“Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them.  They’ll keep your soul alive and well, they’ll keep you fit and attractive.”  ~Proverbs 3:21-22 (The Message)

In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s extremely important to keep balance in our daily activities, relationships, and responsibilities.

When things seem out of control, it’s good to re-evaluate your commitments and be realistic with prioritizing and/or elimnating each of them.  Below are a few tips to help you do this:

1. On a sheet of paper, write down everything you have commited yourself to or are responsible for (include family responsibilities, church responsibilities, jobs, extra-curricular activities, etc.)
2. Highlight the things that are ABSOLUTELY necessary
3. Place an “X” over the things that could be eliminated

After completing these three steps, number 1-5 on a separate piece of paper. 

List in order of importance the highlighted responsibilities.

Remember, your priorities should follow this standard:  God first, family second, then other responsibilities in descending order.

There’s a popular country song that has the line, “Live like you were dying”.  Think about it…..It might help you maintain your priorities!

“Integrity and the Anointing”

Come join me tonight at 7:00 pm

Lake Region H/S

 Eagle Lake, FL

ONE HOUR OF PURE POWER!

Exciting!  Relevant!  Life Changing!

 “Married & Lovin’ It”

Building a Rock Solid Marriage

March 12th-13th

Marriage Enrichment Conference, Lake Region H/S, Eagle Lake, FL

Topics:

• Why Are We So Different?

• Just Us Girls

• For Men Only

• Practical Parenting (break-out session)

• Constant Communication (break-out session)

• Any Quesions?

“Through God’s Word and real-life experiences,  This seminar is filled with laughter, discovery, and revelation, and equips couples to “let go of the little and embrace the luscious!”

$25 per couple (Due on or before March 7th)

(Includes dinner Friday evening & lunch on Saturday)

Schedule:

Friday, March 12th, 7:00-9:30pm

Saturday, March 14th, 9:00am-5:00pm

To register, for more information, or to sponsor a couple, contact us at brigette@brigettewagner.com or mail payment to PO Box 2232, Winter Haven, FL  33883.

    “Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them.  They’ll keep your soul alive and well, they’ll keep you fit and attractive.”  ~Proverbs 3:21-22 (The Message)

As a mom, minister, wife, friend, business woman, and music teacher, life gets “a little crazy” at times.  Most days are spent helping the kids with school, running them to gymnastics or dance, working, ministry, cleaning, and “putting out fires”.

Years ago, I realized that I had to find a way to “create balance out of everyday chaos”.

If you struggle with keeping balance in your life, you might find that balance by incorporating the following:

• Color Coded Calendar – Get a calendar (month-at-a-glance).  Write in appointments and re-occuring responsibilities 3-6 months out.  Color-code (i.e. Orange = family, Green = special appts., Blue = business, etc.)
• Make a List – Get a small, spiral bound  notebook.  Write each day of the week on the top of the paper.  List appointments accordingly by importance or time.  If a task isn’t completed on the assigned day, move that task to the next day.  When all tasks are completed for each day, remove that sheet from the notebook.
• Disperse Household Duties – make responsibilities age appropriate for kids. 
• Use Your Electronic Secretary – Allow voice mail to answer calls.  Return calls at a convenient time.  This is not being rude.  It’s managing your time wisely.
• Make Meals Easier – Use a crock-pot to prepare meals.  Prepare extra food when cooking so you can freeze the left-overs and use them on a busy day.
• Combine Errands – Look at your week and group errands together so your “running time” is used to it’s fullest potential.
• Carpooling - Trade driving the kids to sports/activities with a friend.  
• Kid Swap – Trade babysitting hours with a friend.  This will give both you and her several hours of “alone time” to run errands or go to appointments that are not kid appropriate.

There’s much to be said about prioritizing.  I’ll share some great tips with you about that next time.

You don’t have to feel like things are “out of control”.  Take a little time to implement these proven steps for creating balance in your life.  You’ll be glad you did!

*photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

  “That clinches it – help’s coming.  An answer’s on the way.  Everything’s going to work out.”  ~Psalm 20:6  (The Message Bible)

Years ago, there was a very popular song entitled “The Anchor Holds” sung by Ray Boltz.  This song, which became one of Ray’s biggest hits, was written by one of his friends who had lost a child. 

I thank God today that I don’t know the agony of losing a child!   But I understand the challenges of going through difficult situations.  Many of us have never had such tragedy as losing a child; but have walked through situations where we didn’t know how we were going to “get to the other side” or at times, how we would even get out of bed to face another day.

Fear, depression, anxiety, doubt, and even unbelief can creep in unexpectedly if we don’t “stay on our guard”.  The enemy begins whispering in our ears, telling us one lie after another. 

When we allow him to create a “crack” in our faith, he won’t stop there.  He’ll keep applying pressure on the crack until it becomes a huge “sink hole” (something we Floridians are very familiar with).

As we’ve walked through our own battles, the Lord directed me to the scripture noted above.  I love The Message interpretation!  He also reminded of that old song, “The Anchor Holds”.  I want to share those words with you:

The Anchor Hold
I have journeyed
Through the long, dark night
Out on the open sea
By faith alone
Sight unknown
And yet His eyes were watching me

The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm.

I’ve had visions
I’ve had dreams
I’ve even held them in my hand
But I never knew
They would slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand

I have been young
But I am older now
And there has been beauty
That these eyes have seen
But it was in the night
Through the storms of my life
Oh, thats where God proved
His love to me

If you’ve going through the storms of life, hold on to Psalm 20 and allow the words of this beautiful song to be your testimony today.   Allow them to bring hope and determination in your life. 

 DON’T GIVE UP! Everything’s going to work out!

   “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit”.  ~Romans 8:1

For many years, I struggled with the fear of disappointing others and the possibility of losing relationships.  What’s funny is that I had no idea that this issue was so powerful in my life until I found myself at the ER, having an extreme anxiety attack.

Because of this experience and years of battling to overcome this issue in my life, my heart’s desire is to see people set free of “people pleasing addiction”.  So ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I in constant fear of what others think about me or my decisions?
2. Do I make decisions based upon what I believe God calls me to?  Or do I make decisions based upon what others expect of me?
3. Am I willing to change?

There are two major influences in people’s lives which cause them to become “people pleasers”.  One is Fear.  The other is Insecurity.

Fear has many facets…..fear of other’s being angry because of your decision; fear of disappointing others; fear of rejection; fear of loss; fear of failure.

Insecurity is based in fear but presents itself when our sense of security and self-worth is based upon what others think of us, our social status, our job/career, and even our marriage.

We have to make a conscious choice to overcome “people pleasing addiction”.  I believe God creates EVERY person with a special purpose and plan.  We are created with value – a free gift from God.  It is not determined by people.

To overcome in this area of our lives, we must:

•  
  • Decide to CHANGE our way of thinking
  • Have POSITIVE self-talk (Speak outloud – positive things about ourselves)
  • Choose to LEARN from the past, but REFUSE to allow the past to determine the future (Let go of the guilt and/or unforgiveness)
  • FACE your fears – Joyce Meyer writes, “We are held in bondage by what we refuse to face and deal with.”
  • Strive for BALANCE

YOU CAN DO IT!

Let today be the day you decide to move into your destiny by focusing more on pleasing God and less on pleasing others!

Three books I highly recommend:

“Approval Addiction” by Joyce Meyer, “Breaking Intimidation” by John Bevere, and “Failing Forward” by John Maxwell.

Join me tomorrow, January 7th, at 9:00 am on the Dottie Coffman Radio Show.

www.bigstickradio.com or  WIMO Radio 1300 AM

Topic:  People Pleasing Addiction

Are you a people pleaser?  If so, you won’t want to miss this time together!  Be sure to tune in and learn how you can be an overcomer!!

   “The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice.” ~John 10:3-4

Over the years, there have been times when I honestly believe I heard to voice of the Lord telling me to do or not to do something.  For some, this may seem difficult to believe that the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords would speak to an individual.  However, I believe that it’s scriptural and that God desires to speak to each one of His children.

Maybe you’ve never experienced this type of relationship with God.  Or maybe you’ve had a close relationship with God in the past but have drifted away because of hurts, doubts, or disappointments.

God wants to be your closest, most trusted Friend.  He wants you to talk to Him; and yes, He wants to talk to you, as well.  How?  It’s simple:

First, return to Him.  Isaiah 30:15, 19 says, “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.  Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me….Cry for help and you’ll find it’s grace and more grace.  The moment He hears, He’ll answer.”   

Second, let go of distractions.  I find this the most difficult in my own life.  I often say “yes” to too many things, then find myself frustrated with life. 

Take an honest look at your life….

Let go of what is not God’s will for you.  Don’t settle for what’s “good” when you can have God’s best!

Third, spend time with Him.  As John 10:3-4 says, the sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice.  We can only become familiar with the voice of God when we spend time listening.

Many times, we come to God with our list of wants and desires.  But when we come to Him with “listening ears”, He will share HIS wants and desires for our lives. 

When we submit to His will and obey, His anointing and blessings will flow in our lives.

We must “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6).  It’s time for God’s people to seek Him and desire Him above all things.  It’s time for each one of us to walk in honesty and integrity.  And, yes, it’s time for us to put aside our selfishness and move into what He has for our lives.

I encourage you today, learn what His voice sounds like.  Once you know His voice, you can safely move from the “good” to His “best”!

“Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over….”

We are still in need of 60 blankets and non-perishable foods for Thanksgiving Baskets.  If you can help, please contact our office at 863-294-1130.

If you would like to give a monitary donation, please go to our Mission page and issue a donation via PayPal OR mail a check payable to BWM to PO Box 2232, Winter Haven, FL  33883-2232.

All donations are tax deductible.

Blessings to you and your family!

    WE NEED YOUR HELP!

On NOVEMBER 21st, we will be holding an Outreach to the Homeless Community in our area.  We will be giving away bagged lunches, drinks, blankets, and Bibles.

On NOVEMBER 25th, we will be going into a local community and giving away Thanksgiving Baskets to families in need.

Please pray about giving a donation to help us accomplish these outreaches.

All donations are tax deductible.

To make a donation, go to the “Mission Page” and scroll down to PayPay or mail a check or money order to BWM, PO Box 2232, Winter Haven, FL  33883.

Thank you, in advance, for “planting seed in fertile ground”.

Many Blessings!