letting  them  make  us  stronger  people.  And  14 Â
LI WKDW¶V WUXH OLNH , WKLQN LW LV WKH PDMRULW\ RI SHRSOH ZDONLQJ HDUWK DUH ZDONLQJ wounded.   There  is  so  much  more!   So  much  more  we  could  be  doing,  giving,  learning,  DQG JHWWLQJ IURP OLIH 7KHUH LV VR PXFK PRUH WR XV WKDQ ZKDWHYHU ³LW´ ZDV WKDW happened  to  us  and  with  us!  WH GRQ¶W GR RXUVHOYHV RU DQ\RQH HOVH
any  favors  by  holding  onto  the  past.   Instead  of  going  through  life  10,  20,  or  even  30  years  past  a  traumatic  event  and  still  trying  to  mentally  process  and  work  it  through  ±  OHW¶V WU\ WR OHW LW JR :H FDQ say,  ³7KLV LV ZKDW , JRW DQG ,¶P JRLQJ WR PDNH WKH PRVW RI LW ,¶P JRLQJ WR PDNH WKH PRVW RI PH ´ Then,  and  only  then  can  we  transform  and  let  the  painful  things  become  the  growing  things  in  our  heart  DQG VRXO $QG , VXUH ZDQW WKDW IRU P\VHOI 'RQ¶W \RX"  Â
~Dionna Sanchez is the Founder of the EmphasisOnMoms.com Ministry. She blogs her faith at http://beautyinthestorm.blogspot.com and freelance writes from her home in Idaho. Â
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There are things God places in our life with the express purpose of speaking to us on a certain theme or subject. Consider if God is
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Emphasis
On Moms
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Eat Your Vegetables My sister hated peas. Really, she hated all vegetables, but peas were her veggie-nemesis. We grew up LQ WKH ´FOHDQ SODWHÂľ JHQHUDWLRQ EXW 0RP ZDV VHQVLWLYH enough to serve small portions of the items we most disliked. I doubt Angie had more than a tablespoon of peas on her plate one evening, but she refused to eat any ² not even one. This was no ordinary night. This was the night we were putting up the Christmas tree and all Christmas decorations. It was a family tradition. Dad wrestled with the tree to secure it in a position to give the illusion of being straight (what is it about Christmas trees that make them look perfectly straight among all the others on the farm but cursed ZLWK VFROLRVLV RQFH LW¡V SXVKHG WKURXJK \RXU IURQW GRRU" Meanwhile, the rest of us would untangle the lights and preSDUH WKHP IRU WKH WUHH )LQDOO\ ZH¡G VRUW WKURXJK RXU RUQD ments, carefully choosing the ones we most wanted on the tree and sharing stories and memories about our favorites. Our traditions began ² without Angie. We could see her IURP WKH IDPLO\ URRP DQG VKH FRXOG VHH XV 6KH GLGQ¡W WKURZ a fit or complain; she simply refused to eat a single pea. Mom was certain Angie would cave in once she saw the fun she was missing. The tree was secured. No Angie. The lights were wrapped onto the branches. No Angie. The ornaments were strategically placed on the tree. No Angie. Â
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Then came the most important tradition of all ² placing the angel on the top of the tree. Dad would lift one of us up to do the honors while eveU\RQH ZDWFKHG 0RP FKHFNHG WR EH VXUH $QJLH GLGQ¡W ZDQW WR MRLQ XV HDW her peas). Not a chance. So there we were. Four of our family standing in the family room, admiring the tree. And one sitting with the same plate RI SHDV LQ IURQW RI KHU 6KH ZDVQ¡W EXGJLQJ It was Mom who finally budged. If Angie hated peas enough that VKH¡G PLVV WKH IDPLO\ GHFRUDWLQJ WUDGLWLRQ VKH¡G OHW KHU RII WKLV WLPH :H later learned that at some point Angie developed a strategy for getting rid of peas. There was a crack in the baseboard near her chair in the NLWFKHQ DQG VKH¡G QRQFKDODQWO\ VOLS HQRXJK SHDV LQWR WKH FUDFN WR PDNH her plate pass inspection. I wonder if mice like peas!) :KDW¡V VRPHWKLQJ \RX VWUXJJOH ZLWK HYHQ WKRXJK \RX NQRZ LW¡V JRRG IRU you? What will you do in order to avoid it? 'HWHUPLQH KRZ LPSRUWDQW LW LV WR \RX ,I LW¡V VRPHWKLQJ \RX NQRZ \RX need but need to develop discipline, give yourself encouragement. Remove the label from a can of vegetables and write the following verse along with a brief note of your first goal on the label. Once you meet your first goal, attach a second label another label. Let the labels pile as you meet one goal at a time!
I will be content as if I had eaten the best foods. My lips will sing, and my mouth will praise you. Psalm 63:5 ~  Susan  Lawrence  is   passionate  about  connecting  individuals  and  teams  of  people  in  purpose- ful  and  healthy  ways.  Whether  writing,  speaking  or  consulting,  I  strive  to  encourage  and  equip  women  to  meet  the  others  around  them  while  balancing  their  own  needs.  We  all  need  support  and  encouragement!  My  first  Bible  Study,  Pure  Purpose,  released  Spring  2010.   http://purepurposebook.wordpress.com/   19 Â
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Do you struggle with self- esteem? Not sure what God expects of you and your life? 9LVLW WKH ³,QQHU )XOILOOPHQW´ blog geared just to women of faith. A devotional or encour- aging post is added each day to help strengthen your heart as a woman of the Lord. Visit today at:
http://innerfulfillment.wordpress.com/
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HhEeAaRrTtSsTtRrIiNnGgSs An Unachievable Standard By Angie Maldonado \
In a great effort to bring revival to our parenting skills, my husband and I have been reading ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ Ă ƚĞƌƌŝĨŝĐ ĐŚŝůĚ ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ďŽŽŬ ĞŶƚŝƚůĞĚ͕ ^ŚĞƉŚĞƌĚŝŶŐ Ă ŚŝůĚ͛Ɛ ,ĞĂƌƚ͕ ďLJ dĞĚĚ dƌŝƉ͘ ƌĞƉĞƚŝƚŝǀĞ ƚŚĞŵĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƚĞdžƚƐ͛ ŵĞƐƐĂŐĞ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĞdžŚŽƌƚŝŶŐ ŽƵƌ children to turn to Christ for the strength and power to accomplish character change in their lives. The author points out how our flesh always wants to win the battle of temptation, ob-‐ viously. He goes on to sayͶand this is the thought that really struck meͶthat in parenting, ŝĨ ǁĞ ƌĞĚƵĐĞ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ĨŽƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͕ ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ ŝƚ ŝƐ ƐŝŵƉůLJ ƚŽŽ ĚŝĨĨŝĐƵůƚ ƚŽ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ ƌĞĚƵĐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ŽŶĞ ƚŚĞLJ ĂƌĞ ŵŽƌĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ǁŚĂƚ ǁĞ͛ƌĞ ĞƐͲ sentially doing is providing a standard where knowing and trusting God is not essential. Let ŵĞ ƐĂLJ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ǁĂLJ ƚŽ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ŝƚ ƐŝŶŬƐ ŝŶ͗ tĞ ĂƌĞ ƵŶĂďůĞ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ mere humanness. However, reducing His standard to make it more achievable only discredits our need for God. Instead we must hold our children (and, as I will further pursue, ourselves) ƚŽ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ŽŶůLJ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĂďůĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ,ŝƐ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŐŝĨƚ ŽĨ ,ŝƐ ŐƌĂĐĞ͕ ensuring our complete and utter need for Him. dŚĂƚ ŝƐ ƐŚĞƉŚĞƌĚŝŶŐ͘ dŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ǁŚĂƚ 'ŽĚ ǁĂŶƚƐ ŽƵƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ƚŽ ĞŵďƌĂĐĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŽƵƌ ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ͕ and that is what I know He wants us to embrace in our own adult lives. As a woman seeking to become a wife of noble character, Proverbs 31 is an unachievable goal in your humanness, is it not? So, do we reduce the standardͶ'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚͶto mold it into one we can actually keep? Rhetorical questions that I am, however, going to answer with an emphatic, NO! God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His standards are the ƐĂŵĞ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŽĚĂLJ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌĞǀĞƌ͘ ,Ğ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ͘ ,Ğ ǁĂŶƚƐ ŽƵƌ reliance on Him to grow. He wants us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Him. By modi-‐ fying the standard, we reduce our need for His strength and grace, and we are in desperate need of both! 22
/ƚ ŝƐ ŵLJ ĚĞƐŝƌĞ͕ ŝŶ ŚŽŶŽƌŝŶŐ ŵLJ ^ĂǀŝŽƌ ĂŶĚ ŵLJ ŚƵƐďĂŶĚ͕ ƚŽ ͞ďƌŝŶŐ ŵLJ ŚƵƐďĂŶĚ ŐŽŽĚ͕ ŶŽƚ ŚĂƌŵ͕ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJƐ ŽĨ ŵLJ ůŝĨĞ͟ ;WƌŽǀĞƌďƐ ϯϭ͗ϭϮ͕ E/sͿ͘ / ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůLJ ƐĞƚ ŽƵƚ ƚŽ ŵĞĞƚ ŵLJ ŚƵƐďĂŶĚ͛Ɛ needs and build him up, as a Godly helpmeet to him. I am unable. If I seek to accomplish this task in my own strength, I fail. If I seek to accomplish this task by reducing what is required ƚŽ ƐƵĐĐĞĞĚ͕ / ĨĂŝů͘ /ŶƐƚĞĂĚ͕ / ƉƌĂLJ ĂƐ WĂƵů ƉƌĂLJĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƉŚĞƐŝĂŶƐ͕ ͙͞ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ,ŝƐ ŐůŽƌŝŽƵƐ ƌŝĐŚĞƐ ,Ğ ŵĂLJ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶ ŵĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƉŽǁĞƌ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ,ŝƐ ^Ɖŝƌŝƚ ŝŶ ŵLJ ŝŶŶĞƌ ďĞŝŶŐ͟ ; ƉŚĞƐŝĂŶƐ ϯ͗ϭϲ͕ E/sͿ͘ / ďĞůŝĞǀĞ͕ ĂƐ WĂƵů ĐŽŶĨŝƌŵĞĚ͕ ͞/ ĐĂŶ ĚŽ ĞǀĞƌLJƚŚŝŶŐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ,ŝŵ ǁŚŽ ŐŝǀĞƐ ŵĞ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ͟ ;WŚŝůŝƉƉŝĂŶƐ ϰ͗ϭϯ͕ E/sͿ͘ / ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞ͕ ĂƐ WĂƵů ĚŝĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ >ŽƌĚ͕ ͞DLJ ŐƌĂĐĞ ŝƐ ƐƵĨĨŝĐŝĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ LJŽƵ͕ ĨŽƌ ŵLJ ƉŽǁĞƌ ŝƐ ŵĂĚĞ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ŝŶ ǁĞĂŬŶĞƐƐ͟ ;Ϯ ŽƌŝŶƚŚŝĂŶƐ ϭϮ͗ϵ͕ E/sͿ͘ KƵƌ ũŽď ŝƐ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ŚƵŵďůĞ͕ ƉůŝĂďůĞ͕ ǁŝůůŝŶŐ ǀĞƐƐĞů͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ũŽď ƚŽ ŵŽůĚ ƵƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŬĞ ƵƐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĞĂƐƵƌĞƐ ,Ğ ŚĂƐ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƵƐ ƚŽ ďĞ͘ 'ŽĚ ƐĂLJƐ͕ ͞/ Ăŵ ƚŚĞ >ŽƌĚ͕ ƚŚĞ 'ŽĚ ŽĨ Ăůů ŵĂŶŬŝŶĚ͘ /Ɛ ĂŶLJƚŚŝŶŐ ƚŽŽ ŚĂƌĚ ĨŽƌ ŵĞ͍͟ ;:ĞƌĞŵŝĂŚ ϯϮ͗Ϯϳ͕ E/sͿ͘ zŽƵƌ ŝŶĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ǁŝĨĞ ŽĨ ŶŽďůĞ ĐŚĂƌͲ acter is not the task that is all of the sudden too hard for the Lord. It has always been and will always be too hard for you. He just requires you to be a willing vessel. And when, in your humanness, you fail, you then need His grace. Accept it, stand up, and offer yourself to Him as a willing vessel again. dŚĞ >ŽƌĚ͛Ɛ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ŝƐ ŐƌĞĂƚ͘ ,ŝƐ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƚŝŽŶ ŝƐ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ͕ ƚŚĂƚ LJŽƵ ƌĞůLJ ŽŶ ,ŝƐ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ ĂŶĚ grace to grow in your character and meet His standard. As you commit your ways to such a ŐŽĂů͕ ƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌ͕ ͞ŝƚ ŝƐ 'ŽĚ ǁŚŽ ǁŽƌŬƐ ŝŶ LJŽƵ ƚŽ ǁŝůů ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ĂĐƚ ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ,ŝƐ ŐŽŽĚ ƉƵƌͲ ƉŽƐĞ͟ ;WŚŝůŝƉƉŝĂŶƐ Ϯ͗ϭϯ͕ E/sͿ͘ ~ Angie Maldonado is a home schooling mom of two girls (ages 7 and 9) and an Army wife. She and her family currently reside in Fort Benning, Georgia. Her greatest goal in life is to leave a remarkable spiritual legacy to her two girls and to see them mature with hearts to serve the Lord. She enjoys crafting, decorating, reading and of course, writing. Angie has ex-‐ perienced the renovating power of the Lord at work in her marriage, and considers it a great blessing to use what she has learned to help build other women in their faith. Her first book, Let Your Light Shine, is now available through a division of Lifeway, www.crossbooks.com, at her website, www.letyourlightshineam.com, or through your favorite online book retailer.
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 For  the  rest,  my  brethren,  delight  yourselves  in  the  Lord  and  continue  to  rejoice  that  you  are  in  Him.  To  keep  writing  to  you  [over  and  over]  of  the  same  things  is  not  irksome  to  me,  and  it  is  [a  precaution]  for  your  safety.  Philippians  3:1       It  pains  me  to  hear  something  over  and  over  again;Íž  my  mind  wanders  and  I  UROO P\ H\HV DQG , WKLQN Âł2K EURWKHU 1RW 7+,6 DJDLQ ´   And  yet  Paul  says  that  KH GRHVQÂśW JHW WLUHG RI saying  the  same  things  again  and  again,  because  there  are  things  we  need  to  hear²repeatedly.   ,Q WKH 1/7 WUDQVODWLRQ KH VD\V Âł, GR LW WR VDIHJXDUG \RXU IDLWK ´       , GRQÂśW RIWHQ WKLQN DERXW ÂłVDIHJXDUGLQJ´ P\ IDLWK   And  yet,  how  many  people  have  gone  through  a  devastating  experience,  and  had  their  faith  shaken  to  the  point  of  being  shattered?   :H FDQÂśW SXW IDLWK LQ D FDQQLQJ MDU DQG NHHS XQWLO ZH need  it.   ,W HLWKHU JURZV LQ GHSWK DQG VWUHQJWKÂŤRU LW ZHDNHQV   So  the  next  time  I  find  myself  skimming  over  a  verse,  racing  through  a  familiar  section  of  Scrip- ture,  or  daydreaming  through  a  repetitive  sermon,  I  need  to  stop!   I  need  to  con- sider  that  I  am  safeguarding  my  faith. Â
~ Cheryl Heindel 24 Â
Name : My name is Maryke Symington Number of children & ages : I have 2 children - a boy & a girl. Daniel is 4 & Alexys is turning 3 in March City & State (or country) : I live in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, Gauteng in SOUTH AFRICA Favorite song to belt out in the car : How great is our God (Chris Tomlin)
Favorite low-fat snack : What's low fat (ha-ha)? I eat what I want to eat (in moderation of course) ... I just LOVE dark chocolate ... it's good for the heart, blood pressure & keeps us young!
Who is a role model for you --- and why? : I have several role models in various older women friends. It's good to walk with women friends who can give one good advice because they've been there & when I'm discouraged can direct me back to the Word of God & pray for me.
Have you discovered something new about yourself lately? Something you like or can do? : Oh yes! I can actually bake cupcakes & ice them! I am not a good cook at all. My husband makes much nicer food.
How do you deal with negative thoughts? : After the birth of my children & getting used to them (!) I went through a pretty bad patch. I'm fortunate to have friends who prayed for me. When something nega- tive hits me, I go back to the Word of God. I have an older friend who loves to challenge me with what the Bible says comparing to what people say.
Are you more like Mary or Martha in the Bible? How is this a blessing or a curse for you? : I'm more like Martha. I used to be a perfectionist concerning my home. After the birth of my children I realised I was on a very dangerous path as my children couldn't play anywhere without me picking up when they're still unpacking. I'm better now after a friend of mine made the remark that I'll always have my home but my children won't be with me forever.
Are you "up-to-date" with current trends? Oh yes, my friend challenged me more than a year ago to join her on Facebook so we can know what lies ahead for our children.
As a parent, what is one thing you think you've done right? : I'm teaching my children the Names of God (His Character) as well as when somebody are not feeling well, to pray for them. 25
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The  Good  Shepherd  ~   By  Victoria  B.  Jenkins     He  personally  carried  our  sins  in  his  body  on  the  cross  so  that  we  can  be  dead  to  sin  and  live  for  what  is  right.  By  his  wounds  you  are  healed.  Once  you  were  like  sheep  who  wandered  away.     But  now  you  have  turned  to  your  Shepherd,  the  Guardian  of  your  souls.  (1  Peter  2:24-Â25,  NLT)  The  enemy  has  a  nasty  way  of  twisting  matters  important  to  us.  Before  we've  even  seen  him  slith- ering  to  and  fro  in  our  lives,  he's  made  a  mess  of  things.   Â
We've  got  to  stop  giving  this  guy  a  say.      One  such  matter  of  import  to  me  is  to  live  honestly.  Saying  what  I  believe  and  living  it  out  loud  without  filtering  the  whens  and  wheres  of  it  all  is  more  to  me  than  all  the  Cinnamon-ÂSpice- Dunkin'-ÂDonuts-Âcoffee-Âfilled-ÂMary-ÂPoppins-Âmugs  in  the  world.  I  know,  I  should  have  warned  you  to  have  a  seat  before  spilling  them  {coffee}  beans.  Someone  should  have  warned  me,  too-Â- that  desire  knocks  me  on  my  bottom  more  often  than  not.     In  the  past,  my  pursuit  of  personal  authenticity  has  led  to  much  heartache.  Having  a  half-Âworking  GHILQLWLRQ RI D WHUP , ORYHG EOLQGO\ ÂłNHHSLQJ LW UHDO´ UHDOO\ KXUW $Q\RQH , HQFRXQWHUHG JRW WR have  all  of  me  in  some  way  or  another.  If  we  were  talking,  we  were  friends.  If  friends,  good  friends.  Good  friends  well  on  the  way  to  best.  Best  friends  know  each  other  and  want  only  good  for  one  another.  Right?  Not  always.     The  story  reads  much  the  same  in  family  and  in  romantic  relationships.  If  you  chose  me,  I  chose  you  back  and  we  were  100%  real  with  each  other.  I  not  only  made  the  mistake  of  putting  all  of  me  out  there,  I  also  expected  that  meant  everyone  else  did  the  same.  Talk  about  setting  myself  up  for  a  fall...and  another...and  another.      It  took  devastation  the  likes  of  which  I'd  never  even  imagined  to  shake  me  from  that  thinking. Â
And  I  wouldn't  change  it  for  anything.  God's  power  is  revealed  in  our  power- less  moments.  God's  power  is  also  revealed  when  we  simply  await  His  arrival  after  asking  Him  to  26 Â
show  up.     $V HDV\ DV LW ZDV WR EH UHDO ZLWK WKH SHRSOH LQ P\ OLIH \RXÂśG WKLQN JHWWLQJ UHDO ZLWK *RG ZRXOG have  come  naturally.  Not  so  much.  Harsh  words  spoken  in  an  argument  with  my  husband  started  a  nasty  downward  spiral.  I  wish  I  could  say  those  harsh  words  were  all  his,  but  really  my  own  attitude  startled  me  enough  to  give  satan  an  opening.  How  could  you  tear  your  husband  apart  verbally  while  professing  to  love  the  Lord  in  written  form?  There's  no  reconciling  that  wrong.  You're  living  an  online Â
faith  and  not  applying  it  to  real  life.  Hypocrite.  The  end.      The  following  days  were  like  any  other...Bible  study,  devotional  time,  homeschooling  my  little  ones,  zoo  trips  and  such.  Still,  there  was  this  double  life  going  on  inside  of  me.  You're  living  a  lie  and  no  one  is  fooled.  It's  so  easy  to  be  with  God  online,  no  one  really  knows  you  there.  You  don't  have  a  real  life  faith  in  works.  Where's  your  fruit?    Friends,  I  was  ready  to  run  for  the  hills  in  VKDPH , GLGQÂśW MXVW EH lieve  these  lies,  I  was  agreeing  with  them  and  denying  God's  providence  and  sover- eignty.  I'd  counteract  these  attacks  by  ac- knowledging  them  as  such.  Nothing  changed.  I'd  fight  them  off  with  words  of  affirmation.  Nothing  changed.  Finally,  I  just  had  to  get  real  with  my  God.      Finally.  Shouldn't  that  be  our  first  stop?  I'm  such  a  sheep  sometimes...wandering  off  and  wait- ing  for  God  to  find  me  instead  of  being  still  and  knowing  that  my  Shepherd  is  never  out  of  sight  if  I'd  just  look  around  for  Him.  Thankfully,  I'm  like  a  sheep  in  other  ways,  and  once  I  prayed  for  God  to  show  up  and  handle  this  attack  for  me,  I  saw  Him  move.  And  I  will  follow  where  He  leads,  like  a  good  sheep  belonging  to  The  Good  Shepherd.     Just  when  I  had  been  ready  to  buy  into  the  devil's  accusations,  God  presented  me  with  opportu- nities  to  allow  His  movement  in,  on,  and  through  some  real  life  relationships.  By  using  me  in  ways  He's  been  using  me  all  along,  our  faithful  Father  showed  me  that  the  more  I  put  myself  out  into  the  world,  the  more  He  will  set  me  apart  from  it.   Â
He'd  love  to  do  the  same  for  you.   ~  Whether  homeschooling,  housewifing,  or  hiding  from  the  laundry  heap,  Vic- WRULD LV JUDWHIXO WR EH D FRQWLQXDO ZRUN RI SURJUHVV LQ *RGÂśV KDQGV <RX FDQ MRLQ Victoria  each  Friday  as  she  shares  her  heart  for  Biblical  Friendship.   {http://biblicalfriendship.com}  27 Â
Dionna Sanchez is Founder & Edi- tor of Emphasis On Moms. She loves to write and minister to women after her first love : raising her chil- dren. madetomom@yahoo.com
Angie Maldonado writes the Hearstsrings column. She is a home schooling mom of two girls in Georgia.. She just published her first book dedicated to help- ing women let their lights shine for Jesus.
Jennifer Whitmer writes our Timeout col- umn. She is an accomplished music teacher, full-time mother of three and part time makeup artist. jenniferwhitmer@gmail.com
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Susan Lawrence is our Home Impressions Col- umnist. Her first Bible Study released in Spring 2001. Whether writing, speaking, or consulting, Susan strives to encourage and equip women.
Sarah Markley writes our Nurture Your
Soul column. She is a freelance writer and a stay at home mom. Sarah blogs daily about faith, marriage and mother- ing at SarahMarkley.com.
Edie Bunch submits our Social Graces tips. She is a military wife and registered pharmacist who has chosen to stay at home with her children.
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$P\ 0F&RUPLFN VXEPLWV RXU ³3RWSRXUUL´ tips. She is a single mom and a special edu- cation teacher. She aspires to be a writer and KDV SHQQHG D FKLOGUHQ¶V ERRN DQG VRPH VLQ gle parenting literature.
Cheryl Heindel writes our Treasure Box de- votionals. She lives in Idaho and is active in her church and prison ministry with her husband, Bob.
Zhanna Mikhno s a stay at home mom to 2 little girls and a wife to her best friend. She holds a B.A in English Literature & Crea- tive Writing.
Victoria B. Jenkins is grateful to be a continual work of progress in God's hands. You can join Victoria each Friday as she shares her heart for Biblical Friendship. {http://biblicalfriendship.com.}
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Does Emphasis encourage your heart?? Take a minute to let Dionna know, or support the ministry through prayer or a donation. Visit http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com or email at mailto:madetomom@yahoo.com ~~~~~~~~~~ The appearance of advertising in Emphasis should not be inter- preted as an endorsement of the service, product, business, or pro- gram being advertised. Emphasis On Moms takes no responsibility for claims or representations made in any ads. Emphasis On Moms is for informational purposes only and is a not- for-profit publication. In no event shall Dionna Sanchez be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its publication, in- cluding any action for infringement of copyright or defamation. ~~~~~~~~~~ 1R DUWLFOHV PD\ EH XVHG ZLWKRXW WKH DXWKRU¶V FRQVHQW ~~~~~~~~~~ EMPHASIS ON MOMS is here for you as a ministry to encourage your heart. It comes from Dionna's heart and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have a prayer request or would like to find out more how you can ask Jesus into your heart to become a part of your life;; email at madetomom@yahoo.com.
Do you need help? Social networking, blogging, freelance writing, editing, speech writing? Ask Dionna WR JLYH \RX D KDQG ,I \RX¶UH LQWHUHVWHG LQ KLULQJ her²email at mailto:madetomom@yahoo.com.
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