Nazarene Family Services

Bad First Impressions - Bluefish TV

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 12:54:00 +0000

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 04:31:00 +0000

“I suppose when we wake on January 1 the world will look the same. But there is a reminder of the Resurrection at the start of each new year, each new decade. That's why I also like sunrises, Mondays, and new seasons. God seems to be saying, "With me you can always start afresh." Ada Lum

Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 04:28:00 +0000

I received a complimentary copy of When A Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh to review from Thomas Nelson Publishers several years ago. Finally got around to reading it this week.

Walsh states, “The greatest challenge to trust is when he allows us – or even more so, those we love – to suffer.” In this book Walsh tells her personal experience with depression and how she learned to let go and trust God. In this book Walsh provides hope through the Biblical stories of David, Tabitha, Paul Moses, Gideon, Joseph, and Abraham.

As a counselor I am always looking for good books to recommend to my clients. This book will go to the top of my list. It is full of inspirational quotes and scripture verses that remind us that God can be trusted, even when we don’t understand the whys of our situation.

I often tell my clients that God is more interested in our progress than our perfection. Walsh states, “If the whole point of the journey is to learn to become more like Jesus, which is to trust God 100 percent, then the places we have been or where we are headed seem to fade into insignificance.”

If you are a woman who has difficulty trusting God this would be a great book to use as a Bible Study. The discussion questions in the back of the book are helpful in working through each chapter, and would be great for use in a women’s group.

Sunday's Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 16:51:00 +0000

"Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead, that is where your future lies."

Ann Landers

Sunday's Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:49:00 +0000

Sunday's Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:37:00 +0000

"Truth becomes hard if it is not softened by love; love becomes soft if it is not strengthened by truth." - John Stott

Forgiveness

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:46:00 +0000

Cahoots

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:38:00 +0000

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots.
Apparently, you can't go alone.
You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito.
I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane.
They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there.
I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense!
It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart!
At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!

I may have been in Continent, and I don't remember what country I was in.
It's an age thing.

15 Grammar Goofs That Make You Look Silly

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:19:00 +0000

Like this infographic? Get more copywriting tips from Copyblogger.

So True...

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:33:00 +0000

Stress Management

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Teach Our Daughters

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:01:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Worry

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:14:00 +0000

Gungor - Beautiful Things

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:15:00 +0000

Leadership Summit

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:59:00 +0000

I spent the past two days at the Willowcreek Global Leadership Summit. I’m not sure how many years I have attended the summit, but I think this year was my favorite (although I think I say that every year!). I always walk away inspired and ready to take action. One of the speakers, Stephen Furtick, made the statement, ”if all you have is a good idea you are a day dreamer, not a visionary. It takes audacious faith to move from inspiration to implementation.” I wonder how many good ideas I have never acted on in my life. I can think of several business ideas, several personal goals, and many relational opportunities missed. My prayer today is that I find that audacious faith to carry out the next idea, and maybe even dust off some of the old ones.

Layman's 10 Commandments

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Wed, 18 May 2011 13:37:00 +0000

Layman's 10 Commandments.

1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout.

2] So a Car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear view Mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on.

3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4] All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.

5] Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!

6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, it's just a bend, not the end!

7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.

8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"

9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today'sPEACE.

A Day Made of Glass... Made possible by Corning.

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:14:00 +0000

Sunday's Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:02:00 +0000

“The most important discovery of our time is the realization that we can alter our lives by altering our attitudes.” William James

Weight Loss Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:14:00 +0000

Bike Ride with God

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:57:00 +0000

At first I saw God as an observer, maybe someone with a telescope who watched me from far away. He was like a judge, keeping track of what I did right and what I did wrong. At the end of my life, He would decide whether I deserved heaven or hell. I did not know God back then.

Later on I met Jesus, and I started to see life like a bike ride. It was a tandem bike and now Jesus was in the back helping me to pedal. I don't know just when He suggested that we switch places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control I knew what way I wanted to go. It was a little boring but predictable. I had the same friends, we did the same things. Life was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead, He showed me delightful long cuts, up mountains and through rocky places at break-neck speed. It was all I could do to hang on. Even though sometimes it all seemed crazy, He'd just keeping saying "pedal."

I would become worried and ask: "Where are you taking me? Can I trust you?" But He'd just laugh and say "yes" and slowly I started to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say I'm scared he'd lean back and take my hand. He took me to meet people I never thought I would ever associate with and they would become my friends. They had things that I needed: gifts of acceptance and joy, lessons about life and love. And sometimes we'd meet people who needed a gift from me. I'd never done that before. When I would be overwhelmed by it all, Jesus would just smile and say, "I told you it would be fun!"

I must say I did not trust Him at first in control of my life. I thought he would wreck it. But He knows bike secrets, and I have learned that they are the secrets of life, too. He knows how to take sharp corners, how to jump high rocks and how to stop and rest in the most amazing places. Now I am just learning to enjoy being with my Lord, to pedal without fear in the strangest and beautiful places, to enjoy the wind in my hair and the sun on my face. I could never have gone where I have gone, or seen what I have seen, or become what I have become without Him. And still He just says, "Pedal." -anonymous

Sunday's Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 01:14:00 +0000

"To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future be totally unlike your past. Your history is not your destiny."

Alan Cohen

Sunday's Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 13:11:00 +0000

Drinking from the Saucer

I never made a fortune,
And I'll never make one now.
But it doesn't really matter
"cause I'm happy anyhow.
As I go along my journey,
I'm reaping better than I've sown.
I'm drinking from the saucer
"cause my cup has overflowed.

I don't have a lot of riches,
And sometimes the going's rough.
But while I've got friends to love me,
I think I'm rich enough.
I'll just thank God for blessings
That His mercy has bestowed.
I'm drinking from the saucer
"cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already blessed enough.
May I never be too busy to help
bear another's load
Then I'll be drinking from the saucer
"cause my cup has overflowed.

Author Unknown

Sunday's Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:02:00 +0000

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

- Author Unknown

Sunday's Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diana) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 02:57:00 +0000

Just For Today

Just for today I will try to live through this day only nad not tackle my whole life program at once. I can do some things for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt I had to keep them up for a lifetime.

Just for today I will be happy. This assumes what Abraham Lincoln said is true: that "most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is from within. It is not a matter of externals.

Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, and nourish it, and not abuse it or neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my will.

Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer all day. I will read something that requires effort, thought, and concentration.

Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: (1) I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count; (2) I will do at least two things I don't want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise; (3) I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt. They may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with appreciation, criticize not one bit nor find fault with anything, and not try to regulate or improve anyone.

Just for today I will have a program. I will write down just what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I'll have it. It will save me from the two pests of hurry and indecision.

Just for today Ill have a quiet half hour, all by myself, and relax. In this half hour, sometime, I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective in my life.

Just for today I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love and to believe that those I love, love me.

Robert L. Wood