This week I would like to share with you some borrowed wisdom from the heart and pen of Charles Swindoll. These familiar words impacted my perspective of things and I have a feeling it might do the same for you! Hear his words:

The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than fact, it is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice regarding the attitude we will embrace everyday. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitude.

So you wonderful women, it is true--your attitude is one of the few things you are really in charge of--so wear it well for your Father's sake.

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." Philippians 1:27

Blessings and Joy,
Jennifer Rothschild
Author of Lessons I Learned in the Dark,
and Founder of WomensMinistry.NET

At our monthly women's meeting, we have each woman fill out a small card or slip of paper with their name, email, and mailing address on it. As we leave, every woman at the meeting draws a card, and this is their secret prayer sister for the month. Women are encouraged to send out cards, notes, emails, etc. during the month. This is a great tool to allow everyone to pray for each other and develop new friendships!

Submitted by: Rebecca
Email: iiwtheword@aol.com
Church: Highland Christian Center, McDonough, GA
Church size: Below 250

Here is a second chance to visit our great sponsors from the last issue.

I love brainstorming and by the response we received, so do you! Here are some of the great ideas you sent in for a retreat focusing on "Learning to be Content."

Robin: How about going with a "back to school theme? The official course title could be "Contentment 101," providing a setting that could go with classroom decor, from blackboards (or whiteboards), stacks of books on the stage/platform, etc. Since this is one of the most difficult "classes" we ever take in life as believers (it's hard to retain the lessons we learn on this topic!), it may be that many of the "students" in attendance need to repeat the course, while others might be "enrolling" for the first time as they begin their walk with the Lord. Either way, it's a great topic that needs to be addressed in all of our lives on a regular basis!

Micca: As a speaker, I have a conference called, “Cultivating a Contended Heart.” Within this conference I share how we can glean from the Israelites, as they travel the desert, and the woman at the well about contentment. I also weave in my personal story of raising my abandoned nephew and also share about the loss of my husband. (Sometimes I dress as the woman at the well for the last session.)

Throughout the retreat, I have a wedding fountain flowing with “living water.” At the end of the conference, I ask the women to come forward and “leave their jugs” as the woman at the well did, and drink from the living water. (The jugs are usually paper cut into a jug shape where the women can write on the paper the thing that has kept them from contentment) Cups are provided and the women come forward, leave their jugs, fill their cups, drink and return to their seat. It’s very powerful.

To begin the conference, I have the director play a game we usually play at Christmas. The women are asked to bring a gift of a certain dollar value. The gifts are numbered. Each person draws a number and takes turns picking out a gift. The next person in line gets to either take a gift from someone who has already opened a gift or pick a wrapped one for them self. Afterwards, depending on the director, they can keep their gifts or give them all away to a mission of some sort. After the game, they break into groups to discuss contentment and how they felt if they didn’t get what they want, something was taken away, or if they had to give it up all together.

Marybeth: One good scripture to focus on is when Paul is writing from prison and is actually chained to the Praetorian guards. His dream was to go to Rome to preach the gospel, yet when he actually got to Rome, it was far from what he had hoped. Yet, he found God's purpose in his situation and practiced being content. He realized that God had indeed brought him to Rome, and he could sulk or get busy accomplishing God's purposes right where he was at. I think so many times for women, we have a vision for our lives, and when we get there it looks nothing like we thought.

The question is then, "What are you chained to?" There could be some sort of prayer station set up with chains laying around and a place for them to journal about their place in life. They could exchange their chains for a key after their time of prayer and journaling. The speaker could set it up by reading the passage and then expand on it by applying it to the lives of the women there. There could be a time of prayer and committing to be content in our chains and find God's purposes for us, chains and all.

Sheri: When I think of contentment I think of peaceful settings and calming things like waterfalls, rivers, the ocean, etc.

I would title the retreat “Peace like a River: Learning to be Content” Here are some ideas... Decorations: river rocks, mini water fountains, water falls, etc. Music: “It is well with my soul,” “There is joy in the Lord,” and any other songs that focus on Jesus being our rock, tower, peace, and our Prince of Peace. Gifts: anything that might help create a peaceful environment, small aromatic candle, journal, list of blessings bookmark, bottle of water with theme “label”, or devotional booklet. Door prizes: a massage, coffee, chocolates, a small fountain, etc. Workshops: (anything to help gain contentment in your life) forgiveness, handling stress, blessings in the Scriptures, praying praises, parenting issues, marriage issues (learning how to bless your spouse), balancing your schedule (learning to say no), organization (learning how to de-clutter or handle paper piles, etc.), finance seminar-regaining control of your checkbook, a missionary talk (realizing how much we do have in America!).

Thanks Ladies... Email me anytime with your thoughts and ideas!
In Him... Robyne Beaubien, Editor
 

Did you miss the June Issue of Java with Jennifer?

The response to the all new Java with Jennifer "monthly" update was just fantastic. Thanks to many who responded with raving reviews.

Java with Jennifer is an informal monthly ministry update specifically for friends who want to keep up-to-date on what is happening with Jennifer Rothschild's ministry of writing, speaking, and singing.

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