November 2008 Pearls of Encouragement for CWMs
Welcome/Need Your Help
Blog/Online Bible Study
Coaching Tips
Article – How Rich are you?
Welcome/Need Your Help
Can you believe we are almost to the
end of 2008? Where did the year go? I think I’m
starting to sound old. I would like to give big virtual
hugs to all my CWM sisters in Christ. My arms are
stretching all over the world.
Many of you know about the CWM survey
and have graciously filled it out. I am working really
hard on trying to finish up a book on the survey and
what it is like to be a CWM. I have over 1900 women
who have filled out the survey and would love to have
2000. If you have not filled out the CWM Survey go
to:
http://www.kimberlychastain.com/survey.htm.
Thanks in advance for
your help.
This month’s article is an article
from a few years back with some new additions. We
can never be too thankful.
Blog/Online Bible Study
We are having some wonderful discussions
on the CWM Blog.
Please come join us at http://christianworkingmoms.blogspot.com.
A recent post is about the movie Fireproof. Have you
seen it and what did you think? The Online Bible Study
can be found at
http://cwmbiblestudy.blogspot.com.
CWM Coaching Tips
Do you need to be more purposeful in
your study of God’s Word?
Do you want to dig deeper into God’s truth?
Then, have a daily tip emailed to you. You will learn
a Bible verse a week and hide God’s Word in
your heart. To find out more go to:
http://www.kimberlychastain.com/cwmtips.htm.
Article – How Rich are you?
We are coming to the time of the year
when are children can get the “I want, or I
need, or must have” for Christmas. There is
so much pressure from everywhere to buy and meet our
children’s every need and want. Also, in the
United States we are getting close to Thanksgiving
and a time to gives thanks for our blessings from
God. I have recently been thinking about how rich
everyone of us who subscribe to this newsletter is,
even if you think you don’t have much.
Listen to some of the following statistics:
½ of the world’s population live on $1
to $2 dollars a day, over 1 billion people on the
earth lack adequate housing, and 1 billion people
in the world are illiterate. The fact that you are
reading this and you own a computer or have one at
work shows just how rich you are. The fact that you
make more than 1 to 2 dollars a day you are richer
than half of the world’s population.
I say all of this for us to impress
upon ourselves and our children just how much we have.
When I was in graduate school, my husband and I went
on a mission trip to Kenya. At that time, we were
truly struggling to make ends meet and believe me
we did not feel the least bit rich. When I got to
Kenya and saw whole families living in mud huts with
a dirt floor, I realized how truly rich I was. My
little 2 bedroom apartment all of the sudden felt
like a mansion. We often compare ourselves to others
who have more than us not realizing how truly blessed
we are.
We are also rich for who we are in Christ.
We have Christ so we truly need nothing else. In 1
Timothy 6:17-19 we read, “Command those who
are rich in this present world not to be arrogant
nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain,
but to put their hope in God, who richly provides
us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them
to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous
and willing to share. In this way they will lay up
treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the
coming age, so that they may take hold of the life
that is truly life.”
The words of 1 Timothy could not be
more fitting for today. Do not put your hope in wealth
which is uncertain. Here in the United States and
most of the world these are tough economic times.
If you have any money in the stock market you probably
have less today than you did even a few months ago.
Our hope always has to be in God whom is our Sovereign
Lord.
We are commanded to do good and be rich
in good deeds. I would encourage all of us to challenge
our children to think of others and to realize how
truly rich we are. We have so much to be thankful
for. My children really enjoy doing the Samaritan’s
Purse Shoeboxes. They love picking out what will go
in the boxes. The Shoeboxes have become a family tradition.
The collection dates for shoeboxes is November 17th
– 24th. Your child’s shoebox can be personally
designed by them. You can even include a picture or
letter. You can also go to www.samaritanspurse.org
to find out more. Samaritans Purse also has a Christmas
catalog. You can buy blankets, chicks, a goat, and
many more things for a needy family. What a lasting
gift for eternity, that won’t break and will
be used for many years to come.
We are rich in material things, but
more importantly we are rich for whose we are. We
are royalty in God’s kingdom, we have eternal
life, and what could be more precious than that. Spend
time thanking God today for all your many blessings.
Begin with the basics: food, shelter, the ability
to read, safety, etc. Our God is an awesome God who
can provide all our needs.
Final Thoughts
May we all have the attitude of gratitude.
May we teach are children how to be thankful.
Till next time,
Kimberly M. Chastain
