A Change in Scenery

A Change of Scenery.

One of the biggest helps when you are going through change and seeking your blissful self is a change of scenery.  One of the ideas I had been toying with when I left my ministry was to create inspirational getaways aimed at women of all ages that just need a time to Pray.Love.Forgive in a tranquil and different setting.

Ruby Slippers Ministry is seeking ideas from ladies who may need a three day holiday.  Where we are peaceful, prayerful, with a jolt of fun, friendship and nature.

Here are some ideas:

Bed & Breakfast Getaway - 2 Nights 3 Days.  Features (Women Only)

FLOAT TRIP (Start the day with a great breakfast at your B & B. Spend some time in prayer, singing, team building.  Head to the River for a 6 hour Float Trip complete with stop for pictures/lunch.  Overnight at the Inn with a fabulous dinner.  Retire to the outdoors for more prayer, discussion about the day, and time for letting go of unforgiveness.  Rest of the evening at a bonfire, movie watch, snack swap and cards/games.
**You will also receive a 66 day journal to help you follow your change plan.

ZIP LINE (Southern Illinois Shawnee National Forrest.)  Travel as group or individual to your accommodations which can be an actual tree house for two or a log cabin 4 - 8 people.  That night enjoy steaks and corn on the grill, s'mores and a time of prayer, friendship, team loving and gal chat around the open fire.  The next morning we ll head out for breakfast before Zip Lining through the beautiful Forrest.  That night we ll enjoy another evening of dinner, fellowship and guided prayer on Love and Forgiveness.  Sunday morning after breakfast and "church" around the campfire we'll head home with our Memory Books filled with action plans.

RELAX AND RENEW  A spa hotel is the location for this gals getaway.  We travel together or individually to one of the premiere spas in Illinois.  You will have the chance to chose from a variety of spa specials including, massage, facials, mani/pedi, exfoliating and more.  After our relaxing day we will meet for a five star meal.  After a break we will gather to work through our pray, love forgive study.  The next morning we will have breakfast and one more chance to sit down with our journals and discuss before a final prayer and anointing service.

Costs are based on single or double occupancy and the number of ladies interested in going.  I can get you many more details if you are considering a gals getaway.  Send me a comment below - or e mail me at cwoolaway@yahoo.com


ABOUT YOUR TOUR OPERATOR:

Cathy is a worship pastor and Elder with the Church of the Nazarene.  She has over 15 years experience with group tours and travel both domestic and abroad.  Her unique study Pray.Love.Forgive is geared to ladies/young women.  Her goal is to draw closer to each other and to God while on the trip.  Bliss would be a good word to describe your experience (mixed in with a little excitement).  She will follow up via her website with each participant to assist with further action plans for change.

Cathy writes,  "It has always been the desire of my heart to draw women together in unique settings to allow them a space to explore spiritually, physically and emotionally.  Ruby Slippers Ministry is a vision that God has placed on my heart.  I hope you will consider going on one of these life-changing trips."

Good morning change heroines.  I have been thinking about what has power over us.  What is it that we need to change that has power over us?  Is there something in your life that takes precedence over anything else in your life?  Does your past hold power over you?  The abuse that you cannot seem to forgive and move on with?  Does that hold so much power over you that everything else you do in life is influenced by that past?  Does low self-esteem hold power over you?  You may have dreams but you discard them due to the power your low self esteem has over you? What about the power addictions like nicotine, sugar, caffeince, alcohal?  And what is an addiction?  Addiction is by definition "the continued use of a mood altering substance or behavior despite adverse consequences,or a neurological impairment leading to such behaviors."

We are all born with a need to feel good.  I am no psychotherapist and don't pretend to understand the various ways we make ourselves feel better.  I do believe that these things can have power over us.  We were created with brains that sort out and function every thought we have.  Every desire we feel. They say that exercise creates the endorphins the feel good of all feel good chemicals naturally released in our brains.  If that is true - then why don't we all tap into that feel good chemical regularly?  Because we have not been conditioned to? Or because we find alternatives that are not so great for us?  The Bible teaches us that everything was given to us to be used by us and that it is good for us.  Does that mean that caffiene might be good for us?  Studies show that caffeine in forms and moderation actually can be good for you.  The Bible also teaches about moderation.  If by denying yourself something because you have been told it is "bad, or immorrall" then subjecting yourself to guilt and low self esteem if you "slip?"  Not a healthy way to live.  Change requires that we reverse our habits and our thinking.  It takes 66 days to begin to kick a habit.  66 days of doing the opposite of what your mind,body is sucking you into.  Can you go 66 days change heroines?  Can you go 66 days without your crutch whatever that might be?  

If you want to take the journey - I will put on my Ruby Slippers and go with you.  E mail me at cwoolaway@yahoo.com and I will walk beside you every day for 66 days and help you begin to change the things that have power over you.  Til then....stay strong, don't give up and remember that each moment we are born anew.

Cathy

Change the Way You View Yourself - Vocations

Every now and then a change so radical comes into your life that it forces you to re-examine who you are and what contributions you make in life.  It could be a death, it could be a health scare, it could be the loss of  a relationship, loss of a job you loved, loss of your home, a pet or some other change that occurs that radically tips your world upside down.  When these kinds of changes happen to you whether intentional or non-intentional it can cause you to re-evaluate everything in your life.   Suddenly who you were, wife, mother, daughter, co-worker, director, pet-owner, home owner you are no longer.  Each day you wake up and think - I was "this" and now I am "that".  Your entire world is rocked.  You identified yourself in a certain way and with certain tasks and things that you did daily.  Now those things are gone.  You question yourself.  Why?  You get mad. You think about the future.  What should be my next step?  Days don't stop. They continue on.  The sun comes up the sun goes down and the nights get long.  You don't want to reach out because you don't want to be a "downer" to friends, family.  You might be ashamed.  You might be too ill.  Whatever the change is, it can overwhelm your spirit which in turn can cause stress which impacts your physical and emotional state.  Your immune system weakens leaving you susceptible to illness you never had before.  You turn to things that dull the pain for a little while - but the next day it is still there.  The fear of losing what you had.

At times like these there are some important things you should do for yourself.

1.  Accept the change.  Each day plan to do something to move forward.  That might be calling friends for a get together.  Writing notes to loved ones, e mail or otherwise.  Each day and night say to yourself, "This is what I did (or had) but that chapter is over and I must turn the page to the next chapter in my life.

2.  Look for the blessings in your life.  Count them - all of them.  Take out a sheet of paper or whatever you use you write and list them.  Remember that sometimes change happens to protect you from something or to lead you to a better future.  Remember that you were created uniquely for special purposes.  What is unique about you?  How can you use what you have been blessed with to be a blessing to others?

3.  Move!  Get out and walk.  Join a free or cheap exercise program.  Staying stagnate in your home is not good for your body.

4.  Find a support group to talk about your loss or change.  There are many people going through the same thing that you have just experienced.  Sometimes hearing other people talk about their loss can bring healing to you and to them.

5.  If there isn't a support group for what you have experienced - start one.  You can advertise free on social media, newspapers, flyers and television.

6.  Dream.  What is it you have always wanted to do but didn't have the time? Go back to school? Start a business? Learn to cook?  Begin to exercise? Organize your space? Read?  Make another list of all the things you have time to do now that you didn't before, narrow them down, start with the top and make a plan.

7.  Don't take your change out on other people.  I think we all know what we mean by that :-)

8.  Learn to love yourself and learn to love silence.  Being at peace with yourself in the change is important.  Find a special place where you are living that is just for you.  A chair, outside in the backyard.  Make it your oasis.  A place you can retreat to for prayer, meditation, writing, reading or just dreaming.

9.  Take a shower and dress yourself every single day.  Don't stay in your jammies (unless you have pre-arranged a "jammie" day.

10.  Get away,  Sometimes a change of scenery can make all the difference.  Plan a trip - even if you don't have money you can usually find someplace to go each day.  Pack a small lunch and take it to a park.  Take in a movie.  Drive to another town.  Garage sale.  Antique hunt.  See free concerts or plays or take in a local baseball game.

11.  Remember that you are not defined by what you do or what you have - you are defined by who you love and what you love to do.  Find your passion.  What makes your heart surge with joy?  If you are depressed it will be hard to find that joy.  Talk to your doctor, seek help for your emotional state.

Everyone's approach to dealing with change will be different.  It should be.  We were not created to be cookies cut exactly the same.  As a matter of fact, if you look closely at cookies that were cut out - most of them have slight (or in my case LARGE) differences.  An edge broke off here, a slight oblong to a round, more chips in one than another.  What makes you unique among all the cookies?  Find that piece of yourself and if it makes you happy and passionate - do something with it for yourself and for others.  Don't compare - you will never measure up to something you see in a magazine or on tv.  Don't imitate.  There is only one you.  Walk through every single door - even if it slams in your face - TRY!

Change-heroines, we are all in this together.  If you want to, send me a response at cwoolaway@yahoo.com.  I would love to encourage you!


**Cathy is a worship leader, speaker, preacher and agent of change.  Contact her for speaking engagements workshops or one on one encouragement**