Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. Romans 12:15
According to this week's reflection, envy is the feeling we get when we want what someone else has -- whether that's some superior quality or achievement, relationship, or possession - and desire it for ourselves. Wow - do you ever feel this way? I know that I do. Are you ever envious of your friends house, car, family, agreeable toddler, etc. The definition of envy immediately brings to mind one of the 10 Commandments - do not covet your neighbors belongings. (Exodus 20:17) Although God instructs us not to covet or envy others, we naturally do.
Envy can be harmful. As the desire for more - a bigger home, a better car, more money can cause people to act irrationally, destroy relationships, and dissolve families. We all need to take heed and take a minute when we begin to envy what others may have (myself included). The reflection notes that one woman deals with envy by focusing on the person who has the things she wants and instead of being envious, being thankful for them. I would like to try to implement that practice in my life. Pray for and be thankful for those persons that you envy. If this is a challenge for you be sure to ask for God's help.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Emotions
A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones. Proverbs 14:30
The NIV speaks about a heart at peace instead of a sound mind. I really liked that interpretation. I like to think of myself being at peace with my emotions. Knowing how to say the right things even when I am angry. Calmly telling my child that he cannot get down and run around the restaurant for the fifth time. Sweetly explaining to my husband that I don’t feel like picking up in the house (or any extra-curricular activities) because I treated 14 patients that day. Real world: I lose my temper and then blame it on hormones, eat some ice cream and then go to bed still a little angry. The author is correct that this is not good for our bodies. It is also not good for our relationships. We must take responsibility for our emotions. I completed a great study of the book, The Lies Women Tell. It was so convicting. We really can calm down and react with sanity when the world seems to be falling apart. And we cannot continue the blame game. We are in charge of our emotions.
I love the $100 offer to behave! I know I could do it…so why can’t I do it just for my health and the health of my relationships? We have become slaves to feelings, believing that God made women to be emotional. Maybe that is true, but we know that doesn’t include temper tantrums. That’s what God made toddlers for! Looking at Galatians 5:22-23, I am certainly lacking in patience, gentleness, and self-control. I know I can’t be perfect at any of these. But God doesn’t ask for that. They are fruits of the Spirit. They are what happens when you listen to the Holy Spirit (that little voice telling you when to shut your mouth or when to speak up). I encourage you to read The Shack if you need some perspective on the role of the Holy Spirit in your life
Lastly, a quick update on Angel Touch. We have decided to offer our first monthly support meeting this Thursday night. We will decide from attendance if this is a need at our church. Please pray that I will listen to the Spirit and discover what God wants me to do with this ministry. Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers! By the way, I would love for you to join me in lifting up a sweet little girl who had heart surgery this past week. Her name is Cara Conn and you can read more about her at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/caraconn. Thank you and have a great week!
The NIV speaks about a heart at peace instead of a sound mind. I really liked that interpretation. I like to think of myself being at peace with my emotions. Knowing how to say the right things even when I am angry. Calmly telling my child that he cannot get down and run around the restaurant for the fifth time. Sweetly explaining to my husband that I don’t feel like picking up in the house (or any extra-curricular activities) because I treated 14 patients that day. Real world: I lose my temper and then blame it on hormones, eat some ice cream and then go to bed still a little angry. The author is correct that this is not good for our bodies. It is also not good for our relationships. We must take responsibility for our emotions. I completed a great study of the book, The Lies Women Tell. It was so convicting. We really can calm down and react with sanity when the world seems to be falling apart. And we cannot continue the blame game. We are in charge of our emotions.
I love the $100 offer to behave! I know I could do it…so why can’t I do it just for my health and the health of my relationships? We have become slaves to feelings, believing that God made women to be emotional. Maybe that is true, but we know that doesn’t include temper tantrums. That’s what God made toddlers for! Looking at Galatians 5:22-23, I am certainly lacking in patience, gentleness, and self-control. I know I can’t be perfect at any of these. But God doesn’t ask for that. They are fruits of the Spirit. They are what happens when you listen to the Holy Spirit (that little voice telling you when to shut your mouth or when to speak up). I encourage you to read The Shack if you need some perspective on the role of the Holy Spirit in your life
Lastly, a quick update on Angel Touch. We have decided to offer our first monthly support meeting this Thursday night. We will decide from attendance if this is a need at our church. Please pray that I will listen to the Spirit and discover what God wants me to do with this ministry. Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers! By the way, I would love for you to join me in lifting up a sweet little girl who had heart surgery this past week. Her name is Cara Conn and you can read more about her at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/caraconn. Thank you and have a great week!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Dreams
Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God - that's where your future lies. Then you won't be left with an armload of nothing. Proverbs 23:17-18
From this week's reflection regarding dreams, two things really resonated with me. First, the reflection reminds us that God has hopes and dreams for us. "He wants good for you, not evil." What a pleasant reminder. I often focus on what my dreams are for myself and forget that God has dreams for me as well. Perhaps I should pray that God shows me the way to those hopes and dreams rather than getting bogged down with how am "I" going to achieve my hopes and dreams. This is quite applicable in my life right now. Sometimes I grapple with working part-time, which I love, and spending four days a week with Owen - what a treat! I find myself not quite challenged at work and wanting to climb that corporate ladder, but I think that is not God's plan for me right now. God has given me a beautiful child (and one more on the way) and wants me to focus on energies on the challenges (and joys) of raising children rather than the being bogged down at work.
Through this week's reflection, I was also reminder to "not overlook the present good." As the reading says it is tempting to dream about good things in the future. Yet, this week, stop for a minute to look at a few things in your life that are actually your dreams come true and thank God for such goodness of dreams fulfilled. For me, I think God for my husband, who is a better man than I could have ever dreamed up... and I thank God for my son who brings me more joy than I could have ever dreamed of.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Discipline
If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—how shortsighted to refuse correction! Proverbs 12:1
When I was in PT school, my days were mapped out for me. I had class all day and studied anytime I was not in class. I knew when I would eat and what time I hoped to go to sleep. I had Wednesdays off, so that was my day to clean the house. Granted, I was only cleaning up after 2 then, but I even found time to exercise and go shopping when I needed groceries. My current life is spinning out of control, and I crave that discipline and that planner with every single moment written down and accounted for!
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Kids crave discipline”? I think adults do, too. We like to enjoy a clean house and feel good about our toned bodies. We don’t, however, like the work involved in getting there. We don’t like to be told what to do…even if we are our own drill sergeant. But we do so much better when we have a schedule and stick to it. Just like our little ones, we thrive when we go to sleep and wake up at the same time. Although those sleep in days are nice, just think of all that could be done in that extra hour or two!
But let’s pause a moment and be realistic. There are certainly 2 ends of the spectrum. Please don’t try to micro-manage your life until you miss out on all the fun of raising kids. Sometimes you just have to ditch your plans to scrub the sink when that cute little one comes up to you with book in hand saying, “Mommy wead”. Do set some goals, do make some lists, and definitely cross one off each day you can. But don’t forget the excitement that comes with a spontaneous trip to the park on a sunny day or a spur of the moment ice cream cone…even if it means a little more to clean up!
These days are already passing so quickly. Parker and your children won’t remember the sparkling floors or Mommy’s toned arms. They will remember rolling around on the floor (which you have crossed off your list as clean enough to roll around on). And they will remember being lifted onto the slide by Mommy (who crossed a kick-boxing class off her list to get those strong arms). So make your lists, cross them off, and get to work!
When I was in PT school, my days were mapped out for me. I had class all day and studied anytime I was not in class. I knew when I would eat and what time I hoped to go to sleep. I had Wednesdays off, so that was my day to clean the house. Granted, I was only cleaning up after 2 then, but I even found time to exercise and go shopping when I needed groceries. My current life is spinning out of control, and I crave that discipline and that planner with every single moment written down and accounted for!
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Kids crave discipline”? I think adults do, too. We like to enjoy a clean house and feel good about our toned bodies. We don’t, however, like the work involved in getting there. We don’t like to be told what to do…even if we are our own drill sergeant. But we do so much better when we have a schedule and stick to it. Just like our little ones, we thrive when we go to sleep and wake up at the same time. Although those sleep in days are nice, just think of all that could be done in that extra hour or two!
But let’s pause a moment and be realistic. There are certainly 2 ends of the spectrum. Please don’t try to micro-manage your life until you miss out on all the fun of raising kids. Sometimes you just have to ditch your plans to scrub the sink when that cute little one comes up to you with book in hand saying, “Mommy wead”. Do set some goals, do make some lists, and definitely cross one off each day you can. But don’t forget the excitement that comes with a spontaneous trip to the park on a sunny day or a spur of the moment ice cream cone…even if it means a little more to clean up!
These days are already passing so quickly. Parker and your children won’t remember the sparkling floors or Mommy’s toned arms. They will remember rolling around on the floor (which you have crossed off your list as clean enough to roll around on). And they will remember being lifted onto the slide by Mommy (who crossed a kick-boxing class off her list to get those strong arms). So make your lists, cross them off, and get to work!
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