Definitions and Resources

I am reading Ruby Payne's Understanding Poverty

The working definition of poverty is "the extent to which an individual does without resources". The resources she discusses are listed below:

1. Financial: Having the money to purchase goods and services.
2. Emotional: Being able to choose and control emotional responses, particularly to negative situations, without engaging in self-destructive behavior. This is an internal resource and hows itself through stamina, perseverance, and choice. I think of family that I love here. I believe my mom was from a poverty stricken area, if not family in her younger years. If the sins of the father (and mother) are passed from generation to generations, then it makes sense that this theory - not being able to control emotional responses, would also be passed from generation to generation, unless there is a mentor somewhere along the line to change the patterns, or help teach new ones. I see where this affects people in my family, here. When things get hard - and they do for everyone, he engages in self-destructive behavior. (There was even a verse in Leviticus I think, that said we are to pray for the sins of our father - goes hand in hand with bondage breakers and Mr. Ramirez's conversation this week)
3. Mental - Having the mental abilities and acquired skills (reading, writing, computing) to deal with daily life.
4. Spiritual, Believing in diving purpose and guidance.
5. Physical - Having physical health and mobility.
6. Support systems: having friends, family , and back up resources available to access in times of need. These are external resources.
7. Relationships/Role Models: Having frequent access to adults who are appropriate, who are nurturing to the child, and who do not engage in self-destructive behavior.
8. Knowledge of Hidden Rules: Knowing the unspoken cues and habits of a group. (A hidden rule in poverty include the noise level being high (The TV is on and everyone talks at once)
   

That's really amazing - when I think of these things- my mom falls into many of them, which kept her in poverty.

Now - how to incorporate this to help our students....

A Crisis Can Lead to Healing Choices - Tools @ PurposeDriven.com

A Crisis Can Lead to Healing Choices - Tools @ PurposeDriven.com

Considering the issues at hand - this is so timely! God is so good.... Praying he uses me - to reach others. Even those I don't like!

So much to pray about!

Phil 4:4-7

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I am excited about what God is getting ready to do.... even if it's just a changed heart! So many things to pray about -----

Property
Family relationships
Serving him
Working

On top of the normal every day stuff - like kids - family - triathlon tomorrow!

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Sarah walked in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It was a 2 day walk - 26.2 miles on Sat....13.1 on Sunday. I am so impressed with how strong she is to do that. When we were there on Sunday, I was so thankful for dark glasses. Everything made me cry...I even have tears rolling as I write this now... My own mom died from Breast Cancer in 2007.... well not really from the cancer, she did have two episodes and had a masectomy - but from so many other complications - and one of the Leukemia type diseases she had was from the chemo due to breast cancer. I was also sad, knowing that Sarah lost her mom to this horrible disease...which means Craig lost his first wife... It just all seems so unfair....

I wondered why he didn't show more emotion - and then in my bible study this week - the answer arose... In the book Secrets - Transforming your life and marriage - the author writes: A woman generally processes emotion by talking openly. A man often processes emotion by taking action and he needs a safe environment in orter to express how he feels. When I asked how the day affected him - he said it brought back memories.... I was amazed - how can a day like that just bring back memories? I'd think it would bring back so much more.... It was a hard day for me -


Avon does an incredible job.... they give the money out immediately - incredible!

Picasa Web Albums - Craig & Lori Lackey - Sept2009

Picasa Web Albums - Craig & Lori Lackey - Sept2009

Went to visit Dad for a little while - Labor Day Weekend...

Craig and I went for a quad ride and rolled up on some wild Mustangs... Incredible site!

Gmail - September 2, 2009 - Resisting Discouragement - Daily Devotional - llackey08@gmail.com

Gmail - September 2, 2009 - Resisting Discouragement - Daily Devotional - llackey08@gmail.com

This is just such incredibly timing! Last night - amongst other issues that required more of my emotion, Missy told me that there were four offers on the house we both really like - and they were strong. We were advised to look elsewhere. I want to quit at times, and I admit, this morning, I felt that if we could just DO something right away, we'd be in a house soon - then I realized - after crying on my way to the gym - that God CAN and WILL lead me through my husband - even if I don't like where too.... I feel God very much at work in my life. Father, I desire to follow and TRUST you - in all things - work, home, husband - kids. .... Tony.... Please allow your righteousness to shine through me!

September 2, 2009 Resisting Discouragement by Rick Warren “So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).

There are many things that work to keep us from completing our life-missions. Over the years, I’ve debated whether the worst enemy is procrastination or discouragement. If Satan can’t get us to put off our life missions, then he’ll try to get us to quit altogether. The apostle Paul teaches that we need to resist discouragement: “So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT). Do you ever get tired of doing what’s right? I think we all do. Sometimes it seems easier to do the wrong thing than the right thing. When we’re discouraged, we become ineffective. When we’re discouraged, we work against our own faith. When I’m discouraged, I’m saying, “It can’t be done.” That’s the exact opposite of saying, “I know God can do it because he said . . . .” Ask yourself these questions: • How do I handle failure? • When things don’t go my way, do I get grumpy? • When things don’t go my way, do I get frustrated? • When things don’t go my way, do I start complaining? • Do I finish what I start? • How would I rate on persistence? If you’re discouraged, don’t give up without a fight. Nothing worthwhile ever happens without endurance and energy. When an artist starts to create a sculpture, he has to keep chipping away. He doesn’t hit the chisel with the hammer once, and suddenly all the excess stone falls away revealing a beautiful masterpiece. He keeps hitting it and hitting it, chipping away at the stone. And that’s true of life, too. Nothing really worthwhile ever comes easy in life. You keep hitting it and going after it, and little-by-little your life becomes a masterpiece of God’s grace. The fact is, great people are really just ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination. Great people don’t know how to quit.

Being Meek

Meekness isn't generally one of those characteristics we respect in others. Max Lucado's A Glimpse of Glory addresses meekness a different way...

meek
  /mik/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [meek] Show IPA
Use meek in a Sentence
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–adjective, -er, -est.
1. humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others.
2. overly submissive or compliant; spiritless; tame.
3. Obsolete. gentle; kind.

I believe that Godly Meekness is 1 & 3 - When I asked Craig if he thought he was meek, he said no. I believe he is though - not the #2 kind - but he's definitely humble, patient gentle and kind...

I can only hope to learn from him - and from the word...

Psalm 25:8-9 (New International Version)

8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.

Psalm 37:5-11 (New International Version)

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. I'm definitely praying for this in my life...

⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. I admit, this scares me some - because when they carry out their wicked schemes, they hurt people. When Satan carries out his wickedness - those I love hurt... and the last thing I want is for those I love to be in pain.

⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. HA! This is so hard to do- but I have learned in the last week when you are dealing with someone that is using, you can not ever ever ever win an argument - so why even bother? Love - that is the answer - even if people don't think your actions are loving.

⁹ For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. Lord, I desire that more hope in you - that none would perish, but would have life with you - eternal!

¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.

Luke 14:7-11 (New International Version)

⁷When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: ⁸"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. ⁹If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. ¹⁰But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. ¹¹For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Good practical advice if you ask me!

1 Peter 3:1-4 (New International Version)

1 Peter 3

Wives and Husbands

¹Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, ²when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. ⁴Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

I have always wanted a quiet and gentle spirit....I know without a doubt that it can only come from God.

1 Peter 5:6-9 (New International Version)

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.