Matthew 23:11b

This verse says what my heart is trying to say... "If you're content 

to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty." 

Matthew 23:11b (The Message)

This. This is what I'm trying to do here. Just simply be myself and allow others to see WHO I really am.

Proverbs 17:22

"A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
gloom and doom leave you bone-tired."
Proverbs 17:22 (The Message)

Trying to get my kids to understand this one. Particularly my eldest son, who seems to latch on the negativity all too easily. I think this is the next verse I'm going to write on their bathroom mirror...

Proverbs 16:6

‎"Guilt is banished through love and truth; 

Fear-of-God deflects evil." 

Proverbs 16:6 (The Message)

This reminds me of something someone very dear has had to tell me over and over again: "You cannot parent out of guilt. Use your guilt to convict you, seek forgiveness and then change, if change is needed. But, forgive yourself or it will only get worse." 

I think this can be said for any relationship that we have with anyone. Let go of guilt. It gets us nowhere. This doesn't mean we shouldn't feel CONVICTION. Conviction motivates us to make it right and change. Guilt just keeps us stuck in the same behaviors. If we believe the Evil One, we will stay stuck in that guilt-thinking of "I can't change." or "I'm a horrible mother." or "I stink at marriage." But, if we believe the Truth and if we accept the Love that God has for us... well, then we KNOW we are set free from guilt! Just admit your wrongdoing and then ask God to help you. :-)

Psalm 30:2-3,5

"God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. 

God, you pulled me out of the grave, 

gave me another chance at life when 

I was down-and-out." 

Psalm 30:2-3 (The Message)

I like that this paraphrase uses the phrase "yelled for help". When we are knee-deep in the muck of this life, we don't necessarily speak quietly. At least I know I don't! I've yelled at God. I poured my heart out to God. In fact, I screamed at God. And you know what? I'm still alive to tell about it. God is a big enough God to handle my anger, my fear, my frustration, my grief. And he's big enough to handle yours. Cry out to Him. He WILL hear you and He will help you. He WILL give you another chance at life.

Another verse I love from this Psalm is verse 5:  

"The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter."

This has definitely happened to me. My days are now filled with laughter. I love to be silly with the kids and they love to break out in unable-to-stop laughter with me. There is nothing like laughing so hard you cry with your kids. Nothing. :-) Ok.. so maybe laughing so hard your kids wet their pants... ;-)

Psalm 30:11-12

"You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers.
I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you.
God, my God, I can't thank you enough."
Psalm 30:11-12 (The Message)

God did do this for me. I was deep in the grips of grief and mourning and he rescued me from that. He didn't do it immediately; it took a couple years, but he did it nonetheless! My mourning has turned to dancing and I can no longer keep quiet about what he has done for me. I truly cannot thank God enough!

Matthew 20:1-16

A twist on the Parable of the Vineyard Workers found in Matthew 20:1-16 (I'm not going to write it all out today). 

This parable talks about the last workers to be hired at the end of the day getting paid the same amount as the workers who were hired at the beginning of the day. Something clicked as I was reading this. What if this isn't just a parable about the last being first and the first being last? What if it's also God telling people that even if they accept Christ later in their lives - or even on their deathbeds, that they WILL have just as good a place in heaven as those who accepted Christ as children/teens/young adults? It could be a message to people that even in your old age, you can come to have a relationship with Christ. That there's a place for you in Heaven even if you waited until last minute.

Hmmm... makes me wonder...

I just looked up the passage in Matthew in my husband's Life Application Bible and in the notes it talks about this same thing. And it appears I was right - that this passage IS about people who accept Christ later in life. I love when I have my eyes opened about something in the Word! :-)

If you're not a follower of Christ, please accept him today. Don't wait. He loves you and wants to be in relationship with you. It is as easy as praying this:

Dear God,

I admit that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I have tried 
living my life my way but I now know that I need You to guide 
me. Please forgive me of my sins [if you'd like to, list some here]. 
I want the freedom that a life with Christ can bring me. I believe 
that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I believe he rose again. 
I want to live with him in eternity. Thank you for forgiving me. 
Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, for me. 
In His name I pray. Amen.

If you just prayed this prayer, please leave me a comment. I would love to pray for you as you begin your journey with the Lord. I encourage you to contact a local Christian church in your area. You can also read this article at Focus on the Family for more information as to what to do next. You may also contact them and they can help you as you begin your walk with God. I encourage you to get yourself a Bible and start to read it. The Book of Romans or the Book of Mark are great places to start. If you don't have the money for a Bible, please contact The Gideons and I'm sure they would love to give you a free Bible. (This is the group who provides Bibles in hotel rooms.) May the Lord bless you as you begin your new life with Him!

Proverbs 15 (select verses)

"A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp 

tongue kindles a temper-fire." 

Proverbs 15:1 (The Message)

"Kind words heal and help; 

cutting words wound and main." 

Proverbs 15:4 (The Message)

"Hot tempers start fights; a calm, 

cool spirit keeps the peace." 

Proverbs 15:18 (The Message)

I'm learning this with my teen daughter. If I REACT to her reactions, oh boy - can a battle of wills be fought! But, if I RESPOND gently to her reactions, it cuts back on her negative responses as well. Sometimes it stinks to have to be the more mature one... LOL