Daily Encouragement November 27th, 2013

Daily Encouragement

Wednesday, November 27th 2013

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Whatever happens, always be thankful. 

This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.

With Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, I thought I would talk a little about the stresses of holidays and and spending time with family.  We can either join in on the stress, the beautiful place settings, the cornucopia, looking your Sunday best, OR we can give thanks for what we have. Our beautiful children, our families, our warm homes and just be content with what we have.  

I don't know about you, but when I get together with family, I tend to start to compare.  I compare how well behaved their kids are, how nice their vehicles are, how nice their house is, blah, blah, blah! Then I have to stop and remind myself, life is not about what we have in comparison to those around us.  It is about relationships.  Our relationship first with Jesus, and then with those around us.  He shows us how to love and see people in a new light, His light. You see, he created us and loves us all the same.  It does not matter what we own, look like, dress like, what car we drive, the stuff we own.  When we leave this place, we can't bring any of that with us, therefore, its just stuff! There is freedom that comes with breaking free of that envy and discontentment. Focus on the people in your lives, show love and gratitude for the day and the time you get to spend. 

This will be the first holiday after my mother's passing.  Will it be the same? No it won't, there will be tears shed this I am sure.  Even in this delicate time, we are to give thanks.  I am so thankful for who she was, what I learned from her.  I never realized what an impact she had on those around her.  The amount of people that came to her funeral was amazing. Her wish was to have a small service in the chapel of the funeral home, and let me tell you, the room capacity was reached and then some. Customers, employees, friends, all talked about her smile and her ability to turn someone's frown upside down.  I have learned that we can make a difference in the lives of those around us without even knowing it.  

What impact do we want to make? A positive one, or a negative one?  I think when we have gratitude in our hearts, and humble ourselves to love those around us, and not look for contentment in "stuff" we will find joy.  If we seek Him, he will show us the way. He can show us how to love people, and yes, even the bad nut of the family.  I wish you all the best and pray that you have a blessed holiday with your families! 

Prayer time:
Thank you father for everything you provide for us.  Thank you for relationships with our loved ones.  Help us to grow deeper in relationship as we invest time in them.  Help us to impact those around us in a positive way and make a difference for your glory.  Thank you for this season of gratitude and help us to be mindful of you during this busy holiday season. Keep us safe as we travel near and far.  All these things we pray in your name. Amen

Blessings!

Daily Encouragement

Tuesday, November 26th 2013

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:17

What does it mean to be blessed?  It means to be happy, joyful & fulfilled. Are we blessed only by what we receive?  We can be blessed by the people in our lives, our health, and our children.  Let's be careful not to limit our blessings only by what we receive.  John 13 tells us that obedience can bring blessing as well.  

We are blessed (happy, joyful, fulfilled) not because of what we know, but because of what we do with what we know.  We will find our greatest joy in serving others!  So what can you do for others that you know?  Serving others does not have to cost a thing.  It can be babysitting a night for a friend without cost, chores around the house, just being there to listen.  We can bring joy and happiness into our lives when we begin to break free of our comfort zones and help others. 

For years I have closed myself off from the world.  I was uncomfortable in my own skin and called myself a "homebody".  I had low self-esteem pretty much since high-school, and had a hard time really knowing what to say and act because I felt it wasn't really important.  It isn't until these last couple years that I really broke free of that.  The truth is, what I have to say IS important, and can bless others.  Our experiences, our beliefs, our hearts, can make a difference in other people's lives.  I have found a new passion for helping others meet their health goals and encouraging them through their journey.  It feels great to help and serve others and in return, I am truly blessed! 

What are things in your life that you can share and bless others with?  We all have something in us, something that drives us, that we are passionate about. Our job is to find it and use it for good, and for His glory. He will bless us when we are obedient in that and use the talents and passions he has given us.   

Prayer Time:
Thank you Jesus for the blessings in our lives.  You provide with all our needs and we are so thankful.  Help us to be mindful of you and to let our light shine onto others in our lives, Lord.  Help us to bless them with our words, in our actions, and with our abundant joy that you have placed in our hearts.  Thank you for what is to come in our lives as we are obedient to you.  We pray all these things in your name Lord, Amen

Daily Encouragement

Monday, November 25, 2013

Sitting here finally at my desk after a whirlwind of a morning.  My kids were heavily distracted this morning as I was getting them fed, dressed, teeth brushed and out the door.  Feeling like a nag, I had to continually bug them to keep going.  My words got harsher as I got more frustrated.  This is beginning to be an on going issue in our home.  Both my words and our morning routine. 

Sitting here I am beginning to realize that I need to do my part too.  Part of the problem we are having is that I get them up a little later than I should. Second of all I am wondering what I can do to help them do things on their own.  A chart or list of things to do in the morning?

My main point is that we all have mornings like this.  Let’s take each one with a grain of salt, and move forward and learn from it.  Realizing our frustration and where it comes from is the first step.  We are not defined by our actions, and let’s encourage, not discourage. 

Gentle Words cause life and health; griping brings discouragement Proverb 15:4

Have a great day ladies!

Prayer Time:

Jesus,

Thank you for this awesome day ahead of us.  Thank you for each of our children and their awesome personalities.  Help us to be mindful of our words in frustration.  Help us to speak light into the lives of our children.   Help us to encourage and not discourage as our days become overwhelming at times.  Forgive us for when our words become harsh.  You provide peace, joy, kindness and patience to us, and we are so thankful for your spirit and the gifts you give.  We pray all these things in your name, Amen

Too Many Lemons Not Enough Sugar!

ToO MaNy LeMoNs NoT EnOuGh SuGaR

When life gets you down, either emotionally, physically or it just seems like it’s too much to handle there is hope.  A passage from the bible says “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”   SO what can we learn from this? Let’s look at the definitions

Suffering:  The condition of one who suffers; To feel pain or distress; sustain loss, injury, harm, or punishment

Perseverance:  Steadfast in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition: the action or condition or an instance of persevering

Character: The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual

Hope:  a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust

When we look at these definitions within this passage, it is clear we are not to bow our heads in sadness, NO, but to press on.  We are to keep our heads held high and keep stepping one foot in front of the other.  We can learn from each circumstance as we go thru in life and it gives us hope for what is to come when we persevere.  So how do we deal with these storms as they blow our way?

PRAY-First of all pray.  Ask others to stand with you in prayer.  Then enemy likes to see us knocked down.  We need to stand tall and stay firm in heavy circumstance.  We can take comfort in our Warrior. He will protect us in the craziest of storms.

SUPPORT-For many years I closed myself off to many people outside my comfort zone. I always felt that I could handle things on my own.  I am finding that it “OK” to let people in.  We all want to help others, and the truth is there are people in your life that want to help you too.  We don’t have to handle all circumstances on our own.  In fact, it is freeing and refreshing to let out our emotions.  Let people from your church know how you are feeling, or what circumstance you are going through.  They can help you get through it and pray for you.

STAY POSITIVE-If you stay positive thru tough circumstances you are able to handle each opposition better. When you are angered by opposition, remember to put yourself in their shoes.  Think about their circumstance and how that affects their mood, facial expression, etc.  Sometimes we handle things differently because our emotions are very surface.

WHAT CAN I TAKE AWAY-I try to always look at what can I take away from each experience.  There is always something we can learn from the sourest of circumstance.  What can we do differently than we did before?  Did I get a chance to say what I needed to say or did I procrastinate and now it’s too late?  Lately it has been laid on my heart to always go for it.  Say what you need to say.  I was always one of those people that would write a sentence and ponder for 5 minutes whether or not I should post.  This is called fear of man, and I still deal with this daily.  The cure is to not let that stop or hinder you.  If there is something that you feel you need to say out of love, say it!  If you want to encourage another, do it! Our minutes are passing each and every day and we may miss our opportunity. 

DON’T PLAY THE VICTIM-We are not defined by the bad stuff going on in our lives.  We did not "deserve it", and it doesn’t mean are paying for it.  For years, I've always thought “Well, that’s just my luck” Well you know what? Life is not about luck, not one little bit.  While we are not in control of our lives, we are in control of our attitude.  If we live in negativity, it will show from the inside out.  Our facial expressions, our posture, even our kids will reflect that negativity.  But, if we choose to live with a good attitude and choose joy, it will also show, and you will be a light to those around you.

STRESS-When we are continually “attacked” with junk, stress can arise out of nowhere.  Don’t lose hope, things will turn around.  Just be aware of it, and take a walk, or maybe an evening to yourself.  If I’m feeling stressed even my home can seem overwhelming with all the noise.  If I just take a moment go for a walk or a hot bath by myself, with a cup of tea, everything fades, and things seem less hectic.  Always be open an honest to your spouse or significant other to how you are feeling.

Life is full of good times, and sometimes can be full of lemon trees.  The main thing is to not to let it get you down.  Keep your light shining and don’t fall into a trap of negativity.  So what do you do when you have too many lemons, and not enough sugar?  USE HONEY J

Just don’t give up, don’t give in. If you don’t quit, you’ll win –Misty Edwards

UNPLUGGED

Do you ever feel crazy busy? Like you have too much going on, and you just can’t fit one more thing in?  Is it really that we have that much going on, or is it using time unwisely?  When you really think about how many hours are in the day, can it be that we are wasting time?  I want to give you a job for one day. I want you to write down the use of your hours, minutes and seconds for one whole day.  When you get this done come back to this blog and finish reading J

What did you find?  How many hours did you spend on social networks?  How much time did you spend behind the TV or on the computer checking emails, Facebook, Pinterest, etc?  I found an amazing discovery.  I spend WAY too much time on my phone, and social networking.  I am a part of a support group on Facebook for weight-loss, and as much as I love helping and encouraging, I still need to be mindful of what is right in front of me. The truth is we all do it!  We get wrapped up in what is going on outside of our homes, rather than what going on inside our homes.  When things get flip flopped, it’s time to get UNPLUGGED.  While keeping up with extended family and friends is great, we truly need to be sure that we are not forgetting about the home we are building right in front of us. 

Here are some ideas and tips to keep yourself and families in check. 

BUDGET YOUR TIME-Start a budget for your time.  It seems crazy, I know, but think about how you want to spend your day. What are your priorities?  Spiritual/meditation time, family time, date night, homework, chores, we all have plenty to do.  With only 24 hours, we need to be sure we aren’t falling behind by sitting behind the computer or playing games on our smart phones (Words with Friends, I know it’s so tempting, I’ve been there too).  

FAMILY DEVOTION TIME-As part of our nightly ritual (we don’t always get it in, but it’s our goal) At this time we either read a story out of a devotional book and read a bible story or two and take time to pray.  Pray for our family members, friends, co-workers, church family, etc.  We also like to spend time listening to worship music and praising god for all that he does for us.  This time can look different for each family.  The main thing is making time for Him in our daily lives J 

ROLE MODEL-What do we want to model for our children?  Books from the library or watching the latest movie from the Red box? Is getting stuff done around the house, and setting the kids in front of the tv for a while priority over a messy home and having fun coloring and playing with your kiddos on the floor.  For those of us that work part of full time, those few hours we have with them are so valuable.  I am guilty of giving up those hours for a clean house.  I am wanting to make a change.  The years fly by so quickly, we need to instill the values in which we want them to carry on to their kids. 

CUT OUT CABLE-SAY WHAT? Cable is a major time sucker if you let it.  Did you know you can get a family membership to the gym for around the same price as a cable bill?  What an awesome thing to have for your family.  At the RFC you can use the pool, weight room, gym, group fitness, etc.  If your kids are older they can play in the gym while you take a fitness class.  What a great option to have to keep you and your kids healthy!

UNPLUGGED-Have an unplugged time at your home.  This is a time when anything with a screen is powered down.  It’s time to have a family game night, go to a park or a gym, spend time just soaking in each other’s presence.  This can be a difficult task if you haven’t spent a lot of time together, or if your family spends a lot of time behind a screen.  It takes adjustment as do all new things, but you will be amazed at how attitudes and behaviors can change.  Kids are longing for our undivided attention, they crave it!

KIDS MAKE A LIST-Kids rule!  Let them make a list of activities they like to do.  What are some things they would like to do as a family?  Encourage them to make a list of things to do outside of video games and movies.  They are okay to do maybe one night a week-Have a “Friday Night Movie Night” but try to limit it to one night a week.

DATE NIGHT WITH YOUR CHILDREN-This may be more difficult if you are a single parent.  But try to spend time with your children individually as well.  This doesn’t have to be extravagant.  This can be taking a child to a park and packing a treat.  The main objective is to get to know who they are individually.  For my family, it gets difficult during school activities when my older son is in basketball, and my younger son is 2 and a handful.  Then I have a middle child that feels neglected, and behaviors start to come to the surface.  Think of human beings as cups filled with water.  When we are getting attention, and feeling loved, we are happy, joyful, Patient. When our kids are getting the attention they want and crave, their cups begin to get low, and that’s when we begin to see behaviors. 

Just being aware of how you spend your time it the first step.  With all the technology available today it makes it way too easy to be connected to outside world.  The truth is, we are losing contact with the family member’s right in front of us. My husband I often text each instead of running upstairs or outside.  Or how many have you texted (hugs)?  We are losing contact and that love contact.  My goal for my family is to have an unplugged time from 5-8 every night during the week.  I want this to be our time.  No phone calls, no email, no social networking.  OUR TIME

Unplugged or Family time will look different according to your schedules.  Find what works for you and go with it.  Make sure you are all on the same page before you set your boundaries to limit conflict.  Make a contract and try to stick to it.  This will take time, and frustration may occur, especially if you are used to a lot of screen time.  If you stick with it, your children will enjoy the time they have with you and their cups with overflow!

No More Chaotic Mornings

Chaotic Mornings

Are you running from one thing to the next in the morning and feeling overwhelmed?  You are not alone!  My mornings for years have been driving me crazy.  I run from this thing to that trying to get the kids ready for school, get myself ready for work, lunches, hubby, dog, baby!  Oh my!  As a Mom we can sometimes feel like we are doing a juggling act in a circus.  The truth is we are!  We are constantly trying to do too many things at once (like trying to carry in all the groceries with one trip), which is great, but it can also build up unwanted tension and pressure.  I don’t know about you, but some mornings that spilled cup of milk which normally wouldn’t be a big deal, is enough to throw me over the edge.  Stop the insanity!  I would like to share some tips with you that have helped me turn my chaotic mornings into sweet mornings of bliss (for the most part).

   

      MOMMY TIME-Get up ½ hour to an hour early for yourself.  Take this time to get yourself ready to start the day. Getting ready before the kids get up gives you a chance to get ready without having to multitask.  I like to start my pot of coffee, get ready and start my day with devotion and prayer.  I love just those few minutes to myself to reflect and get a healthy dose of Word to start my day.

   

      BE PREPARED-Waking up to an already messy kitchen makes mornings difficult. I try to spend a few minutes the night before getting things ready for morning.  Again, after the kids go to bed, I finish up any dishes in the sink and empty the dishwasher so it’s ready for me just to throw in breakfast dishes in the morning. Empty the garbage, (good chore for the kids) and throw any used towels in the laundry.  I will even try to get a couple extra loads of laundry done, so that favorite shirt isn’t left in the washer. 

  

      TEACH KIDS TO BE PREPARED-I have my kiddos get their backpacks ready to go the night before.  I don’t know how many mornings we have been searching for the paper they worked on the night before, or looking for their take home folder.  I have them get books and folders together and in their backpacks.  In the winter we make sure all the gloves and mittens are put in the special spot so we aren’t searching for them. 

       

      LUNCH TIME-I pack lunches for myself, my hubby and also my kids.  It is really important to me that my family eats good nutritious meals when they are away from home.  To ease the morning stress I pack what I can the night before.  I wash out their lunch containers from that day with supper dishes so they are ready to go. When I put away supper leftovers, I will put them in lunch size containers so they can be easily grabbed the next day. 

       

      BREAKFAST-A great day is started with a healthy breakfast.  I like to make good wholesome food for breakfast.  I’m not a huge fan of cereal, so we do a lot of hot meals.  It can be done without adding too much stress to the morning.  The main thing is giving yourself enough time.  This is another thing I try to have done before the kids get up.  That way it is cooled off and just ready for them to dive in.  When you prepare things like oatmeal, it takes a little while to cool down.

       

      EXERCISE-Another great way to start your day is 20-30 minutes of exercise in the morning.  Whether it be taking your dog for a walk or going for a quick jog, you will feel refreshed and taking care of yourself.  For those of you that are unable to leave, you could do a quick workout routine at home.  You can find workout routines on Pinterest that need no equipment at all. It is ok to take time out for yourself to stay healthy.  If you are not a morning person and one more thing adds too much to your morning routine, be sure to make time later in the day.  Your mind and body will thank you!

   

      SLEEP-Be sure to get to bed at a decent time (which is tough if you have a newborn, but try your best).  If you are starting your day already sleep deprived, it will be hard to be peppy and get the kids going with a smile.  8 hours is a good amount to start with and see how you feel.  Different people can function on more or less, but if you are heading to the coffee pot to keep your motor running, chances are you're not getting enough. 

These are some tips that have helped me get through the chaos.  Take each day with a grain of salt.  Nobody is perfect.  Not every morning is ever going to run smoothly.  The main thing is realizing you are only human and there are bound to be hiccups along the way.  We can only try to diffuse some of the tension and stress with changing the way we do things.