Wednesday Worship: More

Not much to say today. Just More...

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Neglecting Blog, Neglecting Me

I've been pretty neglectful over here. But that's because I've been neglecting me to a certain extent.

Exercising? Random and rare. Leg muscles still sore after Saturday's 45 min workout. Used to be a piece of cake.

Eating right? Not really. I'm very thankful I haven't put on a boatload of lbs, especially with those daily slices of chocolate cake I've been eating for the last week and a half. I'm still down 20 lbs on the year, and feeling good about that.

Anxious? A little. Lots going on and sometimes when this happens, I get a bit robotic. Doing all the things I'm required to do for everyone else, but not much for myself. Also, on the verge of a breakthrough in one area, and it's so hard to be patient...

Worshipping? Not enough. In fact, God is dealing with me over one of my favorite ways to relax...reading. Not so much what I'm reading but the reading itself. Anything can become a god. Have books become mine?

This happens periodically throughout the year. There's even some pattern, like the beginning or ending of the school year or the year-end holidays. Those are my three major pressure points, I think. I start to miss things, forget things, ignore things...

Time to step back, focus, and get rejuvenated. Think I'll start with that last one, the worship. In doing something about that one, I suspect God will answer the question about books and gods. Just hope it's not the answer I don't want to hear.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Victorious Magazine Launch Celebration

VICTORIOUS Magazine is the cornerstone of our public communication, providing access to articles representing our victorious message! By reaching out directly to each woman and touching on the concerns that are on her heart we are able to encourage her to press on toward her dreams to live victoriously, taking control of her own destiny and achieving her true purpose. Our editorial content is designed to validate the importance of the things that appeal to her on all levels - personally, professionally, spiritually, and mentally - in a way that only women can understand.

Our article categories include Destiny & Purpose, Inspiration & Empowerment, Stewardship, Victorious Living, Victorious Wellness, and Style & Grace. The publication launched its digital version March 30, 2009. The first print issue of VICTORIOUS MAGAZINE will hit the newsstands September 2009, with an initial circulation of 25,000.


Featured Columnist - Sandra Hersey

Sandra Hersey is a Christian Life Coach for Women, Author, Minister, Motivational Speaker, and the Founder of G.I.R.L.S ~ Girls Inspiring Real Life Success. As a life coach and minister Sandra’s primary focus is helping women discover their gifts, strengths, and to lead more successful lives as they learn who they are in Christ.
http://www.sandrahersey.com

God is Not Fair
by Sandra Hersey

As children we would always yell out "that's not fair" when we were wronged by someone. And as adults we may cover up our true feelings by confessing "life is not fair" when we have not be given something we truly feel we deserve. I can even confess to you as a parent I have proclaimed those immortal words: "life is not fair" too many times to my children when they were sadly presented with the wrong reward in life.

Check out the rest of this article at VictoriousMagazine.com.

For the full schedule visit, http://bit.ly/VictoriousMagazineLaunch.

Wednesday Worship -- Heritage Mass Choir of Korea

In case you've ever doubted that music is universal, and that God transcends all language and cultural barriers, check out the Heritage Mass Choir of Korea. I enjoy them so much, I've got two videos for your pleasure. Thanks Chicki!

First, My Desire is to Worship God:

Then, Because of Who You Are:

Thanks God we truly worship the God of all!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Wednesday Worship: You Are God Alone

A Happy 88th Birthday to my mother, my first diamond, and a belated happy birthday to to my mother-in-law, my freshwater pearl, who celebrated hers on yesterday. They both will love today's worship too.


I can't believe I haven't used this one before now. This songs always dissolves me into tears, grateful for a God so big who loves little me so much.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Wednesday Worship: Right Time, Right Place

Is there such a thing as a wrong time or wrong place to be blessed by God? I don't know but I sure what to be in the Right Time, Right Place.

Happy Birthday, Mommy! 88 years young!!!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Happy Mother's Day

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Wednesday Worship (on Thursday): One God

Boy, this week I've lost track of the days! The school year is wrapping up, with awards ceremonies, BBQs, final projects, etc.

Today is Thursday but I'm giving you "Wednesday Worship" anyway. :)

Also, today is the National Day of Prayer. For some recent books on prayer, try these two: The 7 Great Prayers for a Lifetime of Hope & Blessings and Praying to Change Your Life: A Guide to Productive Prayer.

Today's worship, Maurette Brown-Clark, a childhood friend of my husband's, singing One God...

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Bad Decisions Can Have Tragic Results

Tragedy is something most, if not all, parents would love to protect their children from.

Not gonna happen.

My almost-14-yo has met tragedy.

I'm not talking death, because death is but one form of tragedy, and not all death is tragic. Plus, we've never shielded our children from death because it's a natural part of life.

But I would give anything to shield him from tragedy, from unexpected, calamitous happenings drenched in unhappiness, even if there's a lesson to be learned.

Both have involved schoolmates of his.

First, a senior, just days from Senior Day and weeks from graduation, dies from an accidental gunshot wound. The exact events are unknown, but the young man was at the home of a friend.

All I could think was how that young man's parents must feel. I whispered a prayer for their peace. How does one make peace with believing that you've ushered your child to that first major milestone, the high school graduation, only to have your beliefs, hopes, and dreams cut short so abruptly just yards from the finish line?

Second, a former classmate and teammate was expelled from my son's former school allegedly for selling and building a network of others to sell drugs within the school. This same young man, only 14 himself, recently lost his father suddenly, after which his mother took seriously ill, and he found himself missing school to care for younger siblings.

I whispered a prayer for his strength, his judgment, and his future. This one is burning within me because I grew up in a similar urban, blue-collar neighborhood back in NY, with little or no commerce, loaded with misguided youth and lots of misspent potential.

Both situations are tragic because they stem from poor decisions. One resulted in death, the other possibly heading down a wrong path due to bad circumstances.

We talked about the situations, about how each might have been avoided, and about how quickly life can turn on a dime. We talk about being grateful for God's grace and mercy, and for our family.

I saw a sadness in my son's eyes, and heard a catch in his throat as we talked about this most recent event. I turned away so he could have his moment of emotion without Mommy intrusion.

I want to protect him, to shield him, but the Word doesn't tell us, as Christians, that we will be spared tragedy. All we can do is trust in God's guidance to make good decisions, and to help us through whatever situations we find ourselves in.

It's tough to watch the scales of innocence fall from my baby's eyes, even though I know it's part of his maturation.

Just the thoughts on my heart today...

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia