Posted in Jewels from God

This list was published in the devotional "Our Daily Bread."   I thought it had some good advice so I thought I would share it today.

Rules for Happier Living

1.  Give something away

2.  Do a kindness

3.  Give thanks always

4.  Work with vim and vigor

5.  Visit the elderly and learn from their experience

6.  Look intently into the face of a baby and marvel

7.  Laugh often

8.  Pray to know God's way

9.  Plan as though you will live forever-- you will

10.  Live as though today is your last day on earth

Posted in Jewels from God

I have been reading several blogs about New Year's resolutions and though I would post what has been on my mind today.  I too want to simplify these so that I am less likely to fail.  I came up with three words that sums up what my goals are for the coming year.  They are not original but are easy to remember.  You have probably seen this motto on plaques before, it is Live, Laugh, Love.  It seems simple and here is what it means to me.

Live - Live everyday for God - spend time at his feet daily and get to know him better.

Laugh - It seems I have gotten into a rut and forgotten how to laugh and have fun.  This is the year that I need to "cast all my cares upon the Lord" and not take them back and worry about them.  Worry is the biggest joy stealer out there and I have let it steal my joy for too long. 

Love- I need to focus on the blessings God has put into my life, primarily my husband, my children and great friends who love me, faults and all.  I want to be better at expressing my love and appreciation for these special people in my life. 

These three words pretty much sums up what is most important to me this coming year. 

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I am finding more and more that as I look at the hearts of my children and see some areas that need refining, my own heart is reflected there.  So often my weakness and flaws are reflected in them.  I find that I need to again and again ask the Lord to first change my heart, so that I can be a worthy example for my children.  It seems this is more prominent as they grow older.  I guess the older they get the more they are looking for and notice inconsistency in me.  I have to be very careful not to fall into the old adage of  "do as I say not as I do" because they are watching for me to live by the same standards that I am call them to live by.  I am so blessed to be a mother because it is God's tool to refine me into the woman He wants me to be.  What an awesome responsiblily.  I am glad I don't have to do it without God's help.

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This is an excerpt from the book, "Reflections of God's Glory" by Corrie ten Boom.  I found this very encouraging as I have been a bit overwhelmed in planning the upcoming school year and beginning high school with my oldest daughter.

"Once, I had a burden that weighed heavily on me.  I set it down and looked at it.  Then I saw that everything about my burden was borrowed.  One part belonged to the following day, one part to next week.  My burden was a huge, stupid mistake.  I realized that worry is carrying tomorrow's burden with today's strength.  It's carrying two days at once.  It's prematurely thinking of tomorrow.  On the calendar, there is only one day for action, and that is today.  Making plans is time consuming.  Time is necessary for making wise plans, but carrying them out belongs to only one day- today.  Worry depletes the energy that you need to live today.  The Holy Spirit does not give you a clear blueprint for your life, but He leads you from moment to moment.  Live for today! The sun will shine tomorrow on the problems that tomorrow brings."

Philippians 4: 8

"Do not be anxious  about anything, but in everything, by prayer and pettition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

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Ephesians 4:2-3

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

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Proverbs 2:1-11

"My son if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds victory in store for the upright; he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.  Then you will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.  Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you."

This verse reminds me of the true source of wisdom and the blessing of seeking it with my whole heart.  As I am gearing up for a new school year and selecting what our course of study will be I am reminded again of the need to seek God in this area of life.  I had an ah-ha moment about 3 years ago that I needed to be praying for wisdom as to what curriculum to select for the upcoming year.  I am not sure why it took me 6 years of homeschooling before I figured this one out.  I can be a little slow to figure things out sometimes.  I have found that as I have started doing this I am spending less money on things we don't like or don't use.  I am also more confident in my selection and have a much greater peace about what we are doing for school. 

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This devotion written by Joanie Yoder, appeared in Our Daily Bread publication about a year ago.  I saved it because I loved the message it has for us as God's children and also as moms who must teach those who God has entrusted to us, to fly. We can trust God with our lives and with the lives of our children. 

Deuteronomy 32:11-12

"Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions.  The Lord alone led him, no foreign god was with him."

Deuteronomy 33:27

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."

In the tender song of Moses found in today's Bible reading, God is portrayed as a dedicated mother eagle who can be trusted by her young, even in the scary experience of learning how to fly. 

A mother eagle builds a comfortable nest for her young, padding it with feathers from her own breast.  But the God-given instinct that builds that secure nest also forces the eaglets out of it before long.  Eagles are made to fly, and the mother eagle will not fail to teach them.  Only then will they become what they are meant to be.

So one day the mother eagle will disturb the twigs of the nest, making it an uncomfortable place to stay. Then she will pick up a perplexed eaglet, soar into the sky, and drop it.  The little bird will begin to free-fall.  Where is the Mama now?

She is not far away.  Quickly she will swoop under and catch the fledgling on one strong wing.  She will repeat this exercise until each eaglet is capable of flying on its own.

Are you free-falling, unsure of where or how hard you will land?  Remember, God will fly to your rescue and spread His everlasting arms beneath you.  He will also teach you something new and wonderful through it.  Falling into God's arms is nothing to be afraid of.

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2 Timothy 3:16

"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 

Proverbs 30:5-6

"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."

At times I have caught myself trying to change God's word around a bit to suit my situation.  These verses remind me that not only does God take that very seriously, it is also unnecessary because God's word is complete and perfect just the way it is. 

I have learned that instead of trying to change God's word to fit my own ideas, I need to allow the Word to change me.  As I read His word and obey it, the Holy Sprit will transform me into the kind of woman God wants me to be. 

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Galations 6:9

"Let us not become weary doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

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2 Chronicles 1:10

"Give me wisdom and knowledge that I may lead this people."

Wisdom comes from God.  He will supply the wisdom I need to lead all those He has put in my path and called me to lead.  I must do my part and earnestly seek Him and be willing to obey Him in all that He has asks of me.  That is sometimes the hardest part.  There are many times when I ask for wisdom, receive it, and then ask God if that is really what he wants me to do because it is not what I though I should do or what I want to do.  I must be willing to set the example of obedience for my children by being obedient to God in everything especially those times when my flesh says, I don't want to.