My daughter, my constant companion is sleeping peacefully. I am so thankful that she still takes a nap. A couple of hours without my shadow is a nice break. This generally means my son hovers for two hours unless he is outside. Today - hovering. Such is my life :)
A few days ago my daughter walks up very excited about something
"MOM!" Pause "I can hear something in my tummy!" hehehehehe
Then she proceeds to jump up and down - A LOT - apparently she downed her entire serving of milk in one gulp. The jumping was then followed by...
"I don't feel very good"
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
* Light at the End of the Tunnel
I have not posted in such a long time I can not say how long it has been. This lack of knowledge is odd since numbers are my thing. Rest assured that after I hit post I will scroll back and look at the elapsed time. I picked on a friend of mine once for delaying his blog posts and in the way of things I am now doing the same I griped about. My brain is now returning to a level where it can think of random bloggable things. For the past month I could think of little else beside the facts that Judah was in China, my dad potentially had some very nasty health issues, and my son's yearbook was due.
Now however "I can see clearly now..." because Judah returned home last night, my dad's tests took an unexpected happy outcome last week, and I picked up the first printing of the yearbook today. My brain is also flowing easier due to the cleanliness of my home, which I spent two days working on prior to Judah's arrival home. There were no dirty clothes AT ALL until he dumped his suitcase out. No dirty dishes, except for the plate I passed on my way in today from Judah being at home this morning. It is easier to think when the laundry is done. There is no lurking little chore in the back of my mind screaming to be done. Perfect time for a nap. Naps are best taken when there is nothing else to do, nothing looming on the horizon for the moment you awake.
I am breathing much deeper and even the amazing fullness on my calendar can not depress me today.
Now however "I can see clearly now..." because Judah returned home last night, my dad's tests took an unexpected happy outcome last week, and I picked up the first printing of the yearbook today. My brain is also flowing easier due to the cleanliness of my home, which I spent two days working on prior to Judah's arrival home. There were no dirty clothes AT ALL until he dumped his suitcase out. No dirty dishes, except for the plate I passed on my way in today from Judah being at home this morning. It is easier to think when the laundry is done. There is no lurking little chore in the back of my mind screaming to be done. Perfect time for a nap. Naps are best taken when there is nothing else to do, nothing looming on the horizon for the moment you awake.
I am breathing much deeper and even the amazing fullness on my calendar can not depress me today.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Power of Positive Thinking
Today's podcast came from Philippians 4: 8 and 9 - "... Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you." (NLT)
I don't know if you are like me, but I tend to read the bible, one book at a time. Unless I am studying for a class or lecture, I tend to "read" through the books. I'll be honest: I have read through Philippians numerous times. Its a short read, so I feel good when I read it. But even with all those readings, I have looked over the power of these two verses. I liked this sermon today, because he took two verses, and really showed what Paul is trying to say about it is simply the way to be Christian.
We get frustrated when things don't go our way when we don't focus on the right things. We focus on things that really, are just not important. We "major in the minors". "Why didn't I get that job promotion?" "Why am I fat?" "Why did she marry him, and not me?" "Why don't we sing these songs, instead of those songs?"
If we focus on the right things (pure, honorable, lovely, etc.) and do the right things (live the way Jesus did) then we will be blessed. However, when we get fixated on things that just don't matter, and start acting in ways that are not Christ like, we won't be blessed. In short, when we focus on thoughts and ideas from God, and act the way He has called us to be, our lives will be much calmer and at peace. We will "tend" to not make mistakes that lead to anxiety. Will our lives be perfect? No. Will God give us everything we ask for? Of course not. He will provide for our needs, and our lives will be blessed because we will not worry about this life. God is in control.
I am reminded of one of my favorite bible stories: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3). These three boys face a fiery furnace, because they will not bow down and worship a statue. Right before they are thrown in the boys reply, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty. But even if He doesn't, your majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up." I love that.
God doesn't bless with worldly possession, just because. He blesses us with lives that are at peace in the World, because we have accepted His plan. We have peace, therefore, we are not worried about decisions we make. When we worry or are anxious, we tend to make irrational decisions. Our lives start to feel like we are not blessed. When we think clearly, we are able to make more rational decisions. our lives begin to feel blessed.
When we don't focus on things that are true, noble, or lovely, we tend to start looking at the world as if it owes us something. We start focusing on the little things. "I deserve better than that". "I can't believe she said that about me". "This church doesn't satisfy my needs". We also begin to take in images, sounds, and feelings from our surroundings that have no positive impact in our life as a way of release. Our life is not blessed. There is no peace. We must do something to "get a way."
Its quite simple really: If its not good, pure, honorable, lovely, peaceful, etc. then don't watch it. don't read it it. Don't surf to it. Don't say it. Don't do it. If you do, your life won't be blessed. Doing these things might be a release. They might let you "get away" for a while". But your life will not be blessed the way it was intended.
Think on things that are true, pure, and lovely. Do the things that Jesus calls us to do, and your life will be less stressed. With less stress, you are more likely to make smarter decisions about the tasks that have been laid before you.
I don't know if you are like me, but I tend to read the bible, one book at a time. Unless I am studying for a class or lecture, I tend to "read" through the books. I'll be honest: I have read through Philippians numerous times. Its a short read, so I feel good when I read it. But even with all those readings, I have looked over the power of these two verses. I liked this sermon today, because he took two verses, and really showed what Paul is trying to say about it is simply the way to be Christian.
We get frustrated when things don't go our way when we don't focus on the right things. We focus on things that really, are just not important. We "major in the minors". "Why didn't I get that job promotion?" "Why am I fat?" "Why did she marry him, and not me?" "Why don't we sing these songs, instead of those songs?"
If we focus on the right things (pure, honorable, lovely, etc.) and do the right things (live the way Jesus did) then we will be blessed. However, when we get fixated on things that just don't matter, and start acting in ways that are not Christ like, we won't be blessed. In short, when we focus on thoughts and ideas from God, and act the way He has called us to be, our lives will be much calmer and at peace. We will "tend" to not make mistakes that lead to anxiety. Will our lives be perfect? No. Will God give us everything we ask for? Of course not. He will provide for our needs, and our lives will be blessed because we will not worry about this life. God is in control.
I am reminded of one of my favorite bible stories: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3). These three boys face a fiery furnace, because they will not bow down and worship a statue. Right before they are thrown in the boys reply, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty. But even if He doesn't, your majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up." I love that.
God doesn't bless with worldly possession, just because. He blesses us with lives that are at peace in the World, because we have accepted His plan. We have peace, therefore, we are not worried about decisions we make. When we worry or are anxious, we tend to make irrational decisions. Our lives start to feel like we are not blessed. When we think clearly, we are able to make more rational decisions. our lives begin to feel blessed.
When we don't focus on things that are true, noble, or lovely, we tend to start looking at the world as if it owes us something. We start focusing on the little things. "I deserve better than that". "I can't believe she said that about me". "This church doesn't satisfy my needs". We also begin to take in images, sounds, and feelings from our surroundings that have no positive impact in our life as a way of release. Our life is not blessed. There is no peace. We must do something to "get a way."
Its quite simple really: If its not good, pure, honorable, lovely, peaceful, etc. then don't watch it. don't read it it. Don't surf to it. Don't say it. Don't do it. If you do, your life won't be blessed. Doing these things might be a release. They might let you "get away" for a while". But your life will not be blessed the way it was intended.
Think on things that are true, pure, and lovely. Do the things that Jesus calls us to do, and your life will be less stressed. With less stress, you are more likely to make smarter decisions about the tasks that have been laid before you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)