What We Think Is What We Are

I recently started a Bible study that was given to me by a woman with much wisdom. I was excited to start it, because I know anything that she would recommend to me would be a blessing. It's called Secrets To A Happy Heart by Debi Pryde.

I loved what the author had to say.....

What We Think About is What We Are:

How we think, what we think, and what we store in our memory have a tremendous capacity to determine our disposition, our behavior, and our attitudes. What we choose to believe and dwell on is of utter importance, for it becomes a part of all that we are. We eventually act consistent with what we think and what we believe. The more we think about something, the more it becomes part of our memory and personality. We think, then we speak, then we act, and then we become. Yet our thoughts don't stop at what we become, for what we become has consequences, good and bad, and eventually determine our innermost joy or sorrow. In essence, our thought life determines our destiny.

Our Faces Give Away Our Thoughts:
If you could listen in on the private thoughts of a sullen or irritated person, you would discover how unhappy their thoughts are. On the other hand, if you could interrupt the thoughts of an obviously joyful and content person, you would discover their thoughts to be positive and uplifting. Our countenance is merely the outward reflection of what we are inwardly thinking. The Bible says, "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken" (Proverbs 15:13)

This study has been so great for me! I know that I have a CHOICE to be happy in this life that God has given me. I can CHOOSE to think on negative and be unhappy or I can CHOOSE to think on what is true,and pure and lovely and enjoy God's abundant blessings. My thought life will make me or break me. It is up to me to cast out the harmful thoughts that come into my head and to replace them with good! God is so good to me and I have so much to be thankful for!!

Flowers For My Birthday

Last week I celebrated my 33rd birthday. The kids were REALLY excited that I declared no school and we spent the day at the park together eating ice cream. Before the park we went to Ionia Floral where the kids wanted to pick out a gift for me. We all went inside and I explained to the woman working there that the kids wanted to pick out a gift and I asked if she could help them while I waited out in the truck. (They were adamant that I NOT see the gift.) She was so sweet and agreed to help them. The front of the store is all windows, so I could see Celeste, Trevor and Shiloh carefully walking around the store deciding on what to get. As I was waiting outside, the delivery truck driver that brought fresh flowers into the store came out laughing and smiled at me. I smiled back and wondered what he was laughing about?? Shortly after, I went back into the store to get the kids. The woman working was just finishing up wrapping my gift and the kids were proudly smiling and were obviously very pleased with themselves! She handed the gift bag to me and said she had another present that wasn't able to be wrapped. She handed over two pretty bouquets of flowers and said that the delivery driver was so impressed with how sweet the kids were that he GAVE them flowers to give to me in addition to their gift. It totally made my birthday. I love my kids!!!

You Need Him Too

None of us wants to think of ourselves as "bad", but did you know that we all are? The bible says that there is none righteous (or perfect) before God. We all have sinned and come short of His glory. I was thinking today about my view vs. Gods view of sin. Most people would probably scoff at someone who would cheat on their spouse, but would think it ok to "just look". Do you know that Jesus said if you just look upon a person with lust you have committed adultery in your heart? Ouch! Most people would judge the drug addict or drunk as a dirty rotten sinner but consider their own sin of gluttony (over eating) to be ok. We will point our fingers at the woman smoking a cigarette and cussing like a sailor but think our gossiping tongue is nothing to be ashamed at. We would say a murderer deserves Hell, but God says if you have hate in your heart for another person you are just as guilty. There is a story in the Bible of a woman that had committed adultery and the people were lining up to stone her (throw big rocks at her) as a form of punishment. Jesus was there and said "Let he that is without sin throw the first stone.". Do you know that not one person could throw a stone?! That's us! We are ALL full of sin and unrighteousness. That's why we need grace! Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve...Him. I was unholy in God's eyes before I became a Christian, but because I have put my faith in His Son, He no longer see's my sin. It is was washed away, forgiven and FORGOTTEN. Does that mean I no longer struggle with sin?? Not even close. It's a daily battle to live for God, and many times my flesh wins. But I am striving, with Gods help to live a crucified life. Everyone of us is in need of Gods grace, not just the adulterer, the murderer or the addict. I pray that if you have not experienced God's grace that you will understand your need for Him today. He loves you and wants you to turn to Him. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.

Kodah - 3 Months Old

Kodah is already over 3 months old! He has been such a sweet baby and a great sleeper. I was very excited when he started sleeping all night long at just 4 weeks old. That makes for a very happy mommy! He is constantly smiling and giggling and "talking" to us. He makes the "mmm" sound a lot, so I think he will be saying "mama" first. The girls fuss over him constantly and Celeste thinks she is his second mother. She holds him, sings to him and even reads to him. I told her I thought she was going to make a wondeful mother some day. You should have seen her smile! We love our little man.

Sweet Shiloh

Our Shiloh is growing up so fast. She brings so much joy to our home with her goofy personality and sweet spirit. Love her so much!

My Prayer Today

Dear God,
Thank you for loving me and for the strength that you give me to make it through the trials. Without you I am weak and nothing. I am begging you today to help me let your light shine through me even in my darkest hours. I gave my life to you years ago and I refuse to give up now. You are my everything.
Thank you for the friends and family you have sent to love me. Thank you for the ones who come along side of me when I'm face down in the mud. For the ones that say get up, you can't quit now. For the ones that take my hands and pull me up when I can't get up on my own. You knew just what I needed.
Help me to continue to trust that you know what is best for me. I am the clay and you are the potter. My life is in your hands.
Thank you for your perfect son Jesus. The one you sent to take the place of MY sin. All my faith is in you and because of you I am forever changed.

Shangri-La

We love our library and I try to take the kids once a week to check out books. They get so excited about going there to find something new to read and say hi to their favorite librarians. I know that we aren't exactly the quietest crew that comes in....ok, whom I kidding, we are super loud and everyone stares at us...but I'm working on that. I've got four kids ya know?? Sometimes I have wondered if the women working there think - Oh great, here comes that crazy lady with the loud kids that check out 40+ books every time they come. I am sure at least one or two do, but a couple weeks ago when we were there I received a really great compliment! One of our favorite librarians checked our books out for us and as we were leaving she told me that sometimes she thinks of our family and how we live and how our home must be like a Shangri-La. I smiled and replied that we had a lot of fun at our house. I didn't want to admit to her that I wasn't exactly sure what Shangri-La was, but I was hoping it meant a fun place. Ha!

When we got home that day, I looked it up and this is the definition I found:

Shangri-La is a fictional place described in the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by British author James Hilton. Hilton describes Shangri-La as a mystical, harmonious valley, gently guided from a lamasery, enclosed in the western end of the Kunlun Mountains. Shangri-La has become synonymous with any earthly paradise but particularly a mythical Himalayan utopia — a permanently happy land, isolated from the outside world.

I thought it was awesome that our librarian would say something like that! I really strive for our home to be a place of fun and laughter. I want my kids to someday look back at their childhood and be able to say "We had a great life!". We may not have the best clothes or take the best vacations and money is always tight, but I can say without a doubt that we have plenty of love and laughs at this house! And in the end that is what I hope they remember the most.