It is now Friday and I am home from school sitting trying to decompress from the week. What a crazy one it has been... I am just in a blah state of mind these days. I think that I might have the winter blues...Just seems like days start out good but then by ends day I'm just spent, physically, emotionally and spirtually...
How did I do on my goals for the week? Take in consideration that we still have 2 days left of the week, but here goes..
*Schoolwork... done for the week: actually turned in early! YES!
*Only made one dinner this week, but one day we were so tired that we didn't even eat.. so does that give me a freebie??
*I think that quality time has been better this week, but you'll have to ask Bo about that one. I am trying very hard to spend more time just focused on what he says.. not just sitting with him. Listening and responding to what he has to say :)
* I have already written one card this week... Two days left: I will make it happen!
* I am going to read some in a bit; just been so convicted this week that I haven't spent time with Him like I should have. I just go go go and then when it is bedtime I sometime literally fall into bed and sleep. I feel so guilty and could read it in the morning, but I want Bo and I to do it together, so then it ends up getting put on the back burner. Not what God wants and I am sure very disappointing to him.. Anyone else understand what I mean?
Dear Lord,
Help me this week to be the woman of God that you would have me to be. Help me to perservere when life is hard and when I place you on the back burner, as that is not my intent~ Give me strength to rely on you when it seems all is going down the tubes!
Love,
Amber
Friends I pray that you have a great weekend.. Enjoy the gorgeous weather they are predicting here in the south! Get out and enjoy!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Goals...
Normally I have done a "10 Things I have learned this week" kind of deal all in honor of Amanda:). This week coming is I forsee as a crazy week of trying to be wife, teacher, and student all in one, so I am taking this week as "10 Goals for this week"..
1. Try to be a wife, teacher, and student all in 7 days and be good at it. We will see how that works out.
2. Keep an open mind as to what the classes I am taking are teaching me towards my own classroom. These are the last two classes towards my Masters plus 30 and then I will be finished, so as hard as this next 6 months will be I have to work towards the end result.
3. Gain more grace for my babies in my class. They have so many extenuating circumstances that I can't even begin to imagine and I have to just sometimes give a little EGR (extra grace required)
4. Try to cook at least 3 meals in this 7 day week!
5. Spend at least 30 min of "quality time" with Bo. (It's his love lang and I am working to speak his language).
6. Try to love myself during my transformation of becoming a less worrisome girl...
7. Keep my mind focused on Him this week and prepare myself for our Serve Saturday where we will serve our homeless population in Greenville!
8. How cool would it be if I could write just 2 cards this week???? No email, No text, just a good ole plain letter to a friend or two...
9. Read more of my book..." When God is Small, and People are Big". It is a great book at allowing us to see how we rely on what people think of us rather than knowing that He is the ultimate decider as to who is pleased and worry about what HE would think.
10. Smile More!
I will catch up next Sunday and see how many of the 10 goals were reached.
1. Try to be a wife, teacher, and student all in 7 days and be good at it. We will see how that works out.
2. Keep an open mind as to what the classes I am taking are teaching me towards my own classroom. These are the last two classes towards my Masters plus 30 and then I will be finished, so as hard as this next 6 months will be I have to work towards the end result.
3. Gain more grace for my babies in my class. They have so many extenuating circumstances that I can't even begin to imagine and I have to just sometimes give a little EGR (extra grace required)
4. Try to cook at least 3 meals in this 7 day week!
5. Spend at least 30 min of "quality time" with Bo. (It's his love lang and I am working to speak his language).
6. Try to love myself during my transformation of becoming a less worrisome girl...
7. Keep my mind focused on Him this week and prepare myself for our Serve Saturday where we will serve our homeless population in Greenville!
8. How cool would it be if I could write just 2 cards this week???? No email, No text, just a good ole plain letter to a friend or two...
9. Read more of my book..." When God is Small, and People are Big". It is a great book at allowing us to see how we rely on what people think of us rather than knowing that He is the ultimate decider as to who is pleased and worry about what HE would think.
10. Smile More!
I will catch up next Sunday and see how many of the 10 goals were reached.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Who Are We Really Deeply Inside?
With today being MLK day and I have been sitting doing school work without the TV going (which I am proud of:) I have to think about who MLK was. I haven't truly thought about it before. I know that he was against racism and racial discrimination, but deeply what was he about.. Did it really have to do with the color of your skin or the depths of your beliefs?
So with research I wanted to bring a little of his thoughts to the forefront:
"Whatever your life's work is, do it well."
“Hate can not drive out hate only love can do that”
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
“Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” –Letter from Birmingham Jail
“The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers."
So with research I wanted to bring a little of his thoughts to the forefront:
"Whatever your life's work is, do it well."
“Hate can not drive out hate only love can do that”
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
“Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” –Letter from Birmingham Jail
“The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers."
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The DNA of Joy
We began a series this week that I feel has the potential to be lifechanging; if I choose for it to be. As I sit and write I contemplate how I will overcome the battle that I am in right now. I am in the worry battle. I have what I call a "condition" "sickness" that overcomes me. WORRY! I truly think that it is a disorder and it seems like no one seems to understand it. I always just get the "get over it and quit worrying". To them it is very easy, but I connect with people with OCD, alcholism, anorexia, and other disorders. A large part of me says STOP, but there is a part that keeps me from being able to overcome it. I know that I am to rely on faith in God and I do that; I try; but it just seems to have a nagging devilish monster that remains with me... So as I digress, here is where I am going. The series is called the DNA of joy. The depth of what joy really is and what sets it aside from happiness: So here goes and if you will look for each on Sundays and get in and get ready for the ride!
Joy vs. Happiness
1. Happiness is what happens to you, joy is what is produced in you.
Think of it this way. I am happy if_____________. Happy is what happens to you. It is more like a cause effect relationship. If I get this; I will be happy. Now Joy is different. Joy is where we are full of God's grace and goodness. We are full of the Holy Spirit and it controls our lives. When we are full of faith and knowing the end result and knowing that He loves us and is looking out for our best and well being that is JOY!
Galatians 5:22-23
But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Phillipians 1:11 (this is God's will for us)
May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ- for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
2. Happiness is a list of ever moving items to a target, joy is confident and consistent.
Proverbs 27:20
Just as death and destruction are never satisfied so human desire is never satisfied.
MY LIFE VERSE!
Phillipians 4: 6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus!
We have to do what honors God, not what makes us happy. That is joy!
3. Happiness is defined by the facts, joy is defined by the truth.
Remember when Sara and Abraham had wanted children for so long. They asked and asked and God revealed to them that there would be children. They waited for 25 years and the day came. But there were two things to look at. FACT: they were too old to have kids but the TRUTH: they never wavered in their faith to believe.
Through it all it comes down to one statement. We have to put our faith in the truth not the facts. Yes there are things facing us that are somber and sad, but those are just the facts of our daily life, what we need to face is the truth. The truth that God is amazing and has the power to sustain whatever issues we have. So back to the worrying... I have to realize that my worries of the day are just the facts of my daily life. I will probably always have something to worry about, but I have to live in the fact and knowing that God's grace is enough for me. It is enough to sustain what I know to be true and everlasting. I am so excited that this series from Seacoast could be the ticket that I am looking for to help me overcome this "crud" that has a hold on my life, my marriage, and my relationships with other people! It is all just facts by day, but Glory to him that it is TRUTH everlasting!
Joy vs. Happiness
1. Happiness is what happens to you, joy is what is produced in you.
Think of it this way. I am happy if_____________. Happy is what happens to you. It is more like a cause effect relationship. If I get this; I will be happy. Now Joy is different. Joy is where we are full of God's grace and goodness. We are full of the Holy Spirit and it controls our lives. When we are full of faith and knowing the end result and knowing that He loves us and is looking out for our best and well being that is JOY!
Galatians 5:22-23
But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Phillipians 1:11 (this is God's will for us)
May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ- for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
2. Happiness is a list of ever moving items to a target, joy is confident and consistent.
Proverbs 27:20
Just as death and destruction are never satisfied so human desire is never satisfied.
MY LIFE VERSE!
Phillipians 4: 6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus!
We have to do what honors God, not what makes us happy. That is joy!
3. Happiness is defined by the facts, joy is defined by the truth.
Remember when Sara and Abraham had wanted children for so long. They asked and asked and God revealed to them that there would be children. They waited for 25 years and the day came. But there were two things to look at. FACT: they were too old to have kids but the TRUTH: they never wavered in their faith to believe.
Through it all it comes down to one statement. We have to put our faith in the truth not the facts. Yes there are things facing us that are somber and sad, but those are just the facts of our daily life, what we need to face is the truth. The truth that God is amazing and has the power to sustain whatever issues we have. So back to the worrying... I have to realize that my worries of the day are just the facts of my daily life. I will probably always have something to worry about, but I have to live in the fact and knowing that God's grace is enough for me. It is enough to sustain what I know to be true and everlasting. I am so excited that this series from Seacoast could be the ticket that I am looking for to help me overcome this "crud" that has a hold on my life, my marriage, and my relationships with other people! It is all just facts by day, but Glory to him that it is TRUTH everlasting!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Snowmageddon of 2011
Well, while we were in London for Christmas we missed the White Christmas, but boy oh boy did we get our share of snow this week. I can only remember two times where we were out of school for more than two days for snow so this I am sure will go down in the record books. I am blessed though with the snow because Bo couldn't go to work for a few days and we were able to just be. We slept in, cooked, play board games and played with Jake. Fun times in the snow that I am sure won't happen that often!
New Years Eve and Nose Dive
A friend of Bo's has a variety of restuarants downtown Greenville. I am sure if you are near G'Ville you have heard of them... Soby's, The Lazy Goat, and Deveroux's. The latest Table 301 Restuarant is called Nose Dive. We were there for the name revealing on New Year's Eve. Nose Dive is a gastropub. We are so excited as to what it will bring to our meal selection. We are foodies and love to try new things. We have a sneaky feeling that it will also have a scottish feel to it also! You can go to Facebook and like their page also. So we spent New Year's Eve there with some of our friends for the amazing food sampling and a champagne toast at midnight!
Holiday in London 2010!
It's been a while and there are lots of pics to upload. Over Christmas holidays we were so blessed to be able to visit London. It was an amazing time of being together, learning about the culture,learning about the history and just being together! Those are memories that we wont be able to get back and the pics just don't do it justice as to what we really experienced! We did have a little fluke and I lost luggage for 3 days, but we were able to get out and get clothes for me to wear for the time being, but even with that we still had a blast with amazing memories to look back on for a lifetime! Here are a few pictures from the week. There is no way to upload all 100 of them, so here's a taste of the Christmas holiday!
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