So, if you look to your LEFT <----- you'll see an ADORABLE little button that says 'Funniest mom blogs", so I'm asking you from the heart of my bottom (because my butt is SO much bigger than my heart), can you PLEASE hop on over there for 2 seconds and vote for lil' 'ol me? I'd REALLY appreciate it and I might even send you cyber cookies. Just tell me what kind and I'll get right on it.
Thank you kindly!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
'Bunny Hops' of Faith
"28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus." Matthew 14:28
A lot of times when people talk about Peter the disciple, they laugh and mock him for all his seemingly unintelligent things he did. One such thing was his well known "failed" attempt at walking on water.
What those people -who are so quick to judge- fail to acknowledge, though, is that Peter was also full of trust and faith in his Lord.
I don't know if you realize this, but if not, let me enlighten you- did you know that humans sink? Its true! Throughout the ages, mankind has struggled with the inability to keep afloat solely (get it?) by standing on the water. I'm not joking- these are pure facts, people!
Also, did you know that, when men go off on fishing boats, they generally go out to an area where they can't see the ocean floor.
I'm astounding you with these tidbits, I know.
So, let me play this out for you: Peter- a man- was out at sea- deep water where more than just lil' fishies live- and he saw Jesus, walking on the water. He knew WHAT he -himself- was and WHERE he was, but more importantly, he knew WHO Jesus was. He knew that, sure, man shouldn't be able to walk on water, but he knew that if Jesus told him to, he could.
And, here's the thing- he DID. Jesus said to come, and Peter hopped out. He was walking on the water because Jesus had it all under control. He was walking on the water while all the others on the boat- who hadn't had the guts to attempt what Peter did- stood watching.
It wasn't until he took his eyes off Jesus and started staring at his, by all accounts, impossible situation, and started sinking.
Sometimes God will give you a sign as big as a billboard on the side of a freeway. It'll have huge neon letters, flashing lights, and sirens to ensure you won't miss it. Sometimes, however, it just takes a leap of faith that He won't allow you to get in over your head- especially if its something that you know He would want you to do. The key is to keep your eyes on Jesus and not on your situation.
My little family isn't rich. I'd complain more, but God has always given us enough to get by, and while we struggle financially, we have a marriage that I pray my sons will have with their spouses when they grow up. I'll gladly trade riches for a happy marriage.
The thing about a lack of money, though, is that you really start to analyze what you can and can't spend money on:
Food? Can.
Candy? Shouldn't.
Gas? Need to.
Toys? Probably not.
When it comes to the things God wants you to have or do, though, God will always make a way. All lights will be green, all roadblocks removed. If its something you want and its in His will (meaning, its not something the Bible says is a no-no), then God will give His blessing.
Like I said, our pockets aren't deep, but when it comes to the things God wants for us, we've always gotten it. The funny thing is, when we do what God asks of us, we're usually blessed with even more.
And, the times when its scary (especially financially) to do what we know God wants, we ask for His strength and we keep our eyes on Who we're doing it for. Yeah, it can be terrifying- the water is deep, the storm is raging and what we're about to do seems like it can't be done- but its only truly terrifying when we take our eyes off the One we're walking towards.
So, we make a leap of faith.
Well, ok, its more of a bunny hop. Leaps can happen later- after we've gotten our feet wet.
Hey, Peter didn't RUN on the water. A bunny hop is more than some people make in a lifetime.
Besides, we're only human.
A lot of times when people talk about Peter the disciple, they laugh and mock him for all his seemingly unintelligent things he did. One such thing was his well known "failed" attempt at walking on water.
What those people -who are so quick to judge- fail to acknowledge, though, is that Peter was also full of trust and faith in his Lord.
I don't know if you realize this, but if not, let me enlighten you- did you know that humans sink? Its true! Throughout the ages, mankind has struggled with the inability to keep afloat solely (get it?) by standing on the water. I'm not joking- these are pure facts, people!
Also, did you know that, when men go off on fishing boats, they generally go out to an area where they can't see the ocean floor.
I'm astounding you with these tidbits, I know.
So, let me play this out for you: Peter- a man- was out at sea- deep water where more than just lil' fishies live- and he saw Jesus, walking on the water. He knew WHAT he -himself- was and WHERE he was, but more importantly, he knew WHO Jesus was. He knew that, sure, man shouldn't be able to walk on water, but he knew that if Jesus told him to, he could.
And, here's the thing- he DID. Jesus said to come, and Peter hopped out. He was walking on the water because Jesus had it all under control. He was walking on the water while all the others on the boat- who hadn't had the guts to attempt what Peter did- stood watching.
It wasn't until he took his eyes off Jesus and started staring at his, by all accounts, impossible situation, and started sinking.
Sometimes God will give you a sign as big as a billboard on the side of a freeway. It'll have huge neon letters, flashing lights, and sirens to ensure you won't miss it. Sometimes, however, it just takes a leap of faith that He won't allow you to get in over your head- especially if its something that you know He would want you to do. The key is to keep your eyes on Jesus and not on your situation.
My little family isn't rich. I'd complain more, but God has always given us enough to get by, and while we struggle financially, we have a marriage that I pray my sons will have with their spouses when they grow up. I'll gladly trade riches for a happy marriage.
The thing about a lack of money, though, is that you really start to analyze what you can and can't spend money on:
Food? Can.
Candy? Shouldn't.
Gas? Need to.
Toys? Probably not.
When it comes to the things God wants you to have or do, though, God will always make a way. All lights will be green, all roadblocks removed. If its something you want and its in His will (meaning, its not something the Bible says is a no-no), then God will give His blessing.
Like I said, our pockets aren't deep, but when it comes to the things God wants for us, we've always gotten it. The funny thing is, when we do what God asks of us, we're usually blessed with even more.
And, the times when its scary (especially financially) to do what we know God wants, we ask for His strength and we keep our eyes on Who we're doing it for. Yeah, it can be terrifying- the water is deep, the storm is raging and what we're about to do seems like it can't be done- but its only truly terrifying when we take our eyes off the One we're walking towards.
So, we make a leap of faith.
Well, ok, its more of a bunny hop. Leaps can happen later- after we've gotten our feet wet.
Hey, Peter didn't RUN on the water. A bunny hop is more than some people make in a lifetime.
Besides, we're only human.
***If you liked this post, then post the button!***
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saturday Shout Out: My Nuggets of Truth
I wanted to use my Saturday posts to highlight some great bloggers out there. This week's feature blogger is wonderful and I hope you love her as much as I do. If you'd like me to highlight you, just send me an email at asoto0703@gmail.com.
~Your name: Erin Patrick:
~Your blog's name w/ link: My Nuggets of Truth http://mynuggetsoftruth.blogspot.com/
~Type of blog it is: Inspirational
~Tell us a little something about yourself: I've raised 6 kids and the grandkids are starting to come now! My passions are writing, photography, gardening, and my girlfriends. I have this amazing husband who encourages me to shine and to go after my dreams. I desire, for my blog, to help people realize just how valuable and precious they are and that they are a dream come true to God.
~If you had only 1 wish, what would it be and why? It would be that we would see people through Jesus' eyes. Because all the rest of the "stuff" would work itself out if we looked at people that way.
~What's your favorite thing about where you live and why? People in Tulsa are warm and giving. A study was done and homeless people actually love to come to Tulsa because they know they will receive love and a hand up!
~What's #1 on your 'Bucket List'? Go to Italy
~3 words to describe yourself would be...? compassionate, tenderhearted, gullible
~1 little known fact about you is...? I'm extremely insecure about my photography
~1 vice of yours is...? Watching reality TV with my hubby: Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Diners, Drive Ins and Dives
~Why did you start blogging? I started blogging after my mother passed away and I wished that she had left me some snippets of her great wisdom. I wanted to make sure that my children have something that they could always look to that reminded them of who I was and what I stood for.
~What's your favorite thing about blogging? Receiving wonderful comments from the most amazing people who read my blog.
~What do you think makes for a successful blog? In order to be successful, you have to write about things that grab the attention of the reader. I don't "sell" anything on my blog, so I have to write about struggles and issues that I have in life that I think others are dealing with. You must be genuine and real.
~3 words to describe your blog would be...? inspirational, encouraging, uplifting
~What's 1 blog (besides yours) that you think everyone should check out? I Live in an Antbed http://www.iliveinanantbed.blogspot.com/
Saturday Shout-Out
~Your name: Erin Patrick:
~Your blog's name w/ link: My Nuggets of Truth http://mynuggetsoftruth.blogspot.com/
~Type of blog it is: Inspirational
~Tell us a little something about yourself: I've raised 6 kids and the grandkids are starting to come now! My passions are writing, photography, gardening, and my girlfriends. I have this amazing husband who encourages me to shine and to go after my dreams. I desire, for my blog, to help people realize just how valuable and precious they are and that they are a dream come true to God.
~If you had only 1 wish, what would it be and why? It would be that we would see people through Jesus' eyes. Because all the rest of the "stuff" would work itself out if we looked at people that way.
~What's your favorite thing about where you live and why? People in Tulsa are warm and giving. A study was done and homeless people actually love to come to Tulsa because they know they will receive love and a hand up!
~What's #1 on your 'Bucket List'? Go to Italy
~3 words to describe yourself would be...? compassionate, tenderhearted, gullible
~1 little known fact about you is...? I'm extremely insecure about my photography
~1 vice of yours is...? Watching reality TV with my hubby: Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Diners, Drive Ins and Dives
~Why did you start blogging? I started blogging after my mother passed away and I wished that she had left me some snippets of her great wisdom. I wanted to make sure that my children have something that they could always look to that reminded them of who I was and what I stood for.
~What's your favorite thing about blogging? Receiving wonderful comments from the most amazing people who read my blog.
~What do you think makes for a successful blog? In order to be successful, you have to write about things that grab the attention of the reader. I don't "sell" anything on my blog, so I have to write about struggles and issues that I have in life that I think others are dealing with. You must be genuine and real.
~3 words to describe your blog would be...? inspirational, encouraging, uplifting
~What's 1 blog (besides yours) that you think everyone should check out? I Live in an Antbed http://www.iliveinanantbed.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Just wondering...
I was thinking about changing over to wordpress and possibly getting my own .com- does anyone know how that would affect this blog? Is there a way to transfer all these posts or would I just be SOL unless I did it manually? PLEASE help a bloggy mama out!
Monday, August 22, 2011
The heart of the matter
This is my Sunday devotional. Yeah, I know its not Sunday, but I've been holding the littlest one so much lately that I'm lucky to have use of my arms, let alone, the ability to FINALLY have time to write my entry. So, here it is.
A man's heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19
Somebody once told me (or maybe it was something I heard in church? Dang 'Mommy Brain') that who you are in the dark is who you really are. In other words, who you really are, is who you are when you think no one sees you. Its what lies deep in your heart.
Its also called character.
There's a quote by Ralph Waldo Emmerson that goes like this
"Sow a thought, reap an action." It all starts with your heart. What's in YOUR heart? If all your thoughts were to suddenly be put on a loudspeaker, would you be ashamed? Embarrassed? If so, THINK about THAT. When you think about something long enough and enough times, its only a matter of time before you follow through. Ever notice on a woman's post-partum visit questionnaire that it asks if she ever has thoughts of hurting her baby? If thoughts never led to actions and if they weren't a problem, would they still ask that question?
"Sow an action, reap a habit." If you've ever talked to a Life Coach or a personal trainer, then I'm sure you've heard that it takes around 21 days to create a new habit and roughly 6 months for it to become a regular part of your lifestyle- give or take. Every time you make a choice to act on a thought, you're working on creating a habit and affecting your lifestyle.
"Sow a habit, reap a character." You can adamantly deny that what you do is who you are, but actions speak louder than words, and by this point, your actions are telling the world,"Listen up! THIS is who I am." Regardless of whether or not you meant to come off that way, if it walks like a duck, has webbed feet, a duck bill, and feathers- does it really matter if you're trying to call it something else?
"Sow a character, reap a destiny." From the time our kids (or from the time we ourselves) were little, its always been stressed that in order to make a good life for ourselves, we need to get good grades and continuously work hard because it won't be handed to us on a silver platter. Everything we were taught- everything we've taught our kids- is that you need to work on who you are now because your future depends on it.
Everyday we sow seeds that contribute to our character. We water them through our habits, our actions and our thoughts- and it all comes to fruition when God either says,"Well done, good and faithful servant" or "Depart from me- I never knew you".
And it all begins with the heart.
If you liked the post, the please post the button!
A man's heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19
Somebody once told me (or maybe it was something I heard in church? Dang 'Mommy Brain') that who you are in the dark is who you really are. In other words, who you really are, is who you are when you think no one sees you. Its what lies deep in your heart.
Its also called character.
If you knew you'd NEVER get caught, what would you do? What would you attempt?
There's a quote by Ralph Waldo Emmerson that goes like this
Sow a thought, reap an action;
Sow an action, reap a habit;
Sow a habit, reap a character;
Sow a character, reap a destiny.
"Sow a thought, reap an action." It all starts with your heart. What's in YOUR heart? If all your thoughts were to suddenly be put on a loudspeaker, would you be ashamed? Embarrassed? If so, THINK about THAT. When you think about something long enough and enough times, its only a matter of time before you follow through. Ever notice on a woman's post-partum visit questionnaire that it asks if she ever has thoughts of hurting her baby? If thoughts never led to actions and if they weren't a problem, would they still ask that question?
"Sow an action, reap a habit." If you've ever talked to a Life Coach or a personal trainer, then I'm sure you've heard that it takes around 21 days to create a new habit and roughly 6 months for it to become a regular part of your lifestyle- give or take. Every time you make a choice to act on a thought, you're working on creating a habit and affecting your lifestyle.
"Sow a habit, reap a character." You can adamantly deny that what you do is who you are, but actions speak louder than words, and by this point, your actions are telling the world,"Listen up! THIS is who I am." Regardless of whether or not you meant to come off that way, if it walks like a duck, has webbed feet, a duck bill, and feathers- does it really matter if you're trying to call it something else?
"Sow a character, reap a destiny." From the time our kids (or from the time we ourselves) were little, its always been stressed that in order to make a good life for ourselves, we need to get good grades and continuously work hard because it won't be handed to us on a silver platter. Everything we were taught- everything we've taught our kids- is that you need to work on who you are now because your future depends on it.
Everyday we sow seeds that contribute to our character. We water them through our habits, our actions and our thoughts- and it all comes to fruition when God either says,"Well done, good and faithful servant" or "Depart from me- I never knew you".
And it all begins with the heart.
If you liked the post, the please post the button!
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