Refuge for a Single Mom

‘Refuge for a Single Mom’ is undergoing some exciting changes and upgrades.

One of which is a move to our own server and a fabulous new makeover.  -Courtesy of Girly Blog Designz  *happy dance*

To celebrate our six month anniversary in the blogging world, and all of the fantastic changes we are undergoing, we will be having an Anniversary celebration July 15th – July 21st.  –Come on over and hang out with us, join in the festivities and enter to win great prizes!  (Don’t forget to check out the new website and message boards as well.)

Invite your visitors in on the celebration by displaying our Anniversary button on your blog!




We’d love to have you join us!  Please use the "Mr. Linky", found at our new blog to leave your link and comment, and for the opportunity to receive the first ever available 'Refuge' Gear!

Labels: News and Updates

Not so long ago, I made one of my ‘famous’ observations …

Be happy with who you are in Christ.  (Not to be confused with limiting yourself, minimizing your possibilities or, adversely, becoming an ego maniac!)

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.  Philippians 1:6

A very dear friend, and the author of Small Business Moms’ Blog turned me onto the following list.  Spend some time with it this weekend and realize just how precious you are!  (((hugs)))

Who You Are in Christ

"Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential to your success at living the victorious Christian life."

I am accepted...

I am God's child ~ John 1:12


As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15


I have been justified ~ Romans 5:1


I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit ~ 1 Corinthians 6:17


I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20


I am a member of Christ's body ~ 1 Corinthians 12:27


I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child ~ Ephesians 1:3-8


I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins ~ Colossians 1:13-14


I am complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10


I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ ~ Hebrews 4:14-16

I am secure...

I am free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2


I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances ~ Romans 8:28


I am free from any condemnation brought against me, and I cannot be separated from the love of God ~ Romans 8:31-39


I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God ~ 2 Corinthians 1:21-22


I am hidden with Christ in God ~ Colossians 3:1-4


I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me ~ Philippians 1:6


I am a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20


I have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind ~ 2 Timothy 1:7


I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me ~ 1 John 5:18

I am significant...

I am the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life ~ John 15:5


I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit ~ John 15:16


I am God's temple ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16


I am a minister of reconciliation for God ~ 2 Corinthians5:17-21


I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm ~ Ephesians 2:6


I am God's workmanship ~ Ephesians 2:10


I may approach God with freedom and confidence ~ Ephesians 3:12


I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me ~ Philippians 4:13


THE MORE YOU REAFFIRM WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!

Info on this page from the book: Victory Over the Darkness:

Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ

by Neil T. Anderson

The powers of darkness attack us daily. But, as Dr. Neil Anderson shows in Victory over the Darkness, you can have the power to conquer them by knowing who you are in Christ. In this book, you'll learn how to realize the power of your identity in Christ, free yourself from the burdens of your past, stand against the spiritual forces of this world, win the battle for your mind, and become the spiritual person you want to be.

Labels: Way of Thinking

Daniel’s Friends Protected   [Daniel 3:19-30]

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

20 He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire.
21 Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.

22 For this reason, because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.

23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.”

25 He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.

27 The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.

29 “Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.”

30 Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.

Often, (very often, in fact) I fall back on God’s promise to get us ‘through’ adversity … That really sparked my interest of the word ‘through’ and I started thinking about how very deep it really is!

We must go ‘through’ hardship, ‘through’ difficulty, ‘through’ danger, ‘through’ trials, not over, around or under, but THROUGH!

From there, I got to thinking about how we could overcome adversity ‘through’ Him and pass ‘through’ it OR we could let the adversity go ‘through’ us and potentially destroy us!  Provocative?  Yeah, I thought so too!  *wink*

Through

The bible often talks about how we can get ‘through’ trials and tribulations by going ‘through’ the Lord.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Philippians 4:13

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.  Hebrews 11:29

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.  Romans 11:36

Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.  Psalm 60:12

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.  Isaiah 43:2

He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint.  Deuteronomy 8:15

Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews.  Acts 20:19

Simply put, when we share a deep and profound relationship with God, we are better able to trust in Him.  We can filter our problems, grievances, sadness, confusion, etc. ‘through’ Him and come ‘through’ our circumstances with something much more manageable.

Every bad thing in your life can produce something good if you’ve learned and grown from it.  Just as gold must pass ‘through’ the fiery kiln to become beautiful, we must pass ‘through’ the trials and tribulations of this world to fulfill the amazing plans that God has for us!

But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  Job 23:10

So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  I Peter 1:7

“And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”  Zechariah 13:9

Labels: Adversity, Perseverance, Strength, Tests, Trials, Tribulation, Victory

Very soon, ‘Refuge for a Single Mom’ will be jumping head-first into bigger and better things!  *smile*  This includes efforts to assist victims of domestic violence.

As with anything, education is power!  Therefore, I would like to acquaint you all with a Lifetime TV film, airing on Wednesday, July 4th.

Lifetime TV, July 4th

On July 4th at 9pm ET/PT, Lifetime will air "Devil's Pond," a film starring Tara Reid and Meredith Baxter. The film deals with the issue of domestic violence as Julianne, played by Tara Reid, realizes just how little she knows about the man she married as his possessive streak begins to threaten her life.

For a complete synopsis of this movie, check it out at Lifetime TV.com

Find out more about domestic violence at the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

For your convenience, I’ve reproduced the warning signs of domestic abuse/violence here.  I must admit, this was a real eye opener for me!  Courtesy of  Help Guide.org

If you want or need to talk to someone, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at: 1-800-799-7233 (1-800-799-SAFE)  If you need help immediately, call 911.

Signs of an Abusive Relationship

Your Inner Feelings and Thoughts

Do you :

Labels: Charities, Way of Thinking

Ten Lepers Cleansed  [Luke 17:11-19]

11 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee.

12 As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him;

13 and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed.

15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,

16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they?

18 “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”

19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

A few days ago, I made some observations, one of which was this:

”Be thankful for each and every single blessing in your life and recognize that without God, you wouldn’t have squat!”

First of all, I must confess that I used to be a very impatient, controlling, over-analytical, pessimistic, stressed out, worried, MISERABLE person.  If I couldn’t explain it, I couldn’t enjoy it!

At some point in your life, you need to realize that you are NOT in control, not by any means!  No matter how much you plan, prepare, arrange, stress, fret or worry, you are here on this Earth to simply fulfill a plan that GOD has designed for your life!

You need to realize that God is in absolute control.  Any idea, inspiration or motivation in your heart, mind, body and spirit are from Him.  (Obviously, there are sinful, fleshly influences of the world, but in order to make my point, I will concentrate on the ‘good things’!)

With this in mind, it is vitally important that you realize that any blessings, any favor, in your life are only yours by His grace!  (You really didn’t have much to do with it at all!)  That beautiful, healthy baby you love every day, the roof over your head, the food on your table, the car you drive, your profitable business or well-paying job, good friends, loving family, health, safety – ALL GOD!  (Clearly, those who work harder, smarter and longer, will have more to show for it, but still, only in conjunction with God’s grace and favor in your life!)

Now, once you’ve realized that your blessings are from Him, THANK HIM!  Stop taking the good Lord for granted and give Him praise, glory and most importantly, be thankful – every minute of every day!

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.  Colossians 4:2

16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  I Thessalonians 5:16-18

So many people out there don’t understand their blessings.  They ‘deserve’ good things, they’re ‘owed’ the best … When they do receive God’s goodness, they fail to acknowledge His awesomeness.  Instead of giving praises and glory, they simply move on to their next ‘request’!

We aren’t naïve, silly, little teenagers, whose parents are obligated to pave the way!  We are Christians cleansed by and covered in the Blood of the Lamb!  It is ALL because of Him!  His love, His goodness, His favor, His mercy, His power – His grace!

Honestly, this drives me crazy!  (Even my own behavior at times!)  There is so much suffering, stress, worry and sadness in this world!  Isn’t it completely obvious that the goodness we receive can only come from our Father?

There is a saying “If it sounds/seems too good to be true, it probably is.” (Unfortunately, the information available on the internet, regarding this quote, is limited and I cannot tell you the exact quote or who said it!  LOL)

Why?  Why can’t we receive blessings beyond belief and comprehension?  Personally, I believe in a God that surpasses all understanding!  Therefore, I say, “If it sounds too good to be true, thank your God!”

Labels: Blessings, Thankfulness, Way of Thinking