Don't Copy the behavior of the world...

I recently bought a new devotional study that a good friend recommended.  Jesus Calling (Thanks Jenna)  It has the perfect words for me to read over my coffee each morning.  It doesn’t take long, but it’s always the right words for me on that day! 

Today is no different….one of the verses above.  It kind of relates to the Proverbs 31 woman things I have been reading.  You read that and think, “How can I ever measure up to her?”  This was written about one woman, not many.  We don’t have to measure up to each and every one of those standards though.  Unless our pursuit is for Him, then we can’t accomplish anything and still honor him. 

Am I living for God or living from Him. I can try to each of those things mentioned on my own willpower but it wouldn’t be unto God and that defeats the purpose.  Keep in mind that Proverbs 31 is an acrostic poem; from verse 10, each line begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. http://www.bible-researcher.com/acrostics.html  (it is said that a mother wrote this for her son, her desire for him). It is not a set of rules to follow.  Not everything written in the Bible should be literally, certainly in the books of wisdom.  It’s more of a learn by example.  Our focus should be on God and making our relationship with Him intentional and real.

With that I take a breathe of fresh air and know that God is in control and I just need to rely on Him and ask Him to help guide me by putting other Godly woman in my life, so we compliment each other.  I can learn so much from her wisdom.  (Thanks to those woman) ;) We all have some of those qualities in us, who cares if it’s not all of them.  We are not perfect, only God is!

So, in Top Ten Tuesday fashion…We are all more precious than rubies, unique and created for our husband!

Top Ten things I can do try and be like the Proverbs 31 woman:

1.   Franklin can trust me to love him always! (even when we get on each other’s nerves)

2.  I will be a hard worker and strive to do my best.

3.   I like to help others.

4.  I don’t fear the fierce season changes here in Florida, haha!  I can buy my family warm clothes. J (Easy)

5.  I can laugh without fearing the future, b/c I know it’s in God’s hands. He knows all, and we just need to do the best we can while we have the time here.

6.   My husband does praise me all the time, even though I brush it off.  I need to stop that and learn to say “thank you Honey!”

7.   I do fear the Lord, a respectful fear, not a judgmental fear.

8.  By a witness to those around me and share Jesus

9.  Give everything up to Jesus and follow Him, give it my all! (something I work on daily)

10. Be still and be in God's words, renewing my mind.

Lord, I will strive not to put idols before God, such as money, clothes, homes, etc.  I will be content knowing that God is in control and I will desire him, knowing he will keep me grounded from the idols of the world. Thank you for telling us we can’t be perfect, there is only one perfect one and that’s you.  Help me not to become lazy and conform to the “normal” of the world.  I don’t want to just fit in, make my attention unto you. Show me what you want from me.

Amen


posted on Many Little Blessings

Top Ten Tuesday- Inspirational Pinterest thoughts

Today I am sharing my Pinterest board of Inspirational…I have 10 things saved there and a few that really hit home today! I hope some of you find something you like and if you aren’t pinning yet, what are you waiting for!

1.

2.  10 ways to pray for hubby

3. Marriage tips on Monday, we can all use more of that!

4.30 questions to ask your kids each month, working on implementing this!

5. Remember we all deserve God's grace, just gotta believe

6. Matthew 6:24

7.  Cool way to spark conversation with your girls, sometimes it's easier to write it down

8.  Date night ideas!!!! Now we don't have to do the "I don't care, where do you want to go bit"

9.  always with you where you go, what a neat idea for wedding band. 

10.

I love my husband more than anything and need to remember not to let the silly things get in the way of loving him! 

  

Top 10 Tuesday, Favorite Websites

This week I am going to share with you my Top 10 Favorite websites.  I know, who has 10!  Well if you are like me and love finding new things, trying new things, drooling over photos, etc…then I do!!

I just wish I could do everything that I find on these sites.  I don’t necessarily look them everyday, but often enough!

TOP 10 {FAVORITE} websites

1. Pinterest, if you haven't been on there you are MISSING out!  Let me know and I will invite into the coolest site ever!  Keeps track of things you like, crafts, hair, fashion, house ideas, holidays, anything and everything you can think of!
2. Pioneer Woman, so many good ideas and great pictures, don't care if she's real or fake...I love the site!
3. who doesn't go on here?!  hello social media world
4. Such a fun place for ideas on crafting, decorating, etc., fun site!
5. Little Birdie Secrets
6. Free Pretty things for you, and who doesn't love the word free!!
7. iheartfaces, FUN photography board
8. another Fun photo board, gotta be a member
9. I love to drool over these things, just need a $$$ tree to afford it.
10. Food Network, I love watching their network and finding new things to make!!!

10 Inspiring Quotes

These are some of my favorite quotes...


1. Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

2. "Do what you can with what you've got wherever you are."


-Theodore Roosevelt

3. "Don't let yesterday use up too much of today."


-Will Rogers

4. "The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention."


-Author Unknown

5. "Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see."


-Mark Twain


6. "We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." 


-Mother Teresa

7. 
"In this life we cannot always do great things, but we can do small things with great love."


-Mother Teresa


8. 
 "Don’t count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count."


-Anonymous

9. I know god will not give me anything i can’t handle. i just wish he didn’t trust me so much.

- Mother Teresa

10. with god all things are possible

-matthew 19:26

Top Ten Tuesday

 

So since it's top ten Tuesday, I was trying to think of a theme list to come up with.

Then, I thought why not have a list of the Top Ten things I am BLESSED with.

I've really been trying to read God's words daily and put them into action in my everyday life.  Last night I was doing my bible verse reading for preparing for my Mission Trip.  I've read lots of bible verses, but for some reason, even though I've heard it a thousand and one times, it just grabbed at me last night.  I really plan on remembering this one each day and walk in it.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and  Love your neighbor as yourself."

Luke 10:27

Made me about all the reasons to feel blessed and how I need to work on being able to pass blessings onto other people all the time and to remember that I when I go to Eleuthera in 10 days.  I am not trying to sound snobby, nor do I think of myself in a way that I am better than those down there, but I want to know how to talk to them and be able to relate, b/c in the end we all have the same needs!

My Top 10 reasons I am Blessed:

1. I have amazing parents, couldn't of asked for better!  They have raised 4 successful children and we all get along and have fun when we get together.

2. I have an awesome Mother and Father-in-law.  I really know how much I appreciate them and love how giving and loving they really are.  They have the most amazing hearts.

3. On the note of my in-laws, they gave me a truly Amazing man, that I call my hubby.  I love him so much, he's a hard worker.  I respect all the effort he puts into his job to provide for his family.  So much of their business rides on his shoulders and he does it ALL!  What a great man!

4. Being that I have a Great hubby, God also blessed me with a man to call my girls, ours!  I am blessed that we were given 4 wonderful little chickies, healthy and beautiful!

5. I am blessed with 2 brothers and a sister who I cherish each and every day all for different reasons.  I want them to know how special they are to me and I would do anything for them!  (They have great spouses too)

6. I am blessed with fun friends!  I am able to count on them in a pinch and hope they know they can always count on me too, whenever needed!

7. I am blessed to have a church to call home!  We have made some great connections there, and pray that we continue to grow in our relationships.

8. I am blessed to have freedom! I can't imagine life without it.

9. I am blessed to have a bible that I can open up and read whenever I feel like it.  God can lead to me to just what I need to read too, no matter if I want to hear it or not.

10. I am most blessed to call this crazy life mine!  I get to live it out each and every day!!!!!

Top Ten Tuesday

Dear Lord,

I’m the rule maker.

The one who makes them wash their hands 100x’s and eat their vegetables.

I am their teacher.

I say “NO”, a lot.

And sometimes, that is the right thing to say.

But what I really want to be, is the one who captures their hearts and turns them to You.

Who I really want to be, is a mom who has time to make cookies, play games, and read books all day long.

What I want to say more is, “Yes! Let’s have fun today. Let’s
forget the chores, they can wait”

And put aside my chores, my to-do list, my grown up things and enjoy this precious time I have with them.

Because tomorrow, they will be grown.

And I will not have a chance to do these things with them.

I’m not sure where this in Your Word exactly, but I know you are a God who loves relationship.

And You did make it a point to let the children come to you.Matthew 19:14 (NLT)

So, would you make me, this mom, a fun mom?

Let my children remember me:  Smiling. Chasing. Dreaming. And having fun with them.

Amen.

After reading this prayer from Stacey @ Mod Squad, it brought tears to my eyes.  I was just pouring my heart out to Franklin the other day.  I feel like I am a “bad” Mom, and I worry too much about the to-do list.  I have to remind myself that when they get older they won’t remember how much dust was under the couch or that the dishes sat in the sink that day.  What matters most is building a beautiful relationship with my daughters and that they know I will be here to have fun, no matter what. 

I know that my girls need to learn lessons, but doing it in a way that is formative instruction, meaning I am doing in God’s way to shape and form them.  Yes, they need discipline and I will give them that, but I want them to understand why it is they need it…to be blessed, protected and loved by all.  It’s for their own good. 

My Top Ten Tuesday

In honor of my girls, it’s all about them!

1.    I love the way they laugh with each other while playing.

2.   I love how “motherly” Mabs and Ev can be with Gretch and V.

3.   I love to watch them sleep, they are so peaceful and content.

4.  I love how Mabs loves to read, she loves books.

5.  I love to watch Ev and G play babies, being little girls.

6.  I love when V dresses out in purple and says she’s a “purple girl.”

7.   I love how much they enjoy going to church on Wednesday’s and Sunday’s.  It makes my heart happy.

8.  I love hearing how well behaved they are when we are out.  (even though they save the attitudes for Mama) 

9.   I love that can be flexible and share with friends.

10.  I love how they are all different, vibrant, beautiful, God’s little girls growing into little ladies.






Just want to leave you with pics of my little chickies...oldest to youngest!

Mabel

Evelyn

Gretchen

 Vera