August 2021

I am and made
Dear Ladies My theme for this newsletter is about Psalm 139. With all that
is going on in our lives during these uncertain times it is easy to become uncertain
within ourselves and how to cope. And in the mess and chaos of life we sometimes
lose sight of ourselves and our standing in Christ , and we cant make sense from
the beginning to the end. But the Lord knows. Just as he sees
everything with what is going on in the world, He is aware of the
struggles you face and wants to remind you of how precious you
are to Him. Bring to Him every part of yourself and trust Him!
HE IS THE GREAT CREATOR

Intricately and skillfully formed

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Do you believe that you are wonderfully made?
Comparison is a good self-esteem’s worst enemy. In our perspec-
tive, we think that woman is prettier, smarter, thinner, and more
graceful than we’ll ever be. She gets so much attention and every-
one wants to be her friend. How can I be more like her? Those
thoughts will destroy you. I had a roommate that had horrible self-
esteem. She was always complaining or verbally abusing herself
about how she looked. Slowly, my own esteem deteriorated. By
constantly hearing her barrage herself and trying to encourage
her, I didn’t feel beautiful anymore. Then I realized it was not my
responsibility to show her she had true beauty and value. Yes, I
still encouraged her, but I no longer let myself be obligated to do
so. She had to find her value in God and I was always willing to
point her in that direction. I posted these verses from Psalms on
our bathroom mirror. I read them every morning and night.
Psalm 139:13-14
“For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.”
I had to ask myself; did I believe these words? I believe the Bible is
infallible and true. That meant I needed to believe the truths in
“Human Life is created in God’s image and that makes it sacred”
God Made You to Be You
By Rick Warren
“You made my whole being; you formed me in my
mother’s body.” Psalm 139:13 (NCV)
God planned every single day of your life. Before you took
your first breath, God knew everything that would ever
happen to you. Long before you were conceived by your
biological parents, you were conceived in the mind of God.
It is not by fate, chance, luck, or coincidence that you are
breathing at this very moment. You’re alive right now be-
cause God wants you—with all of your strengths and weak-
nesses—to be alive. Whether your parents were good, bad,
or indifferent, God used them. They had the exact DNA
needed to create you. God wanted you alive. From the begin-
ning of time, God has had a plan for your life—and he has a
purpose he wants you to complete. And God made you to
A cup
of Inspiration
Start your day
right with a
little bit of
coffee and a
whole lot of
Jesus
these verses. I am a work of God,
therefore I am fearfully and won-
derfully made… just marvelous,
really! As I memorized these verses,
I slowly gained confidence. One day
I woke up and realized: I knew in
my soul that I am fearfully and
wonderfully made by God. Do I still
struggle with loving myself on the
bad days? Yes. But God never fails to whisper to my heart, “I find
you beautiful, and made you exactly the way I loved you.” The
question is not, “How can I be more like her?”, but rather, “How
can I become more like Christ?” If you humbly come before God,
desiring to become a woman of character and beauty after His
own heart… He will smile on you and guide you on the wonderful
journey He has planned for you and gently hold your heart as you
trust Him more and more. God made beautiful you for a wonderful
purpose. If you take time to listen, He will tell you that every day
for the rest of your life. Wait and be amazed at what He does in
you and through you!
Author: Ariel Smith www.blogsbychristianwomen.com/believe-
wonderfully-made/
- Colin S. Smith
be you. The Bible says, “You made my whole being; you
formed me in my mother’s body. I praise you because you made
me in an amazing and wonderful way . . . You saw my bones
being formed as I took shape in my mother’s body. When I was
put together there, you saw my body as it was formed. All the
days planned for me were written in your book before I was one
day old” (Psalm 139:13-16 NCV).
God created you so he could love you—for eternity. Your
parents may have contributed your DNA, but God made
you. You were not just another baby born. God personally
planned for your birth. You are God’s masterpiece. He made
you so he could love you and so you could fulfill his purpos-
es in this world. At different seasons of life, you may strug-
gle to see what that purpose is. But you never have to
doubt that it’s there. Before you were born, God gave you
a purpose!
When you forget how valued you are
JEREMIAH 29:11 ISAIAH 43:1–4 ZEPHANIAH 3:17
Feeling unloved and undervalued can lead us
to feeling insignificant in this life. It can stir up
worry deep within that we have no lasting val-
ue or real purpose here. And it’s not true. God
has destined us with specific purposes and
callings in this life. He loves us with an ever-
lasting love and fills us with his hope, con-
stantly reminding us that he is leading us. Pray
you would be aware of his presence, loving
you, guiding you, directing you with purpose
and hope. Ask God to help you see yourself as
he sees you, his treasured child, cherished, and
greatly valued.
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I am very passionate about promoting mental health and wellbeing. Having gone
through my own struggles, I can relate to those who are experiencing similar things.
I will be including articles/info on various topics concerning mental health and well-
ness to bring support in this area. MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

Spirituality, a Vital Key to Good Mental Health

Spirituality plays a vital role in our mental health. We are physical
beings, but we have emotional and spiritual needs as well. Being
aware of our spiritual needs is of vital importance. Who are we?
What is our purpose in life? Why are we here? Why is there
suffering on a beautiful planet and universe? What does the fu-
ture hold for us, as individuals and as a society? These are ques-
tions that can often best be addressed on a spiritual level. Ful-
filling spirituality needs can include time contemplating the beau-
ty of nature. To ignore one's spirituality is like having a table with
only three legs - when all of our needs are met, our minds and
bodies coordinate more effectively. A self-indulgent or decadent
lifestyle, ignoring spiritual needs, can sometimes contribute to
psychological disorders. We all have an innate yearning to know
what our purpose in life is. Prayer, taking time for reflection, belief
in God, Bible reading, such as in the reading of the Psalms and
Gospels, is of value to both developing spirituality, as well as find-
ing inner peace and strength from a source higher than ourselves.
In taking time to meditate, in the sense of thinking deeply or pon-
dering, on that which is lofty, elevated and pure, we find a peace-
ful space and meaning in our hectic lives. Taking the time to ad-
dress our spiritual needs daily can strengthen us. Moreover, the
words of people from the past, who had a true purpose in life,
a strong connection with the Creator, and who used their lives to
teach and inspire others over the
centuries, can help us develop inner
strength. This is one way to find our
place in the universe, the eternal, and
with God. Daily Bible reading can be a
valuable part of therapy, and can help as part of our toolbox with
psychological and spiritual coping skills. Finding our peace and
place with God, therefore, is an essential part of a healthy psycho-
logical profile. One psychological study by McLean Hospital in
Belmont, Massachusetts indicates that "Belief in God may signifi-
cantly improve the outcome of those receiving short-term treat-
ment for psychiatric illness." Those with "moderate to high level
of belief in a higher power do significantly better in short-term
psychiatric treatment, than those without." Additionally, the study
concludes that "Belief" is associated with "improved psychological
wellbeing", but that it also results in "decreases in depression and
intention to self-harm."(O'Brien, S. 2013) Balanced attention to
spiritual needs can contribute to better mental health and even
physical health outcomes in numerous contexts.
Article: http//aycnp.org/spiritually health psychology.php

God cares about your

Emotions By Bill Gaultiere
www. soulshepherding.org
Many Christians are stunted in their spiritual
growth because they don’t understand or ex-
press their deep emotions and desires. As pastors, ministry lead-
ers, caregivers, or parents we may get so busy or so focused on
other people that we become disconnected from our own emo-
tions and needs. But being self-aware is crucial to our abilities to
connect with God and other people. So in Psalm 139:23 David
prays, ”Search me, O God, and know my heart…” He goes
on to ask God to help him with uncovering his anxiety and sin,
which are the two main obstacles to experiencing the love and
power of God. David inspires us to open our hearts to God by
trusting that God is present and he cares. He also guides us in
emotionally vulnerable prayer, modeling for us how to talk to God
about our real feelings and needs. Psalm 139 is a great gift to help
us to connect with our God of compassion with realness — if we
go beyond reading it and pray it! We need to slow down and look
to the Holy Spirit to help us pray. This experience of praying
Psalm 139 is designed to help us open our inner self to God’s
grace. It leads us through slow meditations and deep prayers on
the key verses in the psalm in a progression of deepening heart
prayer.

You are not broken and do not need fixing

So much of the world of personal development is founded on the idea that
we are broken in some way and that we need fixing. So our focus is always
on trying to find ways of fixing those broken bits. We can get caught in the
trap of always studying, trying to earn, learn and achieve our way to being
good enough. Always thinking that there is something WRONG with us. Our
focus needs to be turned to what is RIGHT with us – out strengths, abilities,
our worth and develop them. There are always new ways to express ideas.
We need to value OUR way of doing, value our uniqueness and know that
there are people who enjoy and appreciate our way.
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In my March Newsletter I wrote about our bodies being the “temple of the
Lord” and how we are to take care of it. I want to emphasize more about
exercise and share an article that will be of interest from a biblical per-
spective . I wanted to share this topic from personal experience and how I
have seen in others how not exercising has a negative impact on our
physical fitness and our overall wellbeing not only now but also as we get
older.

8 Bible Verses on Exercise {Add Worship to Your Workouts}

Exercise takes a lot of self-discipline,
but here are 8 Bible verses to add a wor-
shipful purpose to your workout routine,
combining faith and fitness. When you
are trying to lose weight, exercise can
feel like a punishment for the things you
ate. I’d like to challenge your perspec-
tive on that. It’s no secret that there are
tons of benefits of exercise. If you’re
anything like me, even knowing the ben-
efits isn’t always enough to get me mov-
ing. But, when I think of making exer-
cise as an act of worship, it gets person-
al. I have the power to glorify God by
moving my body. That takes my motiva-
tion to a deeper level.
#1 – You Are A Living Sacrifice
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sis-
ters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer
your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy
and pleasing to God—this is your true
and proper worship.– Romans 12:1
It’s not about torturing yourself in an
effort to drop a few pounds. It’s an act
of worship, striving for holiness. It’s
about surrendering every piece of your-
self – heart, mind, body, and soul into
His loving hands.
#2 – I Do Not Run Aimlessly
Therefore I do not run like someone
running aimlessly; I do not fight like a
boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow
to my body and make it my slave so that
after I have preached to others, I myself
will not be disqualified for the prize. – 1
Corinthians 9:26-27
The reason you exercise is important.
The number on the scale or a smaller
dress size can be good temporary moti-
vation, but keeping your eyes on
the Ultimate Prize, Jesus, is the best
motivation of all. Spending time train-
ing, taking care of your body, is not a
waste of time or energy. It’s an invest-
ment into yourself so that you can live
more fully for Him.
#3 – Your Body Is A Temple
Do you not know that your bodies are
temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,
whom you have received from God? You
are not your own; you were bought at a
price. Therefore honor God with your
bodies. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I don’t know about you, but when I bor-
row something from somebody else, I
fiercely take care of it – often more so
than I take care of my own things! I want
to be able to return it to them in the
best possible shape that I can. Our bod-
ies are not our own and exercise is one
of the best ways that you can take care
of yourself, not just physically, but also
mentally and spiritually. You house the
Holy Spirit and that is not a task to be
taken lightly!
#4 – Do It All For The Glory Of God
So whether you eat or drink or whatever
you do, do it all for the glory of God. – 1
Corinthians 10:31
I love taking mundane, everyday tasks,
and adding meaning to them. Washing
dishes is not just about getting the
plates clean. It is about nurturing and
taking care of the people around you.
Every detail of your life can bring glory
to God, including exercise. Don’t just do
it for you, your kids, your spouse, or a
smaller waistline – do it to glorify the
Lord!
#5 – Work Vigorously
She sets about her work vigorously; her
arms are strong for her tasks.– Proverbs
31:17
When you exercise, your daily life gets
easier. It’s easier to walk up and down
stairs, keep up with your kids, and carry
groceries into the house. Prepare your
body to take on life. Move regularly, lift
things, so you can be ready to take on
whatever vigorous work that comes your
way.
#6 – I Can Do All Things Through His
Strength
I can do all this through him who gives
me strength.– Philippians 4:13
There is no denying that exercise is
hard. It takes a lot of willpower just to
get started, much less finish a full
workout. But if you never push yourself
past your comfort zone, you will never
grow. Don’t go crazy and hurt yourself,
but challenge your body. It is capable of
more than you think. If you’re thinking,
I’m not strong enough, you’re right!
None of us are. But He is and that is
more than enough.
#7 – Renew Your Strength
…but those who hope in the Lord will
renew their strength. They will soar on
wings like eagles; they will run and not
grow weary, they will walk and not be
faint. – Isaiah 40:31
“I’m too tired” is one of the most com-
mon excuses not to exercise out there.
It’s understandable! Whether you are
single, married, retired, or a young
mom, there are endless reasons to be
exhausted. Yes, exercise takes energy,
but it also gives you energy. God is
faithful. He will equip you with the
strength and stamina to soar.
#8 – Train For Godliness
For physical training is of some value,
but godliness has value for all things,
holding promise for both the present life
and the life to come. – 1 Timothy 4:8
Godliness should always come first.
Your relationship with God is of the ut-
most importance in your life!
But don’t miss the first half of the verse.
“For physical training is of some value.”
There is value there. Don’t just cast it
aside as a meaningless activity. Science
and Scripture alike recognize the im-
portance of exercise in your life!
https://soveryblessed.com/8-bible-verses
-exercise/
 PAGE 5

My Blog Sharing some spiritual insight from

what God has been teaching me and to
inspire you as you journey in your Christian walk

There was a time in my life that I did not like myself . And I had to learn that He created me as a unique person and to
for many years I wanted to be someone else. I would com- accept the qualities He gave me for His purpose. And in a
pare myself to others, thinking all along that “others” were way I don’t have that desire and compulsion to go back to
better than me . I would buy magazines and read the arti- those books I have sitting on my bookshelf.
cles of woman who achieved in life and were happy. And
Psalm 19 says “ The instruction of the Lord is perfect—it re-
this would make me feel more miserable as I looked at my
news one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy—
own life I was not a happy person because of my own dis-
making the inexperienced wise; The precepts of the Lord are
torted image I had of myself. I really struggled with confi-
right—making the heart glad; the commands of the Lord are
dence and being more of an introvert relationships were
right—making the eyes light up. As we learn from the in-
difficult for me personally and in the work place. I was not
struction of the Lord we will not only gain wisdom and un-
content in who I was even with all my strengths and tal-
derstanding but we will also experience gladness and full-
ents. I would go on courses to “better myself” , watch webi-
ness of life! Just as it says in Psalm 139 he created us just
nars , bought books on how to be “the best you can be” I
the way we are meant to be and we are COMPLETE in Him.
have tons of self help books—how to change your life, find
We are filled with the FULLNESS of God—there is nothing
fulfillment, and the list goes on. I must add that it is not
that is lacking in us. We are His child and we need to see
necessarily wrong in developing yourself but I was going
ourselves as God sees us. Even with our faults and sins we
about it the wrong way and in the end I knew I had to turn
can come to Him and be redeemed. We find our true worth
to God and His truth about me—with all my faults, weak-
in Him.
nesses and my strengths.

Be Blessed
Who I am in Christ
I am Accepted…
John 15:15 – As a disciple I am a friend of Jesus Christ
Romans 5: 1 – I have been justified
1 Cor 6:17 – I am united with the Lord and I am one with Him in spirit
1 Cor 6:19-20 – I have been bought with a price and I belong to God
1 Cor 12:27 – I am a member if Christ’s body
Eph 1:3-8 – I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child
Col 1:13-14 – I have been redeemed and forgiven all my sins
Col 2:9-10 – I am complete in Christ
Heb 4:14-16 – I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus
Christ

I am Secure…
2 Cor 1:21-22 – I have been established, anointed and sealed by God
Col 3:1-4 – I am hidden with Christ in God
Phil 1:6 – I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me
Phil 3:20 – I am a citizen of heaven
2 Tim 1:7 – I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind
1 John 5:18 – I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me

I am Significant… Free to be Yourself

John 15:16 – I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit I am what I am. I cant be
1 Cor 3:16 – I am God’s temple anything else than what
2 Cor 5:17-21 – I am a minister of reconciliation for God God has called me to be.
Eph 2:6 – I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm So I am going to
Eph 2:10 – I am God’s workmanship concentrate on being the
best be I can be and
celebrate every moment
of it
HAVE SOME FUN….COLOURING IN PAGE