With God ALL THINGS are Possible!

What have you laid aside because of the words of others? I was told, "You will never make it on your own", but I have. I was told, "You will have to move to a smaller house" two times, but I moved to bigger both times. I was told, "don't count on more child support" but I did and it happened...I was told I would have to work two jobs and live on welfare, but I don't. Instead I work part time from home. I was told, you will have to put your kids in public school, but I haven't. Others don't always have the faith for what God has told you. It is up to YOU to move on YOUR faith. Faith without works is dead...

It often starts with what is in your Hand.  If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move a mountain.  That is very small faith.  What Has He given to you? To each is given a measure of faith.  Start with where you are now and watch your faith grow as you step out.  Yes, you will miss it totally at times, but the miracles and open doors that come for your faith will amaze you!  What little ideas have you had that you have laid aside because of lack of hope or the words of others?  Just because something did not work for them does not mean it is not right for you.  Take a step and begin a new journey.

Of course, it begins with having a relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  If you have not  trusted your life into His hands, now is the time.  Talk to Him as you would a friend.  I pour my heart out to Him day and night.  Give Him your heart and begin to seek His Word for your daily instruction in life.  You will be amazed at what He will do!

Trust Yourself

I have found that as a single mother, there seem to be too many people trying to tell me how I should live my life.  They don't do that to married women, so why to me?  Sometimes it is because I voice aloud what I am going through or changes I am making that married women tend to discuss more with their husbands.  The truth is we need people around us, but I have had my fill of people trying to decide if what I am doing is right or not and what I should be doing next.  I feel like my decisions are on trial!

For instance, when I was faced with an upcoming move that was not by choice but due to financial struggles, everyone tried to tell me where I should live and how I should get rid of most of our belongings and all our pets.  The places they found for me were disgusting!  I can't imagine running my home business out of such a home.  It would have totally destroyed my business.  I knew that God has something better.  I also knew I was in for a big increase in child support and also in income in a month. Still no one seemed to believe me and told me over and over, "I would not count on it!"  UGH!!!

So, I have found that I often must isolate myself from many in order to keep a hold of the promises of God's Word to me.  I have to fill myself with teachings of hope and God's promises in His Word.  I have to realize that my faith is not the same as the faith others have for my situation.

If, like myself, you lived with an abuser who was controlling, you may have learned to doubt yourself.  That can also come after a divorce when suddenly you realize you made a decision to marry someone that you regretted.  You must believe that you are totally capable of making your own decisions and of running your own life, especially if you have God on your side!

So how did my situation work out?  I got the expected increases and a beautiful, larger home to live in that saved me $300. a month from my previous location!  Trust yourself!  

If you are needing to surround yourself with people who believe in you, I suggest getting plugged into www.danijohnson.com and go to her Facebook.

Have Some Fun!

Single mothers tend to give, give, give with no one giving back to them.  There is rarely time for self in the midst of tending to children, work and home.  I have learned that if I am going to have fun, I typically have to plan it myself.  I need not only fun time with my children, but fun time as an adult woman.  Little things such as a stroll through the mall or the pampering of getting hair or nails done can do wonders for a stressed out mom.  You need to dream and to have some thing to look forward to just as your children do.  Not everything has to cost money although you should not feel guilty for little indulgences.  Coffee and a new book, new bath salts, or a stroll through a city garden or museum can bring such peace.  

Think of one thing you can do for yourself each week.  The best idea? Invest in yourself.  Invest in training in areas where you want increase or improvement.  Invest in your dreams. 

Is An Orphan Spirit Keeping You From Your Dreams?

We all know that an orphan is one without parents or family, but did you know that you can actually carry an orphan mentality or orphan spirit that keeps you from your destiny?  Has divorce or the hurts from people's responses to your divorce caused you to take on this orphan spirit?

Do you feel you have no hope?

Do you only think of surviving from day to day?

Have you lost a sense of destiny or your dreams for your future?

Do you struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness, even when with others?

Do you feel you "just don't fit in" at church or other activities?

Are you expecting others to take care of you or judging them when they don't?

Have you gotten comfortable with your life as it is and take no effort or hope in it improving?

The orphan spirit comes about through wounding and rejection or perceived rejection, often by someone in authority.  If you have been abandoned by your parents, church or other leaders or husband, it is possible to take on, through feelings of abandonment, an orphan spirit.  Sometimes it seems that there is no where left to turn and no one to help.  This too, can give one the false conclusions that you are abandoned.  This can also lead to depression.

So how do you get free from an orphan spirit?  The Bible says that we have received a "spirit of adoption" and we can call God, "Abba" or "Daddy". (Romans 8:14 - 15).  God has not abandoned you.  He knew you would be where you are today when he created you.  He also promises that He will turn it all for good if we allow Him to.  An issue with having the orphan spirit is trust in others.  If you struggle with this, that is the place where your first steps of faith in action for your healing will begin.  You may even struggle with trusting God and feeling abandoned by Him.  He understands and is gentle and kind.  Be honest with Him.

Father, I feel abandoned by.....  I have felt rejected by...  I ask you to come and heal my heart and free me from any spirit of abandonment or any orphan spirit.  I invite your Spirit to help me to understand that I am adopted by You and You will never leave me or forsake me.  You are a Father to the fatherless and a helpmate to the widow.  I ask your forgiveness for closing my heart to You and to the dreams You have for me.  I ask you to fill me with hope as you are the God of all hope.  I ask your forgiveness for looking to others rather than to You with my needs.  I thank you that You will set me free now.  In Jesus Name, and by His blood and the power of His resurrection, I choose to forgive....for abandoning me (and my children).  I forgive ....for abandoning me emotionally, financially, spiritually and physically.  I release this person into Your care now.  I open my heart to receive what You have prepared for me for I know You, Father, have plans to prosper me and to give me a hope and a future.  You are my husband, my Father, my friend and my companion, my savior and my healer.  In Jesus Name, Amen!

If you prayed this prayer and you feel you still need further counsel or prayer, I encourage you to share it with a local pastor or women's ministry leader that they may continue to help you along the path to freedom.  There is no shame in needing others to stand with us or pray for us. 

Make Home Special

Many single mothers are renters and there is nothing wrong with that.  It is nice to have someone else do the repairs and handle the big problems with homes.  Whether you are in an apartment, or a house, or even just renting a room or two, it is important to make it feel like home.  How is your home?  Have you taken time to make it feel cozy?  Do you have photos displayed?  Did you unpack your stuff?  How are you taking care of the home that God has given you?  Even if you are renting, you should care for your home with love.  Keeping it clean and tidy goes a long way to make a place feel welcoming.  If you have a yard, are you keeping up with it?

Now I know time runs very short for single moms but there is something refreshing about manual labor on your home.  I might dread doing it but afterward I realize it feels more like home.  This goes for the kids too.  Get them involved in the upkeep and cleaning and organizing.  They may give their loud objections but it will teach them responsibility and build confidence in them in being able to care for their own home one day.

I like to consider the 5 senses.  Does my home smell pleasant with odors of food or flowers or fresh laundry?  Are there nice pillows or blankets that are soft to the touch?  Does my home look pleasant?  What sounds are heard in my home? Yelling or pleasant talk and laughter and nice music?  Lastly, do I take the time to make foods that delight the palate?  Healthy foods are much more satisfying than junk.

It does not matter how large or small the place is, it can still be home and hold special memories.

Easy Dinner for 4

One of the ways to thrive as a single mother is to provide healthy meals to our family.  This recipe will have them asking for seconds and it only takes a few minutes prep time. Cost of the meal is $6.00 - $8.00 for four servings.

Place two chicken breasts with a cup of water and 3 tablespoons of salsa in a crock pot.  

Cook for 2 - 3 hours on low. 

Remove the chicken breasts when tender, and shred with a fork.

Add 1/2 cup of the broth, 2 tablespoons of salsa and 3 tablespoons of cream cheese to the shredded chicken.

Cheese and Black beans may be added to the tacos or served on the side.

Serve with flour tortillas and salad.

Need a fast dessert?  Spread Nutella on a tortilla and slice for an easy compliment to the meal.

Hope for A New You

Tonight I just thought this would be the best tip of all... Listen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyhsSFT6A5k&feature=related

Try this on for a laugh...

Ok, so this friend of mine has a restraining order against her Ex.  He comes a bit too close for comfort while she is picking up her kids.  My little humorous advice?  Buy a mannequin or inflatable dummy.  Dress him up and take him with you in the front seat.  Give him a title, (mom's buddy), and a name, (Bob).  If  Ex asks the kids who that is in the front seat sleeping, tell him, "Bob".  Who's that? "Mom's Buddy".  

You could even have him conveniently sitting in your home in front of a window with a drawn curtain and dim lighting.  He can conveniently ride with you when you need that extra man around.  Just be careful about leaving him in the car at public places as he may attract some stares.  Make sure if you do that he does not look "dead" or something or you could find the police surrounding your vehicle.

How to Get Through Anything!

What would you do if you had no money left anywhere, no credit cards, no one to borrow from and you had bills due the next day? What if you had exhausted resources recommended to you?  Perhaps you have been in this situation or are even facing it today.  Your faith is stretched and fear is trying his best to take hold.

This was exactly where I found myself one Sunday morning before church in 2007.  I wrote down a list of my bills and the total amount was $1300.  At the time, I was a full time student, living mostly off of faith and bit of part time work.  I held up my need list to God and then put it aside as we went to church on the last of our gas.  Just upon returning home, the phone rang.  A woman I was acquainted with was on the line, asking for my address.  She said she had something to bring to me.  She came quickly and we visited.  Upon leaving, she handed me a check folded in half.  After she left, I opened the check and my mouth fell open.  It was for exactly $1300.

If you are facing a difficult season, I urge you to take hold of the promises of God in His word relating to your circumstance.  Learn them, pray them, declare them, war with them and then rest in them.  God is not a man that He should lie.  God is a good God, a gracious Father, full of mercy and truth.  

On a trip to Israel, I once saw a woman begging with her head bowed and covered and her hand held up for change on the street.  That was when a friend told me this meaning.  He said that when someone comes along and instead of giving money, lifts the head of the beggar with the palm of their hand, and looks them in the eye, it means; "I will take care of you for the rest of your life".  I don't know if this is true, but I do know what is true.  In the Bible it says that He is the lifter of our head.

Today, I pray you will let Him be the lifter of your head.  I know that as you lift eyes of shame and discouragement to meet His eyes, you will find not judgement, but love, consuming love and gentleness.

Job Opportunities Are Everywhere

Now, I know you might think I am crazy with this title, but it is true.  The truth is, over 42% of single mothers live below poverty level in America. 21.6% are living at less than half the poverty level.  Much of this problem is due to deadbeat dads who work the system not to pay child support or full child support or simply disappear and avoid it altogether. You have a choice to sit and suffer or to focus on the solution and rise above the rest of the population that would rather sit and complain.

It is not difficult to see that most families need 2 or more sources of income to achieve financial security.  Again, financial security is defined here by having enough money to cover all your monthly expenses without having to work for it.  If you are an employee of a company, you are NOT in control of your income or job security.  You also are heavily taxed by the government before you ever receive your check.  Even 401k retirement benefits are taxed as income.  The good news is that there is a way for you to break free of this and to rise above the norm.

This is the time to research possibilities for residual income or monthly assets.  Assets are something that makes you money right now without you having to work for it.  Whether you are a musician who sells their Cd's or a writer, an investor in real estate or stocks, or a business owner, there are possibilities all around you.  A slow economy with job needs is the perfect time to launch your business or product.  Don't have one? There are many around that you can join.  www.thepowertochoose.whyambitworks.com has a fantastic compensation plan and you can set your own schedule.  Research, don't give up and get creative!

There is a little girl who lives in my city that started a jewelry company for children and has grossed over 5 million in 5 years!  If she can do it, you can do it!

How To Healthily Feed A Family On About $100. A Week

If you are looking to cut your food budget while improving your nutrition, read on!  

Tip #1.  Eat what you have before you go shopping.  How many food items are in your pantry or cupboard?  How about your freezer or fridge?  You can get very creative when you have to, as many of you know.  We in America are used to instant things and too much of things to satisfy our cravings.  Do you really need 10 cereal boxes?  Do you have things growing in your fridge? How often do you throw away your fresh vegetables instead of eating them?  How many flavors of ice cream are in your freezer?  Do you buy junk like soda?  Use up what you have and then follow tip number 2.

Tip #2.  Shop the outside aisles of the store! Steer yourself out of the middle aisles!  Why? You need nutrition, not junk to be healthy.  You will decrease your intake and desire for junk if you eat healthy.  Go for things that are in season.  Buy organic where it matters to you but choose things in season to save money.  Did you know it takes far less of an organic item to give you the nutrition you need vs. non-organic?  I have heard it takes 50 non organic tomatoes to equal 1 organic tomato in nutrition. 

Tip #3. Chicken breasts can be split to create thinner breast, healthier portions and more meals.  In America, our meat portions are normally way too big.  You might just loose some weight too!  I buy organic chicken but make it stretch with recipes and smaller portions.

Tip #4. Slow cookers are the working mother's friend!  Here is a yummy freebee recipe: Slow cook two chicken breasts with some water and salsa to flavor.  When done, remove and shred the chicken with a fork.  Add a bit of the stock from the cooked chicken back in with more salsa and 2 - 4 tablespoons of cream cheese.  Serve with flour tortillas and salad.

Tip #5.  Serve some non-meat meals to save.  My kids love baked ziti with noodles, ricotta cheese, spaghetti sauce and Parmesan.  Serve with garlic toast and salad. $5.00 - $6.00 meal for four!

If you save just $10.00 a week, that is $560. per year, or $1200. every two years. You and your family could have a nice vacation for that!

Tips To Get Throught Difficult Holidays

Believe me, I know holidays can be the worst for single mothers.  I got so that I dreaded many of them.  There are so many expectations for special days that are difficult if not impossible for many single mothers to meet.  Valentines Day can stir emotions of loneliness, abandonment, grief and shame.

Did you know that there is Someone who will never leave you for another?  He will not abandon you.  He does not love for a moment and then toss away.  Even death cannot separate His love.  He is crazy about you.  He was so excited the moment you were conceived.  He waited in expectation for your birth, your first steps, your first laugh and your first words.  He loves you still and waits expectantly for you to look to Him.  Not only that, He has promised to be a father to the fatherless, and a helpmate to the widows.  He is kind and longs for your dreams to come to pass.  

Will you let Him wrap you in His arms?  He says in His Word that He has all your tears saved in a bottle. Let Him fill you with hope and perfect love that will drive away your fears.

Behold, He is at the door...His head is drenched with dew...He is wanting you to come away with Him to His secret place. No one can love you like He does. Will you open the door?

There is ALWAYS a Way

The main reason for poverty is lack of knowledge.  I am not talking about degrees from schools or high school diplomas.  I am talking about financial education that does not come from textbooks.  After I read Rich Kid, Smart Kid by Robert Kiyosaki, my son came to me discouraged, with his "I want to buy this item".  Instead of telling him, "I can't afford it", I told him, "Go make a list of 10 ways you can come up with the money for this." 

It is easy to get discouraged when fighting your battles, be it finances, relationships or work stress.  Normally, all that is needed is a change of perspective to give hope to the weary. If we focus on the problem, it seems to grow and to cause us to dead end in our thought process of creative solutions.  Focus on the solution and watch what happens.  Did you know God says, I have plans to prosper you and to give you a hope and a future?  There is ALWAYS a way!  If you are feeling discouraged right now, join me in this prayer:

God, I am bringing you this problem with ...... You said to bring you my burdens and to throw them on You.  I don't see a solution right now but I ask you to fill me with hope and the ability to see the solution and steps I can take to solve ....  I lay it at your feet and I receive your peace that passes understanding.  Thank You that You will bring people and resources across my path so that I may learn and see real change in ..... Let this be a step that brings forth good fruit so that I may one day help others with .... In Jesus Name, Amen.

AAAHHH, I ATE MY RENT MONEY!

Yummy...homemade beef enchiladas, beans and rice. Total cost to serve 4 with leftovers for another meal? (Drinks included) $9.00 That makes it less than $2.50 per person and with enough for one more meal! Wonder why you don't have money to pay the rent, debts or invest? You could be eating it!

If you are like many single mothers, you are beyond busy.  Fast food is convenient and keeps the kids happy, or does it?  As a single mother, I have felt most of the time that I was pushing against everything and everyone to prove that I don't have to live as a statistic of a woman in poverty, raising troubled kids while holding down two jobs just to keep food on the table.  I am managing, with God's help, to break the mold!  I figured if my kids lost one parent on a daily basis already, they did not need to loose another.  I don't care what you say, there are abandonment issues to face when you are a child of divorce.  So I determined to be at home with my kids, to be daily involved in their lives and to provide a healthy atmosphere for them to grow up in.  I am not saying it has been easy! It has been the hardest thing I have ever faced and I have been through quite a lot! 

The biggest challenge I have faced is that of being provider and yet being available to my kids.  I learned that I can live on much less than most think, yet I knew there was more than just getting by.  One of the first steps to financial security, which is having enough monthly coming in to cover your expenses, without you having to work for it, is to see where what you have now is going.  I LOVE to eat out, I admit it.  Yet, I began to realize that my eating out with my kids 4 or more times a week, even fast food, was making it harder and harder to stay on top of the bills.  We complain that we don't make enough or have enough, but excuses don't buy us freedom.  Did you know that if you cut back on just one meal out a month that has a cost of $20. that you could save $1,200. in one year?  In 5 years you would have $6,000.  In ten, $12,000.  Besides that, you would have a healthier family.

Are you eating your rent money?  How about your money to get out of debt?  How about your investment money that could buy you financial security?  Are you willing to change to break the mold?

Tasty Tip of the Day: Loose Weight, Get Healthy and Increase Your Wealth

Last night I cooked chicken sausage with Gouda cheese, cranberries and walnuts and served it with scalloped potatoes and green beans. We had organic strawberries for dessert. Total cost for the meal? under $10.00.  

How would an extra $200 or more help you each month?  What if you invested that once a year, $2400?  Or perhaps you need to pay off debt with it?  Eating at home can save you not only your health and waistline but a bundle in money.  Remember, you are training your children with your actions.  

Cost for my family to eat at McDonalds? $24.00.  And I can tell you, McDonalds does not serve the kind of meal we had last night.  Besides that, my kids hate McDonalds and loved my dinner last night!

I challenge you to track what you spend on eating out for one month.  Don't change your current habit and track every penny in a notebook.  Then keep reading this blog to learn how I feed my family of 4 on $100. a week, plus allow some healthier eating out for very little more.

This Tip Just Might Change your Life

If you need hope for your finances, (most single mothers do!), you have to check this out!

I can't think of a more important tip than one that will help single mothers to find hope to conquer financial need, to bring you to a new place in relationships and to raise kids that are so far above the norm. It is not often that you find this kind of solid training from someone who is very real.  

So, today's tip is to hurry yourself over to www.danijohnson.com and check out the free training and videos.  I work from home, part time and have two businesses and am preparing my children to be business owners and investors.  If I can do it, so can you!  There is always a way. 

Shopping Tip for the Day

Coldwater Creek

If you are like me, mom is the last one to get new clothes.  The kids grow so quickly and their needs come before mine. Yet, as a single mother, very few of us have anyone blessing us with new clothes or shopping sprees.  You need to take care of yourself and you need to do things that cheer you up and give you that look that says, "I am doing great!"  So here is my latest tip...


Sign up for magazines from your favorite clothes stores.  I am not talking thrift shopping here ladies!  Places like Coldwater Creek and Kohls, mail out coupons to their list members.  Sunday I went shopping at Coldwater Creek.  I had a $20.00 off coupon that I got from the magazine I received free in the mail.  It happened to be sale time and the sale items in the store were also 50% off.  I purchased two blouses that originally sold for over $80.00 BEFORE tax and paid AFTER tax only $8.00 for the both of them together.  Then I ran over to Kohls with my free $10.00 I received in the mail and bought two more shirts for $2.00!  I consider that 4 new outfits (combined with pants I already have) for only $10.00.

Today I filled out a quick survey on my shopping to Coldwater Creek and as a result, now I have another $10.00 off coupon for my next shopping spree.

Tip of the Day - First things first!

Pray about everything!  If you want to pray to someone, you better know the One you are praying to.  Does prayer really help? You better believe it.  Start at the right place.  I am talking about knowing the One you can turn to for everything.  For us single moms, I believe there is a special relationship, an intimacy and a dependency upon God that is crucial to survival.  Did you know that He said that He is a father to those who don't have fathers? Did you know that He promises to take care of you when no one else can or will?  He holds every one of your tears in a bottle.  Oh, and He has plans to prosper you and to give you a hope and future.  There is a hope for you today.  This is the first day of a new start.  There is prosperity, blessings and a full life ahead for you!  It all starts with a very simple prayer.  Dear God, I give you my life, all of it. I receive all you have for me, most importantly, Jesus, who died on the cross so I could know You. 


If you prayed that prayer today, send me a message or comment.  I will be praying for you as we journey together in the days ahead.