Equipped Ministries

How Do I Know?                 My family is at a crossroads in life right now.    (Actually we are at several crossroads.)   With the kids growing up and friends, and the “outside world” beginning to have more of an impact, my husband and I feel very strongly that the decisions we make over the next several months could have a long term impact on our family.                 Needless to say, we are desperate to make the right decisions and ensure that they are driven by God and not some underlying selfish desire on our part.   So what should we do when we really need to hear from God?                 I know from experience, the answer is multi-faceted.   Think about this; you or your kids may have been able to breeze through grade school...

Worry Less                 Worry less?   An oxymoron for sure, right?   Those two words simply do not belong together.   Is there such a concept?   Is it possible in this world of uncertainties, death, disease and destruction to worry less? Take it from someone, whose bloodline is filled with worriers; YES.   The key is to understand your worries and the power they have in your life.   The topic of worry has been a struggle for humans for thousands of years.   So much so, that Jesus saw it important enough to teach about in his Sermon on the Mount.   We can learn vital lessons about our worries (and save thousands of $$ on prescriptions and doctor visits) by revisiting what Jesus says about worry: 1.        Worry cannot add one single minute to your day, so it truly is useless (Mt. 6:27).   Ironically, one of our biggest worrie...

I’ve often heard stories of men and women literally hearing God speak to them.   Countless books offer near-death experiences and devotions such as Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” tell of personal encounters with a God who longs and yearns to speak   to those that love Him.                 It seems, the more we long for a clearer understanding of God/Jesus/The Holy Spirit, the more we are bombarded with things like the Easter Bunny and planting spring bulbs before it’s too late.                 Before you are overwhelmed with what to put in that Easter Basket, let me share with you what God wants you to know this Easter weekend.   The message is one of hope, not destruction .   It reminds us that with a closer walk with God we can do all things, for we are strengthened.        ...

                My family and I are in the midst of a very real struggle in our lives right now.   One, which involves very real financial burdens and an uncertain future.   One that has put a wedge between my husband and myself and shifted the mood of our home greatly.                 I won’t share the details (I’m sure my husband will feel the above is already too much) but I share the scenario to offer hope and direction to the hundreds of other families facing similar situations.                   Financial burdens, emotional struggles and uncertain futures are an all too common reality for most homes today.                   And for many, the end is divorce, b...

Reduce Your Stress and Lose Weight Automatically                 If one of your resolutions this year was to lose weight, you might want to add reducing stress to calorie counting.   Studies are indicating that people who experience significant amounts of stress on a regular basis weigh significantly more than those who combat stress in healthy ways.                 Science has now proven for us that very specific things happen in our brain when we are under stress.   Our “hunger hormones” get out of whack and send crazy signals prompting us to eat more simple sugars and signaling that we are never full.                 To add insult to injury the stress hormone, cortisol is released in massive doses in our body when we are stressed and resea...

                                                                                              O.K., here we go.   Its resolution time again.   That time of year we begin to make those commitments to better our lives, save our money, and lose those extra pounds.   And if you fear yours won’t last you’re not alone.                   Statistics tell us that our will power and determination to keep our resolutions lasts a whopping two weeks!...

                I know from personal experience that once a family loses a loved one, Christmas is never the same.   We are unable, (nor do we really want) to find the same joy we found in years past in the many traditions of Christmas.   Presents, shopping, baking etc., no longer lighten the mood and get us in the spirit the way they used too.   The one or ones we used to share these traditions with are no longer with us, so doing them brings little joy.                 The above is truer this year than ever before.   An entire community has lost their joy for Christmas.   We have lost little bakers in the kitchen, little voices in the Christmas musical, and quite possibly an entire cast for a holiday play.   Christmas will never be the same in Newtown, Connecticut.      ...