It’s a typical winters day in New England . . . whipping winds . . . bitter cold.  Doesn't that sound appealing? Well, whether you like the cold or not, almost no one likes to be out when the wind chill is cold enough to freeze your nostrils shut. So, as I enjoy the beauty of winter from the warmth and comfort of my couch, I watch the trees rocking in the wind. It’s not the gentle swaying you get from a light tropical breeze wafting through the palms on a Caribbean island. No, this is more like the ‘knock you on your rear’ if you stood in front of a turbine in a wind tunnel.

It amazes me how flexible trees can be, even trees that are three stories tall. Their whole body moving in the wind, from their trunks to the tips of their limbs. It completely defies what any sane person believes about wood. Our wood dining table and chairs are meant to be rigid and strong . . . strong enough to bear our body weight. So, how can wood be so sturdy, yet so flexible?

The flexible trees remind me of this scripture “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Wouldn’t you agree that every human undergoes storms in their lives? Sometimes they can be gentle ones, only ruffling the edges of our being. At other times they can be as wild as a hurricane, shaking us to the core. However, God made both trees and man to withstand storms. This is evident in the many trees in my yard. But when I see a downed tree or a broken limb, it’s also evident that there was something wrong. Living trees can be weakened by many things such as wounds, disease, chemicals or lack of nourishment, making them unable to endure the damaging winds.

This is true of people as well. Before I gave my will over, trusted Jesus and was reunited with God, the only strength I had was my own. A strength which often failed me when difficulties came. Like so many people, I had wounds from my past, did not always seek the right type of nourishment and made lots of poor choices, all of which made me weak. But now my wounds have been healed, my poor choices forgiven and I have God’s strength living inside of me. It is His strength, not my own, that helps me bear the brunt of the stormy blasts. Sometimes the storm will be brief and other times last a long time, but with God I may bend but I will not be broken!

Be blessed,
Jeanine

        

What is Hope to you?

 

What does it mean to hope? Does the word hope or the action of hope, take on a different meaning when we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives? Do we “need” faith in order to hope?

What exactly does hope mean and what are you hoping ...

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Was reading through a bunch of poems I have written and chose to post this one.
Let me know if you identify- Blessings, Alane

I Never Knew

 

Oh, I never knew love from the father or man -   

who was nothing but seed for my birth.     

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I am not sure where to start. Certainly The Lord Jesus is to be praised no matter the circumstance and certainly there is always something to be grateful for. As far as my life goes there is TONS to be grateful for!

Then, there is the other stuff. The stuff I cry to the Lord about and the stuff I don’t understand. The pain I see others suffering and cannot stop. My own pain, both the physical and the emotional can cause me to cry out through prayer to my Lord Jesus.

But I always want to put on the good face, the happy face. Have everyone see that’s everything is okay. Do you think that people see the Lord at work best in out lives if we only put our best face forward? If I only allow the best to be seen and never share the deep struggles, will anyone really see the Lord working in my life? Or will they just see someone who they believe never struggles? I am a whole person who does have joy as well as sadness. One who has experienced major setbacks and also major victories in the Lord! I am going to begin sharing here in this blog differently. I am going to praise the Lord God as well as to pray my heart to Him in typed text. I want to share His victories in my life and in order to do that others need to know the whole story.

Currently, I am hurting physically. I have been praying for healing and I have received many miracles of healing. However, I still am not well… so …

“I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.” (Psalm 62:1)

And in the waiting, there is sometimes uncertainty, confusion and pain - but always there is love, peace, hope and joy. As long as I am before the Lord, I am right where I am supposed to be. I will share more details tomorrow.

Thanks for reading. Leave a comment. Would love to hear from you! J

Blessings-

Alane D Brown
Alane@ChristianWomenNow.com

blog.christianwomennow.com

www.christianwomennow.com

        

A Familiar Face in the Crowd

 

I visited the local fair the other day with a friend and as we were walking I noticed a familiar face in the crowd. Actually, my heart recognized her before my brain did but I felt a” God nudge” to stop her. Before I knew it, I said “Excuse me Ma’am?” So, she stopped and looked at me. It was at this point that I realized she hadn’t a clue as to who I was and because I had been the one to stop her it was up to me to put the puzzle together! So I said “I know you from somewhere.” So she smiled at me. Then all of a sudden, the memories came flooding back to my brain! Twenty Five years ago in a small meeting room of Alcoholics Anonymous, here in New England, this kind women welcomed me into her heart and assisted me in getting and staying sober! When I reminded her of the “Little Hall” meetings and the many times we sat and had coffee afterwards, she too remembered me.

 

This was a woman of dignity and honor. Someone whose heart and soul I loved and trusted when I wasn’t able to love or trust myself. I had been drinking and doing drugs for years! - Trying to hide my tears, my pain, and my shame. Back then, she didn’t say anything of all that. She would just listen and share her life experiences with me. She was like an angel to me. (There were many, many people in the halls of AA who assisted me – some more memorable than others and some who are still in my life today. This beautiful woman, she is one of the special ones for sure.)

 

As we stood there briefly talking to one another I thanked her for being there for me so many years ago. Her response was, “Well, I don’t know what I did”. I told her, “You spoke to me from your heart and you loved me at a time when I really needed to be loved.” A tear ran down her cheek when she said, “Thank you Alane for stopping me today to tell me this.” She also told me she is now in her 80’s and that she and two other women I also knew from that little hall get together every Thursday morning to read a Chapter from the Big Book and a passage from the Bible. Eventually, we hugged and went our separate ways but her smile remains in my heart even now.

 

I praise God for the opportunity to thank her in person like that. I praise God that He sent people to love me back then, when I felt totally unlovable. I praise God for being at work in my life when I didn’t even know Him and I praise God that three women, who are in their eighties, are gathering every Thursday morning to read a bit of the Bible and a bit of the Big Book.
Blessings,
Alane
Alane@ChrsitianWomenNow.com
http://blog.christianwomennow.com/ 
www.ChristianWomenNow.com

        

Here’s the question – How do you fit a whole summers worth of fun into about two weeks time?

Hi, my name is Alane D Brown. Many of you know me – and therefore you know that I have had some past health issues and have over come much in the last couple of years. For the last few months there has been wonderful recovery happening and I have been able to enjoy life as if I never had any health challenges at all! I praise God for that and remain very grateful. As many of you know, when you are a wife and mom and your health is not great – it’s tough to be and to do the many things we enjoy doing for our families in the ways we desire to do them. So for the past few months I have enjoyed being ALL of everything I have been created to be - A loving wife, an attentive mother, a talented entrepreneur, a friend and sister to many – well, you get the picture! Certainly, I have been blessed.

What’s tough currently is – I have had a pretty major set back with my health. I am not as physically strong as I was about a month ago and within the next two weeks, I will be having a very major surgery. (Still waiting for the exact date) So physically I am going to be down for a little bit. But that’s okay. Spiritually and Emotionally, I am strong and prepared. I have a very strong faith in God and believe that I will fully recover once again.

I remain grateful to many of you who assisted me last year with your love, your cards, letters, emails and phone calls. Your strength is phenomenal and I appreciate you all sharing it with me. Although I haven’t said much on the site lately, I am here. I pray that when you see “Alane” that you are able to see the strength with in, that you see God’s love and that you see I am strong and capable. Mostly, it would be my desire that anyone who may be reading this, who may be facing anything similar, that they see hope and that they stay focused on that hope. God has given us EVERYTHING, we require to overcome any and all obstacles and then to be whatever we are meant to be.

Over the nest week or so I am going to have as much summer fun as possible and as soon as I am able – I will resume! <Smile> this past weekend my daughter and I took off for Vermont last minute! It was a good time. We visited a place we often vacation during the summer months of New England. Our pool is open – So beginning tomorrow, no matter the outside temperature, I am going in! How many of you would like to see a video of that? (Leave a comment and if I get enough – I will video me in a bathing suit in freezing cold water!)

On Monday I am going to have my first official dance lesson. This is something I have been talking about and not moving on for far too long. Well, time is up Alane – it’s time to dance and not to care what anyone thinks! My son is getting married in California in January and I am not only going to be there – I am going to do some celebrating and dancing!

Well, this is a longer post than I planned on – but it’s all good.

Blessings and (((HUGS))) to everyone!

Alane D. Brown

        

A recent airing of ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ really surprised me. It showed me that I need to humble myself as I serve others. I shouldn’t whip out a ‘get out of jail free’ card or believe I am too good for a particular job, no matter how mundane or inconvenient it may be.<< MORE >>

A desire or dream may be given long before it actually begins. In God’s planning there is training and equipping that needs to happen before His child is ready. He is the one who orchestrates the steps needed to get to the starting line.<< MORE >>

Hello,
We are happy you have found us!
Our ChristianWomenNow Blog has moved to quick blogcast!
We were able to move our own entries over but not your comments.
We are asking that if you had made a comment prior to our move that you please add it here. We would sure appreciate it!
Remember - you can now find us here at: http://blog.christianwomennow.com/
Blessings-
Alane D Brown

        

(Click on image for larger view)

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/