Words of encouragement…

Everyone has been talking about the new decade. We made it through the first decade of the 21st century. Remember Y2K? It had us all thinking the world would crash when the clock struck 12am January 1, 2000. But we are still here. Change. Is it really necessary? Is it important? Does it make a significant difference in our life? What role does it play in our growth? In our healing process? My answer to all of the above is a resounding YES! Absolutely it does! Towards the end of 2009, as I began to seek God and hear His voice for what He would have me to do in 2010, came unexpected responses. The year 2010 would be a year of significant changes for me. My comfort zone would be dismantled and I would have to come to rely on Him in a completely new way. Quickly changes came, that would stretch me while strengthening my faith and trust in God. I had to take a deep breathe and decide “do I shrink back, stay in my comfort zone or trust the god in me and step out in faith?” I STEPPED OUT! Change can be scary, and downright fearful at times because it carries a level of the “unknown”. You may find yourself asking, ”do I embrace change if all the details are not laid out clearly in front of me?” Some would say no. Some would say yes. The answer is actually a combination of both. Major change should not be done haphazardly. It should be approached after much prayer, confirmation and after some details are worked out, specifically as it relates to health and safety. What do you want to Change in your life in 2010? - Exercise more? - Pray more? - Spend more time with your children, family, or friends? - Change jobs, careers, cities or states? Know that you never have to go it alone. Let others help you. Embrace support. Know that the Lord of host…your stronghold is with you for guidance and direction.

Be encouraged this week in what God is going to do in your life. Walk by faith knowing your life is in His hands. Isaiah 54:1-6 Sing O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor, because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, says the Lord. Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back, lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes, For you will spread out to the right and to the left, your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. Do not be afraid, you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace, you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord Almighty is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, he is called the God of all the earth. The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit.

April Showers is suppose to bring May Flowers but we have gotten our share of rain this month. I don't mine as it is just a doorway to my favorite season...Summer. Ahhh...I love the warmth of the summer. The outdoor activities, barbeques, picnics, swimming pools and family fun days in the park. Mother's Day to Memorial Day to graduations. May is a month long celebration. What are you celebrating this month in your life? What are you looking forward too? What do you have planned for this summer?

In honor of Women Awareness Month get your copy of Moving On! Living Life to the Fullest After Divorce Purchase a copy at $19.95 and get a second copy free for a friend, relative or book club member. From now until March 31st (first 50 copies). Purchase your copy and get a second copy free. You only pay shipping and handling for your free copy. Moving On! is a great inspirational book for anyone who has every been through a difficult relationship. Click on the Moving On Radio button and get your copy. Read what Dr. Terri Orbuch, Fox 2 News, "The Love Doctor" has to say about Moving On!

March is Women Awareness Month. So what does that mean for all the women out there? It means it is time you focus on YOU. There are four specific areas I want you to focus on this month. Health. If you don't maintain, you won't remain. That means we have to exercise, change the way and what we eat, get enough rest and build ourselves up spiritually. I know, I know, you are thinking where in the world would I add 30-45 minutes of exercise a day into my already overbooked day? Instead of going out to lunch, stay in and walk around your office building. Get one of those "walking exercise" tapes. I did it one winter and it really worked. While dinner is in the oven and kids are doing homework, put in an exercise CD and increase your heart rate. Did you know heart disease was the #1 killer of women? Not breast cancer but heart disease. Eat right. I love my chocolate cake, but not everyday, not even every week. Have some of what you like but not all of what you like all the time. Rest. This is the hardest of the four for me. I seem to run out of time to sleep and rest. I have made it a priority this month to increase my rest. Not just sleep but rest. Take 10 minutes and sit, think, dream. It will energize you. Finally, develop your inner man. Mediate on the things of the Lord. Pray. Spend time reading scripture. It will strengthen and encourage you during these difficult times. Remember, God is your source. Women Awareness Month means it's time to stop and focus, become aware of you. As you do so, hopefully by the end of the month it will become the norm and not the exception. What do you plan to do for you during Women Awareness Month? Blessings, LaShon

February means Love is in the air. Valentine Day...the one special day we celebrate love and those we love the most. Cupid is working overtime, bringing together those who thought love was beyond them or not for them. But is Valentine the only day we should celebrate our love for those we love the most? Do we only celebrate if we have a "significant other"? We can easily fall into that trap or way of thinking. This February, celebrate Valentine with all your love ones; family and friends. Celebrate you. The love you have for yourself. Take the day to remember how wonderful you are. Love on you and when others see you appreciating YOU they will too. You are special, everyday.

January 1st has always been one of my favorite days of the year. Even though most of the world is recovering from a long night of partying, church or a number of other celebratory ways in which they brought in the new year, I look forward to finding a quiet place, centering myself and reflecting for a moment on some of the past and imaging the possibilities that lie ahead in my future. I often compare life to a book. Made up of a series of chapters, each year adding a new chapter to your book called, “My Life”. Chapter 2008 is gone, never to be heard from again and you are ready to write the pages of Chapter 2009. How exciting! After only 365 days you are able to “total” start over. Actually, you have 365 times each year to start over but there’s something symbolic about making your fresh start the first few days of the year. So here’s what I say: What do you want in 2009? A new house, peace, marriage, business, more friends? Whatever it is, it depends on just one person – YOU! Go get it! Yes, okay, our country is in an economic downturn and yes, maybe you’ve just gone through a painful divorce or recent job loss but that doesn’t have to stop your success for this year. If you’re not excited about this new year, get excited! Forget what lies behind and reach forward to all the opportunities that are in front of you. Here at Divorce Recovery Today, we are so excited about your new possibilities. We will be with you every step of the way. Providing you with information that affects your life. Look for new information from DRT. Each month we will feature articles and stories on subjects that concern you. Like: Health- Family- Love- Relationships- Money- Divorce- Recovery- Renewal and much more. Everything you need to know for a successful 2009. This will be your best year yet! We would love to hear from you. Join our mailing list or email us your questions, comments or just let us know what you are thinking. Remember…it’s Mine in 2009! Blessings to you…

Divorce Recovery Today would like to wish you and your family the happiest Christmas ever. This has been a year of many challenges, changes and growth but we know because you are reading this message, God has kept you in His perfect peace, provision and never ending care. As you search for the perfect gift for your friends, family and love ones, remember we have already received the best gift of all-the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Peace & Blessings for 2009.

Divorce Recovery Today would like to wish you and your family the happiest Christmas ever. This has been a year of many challenges, changes and growth but we know because you are reading this message, God has kept you in His perfect peace, provision and never ending care. As you search for the perfect gift for your friends, family and love ones, remember we have already received the best gift of all-the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Peace & Blessings for 2009.

This is the time of year when we're suppose to reflect on all we are Thankful for. Our family, friends, job, home, health-the list can go on and on. We are suppose to be more kind and giving to those who are less fortunate than we are. (In this present economic situation, it might seem like you are the less fortunate) Maybe it has been a rough year for you. Maybe you've lost your job or home. Maybe you've lost a love one or experienced a major change to your family and this Thanksgiving is going to be the first Thanksgiving without him/her and it's hard to really feel thankful. But that is why I so appreciate 1Thessalonians 5:18. It says to "give thanks in all (things)circumstances" not for all circumstances but in all circumstances. You may not be thankful for something but give God Thanks while you're in it and He will see you through it. Don't let your circumstance determine your level of Thanksgiving. Without hardly trying, you could think of a hundred things to Thank God for right now. Go ahead and do it. When you do, His peace, which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 4:7) Happy Thanksgiving. LaShon

Well, it's that time of the year again...back-to-school that is. We breathe a sigh of relief on that last day of the school year. For awhile, no book bags, no afterschool basketball, cheerleading or band practice. No lunches to be made as the bus driver sits impatiently outside your house blowing for your teenager to come out. No long waits in the line for the bathroom (that 15 minute bathroom rule was forgotten by November). Yeah, summer means a break from routines and a little more time to stop and catch your breathe. BUT THAN ITS GONE IN A FLASH! Well here are a few tips that might just help make your back to school routine alot smoother.

Do as much as you can at night.

Make lunches, lay out the close, take the baths/showers at night. I even began to set the kithen table for breakfast the next morning. Every little bit helps.

Have a set time to get up.

Kids work better on schedules and routines.

No homework in the mornings.

Their brains will start working soon enough, take the morning to read a devotion, mediate or pray. Leave school work for the night before or once they get to school.

Get up before the kids.

You need a little me time before everyone else is up. It really helped center my day and boost my energy when I could take some time for me. These are some of my back-to-school tips. What do you do to get ready for back-to-school?

On the show Moving On with LaShon this month she discussed with her guest the 8 key steps of recovery from her book Moving On! Living Life to the Fullest After Divorce. These are key steps to help you move through the recovery process and began your life anew. The Mind - The battle starts in the mind but the victory does also. You must change the way you think. Your mind is your most powerful weapon. Let it Go- This can be the hardest part to do. We're familiar with the past and don't want to let it go. What builds your confidence is what gives you control and in the present is where your control is. Forget what lies behind and move forward to what lies ahead. You can't move into the future if you don't let go of the past. Refocus -You're going to focus on something -focus on the positive. Find something; an event, period of time, or day that was the best day of your life. Landmark that moment in your thought process and use it to refocus. Reinvent Yourself-There is a "new you" inside of you. What have you always longed to do? Create an action Plan with small, meaningful goals and start doing it today. Empower Yourself -Don't wait for others to validate you. Empower yourself by giving yourself permission to make a choice. You are responsible for your own choices and thus your own happiness. Take control of your life by making your own choices. Faith- Don't doubt yourself or your abilities. Get in tune with your spiritual being. Courage -Take Risk. A friend of mine told me once "the greatest risk is not taking one at all." Make a Fresh Start - Now you are ready to soar. Turn your expectancy in the UP and FORWARD position and go!

Something about hurting, wounded people has always tugged at my heart. Broken beyond repair at the hands or words of another brings tears to my eyes.. Left visable for all to see is the imprint of rejection on their faces, in how they carry themselves, their insecure walk, weak eye contact and emptiness in their tone of voice. Confidence literally stripped right from under them.

When I see this in a person, I’m immediately reminded of Psalm 34:18,19 that says ”The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him(her) out of them all.” WoW! What a promise.

I believe everyone has a God given right and responsibility to live their life to the fullest. By His grace I am here to help those who are feeling hopeless and void of life. ”The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has annointed me to bring good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners.” Isaiah 61:1. What an honor!
God has so much in store for you, I would hate to see you miss out or not accompblish all He has for you because of this one event that has happen in your life. Divorce does not define you. Who you are and who you are meant to be did not start and stop with your divorce. When you grab a hold of this than you can move into His personal promise for you found in Isaiah 61:7. Read it for yourself and get ready to receive your double portion!

Until next week…

Always Blessed,

LaShon