WISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Here’s a wonderful prayer that expresses my heart for you in
2010.
Do read it slowly!
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Saint Theresa’s Prayer
Today, may there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to
be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of
faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
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In case you’re wondering why you’re looking at a
photo of a man and woman working together, let me tell you. I’m
working on a talk for
an outreach lunch to young professional women in Hong Kong in February
on the subject of Sex and Power in the Workplace. Not
sure about all that I’m going to say just yet—but it’s a topic that
needs addressing in most parts of the world! Men and women are
attracted to each other—God made us that way, but the old boundaries
of acceptable (or respectable) behavior have gone the way of record
players and dial up phones. So how do Christian singles (and marrieds)
handle real desires, real emotional needs, and real temptation? Does
God have answers?
I sense 2010 is going to be a year of important
decisions for most of us. Whether that involves deeply personal moral
choices, or facing other crossroads that affect you or your family,
God has provided guiding principles that give us discernment when we
most need it. Facing Life’s Crossroads is what I’ll be
speaking on in Singapore on February 11th and in the past
month, I’ve had to apply crossroad principles in several personal
situations!
Let me tell you about one of them. I was invited
to go with a small ministry to several countries in Africa and help
women grow in their knowledge and personal experience of God. It was
a crossroad. I could choose one of two paths. Would going be the
best and wisest decision—or not? After praying, thinking, and waiting
for some time in order to see what recurring thoughts and direction
came, I felt God saying “Don’t broaden, deepen. Keep investing in
what I have already entrusted to you at this time.” This might not be
His message to you, but I knew it was His word to me for now.
As you think about the choices you are facing, or
might face this coming year, check out
Espresso for the Soul
for some helpful input. The sidebar
Want to Grow? has some
additional tips for making decisions about your life. God has called
us to live as children of light, to live a life worthy of our calling,
and to live as servants of God—and He promises us the wisdom we need
to do just that.
Because January's Thrive is late and I'll
be in Asia in February, look for your next THRIVE in early March.
Love in Christ,
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Facing Life's Crossroads
by Poppy Smith
: : : : :
Have you taken any time (say, fifteen minutes with a
notebook or at your computer) to reflect on 2009? What
happened that was very, or somewhat, significant? What did you
sense God saying to you? How do you sense He is leading
you—towards something new, or different, or to keep on where
you are?
As I made a list of what came to mind earlier today, I was
surprised at all the decisions that were part of 2009—both
personal and in my work/ministry. I realized that:
Decisions involve our attitudes—and this requires
honesty before God and ourselves! Let me encourage you to:
·
Tell God how you feel, whether you’re resentful
or frightened (or excited!) by the decision you’re facing.
·
Give yourself time to work through your initial
emotions before making a decision, or giving promises, or vowing
not to take a particular path.
·
Recognize that some decisions come as a big
shock—and it’s easy at these times to spew angry words about
life, God, your spouse, kids or anyone else—but you don’t need
to stay there.
·
Take what you’re facing and lean into God, simply
sharing your thoughts and feelings. Out of this will come, in
God’s timing, a sense of calm and courage as well as direction.
Decisions
trigger our basic outlook—I am a wimp! I make no apologies
about it. BUT, I am intentionally seeking to grow in trusting
God no matter what life brings. For that to happen, I am
learning to:
·
Check my automatic tendency to worry and mentally
list all the “what-if’s” that possibly could happen. Instead,
I’m deliberately practicing thinking the truth: God says He will
provide whatever I need (Phil. 4:19).
·
When this promise has calmed me down, then I think
about the “what-if’s” (because I’m a very practical person and
refuse to think they couldn’t possibly happen!) and I meet each
scary possibility with a promise from Scripture that’s rooted
and grounded in God’s love.
·
See the unexpected as an opportunity to look at
how much I really trust in God’s goodness (re-read St. Theresa’s
prayer). Rather than discourage myself at how far I have to go
in this faith-journey, I thank God for the progress I have made
and ask Him to continue drawing me close.
·
Remember that my wimpy automatic temptation is to
shrink back, give up, shut down, and stop doing what God has
called me to do—and that this is all from the Evil One who will
use any difficulty to thwart God’s purposes. Instead, Scripture
and God’s Spirit calls loudly to me (and all of us) again and
again: move forward, persevere, press on, stir up the gift that
is in you, trust in the Lord.
As I’m adjusting to the totally unexpected news from my
cardiologist that I need heart surgery in the next six months,
these truths are a reality for me. Jeremiah’s words about
facing life’s crossroads end with a wonderful promise—may we all
experience it as we stand before our personal crossroads in
2010, looking and asking for God’s path.
Stand at the crossroads and look
Ask for the ancient paths
Ask where the good way is, and walk in it
And you will find rest for your souls. |
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Book Give-Away! |
 |
In this financially difficult time,
some of your decisions might relate to employment. Be the sixth
person to email me a quick note about your circumstances and I
will send you a copy of Recession Proof Yourself! Written
by coach and consultant, Elizabeth Lions, this strictly business
book is packed with practical helps for moving your career
forward.
(Only for North American recipients, sorry!) |
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Want to Grow?
Check Out Poppy's Tips
When facing a decision:
| 1. |
Pray for wisdom. |
| 2. |
Choose to wait, think, listen and watch for God’s leading. |
| 3. |
Consider the consequences of each decision, short-term and
long-term. |
| 4. |
Consider who will be affected, both immediately and later. |
| 5. |
Ask yourself: will this decision lead to a stronger or weaker
walk with God?
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Upcoming
Events:
Speaking Calendar:
2010:
February 5th: Hong Kong, ECC Leadership Training.
Outreach Luncheon
February 11th: Singapore, IBC,
March 5-7: Salem Heights Church Retreat
April 15, 22: Professionally Speaking, Portland, OR.
May 8th: Women’s retreat, Molalla, Oregon
July: AWSA/ICRS Conference, St. Louis, MO.
August 2-5: Oregon Christian Writers’ Conference
September 15: Aging to Perfection, Eugene, OR.
October 16: Plenary Speaker, OCW, Fall meeting
October 20-30: Nairobi, Kenya
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Ask Questions - Get Answers from Poppy:
I'm asked questions about faith, life application of Biblical principles and spiritual growth everywhere I speak.
Now, for my online friends, I'd like to give you the same opportunity to ask questions.
I'll answer your questions and share comments in coming issues of "Thrive". Just
contact me and let me know what you'd like to know more about...all at the click of your mouse! |
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