Lovely Little Blessings – 5/8/13

Posted on May 8, 2013 by bethp146

“When upon life’s billows you are temptest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And if will surprise you what the Lord hath done”

Because sometimes you are just having a blah day/week/month and you can barely keep your eyes open because you haven’t been sleeping well and nothing major is wrong but you could easily write a post full of whining anyway but instead you write a terrible and long run-on sentence that makes your English major heart cringe all because you just want to say that you realize you are blessed, so blessed. These are the things I’m particularly thankful for these days – my lovely little blessings:

a hard working husband. I don’t know how he has kept up the pace he’s been on lately. I couldn’t do it. He never complains, and I’m just so proud of him.

today’s sunshine

not having to water the yard because of all the rain we’ve had lately

not having to run the air conditioner much because of how cool it’s been. Those high utility bills and humid Alabama summer days will come soon enough.

health

good friends

getting to celebrate those we love. It’s the time of year for weddings, holidays to honor parents, and graduations.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Isaiah 55:9

these two:

What are you thankful for?

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“Where You Invest Your Love, You Invest Your Life”

Posted on March 20, 2013 by bethp146

Oh, Mumford & Sons. While I can’t endorse all of their lyrics, they do have a knack for hitting the nail on the head. As I’ve been brainstorming ideas for the Manage It Monday series, I have thought a lot about priorities. This quote popped into my head while doodling out some ideas. Isn’t it just so true? Think about it.

Relationships
When you pour your whole heart into your relationships with others, you are investing. We all know the “do unto others” Golden Rule. Matthew 7:12 tells us “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Showing your family and friends that you care about them is important. So is telling them often. A little love can go a long way. We can show love to our family, our brothers and sisters in Christ, our friends, acquaintances, and even perfect strangers. By doing so, we invest in a rich life full of people we love. Nothing beats that support system, mutual respect, and closeness with others.

Faith
Likewise, by loving God with all your heart as instructed in Mark 12:30, you are making a type of investment. You are investing in your spiritual life and relationship with God on earth. You’re also investing in your eternal life.

Money
The way we spend our money tells us a lot about where our hearts truly are. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with money or material blessings, but we have to always be careful of what our focus is. Do we love our money, our clothes, and our gadgets to the point where other aspects of our lives are suffering? Are we investing on silly things that we can’t take with us? Matthew 6:20 says “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Time
This is a big one for me and what got me started thinking about this subject in the first place. What we spend our time doing shows what we love and value. Yet, there are things that I claim to love that I don’t invest any time on. I need to make time for things I love, but like everything else, it’s a balancing act. Do we invest our time on the right things?

Where are you investing your love?

Praying Through It

Posted on March 14, 2013 by bethp146

I took my last dose of anti-anxiety medicine in late October. It was a hard decision, but I felt good about it. I was doing great, and I felt like I didn’t need it as much as I definitely did post-tornado. The transition went well, and I didn’t notice much of a difference. I was taking a very low dose anyway. There were a few days in late November where I felt like I might need to start taking it again, but I made it through that rough patch medicine free. I say all this just to give some background info for this post.

Over the past month and a half, I’ve felt the anxiety creep back in to my life. Sleepless nights full of worry, being nervous in large groups, short moments where I feel a little panicked, stomach problems, headaches, and just generally feeling stressed have all been unwelcome guests. I’m tired, but I try so hard not to complain. I think it has just come with the territory of busy days and stressful times. One positive thing about the past few years is that I know myself now and I know I can handle this. I don’t want this to be my excuse not to do what I need and want to do. This week, I made a new promise to myself.

The truth is, I have a very blessed life. I have such a good support system in my family and friends. There are people in my life who would do anything for me. I know this. I also know that I have a Heavenly Father who is also on my side. I’ve been confessing for years that I don’t pray enough. I have good intentions, but I never take steps to change. Lately though I’ve been working to improve my prayer life, and it’s been a good thing. My new promise to myself is this, I’m going to stop being self-centered by thinking I can do this on my own. I’m going to lean on the Lord. When anxious feelings come, I know what to do. I’m just going to keep praying. I’m going to spend time in His Word. I’m going to take care of myself. You know what? I already feel a little better.

There may be a time in the future when I need a little bit of help from the medicine again. For now, I’m just going to keep praying through it.

God’s Family

Posted on February 11, 2013 by bethp146

Recently we unexpectedly lost someone special to my little family. He was a great influence on M’s life and very loved by many people. We have been so sad, but we have comfort in knowing the kind of life he lived. I have been reminded over the past couple weeks just how special it is to be a part of God’s family.

So today, I want to say thank you to all the wonderful people in our life. We have been so blessed. I love you all muches!

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16

“And sometimes we laugh together, sometimes we cry. Sometimes we share together heartaches and sighs. Sometimes we dream together of how it will be, when we all get to Heaven, God’s family.”

Favorite Verses: Psalm 62:5-8

Posted on January 16, 2013 by bethp146

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah ” (Psalm 62:5-8 ESV)

I guess you could say these verses of mine weren’t favorites of mine until yesterday. I had another verse in mind, but found this passage instead when I was searching for verses with the word trust. There’s so much darkness in the world today. I need the reminder to put my trust in Him. No recession or tax increase or immorality or loss of liberty can shake our foundation when we trust in the Lord. I would rather trust in Him than things of this world!

Favorite Verses About Thanksgiving

Posted on November 21, 2012 by bethp146

And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening, (1 Chronicles 23:30 ESV)

I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving. (Psalm 69:30 ESV)

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:1-3 ESV)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6 ESV)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, (1 Timothy 2:1 ESV)

We can’t separate our gratitude from God, because He is the source of all our blessings!

Favorite verses: Galatians 4:4-7

Posted on November 14, 2012 by bethp146

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God”(Galatians 4:4-7 ESV)

Adoption is a subject that is still often on my mind. I don’t talk much about it because it seems such a long way in our future. Sometimes I stop what I’m doing and say a quick prayer for birth mothers and agencies, and children waiting for a home.

Adoption is close to my heart because of M, but I also am adopted. As a Christian, I am a child of God. And that’s a wonderful thing!

Favorite Verses – Philippians 2:4-8

Posted on October 17, 2012 by bethp146

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:4-8 ESV)

As Christians, we have to have the attitude of a servant. We are all servants. Having the mindset of looking out for the best interests of others rather than ourselves is how we can follow Christ’s example. I want to be a better servant of Christ today!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Love,
Beth

Abiding in Christ

Posted on October 5, 2012 by bethp146

It’s been a while since I have written a faith post. Today I thought I would post about something that has been mulling it around in my head lately. I recently finished a personal topical Bible study on the word “abide”. I love the search on the YouVersion app because it gives results that relate to a concept even if the verse doesn’t contain the exact word you searched for. Anyway, I leaned and gained so much from this study.

The word abide has several different meanings. As a verb, abide means “to endure”. Other definitions given by Webster’s are “to remain stable or fixed in a state” and “continue in a place”.

What does it mean to abide in Christ? As Christians, we must abide in Him. Jesus is speaking in John 15:4 when He says “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4 ESV). We cannot be productive, fruitful Christians without abiding in Christ. We must continue in Christ. To abide in Christ, we abide in His love. This truth is spoken by Jesus later in the same chapter. John 15:9 says “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”

Abiding in Christ is a relationship. We can’t just say we are in Christ. We have to keep His commandments. 1 John 3:24a says “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him.” So to continue in this relationship we have to keep on obeying God, loving Him, and loving our neighbor.

I’m going to end this post with a verse that shows what a blessing it is that we can have a relationship with Christ. We can have confidence and assurance. I know I’m not worthy, and I’m thankful for His grace and love. There is nowhere I would rather be than abiding in Christ!

“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”(1 John 2:28 ESV)

Putting my money where my mouth is

Posted on October 1, 2012 by bethp146

Obviously I needed to buy a yoga mat and DVD right away if I was going to be successful at getting healthy. That’s what I told myself as I pulled into the Target parking lot. I left the store excited about the cute chocolate brown and teal mat and the thrill of something new. I had already written “yoga” on the day’s to do list. I felt good. I was going to get it done.

My happy, let’s do this attitude didn’t last long. On my way home from work that day, I started feeling guilty about not sticking to the budget I had just created for myself earlier that week. My thoughts turned to shame as I thought about how much money I can spend on trivial things. The truth is, I’ve gotten really good at convincing myself that I need something.

I’ve always dismissed materialism as one of those sins I don’t have a problem with. After all, it’s okay to have things. I know the difference between having things and knowing who my real priority is. I never thought of myself as someone who focused on stuff until that day driving home. I started to realize how much emphasis I’ve put lately on buying and shopping and having. Jokingly, I’ve called myself a shopaholic before, but I never thought it was a serious problem. As my guilt increased over that yoga mat and DVD, the truth hit me in the face – if I wasn’t careful, materialism was going to continue to take over my life.

It was heavy stuff for a Thursday afternoon drive home. Me being materialistic is not just because I bought a yoga mat. It’s because of all I’ve spent this year on little things and even some big things. Now, I’m not saying that we are going bankrupt because of my spending habits. I know I’m not out of control, but I’m worse than I should be. This is one of those little things that I realized could add up and cause a big problem. I thought I was just fine. I thought I wasn’t materialistic – Satan and the world of advertising and blogs had convinced me I was fine. Satan is tricky like that.

After thinking some more, I realized that my real problem lied in where my focus was. I wasn’t being a good steward of money. I claim my two top priorities are God and my family. I haven’t put my money where my mouth is like I should. That $39 I spent at Target could have been used for so many other things. At the beginning of the year, I made it a goal to save this year for our future family. I’ve failed miserably. I knew it was time to focus less on stuff and more on our future.

I did what I needed to do. I stopped at Target to return the yoga mat and DVD. When I got home, I put leashes on Bailey and Charlie and took them for a walk instead of doing the yoga I had planned. It was the best walk.

Have you ever realized you’ve had a problem with something you didn’t think you did?

Love You Muches

documenting this lovely southern life

Category Archives: Faith