How Do YOU Smell?

Wow! What a question to have to ask yourself. But we had to ask ourselves this question while struggling through a love-hate relationship with the book, “Having a Mary Spirit” by Joanna Weaver. We have been gathering together every fourth Friday of the month in our Book Club to discuss the good, bad and the ugly.
As women, we all think we smell pretty good when we cover our outside with Prada, Juicy Couture, Vera Wang or another great smelling cologne. Or gulp down a peppermint without brushing our teeth. But that is not the kind of “smell” I am talking about. When you are in the presence of others, what causes the “Flesh Woman” to make you smell offensive?
Joanna, shares a very cute story about her “Flesh Woman” experience with her four year old son that we can all relate to in some way or another. Let me paraphrase it for you.
“We were in a tug of war of the wills. We went back and forth, neither one of us willing to give in or admit that we were out of line. I would ask him to do something and he wouldn’t. Our total frustration brought us both to a nose-to-nose confrontation. I said John Michael your attitude stinks! With one hand on my hip, I pointed my finger in his little face. I summed up the problem, because he needed correcting. But I saw something else in his eyes. It was as though I’d taken his heart and crumpled it like a juice box. While his defiance may have melted slightly, I could see hurt flooding in to take its place. “Oh yeah?” he said in a small trembling voice. A voice I needed to hear. ‘Well your breath doesn’t smell very good either.” From the mouth of babes!”1
When we try to do a “quick fix” to a problem rather than deal with what fault line is lurking on the inside of us, then we will always struggle with the “Flesh Woman”. Character flaws that go unchecked never lay dormant for long. They always find a way to resurrect themselves.
If you want to know how you are doing on the “Smelly scale” ask a real friend. One who wants to make sure you smell your best at all times. Don’t ask a husband that you have to sleep with or that friend that you can intimidate.
But a true friend will never let you walk around like the character “Pigpen” of Peanuts leaving a residue of a bad smell. That friend will help you to stop wrestling with the “Flesh Woman” and transform into the “Spirit Woman” designed by God.
Come on friend let’s continue this journey together with our author, Joanna Weaver.


1 Weaver, Joanna; “Having a Mary Spirit”; Waterbrook Press; Santa Rosa California; 2006; pg. 47

FEAR

Lady J Book Club ladies:

We covered so much in our last book club gathering in February. Our author, Joanna Weaver has been truly enlightening through her non-defensive writings. Today, I want to capitalize on one key area of our sharing and that is removing fear from our emotions. Fear is such a crippling disease. It keeps us from moving forward and grabbing hold to what belongs to us.

You may have heard me share this story many times before that I am not fond of mice. I have a real natural fear of those little creatures. I know many people tell me that we are larger than them, but that doesn’t matter they create great fear in my life. I have gone from jumping in chairs while taking dictation from my boss to jumping on top of pool tables because of seeing a mouse. May I remind you that I am not a small framed lady in any sense of the word. However, just the thought of seeing a mouse in front of me or on television, paralyzes my emotions.

Now, you may not have this kind of fear for these little furry creatures, but there may be another kind of fear that puts a strong demand on your emotions that disengages you from moving forward. Just to list a few: fear of the past, fear of moving into an unknown territory or fear of starting all over again in a relationship. Whatever the case may be, don’t let fear paralyze you!

As the author stated in her book, “don’t let a fearful heart cause you to shrink from duty or compromise your principles.” Neither should you think that making a strong commitment to move forward will cause some prominent person would think less of you. If they do, they will get over it! Kathy Bates did, in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. When her amazon female alter ego “Twanda” came out, she stood up for herself and took control.

You may not have an alter ego character, but the power of God in you should stand up and take control over every paralyzing situation in your life so that you can move forward successfully.

Until next time, on our journey of reading we will discover what kind of spirit we operate out of most of the time. We will ask: is it critical? Competitive? Or controlling? HHHMMM!?!

Note: Lady J Book Club meets every 4th Friday of the month @ l2 noon at Calvary Revival Church. We are reading Having a Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver…for more information check out my website http://www.janeenmcbath.com/

Moments of Contentment

Contentment in the 2lst century is not a natural response for us. We are faced with so much pain, economic stress and struggle that place demands on our peace.

Listen we don’t even have to sow these brambles they just come up naturally. Apostle Paul says, “…I have learned to be content” (Phil 4:1) Paul even knew to be content doesn’t come naturally, but it must take time to be learned.

I like the smell and look of beautiful flowers. However, I don’t have the greenest thumb to care for them at times. But someone said if you want flowers there must be a garden and a gardener’s care in order to cultivate the garden. Therefore just liking flowers was not good enough. There must be the cultivation for life.

That is how peace and contentment is to God’s kingdom. Peace is given to us, as Christians, but we must know how to cultivate it. We must take on the discipline of the gardener and exercise contentment in an unstable generation through our continual relationship with Him.

Discipline allows us to experience powerful moments of contentment on a daily basis. This kind of contentment will come naturally and be acquired gradually as we need it.

So together let’s quiet our murmurings, natural though they may be, and become a student in the School of Contentment.

Check out Bishop Courtney McBath’s messages on “Pursuing Kingdom Life” at http://www.crcglobal.org/

Picture This!

Have you ever found yourself reading a good book and all of a sudden you began to imagine yourself as one of the characters in the story? Or maybe you were watching a good movie and suddenly you became so engaged in the storyline that you saw yourself acting out the part you connected with best?

Now picture that! All of us at one time or another put ourselves in the middle of some director’s script only to realize that we are not the actual actors or actresses in the movie, but our passion for the role or the story became so real and close to our heart.

December 2009, I was in Uganda and had the opportunity to visit an orphanage during my trip. I put myself in the story, as I listened to the director of the orphanage share the daily struggles and heartache of caring for these children. Due to the lack of sponsorships, some of the children did not get to eat during the day, but I get to eat when I want too. My children get to eat everyday. I listened as they sent the children back home at the end of their day at the orphanage, as they coaxed them how to protect themselves from guardians who would rape and abuse them. I put myself in the picture and saw how difficult it would be for me to give this kind of advice to five year olds. By placing myself in this picture my heart ached and was torn with grief. I left that country determined to sponsor as many children I could so that they could experience a better life.

Over the last twenty-five days, America became a part of a picture when the nation of Haiti was hit with one of the worst earthquakes ever. Personally, I tried to put myself in the picture by being a mother who was thankful for being alive, but yet devastated because I could not find my children. Better yet, being a mother who had to bury her husband and children after pulling them from the rubble. Herein is a role that I would struggle to play and opt to give to another.

However, these are the moments when we must refuse to shut up the bowels of our compassion, and step into the picture with our hearts willing to serve in any way we can. Many of us cannot take a trip to Haiti and get in the picture, but we can put our money into the picture.

Today, take a moment and decide to get into the Haiti picture. The director is auditioning for roles. What role will you play in helping life to be better for someone else?

Find an organization that you can link to and put your resources into the picture. If you do not have one, link to http://www.crcglobal.org/ today and become a role player for the good of others.

Is There Anything I Can Boast About?

The year 2009 is swiftly coming to an end. Many of us ask the question “where did the year go?” We then proceed to reflect and examine our lives throughout the year and make assumptions that we’re able to salvage some good out of the year based upon our own ability or means.

We look at our lives and we say, “At least I have my health, if I don’t have anything else”. But can we really say that? We can’t boast in our prosperity of health because life existed only because God allowed it to be. (Prov. 3:7-8)

Some of us look at our jobs and say, “Well, my skills and education allowed me to have a job at the end of the year even in the midst of a recession.” Not. Your skills and education have nothing to do with you remaining employed. God gave you the skills and He showed favor for you in the sight of man. (James l:l7)

“When I look at my family and the children I birthed, I am ending my year with memories.” True. Memories are always extremely good to have in our lifetime, both good and bad. However, we would not have these memories if God didn’t give us the seeds to procreate and bring forth life. Such memories would not exist without this act of nature. (Deut. 30:9; Ps. l27:5)

“Alright, what do I say to all that I possess by way of purpose and ministry?” Everything that we own comes from God. We don’t own anything. We are just stewards over what we are enjoying on this earth.
(Ps. 24: 1)

So my friend, in a nutshell, we can’t boast about health, family, marriage, purpose, jobs, talents or even ministry. Everything we take pride in, God allowed it!

But there is one thing that our Heavenly Father has allowed us to boast in--our salvation.

“May it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Through which the world has been crucified
To me, and I to the world” – Galatians 6:14 NASB

So during this holiday season, when you are sitting around making memories with loved ones, boast in the right things. Teach others about what is truly important in life. (Deut. 6:4-9)

Make mention of not only how God sent His son into the world, but the life of salvation and purpose that His son allows us to end each year.

Enjoy the rest of your moments this year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Never Can Say Goodbye Immortalized

”Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid of hold of it yet; but one thing I do forgetting what lies behind and reaching towards what lies ahead” Phil. 3:13
In August of 2009, one musical icon known as Michael Jackson was immortalized. This surprising event shook the music industry, as well as our nation who grew up singing the words to this favorite song “Never can say good‐bye.” As I watched loved ones, family and friends say good‐bye to their icon the feelings displayed were remorseful and devastating to see. Saying good‐bye to loved ones is never easy, no matter how hard you work to put the words in the right place. Have you ever thought that is the same way it is when it comes to saying good‐bye to old ways of thinking or habits? You stand in the mirror mimicking the words, “it’s time to say good‐bye to this.” That “this” is whatever keeps us trapped in our yesterday. But as soon as you walk away, you begin rationalizing how it may not be necessary to say good‐bye totally. Paul, must have felt this emotion when he said, “I do not regard myself as laying hold of it YET.” In other words, I may not have all the right words or emotions right now or at this moment... BUT, I must come to the place in my life where I must say good‐bye to things that keep me paralyzed in my past. As hard as it may seem, I must disconnect so that I can lay hold to what is before me. Even our loved ones who we have had to say good‐bye to would want us to disengage from our disappointed, hurtful emotions so that we can lay hold of our tomorrows and share the rest of their story with others. There may have been some traumatic situations or relationships that have attached themselves to your life but get the nerve to say good‐bye to the emotional damage it has done, so that it will no longer stagnate your life’s journey and dreams. Today, make a decision to let it go out of one hand and with the same energy and moment take the other hand to reach toward your future.