Middlesex
County Chamber of  Commerce
By Tom Chillemi
www.ssentinel.com

After winning her battle  with cancer Elizabeth Goins of
Urbanna knows the power of her faith. Trusting a  Higher Power helped Goins
through the low points this year, including the loss  of her mother. "When
you've got a situation that you can't control, let God  control it," she said
last week. "There is nothing you can do but trust Him and  believe that He's
going to bring you out of it. "I thank God, he gave me faith  and lifted me off
my sick bed," said Goins, who is a licensed minister. It was  Goins' energy the
revived the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce in 2006 and helped  it grow to 76
members before she got sick last winter. She is still president of  the
organization that will start its third year in January.

Goins is a Water  View native who pursued a career in Washington, D.C. before returning to  Middlesex.
This bout with breast cancer was not Goins' first. About 17 years  ago, at the
age of 38, she lost a breast to surgery. In February 2008 a routine  mammogram
revealed an abnormality. "I was in denial when they first told me,"  said Goins.
Even after a specialist confirmed there were two spots of a very  serious
cancer, she refused the surgery and opted to have four chemotherapy  treatments.
"It was a nightmare. I had to take the stronger dose and it took all  my hair
out." During this time her mother Katherine Goins Green went to glory.  "All
this made me feel like I was in a never ending tornado," said Goins, adding  the
loss of her mother put Goins in another state of mind. Doctor's did not  think
the chemotherapy would work against this tough strain of cancer, she said,  and
surgery was the best option. Today, 8 months after surgery, she feels  stronger
than before. During the depression that cancer brings, Goins drew  strength, not
only from her faith, but family and friends, and others with the  disease.

She was self conscious when all her hair fell out and she didn't  believe people who
told her she looked good. "But they never knew how I felt on  the inside," said
Goins. "I felt like I was less of a woman. My breast was gone,  my hair was
gone, and I just had a hard time feeling like I was beautiful. "Well  thanks be
to God there were people around me that kept telling me that until I  would
eventually believe it myself." The power of faith It was at the cancer
  counseling center that Goins sorted things out in her mind. "Everybody there
was  the same as me . . . trying to get better." Some people didn't make it,
their  absence from the meeting put things in perspective, Goins said. "I'm just
  thankful I'm still alive. I tell my kids, 'I'm just going to enjoy my life and
  be happy with what I have.' " Much of the literature at the counseling center
  referred to faith and the power of positive thought.

Goins plans to write about  her experiences battling cancer.

"I would tell others to, 'Stay positive and stay around positive people.' " During trying times, Goins got lots of
  encouragement. "People told me, 'Keep the faith. God told me you're going to
  live.' All kinds of people prayed for me and that was a blessing. "I really
want  people to know my story because if there is someone out there going
through  something similar I want them to know they are not alone and that they
can fight  it and make it through with God's help."

1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

4 Marriage... should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”[a]

6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”[b]

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

SOURCE: Hebrews 13:1-10

A GIFT that I plan to leave my offspring is documentation of WHO they are so they can be ALL they were born to become...The Black Chronicle!

This is a compilation of 178 years of black history from the Revolutionary War / Chattel Slavery to the Civil Rights movement in America. Also included in this astonishing review is an excellent editorial section on pre-colonial African civilizations.

This revealing book printed in newspaper format is curriculum ready and has been carefully written by historians and scholars to be read and appreciated by grade-schoolers as well as Ph.D. graduates. Well documented, The Black Chronicle contains over 400 authentic news articles sequenced in 14 exciting editions culled from pioneering African-American newspapers and other key sources referenced in an extensive bibliography.

These newspapers include; Freedoms Journal (1827) Colored Americans (1842) Frederick Douglas Paper (1855) Chicago Defender (1910) Baltimore Afro-American (1927) and the Pittsburgh Courier (1948). The Black Chronicle, via the magic of newsprint, laden with photos and illustrations, delivers a vivid and striking account of the major events effecting the lives of African-Americans in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, the major contributions made by them to the American Society, and the courageous leaders who spearheaded their unrelenting struggles for freedom

About the Author

Maloyd Ben Wilson Jr. is a graduate of University of Pittsburgh with a M.A. in English/Philosophy and also in Communication. Wilson has been in the newspaper and publishing business for the past 30 years and owns one of the largest sports weekly newspapers named SCORE!

SOURCES: http://www.recover-from-grief. com/7-stages-of-grief.html


7 Stages of Grief...

1. SHOCK & DENIAL-
You will probably react to learning of the loss with numbed disbelief. You may deny the reality of the loss at some level, in order to avoid the pain. Shock provides emotional protection from being overwhelmed all at once. This may last for weeks.

2. PAIN & GUILT-
As the shock wears off, it is replaced with the suffering of unbelievable pain. Although excruciating and almost unbearable, it is important that you experience the pain fully, and not hide it, avoid it or escape from it with alcohol or drugs.

You may have guilty feelings or remorse over things you did or didn't do with your loved one. Life feels chaotic and scary during this phase.

3. ANGER & BARGAINING-
Frustration gives way to anger, and you may lash out and lay unwarranted blame for the death on someone else. Please try to control this, as permanent damage to your relationships may result. This is a time for the release of bottled up emotion.

You may rail against fate, questioning "Why me?" You may also try to bargain in vain with the powers that be for a way out of your despair ("I will never drink again if you just bring him back")

4. "DEPRESSION", REFLECTION, LONELINESS-
Just when your friends may think you should be getting on with your life, a long period of sad reflection will likely overtake you. This is a normal stage of grief, so do not be "talked out of it" by well-meaning outsiders. Encouragement from others is not helpful to you during this stage of grieving.

During this time, you finally realize the true magnitude of your loss, and it depresses you. You may isolate yourself on purpose, reflect on things you did with your lost one, and focus on memories of the past. You may sense feelings of emptiness or despair.

5. THE UPWARD TURN-
As you start to adjust to life without your dear one, your life becomes a little calmer and more organized. Your physical symptoms lessen, and your "depression" begins to lift slightly.

6. RECONSTRUCTION & WORKING THROUGH-
As you become more functional, your mind starts working again, and you will find yourself seeking realistic solutions to problems posed by life without your loved one. You will start to work on practical and financial problems and reconstructing yourself and your life without him or her.

7. ACCEPTANCE & HOPE-
During this, the last of the seven stages in this grief model, you learn to accept and deal with the reality of your situation. Acceptance does not necessarily mean instant happiness. Given the pain and turmoil you have experienced, you can never return to the carefree, untroubled YOU that existed before this tragedy. But you will find a way forward.

You will start to look forward and actually plan things for the future. Eventually, you will be able to think about your lost loved one without pain; sadness, yes, but the wrenching pain will be gone. You will once again anticipate some good times to come, and yes, even find joy again in the experience of living.

I learned about these horrors by one of the survivors, Roger D. Kiser, author.  It was a deeply moving experience one morning.  I ask that all who read this post take time to understand what this was all about and lift the survivors up in prayer.  Grow in fortitude to STOP this from occuring to other FUTURE DREAMERS, LEADERS AND ACHIEVERS on "our watch".  We can't change the PAST...we CAN DIRECT the PRESENT!

Work of Roger D. Kiser

 

13 year old home schooled child prodigy shares tips on how she prepares for success!

READ: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10


Let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. —Romans 14:13

Fault-finding is a popular pastime, and unfortunately a lot of us find it’s easy to join the fun. Concentrating on the warts of others is a great way to feel better about ourselves. And that’s just the problem. Avoiding the faults that need to be fixed in our own lives not only stunts our spiritual growth but also obstructs God’s work through us. God’s effectiveness through our lives is enhanced or hindered by the way we live.

It’s no wonder, then, that Paul made a concerted effort to “put no obstacle in anyone’s way” (2 Cor. 6:3 ESV). For him there was nothing more important than his usefulness for Christ in the lives of others. Anything that got in the way of that was dispensable.

If you want to be authentic and useful for God, take an obstacle inventory. Sometimes obstacles are things that in and of themselves may be legitimate, yet in certain contexts may be inappropriate. But sin is clearly obstructive to others. Gossip, slander, boasting, bitterness, greed, abuse, anger, selfishness, and revenge all close the hearts of those around us to the message of God through us.

So, replace your faults with the winsome ways of Jesus. That will enable others to see your “no-fault” Savior more clearly. —Joe Stowell

Wherever I am, whatever I do,
O God, please help me to live
In a way that makes me credible
As your representative. —Egner

Followers of Jesus are most effective when attitudes and actions are aligned with His.

To read today's Our Daily Bread online visit www.odb.org.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for YOU, declares the LORD."

"Never give the devil a ride; he will want to take over the driving." 

Dear Woman of God,   
Be still for a while and praise God for His favor, His grace and His awesomeness.  God is able to do the impossible and is always near.  He loves us unconditionally.  Together, let's get 1000 ladies to praise Him with one voice in this next hour.     
Please forward this to every woman you want God to bless.                               
Let's all say this prayer during this hour: 

Dear God, 
This is my friend  whom I love and this is my prayer for her.  Help her live her life to the fullest.  Please promote her and cause her to excel above her expectations.  Help her to shine in the darkest places where it is impossible to love.  Protect her at all times, lift her up when she needs You the most, and let her know when she walks with You, she will always be safe. 
Amen!

Now you're on the clock . . .Tell nine sisters you love them, including me. 

Get going girl!! 

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.