Encouragement
Graduation Tips!!
May 3rd
After-Graduation Tips:
1) Take a few weeks off- once your adult life starts, IT DOES NOT STOP. Neither do the responsibilities and although you are eager to undertake these new challenges, don’t be- they get boring or stressful (or both) and all-around annoying really fast.
2) If you haven’t already, save up to pay for a car- and PAY CASH for it (just don’t pick a car that needs too much work).
3) Don’t fall too in love with your first car, chances are she won’t be with you through most of life’s journey- especially if you paid cash. 
4) If you have college plans, know WHY you are going to college and WHAT for. Otherwise you will very likely waste time and money changing your majors and such repeatedly.
5) If you have college plans, make MORE college plans. Plans such as strict rules that go like this: a) I will NOT fall into partying. b) I WILL continue to put God first in my life and be a light unto the darkness of the world. c) I will call my loving parents frequently and tell them every (even boring) detail of my life because they will be DYING to know.
6) Go home for every holiday and as frequently as possible besides. You never truly know how much you’ll miss your parents AND SIBLINGS until you can’t live with them anymore.
7) Study for yourself effective witnessing- as an adult people will listen to you more. (I highly recommend Way of the Master by Ray Comfort).
Research a pet before you get one. I do NOT recommend dogs with mental problems or cats who use the bathroom at all.9) Don’t go into debt- this is easiest if you avoid credit cards as much as possible. Make it a goal to only ever go into debt on a house or property.
10) Don’t play the lottery and if you ever find yourself caught up in it, just make a profit and loss chart and see how you feel then.
11) Vote responsibly- meaning don’t vote democratically or for progressives and be FULLY informed of who you do vote for. And always vote.
12) Be fearless in the challenges you face, God is with you and if He is for you, who can be against you?
13) Make sure you check with God before you marry someone!! Make sure they are the person HE intended for you!
14) Learn from your parent’s and other’s mistakes.
15) Look at your parents VERY CLOSELY, chances are you will become more like them every day that you age.
- I know all this sounds like the mushy mumbo jumbo you’re getting from absolutely EVERYONE right now (Why can’t those annoying people just pipe down and can it?) but really, its sound advise- the advise that all of us who are telling you these things right now wish we’d listened to when people told us.
My Amazing Husband
Mar 23rd
<3 This is how loving my husband is: He wrote this on his facebook wall last night:
“Top 5 Reasons why I love my awesome wife:
1. She has a heart and passion for Jesus Christ.
2. She is always serving and thinking of others.
3. She is a great mother focused on raising godly children.
4. She is beautiful, kind, smart, loving, amazing, awesome, super-awesome, … awesomely-awesome
5. She changed my world, she is my rock.
I love you,
Your undeserving husband”
I just have to add a correction, though. First of all, IF I was that great, you still would NOT be undeserving. You are the most deserving man I know. The great spiritual leader you are to our family is what has helped me desire to try to do and be a better Christian, wife, and mother. You’re fire burns so bright it lights up mine. And for the record, I love you most.
Love and Respect
Mar 18th
So, Hubby and I finished a Love and Respect class this week that we’d been attending. I honestly tried to get out of it (we were invited by my father-in-law), but he wouldn’t let me wriggle out of it. I didn’t think that Tim and I needed it much and I was under the incorrect impression that it was marital counseling with an open group (in this case consisting of my in-laws). Well needless to say, if that were the case it would have been disastrous and have caused problems rather than solved them. Thankfully, the first session went so well that we actually WANTED to go back. And so we did, for four or five sessions (my pregnancy-enhanced abilities that have cursed my nose and blessed my taste have not extended to my brain… I’m rather fuzzy-brained… I think mold is growing up there right now).
In this class we watched video sessions (like I said, can’t remember if there was four or five) once a week. The DVD’s were based off Emerson Eggerichs’ book, “Love and Respect” (captioned, “The Respect He So Desperately Needs and the Love She So Desperately Desires”). In a short summary, Emerson helps couples “crack the communication code” by helping us understand the opposite sex. He uses helpful and easy mental images to help you grasp the concepts. For example, women see through pink glasses, hear through pink hearing aids, and talk through pink microphones. Men do the same things through blue. In other words, we each SEE, HEAR, and COMMUNICATE things differently from the other sex. And while neither party is wrong for that interpretation, our interpretations are still different- hence the need to crack the communication code. We have to learn to see, hear, and speak in ways that the other person will interpret the way we intended them to interpret it. Emerson also talks about how to break ‘the crazy cycle’ couples sometimes get on in life, and how to stay off of it. I would HIGHLY recommend reading the book, or taking the class if its an option for you. I do warn, Emerson is funny, but weird. However, this should not effect how you hear what he’s saying.
I for one, had thought that I was quite well informed of how the male mind functions, more so than other women. And, while that may be true, at the end of the sessions I still felt quite enlightened in understanding not only my husband, but my son, and all male members of my family. I was really happy I went, and not just for the classes. Tim and I have come to love the couple that hosted this class and we hope to attend other classes they hold. They have a ministry website if you’d like to see the classes they teach. Below is the link!
The Good Person Test
Feb 15th
So, this is a continuation of my last post, in response to the life lesson number five: Many churches today are filled with false converts- because people aren’t hearing and realizing what they need to. First of all, about 80% of America claims Christianity- and many people will use this in a message of hope. But how can that be true? I believe that the vast majority may CLAIM Christianity, but if we were truly a majority then how could abortion be legalized? How could we elect crooked politicians? How could gay marriage be made legal? I don’t want anyone to take this the wrong way- God loves all of those people, but they are living in sin. How can a true Christian support these things when God clearly says that is sin? As a Christian, we should love everyone enough that we would want them to come to Christ and repent of those sins- repent meaning to TURN from them. The reason that these things are going on, and that supposed 80% does nothing about it and sometimes even supports it, is because many people who claim Christianity are not. Some of them think they are, some are false converts, and some just pretend to be. Here is what does not make a Christian: Going to church, getting baptized (The Bible clearly states that baptism is a SHOW of faith- an announcement of it), simply saying a prayer, having a pastor/church leader declare you are, being raised in a Christian home, or being a good or moral person. I want to help people come to God and help people realize what becoming a Christian really is. I have recently found the Ten Commandments is the most effective tool for this (It is what Jesus Himself used in the Bible to witness). Most Christians (the ‘claimed’ and the real) have not memorized the Ten Commandments- my husband and I had not until very recently. Please memorize them. They are a mirror to see yourself in, and to see why you really need God. (If I have offended you badly at this point, and you are about to quit reading- please don’t- I won’t tell anyone you read the whole thing). So, lets go through the good person test:
1) Have you ever lied? A white lie is a lie.
2) Have you ever committed adultery? To look at someone with lust is to commit adultery in your heart.
3) Have you ever taken God’s name in vain (used it as a means of swearing)?
4) Have you ever murdered? To hate someone is to murder in your heart.
5) Have you ever stolen anything?
Now, if you said yes to all these things- you would be: a liar, an adulterer, a blasphemer, a murderer, and a thief. Wow, that hurts, right? If you said yes to just one of these things (and if you didn’t, you should have answered “yes” to question number one), then you have broken the law. These questions are based off of 5 of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are God’s law. If He is a good, fair judge he will have justice and judge you according to the law. He says to break one of these laws is to be guilty of breaking them all. And the penalty for breaking the law, is an eternal sentence in Hell. That should concern anyone. But Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, which means he legally paid our fine. This is a FREE bail-out. You don’t have to pay anything, He already paid it. All you have to do is accept him into your heart and repent of your sins. So on Judgement Day, when your case comes up and God tells you that you deserved hell for your crimes, Jesus can step in and say that you accepted him and your case can be dismissed. If you haven’t done this, please do. If you want to use this as a witnessing tool, please do. It has helped me quite a lot lately. Think about it.
Ten Life Lessons I’ve Learned Lately
Feb 13th
So it’s been a while… over a year, actually. I have to apologize- I have been busy and have several great excuses as to why I stopped blogging for so long. But I will spare you those. To fill in the absent year, here are some major things that happened: My husband and I bought our first house! My husband and I got the best neighbors in the world! My husband and I bought our first dog! My husband and I realized we couldn’t handle that dog! My husband and I celebrated our son’s first birthday! My husband and I realized we were ready to add to our family again (and I do not mean pets)! My husband and I got pregnant again! Well that is about up to speed on the major events. We are currently 5 months pregnant with our second son!! And in line with my blogging past, it is possible that after this little guy is born, I may have to put a hold on blogging again- family first. Really, a wild toddler and a newborn at the same time might be all I can handle in addition to my usual duties! And let me tell you- my boys (both of them) are active! Its amazing to me how my nearly-two-year-old is more energetic than I am by far and its amazing to me how well I can feel this little 10 oz baby move and kick and roll over. It is so incredible to feel that life inside me growing.
Besides those main events, I have been growing myself. In many ways. I have learned some hard life lessons about families, marriage, and friends. In fact, I would say the last half of 2011 (and January of this year) may have been some of the hardest times of my life, not that I showed it much to those around me. But through it, I’ve learned so much, matured even more than I thought possible, and in general am a much better person for it. Some of the things I learned (generalized) are:
1) The statement that you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped simply isn’t true. There is one thing- AND ONLY ONE THING- you can do for them- stronger and more helpful than anything else you could ever do for them yourself- PRAY.
2) Don’t expect non-Christians to act like Christians. Its frustrating and stressful and wastes your energy. I myself have had to learn this repeatedly.
3) Pastors, church members, and elders are not perfect. Don’t expect them to be or look up to them as though they are; they are human just like us and you will be disappointed when you are let down.
4) If you see someone throwing a stone at somebody, and you don’t participate in the stoning, you are not innocent. You are guilty of standing by and doing nothing to help that person.
5) Many churches today are filled with false converts- because people aren’t hearing and realizing what they need to. (See my next post for details).
6) If you are truly a Christian then your life should be about loving others and leading others to the feet of Christ. And when that is what your life is about you will live for others. And when you live for others, you will be more easily able to give up worldly things (and certain entertainment things such as inappropriate music, books bearing content of the occult, and questionable movies). You will be able to do this because when you realize you aren’t living for yourself but for somebody else, you realize that the worldly entertainment you were enjoying was only for yourself, and because it could be damaging to some one- even unknowingly yourself- you can no longer feel comfortable making compromises. Because it isn’t about you.
7) In reference to number 6, I’ve learned and studied some on the occult and ways it infiltrates our music and lives. I did a report on it, that I intend to post on here soon. I did the report, intending it for someone else, and came to the realization that I had things in my own home of questionable nature.
Also in reference to number 6, I’ve learned that the line between being overly extreme and crazy about what you allow in your household and getting rid of everything you shouldn’t have in your household, is a very fine line. I’ve been praying so hard to find it- and I hope my study on the occult may help other people find it.
9) I’ve been going to some Love and Respect classes with my husband and in-laws. The videos we are watching in this class are very funny and very cliche in many ways-but they do apply to all couples in one way or another. In a brief summary, this video series is about the differences in men and women. The differences in their needs, in their way of speaking, in their way of interpreting what they hear, in their differences in interpreting their different forms of body languages, ect. Learning the differences, and why the opposite sex is the way it is, is extremely insightful and helpful to understanding and “decoding” your spouse.
10) I wasn’t sure it would ever happen, but I’ve always wanted it to- I’m writing a book. FINALLY!!! It is going to be a long time finishing it, with the two boys, but it will get done. Generally speaking, God gives us talent in certain areas. Where we are talented is where we generally find a field of work we are happy in. And we are happiest when we use that talent and work to do God’s will. And God’s will in your life often has something to do with the talent he gave you. Use it right. When I had the idea for the book, it was like suddenly God just gave me the know-how to write a real big book. All of the sudden I could see what needed to be done to make the book work and what I had done to make all my books in the past fail. Since getting pregnant again, I have been unable to work on my book now (and I am just now regaining energy) but in the time I have not been writing, I have been drawing closer to God and learning so much I never knew (even being raised with a Christian background). And with all that I’ve learned about my relationship with God and my responsibilities as a Christian, I have gotten so many great ideas and learned so many ways in which I can, and will, give this book back to God. I want him to work through me, and I want to use the talent he gave me to serve him.
Moms, Be ENCOURAGED
Aug 17th
I wanted to share this because I’ve found it encouraging to myself, as a mother.
There are days when I, being busy with the constant care-taking of my son (who of late doesn’t nap much at all during the day, IF at all) think, “Is all I am ever going to do is clean, change diapers, cart-around, cook, sleep little, feed, and do it again? This is a viscous cycle!” I mean, I have dreams, goals, ambitions (among them: rule the world); didn’t we all? Then I remember that although its the hardest job in the world, being a mom is also the most rewarding and the most desired above all. And even if I never do anything “great” in the eyes of others, being a mom to my son and future other children IS great. And even if I never get into Congress, go to rallies, or be a missionary, I can change MUCH in this world by being a good, Godly mother.
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is older he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6. By doing this, my calling in life, my son may one day change the world. A guest speaker at our church recently spoke of God’s calling and our answering. Because one person answered God’s calling to minister, he inspired another to minister. And by that minister also answering God’s calling, inspired another minister. And so on and so forth (he had the actual list of the real names of these people) until you come to: and in that minister’s church was a boy who came back year after year and listened to his teachings. He grew up to be a minister. His name was Billy Graham. Wow.
So moms, when you are asking yourself, “WHY are my duties so monotonous and repetitive, and are they ever going to get done so I can do something else,” remember what a gift motherhood is and that you’re parenting may influence your child to do great, changing things (and I don’t mean Obama’s type of change). And remember that even if it goes unsaid, your work is appreciated and is in NO WAY meaningless. Your child will learn love because of it, and doesn’t that make every aching muscle worth it? All you have to do is that hard, great, gratifying task: Be their MOM.