Miz Woody's Place

A response to a Myspace bulletin from a young friend who is a Senior in high school, doesn’t know what the future holds, doesn’t know what she wants it to hold, and is a little stressed over it.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

That part, “Prepared in advance”, says in the King James, “God hath before ordained“. It’s not like he baked a cake and hopes you’ll eat it. He’s laid some serious groundwork for you.
I think God made you to do something very special. If you are seeking his plan, there is no way he’s gonna’ let you miss it.

Ah, but how to find it?

Your first clue is the gifts, passions and interests God put in you. You love what you love for a reason. It doesn’t have to be something “approved” by the church, or your family, or the educational system. Every interest can – should – must! – be given to God. He uses the craziest things! For instance, you have an interest in fashion. That doesn’t sound very holy. For sure, many people use it for unholy ends. But that is true of carpentry, writing, medicine and the law. Every gift can be used to honor God and bless people, or to increase darkness, pain and misery.

You don’t have to figure out the whole puzzle, just be the piece you were meant to be.

The other thing I know is that “A man plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.” (That’s in Proverbs – I don’t know where and I’m way too busy to look it up!) Part of what that means is that God has your future, so don’t sweat it. I think another part is that we can only take life one step at a time. I really hate that! I’d love to know that the step I’m taking is the right one and it will lead to a lovely time for all. God’s plan is, “The just shall live by faith.” (That’s in the Bible, like, 4 times!)

As for the whole “Significant Other” thing…there again, one step at a time. You never know what (or whom) is around the corner – and there are corners everywhere!

My plan was to go through college and not get married until I was at least 24. Then there was this 3-week window where I could meet my Darling Husband. I was 17! Poof! There went my plan.

Blessings on you, Friend. You don’t have to know what to do. You know the One who knows.

When my kids were little Psalty the Singing Songbook was popular in the American Christian realm. One of his story tapes (my kids are that old!) included the song, “Make Me a Servant”.

My then 4 year-old daughter sang it thusly:
“Give me a servant, humble and true…”

And I would think, “He did! And I’m it!”

Admit it. If you have children, you’ve felt that way. Or surely you’ve said,
“Isn’t there someone else we could call, ‘Mom’, for just a few hours?”

Finally, the answer is, YES!!!!!

Admittedly, you will need a rather large kitchen to accommodate her,
but Robo-Maid has arrived.
Check her out here http://snurl.com/4ufgl

Blessings on you!
Marilyn

There’s a story news story out today saying there is a big rise in the suicide rate among middle-aged white women. No one knows why this is so.

One of the things I think I know is that people do desperate things – like end a marriage, or end a life – when they have lost hope. They’ve tried everything they can think of to make it better, so they figure there are no options left to them.
When they think, “This will never get better,” they look for a way out.

One thing I’m pretty darn sure I know is: There Are Always Options!

Just because you can’t see them at the moment, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. If you are desperate, or nearly so, please wait.

Wait for a change. Change is the only constant. This terrible time will pass.

Wait for an answer. Of course, to get an answer you have to (1) ask a question and (2) listen. I recommend you ask God your burning question and expect Him to answer. One of the things I know I know is that He cares for you.* Another one is that He is found by those who look for Him. **

Wait for a friend, someone who will hang in there with you. This may take a while. It may not be the person you think it is. It may not be the person you want it to be. Again, ask God to give you one, then wait and keep your eyes open.

If you don’t believe any of this, please talk to someone who will listen to you. If you don’t have a friend, call a counselor. If you can’t afford a counselor, call a Pastor. If you don’t trust pastors, call a suicide hotline. They will believe you, and they will help you find someone you can talk to.

My new website is online and my “Official Site Launch”
is Tuesday, October 14th at 9:00 EST

My mentor and joint venture partner, Rhea Perry, will host a teleconference
during which she will interview Yours Truly.

I’d love for you to hear what I’ve been up to and get the nitty gritty on my
membership web site. The call is free, except long distance charges (if you still have those.)

The number to call is 270-696-1500

The passcode is 21414#

Hope you can join us!

Be sure to visit my site www.CreatingGreatHomes.com
and click on all the buttons!

I’m pretty pleased with it so far, and it’s growing all the time.

Blessings on you!
Marilyn

P.S. Oh! I almost forgot. My son, Brent Woodard, designed the beautiful banner, logo and buttons. (He’s getting his degree in Graphic Design in December of THIS YEAR!!! http://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencewoodard )

P.P.S. You can get a one-month trial membership for ONE Dollar! You can’t even buy a cup of coffee for that!

We American Christians have grown up in an avowedly Capitalist nation. For a couple of hundred years America was called a Christian nation. Every once in a while we hear or read a Bible verse, like:

Matthew 6:24 — No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Or these:

Acts 2:44 — All the believers were together and had everything in common.

Acts 4:32-35 — All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

…and they give us pause – possibly even guilt – we wonder if our country, our culture and we as individual believers have messed up.

Jesus was poor beyond our modern American imagining. Are we not to follow him? If we are going to sincerely empty ourselves of Self and bless others with our goods, doesn’t Socialism present a more Christ-like economic system?

Oops!

These are the musings of the pure in heart; those who want God’s will more than their own comfort. These are the questions of idealists; those who measure their actions by how well they meet their high standards.

There is an underlying biblical reality that is often overlooked by the pure in heart (and economic theorists.) It is this: Mankind is fallen. We are, each and every one, fatally flawed in our very core. We – each and every one – are sinners.

The problem with Capitalism – and Socialism – and Anarchism – and every other ism – is that they are human systems run by corrupt humans.

Any one of these systems would make Earth a paradise if humans could all be like Jesus.

Any one of these systems can – and do – produce a hell on Earth when humans act in pure self-interest.

And One Other Thing

Following Christ is an individual choice: always was, is now, and ever shall be. We know it from the Bible.

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

We know it from experience. We might go to church and “dress right and look right” because it is expected of us, but following Christ is a matter of conforming our will to his. No one does that because their parents made them go to Sunday School.

We know it from history. Governments that mandate Christianity end up persecuting other religions, even other Christians, in ways that must make Jesus weep.

So what now?

The best-case scenario is to implement the system that is most likely to allow people the freedom to live out their commitment to follow Christ. That would be the system wherein Christians would be able to give as much as Jesus calls them to give. It would be the system wherein Christians would be able to share the Gospel, thereby spreading kindness, respect and love for our fellow men.

From a practical and biblically realistic view, Capitalism looks to be the best choice.

For one thing:

From a secular historical point of view, Socialism is a bad choice. There is no historical evidence that a socialist country, community or program has ever led to better living conditions for the poor. The historical reality is that socialism has led to more widespread poverty.

What’s that about?

The reason Socialism doesn’t work is very simple. It does not take into account the sinful state of mankind. It assumes that people will not be self-centered.

Interesting historical note: when the Pilgrims came to America, English investors put up the money for the trip expecting to be repaid in lumber, fish, furs, etc. They drew up a charter – a document to govern the company – which set up a commune. Each person was to work for the Company and receive the same compensation for their labor. About 50% of the Pilgrims were committed Christians; a huge percentage of the population! Here is an abridged version (with updated spelling) of what Pilgrim William Bradford wrote about it:

…they began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could…that they might not languish in misery…And so assigned to every family a parcel of land…This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious…and gave far better content. This experience…may well evince the vanity …of Plato…that the taking away of property, and bringing …into a common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing. For this…was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment…For the young men…did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children…And for men’s wives to be commanded to do service for other men…they deemed it a kind of slavery…it did diminish and take of the mutual respect…amongst them. And would have been worse if they had been men of another condition. {i.e., non-christians)

Furthermore…

Capitalism can be used to exploit the working class. However, it also provides a means whereby the able-bodied can work to escape the ranks of the exploited. It also – and this is key – provides a means for Christians to be able to share with others. Socialism not only takes away the incentive to work and the ability to create wealth, it takes away the choice to share.

2 Corinthians 9:7 — Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

I had a little health scare last week and, since I have more imagination than I need, I ran through a few scenarios, all of which ended in sudden death. It’s interesting that my scenarios never include more realistic things like illness and hospital bills – nothing but catastrophic death is dramatic enough for my imagination!

So, as I’m thinking about dying I have a very peaceful feeling. I’m convinced that Jesus’ death on the cross was enough to get me into heaven and frankly – in a purely self-centered way – I’m looking forward to it.

But, this morning, as I was thinking about the things I am doing, and plan on doing in the near future, for my husband and kids I realized; I don’t wanna’ go! It’s not that they can’t get along without me; they could. It’s that I really believe what I do for them makes a difference in their lives.

What do I do? I try to keep them fed (no small task for two college students.) Since their time at home is so limited, I help out with their laundry and errands. I am the communications hub and social secretary. I nag them to make their doctor appointments. And I listen. I rub their backs and say “Mm-hmm” while they discuss the latest frustration, joy or newsy tidbits. I smile when they come in the room.

Suddenly, I feel so important!

It’s kind of nice.

I hope you are feeling important today.

Blessings on you!
Marilyn

I caught a TV news segment on Robin Bowman’s new book, It’s Complicated. Bowman, a photojournalist, spent four years photographing teenagers across America and learning their stories. As the title suggests, the teen years are not necessarily a bed of roses.

Most of the segment was spent discussing Bowman’s reasons for writing the book. These included her own not-so-great teen years and her sense that teenagers today have a tougher time than she did. Appropriately, all of the photos shown on air were black and white with not a smile to be seen. So, this was not a hugely uplifting bit of television.

At the end of the segment, they turned to a “teen expert”, a psychologist (whose name I have forgotten – I did try to find it, sorry Dr. Teen Expert!) This man brought sanity and real hope in about 15 seconds. (Man, I wish I knew his name!) Guess what he said?

Teens need parents to care for them! They need parents who make the effort to eat meals with their kids, who take time to connect and find out who their friends are, what’s on their minds, how they are feeling, what they need.

Well, thank God for Dr. Teen Expert. He didn’t let all his education get in the way of common sense. So often I hear “experts” on TV telling us teens need more education, more government programs, more sex, less sex, more therapy, healthier food in the school cafeteria, and the list goes on. This guy had the guts to say, “Mom and Dad, you gotta’ take care of your kids!”

I’m not saying raising teens is easy, or that having dinner together will keep your kids out of trouble and improve their grades. Of course, it’s more complicated than that. But here’s what I know. Every human being needs a place where they are accepted for who they are, where people listen to them with empathy, where they are told – over and over again, in words and deeds – you matter to me. If they don’t get that at home, they will look for it elsewhere. Sadly, if they don’t get it at home they may – and often do – settle for something far less…which is when it get’s really complicated.

Blessings on you, Dr. Teen Expert!
Marilyn

Say you need a resume. Do you update an old one (if you can remember where you put it) or start over and go through the misery of finding all those names, addresses, etc? Either way it’s a hassle, right?

Oh no, my friend. That is sooooo yesterday!

Just as the Internet has changed shopping, keeping in touch, publishing, you name it – we are now in the age of the Internet Resume. I was introduced to this concept at Entrepreneur Days, an Internet business conference I recently attended in Atlanta, GA.

Jennifer Navarrete, a Social Media Expert, turned me on to LinkedIn.com
This is an online Resume and Networking site. You fill out a simple form with all your background information and it’s there for anyone looking for your expertise to view, download as a pdf, or print.

You also have the opportunity to ask questions of the community. Say you’re considering incorporating and you don’t know what kind of corporation you need. Ask a question. You’ll get answers from professionals who’ve been there, done that.

Arguably the most powerful aspect of this site is the connections aspect. Right now I have a mere five direct connections, i.e., people I know that are on LinkedIn. Through them I have 12 connections (friends of friends.) And through them I have 400 connections. Remember the old Six Degrees of Separation concept: you are six people away from any person on earth. LinkedIn is like that, only you’re probably more like three people away from any person on LinkedIn.

The next time you need to send someone a Resume, just print off your LinkedIn page. Or, better yet, email them the web address of your public profile. Here, for example, is mine:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/9/a1b/5

Have a great day and…

Blessings on you!
Marilyn

I just returned from Entrepreneur Days in Atlanta, Georgia (that’s U.S., not the current war zone.)

Heard excellent speakers, learned some things, realized some things and met people that are going to help my business (Creating Great Homes.com – click on the link down there on the right.)

But wait! That’s not all!

While it’s hard to separate out a single best part, here’s one that has to be in contention for best part: meeting like-minded people.

Have you ever been among hundreds of people and found that you could really connect with every other person you met? Pretty amazing.

Add to that the fact that you are learning good things from almost everyone. It’s heady stuff, let me tell you!

And laugh! I laughed all weekend.

You gotta’ go next year.

Click on the Entrepreneur Days link on the lower right,
when you get to the Entrepreneur Days site, sign up for the information. That way, when it comes around next August, you’ll hear about it in time to make plans.

Blessings on you!
Marilyn

I’m gearing up to go to my third conference for entrepreneurs. I can’t wait!

I learned a ton about business, Internet marketing and gaining financial independence at the last two conferences. I am eager to go back for more financial education.

I knew I wanted to have some kind of Internet business, but wasn’t entirely clear about how to go about it. Sure, there are a zillion people online promising to make you a millionaire overnight, but frankly…I don’t trust ‘em!

I knew I needed someone to teach me, someone I could trust, but where to find such a teacher?

My husband came across an interview published on World Net Daily. That interview was with Rhea Perry. Her background as a homeschooling mom was reassuring to me. The fact that she is educating her own children in matters of business, Internet marketing and being financially independent – largely through non-traditional means – rang true.

The fact the children are welcome at her business conference underscores that she practices what she preaches. You won’t find many business meetings that welcome teenagers. But, think about it: where else are they going to learn how to become financially independent? Not in school! School prepares you for a job.

So, off to Rhea’s Entrepreneur Days I went. I got no promises of becoming a millionaire overnight. I did get insight into the entrepreneurial mindset. I did get education about making money with eBay, the stock market and real estate, just to name a few.

I also got the opportunity to talk face-to-face with the people who’ve been there, done that. That’s real life education!

You can check out the details on this year’s Entrepreneur Days by clicking on the link in the Marilyn’s Friends box on the right. Be sure to scroll way down the ED site to the pictures of the teachers. There are audio interviews to listen to for free. Good stuff.

Hope to see you there.

Blessings on you!
Marilyn