Cry Out.....

Do you ever just feel like crying out? Complaining? Do you give into it?

I do! Women, by nature, are emotional creatures. I, for some lovely reason, tend to be even more emotional than your Average Jane. This past weekend, I had a good cry. Thank God, it didn't turn into the ugly cry. And....my good cry just happened to be on the way to a double date with my hubby and some friends. Thankfully, I pulled it together before we got to the restaurant...though I am sure they were wondering why my eyes were red and I had no blush left!

I don't know if you feel the same, but I think it's okay to cry. Yep. I said it. Sometimes, we just have to give into those emotions. Let it out. Ya know?

This morning, as I was working on my Bible study....I was in Psalm 120. Psalm 120 starts off by saying...."In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me....."

Then, my study took me to Psalm 142:1-2...."I cry aloud to the Lord; I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him."

Isn't it a relief to know that we have been granted permission to cry out to the Lord? In my study, Beth (Moore) says...."Bringing our complaint before God is much more effective than dumping it on other people." Yet, how often do I dump my complaints onto my friends?! I will tell you how often.....nearly everyday! I actually recently wrote this verse on an index card and taped it to my computer....

"DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT COMPLAINING OR ARGUING."

-Phil. 2:14

Every time I sit down at the computer, I see this reminder. It's hard.....really hard.....for me not to complain or argue. But, I loved seeing in my study today that I have Someone who is always ready to listen....be it to my cries, or my complaints. I shall take them to Him....first! I challenge you to do the same!! Be blessed today...and cry out to Him if you need to. (Don't worry....it's okay to cry.)

This Could Be Bad!!

I found a delicious blog this morning and I wanted to share it with you! So kind of me, right?!

WARNING: It could be hazardous to your waistline.

www.bakeat350.blogspot.com

Enjoy!!

"Sticks And Stones....

...may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

The old saying is definitely not true for me. Wounds from words, and hurtful things said, stick to me like glue (like white on rice, like....well, you get the idea). I can remember things that others said to me 15+ years ago, that hurt me and/or made me feel stupid. And, you can be sure I remember what so-and-so said last week that cut deep(ly). I am sure that you can easily think of a time when someone said something to you that hurt you as well.

This morning, I said something hurtful to my husband. To be honest, I am not sure if he felt hurt by it or not, but as soon as I said it....I wished I could have taken it back. And...that's the thing about our words. Once they're out, there's no gettin' them back. I have heard the analogy before- about squeezing toothpaste out of the tube and then trying to get the toothpaste back into the tube. You can't do it. No matter how hard we may try to put that paste back, it's not going back into that tube. It's the same with our words. Once they are on our tongues...once they are spoken....it's too late to take them back.

"...the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person....." (James 3:5-6)

Hopefully, if you are like me and can remember hurtful words said to you, you have forgiven the person who said them. I have to admit that, at times, I will feel like I've forgiven a certain person and then something will "pop back up again," that hurt will resurface, and I have to forgive again. The Bible tells us that we are to keep forgiving.

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Eph. 4:32)

As usual, I am all over the place in this post....but the moral of the story is:

*Be mindful of what you say.

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness." (James 3:9)

*Think before you speak.

"Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."

(James 3:10)

*Forgive others who have hurt you.

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." (Matt. 6:14)

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Col. 3:13)

*Use your tongue to say loving and kind things.

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt..."

(Col. 4:6)

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

(1 Cor. 13:4-8a)

So, who's with me??! Go out and say something nice to someone today. Use that 'lil pie hole to bless. Be kind. Be loving. Be forgiving. For me, it's a moment by moment choice. And....today....this moment....I am trying to use my mouth for good.

...You've heard it here before and I'll say it again....my new "life" verse is:

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

(Psalm 19:14)

We've Got Some Teaching To Do Around Here....

Yesterday, we were happily driving along and Hudson was flipping through his Bible. He came to this page (of Noah building the ark) and said....

"Jesus likes to play bid-ee-oh games?!"

Um, yeah.....

This Kid....

..tells me he loves me in such cute ways!

Today, I got an "I love you"...made out of Legos!

He came into my room and told me not to peek. Then, he said, "Surprise!"

Too cute, this boy. He tests me daily....but I never doubt his love for me.

I love you, too, Bryson!!

My Ten Under $10

This is my list of ten (really cheap) essentials.....

These are items that you can find for under $10....and I use/eat/wear all of these items on a daily (or weekly) basis!! Enjoy!

#1= Carmex Cherry Stick

(Cheap. Fresh. It works! 'Nuf said!)

#2= Johnson's Baby Oil

(I use this as a CHEAP make up remover!!)

#3= Dial Body Wash- Lavender & Twilight

(This smells so yummy!! It leaves you feeling good n' clean!)

#4= Pentel EnerGel Pen- black

(Love the way this pen writes....smooth....thin line....aahhh!! They are somewhat hard to find, but you can get a 6 pack at Staples, so it'll last ya a while!)

#5= Sharpie Highlighter

(These highlight smoothly and are easy to use. They seem to last a long time and you can buy a two pack at Target for a buck! I like to use them in my Bible study books!)

#6= Neutrogena Norweigan Formula Hand Cream

(This stuff goes on nicely....you don't need very much...and it's not greasy!)

#7= K Cup....Donut Shop- by Coffee People

(Okay....so you do have to own a Keurig coffee maker to use the K Cups....but this coffee is yummy! My friend, Theresa, introduced it to me. I like a medium blend!)

#8= Fiber One 90 Calorie Bars- Chocolate Peanut Butter

(So yummy. So chewy. So low cal!)

#9= Streams In The Desert Devotional- by L.B. Cowman and James Reimann

(Okay...from Amazon it's $10.79- so I am kinda cheating. This is a small book of daily devotionals- originally printed in 1925...packed full of insightful "nuggets!" Mine is a revised edition!)

#10= Coffee-mate Sugar Free French Vanilla- liquid

(I love to put this in my Donut Shop coffee!! Yum! A little bit goes a long way!)

So, tell me....what are your ten?!

*I am thinking of doing a list of "ten over ten" and I can bet you that one will be easier!!*

(Please forgive my Coffee-mate picture. It doesn't feel like cooperating.)

Writing, Whining, and Winning The Battle....

Bryson hates writing (like...the actual act of it!). There's just no other way to put it. We have struggled all year long with his homework assignments that consist of any type of writing. I have spared you numerous, frustration-filled posts about it. Bryson is doing well in school and excels in math. I have no trouble getting him to do his math homework....but oh man, the spelling?? Well, you can just forget it! I have tried buying him special pencils, disciplining, taking things away, praising, and our most current technique....??....bribery. Think what you want, but for my own sanity, Josh and I had to come up with something that works. Each kid is different and we all parent in different ways as well. Don't judge me and I won't judge you. (Well, I might but I won't tell you to your face! I will just think it in my head!. It's the sinful nature in me. Okay....sorry. Back to the issue at hand.)

Writing. Ugh. Double Ugh.

A little over a month ago, you could have found me doing a number of different things....

....things such as: crying, praying, yelling (after an hour of not giving in to losing my patience), laying face down on the floor crying and praying.....calling a friend to vent about it, emailing B's teacher about it, and/or calling Josh and insisting that he come home and deal with the homework tantrum(s). I was at my wit's end. I had had enough. I was tired. Angry. Annoyed. Frustrated. Worn out. Worn down. And did I mention tired?

Well, for the past five weeks, it's been smooth sailing. Why?? Because Bryson was trying to earn a reward of some sort. He was told that he had to make it through a week without any fuss. Then, we made it a bit harder. He had to work for two weeks to earn the reward. At the end of this week, he will have worked for three weeks to earn his third reward. The reward at hand is so close, yet so far away....

Today, Bryson did his math papers with no problem. He started to melt down when I told him about the rest of the work he had to do. I reminded him that this was the "last" week he had to complete, to earn his reward (a DS game...his choice). He told me that he was really trying to not freak out and then....he asked me the most awesome thing...

"Mom, can you please pray with me?"

I was happy to oblige and could have kicked myself for not thinking to do that before my seven year old did. My boy constantly amazes me. We prayed together...him leaning on my shoulder, hugging me, trying not to cry- but slightly doing so....and then he went upstairs to finish his work. Before he left the room, B kissed me and told me how much he loved me....twice.

Bryson was able to finish up his homework....albeit with a few more reminders and some slight whining. When Bryson came downstairs with the last of his papers completed, there was something folded up on top of his work.

Thank You, Lord, for answering our prayers. Thank You for a successful day. Thank You for showing Yourself faithful not only to me, but to my kid. Thank You that hard work pays off. Thank You for the "fruit." Thank You for this boy of mine. Thank You that, for today....we won the battle.