Jan. 2006 Balancing Tips: Start the New Year at the Right Pace
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Balancing Tips: Helping You Balance Your Life According to God's Plan
January 2007 Newsletter From Cross Your Heart Publications
~Crossing your life with God's plan~
In this issue:
- Start the New Year at the Right Pace
- Related Scripture
- Links and Resources
- Seeking Independent Reviewers
- Current and Upcoming Releases
- Contact Information, Copyright Notice, Disclaimers, and Unsubscribe Instructions
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Start the New Year at the Right Pace
Starting something new can be both exciting and scary, and sometimes we make mistakes. Like the servant in Matthew 25:14-28, who hid the talents entrusted to him, often we are afraid to take steps in the right direction. We choose to give in to our fears rather than produce fruit for God’s glory.
When starting a new endeavor (or even a whole new year!), we run the risk of drifting toward one of two extremes -- rushing forward too quickly without a solid plan vs. procrastinating and never getting anything done.
These two extremes are opposite sides of the same coin, and we need to keep a bit of both to stay on a well-balanced path.
Sometimes God makes us wait for things, to help build our character or prepare us for ministry, as when the disciples waited on the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (in Acts 1 and 2). Many times we want to rush into action without considering the consequences or without ensuring we are prepared. Preparation is extremely important, and God often uses “waiting time” to refine us for service (so waiting time is not always inactive).
On the other hand, unfortunately, sometimes we wait not because of God’s plan but because of our own weaknesses or fears. It may be God’s timing, but if we are not ready, we miss out. Fear or laziness can lead to procrastination, and then we never accomplish the goals put before us by God.
How do we recognize the difference between God’s timing and our timing? How do we know if we are moving at the right pace?
Prayer… Meditation… Sit quietly and honestly ask the Lord some difficult questions. Then, rather than jumping back into life, wait silently for the answers.
To get started, ask yourself and God the following questions:
· What obstacles hold me back from taking action according to God’s plan?
· Are there areas in my life where the Lord is telling me to wait? If so, what other action should I be taking in the meantime?
Start 2007 with these answers from God. What better resolution can we make than to start the New Year with divine balance, following God’s will for our lives?
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Related Scripture
Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
- Matthew 21:43 (NIV)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
…He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…
- Acts 1:7-8 (NIV)
…'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest…
- Matthew 25:14-28 (NIV)
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
- Proverbs 10:4 (NIV)
The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
- Proverbs 15:19 (NIV)
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”
- Hebrews 6:12 (NIV)
Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
- Deuteronomy 8:2-5 (NIV)
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
- Luke 5:16 (NIV)
Not my will but yours be done.
- Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:35-36 (NIV)
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Links and Resources
Making New Year’s Resolutions:
http://www.gotquestions.org/new-years-resolution.html
http://www.fridgedoor.info/winter-celebrations/new-years-resolutions.php
Setting Goals:
http://www.mygoals.com/
http://ezinearticles.com/?cat=Self-Improvement:Goal-Setting
http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html
http://www.teachinghome.com/started/basics/basics.cfm
http://www.crown.org/Library/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=558
http://www.captureyourpotential.co.uk/cgi-bin/lp.cgi?lp=christian
Avoiding Procrastination:
http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz/articles_week/avoiding_procrastination.htm
http://www.procrastinatorhelp.com/avoiding-procrastination.html
http://academic.udayton.edu/legaled/online/study/procra02.htm
Proverbs 31 Ministries:
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/devotion_060102.htm
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/devotion_060118.htm
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/devotion_060119.htm
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/devotion_060313.htm
HomeWord:
http://www.homeword.com/Freebies/Files/Getting_Your_Priorities_Straight.doc
http://www.homeword.com/Freebies/Files/Prayer_and_the_Devotional_Life.doc
In Touch Ministries:
http://ww2.intouch.org/site/c.7nKFISNvEqG/b.1034471/k.F8F8/What_the_Bible_Says.htm
http://ww2.intouch.org/site/c.7nKFISNvEqG/b.1034467/k.9C8E/Gods_Promises.htm
(Links from the above In Touch pages provide Biblical information on a variety of topics, such as accountability, finding God’s will, guidance, laziness, motivation, obedience, patience, peace, perseverance, pride, purpose, success, times of trouble, waiting on God, trust, worry, and many others.)
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Seeking Independent Reviewers
Cross Your Heart Publications seeks Christian professionals who would be interested in volunteering their time to occasionally review books under development. We welcome pastors, Sunday school teachers, worship leaders, or simply devout believers who read the Bible and feel they can offer guidance regarding Biblical accuracy, usefulness of content, and organization.
Free autographed copy of the printed book provided to every reviewer we accept who reads and answers questions about all or a portion of a manuscript.
If interested, please contact chrdowns@aol.com (the email address for our review manager will also be active soon: reviews@crossyourheartpub.com).
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Current and Upcoming Releases
http://www.CrossYourHeartPublications.com
Look for these Cross Your Heart Publications releases over the next five-to-six months:
- ORDER NOW: "The Walk" by Michelle Kunkle: $10.00.
~All proceeds benefit Harrold Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greensburg PA.~
Take a conversational walk with God through the first five books of the Bible. Learn how understanding the beginning can help you grow closer to God today.
Produced by Legacy Inspirations together with Cross Your Heart Publications, The DeskTop, and The Gallery Dessert, http://www.legacyinspirations.com.
- "Simply Balanced: How Seeming Bible Contradictions Teach Balance in Life" by Christina Downs: $12.95.
From contradiction to balance—God's simple way to achieve balance in life. Explore six sets of Bible lessons that appear to contradict one other, and see how both sides of the equation are actually necessary to avoid imbalance. Learn to balance your life based on Jesus’ teachings.
Expected publication date: Tentatively April 2007. Early release e-version available at the end of January, $9.99 (order by 1/31/07 and receive both the ebook and print book for one price of $12.95!).
- "You've Been Out of Work How Long? Finding a Job and Emotional/Spiritual Support After Extended Time Out of the Workforce" by Christina Downs.
This ebook will help you on two levels: (1) by providing job-search ideas unique to someone who has been out of work for a long period of time, and (2) by helping you obtain emotional and spiritual support from family and friends who may have trouble understanding what you are going through. Guidance in both areas -- finding a job and seeking emotional and spiritual support -- will help provide you with balance in life.
Expected publication date: Tentatively April or May 2007.
- Also check our site over the coming months for additional print books and ebooks on spiritual, family, professional, and life balance topics by various Christian professionals.
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Contact Information, Copyright Notice, Disclaimers, and Unsubscribe Instructions
Contact information:
Cross Your Heart Publications
Crossing your life with God's plan
P.O. Box 206
Loyalhanna, PA 15661
Phone: 724-787-6756
Email: Chrdowns@aol.com
http://www.CrossYourHeartPublications.com
Member of Legacy Inspirations: http://www.legacyinspirations.com
Member of PMA, The Independent Book Publishers Association: http://www.pma-online.org
Member of MidAtlantic Book Publishers Association: http://www.midatlanticbookpublishers.com
Please forward this newsletter to others you believe would be interested. If they would like to subscribe, they should send an email to Chrdowns@aol.com with "Balancing Tips, Please Subscribe Me" in the subject line. Thank you.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please reply to this email with "Please Unsubscribe Me" in the subject line.
We hope you have found this issue useful in helping you balance your life! If you have any suggestions for improvements, please email Chris at Chrdowns@aol.com. Thank you, and God bless you.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liabilities:
These files were prepared by Cross Your Heart Publications. Cross Your Heart Publications, including all representatives speaking on behalf of this company:
- Makes no warranty or representation of warranty, express or implied, with respect to using any information disclosed in these files.
- Has made every attempt not to infringe on or interfere with anyone's privately owned rights, including any party's intellectual property.
- Assumes no responsibility for any damages or other liability whatsoever (including any consequential damages) resulting from using these files or any information disclosed in these files.
Further, Cross Your Heart Publications employees have no professional counseling, psychiatric, or legal training and make no claim to be experts in these areas. Staff members provide emotional and spiritual advice on a general basis, based on personal knowledge and Biblical and other research.
Copyright 2007 Christina M. Downs, Cross Your Heart Publications
http://www.CrossYourHeartPublications.com
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