Life Media Communications

Up coming cover story of Sep-Oct 2015 Issue !
Dr. Latha Christie
We are very proud that we have a christian woman who has scaled the heights of professional excellence and occupies gracefully and efficiently the position very few women have attained.
Dr. Latha Christie, sharing her Journey with our Vashti readers.

When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I do not, they don't.

We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths. We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.

Our souls are not made to go nonstop. Our hearts are vessels that need to be refilled. Our bodies have limits we need to respect.

As a life coach, I said this probably more than anything else to clients: There is a significant difference between what's doable and what's sustainable. Choosing to say "I'm done for now" is not weakness. It's wisdom. Here's the secret I've finally discovered: Sometimes the most important, productive thing we can do is nothing at all.

{More encouragement here: http://bit.ly/1JEeyJq}

Hope When Things Don’t Turn Out the Way You Plan

Wall Hanging from the Hope for Your Heart Collection
God speaks the world into being. Stars scatter light across the sky. Birds debut their first songs. Trees stretch their branches high in praise. Glorious.
Then one bite of forbidden fruit and everything changes.
We often talk of all we lost as humanity that day in the Garden of Eden. But God lost something too–His dream of what this world would be. Uncomfortable truth: Even if you’re perfect, even if you’re all-powerful, even if you think of every detail…there is no guarantee that things will happen just as you’d like.
We ask, “Why wouldn’t God just make sure things turned out differently?”Because He is more committed to love than getting what he wants immediately. The only way the fall would have been impossible would be to take away free will. And without free will there cannot be love–because love is always about choice.
Thankfully, God doesn’t give up when things don’t turn out the way He plans. That’s the reason why we have Christmas. Instead of wadding up the world and throwing it in a trash can, he sent a Savior. He kept dreaming of what could be.
We can too and God shows us how…
First, God doesn’t waste time blaming Himself when things go wrong or people make poor choices. He didn’t say, “If only I hadn’t created that tree with the forbidden fruit…” He accepted the reality of the situation and moved forward. Things happen. Mistakes are made. Plans get messy. As long as this world keeps spinning, that will continue to be true.
Next, instead of giving up God adapts and comes up with a loving solution.All through Scripture this pattern repeats. Adam and Eve sin. God makes a plan to send a Savior. The people end up enslaved in Egypt. God delivers them and gets them to the Promised Land. Then they rebel in the Promised Land. God exiles them and brings them back. On and on it goes. As many times as it takes.
God also doesn’t let the plans of others stop him. There will always be someone who is trying to distract, derail, defeat or even destroy you. The enemy thought his plan had prevailed when Jesus died on the cross. But three days later…surprise! God always has his own agenda and He doesn’t become discouraged when others try to stop it.
Most of all, God doesn’t close His heart so He can feel safer. He doesn’t become hard or bitter over life’s disappointments. He doesn’t resort to whining or pity parties. He doesn’t decide that we’re not worth the effort. He just never, ever quits. “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” {1 Cor. 13:7}.
Perhaps this year has held a dream, goal or plan that didn’t unfold the way you hoped. If so, you can know God understands. He’s been there too. And He will help you persevere. He will make sure all that truly matters will happen–perhaps not in the way or time we want but eventually and eternally.
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Prov. 19:21
Those words are even more than a proverb…they’re a promise. And Christmas is proof that’s true.
XOXO
Holley Gerth

Hope When Life Brings Rain

I step off the ferry and look around me in wonder. I’ve arrived on Brain bridge Island, a small community just across from Seattle, for a vacation with family. For years when I thought of this area I pictured rain, rain, rain. And until I saw it in person I missed what should have been obvious: All that rain leads to a lot of unexpected loveliness, life and growth.
Flowers surround every sidewalk, stretch up toward windowsills and turn backyards like my Great-Aunt Fern’s into kaleidoscopes of color. I saw this when we visited five years ago. And just like before what’s in front of me fills my heart with hope.

Because I’m a woman who has known rain in her life. I imagine you have too. And we will again. So it’s a soul-strengthening comfort to know that not a single drop will be in vain. Because we serve a God who takes what falls in our life and mysteriously transforms it into glory.
I don’t know what life holds for you today. Maybe your sky is blue and sunny. Maybe thunder roars overhead and you’re soaked to the bones. But I do know what’s coming even if it doesn’t feel like it right now…
Unexpected loveliness.
Life.
Growth.
Like a rainbow after the flood, every flower we see this time of year is like a promise that reminds us “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” {Rom. 8:28}. That doesn’t take the hurt away. He understands when our tears fall along with the rain. But He wants us to know the pain will not last forever.
There will be beauty again.

XOXO
Holley Gerth

Become a Better Encourager in 2015
When I asked what you wanted help with many of you said: I want to get better at encouraging others.
As a licensed counselor and certified life coach, I’ve learned a lot about how to truly help and encourage people. And I want to share that with you because it’s a lot simpler and less scary than you think! I’m so excited that The Encouragement Project {my new ebook} is launching January 1st. It’s 21 days of inspiration and practical tools that will help you become a better encourager in 2015.
The Encouragement Project is only $2.99 because I want everyone to be able to get this inspiration and information–our world needs encouragers more than ever! {I’ve charged over $100 an hour as a licensed counselor and certified life coach for sharing similar material}.
Get the Encouragement Project here: Kindle, Nook and it will be delivered January 1st. {If you don’t have a Kindle or Nook, you canread the book on your computer, tablet or smart phone} Forget new year’s resolutions. It’s time for an encouragement revolution!
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Here’s an excerpt from The Encouragement Project:
You want to help others.
You love giving encouragement.
Yet you still often find yourself saying, “I’ll pray for you,” and not following through the way you’d like. Or you feel tongue-tied at a time that calls for comforting words. You may even walk away from a tough situation scratching your head and thinking, “I have no idea what to do!”
You already have what you need most: a loving heart. Now I’m going to share some simple, easy, practical tools to turn your care into action. Through working with thousands of people as a bestselling writer, a counselor, and a life coach, I’ve learned what truly helps most.
The great news is, we won’t be doing this on our own. God cares even more about the people in our lives than we do. He’s committed to helping us serve them well.
Our role is obedience. God’s job is results. And what He wants most from us is for us to simply open our hearts and share what He gives us. We can all encourage each other—one prayer, one word, one act of kindness at a time.
XOXO
Holley Gerth

Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go on

The greater part of our happiness depends on our disposition and not our circumstances.

Keep trying to win; keep playing the game; but keep room in your heart for a song.

Friends, don't give up. While you wait, God works.

{Download this new, free printable here: http://holleygerth.com/free-words/}

Our journey toward Jesus is to be one steady, faithful, continual, mysteriously glorious climb. The most important steps of any race are not at the starting line. They are at the finish. Anyone can begin strong. Only champions can stay strong for as long as it takes.

Because here’s the key: only God gets to decide when we’re done. Until then, we are to run and run and run. He will train us. And He will sustain us. As long as we’re still on earth, our race is not complete. It’s not about being “over the hill” but instead being in the center of His will.

{More encouragement here: http://bit.ly/1TXYhGr}

Dare to Be Simply, Wonderfully You

As soon as you start pursuing your true identity and purpose, you can bet you’ll hear a lot of opinions about what that means for you. So if you try to be perfect in the ways others think you should be, you’ll find yourself continually changing who you are to meet someone else’s standards.
These varying human definitions of perfect even apply to something as simple as spaghetti sauce. Howard Moskowotiz was hired by a major brand to discover the “perfect” spaghetti sauce so that the company could beat their biggest competitor. Surely with a fabulous team, professional taste analyzers, and modern technology, Moskowitz would find just the right recipe. But it didn’t work out that way. Author Malcolm Gladwell share’s what happened next:
Working with the Campbell’s kitchens, Moskowitz came up with forty-five varieties of spaghetti sauce. These were designed to differ in every conceivable way: spiciness, sweetness, tartness, saltiness, thickness, aroma, mouth feel, cost of ingredients, and so forth. He had a trained panel of food tasters analyze each of those varieties in depth. Then he took the prototypes on the road—to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Jacksonville—and asked people in groups of twenty-five to eat between eight and ten small bowls of different spaghetti sauces over two hours and rate them on a scale of one to a hundred. When Moskowitz charted the results, he saw that everyone had a slightly different definition of what a perfect spaghetti sauce tasted like.
That’s exactly the same problem we run into: everyone has a slightly different definition of what’s perfect. Moskowitz did discover some patterns. For example, some liked chunky sauce and others smooth. But there wasn’t ever an exact solution for everyone. The result of the project ended up being not one “perfect” sauce but a whole variety of really good ones that met different needs.
God loves variety, too. He expresses that through each one of us. When we think of “perfect” in our culture, it’s almost a synonym for “exactly the same.” But God wouldn’t agree. His definition seems to be more along the lines of“wildly different.”
Just take a look at how many kinds of flowers there are, how each sunset varies from the next, how every snowflake that falls is one of a kind. We look at“perfect” as fitting into someone else’s mold. The perfect wife. The perfect mother. The perfect employee. But God says you’re one of a kind. He wants you to become more of who He created you to be, not a copy of someone else.
I shared this quote last week but it’s worth sharing again. Jill Churchill said,“There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” I believe the same principle applies to every area of our lives {and apparently to spaghetti sauce, too}. So go out there today and dare to be simply, wonderfullyyou.
XOXO
Holley Gerth

Simple Truths: Attitude is Everything Inspirational Movie It's advantageous to possess a sunny outlook. Doors open to optimists. They make friends, earn respect, close sales, produce loyal clients, and others enjoy and…

Simple Truths: Laughter is an Instant Vacation Tickle your funny bone and get your twelve doctor recommended laughs per day here! This movie is sure to make you laugh out loud.

Simple Truths: The Joy of Mom The Joy of Mom is a celebration of motherhood. In it, author Vicki Reece shares heart-warming photos and her favorite words of inspiration about the joy, honor,…

Saddened beyond words to hear that Dr. Abdul Kalam is no more with us. May his soul rest in peace

No matter what has happened to you, you are not alone - Jesus walks with you. he will never fail you or forsake you

Alisa kaplan.
Vashti Woman Magazine

If you keep watch over your hearts, and listen for the Voice of God and learn of Him, in one short hour you can learn more from Him than you could learn from man in a thousand years.

No man ever became wise by chance.

A Prayer for Whatever You’re Going Through Today

When You spoke the words in Isaiah 43:2 about passing through hard times, You said “when” not “if.” You said we will encounter waters, rivers, and fire in our lives. But You also said they are not here to stay. With You, we will pass through them. So we ask today that You help us as we face these challenges.
For those who are passing through the waters, help them feel Your presence with them in an amazing and wonderful way. You parted the waters of the Red Sea so that the children of Israel could walk through on dry land. I ask that You would do the same for those who are facing difficult waters right now.
For those who are passing through the rivers, I ask for Your hand of protection and blessing. You promise that the river will not sweep over them. I ask that You will slow down the current, quiet the stream, and bring a flow of peace in their lives.
For those who are walking through the fire, I ask for Your divine shield to be around them. Keep them safe in Your care in every way. Guard their hearts, protect their minds, and wrap them so tight in Your loving arms that the only warmth they feel is from Your heart.
We know we will have trouble in this world, God. You told us that Yourself.But You also told us that we will never face anything alone. Thank You that whatever today may hold, You are more than enough to get us through it. No matter what happens, You have promised that You will be with us and for us every step of the way.
Amen.
Who else needs this prayer today?
XOXO
Holley Gerth

The Secret to True Peace

When we pray for peace we usually ask Jesus to remove something from our lives–the trial or trouble, conflict or chaos, inconvenience or illness. Sometimes He grants those requests. But more often instead of taking away what’s disrupting our peace He gives what we need most in the midst of it:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. {John 14:27}
What I’m learning is this: Peace isn’t the absence of chaos; it’s the presence of Christ. He knows as long as we live in a fallen, broken world we will go through challenges, have hard days and face obstacles that seem insurmountable.
So maybe today we pray a little differently: Instead of asking for less of what is troubling us we ask for more of what Jesus wants to give us.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. {2 Thess. 3:16}
Yes and amen.

XOXO
Holley Gerth