Lord, Direct my thoughts and my dreams. Direct me to the path you have chosen. In Your Name I Pray, Amen
Proverbs 20:4,7,11,13,20,21
Again I am reminded to renew my integrity (or to find it) and to not be lazy. I must remain patient and diligent. I must not rush things. Blessings are not rushed, they are cultivated. My children are young now and they try my patience even on my best days. But I must remember that God entrusted them to me to raise up to love him and to be intelligent, productive, God-fearing members of society. It is my job to train them, to teach them right from wrong and all the life skills that they will need in their future. I am equipped with this knowledge and I know that God will continue to guide my hands when need be.
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Proverbs 18
Lord, I come to you humble. I am at your mercy and I know that you are the one that meets our needs. I pray many blessings and forgiveness on those that I feel anger toward. I know that I must forgive them for my sake if not forget what they do. I ask for you to teach me with your word. In Your Name I Pray, Amen.
Again I was overwhelmed with the number of verses that spoke to me. I shall simply list them. Proverbs 18:1-2,8-10,21
I am constantly asking for alone time, seeing as how I am the mom of 4 kids, I have come to realize recently that I am alone. Not in the physical form, but in the emotional form. I am not connected to my family. I often feel as if it is them against me. However, I still speak angrily and sometimes downright ugly even to my 1 year old. This is going to stop. I took a look at my behavior (after reading this proverb). I looked at me as if a stranger looking at my family. And do you know what? I was appalled. There is no other word for it. Ok, you can add shocked, hurt, disturbed. After studying over this past month I have come to learn that I must go to the Lord with my troubles, that no one can change my world except me and God, and that my words are weapons. You would think that as a writer I would know that already. But it has taken a good spiritual slap in the face to really get me to see it. The one word that has been plaguing my last few days of study is: integrity.
Integrity: steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code; completeness, unity
Have you ever examined your life through a stranger's eyes? It's a brand new experience.
Again I was overwhelmed with the number of verses that spoke to me. I shall simply list them. Proverbs 18:1-2,8-10,21
I am constantly asking for alone time, seeing as how I am the mom of 4 kids, I have come to realize recently that I am alone. Not in the physical form, but in the emotional form. I am not connected to my family. I often feel as if it is them against me. However, I still speak angrily and sometimes downright ugly even to my 1 year old. This is going to stop. I took a look at my behavior (after reading this proverb). I looked at me as if a stranger looking at my family. And do you know what? I was appalled. There is no other word for it. Ok, you can add shocked, hurt, disturbed. After studying over this past month I have come to learn that I must go to the Lord with my troubles, that no one can change my world except me and God, and that my words are weapons. You would think that as a writer I would know that already. But it has taken a good spiritual slap in the face to really get me to see it. The one word that has been plaguing my last few days of study is: integrity.
Integrity: steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code; completeness, unity
Have you ever examined your life through a stranger's eyes? It's a brand new experience.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Proverbs 10
Lord, Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and for the wisdom that you have bestowed upon me lately. I eagerly await your voice speaking to my heart. In Your Name I Pray, Amen.
Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins."
Proverbs 10:17 "He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray."
What I have taken from this chapter is that wisdom and knowledge will bring you life and prosperity. Being hateful and mean will only cause death and destruction. Staying calm, using kindness and speaking in love will go a long way to help keep life peaceful and keep those around you feeling loved and wanted.I have a lot of work to do in order to keep my mouth in check. I often, really often let anger control my words. It is a horrible thing. Using my new found wisdom I hope to pay better attention to what I am going to say when I get mad. I guess I'll go back to my other saying "Stop. Breath. Think." As in think before I speak.
Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins."
Proverbs 10:17 "He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray."
What I have taken from this chapter is that wisdom and knowledge will bring you life and prosperity. Being hateful and mean will only cause death and destruction. Staying calm, using kindness and speaking in love will go a long way to help keep life peaceful and keep those around you feeling loved and wanted.I have a lot of work to do in order to keep my mouth in check. I often, really often let anger control my words. It is a horrible thing. Using my new found wisdom I hope to pay better attention to what I am going to say when I get mad. I guess I'll go back to my other saying "Stop. Breath. Think." As in think before I speak.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Proverbs 7
Lord, I come to you in search of wisdom and love.I pray for an open heart, an open mind and an open spirit. I want to open myself to you and be receptive to your words and your will. In Your Name I Pray, Amen.
Proverbs 7:25-27 "So not let your heart turn aside to her ways, So not stray into her paths; For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death."
I have taken this two ways. One is literal, in that it is best to educate our children in sexual matters. You cannot escape the dangers of adultery. You must guard your heart and mind from those that would seek to lure you away from your spouse.
The second way I read this is to say that we must guard ourselves against any temptation. Sex, food, money, etc. can be our downfall. Whatever becomes our obsession and takes us away from our families and from our spiritual relationship from God. We must also educate our children on the dangers and lures of different temptation.
Proverbs 7:25-27 "So not let your heart turn aside to her ways, So not stray into her paths; For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death."
I have taken this two ways. One is literal, in that it is best to educate our children in sexual matters. You cannot escape the dangers of adultery. You must guard your heart and mind from those that would seek to lure you away from your spouse.
The second way I read this is to say that we must guard ourselves against any temptation. Sex, food, money, etc. can be our downfall. Whatever becomes our obsession and takes us away from our families and from our spiritual relationship from God. We must also educate our children on the dangers and lures of different temptation.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Proverbs 6
Lord, Give me a heart to receive your instruction and to understand your wisdom. In Your Name I Pray, Amen
Proverbs 6:16-19
"These six things the Lord hates,Yes, seven are an abomination to Him; A proud look, a lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."
How many of us are guilty of any of these things? Raise your hands. Come on, you in the back too. We've all done one of these at one time or another. You've lied about how late you stayed out the night before or how much money you spent at the store the other day. How about being a Sunday Christian? Does your life show what you believe or do you just talk a good talk? I can talk about spirituality all day, but putting it into practice is a constant struggle. I must ask for help not only daily but sometimes hourly.
What I took away from Proverbs 6 as a whole was this: Your word is your bond, do not make a statement that you cannot follow through with. Laziness and idleness and failure to work show that you do not have God's wisdom and such lack of action will lead to poverty. In order to tell the character of a person, watch how they hold themselves, watch their body language. In the same respect, we must watch our own body language because it speaks volumes as to what type of person we are.
God hates anything that will hurt others, so before you speak or act think about how the other person will feel or react to your actions/words. Think of where they are coming from, why they might have said or did what they did, then react.
We cannot always control our environment, but we can control how we react to things. So the next time your three year old is spilling milk in the floor or raiding the refrigerator, don't yell, ask yourself why. Were you 'too busy' to get the little one something to drink? Are you 'busy' and it's lunch time? Was he/she just trying to help?
I think the best advice I have gotten about getting angry or frustrated came from the kids show "Blues Clues". They tell you to "Stop. Breath(take a deep breath). and Think." Now I don't always follow this thinking. Some days I don't follow it at all. But I believe it's something we should all strive for. Sometimes when I take my deep breath I say a little prayer "Lord help me through this". It's not muttered like a curse word, it's a heartfelt prayer. Amazingly I feel much more peaceful when I do say it.
Proverbs 6:16-19
"These six things the Lord hates,Yes, seven are an abomination to Him; A proud look, a lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."
How many of us are guilty of any of these things? Raise your hands. Come on, you in the back too. We've all done one of these at one time or another. You've lied about how late you stayed out the night before or how much money you spent at the store the other day. How about being a Sunday Christian? Does your life show what you believe or do you just talk a good talk? I can talk about spirituality all day, but putting it into practice is a constant struggle. I must ask for help not only daily but sometimes hourly.
What I took away from Proverbs 6 as a whole was this: Your word is your bond, do not make a statement that you cannot follow through with. Laziness and idleness and failure to work show that you do not have God's wisdom and such lack of action will lead to poverty. In order to tell the character of a person, watch how they hold themselves, watch their body language. In the same respect, we must watch our own body language because it speaks volumes as to what type of person we are.
God hates anything that will hurt others, so before you speak or act think about how the other person will feel or react to your actions/words. Think of where they are coming from, why they might have said or did what they did, then react.
We cannot always control our environment, but we can control how we react to things. So the next time your three year old is spilling milk in the floor or raiding the refrigerator, don't yell, ask yourself why. Were you 'too busy' to get the little one something to drink? Are you 'busy' and it's lunch time? Was he/she just trying to help?
I think the best advice I have gotten about getting angry or frustrated came from the kids show "Blues Clues". They tell you to "Stop. Breath(take a deep breath). and Think." Now I don't always follow this thinking. Some days I don't follow it at all. But I believe it's something we should all strive for. Sometimes when I take my deep breath I say a little prayer "Lord help me through this". It's not muttered like a curse word, it's a heartfelt prayer. Amazingly I feel much more peaceful when I do say it.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Proverbs 5
Lord, Open my heart and my mind. Help me to praise you and accept your guidance. I pray that I can keep your wisdom with me at all times. In Your Name I Pray, Amen.
Proverbs 5: 1-2
"My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge."
This whole Proverb is about resisting temptation. Keep your eyes and ears on God, do not give into temptation. The other man or lady may look attractive but they are someone you really don't know well and they will lead to your downfall. The other life may look better to you, as in being single instead of toughing it out in your marriage. It too will lead to your downfall. The grass always looks greener on the other side but it is an illusion. Because when you reach the other side, the side you started on will look greener. Stay the course with your family and lean on God's instruction. He will help us to tend the fields we live in and to nourish them so that our fields will be greener than any possible temptation around us.
I confess that there are times when I want to run away from my life. To leave everyone and everything I know behind. And then I realize that what I really want is a happier, more peaceful life with those I love. I can't get that by running away. I can only get that through hard work and through change. Changing me into a more peaceful and loving person so that those around me will become the same. Whatever spirit we send out is what is reflected to us. So if we send out anger and discourse then that is all that we will know. If we send out love, patience and kindness then we will receive it ten fold.
Proverbs 5: 1-2
"My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge."
This whole Proverb is about resisting temptation. Keep your eyes and ears on God, do not give into temptation. The other man or lady may look attractive but they are someone you really don't know well and they will lead to your downfall. The other life may look better to you, as in being single instead of toughing it out in your marriage. It too will lead to your downfall. The grass always looks greener on the other side but it is an illusion. Because when you reach the other side, the side you started on will look greener. Stay the course with your family and lean on God's instruction. He will help us to tend the fields we live in and to nourish them so that our fields will be greener than any possible temptation around us.
I confess that there are times when I want to run away from my life. To leave everyone and everything I know behind. And then I realize that what I really want is a happier, more peaceful life with those I love. I can't get that by running away. I can only get that through hard work and through change. Changing me into a more peaceful and loving person so that those around me will become the same. Whatever spirit we send out is what is reflected to us. So if we send out anger and discourse then that is all that we will know. If we send out love, patience and kindness then we will receive it ten fold.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Proverbs 3
Lord, I come to you with an open heart and an open mind. Fill them with your word, your spirit and your peace. In Your Name I Pray, Amen
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."
Do not be troubled in your heart. Listen to the Lord and He will guide us. Honor and trust in God and He will provide for our peace of mind. Keep mercy and truth in your heart. What came to mind when I read this Proverb was the old saying "Do as I say and not as I do". I had the epiphany that children almost never do what we say but they almost always do as we do.
Perhaps it's time for us to grow up. How do we want our children to act? Do we want them to be honest, trustworthy, kind, considerate, giving, humble? Now is the time for us to emulate those things. I want my children to be honest, trustworthy and compassionate. There are other things I want for my kids. So I plan on going through the qualities I want to instill in them and then start to examine my behavior as to how I can change and become the kind of person I want them to be along with the type of person I would like to be.
Again, to live by wisdom and knowledge, not by emotion.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."
Do not be troubled in your heart. Listen to the Lord and He will guide us. Honor and trust in God and He will provide for our peace of mind. Keep mercy and truth in your heart. What came to mind when I read this Proverb was the old saying "Do as I say and not as I do". I had the epiphany that children almost never do what we say but they almost always do as we do.
Perhaps it's time for us to grow up. How do we want our children to act? Do we want them to be honest, trustworthy, kind, considerate, giving, humble? Now is the time for us to emulate those things. I want my children to be honest, trustworthy and compassionate. There are other things I want for my kids. So I plan on going through the qualities I want to instill in them and then start to examine my behavior as to how I can change and become the kind of person I want them to be along with the type of person I would like to be.
Again, to live by wisdom and knowledge, not by emotion.
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