So, I read the "Girlfriends in God" Devotionals just about every day except for Saturday and Sunday! Being a mom, sometimes that is all the devotions I can get done in the morning! :/
Today's devotional was really good on marriage (she has been focusing on marriage for the month of February). Today it was on losing that "lovin" feeling and focused on Revelation 2:4 which says, "Yet I hold this against you; You have forsaken your first love."
She states in the beginning how she hates when people talk about falling in and out of love, like it's something you can turn on and off like an electric blanket to keep you warm at night. Love is a commitment. I loved how she says that she married her husband because she loved him, but NOW she loves her husband because she married him. She says that if we let our hearts be jerked around because of how we are feeling on any given day, then we are headed on a never ending roller coaster ride that will leave us heart sick.
She also wrote a statistic that people who are unhappily married and just "stick it out" find that five years later, they describe their marriage as being happier than before! I found this so interesting! I sometimes find my "emotional" self thinking I don't have the marriage that "I" want one day ... but, if I just "ignore" those "feelings", I will feel completely different a few days later! Jeff tells me often, "One day I'm a good husband and the next day I'm not!" Poor thing! Shame on me for making him feel this way and shame on me for not showing him that my love is unconditional... because it is and that is always what I want to show, even though I don't always show him this.
I love Revelation 2:4 and how it reminds us of "WHO" our first love is or who it should be! Sometimes we forget! Normally, when I feel that my marriage isn't what it should be... it's because I have forgotten who my first love is. I can sometimes be so focused on my marriage that I completely neglect the one who created marriage and gave me my precious husband! I forget who my first love is and that He loves me more than my husband ever could!
Father, forgive me for putting you at the bottom sometimes, instead of the top (where you belong)! Forgive me for allowing my marriage to be an idol in my life! Help me to see marriage as a gift and help me to see my husband as a gift! Thank you for blessing me with a GREAT marriage and I pray we can both put you 1st in our lives, so that we can love each other the way you want us to!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
My Smart One Year Old!
I haven't posted in a while but...decided I was going to make a conscious effort to start blogging more frequently! So, I had to take some time to brag a little on my precious 15 month old (he will be 15 months old Jan. 30th-- so hard to believe!).
The past few days he has just amazed me with different things. For the longest time (probably a few months), I have tried teaching him where his nose, mouth, eyes, tongue, ears and hair is! I would show him where each body part was by pointing to it. Well, he has just started pointing to EVERYTHING, which is kind of nice as he has begun to point to things he wants! It certainly helps mommy know his needs! So, I decided I would ask him to show me where HIS nose is.... he just sat there and smiled but didn't show me! I then decided I would change it up and so I asked him instead to POINT to Mommy's nose and I guided his hand close to my face without showing him where my nose was and the sweet little guy found his little finger right to my nose. I then asked him to point to Mommy's eyes and he pointed right to my eyes, as well as my ears and hair and his favorite thing to find on Mommy is my tongue! He just giggles when I open my mouth and stick out my tongue and he will literally pry my mouth open with his fingers to find my tongue! It's the funniest thing!
Sometimes Jeff and myself will let Beckett play with our old phones that we no longer use anymore (and sometimes we even give in with our new ones.... Beckett's no fool and certainly knows the difference). He just started putting the phone up to his ear! If I tell Beckett to go get Mommy a diaper, he walks right over to where the diapers are and hands me one. If I tell him to throw something in the trash, he will walk to the trash can, open it and throw away whatever it is I asked him to. He will find the remote for me. If I say lets go take a bath, he will go to the stairs, climb them and walk straight into the bathroom!
I could seriously keep going on and on and on....
However, after typing all of that and bragging on my smart one year old, I just realized that nobody will probably care to even read this except for a select few of you, such as.... family! lol.
Oh well, I'm super proud to be the mommy of my sweet, smart, funny one year old! Being his mom brings me so much joy in life! I feel beyond blessed! :) Can't wait to see what God has in store for him in the future!
The past few days he has just amazed me with different things. For the longest time (probably a few months), I have tried teaching him where his nose, mouth, eyes, tongue, ears and hair is! I would show him where each body part was by pointing to it. Well, he has just started pointing to EVERYTHING, which is kind of nice as he has begun to point to things he wants! It certainly helps mommy know his needs! So, I decided I would ask him to show me where HIS nose is.... he just sat there and smiled but didn't show me! I then decided I would change it up and so I asked him instead to POINT to Mommy's nose and I guided his hand close to my face without showing him where my nose was and the sweet little guy found his little finger right to my nose. I then asked him to point to Mommy's eyes and he pointed right to my eyes, as well as my ears and hair and his favorite thing to find on Mommy is my tongue! He just giggles when I open my mouth and stick out my tongue and he will literally pry my mouth open with his fingers to find my tongue! It's the funniest thing!
Sometimes Jeff and myself will let Beckett play with our old phones that we no longer use anymore (and sometimes we even give in with our new ones.... Beckett's no fool and certainly knows the difference). He just started putting the phone up to his ear! If I tell Beckett to go get Mommy a diaper, he walks right over to where the diapers are and hands me one. If I tell him to throw something in the trash, he will walk to the trash can, open it and throw away whatever it is I asked him to. He will find the remote for me. If I say lets go take a bath, he will go to the stairs, climb them and walk straight into the bathroom!
I could seriously keep going on and on and on....
However, after typing all of that and bragging on my smart one year old, I just realized that nobody will probably care to even read this except for a select few of you, such as.... family! lol.
Oh well, I'm super proud to be the mommy of my sweet, smart, funny one year old! Being his mom brings me so much joy in life! I feel beyond blessed! :) Can't wait to see what God has in store for him in the future!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
To be Surprisingly Content
I am going through the book "The Resolution for Women" right now! My husband got it for me as a Christmas gift and he is also going through "The Resolution for Men". God has used this book so greatly to speak directly to me in this stage of my life. I am only on Chapter 4 and I am excited to keep reading knowing that God is going to continue speaking to me through it.
I kind of laughed when I read the title of the first portion of the book which was titled, "Surprisingly Content". Just in reading that, I knew God was ready to speak to me!
Being Truly Content is something I have struggled with all my life! Not that I don't necessarily enjoy my everyday life but I have always been one to look forward to what's coming, which has caused me to be discontent with my current season. I look forward to the summer time because to be perfectly honest with you, I despise cold weather so much that I wish I could just hibernate and sleep right through it all! Cold weather just brings about a ton of sickness and bad memories for me! I also find myself looking forward to the weekends, the date nights, when Jeff will be home from work, to vacations, to TV shows...etc. Basically, I so yearn for THOSE times to get here already, that I truly miss out on little moments that God blesses me with every single day. I miss out on those tiny blessings that are really... not so tiny!
Beckett has been sick the past few days with the stomach virus which you all know is the last sickness you ever want to get! I mean, don't get me wrong, I truly enjoy cleaning up my son's throw up but .... yea, obviously that was a joke just in case you didn't catch on! No, I've been super bummed, depressed and sad for my little guy all the while cleaning every crevice and corner of my home praying over and over again that I or my husband don't catch it too! It's pretty miserable seeing my little man not feel good. We have had a lot going on over the past month or 2 and this was the last thing we needed. My mom is moving 10+ hours away, my Grandpa has been in the hospital from a 10 centimeter aneurism that was found on one of his arteries, Beckett got sick with a fever before Christmas while we were AT a Christmas Celebration, I got sick with a cold and sinus infection for about a week and now my son's throwing up! Do you ever feel like sometimes you just can't catch a break????
Well, that's the way I've been feeling! Until God just slapped me in the face this morning with James 1:2-4 which says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
He also spoke to me through the book I'm reading. There is a specific chapter in the book that I feel God just said, "hey, this is for you Mandy". A couple of points in the chapter that really spoke to my heart are below:
"And if I chose to hurry through them in an attempt to avoid the parts I didn't like, I'd simultaneously miss all the parts I DID like about this season. I recognized that by rushing through life, I'd been subtly devaluing those around me and the experiences I was involved in, not appreciating the importance and significance they bring to my life at this very moment, not grasping my responsibility for holding dear and treating well these gifts God has entrusted to me. Instead of embracing the privilege of being a blessing to my husband, my children, my friends, and others, I'd been quietly communicating that I wanted them to change and speed up, to get busy being somebody else, someone who's more in line with what I want and need, to hurry along to a place where they could make me happier than they currently do. THATS BEEN ME. Always looking toward the next moment, the next month, the next event, rarely allowing myself the privilege of fully participating and embracing the happenings that were right before me for that day. This is called: DISCONTENTMENT. Then, before you know it, you've missed out on the joys in the journey, the growth that comes through battling through the difficulties, the sweet and savory experience of creating the memories."
Man, that was so strong and difficult for me to read through, because I literally felt like God was speaking directly to me. That really HAS been me!
So, if I said that I have truly enjoyed cleaning up Beckett's throw up and changing his nasty diapers, I would obviously be lying! Who in their right mind would enjoy that???? And I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't worried to death about everyone else catching it! BUT.... in God speaking to me, I have been able to see the good in this "not so good" situation. Beckett has allowed me to hold him in a different way and cuddle with him, which is something he doesn't really like for me to do when he is well. He has simply just laid on my chest or shoulder and allowed me to play with his hair and rub his back, which I can honestly say I have greatly enjoyed! Every now and then he would pick his head up from my shoulder and give me a weary but very sweet smile. He has also allowed Jeff to comfort and cuddle with him too which I know Jeff has enjoyed! So, even though I do wish he didn't have to get sick, there was good that came from it. And I tried not to miss any of the "good" moments in the "bad" situation.
So, whatever season of life you are in right now, find the good in it and FOCUS on that! God is always good, even in the bad seasons of life and he has a purpose for everything!
-1 Timothy 6:6
-1 Timothy 6:8
-Philippians 4:6
To find a truly satisfied and content woman is rare. I want to be rare. -Philippians 4:11
I kind of laughed when I read the title of the first portion of the book which was titled, "Surprisingly Content". Just in reading that, I knew God was ready to speak to me!
Being Truly Content is something I have struggled with all my life! Not that I don't necessarily enjoy my everyday life but I have always been one to look forward to what's coming, which has caused me to be discontent with my current season. I look forward to the summer time because to be perfectly honest with you, I despise cold weather so much that I wish I could just hibernate and sleep right through it all! Cold weather just brings about a ton of sickness and bad memories for me! I also find myself looking forward to the weekends, the date nights, when Jeff will be home from work, to vacations, to TV shows...etc. Basically, I so yearn for THOSE times to get here already, that I truly miss out on little moments that God blesses me with every single day. I miss out on those tiny blessings that are really... not so tiny!
Beckett has been sick the past few days with the stomach virus which you all know is the last sickness you ever want to get! I mean, don't get me wrong, I truly enjoy cleaning up my son's throw up but .... yea, obviously that was a joke just in case you didn't catch on! No, I've been super bummed, depressed and sad for my little guy all the while cleaning every crevice and corner of my home praying over and over again that I or my husband don't catch it too! It's pretty miserable seeing my little man not feel good. We have had a lot going on over the past month or 2 and this was the last thing we needed. My mom is moving 10+ hours away, my Grandpa has been in the hospital from a 10 centimeter aneurism that was found on one of his arteries, Beckett got sick with a fever before Christmas while we were AT a Christmas Celebration, I got sick with a cold and sinus infection for about a week and now my son's throwing up! Do you ever feel like sometimes you just can't catch a break????
Well, that's the way I've been feeling! Until God just slapped me in the face this morning with James 1:2-4 which says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
He also spoke to me through the book I'm reading. There is a specific chapter in the book that I feel God just said, "hey, this is for you Mandy". A couple of points in the chapter that really spoke to my heart are below:
"And if I chose to hurry through them in an attempt to avoid the parts I didn't like, I'd simultaneously miss all the parts I DID like about this season. I recognized that by rushing through life, I'd been subtly devaluing those around me and the experiences I was involved in, not appreciating the importance and significance they bring to my life at this very moment, not grasping my responsibility for holding dear and treating well these gifts God has entrusted to me. Instead of embracing the privilege of being a blessing to my husband, my children, my friends, and others, I'd been quietly communicating that I wanted them to change and speed up, to get busy being somebody else, someone who's more in line with what I want and need, to hurry along to a place where they could make me happier than they currently do. THATS BEEN ME. Always looking toward the next moment, the next month, the next event, rarely allowing myself the privilege of fully participating and embracing the happenings that were right before me for that day. This is called: DISCONTENTMENT. Then, before you know it, you've missed out on the joys in the journey, the growth that comes through battling through the difficulties, the sweet and savory experience of creating the memories."
Man, that was so strong and difficult for me to read through, because I literally felt like God was speaking directly to me. That really HAS been me!
So, if I said that I have truly enjoyed cleaning up Beckett's throw up and changing his nasty diapers, I would obviously be lying! Who in their right mind would enjoy that???? And I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't worried to death about everyone else catching it! BUT.... in God speaking to me, I have been able to see the good in this "not so good" situation. Beckett has allowed me to hold him in a different way and cuddle with him, which is something he doesn't really like for me to do when he is well. He has simply just laid on my chest or shoulder and allowed me to play with his hair and rub his back, which I can honestly say I have greatly enjoyed! Every now and then he would pick his head up from my shoulder and give me a weary but very sweet smile. He has also allowed Jeff to comfort and cuddle with him too which I know Jeff has enjoyed! So, even though I do wish he didn't have to get sick, there was good that came from it. And I tried not to miss any of the "good" moments in the "bad" situation.
So, whatever season of life you are in right now, find the good in it and FOCUS on that! God is always good, even in the bad seasons of life and he has a purpose for everything!
-1 Timothy 6:6
-1 Timothy 6:8
-Philippians 4:6
To find a truly satisfied and content woman is rare. I want to be rare. -Philippians 4:11
Monday, October 8, 2012
My Sweet Beckett :)
As I am sitting here typing, my sweet Beckett is whining at my feet wanting me to pick him up! lol. This time last year I was free to type a blog or go to the store or do basically whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted... but now, my life is caring for my son... and I have to say...
I wouldn't have it any other way!
I love the little guys so much and he brings me so much joy on a DAILY basis! Isn't God good? He loves me so much as to bless me with this funny, outspoken, loud, sweet little boy! There couldn't be a bigger blessing to me than to be a mom and have the opportunity to raise this little man! :) I am beyond happy and blessed!
Beckett is growing up so quickly! It brings me to tears sometimes when I look back on pictures over this past year! There is so much emotion that fills my heart when I look at each one!
Beckett started walking a couple of weeks ago and he isn't a pro yet (and I'm def. not rushing him to be)... but each day he gets better and better! It's crazy how quickly he just started walking! It was like he just decided to be brave one day... and he did it! He hasn't stopped since! He is such a smart boy and has come SUCH a long way! The doctor's said he may be a little slower in achieving certain milestones since he was 6 weeks pre-mature but... he def. proved those doctors wrong! From a itty bitty 5 pounds to 23 pound chunk.... he is doing JUST fine!
He says Ma Ma, Da Da, Bye Bye and some other things that I haven't really figured out yet! He is def. a talker and I love it! He laughs a lot and is a very happy Baby boy! He loves being at home and loves his crib... good luck getting him to sleep anywhere else! lol. He smiles everytime he sees his Daddy walk through the door and it makes me smile to see Jeff as a Father and def. has made me fall in love with him all over again, in a completely different way!
Beckett is so smart and knows just what he wants! He is very sneaky and will test us in a skinny minute! He def. has learned what NO means though and has become such a great listener, most of the time! Even though I know we will be challenged in the years to come! He fights his naps but def. needs them! They do wonders for his mood! He is like his Daddy in that aspect.... a little cat nap even will help him to purk right up and be happy!
Beckett gives kisses with his mouth wide open! I think it's so sweet! Usually we have to ask for kisses or tell him to give kisses but today he gave me a kiss without me having to ask and it was so sweet! :) He melts my heart! He loves to be around people! We visited a church in Raleigh a few weeks ago and the nursery worker told us he was the only child at first and seemed so quiet but when other kids started to come in, he started immediately showing his fun personality! He loves people, that is for sure, as well as attention!
We are planning his 1st Birthday Party now! We went with the sports theme! Imagine that! He loves basketball and every time he sees someone with a basketball or sees it bounce, he grins from ear to ear! He has a couple now and plays with them all the time and has even tossed one across the floor! I'm pretty sure he is going to be athletic like his Daddy!
These are just a few things Beckett has been learning lately and I cannot WAIT to see what else is in store for us! I am so thankful that we get to go through life with this sweet little boy!
Below are a few pictures that were taken at my moms when we visited her in Raleigh a couple weeks ago!
I wouldn't have it any other way!
I love the little guys so much and he brings me so much joy on a DAILY basis! Isn't God good? He loves me so much as to bless me with this funny, outspoken, loud, sweet little boy! There couldn't be a bigger blessing to me than to be a mom and have the opportunity to raise this little man! :) I am beyond happy and blessed!
Beckett is growing up so quickly! It brings me to tears sometimes when I look back on pictures over this past year! There is so much emotion that fills my heart when I look at each one!
Beckett started walking a couple of weeks ago and he isn't a pro yet (and I'm def. not rushing him to be)... but each day he gets better and better! It's crazy how quickly he just started walking! It was like he just decided to be brave one day... and he did it! He hasn't stopped since! He is such a smart boy and has come SUCH a long way! The doctor's said he may be a little slower in achieving certain milestones since he was 6 weeks pre-mature but... he def. proved those doctors wrong! From a itty bitty 5 pounds to 23 pound chunk.... he is doing JUST fine!
He says Ma Ma, Da Da, Bye Bye and some other things that I haven't really figured out yet! He is def. a talker and I love it! He laughs a lot and is a very happy Baby boy! He loves being at home and loves his crib... good luck getting him to sleep anywhere else! lol. He smiles everytime he sees his Daddy walk through the door and it makes me smile to see Jeff as a Father and def. has made me fall in love with him all over again, in a completely different way!
Beckett is so smart and knows just what he wants! He is very sneaky and will test us in a skinny minute! He def. has learned what NO means though and has become such a great listener, most of the time! Even though I know we will be challenged in the years to come! He fights his naps but def. needs them! They do wonders for his mood! He is like his Daddy in that aspect.... a little cat nap even will help him to purk right up and be happy!
Beckett gives kisses with his mouth wide open! I think it's so sweet! Usually we have to ask for kisses or tell him to give kisses but today he gave me a kiss without me having to ask and it was so sweet! :) He melts my heart! He loves to be around people! We visited a church in Raleigh a few weeks ago and the nursery worker told us he was the only child at first and seemed so quiet but when other kids started to come in, he started immediately showing his fun personality! He loves people, that is for sure, as well as attention!
We are planning his 1st Birthday Party now! We went with the sports theme! Imagine that! He loves basketball and every time he sees someone with a basketball or sees it bounce, he grins from ear to ear! He has a couple now and plays with them all the time and has even tossed one across the floor! I'm pretty sure he is going to be athletic like his Daddy!
These are just a few things Beckett has been learning lately and I cannot WAIT to see what else is in store for us! I am so thankful that we get to go through life with this sweet little boy!
Below are a few pictures that were taken at my moms when we visited her in Raleigh a couple weeks ago!
Just a little sneeze...
Nanny giving me a bath in the sink!
Just eating a little soap suds... no big deal.
The day I started walking...
Playing in the water with Nanny!
Friday, September 21, 2012
Knowledge vs. Love
I read "Girlfriends in God" devotions almost every morning! They send me a daily devotions to my email and this mornings devotions just spoke to my heart. The story in the devotional I had heard before. Mary Southerland explains Knowledge vs. Love so well though after the story. This is what she says:
Knowledge – for the sake of knowledge – is worthless and can easily lead to pride and arrogance. But knowledge for the sake of love is priceless. In other words, no one really cares how much you know until they know how much you really care.
Knowledge is powerful and should be used in love and love should always be controlled by knowledge. God gives us the ability to understand the Bible and then wants us to use its truths to build each other up and meet the needs of others.
A preacher once said, “Some Christians grow. Others just swell.” Arrogance and pride are the result of knowledge that is misused. Knowledge can be a weapon of destruction or a tool of construction. It all depends on how it is used. We can know doctrine and never know God. We can grow in Bible knowledge but not grow in grace. We can attend church every time the doors are open but until we actually apply God’s truth to the way we live, something is lost in the way we translate the Good News of Jesus Christ.
I heard the story of four Bible scholars who were arguing over the best translation of the Bible. One said he preferred the King James Version because of its beautiful, eloquent old English. Another said he preferred the American Standard Bible for its literalism and accurate translation from the original text. A third man preferred the newer translations because of their practical application. The fourth scholar listened thoughtfully and then added, “Personally, I prefer my mother’s translation.” When the other men laughed, he explained, “My mother translates every page of the Bible into her daily life and it is the most convincing translation I have ever seen.”
I wonder. Do the people in my life better understand God because of the way I live? Is my life a living illustration of God’s love? Is the “Mary Southerland Translation” of the Bible authentic and real and pleasing to God? Lord, help me be Your Living Bible.
-Mary Southerland
God, I pray that I can gain knowledge in your Word but more than anything, I pray that I can LIVE OUT that knowledge! I pray I can show people you through the way I live: the things I say, the way I respond to tough situations, the way I treat people, the words I use...etc. I want people to look at me and my life and see you instantly! Help me to be a Christian that grows Lord, not a Christian that swells. I love you and I'm so thankful for your love and the example you set for us to follow! Help me to follow you... and only you.
Monday, September 17, 2012
My Words
It seems God is showing me things on a daily basis. Sometimes I'm around to listen and hear those things and sometimes I'm not. Sometimes the busyness of life gets in the way and I chose to not carve out time for the Lord.
However, today is NOT one of those days. Today is a Monday and Mondays (if you know me, or anyone for that matter) are just "one of those days". I woke up this morning determined for Satan to NOT ruin my day just because it was Monday. Everything I do and say is a choice, MY choice. So, today I chose to spend time with the Lord and I pray I can make that choice every single day!
God has been showing me lately how important my words are! Words are so HUGE! Right? I mean, they have the power to either pick someone up or tear someone down. So many times, I choose to tear someone down! That sounds so horrible too because it's not like I even do intentionally. There are times when I choose words without even really thinking about it. It's like it's almost become a habit or maybe something that was learned over time and I just need to realize and be cognizant that it's wrong and hurtful.
One of my LIFE verses is Ephesians 4:29, which says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."This is one of my LIFE verses because it's something I struggle with.
Sometimes we can make the Bible more difficult than it actually is and I truly believe God made it for us so we would know what to do in every situation! So often though, we look to every other place but the Bible in helping us make choices! We look to our spouse or to our family or friends...etc. We ask God to show us a specific sign when sometimes, the answer is right there in front of us... all we have to do is read it.
Don't get me wrong, I think seeking wise council is good and Biblical and I do believe their are certain circumstances where prayer and advice are needed to make a choice!
I just think (and I am speaking to myself really) that sometimes we can tip-toe around a certain issue or decision when in the back of our minds, we clearly know what the Bible says and choose to make a decision that goes against what we know God wants.
"My" words can be so harsh sometimes! Ask my sweet husband who has always been so patient with me, even when I would have punched my own self in the face! However, I know it isn't something that I struggle with alone. I have witnessed on countless occasions how words can hurt. They can tear down and bring someone to tears. They don't bring happiness, I know that! Even to the ones who are doing the tearing down.... it doesn't bring happiness to them either. It makes them miserable and less joyful! It makes ME miserable and less joyful!
When I hurt someone that I love, to be honest with you, it makes me SO angry! Sometimes I will realize I have crossed the line or said so many hurtful things... and instead of just starting over, apologizing or re-directing the conversation in a completely different tone, I decide to get angry with myself! In doing that, I get even more angry with the person I am conversing with! It doesn't help the situation!
God's word is so clear on this topic. There is no tip-toeing around it. He wants us to build up, not tear down! Bottle line.
So, I chose today to ask God to forgive me for those times where I failed in that area! And I chose to forget about those times and move on to better times and better situations where I will make the right choice instead of the wrong one.
God, I thank you for your Word! I thank you for the direction it gives me in life! You guide me in every way! I just pray that I will choose to listen to your guidance Lord, even if it doesn't come naturally to me! Forgive me for failing you! I am so thankful for your grace and mercy! I long to be like you and to treat people the way you treat them. I desire to speak to others in the way you would speak to them, even in difficult conversations! Most of all Lord, I just pray that you would shower me with your Love so that I can shower others with that same Love! You are so Good God! You are so faithful! I am so blessed to be able to have you as My Father!
However, today is NOT one of those days. Today is a Monday and Mondays (if you know me, or anyone for that matter) are just "one of those days". I woke up this morning determined for Satan to NOT ruin my day just because it was Monday. Everything I do and say is a choice, MY choice. So, today I chose to spend time with the Lord and I pray I can make that choice every single day!
God has been showing me lately how important my words are! Words are so HUGE! Right? I mean, they have the power to either pick someone up or tear someone down. So many times, I choose to tear someone down! That sounds so horrible too because it's not like I even do intentionally. There are times when I choose words without even really thinking about it. It's like it's almost become a habit or maybe something that was learned over time and I just need to realize and be cognizant that it's wrong and hurtful.
One of my LIFE verses is Ephesians 4:29, which says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."This is one of my LIFE verses because it's something I struggle with.
Sometimes we can make the Bible more difficult than it actually is and I truly believe God made it for us so we would know what to do in every situation! So often though, we look to every other place but the Bible in helping us make choices! We look to our spouse or to our family or friends...etc. We ask God to show us a specific sign when sometimes, the answer is right there in front of us... all we have to do is read it.
Don't get me wrong, I think seeking wise council is good and Biblical and I do believe their are certain circumstances where prayer and advice are needed to make a choice!
I just think (and I am speaking to myself really) that sometimes we can tip-toe around a certain issue or decision when in the back of our minds, we clearly know what the Bible says and choose to make a decision that goes against what we know God wants.
"My" words can be so harsh sometimes! Ask my sweet husband who has always been so patient with me, even when I would have punched my own self in the face! However, I know it isn't something that I struggle with alone. I have witnessed on countless occasions how words can hurt. They can tear down and bring someone to tears. They don't bring happiness, I know that! Even to the ones who are doing the tearing down.... it doesn't bring happiness to them either. It makes them miserable and less joyful! It makes ME miserable and less joyful!
When I hurt someone that I love, to be honest with you, it makes me SO angry! Sometimes I will realize I have crossed the line or said so many hurtful things... and instead of just starting over, apologizing or re-directing the conversation in a completely different tone, I decide to get angry with myself! In doing that, I get even more angry with the person I am conversing with! It doesn't help the situation!
God's word is so clear on this topic. There is no tip-toeing around it. He wants us to build up, not tear down! Bottle line.
So, I chose today to ask God to forgive me for those times where I failed in that area! And I chose to forget about those times and move on to better times and better situations where I will make the right choice instead of the wrong one.
God, I thank you for your Word! I thank you for the direction it gives me in life! You guide me in every way! I just pray that I will choose to listen to your guidance Lord, even if it doesn't come naturally to me! Forgive me for failing you! I am so thankful for your grace and mercy! I long to be like you and to treat people the way you treat them. I desire to speak to others in the way you would speak to them, even in difficult conversations! Most of all Lord, I just pray that you would shower me with your Love so that I can shower others with that same Love! You are so Good God! You are so faithful! I am so blessed to be able to have you as My Father!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
My Value.
I used to have this warped view of how God wanted me to act or be! I always felt that he wanted me to change who I was and I never understood that! I kept thinking to myself... if God wanted to change who I was, why did he make me this way in the first place? It says in Jeremiah 1:5 that before we were in our Mother's womb, God "chose" us.
Being a stay at home mom, I sometimes doubt my worth and value. It's just one of those things I struggle with. I have to remind myself daily that I am valued by God and even others. It's a hard thing to fathom: God's love for me, that is.
But, I realized after reading a devotional recently and felt the Lord speak to my heart... that God doesn't want to change who I am. He made me with special talents, gifts and gave me a certain personality because he knew what I could do with those things. He sees the potential in me. So, instead of God wanting to change who I am, I truly believe he just wants me to get better at being ME.
To see the good in myself and better those good qualities! Not to change those qualities but to see that those qualities are gifts from God and to use them for HIS glory!
Thank you God for showing your love for me today and always. Help me to know my worth and value and that it is in YOU. You are life and without you, there is no life. Thank you for loving me the way you do and for teaching me so patiently. -Amen.
Being a stay at home mom, I sometimes doubt my worth and value. It's just one of those things I struggle with. I have to remind myself daily that I am valued by God and even others. It's a hard thing to fathom: God's love for me, that is.
But, I realized after reading a devotional recently and felt the Lord speak to my heart... that God doesn't want to change who I am. He made me with special talents, gifts and gave me a certain personality because he knew what I could do with those things. He sees the potential in me. So, instead of God wanting to change who I am, I truly believe he just wants me to get better at being ME.
To see the good in myself and better those good qualities! Not to change those qualities but to see that those qualities are gifts from God and to use them for HIS glory!
Thank you God for showing your love for me today and always. Help me to know my worth and value and that it is in YOU. You are life and without you, there is no life. Thank you for loving me the way you do and for teaching me so patiently. -Amen.
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