Confession

Okay, so I have to admit something.  On Wednesday of this week I had a complete and total pity party for myself.  My bad mood pretty much consumed me the entire day, from the moment I woke until the moment I went to bed..  Do you ever have those days?  I just felt stressed and so sorry for myself.  Why?  I have no idea!

Here is what I do know.  On Wednesday, I decided to make a few changes.

1. Get back to reading a chapter of Proverbs a day.  I had been in a slump and putting it off.  There was no good reason, only excuses of busyness.  To be honest, I just got LAZY, and I truly believe that the reason I felt so awful on Wednesday was a result of me not being in the word.  I already feel more rested than I did on Wednesday.
2. Begin taking a multi-vitamin.  I have NEVER been good at this.  Taking pills is not hard for me, I have just never liked it.  I have used this an excuse.  It is time for me to take charge of my health and make a little more effort to take care of myself.  If I am not going to eat perfectly the least I can do is take a vitamin!
3. Drink more water.  This decision was actually made as a result of taking the vitamin, but something I have wanted and NEEDED to do forever.  I have to take it with a full glass of water.  That is one glass a day.  Here is another confession... I NEVER drink water.  Sad, huh?  Since I am adding this glass, I might as well add more.  I would love to totally eliminate soda, but I am not there quite yet.  I have not had one in several days though.  I can go a week or so without it, so it really is not something I would consider to be a problem.  Right now, I am trying to make every other drink a glass or bottle of water.

Want to hear something great?  It is Friday.  My slump was Wednesday.  I already feel MUCH better!!!  Thank you, God, for simple changes that can make an enormous difference!

Proverbs

A little over a month ago, I began reading a chapter a day.  This very precious friend of mine pointed out that there are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs.  If you read the chapter that coincides with the day of the month, you can read it over and over again every month and really study the book in depth.  Now WHY have I never thought of that?!!

The really cool thing for me is that when I typically try to use any type of method with a Bible study or quiet time I will miss a day and then feel like I have to play catch up.  This can sometimes be very discouraging, especially if you miss more than one day.  That is when I typically will just continue to put it off and then end up never getting back into it.  With this method, you just read whatever day it is.  No pressure to catch up, because next month you will be reading it again.  Another great thing is that reading this over and over each month will help me to memorize and more easily recall some of what I am reading.
 
Now do not get me wrong, I know that I need to be reading more than only Proverbs!  This has been a great refreshing new start for me though!  My plan is to slowly start incorporating another book of the Bible in with what I am already doing.  The point is to stick with it and make it a habit!

Today is April 12th, so I read Proverbs 12.  The following is this chapter in the New Living Translation.  I like to get out several different translations and read it several different ways.  I also use biblegateway.com quite often.  It is a really neat website!



"To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.  The Lord approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness. Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots. A worthy wife is a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones. The plans of the godly are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous. The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives. The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm. A sensible person wins admiration, but a warped mind is despised. Better to be an ordinary person with a servant than to be self-important but have no food. The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel. A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense. Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot, but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit. The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble. Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards. Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies. Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed. Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace! No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble. The Lord detests lying lips,    but he delights in those who tell the truth. The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness. Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray. Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find. The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death."




So here is one more change I am making.  The fact that I am doing one day at a time and one chapter at a time has really helped me to stick with it and stay in the word... HIS WORD.  Hopefully by being more diligent in this, I am not only making an outward change, but an inward change.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Blessings

It's President's day.  My daughter is out of school today, so I thought we (mostly I) would sleep in a bit.  I was actually wide awake at about 6:20.  Ugh...  Then my 5yr old son came and crawled in bed with me.  

We stayed there for about 15 minutes, both pretending to sleep (I wanted to sleep, he wanted to play the Wii).  I debated over whether or not to get up.  I WANTED so badly to sleep and I knew if I stayed there long enough, I would eventually slip back into dreamland... maybe he would too.

I began to think about all I have to do this week.  There is always so much on my plate - or at least that is how I feel!  Then I thought about our small group.  Last night we were talking about what keeps us from living out the Word.  What keeps ME from being a living sacrifice?

Romans 12:1-2 says 
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

You know what I decided last night?  Really nothing new at all... simply put, I am TOO busy.  Too wrapped up in "all I have to do this week".  I give too much of my time to things that do not really matter... things of this world.  What can I do to change this?  Keep in mind I am still buried under the covers at this point.

I am wide awake.  Why am I not DOING something?  By now, I have a mental picture of my calendar in my head.  I have so much to DO!!!

Wait... you know what you should do, Beth?  Get up.  Quit hiding in the bed and take advantage of this not so crazy morning!   

After all my debating and stressing about mostly unnecessary busyness, I got up and made my coffee.  Now I am back in bed.  There are pillows piled behind me and Bible study materials piled in front of me.  I saw the sunrise.  Did you know that if I open the blinds that are in front of the patio doors in my room I actually get to see the sunrise?  I did not!    

I hear my kids laughing in the next room as they enjoy their slower paced morning.  The birds are chirping outside my bedroom door.  The dog is snuggled up under the covers right beside me.

The most precious part of my morning just may have been when my 9yr old daughter came in to ask me a question.  As she was leaving she said "You look beautiful!"  

I know this will sound silly, but that meant so much to me.  Here I sit, bed head and pj's., no makeup and glasses.  My hair is piled on top of my head.  My Bible, journal, pens and hilighters are all over the bed in front of me.  The sunlight is streaming in the back door of my room.  She saw beauty in this.  What a blessing!

You know, if I had gone back to sleep, I would have slept too late and gotten up in a rush.  If I had not gotten my tail out of bed and taken advantage of having unhurried extra time with HIM... some of these things I mentioned would not have occurred this morning.

I am SO thankful for ALL the blessings given to me DAILY!  My goal this week is to SLOW DOWN and THINK about how I spend my time.  What do I give my time to that is really unnecessary?  What can I eliminate?  What can I decrease so that HE can increase?

 "He must increase, but I must decrease."  

-John 3:30

I Know... I'm a Dork!

Ever heard of e-mealz?  We signed up for it!  I am SO excited.  We went grocery shopping and saved a TON of $$$ too!  The fact that my meals are planned out for me and they are simple (and cost effective!) is so exciting!  It is official... I know... I am a dork.  Hopefully this will help us in many ways.  Eating at home not only saves $$$, but also saves CALORIES!  Hooray for e-mealz!

My school schedule is changing in the spring.  Hopefully this will give me more time to take care of myself and my family!  One more final exam and then I can relax.  I can already breathe a little easier.  Ahhh...

This morning, as I was driving across the lake from taking C to school I thought about how beautiful it was. 

 I did NOTHING to deserve this beautiful view.  God is such an amazing artist!

Seeing this sunrise motivated me.  It made me want to RUN. 

As soon as I got home, I changed clothes, grabbed the leash, and headed out with Darcy, my eleven month old miniature dachshund.  That little dog made it 2.3 miles!  She's tougher than I thought.  Of course, it was NOT all running.  We did walk some too.  She's now passed out on the couch.  I guess I wore her out!

Here is another picture I took of the sky when Darcy and I were out.  Sorry about the shabby photography.  The pictures were taken with my phone.

What a great start to a great week!  

Thank you, GOD, for the beautiful sunrise!