Criticizing
I saw a very simple sign that said: Try to go 24 hours without criticizing....or being negative. Perhaps if you deal with either of these you could try to do them on separate days.
My challenge to yall is to do this.
Go 24 hours without criticizing. Find the good in things. Look to the bright side. Give it a go, as our precious Joni says.
Sidebar/sidenote to the Moms: Correction does not fall into this category. Children must be corrected all the time...but not criticized. We can correct our children and help them without being negative or critical.
My challenge to yall is to do this.
Go 24 hours without criticizing. Find the good in things. Look to the bright side. Give it a go, as our precious Joni says.
Sidebar/sidenote to the Moms: Correction does not fall into this category. Children must be corrected all the time...but not criticized. We can correct our children and help them without being negative or critical.
He is Our Priority
We need to have no gods before our God. Also, we are warned to have no idols. At this point probably we are all going whew, well, for once no one is talking to me because I don't worship any other god nor do I have an idol anywhere. No totem poles or idol shelves, nor any gods that I bow down to. Safe here.
But maybe we all better reexamine our life and see what takes priority, what takes our time, our energy, our attention. Our number one priority should be our relationship with the Lord. I know some of us have unbelievable demands on our time with the logistics of our family, school, work, etc. However we do still find time to do what we want to do. I rest my case.
Not trying to be harsh or un-understanding of your circumstances but we must make the Lord and our relationship with Him of primary importance. If we are going to grow and be the kind of believer that we are to be and He desires for us to be, we must spend time with Him.
Just remember we are in a spiritual battle and this won't be easy. Distractions of all kinds will beckon for your attention. (Side note: We can't call our children a distraction because they need us especially while they are little...but there is nap time, bedtime, etc.)
Just don't allow yourself NOT to make the Lord your priority. Your choice, totally your choice.
But maybe we all better reexamine our life and see what takes priority, what takes our time, our energy, our attention. Our number one priority should be our relationship with the Lord. I know some of us have unbelievable demands on our time with the logistics of our family, school, work, etc. However we do still find time to do what we want to do. I rest my case.
Not trying to be harsh or un-understanding of your circumstances but we must make the Lord and our relationship with Him of primary importance. If we are going to grow and be the kind of believer that we are to be and He desires for us to be, we must spend time with Him.
Just remember we are in a spiritual battle and this won't be easy. Distractions of all kinds will beckon for your attention. (Side note: We can't call our children a distraction because they need us especially while they are little...but there is nap time, bedtime, etc.)
Just don't allow yourself NOT to make the Lord your priority. Your choice, totally your choice.
How Can I Help You?
Don't forget during these super busy times (don't we say that about all our life phases...hahah) to remember to say those simple words, "how can I help you?" Moms, teach your blessings to ask that question. They loooove to ask questions so add this to their regiment.
These very simple words are really speaking more than can I help you or what can I do for you. They are saying to someone:
"I really care about you and what's going on in your life."
"As crazy busy as I am I want to help YOU."
"I want to invest myself in YOU."
"I LOVE YOU."
"I want to share whats going on in your life and I just want to do whatever I can to help you."
And then just don't say it ... DO IT.
These very simple words are really speaking more than can I help you or what can I do for you. They are saying to someone:
"I really care about you and what's going on in your life."
"As crazy busy as I am I want to help YOU."
"I want to invest myself in YOU."
"I LOVE YOU."
"I want to share whats going on in your life and I just want to do whatever I can to help you."
And then just don't say it ... DO IT.
Bloom
We met a new friend last Wednesday, her name is Lauren. She is the store manager at an awesome store call Bloom. It is a store for the foster children in Georgia, where they can come and get "cute" clothes, shoes, book bags (in their Country store). It is free for the foster children and their foster families. Anyway a plug for Lauren and all her hard work. If you have baby through grown clothes and want to donate...it's a great place, and meets an amazing need. They have an article in this months Fayette Women's magazine. Check it out.
Lauren shared her story with me and it was incredible. She is a Christian, although they can't really say that at the store, because although it isn't openly a ministry...it really is...in my opinion.
In a nut shell Lauren was working for Gap and moving up in the organization when she got really sick. Turned out to be rocky mountain fever, however it took nearly two years of doctors and rest to find that out. At this point she was nearly two and a half years away from her job, so sick she was unable to work. She said to me, "when I got well I just wanted to give back." So she started very small with this clothes closet (which is really what it used to be) which has turned into the cutest place ever which rivals Gap, Old Navy or another children's clothing place in the displaying sense.
But Lauren's story and many others that I have heard are very inspiring and give us a warm and fuzzy feeling. She is such a fulfilled person in her "new career." However, I spent only a couple of hours with her and emailed a couple of times, but it doesn't take long being around her to sense her joy.
This all got me to thinking wouldn't it be great if we had that desire to "wanna give back first." To know how blessed we are and look for opportunities to "give back first" before we are stopped in our tracks. Live that life of gratitude and thanksgiving. Looking for opportunities to "give back." Health is really not something to take for granted. Just ask my new friend, Lauren.
Bloom
150 Marquis Drive
Fayetteville, Ga 30214
Lauren shared her story with me and it was incredible. She is a Christian, although they can't really say that at the store, because although it isn't openly a ministry...it really is...in my opinion.
In a nut shell Lauren was working for Gap and moving up in the organization when she got really sick. Turned out to be rocky mountain fever, however it took nearly two years of doctors and rest to find that out. At this point she was nearly two and a half years away from her job, so sick she was unable to work. She said to me, "when I got well I just wanted to give back." So she started very small with this clothes closet (which is really what it used to be) which has turned into the cutest place ever which rivals Gap, Old Navy or another children's clothing place in the displaying sense.
But Lauren's story and many others that I have heard are very inspiring and give us a warm and fuzzy feeling. She is such a fulfilled person in her "new career." However, I spent only a couple of hours with her and emailed a couple of times, but it doesn't take long being around her to sense her joy.
This all got me to thinking wouldn't it be great if we had that desire to "wanna give back first." To know how blessed we are and look for opportunities to "give back first" before we are stopped in our tracks. Live that life of gratitude and thanksgiving. Looking for opportunities to "give back." Health is really not something to take for granted. Just ask my new friend, Lauren.
Bloom
150 Marquis Drive
Fayetteville, Ga 30214
You Are the Heart
The man is the head and the woman is the heart. Someone said to me, but the Word says the heart is desperately wicked. Well as women we certainly know that we can be manipulative. Don't be offended by this, just ponder it.
If we walk in the Spirit (if we all would) there is no manipulating, no self promoting, no pouting, no seeking our own.
You are the HEART. Walk with caution.
If we walk in the Spirit (if we all would) there is no manipulating, no self promoting, no pouting, no seeking our own.
You are the HEART. Walk with caution.
Our Words
We have talked about this old saying "sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you" before.
Just a little blast from the past, so if you've heard all this from me sorry....but I really got to thinking about this saying whenever we were talking about words and the impacts we have as women with the words we use. I really think it is safe to say that we have immense power with our words.
"She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness." (Proverbs 31:26 NKJV)---be this woman!
Use your words to encourage, to build up, to reinforce, to pronounce blessings. I think we would agree that words do hurt us, and therefore we need to remember that we can and often do hurt others with our words. We do not do this purposely but carelessly. Open your mouth with wisdom and have kindness come forth.
Just a little blast from the past, so if you've heard all this from me sorry....but I really got to thinking about this saying whenever we were talking about words and the impacts we have as women with the words we use. I really think it is safe to say that we have immense power with our words.
"She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness." (Proverbs 31:26 NKJV)---be this woman!
Use your words to encourage, to build up, to reinforce, to pronounce blessings. I think we would agree that words do hurt us, and therefore we need to remember that we can and often do hurt others with our words. We do not do this purposely but carelessly. Open your mouth with wisdom and have kindness come forth.