Cynical people who think that pastors are constantly “begging” for money from the pulpit may feel vindicated by news stories like this one about Pastor Warren’s plea for donations; but, they shouldn’t.  Churches supply a huge role in helping people, in need, in communities all around the world.  For the working poor, who often cannot get help from governmental agencies because they “earn too much money to qualify”, the local churches are a lifeline when it comes to seeing them meet the needs of families in their local communities.  Many churches have a benevolence committee or a food pantry…some even have access to donated clothing or household items that families in crisis are in need of, but can’t afford to provide their loved ones. 

         Churches are often asked to help people pay their heating bills, or help them pay their rent, give them gas money so they can get back and forth to work, provide them with groceries or money for food to feed their children.  The needs are great and becoming greater everyday with the homeforclosures, job layoffs or downsizings and with employees who lose their medical benefits and have to use their cash to provide medical needs to their dependents.

       Churches are the silent heros (as they should be) in the struggle to provide for people in need; just as Jesus commands his followers to do, in his name, in the book of Matthew.   In Matthew 25, the Bible talks about God judging on the day of judgement regarding helping those in need.    In Matthew 25 vs. 40-46, He basically says that when we give to those in need; to the hungry, the thirsty, the unclothed, those in prison,  it is as if we are giving to him and, if we do not give to those in need…it is as if we have denied him; we will be judged on whether we have been his hands and his feet in our service to others.  It can mean the difference between going to heaven or going to hell in our eternal destination. 

        It is a hard heart that sees another person suffering in need and denies them help when they have the ability to positively impact their situation.  The body of Christ, his churches, want to help…they desire to help…but, they are limited in their ability to help when they are often in the same situation as those who come and knock at the perverbial door of the church looking for assistance.   Tithing or the giving back a tenth of the blessings that God provides his people is scriptual.  We are supposed to give 1/10 of our wealth, our time, our skills-our blessings back to God…that is not much that he is requiring from us.   I have a friend who has a passion to help others…she uses her talents to provide information to those who get much of their food from food pantries or food stamp programs…she teaches them to provide healthy and filling meals from the food in those programs.  This is a link to her site as it ministers to others: http://foodstampscookingclub.com/blog/  She gives back to others out of her joy and her skills!

         God does not need our money…but tithing is an obedience that he requires from us.  He uses that obedience to him through our churches, our charities and our associations to meet the needs of the poor.  It is a tool of ministry to reach the sinners who do not believe and to help provide for those who are believers as well who are going through struggles of their own.  Are there people who will take advantage of this?  Yes, but that is why there are guidelines set up for most ministry programs so that people do not abuse this ministry outreach, in most churches.  That way, more people can receive the help and services of the church ministry programs.

         So, when people pay their tithes in church…this money helps to keep the church functioning so that it can continue to be God’s hands reaching out to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of his people.    It is wrong to sit in church, absorb all the good things that a spirit filled church provides and not give back; so those people who claim to be Christians and do not do as God commands by paying their tithes and giving of offerings…there are consequences…don’t be fooled into thinking that your obedience in this matter doesn’t count.  

            Don’t become jaded when that offering plate comes to you…or you hear a pastor asking for donations; it takes money to keep the lights on, heat the church building, pay the church staff, put gas in the church vans to bring in people who don’t have a car to drive, and minister to families in crisis,  and couples whose marriages may be in trouble.    Give of your time (volunteer), your skills, your money…your personal possessions when you have the opportunity; just because it is the right thing to do.   If you don’t have money but have a skill that would benefit others…use it to help them.  If you don’t have a skill or money but you have free time…become a volunteer and be a willing hand!

         As a worker in my own church, I see the truth in how the church reaches out and blesses it’s people, the community and those in need.  I want to do my part and be a blessing and not a curse.  How about you…are you doing your part?

Update:  http://www.writewhereyouareblog.com/his-cup-runneth-over/

            However, for those that do spend….they are quickly overwhelmed when they discover the amount of new skills and knowledge that they must acquire before they can even begin to make lots money…not to mention the discouragement that sets in when they realize how long it will be before they learn enough to make that huge investment of money back.  It just isn’t practical to spend thousands and wait 12 months to 2 years to learn enough knowledge and skills to make your money back.  Marketing is a system for selling products or services; and, because it is a system…that means there are many components. 

          What if you could learn some of the techniques that would bring in enough money to pay an extra bill or two a month?  Would that be a benefit to you?  I am sure that it would.  Rapid Cash doesn’t promise to make you millions or guarantee that you will be driving a new car in a week…that is foolishness.  On the other hand, Rapid Cash can add enough cash to your pocket to help take some of the pressure off the average person’s monthly struggles http://tinyurl.com/djr2a7 . 

       You see, what alot of those big named gurus and their programs promise you is unrealistic when you think about it.  In their sales pages and videos…they are flaunting their cars, their mansions and piles of money.  Yes it is possible to acquire those things; however, what they often don’t tell you is that it has taken them years and tons of money to learn how to earn the kind of skills and knowledge needed to make that happen.  It does not happen overnight like that for the average person.  It takes alot of work…and a whole lot of expert help to get to that level. 

          People are often manipulated by those ads to believe that they can achieve that level of success quickly.  Realistically, learning is a process and everyone has to start somewhere.  I am an affiliate for Rapid Cash Marketing.  http://tinyurl.com/djr2a7   They teach you how to use skills and knowledge to earn extra money while you learn those other things about making money online, learning a proven, in- depth internet marketing system that can lead to a higher level of internet marketing success. 

       There is a team of coaches who are there to teach you how to pick up extra cash to supplement your income with skills that you may already have or can quickly develop.   They are knowledgable in many areas and use these skills themselves to earn money online.    Do you have digital photo experience, interviewing skills, graphic arts skills, writing skills, direct marketing skills, writing sales letters, video skills,  voice over abilities, editing skills, etc?  The list goes on…but, if you could learn how to use those skills in an effective way to earn enough money to take the edge off of your present financial situation it would be a blessing right?  

          If you are willing to learn and willing to take action towards achieving some financial success online then check out this link:  http://tinyurl.com/djr2a7   Yes, I will get a financial reward if you were to purchase…but, if their program improved your finances; then, I think you would thank me anyway!   I think you will see the wisdom in investing a small amount of money that will quickly repay your investment if you put in the effort to do what the successful internet marketers Jeff Wellman, Dixie Brown, and Paul Counts instruct you to do. 

             If you are blessed…give thanks to God above…and do what he calls us to do; Deuteronomy 15 vs 11 says “There will always be poor people in the land.  Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor & needy in your land”.    People who struggle financially do so for a variety of reasons…many of them are not at fault for their situation.  Don’t judge.  If you are blessed and have enough, or more than enough….you must respond to your hearts prompting.  Give…give generously and without strings.  Do it with sensitivity and in such a way as to honor their dignity.  It is hard to accept help from others.

          You can give money, you can give time, you can give produce…you can give your skills, knowledge or talent to improve the situation of others.  Did you know that many children are getting fed at school because they have so little at home?  They are on food programs at school…but what about weekends?  There is no school on weekends…are those children getting enough to eat during that time?  Many are not.  Feeding America, formerly known as Second Harvest, has a program that provides backpacks of food for children on weekends.  For every $1 donated…it provides $14 worth of food.  http://bit.ly/2YzhwU

            The children aren’t the only ones going without the basic healthy items they need to eat a well balanced diet.  Families are spread all over the country.  Many don’t live near their elderly parents and therefore, they don’t know their true financial situations.   Pride keeps many elderly people from sharing their difficulties.  They would rather go without than share with others the fact that they do not have enough to eat.  This is unacceptable in America where we have the means to feed our children, our poor and our elderly members of society; if we all do our part to fill the gap.

            Talk to your local food bank or Commision on Aging about helping out the elderly in your community.  If you have enough to eat, why shouldn’t they?  There is always a need.   You can help fill it…making a positive impact on those around you.  What does your heart tell you to do?  Please support and donate to these organization to uplift people.  You just never know how this will impact their lives or your own! Thanks! 

I met Louise through an online contest, believe it or not.  It was run on Twitter.  I happen to have won a poetry contest; and the prize, that I chose, was a DVD that was made by Louise Sattler.   Louise has a site called:  http://www.signingfamilies.com/ .  There you will find all kinds of information about Louise and what she does; but, I didn’t know all of that, when I won the DVD.

I chose that DVD because of the title and what I could potentially use it for.  The title is, “Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language”.   I work with children in several capacities and I liked the idea of learning some sign language just in case I needed to know it in the future.  I was so excited when i got the DVD because, just watching it I could see the passion and the commitment that Louise had for teaching sign language to children and their families.

Bravery came over me and I approached Louise about doing an interview with me so that I could blog about what she does through her workshops, her speaking engagements and through her DVD’s.   Louise agreed to do that and I thought that I would share the news of what she does because it helps so many people.  By teaching sign language as a way of communicating it allows families to be more effective in advocating for their special needs loved ones.

http://www.signingfamilies.com/  caters to those who live and work with individuals with special education needs.  Signing isn’t just for the deaf communities…people who struggle with many issues of disability can benefit from communicating through sign language.   So if you work in education, in health- care, daycare, foster care, adoption, or you have a business or a family member who is impacted…this is a great way to brush up your communication skills so that you can strengthen your ability to communicate effectively in your relationships.

If you would like to contact Louise Sattler about her programs & her work she can be reached at Louise@SigningFamilies.com; or, you can contact her to do a workshop, give an interview or a presentation by calling her business line at: 410-715-9647.    Louise is also on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Louiseasl . She is very down to earth and she also teaches in Spanish-she is bi-lingual.  Ask her about her programs….tell her that Writewhereyouare sent you and you will get a discount.    You can purchase her DVD’s at her site:  http://www.SigningFamilies.com/  or here on Amazon. com: http://bit.ly/913i5 .

         Or say you hear about a seminar somewhere that is being hyped and promoted as the next best thing…perhaps the only other thing you are missing in your marketing goals.  So you purchase a ticket to the event, rent a room at a hotel, purchase a plane ticket, pocket some spending money for meals (lots of money if you are smart-because food at these posh hotels doesn’t come cheap); and off you go, expecting to learn everything you need to know to make you successful.  You learn something alright…you learn that you have to jump in with both feet.  Networking, connecting, absorbing, gaining contact information and you learn how to go without sleep for 3 days while you try to retain every bit of knowledge that is given to you.  You become overloaded with information that you may or may not know what to do with.

        There is product creation, niche marketing, hosting, servers, auto responders, email marketing, copywriting, jv partners, promotions, SEO/online traffic…etc.  You get the idea; it is doable, believe it or not.   You may even possess skills that will help you be successful.  You may just need guidance to achieve your goals.   One of the first thing a good coach will tell you is…you don’t have to know all of these things yourself/you don’t have to learn all of those skills.  Just do the things you love and are good at and outsource or partner with someone who has skills in the areas that you are lacking…that is how the big dogs do it!  You can too.   You dont have to spend a fortune either; a smart marketer learns to barter or trade skills with another person who needs your skills or knowledge and who has some that would benefit you!

       While seminar events are  beneficial in many ways…the thing to remember is that they are only a part of the puzzle.  You have to do your homework both before and after, the event.  Relationships are key to much of what you do online; never forget that.  But, internet marketing is not something that you learn overnight.  It is not a get rich scheme; there is money to be made but it happens over time.  You can make some money more quickly by doing freelance work with some of the skills you already have or have recently learned…but in general, it is not the kind of money that some big named gurus try to make you think you can earn, immediately with little or no work!  Be wise.

         If you are seriously wanting to learn how to make money online…understand it is a process.  There are people out there willing to coach you and teach you what you want and need to know.  Some of them will charge you thousands and thousands of dollars for their time, attention, and their programs.  Not everyone thinks like that though.  There are coaches who truly do make sure that you get all of the pieces of the puzzle to work with in creating your own online presence.   Check out this program:  http://bit.ly/srhVX

        There is a program out there that is making a big impact on the lives of their students.  It is called Autopilot Wealth Institute.  The coaches are four experts who take the challenge of teaching you what you need to know seriously; they are committed to your success.  Have you ever tried to put together a jigsaw puzzle only to find that there are pieces of the puzzle missing?  I have…it is no fun.

        This past winter we took on a family project of putting together a very large jigsaw puzzle.  It was new and we were excited.  We worked for a week straight as a family; only to find that we were missing one piece.  It was not in the bag in the puzzle box.  We searched high and low.  It was the only piece.  We talked about what to do…should we mount the puzzle on a piece of cardboard and color in that piece; trying to hide the fact that it was missing?  Should we tear it all apart and take it back to the store?  Hmmm….what to do.  My husband came up with a plan to go back to the store and purchase another puzzle with the exact same picture on it…just to get that one piece.  It worked alright, i have the picture hanging on the wall to prove it.  However, it left us feeling a bit frustrated for having to spend more money to get what we thought we were supposed to already have in our possession!

        Some people learn to do internet marketing in that same kind of way.  They buy programs that overlap one another just to find that one missing piece that they have not been able to learn yet; costing themselves alot of extra money.  You shouldn’t have to purchase programs `ala carte or piece by piece just to learn how to market something online.  Any comprehensive program that is teaching internet marketing should have all of the basic puzzle pieces in it.

          If you are interested in learning from internet marketing coaches who are committed to teaching you in a way that helps you to succeed…I would recommend the merged talents of internet marketers: Jeff Wellman, Dixie Brown, Paul Counts and Keith Wellman.  They each have expert status in different areas of marketing which will supply you with the skills, knowledge and techniques to accomplish your goals.  They know how to supply you with any pieces of the puzzle that you think you may be missing!

        If you are interested in any of these programs or subjects: IM Tech Talk, Traffic Generation Blueprints, Million Dollar Advantage Program, Rapid Cash Marketing Course http://bit.ly/srhVX  then that is where you will find the answers to your questions. 

        In fact, speaking of questions…one of the great aspects of this program and these coaches, is that they take the time each week (sometimes for hours) to answer the questions that their students may have about any area where they have encountered obstacles.  This is a great asset for their students.  No one gives anyone a hard time…in fact, usually when one person asks a question…others chime in and say…i wanted to ask the same question.  Often, someone will ask YOUR question before you even get the opportunity to ask it yourself.   No question is dumb if it is stopping you from going forward with your goals.  See if what these marketers have to offer is for you!  http://bit.ly/srhVX  They will help you put the pieces of your business/website puzzle together so that you get what you are looking for; a completed project.

         Keith Wellman is well known for many ground breaking internet marketing programs.  He actually started his father Jeff Wellman new career in internet marketing a couple of years back when he was laid off from a well known baby food factory job.  Jeff made a name for himself quickly by creating his first Lay Off Your Boss program.  It was successful and fueled his desire to learn and conquer a business that seemed so overwhelming in the beginning because of information overload.  Jeff had to break it down and learn it from the ground up.  He surprised many by his rapid understanding of how the internet marketing business worked; soon, he was instructing others and then he took on the challene of coaching his students on a more intense level.   The groundwork was laid for the merger:  http://bit.ly/srhVX

         As time went on, Jeff learned that he couldn’t do it all himself; he gained momentum when he took on partners Dixie Brown and eventually Paul Counts.  Jeff will flat out tell you that he is no techno genius…that is where Dixie comes in…she happens to be brilliant in this area.  She added a dimension to the Lay Off Your Boss program that was desperately needed.  When Paul Counts came on board, he brought with him years of expertise in the SEO and traffic generation areas.  The tremendous trio, as they were branded by one of their shinning star clients Connie Baum, soon were building up a success rate among their clients.  In the meantime, Keith Wellman had launched the Autopilot Wealth Institute with modules for learning that set a new college like atmosphere for learning Internet Marketing. 

         This merger blends a skill set that is hard to beat with it follow through.   They each have a real desire to help others achieve their goals.  They are committed to communicating online skills in a way that make sense to their clients.   Questions get answered, support desk issues are handled within a day or two…not weeks like some other programs…people are finding success where previously they were left feeling like they had to buy another program, attend another marketing guru’s seminar to learn the missing pieces of the online marketing puzzle.  This all leads to happy customers who themselves often become affiliates for the program…that is how much they believe in its effectiveness.  It is all here.   http://bit.ly/srhVX

          This merger is now looking for JV partners to get the word out so that others who are desperately seeking knowledge in how to build their online presence or business can access a program that helps them to gain profitability when before they only spent more money on the latest and greatest program to come out, leaving them with more questions than answers.    A smart JV is going to get connected to this program as quickly as possible because not only is it going to make them money, it is going to make them a hero in the eyes of their customers because of the content that this merger is going to give them; enabling them to achieve their goals.  These partners are committed to helping people achieve their online goals in a way that doesn’t stop until they have achieved success.  They dont stop answering questions until every person in the supportive weekly Q & A calls.  These calls have been known to go for hours without dropping a listening participant.  That is pretty amazing in itself…it tells you that people are hungry for answers and they know that they are going to get what they came for!

       If you are interested in learning more…click here:   http://bit.ly/srhVX  Success to YOU!

         When you think about it…most of the actresses who do highly dramatic roles, who are beautiful, usually do alot of PR about the transformation that they had to do, to perform the role.  I know a few days ago,  whenever I read any entertainment news…the only thing the media could talk about was the new role that Mariah Carey performs in her latest dramatic endeavor, as a social worker, in the movie Precious.  The talk is that she is outstanding in the drama. 

          It is almost as if these beautiful women can not be expected to perform as well as another actress who is less attractive.  It is the same when an overweight actress takes on a dramatic challenge…there are always naysayers.  Isn’t it time to give performers the benefit of the doubt about their abilities?  Let’s focus less on their appearance and more on the level of performance or believability.   Come on, they should not have to tone down who they or, to expect less than an equal opportunity to be taken seriously; if they possess the talent to do the job ! What do you think?

         There is an organization that helps children and their families…it is called, Save the Children.  There are celebrities who have supported their mission like Jennifer Gardner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hugh Laurie, Julianne Moore, Helen Hunt, Miley Cyrus, Matthew Perry, Paula Abdul, Ann Curry, Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Five for Fighting lead singer John Ondrasik, Joely Fisher among many others.  They give of their time, their name recognition, finances and so forth.  However, there are so many others who could contribute as well, if only they knew about what is needed.

           You can find out more about their mission, the work that they do and the people that they help here: http://www.savethechildren.org/.  You say, “I am only one person…what can I do?”  But, the fact is…if everyone took the responsibility to leave the world a better place than when they entered it…they would find a way to give back to society.  There is no better place to start where you will have more impact than than to start by helping  a child.  By channeling your resources, your education, your skills, your talents, your opportunities…you can have a far reaching impact on the world…because starting to improve the life of a child who is caught in the web of poverty and need will have a viral effect.  In their lifetime, they will have the opportunity to reach out and touch the lives of many others; in effect, paying it forward…due to the help that they received, early in life. 

         Have you been blessed in life?  Do you have adequate amounts of food and appropriate clothing for the area in which you live?  Do you have access to quality education and proper medical care?  Is your home environment safe and healthy?  Do you have regular income that is enough to pay for all of the necessities in life?  It is important to know that many children and their families around the world (in every country) do not have those things.   You don’t need to feel guilty about your blessings…but maybe you were given them purely for the purpose of using them to help others who are less fortunate.  Please help save the world…one child at a time.  You can really make a difference…go here and see what you can do with what you have been blessed with…   http://www.savethechildren.org/ .

       Domestic abuse is like cancer…it is constantly trying to destroy the people involved.  It is a pattern of behavior that affect both the abuser and the person being abused.  Many who are being abused do not recognize that what is happening in their lives is actually domestic abuse.  The reasons for their lack of understanding, or denial are many. 

        It may be that their self-esteem has been worn down by the abuser or others in their life; before their relationship with the person doing the abusing.  It may be embarassment of their situation; it could be fear of what happens next; if they admit that they are being abused.  It could simply be, that they do not understand that the things that are hurting them or making them feel badly about themselves, is abuse.  Another part of the equasion is that often those who are suffering domestic abuse are dependent either emotionally, physically, or financially on the person who is abusing them.  They may feel trapped or feel that they dont deserve any better treatment in their lives.

         Getting help for those who are in a domestic abuse situation is not always simple.  There is often danger involved for the person being abused, or that person’s children or loved ones.  Sometimes, there is a lack of education or an inability to financially support themselves.  There are many organizations that are willing to help…but, even just reaching out to the victims of domestic abuse can be difficult or dangerous. 

           You see, something as simple as what i did today, to write this blog post on domestic abuse, can get someone hurt.  I did a little research on my personal computer.  Computer histories can be checked by an abuser…leaving the person on the receiving end of the abuse in danger of more violence.  Often times, those who are suffering are isolated from their friends and family.  

         That isolation is no accident.   This is done so that the person being abused has to depend on the abuser; also, so that they do not have anywhere else to turn when they are in need.   They are not left alone very much.  There is not much opportunity to share with others that they are in trouble.  Shame is a big part of what happens because they are sometimes warned that they won’t be believed; that they deserve what happens to them because of something that they did or did not do to the abusers way of thinking.  Control issues are really at the core of the relationship…the abuser must feel in control of the relationship; because, when they feel threatened, that is when the violence escalates.

        Many times without meaning to enable the abuser who abuses them…the victim will cover for them or make excuses about visible injuries.  An abuser will blame the victim, or apologize profusely in the beginning…until the patterns of abuse increase in frequency or intensity.  The beatings, the verbal abuse, the sexual abuse, the strict controls of freedom get worse with each incident that they “get away” with.  Ending an unhealthy relationship with an abuser is often when the person being abused (or those they care about) are in the most danger.  That is because the person doing the abusing feels like things are getting out of his/her control.  This is an important thing to remember…there must be a safety plan in place if and when someone is ready to leave a dangerous relationship.  This involves consulting with the police, shelters, counselors, friends and family. 

        The nature of these relationships is sometimes rooted in denial…the person promises to get help to get the person back into the relationship and the patterns of abusive behaviors begin all over again; only they are often more intense.  Children who are raised in the midst of these relationships will probably struggle to have healthy relationships themselves as they grow up.  The cycle continues to affect the next generation until in some families…it becomes normal or acceptable.

         These are all reasons why we must start with our children; we must teach them about domestic abuse and how to recognize it; and, how to avoid it.  Early on in the dating years, there must be open communication between parent and child about what to watch out for.  They must feel safe in dating relationships; and, feel comfortable enough with their parents to confide if something doesn’t feel right with the person that they are dating.  Don’t allow unhealthy relationships to continue without seeking help or intervention by experienced professionals.

         Abuse starts in secret, it grows in secret and it kills & destroys in secrecy; if  the patterns of abuse are not understood, confronted, treated with counseling and by changing behaviors of triggers and responses.  Recognizing the seeds of domestic abuse in an early relationship can very well save the life of someone you love.  Breaking the cycle of abuse can be done…but it will require many things such as honesty, help, education, counseling and compassion. 

          Stress caused by financial difficulties, drug/alcohol use and abuse, job loss, previous issues with abuse/violence, low self-esteem issues, controlling behaviors, emotional, physical, or financial dependency that is out of balance can all contribute to situations of domestic abuse. 

           Some people will say…why should I care…domestic abuse doesn’t affect me…I will say to that person you are wrong.  It affects us all.   How many people in prison are there, because of domestic violence or it’s aftermath; your tax dollars pay for that.  How many children of domestic abuse end up in foster care; your tax dollars pay for that.   What if your sibling, parent or child enters into an abusive relationship; or your grandchildren are born into it?  Does this not affect you?

           You may or may not have an up-close-and-personal experience with domestic abuse…however, you may have a friend, a child, a parent, a neighbor…a teacher of your child….maybe the bus driver that drives you across town may be affected by domestic abuse; these situations spill over often onto innocent by-standers.  Sometimes the victim will protect the abuser out of a mis-guided sense of loyalty, love, respect or trust; to keep them from getting into trouble; the problem is…protecting them from consequences also keeps them from getting help!

          How would you react in a situation where things get out of control around you?  Would you know what to do if someone confided in you that they were experiencing domestic abuse?  What if the violence, emotional cruelty/verbal abuse took place in your presence…would you know how to react appropriately?  What if domestic abuse is happening to someone you care about?  We must awaken to the many ways that domestic abuse affects us all; and learn how to be a part of the solution!  What can you do to be a part of the solution?

        Want to learn more?  See: http://www.ndvh.org/get-educated/what-is-domestic-violence/ or http://www.nicolebrown.org/index.html or check out your local shelters for victims of domestic abuse to see how you can help by donating your time, old cell phones,  your skills, money or by helping to educate others to the dangers of domestic abuse!