Zion ladies

" I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” ~ Estée Lauder

Here’s a success tip from someone that achieved high levels of success. She’s saying that dreaming of success won’t get you there all by itself. You have to have a dream, but you’ll stay a dreamer unless you back up your dream with work. Learn this lesson early on in your life and it will pay dividends all the time. If things aren’t working out the way you want them to it likely means you’re not putting in enough work to make them happen. Get a clear focus, a clear dream, a clear goal, and then follow up with focused work.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

One of the more famous quotes of Eleanor Roosevelt, this is definitely true and will help greatly in becoming the woman that you want to be. Instead of placing the blame on someone else for making you feel a certain way, take responsibility for letting them make you feel that way.

This isn’t just true for feelings of inferiority, but for any negative feeling, sad, frustrated, disappointed, etc. You’re the one that is in control of how you feel, and others can’t bring you down unless you let them.

Its easy to give in to feelings of self-doubt and back down from challenges. But that’s certainly not what being a strong woman is all about.
We all look up to strong, independent women. But how do we become one ourselves? so, If you don’t like being a doormat then get off the floor, see the potentials in you. YOU CAN DO IT

God is doing a new thing in your life this new year. See you at the top!

THE SCHOOL CALLED MARRIAGE
Marriage is the only school where
u get the Certificate before you start. It's also a school where
you will never graduate.
It's a school without a break or a
free period.
It's a school where no one is
allowed to drop out.
It's a school you will have to attend
every day of
your life.
It's a school where there is no sick
leave or holidays.
It's a school founded by God:
1. On the foundation of love.
2. The walls are made out of trust.
3. The door made out of
acceptance.
4. The windows made out of
understanding.
5. The furniture made out of
blessings.
6. The roof made out of faith.
Be reminded that you are just a
student not the
principal.
God is the only Principal.
Even in times of storms, don't be
unwise and run
outside.
Keep in mind that, this school is
the safest place to
be.
Never go to sleep before
completing your
assignments for the day.
Never forget the C-word. Communicate.
Communicate to your classmate (Spouse)
and to the Principal
If you find out something in your
classmate
that you do not appreciate.
Remember your classmate is also
just a student not a graduate, God is not finished with
him/her yet. So take it as a challenge and work on it together.
Do not forget to study the Holy
Book (the main textbook of this school).
Start each day with a sacred
assembly and end it the same way. Sometimes you will
feel like not attending classes, yet you have to.
When tempted to quit find courage
and continue.
Some tests and exams may be
tough but remember the Principal knows how much you
can bear and yet
it's a school better than any other.
It's one of the best schools on
earth; joy, peace and
happiness accompany each lesson
of the day.
Different subjects are offered in
this school, yet
love is the major subject.
After all the years of theorizing
about it, now you
have a chance to practice it.
To be loved is a good thing, but to
love is the
greatest privilege of them all.
Marriage is a place of love, so love
your spouse. More grace from
God.

Making Time for God

Do you ever feel that you are so busy coping with the pressures of life that it is a struggle to make time to spend with God? A woman's work is never done. It can be hard juggling everything that needs to be done, looking after children, spending time with your husband/family, catching up with friends, cleaning the house, doing the shopping, ironing, pressures at work, doing jobs at church etc. I try to be organised and write a list of jobs that I need to do, and I take great delight in crossing them off when they are completed. But often it seems that just as one list is finished, I need to write another even longer one! It can be very discouraging!

Many times, we can feel that there isn't enough time in the day to get everything done. Time. It is something we all treasure, something we wish we had more of, but it just seems to slip so quickly through our fingers. I find myself thinking sometimes if only I had time I would.... spend more time in prayer and reading the Bible, helping people etc.

It is at these times that I find I need to assess my priorities. What should my focus be each day? My main aim as a Christian should be serving God and putting him first no matter what I am doing. Jesus said there are two important commandments ...

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-38)

How can we do this? I believe the most important way to do this is by remembering these commandments in all we do. Firstly, we need to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. If we love God with all our heart then we will want to spend time with Him and give Him the best times of our day.

Start the day committing it to God in prayer and asking for his help and guidance throughout the day. A poem that I sometimes read and it always encourages me is called The Difference. I have included it below ...

The Difference

I got up early one morning

And rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish

That I didn't have time to pray.


Problems just tumbled about me,

And heavier came each task.

'Why doesn't God help me?' 'I wondered.'

He answered, 'You didn't ask.'

God's Perfect Timing
I don't know about you, but I am an impatient type of person and like things done in my own way and in my own time. Are you waiting for God to answer your prayers right now? Maybe you are not waiting for God, but still things are not happening the way you hoped or expected them to. Does it seem like your hopes and dreams are never going to be fulfilled? Maybe you are waiting to meet 'Mr Right' or you are longing to have a child? You want that promotion/job at work or you are desperate to buy your own home?

Sometimes it's hard to understand why God doesn't allow things to happen straightaway. An important lesson that I am continuing to learn each day is that God works things out in his own perfect timing. Trusting in God, I believe is the key to success and happiness in life.

Whatever the issue you are facing, first bring it to the Lord in prayer. Is it really what he wants you to be hoping for? Psalm 37:4 tells us ...

'Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.'

Wow! What an amazing promise. If you delight yourself in God he will delight in Godgive you what you want, that is the desires of your heart. Don't get me wrong, He isn't going to start giving you the best cars, the nicest house and lots of material things, because God isn't concerned with those things. He wants you to 'delight' in Him, ie. to seek Him and to love Him and spend time with Him in prayer and Bible study. If you are seeking after God in this way, the desires you'll have will be to serve him and to always live according to what the Bible says. It is important that you trust in God's word.
Commit your hopes and dreams to God. The most important point to remember is that God loves you. You are His child and He wants the best things for you.

Life can be full of problems and this can cause us to worry. You may worry about lots of things such as family, a relationship, your health, job and money. I don't know about you, but I find there is always something I can worry about, things such as: What should I wear to a night out? or Does the house look tidy enough for visitors? Did I say the wrong thing? Whether a small issue or a big one, worry can be destructive and make you feel uncomfortable or even unwell. This is the reason why 'Encouragement for Women' is here to help lift you up with encouraging words. The most encouraging words can be found in the Bible. In Proverbs 12:25 it confirms how bad worry can be for you when it says ...

'Anxiety in the heart of man (and woman) causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.'

Jesus says, 'Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on ... Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.' (Matthew 6:25,28,29,34)

Have you ever looked closely at a lily or any flower and seen all the amazing lilies for encouragement details? Wow. God created the beautiful flowers that are here today and then gone tomorrow. He provides water and everything they need for life. We can take encouragement from this, knowing how much more He will provide for us His children. Jesus tells us not to worry about what might happen in the future, today has enough worries of its own. He knows our needs and will provide everything for us.

Even though we know worry is not good for us and doesn't solve anything, it can still ni**le away at the back of our minds. I find sometimes I think Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, but what about the thing I am worried about today! It is then that I remember 1 Peter 5:6-7 ...

'Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He (God) cares for you.'

Don't try to deal with things alone. God understands and wants you to come to Him.

Jesus said, 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.' (Matthew 11:28-30)