Pausing to send a shout out to Mr. & Mrs. Milford at Dreamette Orange Park, Pausing With God board members, family and friends who stopped by to support us today.
Dreamette Orange Park 1177 Park Ave, Ste 1, Orange Park, FL
In today’s culture there is so much emphasis on who and what we hate, but I saw today that a simple thing like stopping for ice cream brings people together to fellowship, laugh and encourage one another.
You know when we first answered the call from God to create Pausing With God Ministries, many people told me all that things that we were not going to be able to do, they even told me that no one would support us. To prevent myself from being discouraged, I had to hide His word in my heart.
We continue to believe that as we use what we have to help those in need, God will make a way for us to continue to fulfill the mission: which is to encourage, empower and engage girls and women (ages 12 and up) that they can be all He has created them to be.
So, I’m excited and looking forward to all that is coming up, stay informed by checking us out on our social media platforms and https://pausingwithgod.com/events/ for upcoming events.
Thank you again, you all have been doing an amazing job; liking, following and sharing our events https://pausingwithgod.com/events/. We look forward to seeing you soon. Until next time, don’t forget to pause!
Have you ever examined your thoughts before you moved into action? Well, today was one of those days. I felt the need to get up and take a walk, before I ran some errands. I wanted to walk along the water and no, it wasn’t to feed the alligators and I am thankful none of them showed up. 😊
I jumped to my feet and got dressed before I could change my mind. In a flash I was in the car, steering the vehicle to one of my favorite spots. Exhaling as I stretched in preparation for the walk.
I have come here numerous times before, but after a few steps, my mind started to wander. I looked up ahead, though I walked this path numerous times before; for some reason, the turn around point seemed farther away. I contemplated only going halfway. I could turn around and head back to the car, rationalizing at least I tried. But something in my gut said, ‘No – keep going.’
I shifted my attention to why I was here in the first place. Taking one step at a time. I seized this moment; enjoying the sun, the lake and the breeze. Intermittently, I even pushed myself to run a few times. Catching my breath in between running and walking, I began thinking about what was up ahead.
Before I knew it, without any reluctance, I began to pray. I prayed for myself, for my family, for my friends and even you (our readers). By the time I said, “Amen,” I could see my car up ahead. I was winding up this walk, full of hope that when the challenges and experiences come our way this year; that a quote by Dean Karnazes, would empower, encourage and push us all to stay engaged. “Run when you can, walk if you have to, and crawl if you must; just never give up!”
If you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to pause and share your thoughts.
“All of us can play a role in efforts to save lives and reverse the rise in suicide deaths.”
How can you recognize the signs of suicide risk, and help a loved one? The CDC offered up five key steps:
Don’t be afraid to ask. Many people might be reticent to inquire whether a friend or family member is having thoughts of suicide. But research shows that asking such questions decreases, rather than increases that risk.
Help keep them safe. Reducing the person’s access to lethal means can go a long way to preventing a tragedy.
Stay in touch. Suicidal thoughts thrive in isolation — being there for your loved one can help protect against suicide, experts say.
Encourage them to reach out for help. People in crisis who called 988 were more likely to experience a lessening of depression, and feel less helpless and more hopeful at the end of the call.
Follow up. After connecting the person in crisis with the support system they need, don’t stop reaching out and checking in. Maintaining a presence in their life can reduce your loved one’s odds for suicide
Suicide prevention hotline is available https://988lifeline.org/ for additional information or to chat with someone.
Did you know that helping others can increase your peace of mind and reduce stress? Serving others has a direct effect on your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being.
PWGM hosted Crafty Conversation sessions. This four series event is a tool that teaches a craft while encouraging, empowering and engaging women with a conversation. This event is supported by a grant from the Delores Barr Weaver Grassroots Grants Endowment at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida (www.jaxcf.org), Florida’s oldest and largest community foundation, works to stimulate philanthropy to build a better community.
As you help others, you can receive what I call, ‘Unseen Blessings’:
Loving others – You learn to love people, right where they are.
Being joyful – You see and/or hear how things worked out for them.
Peace and patience – You see that you aren’t the only one going through a challenging season.
Your heart is filled with kindness and goodness – You realize that everyone needs someone to encourage them…why not you?
Remember it’s not what you don’t have, it’s for you to share what you do have – ‘YOU’! Being willing to help someone makes a difference in your life, your family and your community.
If you would like more information or to volunteer at one of our events contact us at PausingWithGod@gmail.com
There is a quote that says: A limb has fallen from the family tree that says grieve not for me, but remember the BEST TIMES, the laughter, the good life I lived while I was STRONG.
Within the last few weeks, we’ve experienced the loss of three family members. The freshness of a loss communicates so many different thoughts through your head. They range from sadness, despair to shock, guilt or regret, rage and even anger. Often these come from finding it difficult to accept that the person is really gone, or wondering if will you ever recover from the loss.
But grief can also be a teacher. According to the American Heart Association, some may suffer from broken heart syndrome when the grief is too much to bear. But losing a loved one may also be a positive teaching moment and an enlightening process. Though you can never be ready for this, there may be a message and insights you can gain from such a tragedy.
Upon returning home, I shared with my husband that when the Lord takes me home; I’d prefer that he forego any services, but for us to continue to make every day count. My request is for him, my family and friends to remember me as I lived and not how I took my last breath.
His response was, “We’ll see what happens when that day comes.”
Later that evening I jotted a few things in my journal:
Death is inevitable for all of us, find something to laugh at on a daily basis.
Life is too short; the old cliché is so true; give people their flowers while they can enjoy them.
Make a list of one or two things you’ve always wanted to do and do not let money limit you. There are creative ways in which you can experience them. a. For example: I always wanted to go to Paris and London. So, until I got a chance to take that trip, I would ride my exercise bike while watching YouTube videos and tour around the cities.
Be there for others and help them grow through their seasons of life. Remember, that grief can make us or break us.
But as we go over the bridge of troubled waters. Let’s not forget to go back and help someone else, get to the other side!
Whether it’s creating our one of a kind greeting cards, learning how to crochet, to decompage to macrame; the craft sessions are a starting point for conversation, networking, friendship and so much more.
2024 Crocheting Class
All of this culminated out of our love to crafts and a heart to bring women together to pause and have fun while learning something new or sharing their own craft.
All of the sessions are free and include supplies, that are prepared by our volunteers.
Thank you to our sponsors: 2025 Crafty Conversations is supported by a grant from Clay Electric Cooperative. 2024 sponsors have been The Delores Barr Weaver Grassroots Grants Endowment at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
Like most of you, before you close your eyes at night, you pretty much have your tomorrow planned out. Whether it’s household chores, meal planning, grocery shopping, work or getting your car repaired.
Well today was a get your car fixed day, however it came with an unexpected surprise. One of my coffee buddy’s wanted to meet up, so we decided to kill two birds with one stone.
I dropped off my car at the dealership and she picked me up. Off we go…where, ugh we had no idea – we didn’t’ plan this part of our morning out. We just drove down the street, waiting until we saw a place to eat. Well, that didn’t go as expected. After driving for 10 minutes or so, we turned around.
Heading back in the direction we came from; we noticed a gas station whose prices were lower than on her side of town. It even had a Dunkin Donuts 😊 inside (those that know me – understand the mention of this). After she pumped the gas, she wanted to see if DD had seating, but all they had was one table and it was occupied, but the attendant suggested a café around the corner.
Off we go – café hunting. We followed the directions, and they were right, it was a really charming place.
We found a parking space and went inside and perused the establishment as we were taken to our table. Once seated, our beverage orders were taken, which gave us time to look at the menu. While waiting for the food to arrive, we played catch up. For what felt like a few minutes, turned out to be over an hour, we chatted, and ate, and ate and chatted.
After a while, we became cognizant that people may be waiting for a table; so back to the dealership to wait on my vehicle. We said our goodbyes and I went inside. In the waiting area, I sat at a high-top table and pulled out a book; I was prepared just in case this happened. I got comfortable in the chair and then I opened the pages, and my eyes fell upon the Scripture where Jesus fed the five thousand.
And so, I read it. I saw where Jesus tells His disciples to, ‘Come with Me.’ He knows in order for us to complete assignments and opportunities that He has set before us, we need to be fed by Him first.
The plans we make on a daily basis can be different from God’s plans. In that text, the disciples wanted to send the hungry people away, but Jesus had compassion on them and wanted to feed them. But in order for this to take place, the disciples had to be obedient…they had to be with Him. At that moment, there was no way for them to understand, the only thing that was required was obedience.
And today is like no other, God desires the same from us. When He calls us, we don’t have to have all the answers, nor connect all the pieces together.
It’s like when we were in the car, if we didn’t keep driving in the direction we did, we wouldn’t have saw the gas station, and we wouldn’t have gotten the information of the café that we more than likely would have never found.
So, I’m glad we allowed God to interrupt our plans. I’m grateful my sister-friend called, because we set off on an adventure that was full of food, fun and fellowship.
From the outside, many people assumed that he and I were thick as thieves all of my life; this is so far from the truth.
You see my parents divorced when my siblings and I were young and like most, our trials and tribulations created gaps in our relationship with our dad.
A father and daughter relationship can affect both parties on so many levels. For me, it wasn’t until I grew up and had a family of my own that I learned what forgiveness was all about. Then some years later, I was able to let go of the hurt and let the healing process begin.
My healing process included writing a letter to my dad. I communicated my pain, but highlighted my forgiving him for not being there when I needed him the most. I closed the letter with expressing my desire to have a relationship with him.
As the relationship grew, my dad gave me a priceless gift…his journals. As I perused through my dad’s journals, like I did with my mom’s, I began writing his memoir. ‘God’s Got It – Don’t Worry About Anything’; this easy to read will remind some and refresh others:
It’s not how you start, but how you finish.
You will experience a storm or two in your lifetime.
Take time to pause and re-examine your relationship with your father, your daughter, but most of all with yourself.
Did I hear you say, but I am not as fortunate. My relationship with my father isn’t one that I can see being reconciled or perhaps your father is no longer in the land of the living and you struggle with not being able to get the answers to your questions.
2 Corinthians 6:18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty. (New American Standard Bible)
I paused to write this blog, so that you can be encouraged; no matter what season or situation you find yourself in, I wanted to remind you that you have a Heavenly Father who transcends your earthly fathers’ ability to give you the emotional, mental, physical, financial and spiritual support you need. As you lean on Him you will begin to experience the love, faithfulness, kindness and tender mercies of God.
True, relationships often go from good to bad, but a relationship with God never gets “worse” only “better.” His plans and purposes for your life were set before you were in your mother’s womb. So trust Him, for He desires that you prosper (emotionally, mentally, physically, financially and spiritually) and He has a future designed just for you!
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Subscribe and stay informed of upcoming events. Next year (2024), in remembrance of my dad, PWGM will begin hosting ‘DONUTS WITH DAD’. This event will be held at dad’s favorite donut establishment. We will Pay It Forward to the first fifteen (15) dads & daughters (first come, first serve).
This Day In History, I was 2 months and 1 day old.
On June 11, 1963, when two African American students were allowed to enroll in the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. But this day in history did not come without a fight, Alabama Governor was against desegregation, and it took the President at that time to call out the Alabama National Guards to protect these students.
You might ask why do I share this moment in history? Because the truth of the matter, regardless of the color of our skin, material things, amount of money, power or position we may possess; we will all one day depart from this earth.
What is important is for us to ask ourselves, as I do on a regular; what legacy do you aspire to leave? How do you want people to remember you? One of hate or one of love?
My Bible tells me in John 10:10, For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son….if we truly LOVE God there is no place in our lives (our heart) for hate. Yes, it is a cliché, but LOVE is what makes the world go round. It is when we demand our way, the road ahead becomes dangerous and though we think we are winning, that is a menagerie at its best.
So, what will it be for you today? Will you stand in the way of others living the life that Jesus died for them to have, or will you become His hands and feet, their Aaron and Hur and encourage, empower and engage them to be the best version of themselves that God our creator has designed them to be!
If you are reading this, today you have a chance to make a difference, the question is what kind of impact and on who will you make today?
Pause and think about that!
Pausing With God Ministries vision, goal and purpose is to encourage, empower and engage you to be the best you!
Thank you to all of you who gave up your Saturday mornings for twelve weeks. We walked away with the the truth that about depression and how to ‘live’ with it! Remember the helpful tips: Avoid being alone, Seek help from others, Sing! Praise and give thanks, Lean on the power of God’s Word and Rest confidently in the presence of God’s Spirit.
Let’s continue to leave the SUPER us at the foot of the cross and begin to love, appreciate and celebrate the REAL YOU! For you truly are fearfully and wonderfully made!
Pausing With God 