A poor widow came to the prophet Elisha asking him for help. Her husband had just died and the creditors were coming to take her two sons away as slaves for payment. Elisha asked her, "Tell me, what hast thou in the house?" And she said, "Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil."

Then Elisha said to her, "Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full."

So the widow had her sons go and borrow vessels from her neighbors. Afterwards, she and her sons went into the house, shut the door and she began pouring the oil from her pot into each of the vessels. When all the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me yet a vessel." He answered her, "There is not a vessel more." And the oil stayed – or stopped flowing.

Then she came to Elisha and told him what had happened and he said, "Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest." (2 Kings 4:1-7)

There are several interesting lessons we can learn from this story.

The Lord Works With What We've Got

First, when the widow woman was in dire straights, the Lord (working through the prophet Elisha) had her evaluate her assets – what did she have? She had one pot of oil. It wasn't much, but it was enough for God to work a miracle. By putting together all the woman had with the miracle of the Lord, she had enough to pay her debt and have leftover to live on. It's the same with us. We may sometimes feel we have very few assets – maybe meager talents or abilities or limited resources, but it really doesn't matter to the Lord. He can take whatever we have – no matter how meager or insufficient -- and multiply it in a miraculous way so that we can overcome life's obstacles and challenges.

We Can't Do It Alone

Besides the widow woman, the Lord, Elisha and the woman's sons, who else helped perform this miracle? Why, her neighbors did! She had to have neighbors who were willing to let her borrow the extra vessels. What if she hadn't had neighbors to lean on in her time of need? What if she had been too proud to borrow from them? Part of the Lord's plan is that we help each other. When we through our pride refuse to receive help from others, we limit the Lord's ability to bless us.

Faith Precedes the Miracle

Elisha told the woman to do something that seemed rather silly. Who would think that by pouring out the oil from a pot into other vessels that there would be any more oil than when you started? Many people might have thought, "Well, that pot will hold about four gallons, so I need four 1-gallon vessels." But Elisha had said, "Borrow not a few." So, the widow followed Elisha's commands thoroughly and sent her sons away to gather as many vessels as they could.

Sometimes it takes a leap of faith that flies in the face of reason to believe that our paltry assets, experience, resources and abilities can be magnified by such simple means as the Lord requires. How many times when the Lord has asked you to do something, have you thought, "Who me? I'm not talented enough… I'm not good enough… Why doesn't He ask someone better than me to do this?" But the widow woman didn't do this. Logic didn't play a role here. Sometimes we need to set aside our human reasoning and logic and just take a leap of faith.

We Control the Flow of Blessings

Let's say that the woman and her sons gathered 100 vessels and the oil poured out to fill all 100 pots and then stopped when she ran out of pots. What if the woman had gathered 500 pots or 1,000 pots? Then the oil would have filled 500 or 1,000 would it not? I don't know about you, but if I were the widow and her sons, I'd be wishing I'd figured out a way to gather more pots! The widow woman literally controlled the amount of oil she had to resell by how many pots she and her sons had gathered. We too, control the flow of the Lord's blessings by what we're willing to allow into our lives and receive.

In his excellent little book, The Prayer of Jabez, Bruce Wilkinson tells the following story. "Mr. Jones dies and goes to heaven. Peter is waiting at the gates to give him a tour. Amid the splendor of golden streets, beautiful mansions, and choirs of angels that Peter shows him, Mr. Jones notices an odd-warehouse-looking building… He asks to see inside, but Peter hesitates. 'You really don't want to see what's in there,' he tells the new arrival…. Finally Peter relents. When the apostle opens the door, Mr. Jones almost knocks him over in his haste to enter. It turns out that the enormous building is filled with row after row of shelves, floor to ceiling, each stacked neatly with white boxes tied in red ribbons.

'These boxes all have names on them' Mr. Jones muses aloud. Then turning to Peter he asks, 'Do I have one.'

'Yes you do.' Peter tries to guide Mr. Jones back outside. 'Frankly,' Peter says, 'if I were you…' But Mr. Jones is already dashing toward the 'J' aisle to find his box.

Peter follows, shaking his head. He catches up with Mr. Jones just as he is slipping the red ribbon off his box and popping the lid. Looking inside Jones has a moment of instant recognition, and he lets out a deep sigh like the ones Peter has heard so many times before. Because there in Mr. Jones's white box are all the blessings that God wanted to give to him while he was on earth… but Mr. Jones had never asked." (Bruce Wilkinson, The Prayer of Jabez, p.25-27)

How many blessings are you and I missing out on because we have never asked? Never even thought to ask? Or maybe thought to ask but stopped because it seemed so impossible? With God, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). We control the blessings we receive by our willingness to be obedient, to ask, to accept help from others, to act on faith, and to prepare to receive.

Marnie Pehrson is an author, creator of www.IdeaMarketers.com, www.LocateACoach.com, www.SheLovesGod.com, www.BelieversAtWork.com and more. She is the author of inspirational books like Lord, Are You Sure? and historical fiction such as The Patriot Wore Petticoats. She also helps people earn money from home. For more information on her projects, visit http://www.pwgroup.com.

Marnie Pehrson may be contacted at http://www.MarniePehrson.com or marnie@pwgroup.com

A Matter of Principle
by Marnie Pehrson

As we look around us in the world today we see many who are struggling in broken homes, with heartbreak, and loneliness. Many are past feeling and roam in gangs to viciously attack innocent individuals. Our cities are nests for crime and vandalism. Only in the most remote rural areas would anyone think to leave their door unlocked when leaving the house. The love of many has waxed cold as mothers abandon their children and parents use their children as pawn-like weapons against one another. What has happened to us as a nation, as a world?

Yet, even with this going on all around us, many families remain strong. Many continue to love and serve their friends, families and neighbors. Churches, community groups and individuals still rally to the aid of those who have been devastated by wars and natural disasters. Contrary to what news reports would have us believe there is still good news going on in the world. Although popular ideology would have us believe that there are many shades of gray between right and wrong and good and evil, the outcome in society seems to be gravitating to the two polar extremes.

Why? What delineates the difference between good and evil? What enables one family to stay together and raise their children to become good, loving and kind individuals while another family breaks apart and children are left to fend for themselves and gravitate toward lives of crime and addiction? What do those who stand firm possess that those who crumble in chaos and captivity do not? The answer is principles. Good old-fashioned principles make the difference. When people are taught correct principles, they have the ability to govern themselves from within, so that they need fewer laws to govern them from without.

What are these principles? This article will outline seven of them. If we will work to restore and embrace these principles, we can swing the pendulum back toward more good than evil, more light than darkness, more truth than error, and more love than hate.

Love - ''Love is the only force that can erase the differences between people or bridge the chasms of bitterness.'' (Gordon B. Hinckley, Selfless, unconditional love can cover a multitude of ills. This kind of love is more than words. It is shown and felt in actions, in service, in freely giving and sharing our gifts and talents with others. As we develop and give this love, it transforms our hearts, builds self-worth and enables us to be an influence for good in the lives of those around us. Love eradicates fear.
Integrity - Integrity means being upright, good, and above all honest. We are not being honest with ourselves when we do not live according to that which we know to be true. When our beliefs and actions do not jive, we have lost integrity. Integrity means being willing to respond to your conscience, ''even when it is unpopular to do so – perhaps especially when it is unpopular to do so. In standing for principle, there is loneliness. But men and women of integrity must live with their convictions. Unless they do so, they are miserable.'' (Gordon B. Hinckley, Standing for Something pg. 167) A key source of misery and addictions in this world can be directly linked back to the loss of integrity. Those who will not live with integrity must suffer the misery that follows. Many turn to addictions with food, chemicals and alcohol to mask the misery that comes when one lacks the willingness to stand up and live true to what they know to be right.
Commitment - It's a common joke among women seeking marriage, that men have trouble with the big ''C'' word – commitment. But, men do not have a corner on the market for lack of commitment. Women are just as bad with their own issues. Commitment means promising and covenanting to live a certain way, to follow through with one's duty. It takes strength of character to truly commit. But without commitment, nothing happens. No goal can be reached, no weakness overcome, no dream attained without the commitment and resolve to take action and to do whatever it takes to achieve the desired outcome.
Optimism - The cynicism that surrounds us in the media often seeps into our souls. We come to expect and look for the worst. In life, we generally find what we're looking for. Optimism takes courage and faith. It takes the courage to believe that in the end, good will triumph, that right will prevail. It takes the courage to believe that whatever happens, it will be for the best and that you will learn something valuable from even the worst of experiences. Look for the good. It is there. It is all around us. Optimism is contagious. It motivates us to do good and to spread cheer, which then ripples like water when you throw a pebble into a pond.
Faith - Whether or not you think you have faith, everyone does. You believe the sun will rise tomorrow. You plant a seed in hopes that it will grow into a lovely flower or vegetable. It takes faith to start a business in hopes that you will be successful. When you send your children out the door for school in the morning you believe they will return to you in the afternoon. Everything you do in your life requires some degree of faith. The more faith you have, the more you can accomplish. The more you dare to dream and believe and envision, the more you can achieve.
Gratitude - "Gratitude is a sign of maturity. It is an indication of sincere humility. It is a hallmark of civility… Where there is appreciation, there is also courtesy and concern for the rights and property of others. Without these, there is arrogance and evil. Where there is gratitude, there is humility instead of pride, generosity rather than selfishness." (Gordon B. Hinckley, Standing for Something pg. 90)
Choice and Accountability - This principle is dangling by a thread in our society. We blame others for our problems. We sue our neighbor because we slipped on his porch. We look to government to make us happy. We do anything and everything we can to blame someone else for our problems. The man or woman who can act with responsibility and accountability knows that "if it is to be, it is up to me." We are responsible for the choices we make and must live with the consequences that are inseparably connected to them. Of course, there are times when we are victims. There are times when other peoples' poor choices infringe upon our right to choose. But as Victor Frankel, a psychologist who suffered years in Nazi death camps explained, "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing -- the last of the human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. And there were always choices to make. Fundamentally anyone can, even under such circumstances, decide what shall become of him – mentally and spiritually. As difficult as it might be, we never have to be the victims." (Man's Search for Meaning) Until we are willing to admit that we are responsible for our own lives, we will not have the ability to reach our full potential.

I challenge you to embrace these seven principles. Study them. Find one in which you are weak and work this month to foster it into your daily life. Then next month, pick another, and then another. The benefits of incorporating these solid principles into your life include true happiness, self-worth, peace of conscience, prosperity, and the joy of knowing that you have made a difference for good in the world around you. Commit this very hour to be a man or woman of integrity and live true to these principles, and I promise you the benefits and blessings that are inseparably connected with them.

Marnie Pehrson may be contacted at http://www.MarniePehrson.com or marnie@pwgroup.com

Tips To Help Teach Children The Charity Lesson

(NAPSI)-Charity begins at home, and that's the best place to learn just how satisfying giving can be.

Giving is a concept that some children may not understand right away, but if parents are prepared to answer a few questions-and present a good example-children quickly learn to appreciate the joys of giving.

Here are a few tips on teaching your child the gift of giving:

• Be charitable yourself. Children learn by example.

• Make it age appropriate. Pick a charity that helps children of a similar age to your child.

For example, Toys "R" Us has teamed up with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to collect cash and toys for children in need. Last year, Toys "R" Us customers helped raise $3.6 million in store. Toys for Tots distributed over 19 million toys to seven million children in 2004.

From November 4 through December 26, Toys "R" Us will accept cash donations at their stores as well as online at www. toysrus.com.

• Fun is important for children. Bring your child to the store to shop for gifts you will donate.

• Motivate your children by explaining the difference they make in the lives of others.

• Answer any questions your children may have. Children may want to know why others need help or where the children they are helping live.

• Point out each time someone does something charitable so that your child begins to recognize, appreciate and admire such actions.

• Point out that no effort is too small. Even $1 makes a difference. If, for example, 100 people contributed $1 each, Toys for Tots could buy toys for 10 children.

• Relate to those you are helping. Charity is more than giving. Expose your children to those in need by working in a soup kitchen or visiting the elderly. The holidays can provide extra opportunities to help those in need and your children can pitch in. Giving is a gift, and it's a lasting gift that parents can give their children.

FPO

When introducing children to charity, be sure to select one that's age appropriate.

Sometimes You Have to Let Go to Achieve
by Marnie Pehrson

Recently, two personal friends have made major changes in their life's pursuits. Each took a leap that would drastically alter her life. Each set aside a significant portion of her life to pursue a goal that heretofore seemed unachievable.

The first who quit her career pursuits to pursue motherhood related how "liberating" it now feels not to be bound to the day-to-day tasks of her business. For my once career driven friend, the thought of being "just a mother" seemed almost like succumbing to failure -- but not anymore. It's a time when she wants to pursue her goals as a wife and mother and she's totally at peace with her new way of life and happily counting the days until the birth of her first child.

My second friend has wanted to pursue a speaking career for some time now, but with little success. Finally she came to a point where she knew that the moneymaking portion of her business was making her unhappy. It wasn't helping her achieve her goals. But how could she discard the one segment of her business that was actually succeeding in order to pursue a segment that never would materialize? She decided to forge ahead and experienced a feeling of peace about her decision. The day she announced her decision to her customers, she received a job as a product spokesperson and will be doing a 10-city speaking tour in January of 2002. Everything started falling into place the moment she committed to let go of the part of her life that was out of harmony with her goals.

The security blankets we cling to with such tenacity are often the very things we must release in order to achieve our heart's aspirations. As a person who usually has a dozen irons in the fire, I admire my friends and wonder if there is a piece of my life that should be eliminated in order to achieve greater success. It's a time of introspection as I ask myself, "What aspects of my life do not support my ultimate goals? Am I willing to so boldly relinquish them?"

What is your ultimate goal? Are you hanging onto pursuits that do not support it nor lead you toward it? Have you considered laying these activities aside? It may seem unfathomable, but entertain the thought for a moment. What if you no longer pursued those activities? What would you do instead? What would you be, have and do with the time redeemed? Perhaps it's time to consider the possibilities and receive the peaceful assurance that less is actually more.

Marnie Pehrson may be contacted at http://www.MarniePehrson.com or marnie@pwgroup.com