Don't Worry

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Don't worry! God is good. Where are your thoughts focused today? I am only asking because many times I need to be reminded that God is in control. That He is taking care of my every need. I need to be reminded that He is right here, right now and always. This verse is one of my very favorites because of what it says. God is taking care of the birds and every creature in this world. He cares that much! He loves us that much! So we can relax and allow God to be the God of our lives. Now this isn't an excuse to not accomplish anything today. However it is a wonderful reason to do whatever God has placed before us to do today, for His Glory. If We keep our eyes on Him, we can't go wrong!

Blessings-
Alane Brown
info@ChristianWomenNow.com
http://www.christianwomennow.com/

Who We Are

This was in a Bible Study by Beth Moore. It's something that I actually printed out and keep in my office above my desk so it can be read each day. Often I hang a verse or two around the house to help me stay close to God for that day and to assist in memorization but this has been left right where it was first placed, for more than a year now, because it still speaks loudly to me.

A Declaration of who I am before God

I (insert your name here) belong to God.
I am a Holy Vessel because I house the
Holy Spirit of the living God.

The Lord of heaven and earth has said over me -
“I declare you holy”.

Today I commit to start believing what He says.
I am holy.
Empower me daily, Spirit of the living God,
to treat myself as holy.

Open my eyes to every scheme of the enemy -
to treat me as if I’m not.

You, God, are God.
Your word is truth.
This day, Father, I choose to believe you.
In Jesus name -
Amen and Amen.

Blessings-
Alane D Brown

Do You Like Blogging?

Lately I’ve taken to learning new things about the internet, more specifically; searching for ways to make money working from home using the internet. A recent discovery is http://www.blogsvertise.com/ it offers a way for bloggers to get paid for blogging about their favorite topics!

Understand that there are plenty of scams out there, so please, do your own due diligence on each opportunity you find! Also remember this about making money on the internet; what works for one person may or may not work for the next. So please, do NOT take what I have to say as anything more than a suggestion.

I have found that I LOVE to blog! Not everyone likes to blog but if you DO like blogging then you may wish to go ahead and check out http://www.blogsvertise.com/ Advertisers want bloggers to talk about their products and services and pay people to do so.

http://www.blogsvertise.com/ is just one of several Paid Blogging Websites. If you enjoy blogging - you may as well get paid for it!

I am very interested in hearing about what you find out there.
-Or-

If you have any questions - I will assist you the best I can.
Blessings-
Alane D Brown

Forgiveness

Forgiveness
Forgiveness is an essential part of my relationship to God. It sets me free and takes me closer to Him, which is where I not only wish to be but need to be.
In fact the Bible says in Mark 11:25 AMP “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you…”
Sometimes we are wounded or hurt. Sometimes others mistreat us or betray us. Unfortunately, that is just part of the world we live in.
Let me just speak for myself – Yes, I have been wounded, hurt, mistreated and betrayed. Frankly, I have been on both sides, both perpetrator and victim of such behaviors. When I seek the Lord and ask Him to forgive me for my “bad” behavior – I also need to seek His forgiveness any bad feelings I have towards others and to allow His love to enter my heart.
When I allow that type of forgiveness to really enter my heart – my forgiveness is complete and there is peace in my soul.
This is not something that always comes easy for me. What are your thoughts on forgiveness?

Amazing Grace

(Please view the 20 -30 second video attached)
Twenty Five years ago today, I entered a drug rehabilitation program. I had been to several others that past year or two. I didn’t have any actual hope or desire to stay sober; I went to rehab in an attempt to get away from myself. Instead, I left there thirty days later believing in my gut that one day at a time, I could stay away from a drink and a drug. Rum had been my drink of choice but I drank anything. Cocaine was my drug and I took it straight into the veins but actually I used everything, anything to get high.

No, I am no longer crying poor me and didn’t understand that I was back then, all I knew was that I hurt. Everyone I believed was supposed to love me, had hurt me, used me and left me, except my mom. Her only “crime” was that she didn’t rescue me. Suicidal would have described me best, I think; however my attempts were weak and obviously didn’t work. Frankly, I just wanted the emotional pain to stop, wanted to shut off my brain, wanted to just be numb. Yet- deep inside - I longed for love, for friendships, for meaning and to know who I was made to be.

I was tough, inside and out. When I arrived in a twelve step program, grown men told me I frightened them. It was something I had practiced for years. I seethed anger- it hung over me like a thick cloud. No one came close – until I met Annie. She would come to the same meetings as I did, all dressed up in her pretty clothes, looking all happy and confident and she would plunk herself down in the seat next to me day after day. She saw past all the anger and the hurt. Worst of all, she would touch me when she spoke to me. Placing her hand on my leg or brushing the hair out of my face. She told me things would get better. It wasn’t anything I wanted to hear but I eventually began to believe her and one day at a time, they did. Annie was an angel, I believe.

I managed to stay sober and straight while I dealt with my past abuses, both the self inflicted ones and the others. I learned to forgive, other people and myself. I had the opportunity to return to school and got a degree. I met wonderful man and got married. I had one child from “before”, he came with two of his own and we had one together. (No, it’s not an episode of the Brady Bunch) Getting sober/straight was the toughest thing I have ever done. Praise God it’s not a struggle anymore but it was. I had buried tons of stuff – tons.

There have been many victories and challenges in my life since back then but I have learned along the way to take the lessons and the wisdom and to leave the emotions. Do I do that perfectly? No. I have learned to love and to allow others to love me. Do I allow it always? No. I have dispersed that cloud of anger and have found peace. Do I still get angry? Yes. I am not perfect although I am striving to be. What I am most pleased about is the amount of forgiveness I have in my heart for those who hurt me so badly as a child. They remain in my life to this day and I can say quite honestly that I love them. I give God all the credit for that.

It’s a day to be very grateful. It’s a day to remember that someone needs me to be their “Angel” and that’s why I am writing. Sorry it’s a bit long. Again, please watch the 20- 30 sec video attached.

Blessings,

Alane D Brown

http://www.christianwomennow.com/

A Sabbath Days Walk

A Sabbath Days Walk

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. (Acts 1:12 NIV)

A Sabbath days walk is approximately ¾ of a mile - (about 1,100 meters).

This verse made me think back and had me remembering when. There was a time before I knew Jesus when I was addicted to drugs. Do you know - I would walk miles to get those drugs? In fact, I would plan my whole day around it if I had to. During those days all my thinking was wrapped up in addictive behaviors. It was very self serving behavior. Praise God, I am healed and no longer need to behave in that way.

The questions that arose from remembering back were these. Do I willing walk the distance that God asks me to walk? When He says, “go” do I move willingly without even questioning it as I did when I was seeking drugs?

Sometimes God asks us to walk great distances both physically, emotionally and Spiritually. He wants us to grow in Him and go tell others. Some of us are called across the globe and others to our neighbors, friends and relatives.
My questions are – Am I going in the direction God is calling? Am I in self serving mode or God serving mode? Am I walking that Sabbath Days walk for the Lord?

Trusting

The Wind

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
(Acts 2:2 NIV)

References to the sound of wind blowing, in some Biblical Scripture, is often times used to represent the movement of the Holy Spirit.

Isn’t that cool? Many times, when I’m out walking and the wind blows it reminds me of God’s love, His very presence in my life. Frequently, I can’t actually hear the wind but I can hear the fluttering of leaves caught up in its current. I can see the branches of a mighty Oak tree blowing, swaying and bending as they become caught up within the gusts and movement of the wind.

It reminds me how strong and powerful the Lord is. It reminds me to be at peace because just as He is moving the branches of those trees, He is moving the branches of my life. I can rest, knowing He is in control of all things and therefore, I do not need to be.

Be a Christian in Action

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; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." – (Acts 1:7-11 NIV)

Wow! All this took place after Christ died on the cross and rose again. He was physically standing there and speaking with them. Imagine the awe the apostles must have been experiencing. Then, having been told they are His witnesses, Christ just disappears into the Heavens.

I don’t know about you but I would have been standing there staring at the sky for some length of time just as they did! Praise God for the angels He sent to tell them Jesus would come back someday. Most likely their appearance encouraged the disciples to go ahead and be the witnesses they were asked to be.

Since the very day I came to understand that Jesus is Lord and Savior and He entered my heart, I have been looking to the sky and waiting for his return. However, standing there gazing upward does not accomplish what God has asked me to do. I am to tell others of Him. I must be a Christian action.

Six Ways to Stay in Touch

Many of my favorite friends and relatives live very far away from me. They are all very precious, so staying in touch and letting them know they are loved, appreciated and valued is highly important. If you have long distant friendships you want to nurture, try using these tips to stay in touch and also please share your thoughts on how you reach out to your loved ones far away.

Send a card: I like to pick out special cards or sometimes even make a card and send them a word of encouragement through the mail.

Leave a Voice Mail: Very often, one of my friends come to mind and I she is unavailable but I go ahead and call anyways and leave her a message letting her know how precious she is to me.

Send an Email: I love to send out quick emails to people I love when I find they are on my heart and in my prayers. I like to include my signature (((HUGS))) – This is actually my personal favorite way of letting people know God has me praying for them.

Schedule Time for an Actual Call: Email back and forth until you find a time that is convienent for both of you. Just the emailing between you shows commitment to the friendship.

Always Be Trustworthy: Whatever way you choose to communicate, treat each communication with respect. Never share personal thoughts and prayer requests with others.

Share Photo’s: There are so many ways to do this – email, snail mail, video, face book, my space, etc. Pictures are a fantastic way to share our life with others.

Say I Love You: I do this as often as I can. In my opinion it can never be said enough.

Children Learn What They Live

Let me begin by sharing two lines from a poem written by Dorothy Law Nolte
If a child lives with encouragement. She learns confidence.
If a child lives with security. She learns to have faith.
The complete poem can be found here.

Recently my husband and I attended our teen age daughters cheerleading competition, which we have done every time her team has competed for the past four years. She is a flyer on the team. Meaning she is one of the girls they toss up or hold up into the air while she performs gymnastic type moves and then they catch her as she comes down. It’s not my cup of tea, give me a softball, a bat and a glove and I’m happy but this is the sport she chose, so we 100% support her.

This competition was a bit different because we had spent several hours the day before in the emergency room having her checked out after she had fallen out of a stunt and hit her head. Also two days prior it had happened as well. So within three days she had fallen twice from the same stunt. After a very long assessment of my daughters’ health and some lengthy discussion, the emergency room Doctor gave Taylor permission to cheer – just for the competition if she took the week off following. As loving parents we were nervous but we did not want to instill fear in her. She LOVES cheering, in fact during “cheer season” she eats, sleeps and breathes cheering.

We arrived at the gym about 15 minutes before the event began and she came over with her coach to explain to us that she had once again fallen during the same stunt however not on her head and that she still wanted to go on. My husband reluctantly gave the okay.

So the girls took their places and the music began. I was actually sweating and praying, sweating and praying as I watched each step they took, it was like slow motion. Up she went and perfectly preformed her Scorpion. Up she went again and perfectly performed her Basket Toss. Up again in to the Double Twist (this was the move they had been struggling with) and down she came in to the hands of her teammates and safely to the mat.

I looked at my husband with giant tears in my eyes and said, “I am so proud of her. That took so much courage and trust. I don’t think I could have done that” and he said, “Yes you would have. Where do you think she has learned to have courage like that? It’s from you Babe, She’s been watching you!
I praise God that I know I can do all things through Him – and that I have been a living witness to my daughter.

February 1, 1991 ?

That’s my wedding date! Today my husband and I have been married for eighteen years!
Wow. He is the best. I love him more today than when we first married. We have laughed together and cried together and most importantly, we have prayed together, always. We share our hearts, our secrets, and our hopes – always in honesty. He is my gift from God.

Back twenty years ago or so when we met, I wasn’t looking for a relationship in fact, just the opposite. I had been hurt so badly by every man I had ever let close to my heart that I was just done done with them all. My son was six and the two of us were very happy. We had our own little place and we were both in school. He was in the first grade and I was a junior in college. I had gone back to school to get a degree and a good job so I would never have to depend on anyone (a guy) ever again. But then it happened – I met Darrin.

We both needed our hearts to be mended – we both were “on guard” but love prevailed. We were instant best friends and so were our children. I had the one and he came with two. A ready made family, God wove us all together – (along with our fourth child who we had together – much later) and we DO depend on one another but not in a negative sense. We matter to one another, deeply. In a way no words could ever express –

February 1, 2009 is a day for reflection – “I love you Darrin”

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Blessings-
Alane D Brown

Keeping it Real Day - A Miracle of Comfort

While creating this video many "lessons" and passages came to my mind. How about for you - Did it "say" anything to you? Do you see God's word in it? Please share your thoughts-
Blessings,
Alane D. Brown

Keeping it Real Day Four - My Miracle of Self Esteem

Self Esteem is something I have struggled with my whole life mostly because of early childhood abuse. I always felt like someone had stolen away a huge part of who I was meant to be. It’s taken me a very, very long time to come to terms with who I am and to know that I am whole and that I am lovable. It’s been a journey of deep self discovery – one I am grateful to have walked. One I will continue to walk because it’s my journey. It’s the road I am on and it makes me who I am…and I am very OKAY! Hope you enjoy this short video!

Keeping It Real - Staircases and Revolving Doors

Letting everyone know me a bit better.
Blessings-
Alane

Keeping it Real - You Have the Faith it Takes!

Blessings-
Alane Brown

I Saw What I saw by Sara Groves

Heard this song today and it touched my soul. It is called I Saw What I saw and it's by Sara Graves Here is a link to see the video and hear the song. http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=b6f2cb00fa352ebc74b9
It's SO inspirational. (I have emailed her and invited her to join our BraveHeart Women Community! Here are the Lyrics:
I saw what I saw and I can’t forget it –
I heard what I heard and I can’t go back –
I know what I know and I can’t deny it-

Something along the road- Cut me to the soul-
Your pain has changed me… Your dreams inspire.
Your face a memory – Your hope a fire-
Your courage asks me –
What I am afraid of- And what I know of love.

We’ve done what we’ve done and we can’t erase it-
We are what we are and it’s more than enough.
We have what we have but it’s no substitution-
Something along the road- Cut me to the soul-
Your pain has changed me… Your dreams inspire.
Your face a memory – Your hope a fire-
Your courage asks me –
What I am afraid of- And what I know of love.

I say what I say with no hesitation-
I have what I have but I’m giving it up-
I do what I do with a deep conviction-

Something along the road- Cut me to the soul-
Your pain has changed me Your dreams inspire.
Your face a memory – Your hope a fire-
Your pain has changed me Your dreams inspire.
Your face a memory – Your hope a fire-
Your courage asks me – what I am afraid of-
Your courage asks me -What I am made of
Your courage asks me -What I am afraid of
And what I know of love
And what I know of God

Leave your thoughts after the video....
Blessings-
Alaned. bROWN

Hope and Faith -

It was last year, during January of 2008, that my illness crept back in and attempted to control my life! God has always been so good to me, always, however during this particular time in my life He just poured His love out and over me again and again. My husband and I had no idea what we were in for when we entered the hospital that day in early January,

I was to have a medical test. Well, it’s a little more than a test because it involved being there for a day and having a little mini camera go through my arteries looking for blockages. It’s not a big deal because I’ve had the procedure more times than I can remember. So I have become a bit of a pro at it – of all things! (Obviously by now you have figured I hadn’t been in the best health for some time prior to this event)

The Doctors and I understood before the test, that most likely we would find the reason for this new reoccurring pain, was a blockage of some kind, either in my arterial graft or near to it. The hope was they could clear it reasonably easy. However, that was not going to be the case. I would need a major surgery to clear away the scar tissue found inside the graft.

So, it wasn’t what we expected. That was alright with me because I totally believed and understood that it was not a surprise to God! He knew exactly what was going on with my health. As we discussed what next steps had to be taken – I knew exactly where to place my hope and faith… “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:5)

Knowing I was in the Lord’s hands the surgery was scheduled for the very next day.

Are You Going To Finish Strong?

There’s always been a feeling in my gut that said, Alane; you are here for a reason. Just keep going. Just keep seeking what it is that God has given you to do. Do the next thing and if you fail – do it again or make some adjustments and try again. Just don’t quit.

Have you ever had that feeling? Do you know you are here for a reason? That God has plans for you. The Bible says: “I Know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

I have to be honest, I have felt like quitting. I have been knocked down and not hurried back to my feet. I have sat in self pity and have even fallen into depression. And do you know what that makes me? It makes me human. Sure, looking back it’s easy to say that on several occasions I could have shown more hope, more strength, and more faith in the Lord but I didn’t and it’s done, in the past. What did happen was I gained. Yes, I gained hope, trust and faith in God. I gleaned the Wisdom God wished for me to understand.

My relationship with God grew deeper and that’s the most important thing and after that, the fact remains that I didn’t quit! No, I have always stood back up and that’s why when I saw this video http://www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html I knew it needed to be shared. It’s a reminder to all of us. We have everything we need to stand back up and finish strong! Go watch it. It’s two minutes long and worth every second!
Here is the link again: http://www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html
Blessings-
Alane D. Brown