So, I haven't blogged in a while. And if I'm 100% honest, I haven't read my devotions or Scripture in a while.
I'm going to start again. And I plan to start blogging about them again.
Some changes have happened and have sparked some overwhelming questions and thoughts. I hope to be able to explore them here.
Be aware, I'm going to be blunt. I'm going to be honest. And I'm not sure how much I will censor in the hope to not offend anyone that may read this. I'm doing this for me. So if I do offend you..I'm just going to say I'm sorry now. I welcome constructive feedback and would love to start a conversation if you want.
Please understand that I am no expert...just a confused individual looking for some clarity.
:)
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
My reactions can be different!
Today's Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21
Thought for the Day: "Refusing to come unglued is the only way to prove to ourselves it is possible to have a different kind of reaction."
So again...we're back to choices. Choosing how to react in the face of things/people that frustrate us, anger us, make us feel less worthy. While many of these negative feelings are easy go-to feelings that we all have...and are normal to have...we have the opportunity to change our perspective on how we handle them.
I have to catch myself when I start to wallow in the negative reactions which can send my life into crazy, ugly chaos. I have to stop myself from believing the worst in myself. I have to pray and turn to God and remind myself that He made me in His image. God doesn't make garbage...I turn myself into it by not listening to Him.
So I have to be more aware of my reactions...think about them and find the positive side to whatever the negative is. Change my perspective...change my reaction. Refuse to become unglued.
Easier said than done...but I'm definitely making progress.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Problems vs. Inconveniences
Today's Scripture: Proverbs 2:11
Thought for the day: "It's good to know the difference between an inconvenience and a real problem."
Yes, yes it is. It's funny how the inconveniences in our lives can seem like they are big problems. When they really aren't. They feel like problems. They feel overwhelming. But if you look at the big picture...they aren't.
When my son forgets to take his homework to school and we have to take it to him, when I am working on a project at work and forget to hit save and the power goes out, when there's been freezing rain all night long and the next morning I can't get my doors open...these are all just inconveniences. Even though at the time, they seemed like huge problems. Problems are the thousands of homeless people living in America, the innocent children that have to struggle to survive cancer, the man who loses his wife while she gives birth to their 5th child. These are problems.
Putting things into their proper perspective is something we need to learn to do. It's something I need to learn to do. There have been many times I have let all the inconveniences in life consume me and turn me into someone cranky and hateful. That is not the kind of person that I want to be. I want to be able to bring some Godly perspective into to my life and realize that I can handle all of these inconveniences and turn them into a learning experience.
Again...it boils down to choice. Choosing to remember that there are so many people out there that have it so much worse than I do. So many people struggling with things that are so much more critical than whether or not I have to run an extra errand.
I can accept these inconveniences with grace and understanding or I can let them frustrate me and turn me into someone I don't want to be.
I'm choosing to pray for grace and understanding. How about you?
Thought for the day: "It's good to know the difference between an inconvenience and a real problem."
Yes, yes it is. It's funny how the inconveniences in our lives can seem like they are big problems. When they really aren't. They feel like problems. They feel overwhelming. But if you look at the big picture...they aren't.
When my son forgets to take his homework to school and we have to take it to him, when I am working on a project at work and forget to hit save and the power goes out, when there's been freezing rain all night long and the next morning I can't get my doors open...these are all just inconveniences. Even though at the time, they seemed like huge problems. Problems are the thousands of homeless people living in America, the innocent children that have to struggle to survive cancer, the man who loses his wife while she gives birth to their 5th child. These are problems.
Putting things into their proper perspective is something we need to learn to do. It's something I need to learn to do. There have been many times I have let all the inconveniences in life consume me and turn me into someone cranky and hateful. That is not the kind of person that I want to be. I want to be able to bring some Godly perspective into to my life and realize that I can handle all of these inconveniences and turn them into a learning experience.
Again...it boils down to choice. Choosing to remember that there are so many people out there that have it so much worse than I do. So many people struggling with things that are so much more critical than whether or not I have to run an extra errand.
I can accept these inconveniences with grace and understanding or I can let them frustrate me and turn me into someone I don't want to be.
I'm choosing to pray for grace and understanding. How about you?
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Ok...totally can't think of a title for this one.. :)
Today's Scripture:
Thought for the day: "Avoiding reality never changes reality."
Ain't that the truth. And we avoid it so many ways, don't we. Well, at least I do. I prefer living in denial. LOL. Ok, not really, but it sure is easier.
The devotional talked about evil desires. It sure sounds ominous doesn't it? But when you think about the things she's talking about in the book, I see how they could be classified that way.
She says:
Selfishness: I want things my way.
Pride: I see things only from my vantage point.
Impatience: I rush things without proper consideration.
Anger: I let simmering frustrations erupt.
Bitterness: I swallow eruptions and let them fester.
I struggle with these issues. More than I think I'd like to admit. I know that by giving in to these evil desires it keeps me from being the calm, loving woman that I want to be. I want to be able to not have those evil desires be my first gut-reaction response. I want to be able to just be able to automatically handle the messes in my life with grace, love and in a Godly manner. But whoa buddy, I am so not there yet!
But God knows my heart. God can lead me in the right direction, if I let him. I just have to surrender all of my issues to him. AND LEAVE THEM THERE! I had to do that part in caps because I'm pretty good at saying "God, I give this to you to fix. Ok, it's been 10 minutes you haven't done anything so let me just take that back and get it off your hands." Hmmm...pretty sure it's not supposed to work that way.
So, when one of these evil desires starts to take over my life...I need to just stop and shut up. Then just say a quick prayer. Ask God to redirect my thoughts into a more Godly direction.
Pray. Need to do that more too.
Thought for the day: "Avoiding reality never changes reality."
Ain't that the truth. And we avoid it so many ways, don't we. Well, at least I do. I prefer living in denial. LOL. Ok, not really, but it sure is easier.
The devotional talked about evil desires. It sure sounds ominous doesn't it? But when you think about the things she's talking about in the book, I see how they could be classified that way.
She says:
Selfishness: I want things my way.
Pride: I see things only from my vantage point.
Impatience: I rush things without proper consideration.
Anger: I let simmering frustrations erupt.
Bitterness: I swallow eruptions and let them fester.
I struggle with these issues. More than I think I'd like to admit. I know that by giving in to these evil desires it keeps me from being the calm, loving woman that I want to be. I want to be able to not have those evil desires be my first gut-reaction response. I want to be able to just be able to automatically handle the messes in my life with grace, love and in a Godly manner. But whoa buddy, I am so not there yet!
But God knows my heart. God can lead me in the right direction, if I let him. I just have to surrender all of my issues to him. AND LEAVE THEM THERE! I had to do that part in caps because I'm pretty good at saying "God, I give this to you to fix. Ok, it's been 10 minutes you haven't done anything so let me just take that back and get it off your hands." Hmmm...pretty sure it's not supposed to work that way.
So, when one of these evil desires starts to take over my life...I need to just stop and shut up. Then just say a quick prayer. Ask God to redirect my thoughts into a more Godly direction.
Pray. Need to do that more too.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Down with a sickness..
Well, as many of you know...I have been pretty sick for the past week and a half. So, honestly, I wasn't feeling well enough to read my devotional, much less blog about it.
A friend of mine made me literally laugh out loud today. She sent me an instant message and said "Oh my gosh! Someone stole your blog post from today!!!!!" That was honestly the best nudge I have ever gotten to get me motivated again!
So...here we go!
Today's scripture: Psalm 37:4
Thought for the day: " Disappointment only stings as long as I let it."
Well, ain't that the truth.
We all have disappointments. From not getting a promotion at work to finding out there is no more ice cream in the freezer. Disappointments are all around us. And it's so super easy to just fall into the self-pity and just roll around and wallow in it. Heaven knows that I have done that. And sometimes it's just so hard to get out of it!! And we never like to do things that are hard now, do we?
Now, when I have the big disappointments in life, ya know, the ones that really hurt...my normal pattern is to wallow in it for a while. I know that if I were to dive into God's Word that I could see all these great examples of how to overcome the disappointment. But if I'm being completely honest, I really don't want to do that. I enjoy the wallowing..at least for a bit. And, not to mention that I have no idea where to start. But I know in my head, all I have to do is look. Isn't it funny that your head can know one thing, but getting your heart and desire to following along is something totally different.
But getting out of that disappointment really just falls on one thing. Choice. I can choose to not let it overwhelm me. It's ok to be disappointed. But choose the right reaction to it. Choose to not let it define you. Choose to not let it swallow you. Choose not to be blinded by it. Choose to look for the positives in life. Choose to look for the good. Choose to remember that God loves you and has a plan for you that will exceed all your expectations. Remember that why your disappointed because you didn't get what you want...God will take care of your needs.
Lots of choices....and attitude adjustments!
Yep, I can do this!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
2 for 1 deal!
Okey dokey...yesterday I was feeling like garbage so I didn't read my devotional or blog. So today you get a 2 for 1 deal!! LOL!
Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:10
Thought for the day: "Jesus didn't die so we'd be sorry. He died and then was resurrected so we'd be changed." - Steven Furtick
Wow, that's a pretty powerful statement when you think about it. I read it in The New Living Translation version and this is what it says:
10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
I'm having a hard time putting in to words what I'm feeling about this one. It's hard to admit that God wants us to feel sorrow. But it's comforting to know that it's not sorrow for sorrow's sake. That there is a reason behind it. It's because he wants us not to sin and to be closer to Him. To work on that love relationship with Him.
I can relate this to my life. When I correct my son on something he's done wrong he always says sorry. But when it's the third or fourth time he's done the same thing wrong....and says sorry...it means nothing. I keep trying to explain to him that just saying sorry doesn't make it right. It's just a word. There's no meaning behind it if you keep choosing to do it over and over.
Being repentant means you want to change that behavior. That you don't ever want to do it again. That it pains you to know you've wronged someone that badly. Without that repentance of my sins, there is no way I can get closer to God.
Today's Scripture: Psalm 94:18-19
Thought for the day: "The only thing that stops the desperation the uncertainties, the twirling, is for the Spirit of God to cover my heart and make it still."
While reading this one...I totally am thinking of a conversation that I had with my friend at church today. We are doing a small group called "Experiencing God" and during this group she very bravely spoke up and said that with the way she grew up, she doesn't feel like she could possibly be a good mom. As a mom myself, I totally get that! There have been tons of times that I have felt like I am a horrible mother. I just blogged about one instance earlier this week.
I've had others tell me that I'm a good mom. Or that I'm pretty. Or that I have a great heart. Or that I'm good at this or that. Or give me any kind of compliment. And while it's nice to hear...and sometimes very needed to hear...sometimes it's not enough. Sometimes I am still filled with sooo much doubt and feel in desperate need of reassurance that it's frustrating.
I read this scripture in The Message version of the Bible...and it made it really hit home to me.
18 The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,”
your love, God, took hold and held me fast.
When I was upset and beside myself,
you calmed me down and cheered me up.
Give your fears, your anxieties, your worries, your problems, your concerns, your frustrations and your doubt to God. Let go of them. Step back and watch and feel His love for you. Watch Him take those negative things in your life and turn them into a positive. He can do that!!! And isn't that just the most amazing news?!
I'm going to focus on this scripture too. And will probably post it at work as well. (People are gonna get sick of seeing all this scripture around my desk!) I'm going to hold fast to God's love for me. Are you?
Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:10
Thought for the day: "Jesus didn't die so we'd be sorry. He died and then was resurrected so we'd be changed." - Steven Furtick
Wow, that's a pretty powerful statement when you think about it. I read it in The New Living Translation version and this is what it says:
10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
I'm having a hard time putting in to words what I'm feeling about this one. It's hard to admit that God wants us to feel sorrow. But it's comforting to know that it's not sorrow for sorrow's sake. That there is a reason behind it. It's because he wants us not to sin and to be closer to Him. To work on that love relationship with Him.
I can relate this to my life. When I correct my son on something he's done wrong he always says sorry. But when it's the third or fourth time he's done the same thing wrong....and says sorry...it means nothing. I keep trying to explain to him that just saying sorry doesn't make it right. It's just a word. There's no meaning behind it if you keep choosing to do it over and over.
Being repentant means you want to change that behavior. That you don't ever want to do it again. That it pains you to know you've wronged someone that badly. Without that repentance of my sins, there is no way I can get closer to God.
Today's Scripture: Psalm 94:18-19
Thought for the day: "The only thing that stops the desperation the uncertainties, the twirling, is for the Spirit of God to cover my heart and make it still."
While reading this one...I totally am thinking of a conversation that I had with my friend at church today. We are doing a small group called "Experiencing God" and during this group she very bravely spoke up and said that with the way she grew up, she doesn't feel like she could possibly be a good mom. As a mom myself, I totally get that! There have been tons of times that I have felt like I am a horrible mother. I just blogged about one instance earlier this week.
I've had others tell me that I'm a good mom. Or that I'm pretty. Or that I have a great heart. Or that I'm good at this or that. Or give me any kind of compliment. And while it's nice to hear...and sometimes very needed to hear...sometimes it's not enough. Sometimes I am still filled with sooo much doubt and feel in desperate need of reassurance that it's frustrating.
I read this scripture in The Message version of the Bible...and it made it really hit home to me.
18 The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,”
your love, God, took hold and held me fast.
When I was upset and beside myself,
you calmed me down and cheered me up.
Give your fears, your anxieties, your worries, your problems, your concerns, your frustrations and your doubt to God. Let go of them. Step back and watch and feel His love for you. Watch Him take those negative things in your life and turn them into a positive. He can do that!!! And isn't that just the most amazing news?!
I'm going to focus on this scripture too. And will probably post it at work as well. (People are gonna get sick of seeing all this scripture around my desk!) I'm going to hold fast to God's love for me. Are you?
Friday, February 22, 2013
Grace
Today's Scripture: Colossians 4:6
Thought for the day: "The reason I can give grace is because I so desperately need it."
Yes, yes I do. I desperately needs God's grace. It gives me the hope that when I mess up, it will be ok. I just need to learn from the experience.
I really like today's scripture.
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
It sounds like it's an easy thing to do, doesn't it? Well...beware...it's not!
I'm going to try to remember this scripture. I think I'm going to put it up at work. That way, it will remind me to keep my words kind. Even to those that annoy me.
Thought for the day: "The reason I can give grace is because I so desperately need it."
Yes, yes I do. I desperately needs God's grace. It gives me the hope that when I mess up, it will be ok. I just need to learn from the experience.
I really like today's scripture.
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
It sounds like it's an easy thing to do, doesn't it? Well...beware...it's not!
I'm going to try to remember this scripture. I think I'm going to put it up at work. That way, it will remind me to keep my words kind. Even to those that annoy me.
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