Jan. 13, 2006 - Friday Morning
I can't believe it's already Friday. This week is going by so quickly. I didn't get to make an entry yesterday because the day just got away from me. I am realizing that if I don't make one in the morning while everyone is still asleep, then I probably won't get the chance to do it later.
As I mentioned the other day, I am going to list the 12 things NOT to do when communicating with your mate. I also have 7 ways to LISTEN to your mate. These lists are from a study my husband and I are doing on Song of Solomon with our church homegroup. Unfortunately after looking over these lists, I realize that I am guilty of a few of the things NOT to do! I really need to take these to heart and ask God to tame my tongue when my husband and I get into a disagreement.
12 Things NOT to Do When Communicating With Your Mate:
1. Don't speak rashly
2. Don't confront your mate publicly
3. Don't confront your mate before the kids
4. Don't use the kids
5. Don't say "you never..." or "you always..."
6. Don't get historical
7. Don't raise your voice
8. Don't call names
9. Don't mention family
10. Don't win
11. Don't condescend
12. Don't demean
7 Ways to LISTEN to your mate.
1. Listen with your face
2. Do not reason with your mate
3. Do not argue
4. Do not interrupt
5. Do not stomp out the door
6. Do not vent your spleen to others
7. Use no rude body language
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Jan. 11, 2006 - A New Day!
I love it when I wake up in the morning and I am excited that it's a new day! There are some times I dread what the day has in store for me, but today is not one of those days! I am staying home all day today--not an errand or gymnastics class to run to. I love days like this, especially when it's rainy outside as it is today. I put on a pot of coffee, get dressed in something comfy and look forward to just being home. Recently, it seems that the girls and I have been heading out of the house almost everyday and that gets exhausting. They call it "home" schooling for a reason! We should be home more! That is one of my goals for the new year--have more "at home" days. When I began homeschooling my 5 year old, Madison this past fall I worried that she wouldn't like being kept home. She is such a social butterfly and loves to meet new people. However, I have seen a change in her over the past few months. She does still like seeing her friends and doing some activities, but she gets excited when we can just stay home and be together.
We haven't done much schooling over the past few weeks. We traveled over the Christmas holidays down to Florida to visit with our families and then it seems we've been battling some form of illness or another since we got back. I am taking this week to plan out the rest of the school year. We have just been using some kindergarten resources I had from when my son, Ryan was younger, but now I feel I need to add some more material. Madison loves science so I am thinking of ordering the K Sonlight science curriculum. She loves to do experiments and activities and I am not the best when it comes planning these, so hopefully this curriculum will help me out.
My excitment about my new day not only is due to the fact of staying home today, but also about my new vision of what life really is all about. God has been laying some things on my heart, some areas that I definitely need to be working on, and it is wonderful that I have the chance to make some changes!! I am so grateful for God's grace and that no matter how many times I mess things up, He is always there to pick up the pieces and gently guide me back over to where He is and show me what His will is for my life. I attended my church homegroup meeting last night, and it's amazing to me how God places things in your path just at the right time for when you need them. One of the areas I am working on in my life is to be a better wife to my husband, Jason. We are currently studying Song of Solomon in our group. I believe it's the first time in my life I've actually studied this book. I think it's a book of the Bible that gets skipped often because of the content. However, it is a wonderful book to delve into and study! Last nights lesson was on conflict in a marriage and how to properly resolve it. This was definitely something I needed. The teacher gave a list of things you should never do in a conflict with your mate, and unfortunately I do some of these. So, I will begin to retrain myself to not do these with God's help ,of course. Later today I am going to list these items so that I can remind myself what they are.
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Jan. 10, 2006 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart...
and lean not unto your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He shall direct your path. Proverbs 3: 5,6
These verses are what I have always considered to be my "life verses." They are what I know and believe. I very often repeat them over and over to myself, especially while trying to make big decisions. However, over the past couple of years I have kind of been on auto pilot regarding the direction of my life. I've been busy (aren't we all), and just haven't taken the time needed to really focus on God and the path He is leading me. I am making the choice, because that's what I believe we have to do-make a choice, to commit myself to Christ daily. No more auto-pilot, no more just going along day by day. I am ready for an awakening of my soul. I can remember in the past where I walked daily with Christ and acknowledged Him in everything I did and how alive I felt!! I knew my purpose here on earth was to please Him and I took joy in that fact. Over the past couple of years, that joy has been put on the back burner because I didn't take the time and make the choice to put Christ first in everything I do.
I am excited about what the future holds and the work that God is doing within me. I pray that He will give me the strength and faith to follow Him wherever He leads and to take all of my fears away that I might have the faith of a little child and allow Him to "Direct My Path."
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