Bring out the Positive

On any given day, there are WAY more positive things that happen to you than negative. Have you ever REALLY sat and thought about that? Sometimes when we ask people, "how was your day?" They respond, "not so good." If we were honest, we would say EVERYDAY is a great day. Now, I'm not so positive that I never have a rough day. Somedays I feel like staying in bed. Somedays I want to scream. BUT, what I AM saying is that no matter how bad our day may SEEM, there have been many more positive things that happened during those 24 hours than negative. Often it seems the other way around.

Why do we feel like there is more negative? Ironically, it's because the good and positive things are so common that we often overlook them. In contrast, the negative, troubling things get our attention because the are, for the most part, unusual. Instead of letting the small number of difficulties cloud your thinking and grab your attention, make an effort and work to make the positive things your priority. Challenge yourself to make a mental list each day of at least 20 things that were good, valuable, positive things that come your way. The list can be as simple as "I woke up". Those are the things we overlook.

Most people, if asked, can quickly rattle off their list of troubles and problems.They would quickly be able to name at least 10 things. Put some effort into bringing out the positive, and I promise it will change your thinking.

Change your thoughts to positive, and you will be surprised how little your "negative" list gets :)

Interruption

Have you ever watched a kid try to concentrate on something, and a new toy commercial comes on? What happens? They are EASILY distracted. This is where my first thought on positive thinking comes from....

when we find ourselves beginning to feel overwhelmed by negativity, stress, doubt, or unworthiness you can always CHOOSE to become distracted...to break the pattern. When you think these thoughts, stop for 3-4 minutes and meditate on these ideas:

1. At least 2 people in the world love you so much that they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in the world love you in some way.

3. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

4. Everynight someone thinks about you before they go to sleep.

5. You mean the world to someone.

6. If not for you, someone may not be living.

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don't even know exists has been impacted by you.

These thoughts of peacefulness, gratitude, and acceptance can make us feel like the worthy champions we are. Breathe deep and relax. Focus on how fortunate we really are. In a few short moments you will break free from the negative thoughts that only a few moments earlier held you captive. When we are positive, we are in control.

I'm no theology expert, but I do know that God's Word never contradicts itself. My bible says that I was created in the image of God. It also says, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into anew person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is goodand pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2

The world tells us to be negative, to take the easy way out, that we are doomed because of our mistakes. But the good news is, that's all a lie from the enemy. The truth is, we are on the winning team, so let's act like it. Even if you don't believe the positive thoughts, continue repeating them, and eventually they will become your reality.

Make a conscious choice to interuppt the negativity...it can change your world profoundly!!

Power of Thoughts

I am beginning a new study...the power of our thoughts. I have decided to turn it into sort of a college course, so I can learn everything possible God wants us to know about thoughts. I think our thoughts are the number one way Satan attacks our lives. Our thoughts control everything. Think about a day or time when your thoughts didn't have power over you. Have you ever tried to diet? Have you ever worried about money? Have you ever thrown clothes all over the floor in the morning as you're trying to find something that you think looks good on you? Have you ever lost your temper or said something you wish you could take back? Have you ever asked yourself, "what was I thinking?" If you have say no to all of these questions, CONGRATS...you have mastered the art of your thoughts. However, if you are like the majority of people, including myself, we have to answer yes to most, if not all, of these questions. If so, I hope this study and blog adventure will help us all. Each day I plan on reasearching, reading, and praying for wisdom in this area of my life.

I do know a few things regarding thoughts already. I know that I have two choices for leaving legacies in my kids and family. The first choice is from satan and says to make their lives miserable because of my insecurities and weaknesses. It says to work out my own fears and issues through being a mother and wife. The enemy says that my unresolved issues don't hurt anyone else. The enemy says I'm unworthy.

HOWEVER, my bible says this: that my unresolved issues transmit spiritual negativity and doubt to others. That I should walk free of doubt, unforgiveness, negativity, and worry. Well, I have decided that my boys and my husband are not going to know some woman who was full of hurt, but that they will know a super woman. Where they will have to say, "please stop...you're so full of God that you are embarrassing me."

I want my family to be full of strength and full of God, and not have those hindered by my own weaknesses. Thus, I am beginning this "thought" study. How can we change our thoughts, even if we don't believe them, to create a postive environment. I cannot control what has happened to me in the past, none of us can. It happened. The blood of Jesus Christ does not give us amnesia, but it DOES give us a life beyond our past.  So, I can't change my past, BUT I can change my future. I can assure that generations after me will be full of faith and powerful thoughts to be history makers.

I have learned, in my few years, that great legacies are not left by GREAT and PERFECT people, but by broken people that are overcomers. The only way to be an overcomer is by our thoughts. I bet if I asked you who was the most influential person in your life, you would name some average person, not some professional athlete or star. We have to say "we are not great, but we serve a GREAT GOD". In my weakness, HIS strength is perfect. I look forward to this journey and can't wait to share all I am discovering. Who knows where this will go, but please join along. Feel free to leave comments or thoughts to add to the knowledge.

Love in the Home

Unfortunately, we began hearing on the news today about Casey Anthony and her anticipated trial. As I watched her in the courtroom with no emotion, I couldn't help but think of my own children. How precious they are, and what an honor it is that God chose me to raise them. I couldn't imagine a mother harming her own child...I can't even imagine harming ANY human, much less your own child. Thoughts of home, family, and love flooded my mind today as I walked around and interacted with the boys. These are my thoughts:

If I live in a spotless house with everything in its place, but there is no love, I am a housekeeper - - not a homemaker.

If I have time for sweeping, dusting, and organizing, but have no time to play on the floor with my kids, my children learn cleanliness, but not Godliness.

If I make time for Facebook, but don't pray with my children, I allow technology to set their priorities.

If I laugh at tv shows, but don't listen and laugh at their knock-knock jokes, I am disconnected - - not a self-esteem builder.

If I tuck them in at night, I am fulfilling my duty, but if I slide a post-it note under their pillow as they sleep reminding them how special they are, I become a part of forming the next generation of strong leaders.

I I make lunches, I'm a mom, but if I let them help (no matter how much of a mess we make), I am teaching independence.

If I buy them everything they want, I am pretty cool to them, but if I make them save their money until they can buy it, I am teaching responsibility.

Love smiles at fingerprints on the freshly cleaned door, even though your flesh wants to scream, "I JUST WASHED THAT!!!"

Love wipes the tears BEFORE it wipes up the spilled cereal. Love picks up the child BEFORE it picks up the toys.

Love make them brush their teeth. Love asks them how can I pray for them. Love puts the bike ride BEFORE the laundry. Love watches Full House before Nancy Grace.Love has boundaries and expects the best. Love is a teacher. In love, I should not require anything of my children that I am not willing to do. I can't say pray, if I'm not. I can't say eat right, if I'm not. I can't say, respect your father, if I'm not. I can't say love, if I'm not.

Love also (against wordly views) reprimands and expects respect and manners. Before children, I took pride in perfect order. As a mother, there is much I must teach my children, but the greatest of all is LOVE.

Dear God,

Thank you for my children. Thank you for my husband and family. Thank you for the example you set for us, to love above all. Thank you that everything is not perfect all the time...that would be boring!! I am so honored to serve you and take great pride in raises your children. I feel blessed and honored, and take very serioud the job you have given me to teach Dylan and Cody how to be world changers and history makers. Thank you for staying close to me, so I will know what to do and say when my flesh wants to yell and scream. Please hold their hand as they grow older, so that they never turn from Your path.

Amen

The Price of a Child

As we end this day (Mother's Day), I decided to do a little research on my own. I look up the amount of money if will costs to raise a child from birth to 18 years old. For a middle income family, the govenrment has ESTIMATED $266,000. In my opinion, that's a low estimate, but nevertheless, a lot of money. That estimate doesn't include family vacations, new vehicles, college, etc. That is simply the bare minimum. Just think of everything you could do with that amount of money. Probably, pay your hosue off, buy a nice RV, go on a long vacation...For some, this large amount might confirm the decision to remain childless.

BUT, $266,000 isn't so hard to swallow if you break it down. It would look like this:

$14,777 per year

$1,231 per month

$41 a day

$1.71 per minute

Just over a dollar a minute :) Still, you might say, that's ALOT...here's my response...

There is no price tag for:

Feeling a new life move for the first time inside you.

Hearing your newborn cry for the first time and knowing everything is okay.

Counting all 10 toes and fingers for the first time.

Smelling their little head as you hold them close.

Cleaning a scraped knee.

Watching them sleep.

Getting a compliment of how well behaved they are.

Praying with them.

Getting a homemade card that says, "thank you for playing with me. You are the best"

Still sound like a lot of money? What do you get for your $266,000?

Naming rights

butterfly kisses

Hero status

glimpses of God everyday

more laughter and love than your heart can hold

you get to be Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny

endless converstaions about rocks and bugs

a partner to blow bubbles and fly kites

For $266,000 you never have to grow up. You get to fingerpaint, carve pumpkins, play hide and seek, catch lightning bugs, you have an excuse to watch cartoons, and wishing on stars.

There's no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just by getting the basketball unstuck, filling the pool with water, letting them stay up late, or cooking chocolate chip cookies. You get a front row seat to the first step, first word, first day of school, first date, first bike ride, first homerun. You get another branch added to your family tree.

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communication, technology, business, finance, and cooking that no college can ever match. You have the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away monsters, take their tv, and love them forever. Hopefully, one day, they will love without limits and not count the costs.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Almost 30

As I quickly approach the big 3-0, I have begun reflecting on the my life. I have made an attempt daily to think about the different chapters I have faced so far in my life. There have been MANY!! What I have realized is that I think we usually are faced with the most important life decisions early in our life because we are too young to be scared. If I had to face some of those same challenges now and in the future, I'm sure I would worry alot more. So, I have created a list of the top ten lessons I have learned so far in my life....most of which my mom tried to tell me but I thought I knew it all :)

1. The same situations that scared me to death ended up being the happiest moments.
Having to tell my mom that I was pregnant in college was the scariest thing I have ever had to do, BUT now my children are my world and I couldn't imagine life without them.

2. Bad things are going to happen.
No matter who we are or what we do, we can accept the fact that bad things are sometimes going to happen. Part of growing up is experiencing unexpected troubles. People lose jobs, get in car accidents, divorce, fall into addictions, and sometimes die young. It is part of life. We have to accept those things and know that it's okay to mourn and be sad. However, guilt, regret, and depression are feelings that we HAVE to get over in order to move on.

3. Everyone can make a differnce.
There are teachers, coaches, and friends we all remember that change our lives. By one simple quote or smile, they transformed the way we look at the world. If someone did that for you...then YOU are probably that someone for another person. You never know when or who is watching you.

4. Words do hurt.
Remember the old saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt." That is FALSE. Words, negative or positive, that people tell us about ourselves remain etched in our minds. If those words are hurtful and negative, we tend to repeat them over and over in our heads. We have to learn how to repeat the positive stuff just as much as we do the negative. People, even friends, will hurt you. Don't let hurtful words stay in your mind. Repeat positive things about yourself in your head, even if you don't believe them. Eventually, we become what we tell ourselves we are.

5. Sometimes you just have to go for it.
There are often times when things don't make sense, but we have to take a chance. Without chances, we can't grow. The first steps you took as a toddler was a chance you took. You took that step hoping that if you fell, someone would be there to catch you. Same concept...step out of the boat!!

6. Have fun and laugh alot.
There is no better medicine than laughter. Even if you don't feel like laughing, do it. You have to change the way you feel before you can change the way you act (sometimes people think it's the other way around). We are free and blessed, so there is no reason we can't laugh everyday.

7. Don't make excuses and be responsible.
YOU are the person who is responsible for YOU. It is not your mother, father, ex, or anyone else's fault if you are unhappy. We can choose to lie in self pity OR get up, get on, and make a conscious choice to change the pattern. As Dr. Phil says, "we teach people how to treat us." Get over it!! We make a choice everyday of how we will act, what we will say, and how we will feel...choose LIFE

8. Manage your money.
This is often the lesson that requires failure in order to get it. If you can't pay CASH, you don't NEED it. There is a big difference between a WANT and a NEED. Pay your bills BEFORE you shop :) Live on a budget, and learn to say NO to your flesh when you WANT something.

9. Notice the little things.
These years have flown by, and I'm sure it will continue that way. I decided that I WILL notice the little things. I will watch my children sleep, I will notice my husband's hobbies, I will enjoy dinner with my family every night, I will play ball with my kids if they ask. These are the things that I will enjoy talking about one day with my nursing home friends :) so I will notice them now.

10. The most important lesson I have learned is TO PUT GOD FIRST PLACE IN EVERYTHING.
If HE is first in every part of my life, the rest falls into place. The battles I am faced with are given to HIM...I'm just a passenger enjoying the ride. HE can handle my insecurities and worries. I don't have time because I need to enjoy the ride :) I have learned to PRAY AND WAIT!! Loving God, to me, means I spend time with HIM everyday, I talk to HIM everyday, I listen to HIM everyday, and I learn about HIM and HIS example.

There are so many more, but these are my top 10...ENJOY :)

Dear God,

Thank you for the lessons I have learned so far. Thank you for the happy moments, the scary moments, and the terrible moments for they made me who I am today. I am proud to be your daughter and I am thankful for your example. I pray that I would remember these lessons and live by them. There will be a day when I look back and smile on these days, so I pray that I would enjoy them.

Amen

What IF

Since 50% of "LIFE" is "IF" I began thinking of all the what-ifs we face everyday. I have challenged myself (feel free to join in) to recognize some of the opportunities that God places in my path daily. It's not always the HUGE miracles that make the biggest difference. Every GREAT achievement begins with small blessings. So, I have vowed to notice these moments in my life each day. Just think about this...

WHAT IF we replaced every negative word with a postive word.
WHAT IF we stopped to pick up trash we saw.
WHAT IF we decided to build up our family with life changing prayer.
WHAT IF we woke up everyday and gave GOD first place.
WHAT IF we took 30 minutes a day to exercise.
WHAT IF we spent quiet time with GOD everyday.
WHAT IF we saved the money we want to spend on a "want" and buy lunch for someone who's hurting
WHAT IF we stopped to smell the roses (literally)
WHAT IF we spoke to strangers
WHAT IF we sat down to dinner with our family.
WHAT IF we played in the yard with our kids.

See my point? In the book of Mark, Jesus said, "IF?" "There are no ifs among believers. Anything can happen?" (Mark 9:23). Let's live it out. Would you like to take the challenge with me? Let's slow down and notice the God moments. One day we may look back and say we WISH we had noticed the IFS.

Dear God,

I praise you for all you are! I thank you for the dreams you ahve put in my heart...the LOL dreams. The dreams that seem inconceivable. The dreams that are impossible without YOU! I pray that we, as your children, would recognize the WHAT IFS in our lives. I pray that we would notice the paths YOU send us down, and give us courage to step out on those paths. I love you for who you are and for changing my life.

Amen