Faith Friends & Money

The Friends We Keep




During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.

The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:

• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?

With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

Sarah Zacharias Davis is a senior advancement officer at Pepperdine University , having joined the university after working as vice president of marketing and development for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and in strategic marketing for CNN. The daughter of best-selling writer Ravi Zacharias, Davis is the author of the critically-acclaimed Confessions from an Honest Wife and Transparent: Getting Honest About Who We are and Who We Want to Be. She graduated from Covenant College with a degree in education and lives in Los Angeles , California .

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40 Minute Bible Study series


Titles Include:
•The Essentials of Effective Prayer •Being a Disciple: Counting the Cost
•Building a Marriage That Really Works •Discovering What the Future Holds
•Forgiveness: Breaking the Power of the Past •Having a Real Relationship with God
•How Do You Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk? •Living a Life of Real Worship
•How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret •Living Victoriously in Difficult Times
•Money & Possessions: The Quest for Contentment •Rising to the Call of Leadership
•How Do You Know God’s Your Father? •Key Principles of Biblical Fasting
•A Man’s Strategy for Conquering Temptation •What Does the Bible Say About Sex?

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Being Carried...

I haven't posted my 90 Day Jumpstart process in a while---it was halted---because I was being carried through life's experiences.






Footprints in the Sand


One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you."


- Mary Stevenson

Be Diligent

Proverbs 6:6-11

Go to the ant, you sluggard;consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-
and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

Rise and shine! I am a morning person who recently found myself dragging. My internal clock wakes up between 4:30-5:00 a.m. , but I find myself rushing to find things to wear, complaining over unfinished work, and super hungry!

The cure to my problem is getting my clothes and work items ready the night before. I make sure I have a healthy dinner, with protein to curb morning cravings. In the morning I eat my protein first---such as a boiled egg or Canadian bacon with my meal.

I do want to improve my morning conversations, which can get negative. I'm still participating in The No Complaining Rule.

I know my mood at the beginning of my day affects my whole day, and I make sure sure I do these things:

Morning Routine

• TAG (Time Alone With God) - Bible Reads, Devotional, Quiet Time, Pray
• Morning Tea
• Quick Morning Shower
• Hearty & Healthy Breakfast
• Morning Prayer With Mother
• Positive Conversation *

DAILY GUIDEPOSTS: Here's a wonderful way to start your day with one of my favorites from Norman Vincent Peale.

FREE PDF BOOKLET: How To Have A Good Day Everyday

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Proverbs 31: 10-13

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

Sleep In Peace - Day 11

To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah

I lie down and sleeep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. - Psalm 3:4-6

Affirmation: I lie down and sleep in peace.

I lie down, sleep and wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

This resonates with me because last week, I had a difficult time sleeping. I was concerned about my grandmother’s health, along with dealing with family confusion over her recovery.

I’ve gone to books, programs, answer boards, and every possible source for help. Although having a multitude of counselors can be a good thing, if it gets in the way of your relationship with God, then it’s a problem. My problem is seeking, seeking, and never looking at my source, which is God.

I also find myself waking up angry and complaining after exhaustingly falling to sleep. And I’m excited to prepare a way to rest and recover. I don’t want exhaustion to be the only way to sleep.

I am committed to a No Complain Fast, and this will assist in my night time sleep and morning routing.

EVENING ROUTINE:
A light dinner
A mild herbal tea
A brief devotional or scripture review
No Complaining

Tomorrow's To-Do's & Today's Reflection (Mind Dump)

Getting Clothes Ready (related to morning routine in my next post)

A dark room to sleep in

Prayer & Gratitude




In a former post, Secrets to Rest And Relaxation , I posted sleep tips from the Mayo Clinic.

Don't eat or drink large amounts before bedtime. Eat a light dinner about two hours before sleeping. If you're prone to heartburn, avoid spicy or fatty foods, which can make your heartburn flare and prevent a restful sleep. Also, limit how much you drink before bed. Too much liquid can cause you to wake up repeatedly during the night for trips to the bathroom.

Start a relaxing bedtime routine. Do the same things each night to tell your body it's time to wind down. This may include taking a warm bath or shower, reading a book, or listening to soothing music. Relaxing activities done with lowered lights can help ease the transition between wakefulness and sleepiness.

Go to bed when you're tired and turn out the lights. If you don't fall asleep within 15 to 20 minutes, get up and do something else. Go back to bed when you're tired. Don't agonize over falling asleep. The stress will only prevent sleep.

For More Information, go to the Mayo Clinic Sleep Center and MSN's Sleep Like A Baby.

Proverbs 31:

12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands

Devote Yourself To Prayer

My mother and I pray every morning, and I truly believe that my family has sustained because of it. I know for sure we are much more in tune with God's voice because of it.

I witnessed my mother live a "pray without ceasing life," and have experienced God's "daily bread" and "heaven coming down to earth." I have to be thankful--even when I slip--I repent because pray moves mountains, pray opens doors. I must always remember, and never forget!

Matthew 6:8-13

8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

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Proverbs 31:12-13: She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

Affirmation: I devote myself to pray, being watchful and thankful.

Stay Planted In The Word Of God

12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. - Proverbs 31:12-13

Psalm 1:1-3

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

BIBLE STUDY

To me, this scripture means to stay focus and nurtured by the Word of God. When your focus is on growing, your attention won’t be on gossiping, coveting, or listening to wickedness in the form or lies, rumors and gossip. This instructs me to take my eyes off everyone else and their business---especially if it’s not aligned with Phillipians 4:8 .

My source of growth depends on my time in the Word---which includes memorizing, meditating, and reading. I've had the sower's parable experience where I received the Word readily, but had it snatch away when trials came into my life. If I have a strong foundation in God's Word with faith, I will stay deeply rooted and mature .

Affirmation: I study God’s Word so my life is fruitful; everything I do prospers.

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MORE POWERTOOLS

TAG & Powertool Pictures

Here's my Time Alone With God space

Here's my collection of positive books for my Power Tools