Life

Preparing For The Unknown And Seeking Peace

Robin Martin
30 Jul 2015
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My youngest daughter is beginning Kindergarten this year. She is excited, but a little nervous, as she prepares for this new grand adventure, filled with growing responsibilities and a charge to be a big girl. We can sense and clearly see that she is both filled with a sense of boldness, new kitty cat backpack and all, and battling a growing fear of the unknown. Just the other day she told her mother and me that she wants to be a baby again. While she answered, when pressed, that she wanted to stay home with mommy and daddy, I knew […]

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The “A” List Women of God

Paula Masters
9 Jul 2015
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Is it just me, or have you ever noticed that successful Christian women in the church generally have really great hair? Of course I’m jesting, but in all honesty I might not be that far off in projecting a fairly accurate profile. Every arena of life has politics and the church is no exception. As such, it is not uncommon for the woman with the vibrant personality and confident abilities to rise to the top. She also might be married to an influential man, have beautiful children and most importantly possess “A” list talents. I remember walking into church one […]

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women of god

Embracing God’s Design of Love and Sexuality Verses Counterfeits that Hijack Relationships

Julie Woodley
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embrace gods design

This topic isn’t an easy one — our sexually powered culture, the pressure we put on ourselves and allow others to put on us, can be exhausting and confusing. I have wrestled with this topic my whole life. But in asking God to help me write this, He replied, “Julie, you are becoming whole in this journey, your wholeness is in me, your love is in me.” So I sat in a hotel room and listened to God. I asked him, “Why this ache God? I’ve had it my whole life, but now you’re beginning to fill the ache with […]

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A Smile a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Steve Davis
7 Jul 2015
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Researchers have discovered one of the two types of smiles can have amazing effects on your health and your brain functions. What are the two types of smiles? The first type of smile is the regular, “slightly turn up the corners of the mouth,” pleasant smile. The second type of smile is described by researchers as a full-faced “Duchenne Smile” that includes both the mouth and the muscles around the eyes. I like to call it ‘The Big Smile!’ You’ll discover here that the benefits of developing a Duchenne Big Smile habit are much more than expected. Getting started First, […]

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Choosing Joy Amid Health Issues

Andrea Goff
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Choosing Joy

When we are young we often see ourselves as invincible, but sometimes our health can become an every present struggle. At 31, happily married with two little girls, aged four and two, life was good. We celebrated no more diapers with a weekend camping trip to the Keys with friends. While others went out on the boat I watched our children in a wooded play area. That evening I noticed that my legs were covered with bites. The following Monday I developed flu like symptoms, followed by a strange pain in my foot. X-rays showed arthritic changes in my toes. […]

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Deja’Vu: Caring for An Aged Loved One

Vickie Estler
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Standing in line at Home Depot with a cart full of boxes, moving paper, bubble wrap, and tape, the cashier said, “Ma’am, you’re next.” In a haze, deja’vu, so to speak was I. An overwhelming sense of familiarity, “I’ve done this” washed over me. Less than two years ago we lost Mother to cancer, moved Daddy to the independent/assisted living apartment of his choice, packed up and sold their home, and then took a plethora of furniture and heirloom items to the grandkids. Daddy had hip replacement surgery last January and has spent most of this year in rehab. Advance […]

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Deja'Vu

Marriage See, Marriage Do

The Good News
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Marriage See, Marriage Do

Research shows parents may have more to do with marriages than first thought. Two ways parents influence marriages Presently: How they behave as in-laws (or outlaws). Growing Up: What they taught us about marriage by either active teaching or modeling (the more powerful contributor). “Kids learn more from example than from anything you say; I’m convinced they learn very early not to hear anything you say, but to watch what you do,” said Jane Pauley Whether marriage is a struggle or deeply fulfilling often traces back to the habits and behaviors of our family of origin. “Oh No! I’ve become […]

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Summer Fun in Broward

Penni Bulten
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As excited as everyone becomes about summer vacation, the time eventually comes when the typical ideas fail to relieve boredom. Even people with two-week vacations can find the time moves too slowly without something interesting to do. Many find reading an interesting book, visiting friends or a trip to the library enriching, but there are plenty of alternate activities. South Florida has one of the richest environments for summer learning activities for all ages of any area in the state. There are museums of all types to visit, many of them with hands on activities for families to enjoy. Activities […]

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Summer Fun

Learn to Resolve Conflict and Deepen Relationships This Summer

Terry Morrow
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Learn To Resolve Conflict

Conflict styles Many of us did not grow up seeing our parents argue. As a result, any argument feels like the end of the relationship. In an effort to maintain the relationship, some individuals try to escape conflict through denial, flight or simply giving up on the relationship or themselves. While these responses may bring temporary relief, they don’t generally make things better. Often, they make things worse. While some seek to avoid conflict, others have learned to dive into conflict and seek a win-lose outcome. One person is going to win, which means the other person has to lose. […]

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Family Reunions Help Tell the Story of Us

Maritza Cosano
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In “the good ol’ days,” Jim and Shirley Cox, of Plantation, celebrated their annual family reunion at their beach house in a little coastal town called Garden City in South Carolina. The reason for the reunion was simple: to bring family members together. There was no schedule of activities to be planned, no internet ideas, themes, resources, free reunion registry and message boards or invites to address and deliver…via email. There was only the anticipation of 24 hours of shared memories and another day in which new ones could be made, and undoubtedly last a lifetime. Four generations later, that […]

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Family Reunions