Showing posts with label Encourage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Encourage. Show all posts
WASH THE WINDOWS
I am reading a book right now that I'm sure some of you have read before. It is Home Improvement by Dayle Allen Shockley. It's a really cute, practical every day living book. It compares home cleaning and organizing skills to our actions and daily living. The last chapter I read was Wash The Windows, and it was about keeping a cheerful attitude. I loved the way she ended the chapter, and thought I'd share.
*Hi, my name is __________, and I am a full-fledged, bona fide grumbler.
*I am solely responsible for my irritating behavior. Not my spouse. Not my children. Not my mother. Not my father. Not my circumstances.
*I have chosen to allow other people's behavior and life's annoying situations to dictate my mood and my reactions.
*I have chosen to speak the words I speak and the tone of voice in which I speak them.
*Therefore, I can choose to stop allowing other people's behavior and life's annoying situations to dictate my mood and my reactions.
*I can choose to speak with a gentle and cheerful voice, even if I think it might kill me.
*I can choose to speak positive and uplifting words to my family, friends, and strangers.
*I can do all things through Christ.
*I will start today.
She also goes on to say, "Life is not the way it's supposed to be, it's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference."
*Hi, my name is __________, and I am a full-fledged, bona fide grumbler.
*I am solely responsible for my irritating behavior. Not my spouse. Not my children. Not my mother. Not my father. Not my circumstances.
*I have chosen to allow other people's behavior and life's annoying situations to dictate my mood and my reactions.
*I have chosen to speak the words I speak and the tone of voice in which I speak them.
*Therefore, I can choose to stop allowing other people's behavior and life's annoying situations to dictate my mood and my reactions.
*I can choose to speak with a gentle and cheerful voice, even if I think it might kill me.
*I can choose to speak positive and uplifting words to my family, friends, and strangers.
*I can do all things through Christ.
*I will start today.
She also goes on to say, "Life is not the way it's supposed to be, it's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference."
Dwelling on the Word of God
Every since Sunday I have found myself dwelling on the word of God that was ministered to us in Sunday School and Sunday night along with the incredible move of God that we had. Brother Andrew did an awesome job talking about the parable of the sower, and asking us, "what kind of ground are we?" Pointing out that we can make the decision before we go into the house of God what kind of ground we will be for the word of God to fall on. It just has me thinking about it all in a new light. Then Sunday night our pastor encouraged us to stretch forth for the miracles and harvest God has for us. Anyway, with me finding myself dwelling on the word of God we heard, I must say it was a total battle on Monday. Doesn't it seem to be for most of us, LOL? Monday was an awful day for me. If the kids could be bad and in as much trouble as possible they did it on Monday. The little ones pushed me in every way possible it seemed, and it felt like I was getting on them every time I turned around! The day did not go the least bit like I imagined it would go. Plain and simple it was just a bad day for me. I was even emotional, LOL! The thing that I kept thinking about this was, that it was stupid, I had not felt like this since I was pregnant with Colten or right after having him. I asked myself several times where is this coming from. Somehow, through it all I found myself dwelling on the word from Sunday every moment I possibly had to do so. Then last night lying in bed, I thought, this is exactly what the devil wants to do to all of us. If he can get the first day of our week totally off focus from the presence and word of God we here and feel on Sundays then he is happy. He doesn't want us dwelling on the word of God we hear on Sunday because this then means that the seed fell upon good ground, because the more we focus on God's word it is going to grow in us and make us bear fruit. We must all strive to be good ground and be ready to fight on Monday anything the devil would throw in our day to distract us from the word of God we hear on Sundays. This same thing applies for Thursday as well after hearing the word of God Wednesday nights. Satan wants us to be distracted every moment possible from the things of God. We must be ready to fight to keep our minds on the word of God, and what he wants to do in our lives and in our church. We can not let him distract us!
People Watch Us
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Tonight my husband asked me if I wanted to go somewhere, and I'm like what do you mean? He said, "you want to go to Ross or something?" I told him I didn't have to and it really didn't matter to me. I think he was trying to give me some time from the children, he knew it was kinda a rough day. So, he dropped me at Kohls and went to get something to drink for them. Well, while in there as walking by this lady says, "I feel like I should know you but I don't." I asked her why, she told me she sees us everywhere. I told her I had never seen her I didn't think. She told me the first place she saw us was Jalepeno Tree, which we used to go there every Wednesday night before church. She said she sees us at Walmart and in Kohls (I have not been in Kohls in probably 5 or 6 months) and that it seemed like she saw us all the time. Keep in mind I don't recall ever seeing her before. Then she went on about our kids and always noticing them. Anyway, I say all this to say people watch us! I told my husband later that it just made me think of oh how careful we should be in how we present ourselves everywhere everyday, not just in our dress but oh in our actions. Just to think this lady has paid close enought attention to us that she recognizes us anywhere she sees us, and I have never noticed her. I will pray for her, I feel like it is not so much of us that she is noticing, but I pray it is the Jesus who resides in us. Oh, God help me to be an example of you to others. Maybe our paths will cross again, and again, and again and the Lord will give me the words to say to her. I'm sure things like this happen with you all as well, but I just get excited about this kind of stuff. I mean I am pretty much at home most of the time besides going to church. So it is not like I cross paths with many people on a daily basis, then when I do get out I can be so involved in getting what I have to get and go back home I don't have time for an opppurtunity God may make between me and some stranger. On top of that I am not one to just start talking to people. I have been praying about that lately though, I pray God will give me a spirit of boldness to be able to talk to strangers beyong the hi, thankyou basic words. I've also been asking God to help me sensitive to divine appointments he may make available with others and for me to be sensitive to their needs. Anyway, just remember people are watching us!
Tonight my husband asked me if I wanted to go somewhere, and I'm like what do you mean? He said, "you want to go to Ross or something?" I told him I didn't have to and it really didn't matter to me. I think he was trying to give me some time from the children, he knew it was kinda a rough day. So, he dropped me at Kohls and went to get something to drink for them. Well, while in there as walking by this lady says, "I feel like I should know you but I don't." I asked her why, she told me she sees us everywhere. I told her I had never seen her I didn't think. She told me the first place she saw us was Jalepeno Tree, which we used to go there every Wednesday night before church. She said she sees us at Walmart and in Kohls (I have not been in Kohls in probably 5 or 6 months) and that it seemed like she saw us all the time. Keep in mind I don't recall ever seeing her before. Then she went on about our kids and always noticing them. Anyway, I say all this to say people watch us! I told my husband later that it just made me think of oh how careful we should be in how we present ourselves everywhere everyday, not just in our dress but oh in our actions. Just to think this lady has paid close enought attention to us that she recognizes us anywhere she sees us, and I have never noticed her. I will pray for her, I feel like it is not so much of us that she is noticing, but I pray it is the Jesus who resides in us. Oh, God help me to be an example of you to others. Maybe our paths will cross again, and again, and again and the Lord will give me the words to say to her. I'm sure things like this happen with you all as well, but I just get excited about this kind of stuff. I mean I am pretty much at home most of the time besides going to church. So it is not like I cross paths with many people on a daily basis, then when I do get out I can be so involved in getting what I have to get and go back home I don't have time for an opppurtunity God may make between me and some stranger. On top of that I am not one to just start talking to people. I have been praying about that lately though, I pray God will give me a spirit of boldness to be able to talk to strangers beyong the hi, thankyou basic words. I've also been asking God to help me sensitive to divine appointments he may make available with others and for me to be sensitive to their needs. Anyway, just remember people are watching us!
A Smile
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Well I have a big smile just knowing my blog and postings bring a smile to someone else. Thank you Sis. Elms! I will gladly pass this on to some who encourage me, but first here is the description of what this award is all about.
"The thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell, and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with. I wanted to create something special for people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement. Although there are MANY people I want to give this award to at this very moment, I am going to choose four bloggers: Please grab your badge and wear it(with a smile) proudly, and pass it on because you inspire and encourage me, thank you.”
Back to Sister Elms: Sis. Elms
Joseph: Joseph Oullette
The Elms Extra: Andrew & Mandy Elms
The Holley Life & Times: Gene and Karla Holley
Well I have a big smile just knowing my blog and postings bring a smile to someone else. Thank you Sis. Elms! I will gladly pass this on to some who encourage me, but first here is the description of what this award is all about."The thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell, and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with. I wanted to create something special for people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement. Although there are MANY people I want to give this award to at this very moment, I am going to choose four bloggers: Please grab your badge and wear it(with a smile) proudly, and pass it on because you inspire and encourage me, thank you.”
Back to Sister Elms: Sis. Elms
Joseph: Joseph Oullette
The Elms Extra: Andrew & Mandy Elms
The Holley Life & Times: Gene and Karla Holley
Praise
Praise the Lord, for he is glorious!
Never shall his promise fail;
God hath made his saints victorious;
Sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our salvation;
Hosts on high, his power proclaim;
Heaven and earth, and all creation,
Laud and magnify his name.
Never shall his promise fail;
God hath made his saints victorious;
Sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our salvation;
Hosts on high, his power proclaim;
Heaven and earth, and all creation,
Laud and magnify his name.
"Praise ye the Lord: for it is good." (Psalm 147:1)
Daily Devotional
I have been reading daily devotionals from Joy Haney's book, Diamonds for Dusty Roads, and come across something that caught my attention. When I read this I thought about how I could relate some of them to my own life, and how true it is that when these things take just a small part in our lives and attitudes that it really does affect our witness to others.
If all the sleeping folk--will wake up;
And all the lukewarm folk--will fire up;
And all the dishonest folk--will confess up;
And all the disgrunted folk--will sweeten up;
And all the depressed folk--will look up;
And all the estranged folk--will make up;
And all the gossipers will hush up--;
And all the members will pray up--
WE WILL HAVE A REVIVAL AND IT WILL CONTINUE IN OUR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY.
She goes on to say, "It's time to put the bread of His Word on the table: the table of our heart , and eat until it fills us with the Lord's goodness."
"My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven" (John 6:32)
The Deciding Power of Desire
Well hello to everyone out there. I know it has been a while since anything has been posted on here. It just seems that there has not been time. The children are still not 100% better, but I think they are on their way. Well I woke up this morning thinking about this book I've been reading. I've read it before but a couple of weeks ago I felt like picking it up and reading it again. It is The Deciding Power of Desire by Rev. J.W. Arnold. I personally think this is a great book. It is actually four different sermons of his put into book form. I've only read the first sermon for now and will continue the rest of them soon. I will probably post some information from every different sermon. When I read the first sermon it was amazing how much in there was right along the same lines as what Bro. & Sis. Elms have been teaching in Sunday School. Rev. J.W. Arnold talks about the level of our desire. He runs through several examples of how when we all first got the Holy Ghost we were ready to do anything and everything for God. We desired to be in tune with God regardless of our surroundings. Oh how this seems to be so true, I know it is for me. Then things start happening in our lives and our desire seems to diminish, then this can cause complacency in our walk with God, and we all know this is not how God wants our walk to be. He comments that nothing can be accomplished without desire and desire is not enough by itself; it has to be followed by a decision and a determination. It takes action to achieve. Desire and hunger are the fuel that fires the soul to accomplish something. Oh, how true again! He talks about how God will meet us on the level of our desire. If we desire to see the things of God and seek after achieving this then that is where God will meet us. However, if our desire level is low then that is the level God will meet us. We won't see great and mighty things from God if we do not desire and hunger after them. If our desire level stops at just feeling a touch from God in service then that is pretty much all we will get. He talks about how we can go into a church service so many times with leaving on our mind, but how if we desire more we wont even be concerned about leaving. First we must have a desire and then we must seek to achieve it. When our desire level drops that is when we become so sidetracked with the cares of life. That is when we go through everyday routines feeling like God is no where near us. Oh the Sunday School lessons and this book are stirring something within me. I know I must put this all into action or it does absolutely no good. May God help us all to have a desire level that is far above anything else.
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24
posted by: Christina
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