5 Habits of a Woman who Doesn’t Quit Book Review

3 / 1 / 16

Do you have hopes, dreams and goals? Do they seem so out of reach from where you stand right now? Do you just want to quit?

Sometimes we need refined in an area of life that we didn’t even know was an issue. That’s what I realized once I started reading my friend Nicki Koziarz’s book 5 Habits of a Women who Doesn’t Quit.

I have a habit of starting a project with much enthusiasm but as the weeks go by, that feeling fades and I become less inclined to continue.

“God gives favor for small steps of obedience over big empty promises.” – Nicki Koziarz

Nicki Koziarz’s teaching came to life as she walked me through the Book of Ruth. I discovered how Ruth had plenty of chances to quit. Her husband had just died and her mother-in-law, Naomi whom she loved, had decided to return to her home land in Israel.

Instead of returning to her family, Ruth decided to follow Naomi. There were many chances along the way for Ruth to give up and return home. Instead she followed through with her decision – she did not quit.

“A committed woman learns to choose what she wants most over what she wants now.” – Nicki Koziarz

Nicki offers five habits a women can acquire to follow through with her commitments. Just like Ruth accepted the assignment of refinement and allowed herself to become the woman God wanted her to be, we can too.

Let’s face it, life is hectic. But Nicki shows us how to stay open to the movement of God and move forward with life and our commitments and projects in faith.

“Sometimes quitting appears to have no effect until we wake the time to reflect.” – Nicki Koziarz

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Finding rest in his shelter

2 / 25 / 16

[biblegateway passage=”Psalm 91:2″ display=”Psalm 91:2″] (NIV)

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

As I was getting out of my car this morning, it began to rain. With an umbrella in one hand and purse in the other, I began maneuvering between parked cars and jumping puddles of water.

Within a minute I reached a small shelter where I waited for a bus. I was safe from the wind and rain that raged outside. The glass windows enclosing the shelter protected me from the drops of rain that pelted against it.

Other commuters walked through the storm with their umbrellas braced against the strong wind that threatened to make them useless. As each one entered the haven, a look of relief could be seen on their faces. They, too, were now protected from the pellets of rain drops that were so desperately trying to make their way in.

This sturdy shelter has kept my fellow bus companions and me safe from rugged weather for many years. It waits for us every morning, offering protection from the wind, rain and snow.

There is another shelter I know of – one that anyone can retreat to. It’s found in Psalm 91 and offers comforting promises of rest and refuge for those who trust in God.

[biblegateway passage=”Psalm 91:1″ display=”Psalm 91:1″] (NIV)

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word “dwell” as remaining for a time or to live as a resident. The word shadow is defined as a shelter from danger. When we live in his presence, we will find rest in his shelter.

Life has a tendency to throw storms our way. Some storms are small and leave as quickly as they arrived. But others are bigger, blowing us around like dust in the wind and allowing pellets of water to directly hit us. It leaves us tired and unable or unwilling to fight.

But we don’t need to fight. Once we dwell in His shadow, we are safe.

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3 ways to spiritually clean your heart

2 / 17 / 162 / 25 / 16

When I was a young woman just starting out in this word, the last thing I expected to make my life easier was garbage day. Yep, garbage day.

For the past ten years, our local waste management company has helped me organize my life by picking up our garbage every Monday.

What’s so special about Monday? Nothing really, except it’s the start of a new week for me.

On Sunday, I clean out the refrigerator and collect all the trash in the house. In the evening, my husband takes the full, and sometimes heavy, garbage cans to the curb where they sit and wait for the garbage truck the next day.

When I leave in the morning, the cans are filled with mounds of accumulated garbage. But when I return at the end of the day, the cans are empty.

It’s a satisfying feeling knowing that the house has been cleared of all garbage. But the results of this weekly ritual do not last. Within a day, more garbage is starting to accumulate, and by Sunday, we start the process of removing the trash from our home once again.

When fear overwhelms

2 / 4 / 162 / 25 / 16

This weekend I will help my dad sort through years of memories as we decide what to keep or give away. Then we will pack those memories in boxes where they will be moved to a new location – the new home for mom and dad.

Both plagued with health issues, mom and dad need to live in a smaller environment with no steps. So they will be leaving their townhome and downsizing for the second time in ten years to an apartment.

This move will be difficult for me because they will be living almost an hour away. After my first visit, the long trip home will be longer, and I will have time to reflect on this change and the ones that came before it.

Over the past year, the Alzheimer’s disease has taken over mom’s body, making her more dependent on my dad, sister and I. She has slowly gone from being “mom” to “child”. Dad’s health is steady, but he, too, is relying more on us siblings.

Three roadblocks that hold you back spiritually

2 / 3 / 162 / 25 / 16

In my hometown, there is a bridge. It’s not a big one, just long enough to cross over the creek below it. But it’s an important bridge because it connects one end of town to the other.

If you were to drive up to that bridge today, you will find it blocked, forcing you to turn around and take a different route. Luckily, it’s not a big town, and only takes a few extra minutes to do so.

This bridge has been closed for the past twenty years. The barriers are still in place and signs are still posted of its closure, but there is no need for them. No one drives up to it anymore. Everyone knows it’s closed and avoids it.

Sometimes we encounter roadblocks in our lives. We can put them there ourselves or someone else can. Either way, these roadblocks can make us stop and focus on the situation instead of on God who is waiting to guide us around these roadblocks.

I Know His Name: El Roi

2 / 1 / 162 / 25 / 16

Do you have a desire to move beyond simply knowing about God to really knowing God in a very personal way? Then you are in for a treat today!

I Know His Name: Discovering Power in the Names of God is a new Bible study written by my friend Wendy Blight. Wendy teaches how the very names of God reveal His character and heart.

I’ve invited Wendy to share with you today about El Roi : The God Who Sees You.

She awakened with a quick trip to the grocery store in mind. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail, slipped on her flip-flops, grabbed her keys and ran out the door.

My girlfriend, Karen, and I also planned a trip to the local market that day. As we approached the check-out lines, we found ourselves behind an older woman waiting on someone to arrive. She impatiently motioned for us to go ahead. Before I had a chance to move my cart forward, a young woman scooted past me to join her.

Immediately my heart beat erratically; my hands trembled uncontrollable, and I felt a leading from the Lord … buy her groceries.