My Heart to Yours

Someone yesterday told me about John Tesh’s radio show so I followed up and took look at his website to see if I heard what I thought I heard, and I have to say… his people do some good research! Having laid that out there, here’s an interesting article.

“It sounds absurd, but according to Psychology Today magazine, companies now market makeup to girls as young as three. There are Barbie makeup games, and hair straightening products that feature 7-year-old girls on the box. Gordon Miller, a spokesman for the National Cosmetology Association, says five years ago, the rule of thumb was that 15- to 16-year olds would come in for their first hair coloring. Now, the average age is 10! Unfortunately, the health implications are HUGE. Many scientists suspect that toxic chemicals, found in many of the products young girls are clamoring for, contribute to a disturbing trend: girls in the U.S. are entering puberty earlier than their grandmothers and mothers did. Early puberty begins a series of physical and mental changes. For example, kids start having intimate thoughts. This is a form of abstract thinking and when the brain gets crowded with these new, abstract thoughts, it becomes less flexible. This makes it harder to learn complex skills, such as playing a musical instrument, speaking a foreign language, or mastering a sport. Beyond that, girls who enter puberty earlier are at a higher risk for breast cancer and depression, and are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors, such as drinking and unprotected sex.”

Dear Family and Friends,

For the last week or two I have awakened with uneasiness in my gut. I have figured out it is due to the upcoming elections and the future of our country. I don’t wake up in fear because my trust is not in a man but The Man; my Heavenly Father. I keep asking myself what a little unknown girl from Oklahoma can do with only a few days left until Election Day. First, I can and have been praying. Second, I can write to all of you.

There are uncertain times ahead. The economy is struggling and many of us “Main Street” Americans are struggling to make ends meet as well. Traditional marriage is under attack and the preservation of life, ALL LIFE, is being threatened. We do need a change- a breath of fresh air but not the kind of radical change that Barack Obama would bring to the table. With him as President we will see an unprecedented amount of abortions, we will see same sex marriage legalized and celebrated, we will see our options and freedoms we have as Americans taken away and we will see more government in our lives. These are only a few.

I must say that I don’t agree with John McCain on every issue and would not call myself a staunch supporter but I do feel I can trust his wisdom and his experience. I know he wants change and can make it happen, the kind of change that is good for America.

Many of you may know me as Brian’s wife, or Dylan and Olivia’s mom, or as a professional counselor or as a friend from church. No matter how you know me I have one simple request from you. Please go to the polls on November 4th and go informed. Don’t just show up and vote… show up educated. Vote based on experience, leadership and wisdom not based on the fact that someone “sounds good”.

As a mother, I am deeply concerned for my children’s future. It is my duty as their mother to leave them a legacy, morals/values and freedoms that our forefathers fought for us to have. If for no other reason, go to the polls on November 4th and vote for the future of my children (Dylan and Olivia) and yours and all of the other children that you know. Yes, I guess I am begging you to be informed, spread the word and mostly pray. No matter what happens God’s will will be done but we must stand firm now more than ever.

Thank you for hearing me out and may God bless you and your family.
In Him,

Laura Kuester

Check out this video

and this is a great article.

1. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” (Prov. 21:1)

If your thoughts wander during your prayer time, instead of trying to force them back into your pre-set agenda, try following them. Perhaps the Lord has another agenda.

2. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” (Matt. 6:5-6).

Set a time for daily prayer. Consider it an unbreakable commitment. Keep your set appointment every day for one week. For one solid week, let your scheduled prayer time be the centerpiece of your day: arrange everything else to fit around it.

3. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

Give God the first fruits of your day. For one week, give the very first 30 minutes of your day to prayer.

4. “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)

Find a place in your home where you can be alone and undistracted during your prayer time. Keep your Bible, prayer journal, pen, and whatever tools you use in that place so that everything is ready. During your prayer time each day, this is a sacred place.

5. “I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah. 6:1)

As you start your prayer time, before you say anything, let your mind’s eye see Him, high and exalted, and yourself in a position of worship before Him. Stay in that inner posture until His glory fills your thoughts as the train of His robe fills the temple.

6. “But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’” (Luke 8:46 )

Take time to become truly alive to His presence with you. Be aware that as you touch Him through prayer, His power is released into your life.

7. “O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.” (Ps. 78:1)

Read your Bible this morning with the awareness that you are listening to the words of His mouth. Stop at the first word, phrase, or thought that captures your attention and let the Father speak to you about it and let it shape your prayers.

8. “We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isa. 64:8)

This week, practice the prayer of pliability. Instead of focusing on what you want God to do for you, focus on allowing Him to shape your desires until they match His. Accept each situation in your life as His hand shaping your thoughts, character, and longings.

9. “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

This week, let these words be the only prayer you pray about situations that confront you. Focus on relinquishing every situation to Him to be a platform for His power.

10. “I will remember the deeds of the LORD.” (Ps. 77:11)

This week, try writing out your prayers. It will help you stay focused and will create a record of God’s work in your life.

11. “My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.” (Ps. 35:28)

This week, practice praying out loud during your private prayer time. It will make your prayer experience more concrete and will help you keep your mind focused.

12. “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; …talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deut. 11:18-20)

This week, try walking as you pray. Walk through your neighborhood or around your yard. You will be more able to keep your mind open to new thoughts the Lord might introduce. You are likely to find yourself spending more time with Him.

I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. As a marriage therapist, I spend a lot of time talking with couples about their sex lives or lack thereof. I ran across this video tonight and will have to find a way to show this in every marriage counseling session. We all need a good laugh every now and then, right?

(I am sorry I do not know how to put the you tube screen here on my blog so I have to just give you the link to go and watch it there.)

Check this out NOW!!!!! Let me know what you think!

It has been a stressfull week for sure. But today I am feeling proud… proud of him and proud that justice prevailed. Doesn’t always happen this way but at least last night a jury of 12 did the right thing. Way to go honey!

If you haven’t seen the huge billboard yet in Tulsa then you should go here and check this out.

Ruling your spirit. Keeping tabs on your temper. Slowing down your reactions so you behave responsibly instead of selfishly. These are earmarks of self-control. And they are often difficult to master for those of us who missed out on the blessing, unless we understand an important principle.

The degree of self-control you have is in direct proportion to the degree of self-acceptance you have. Put another way, if you don’t value yourself, you won’t tend to put any “reins” on your behavior

In Biblical Greek, the word picture for the word self-control is of a horseman “pulling in the reins” on a horse. In our lives, it’s a picture of our need to “pull in the reins” on a habit.

Ask yourself today, “Are there any habits or attitudes that you need to “pull in the reins” on? Like anger? Selfishness? Envy?

If we don’t see our tremendous value in Jesus Christ, our self-worth won’t be very high. And carrying around low self-worth is an open invitation to bad habits and a loss of control.

“He how is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And He who rules his spirit than he who takes a city”
Prov. 16:32