Oh I can do this

We have all been there at some point – been mad, looking for revenge against the person who did you wrong. Not a pretty sight if we look back…For a moment we decide to focus more on the aggravation, the negativity of a person, the sin of someone, the wrong that was done. In that moment…we have taken our view off of God, we have put God second. Don’t get me wrong, God is still there, but in that moment instead of knowing God has it, we take it and decide to run with it and we hold on to it!

So what can you do? Let it go, give it to God. Regardless what that person has done to you. Know that God will take care of whatever it may be. Know that God will discipline as needed.

Forgiveness gives YOU freedom. “To forgive is to move on, not to think about the offense anymore. You don’t excuse him, endorse her, or embrace them. You just route thoughts about them through heaven. You see your enemy as God’s child and revenge as God’s job.’ (Lucado, 2006 Facing your Giants)

Whoever has hurt you, harmed you, wronged you, disappointed you, neglected you, etc. let it go, give it to God. It is in the past now, exactly where it needs to be. Keep it there and move forward!

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The Habit of being Decisive - Starting Small

Leanne started us out telling us that we need to be in the habit of being decisive which can help us to overcome that bad habit of procrastination. She even gave us the Five-Step Decision Making Process which should make it easier for us but sometimes we are still indecisive. Melanie went on to share with us the misery of being indecisive, yet Kara showed us how easy it was to lay choices out before us, and choose!

So here we are, the decisions are still hard to make. I have to be honest…I am a Libra, and I am truly a middle of the road, it doesn’t matter, whatever you want, kind of Girl. Yet when it comes to those hard, tough decisions, I will seek opinions of others, read about it, and then make a decisions….

So what if you still cannot make that decision. You are indecisive, or worse you will just wait hoping that perhaps the right choice will appear. When it comes to eating and exercising, sometimes we have to simply start small…one little small choice. I like how Joyce gives us an example of joining a committee for a month to decide if it’s something you want to do for a year. It’s the same with eating, and even exercising. I love to walk and I have even tried jogging a time or two. By trying out jogging a few times, I realized that even though I felt great afterwards (mentally), my knees did not appreciate my exercise of choice.

How can you start small? Walk a block, run to your mail box or do 10 jumping jacks. There are so many ways to start small to see if you like that exercise. You can do the same thing with food. You have to try some different things to see what works best for you.

 

Dear Father,

I want to thank you for being our father that is loving and forgiving. I pray that you give us the wisdom to make even the smallest of decisions and help us to learn to me more decisive. Abba I pray that you continue to open our hearts allowing us to seek you with each choice that we must make, no matter how small or insignificant. Father I also ask that you continue to give us the love and strength we need each day.

Amen

Be careful little eyes what you see

"O be careful little eyes what you see, O be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above, He's looking down in love, So, be careful little eyes what you see."

There are times where I wonder if my kids are even listening to me. Those days where I feel all my kids hear is waawaawaaa(you know the adults on Charlie Brown)! Or perhaps going in one ear and out the other...

Though they may not "hear" you or "listen" to you, know they are watching you! Every time I take out our big dog (1/2 blue tick & 1/2 black lab) he likes to jump around, so I literally will stand, look out the door waiting for him to calm down and sit, then we will go outside. My youngest decided to take out the big dog this morning. He stood at the door looking out waiting for him to calm down and sit. He then proceeded to take him out side.

There will be those days, those moments where you wonder if you are even getting through, if they are learning anything...They are, we just need to stop and pay attention to those little moments.

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Chapter 5 – Behavior 2: Thoughts, Words & Habits – I Can’t Help it

I Can't Help it!

 

 

Joyce says “I can’t help what I think. The thoughts just come whether I want them or not.” So how many of you are shaking your head? Can we simply get an AMEN!!!

Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Another view from The Message “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” Let that sink in for just a moment. Your own words/thoughts can build you up or bring you down. You own words/thoughts has power and influence over you!!

“Words can build us up, Words can break us down. Start a fire in our hearts or Put it all out. Let my words be life, Let my words be truth. I don’t wanna say a word, Unless it points the world back to You.” Words – Hawk Nelson

My first husband was verbally abusive. Though not real bad or extreme, none the less it was there…planted. We separated in July 1999. At the beginning of 2013 it finally dawned on me that it had been about 14 years since I heard his negative words. Yet I was still carrying those negative thoughts in my brain, in my thought closet, ready to think all the time.

Joyce tells us that verbal affirmation helps us stop our negative thoughts. She explains she will verbally say what needs to be heard, and not the bad she is thinking. For the past few months, each time I think I can’t do something, or I am a failure, or they don’t like me, or even I am stupid, I verbally tell myself to stop and I then say something positive.

God is good! His words speak the truth to us!!

·        1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded (keep a cool head): be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

·        Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

·        2 Thessalonians 3:5 “Now may the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”

·         Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Ladies, those negative discouraging thoughts are not from our Father, they are lies to bring us down! The next time your thoughts go down the wrong path, “I cant do this, I am a failure, I will never lost weight, I am too busy to exercise…..Stop the thoughts, stop the words, and replace them with positive loving words. It’s not easy and it does take time, but it makes such a difference.

 

Abba,

I come to you now, thanking you for me the supportive loving father to each one of us. Father I pray that you will help us to both recognize our negative, discouraging thoughts and replace them with your positive loving words. Thank you for all you do for us and all you give us.

Amen

Who’s your nemesis and your protector?

Really who is your nemesis? A nemesis is defined as “a formidable and usually victorious rival or opponent” Perhaps nemesis isn’t the word you would use. How about that negative and/or nasty person. A boss, a spouse, an ex, a child, a teacher, etc.

David, in the Bible, had a foe, a nemesis named Saul. Saul wanted him dead. Now hopefully none of us have that type of foe!! However, though we may have a foe, there is also that one person – that friend, that person who is there. David had Jonathan, that one friend, that one loyal friend. Jonathan protected him from his dad, Saul.

Do you have that one person? During my first marriage, I had a good friend. She lived with my then brother-in-law (my ex-husband’s twin). We both understood the living with verbal abuse. Where I had to deal with the porn addiction, she had to deal with some physical abuse. We were there for each other, we listened to one another, we understood, and we stuck together. We consoled each other and eventually we supported each other in moving on.

Even though you may think you are alone and do not have that type of friend, that person, you do! You have an avenger, a protector… Jesus

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The last one picked

Matthew 19:30 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Matthew 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Luke 13:30 “And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Perhaps you were always picked last or even worked at a job where it seems others get preferential treatment, even though they have no clue as to what they are doing. How about those times in life where you feel that you are simply not good enough. Your insecurities have taken deep root you simply just do not feel able…inadequate. Always last, never good enough….

David was the youngest of his siblings and God chose him to be king! David grew up to be a murderer and an adulterer, and he was after God’s own heart.  Moses couldn’t speak well. Exodus 4:10 says “But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”” Yet it was Moses who led his people out of Egypt. Gideon was afraid. Rahad was a prostitute. Jonah ran from God. Peter denied Christ. Joseph was abused & imprisoned.

God tells us in 1 Sam 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him., For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

The next time you feel you are unable to fight the challenge, or that God can’t use you or that you are not that perfect Christian you have seen on TV, remember that God knows your heart, and God knows your abilities.

I have been there, and I have had many times of feeling inadequate for the task in front of me. Honestly, I have my degree in accounting, and even as I write this, I still find it difficult to call myself an accountant, I call myself a bookkeeper. With the experience & degree I am an accountant. I have let the remarks of people throughout my career linger in my mind, making me question my own abilities. It’s awesome when you are faced with a task that you feel you are unable to do, and God shows you that you can!

“It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason
For someone not to try

Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright

Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing”

- Kutless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1JBSQMkQEo

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What is your focus?

“Focus on giants – you stumble.”
“Focus on God – your giants tumble.” – Ma Lucado

This was in one of the books I am reading and I love it. The book talks about David & Goliath. David’s focus was on God – the armies of God and God would deliver Goliath into David’s hands. What is the giant in your life? Unemployment? Depression? Problems at home? Abuse? Abandonment? Rejection? Insecurities? The list can go on and on.

Life can through us some pretty nasty curveballs and the hard times can be down right rough. What is your focus? How about changing your focus to God? After all God conquered giants, called out kings, shut the mouths of lions and told the dead to breath. He parted the Red Sea! He made Paul a believer!

“You are I am” – MercyMe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JI4CPfuLW0

Give it to God – Focus on God!!

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Time to stop complaining

It seems lately that my 2 middle kids (daughters-16 & almost 18 - 20 months apart) are fighting more and more. You name it, they will fight over it. They get loud, and sometimes physical. The last fight they had, one wanted to take a shower and the other decided she was washing cloths...So you guessed it, fighting ensued. 

I can say I have complained about these 2 fighting lately and even prayed about it, asking what do I do. Then the "what ifs" started jumping in...what if they get mad, what if they think this, what if they think that? Yup I the parent really went down the road thinking what ifs. 

God reminded me of my own words this morning "Unless you are going to do something to change it, then don't complain about it." OUCH - Good Morning God! I have been complaining about those 2 fighting. I have been complaining about the attitude of the one getting ready to graduate. God asked "What have you done about it?" - OUCH again. Nothing....I have pushed it aside not wanting to deal with arguing, the attitude at that moment. Not wanting to make them "mad". Yes I have become the parent I have judged in the past.....

So I read Hebrews 12:11 "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

I wonder how many chances God has let us "slide" hoping we would just stop, or change our path? Waiting patiently before He steps in and disciplines us?

SM

What Provokes You?

http://www.make1break1.blogspot.com/

Day 3

What Provokes You? What an interesting question. What causes you to eat what you eat – when you eat it?

Most of us know what our “triggers” are when it comes to eating. I was a smoker for almost 18 years. I would smoke when I was bored, hungry, upset, before going to bed, driving in the car, and any other time. Honestly nothing helps hunger or boredom like a cigarette. Nothing calms the nerves like a cigarette. Well when I quite in August 2007, it seems food replaced my cigarettes. I now eat when I am bored or tired. I will grab those comfort foods when it seems there are not enough hours in the day. Much like smoking a cigarette, I will pick up the bad food just because it is there and I want it.  

So, like Joyce said, we need to figure out what provokes the habit and understand it. Then we can work towards avoiding the triggers and eventually removing the bad habit.  

Boredom and being tired still gets me, my triggers. Once in a while at bed time I will grab something to eat.

Figure out why, and then take the steps to avoid the trigger and then replace it with a healthy habit.  

Are you a bored eater? What can you do to remove the boredom?

Are you an emotional eater? Find time to pray to God first, before diving into the food. Then seek a friend to talk to.

Dear Abba,

I want to thank you for all that you continue to do for each of us and to thank you for always being there for us. Father I pray that you will open our eyes to help us to eliminate the triggers that cause us to make the wrong choices when it comes to food. I pray that you will continue to give us strength and direction as we chip away at our bad habits, replace our triggers, our bad habits with healthy ones that glorify you. Thank you for your never-ending love.

Amen