Lessons. (March 3rd)

Today's theme is: your favorite motivational quote..

However, we are going to switch it up a little bit.

I got this nifty little Bible from Amazon (LINK HERE) and I absolutely love it! It has a lot of space to take notes and underline scriptures-- which is perfect when you want to remember that little nugget that God takes the time to reveal to you from time to time! And not only does it have room to take notes, it breaks down the scriptures for you. I understand every thing I read-- which is beneficial because it is not only just 'reading the Bible' but it is actually studying the Bible (just by reading it.) I feel like it fills my soul more than our other Bibles, I can't explain it.

We started reading Proverbs about 2 weeks ago which of course means-- tons of notes and tons of stuff to soak in! One thing I felt God speaking about was LESSONS.

In the Book of Proverbs, the author states, "These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David's son, Israel's king- written down so we'll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it's going. A manual for living." (Proverbs 1:1-2)

Proverbs: a manual for living.

And in this manual for living are many lessons.

While taking notes, I always think about my Bible and how I want it passed on to my children one day with all of the thoughts that filled my mind over the years and the things I learned and what God took me through. While reading through Proverbs, as I previously said, God kept saying LESSONS. When something convicted my heart, made me feel strengthened, sounded like something I needed to work on... I wrote LESSON next to it.

And since today was all about your favorite motivational quote, I thought: what's better than lessons from our sweet Savior to help us grow and learn about life. I'm only to chapter 17 right now, but I wanted to document a few of these lessons that God put on my heart--- He desires for us to be the best we can be and reading through Proverbs teaches us just how to do that.

Lesson #1- Bow down to Jesus in all things - this is the first step to learning (Proverbs 1:7)
Lesson #2- Keep good company (Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don't go with them... Oh friend, don't give them a second look, don't listen to them for a minute. They're racing to a very band end.- Proverbs 1:8-19)
Lesson #3- Relax. You're in good hands. (Proverbs 1:32-33)
Lesson #4- Trust God and quit trying to figure everything out on your own. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Lesson #5- Sleep without worry. He will keep you sound and safe. (Proverbs 3:24-26)
Lesson #6- Never walk away from someone who deserves help. (Proverbs 3:27)
Lesson #7- Don't be a twisted soul. (God can't help twisted souls- Don't be a bully. - Proverbs 3:33-34)
Lesson #8- Avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. (Proverbs 4:24)
Lesson #9- Stay out of debt. (Keep out of debt or you're in the man's clutches.- Proverbs 6:1-5)
Lesson #10- Avoid what God hates/loathes. (Here are the six things God hates, and one more that He loathes with a passion: Eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a hear that hatches evil plans, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, and a troublemaker in the family.- Proverbs 6:18-19)

We also receive another reminder in chapter 8--- Proverbs teaches us how to live at our best!

Lesson #11- If we look for Him, we will find Him. (I love those who love Me, those who look for Me, find Me.- Proverbs 8:17)
Lesson #12- When you find Me, you find life--- real life. (Proverbs 8:35)
Lesson #13- Hate starts fights- love pulls a quilt over the bickering. (Proverbs 10:12)
Lesson #14- Storms don't phase good people. (When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked. God people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even fazed.- Proverbs 10:25)
Lesson #15- Those who bless others are blessed. (The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed. Those who help others are helped.- Proverbs 11:25)
Lesson #16- Think before you speak! (Careful words make for a careful life! Proverbs 13:3)
Lesson #17- A gentle response defuses anger. (A sharp response keeps the temper going! Proverbs 15:1)
Lesson #18- Don't be miserable. (A miserable heart means a miserable life. A cheerful heart fills the day with song. Proverbs 15:15)
Lesson #19- Want peace? Have a cool, calm spirit. (Hot tempers start fights, but a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace. Proverbs 15:18)
Lesson #20- Things work out when you trust God. (Proverbs 16:20)

Hopefully we can update this as we progress down Proverbs, but I hope these lessons bless your soul. It felt good to read through them one more time-- I can only pray to remember these. I know I won't be perfect, but I hope who God is and the lessons He teaches us can just soak into my soul.

Parents (March 2nd)

The March 2nd blog topic was: What are some tips you learned from your parents that you want to share with others?

I would say the number one thing I learned from my parents is the power of prayer and the power of scripture - and that is definitely something I want to pass on to the most important people in my life: my family.

Listening to Momma pray and seeing Dad's Bible sitting on the kitchen table was just something you expected when you were growing up.

I remember waking up for school, getting ready, walking down the hallway, and hearing my Mom praying over everyone while she was getting ready for work. She would pray for protection, for us to make good choices, for our other family members. And let me tell you something- even at 30, I can still tell you that my Mom's prayers are powerful. When I need a Word from God.. when I need His hand in a part of our lives-- I text or call her and ask her to pray. I know God hears her- even when I feel like He can't hear me. 

And now it makes me want to be that kind of woman. The kind of woman that my children hears praying over the dishes or laundry or cleaning or while we are getting ready for school. I'm not great at it-- I've been the mom that they hear being anxious or nervous about life, but I want to be the woman full of faith that they hear. 

One way I have tried to instill a prayer life (just like I saw Momma doing) is praying after the kids are dropped off at school. We drop our oldest off every single day, so on days that our younger two are still with me, they say the same prayer with me. We say:

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for everything that You do for us. We ask that You watch over Tayler today. Put angels all around the school and keep everyone safe. Please do not let anyone in that means anyone harm. Let Tayler be loved today, help her to focus, help her to make friends, and help her to keep reaching her goals. In Jesus name, Amen.

If I even veer from that prayer, our middle child says, 'Momma? Did you say a different prayer today?' It comforts me to think she goes to school knowing Momma and baby brother are pleading the blood over her as well.

Dad's Bible sitting on the kitchen table was memorable because I would get up and see what verses he was reading that morning. Sometimes he would underline important passages. I loved seeing that he always started his mornings with the Word of God. It instilled an importance in me that even now-- I will never forget. Our Bible here at home is filled with lots of lines underlining important verses, notes in the margins. Our middle child will even sit down now and say, 'Oh Mom, this is a great verse. Lets underline it.' They are beginning to grasp the importance of His Word... something my dad passed on to us.

I can remember the morning of proficiency tests-- looking through your folder to find a note from Dad with Bible verses on it. Something to encourage you or bless you. He showed me the faith you can find in scripture. 

These are two things I pray I pass on to my family and they can look back and thank Pappy and Gigi for being those pillars for their Momma when she was little. I want them to always remember Momma prayed hard for them... and pleaded scriptures over them. I want that to be one of the things they remember... I pray it is what they remember. 

God, I rebuke the spirit of fear from my life and release the spirit of prayer and strength. Help me to be a light to my family- and let my children see the power of Scripture.. the power of You in my life. I beg You to help me be an example of a strong Momma in the eyes of my children. Amen. 

WAIT (March 1st)

What do you do when God says 'wait?' When God says, 'not now?' When God says, 'Hold on?'

We often think we are being punished. We must have done something awful to keep getting denied- to keep feeling like we are praying and talking to a brick wall.

I have found myself yelling at God (yes, we have that kind of relationship)

DO YOU EVEN CARE?
WHAT DID I DO SO WRONG IN MY LIFE??
ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING???????
WHERE ARE YOU??
YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US, RIGHT?

Who else has been there?

You're feeling abandoned.
You're feeling hopeless.
You're feeling helpless.
You're feeling lost.
You're feeling forsaken.

And you're so confused.

Why wouldn't He want to help me?
Why wouldn't He want to take care of me?
Why wouldn't He want to hear me?

We all have those days. Those days where we lose sight of who God is. The days where we get so lost in our troubles that we can't even see the purpose of the waiting season.

I'm having one of those days today.

And truth is-- when I'm having those days... and I don't FEEL like continuing to pray... I don't FEEL like talking to God. On those days when I'm MAD at Him, when I'm FRUSTRATED with Him...

Gotta still MAKE myself do it because my SOUL needs it. As much as my mind is angry and aggravated and frustrated..

the depths of my soul needs it. THIRSTS for it. LONGS for it.

Because while the weight of the world feels like it's crushing my chest and robbing the breath from me...

the peace of God, despite feeling like He doesn't care one bit in that moment, still floods in as soon as the name of Jesus flows from the lips. As soon as that worship music starts flowing.. as soon as scripture starts being spoken.

The weight is still there... but peace starts consuming it. And while the situation remains the same.. and while I still don't know why I'm WAITING.. He ensures it's a season.

You know those days you are stuck in traffic and someone says, 'Be thankful, you could have been in a car accident had it not been for the endless amounts of cars lined up right now?' They tell you to be thankful for waiting because it's PROTECTION..

How we need that mentality in all of life.

You waiting for something that doesn't seem like it's coming?
PROTECTION.
You waiting for a Word from God that isn't here yet?
HE'S WORKING IT OUT. HE'S GONNA PROTECT YOU.

Reading through the Word today and stumbled up on Isaiah 30:18-

"But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes time to do everything right-- everything. Those who wait around for Him are the lucky ones!"

God TAKES TIME to make EVERYTHING RIGHT.

You wouldn't want a surgeon to rush heart surgery right?
You wouldn't want a car manufacturer to rush your vehicle right?

You want them to take their time so it's safe, reliable, trustworthy, protective, and worth it!

God's the same way- 

if we would just get our thinking together and quit looking at what the difficulties of the world are showing us.

We DON'T want Him rushing goodness-- we want it safe, reliable, trustworthy, protective, and worth it!

Psalms 123:1-3- "I look up to You, heaven-dwelling God, look up to You for help. Like servants, alert to their master's commands, like a maiden attending her lady, we're watching and waiting, holding our breath, awaiting your word of mercy!"

365 Day Blog Challenge = 365DBC

Have you ever wanted to start a blog, but just wasn't sure where to start? Have you started a blog, but you get lost on what to discuss? Do you have the passion to write, but you're scared of what others will say?

If you fall in to any of those categories (or if you simply just want to give it a try!), lets do this together.

Would you like to join me in a 365-Day Blog Challenge. From March 1st, 2018 to March 1st, 2019?

I know personally, I want to see how life evolves over the course of a year. And I thought with a group effort, there would be accountability, push, and time to share our individual blogs to bring in readers. You can blog about anything. Your day. Your thoughts about your day. Something that stopped you in your tracks that day. A thought you have been having a lately. A motivational quote. I'll try and develop a 'topic sheet' for each month in case nothing is jumping out at you..... but chances are, you'll have something that day you want to remember!

Anyone want to join me on a 365-Day Blog Challenge?

Here are 31 topics for March 1st- March 31st in case you need a little motivation.

March 1st: What is something you have learned about in the past year that you want to take with you through 2018?
March 2nd: What are some tips you learned from your parents that you want to share with others?
March 3rd: What is one of your favorite motivational quotes? Why?
March 4th: What is one of your hobbies? Is there anything you could teach others about this hobby?
March 5th: What is one of your favorite books?
March 6th: List 10 things people probably don't know about you.
March 7th: What are some apps you use on your phone besides the usual? Facebook, Messenger, etc
March 8th: What does your daily routine look like?
March 9th: What's a guilty pleasure of yours?
March 10th: What is one of your proudest moments?
March 11th: What's in your purse at this exact moment?
March 12th: What's one of your worst habits?
March 13th: List your top 5 favorite songs and why.
March 14th: What was one of the most difficult times in your life?
March 15th: What can make you feel better no matter what?
March 16th: What are your top 10 TV shows you love to binge watch?
March 17th: What are some of your favorite comfort foods?
March 18th: What is your best physical feature?
March 19th: Find your last Walmart, Target, shopping receipt. What did you purchase?
March 20th: Today, write about one of the funniest jokes you've ever heard. Tomorrow, take one picture every hour, so you can share it on March 22nd.
March 21st: Are you taking pictures every hour? Today, blog about your favorite snacks.
March 22nd: Today blog about the pictures you took yesterday.
March 23rd: What is your bedtime routine like?
March 24th: What are the top 5 things on your wish list right now?
March 25th: What is something difficult you are going through right now?
March 26th: Give a product review for a device/product you use frequently.
March 27th: What made you happy this week?
March 28th: What is your zodiac sign? Do you think it fits you?
March 29th: How have you changed in the past 5 years?
March 30th: What are your short-term goals? (could be daily goals- 4 years)
March 31st: What are your long-term goals? (5 years+)

Can't wait for you all to join me on this journey! Lets work hard to keep each other accountable so we have 365 days of thoughts to look back on.

March Activities

How did everyone like February?? I LOVE Valentine's Day and all that fun stuff that comes with it! I'm okay with being sappy and romantic :) Now, a week away from March means it's time to get ready for Spring activities, St. Patrick's Day fun, and Easter treats! I hope you're ready for a wild month!

March 2018 Activities-

March 1st- Make Rainy cards to celebrate Spring coming. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Psalms 1:3 (Growth this Spring)

March 2nd- Today is 'Read Across America' day. Lets read a book together.

*Bible verse of the day- Hosea 6:1-3 (God comes like Spring rain)

March 3rd- Make rainbow flowers with construction paper. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Deuteronomy 11:14 (God always provides)

March 4th- Watch the Peppa pig cartoon about muddy puddles to get ready for Spring.

*Bible verse of the day- Psalms 51:10 (Having a new heart this Spring)

March 5th- Make paper plate caterpillars (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 6:28-29 (Flowers do not worry- they bloom)

March 6th- If it is nice out today, go for a walk! If it isn't, have an indoor picnic.

*Bible verse of the day- Song of Solomon 2:10-14 (the beauty of Spring)

March 7th- Make a paper chain to count down the days to St. Patrick's Day. 

*Bible verse of the day- Romans 8:28 (We don't need luck- everything works for our good!)

March 8th- Make a pot of gold with a wish out of construction paper. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Ephesians 1:11 (We have an inheritance with God) 

March 9th- Make a pot of gold with a rainbow coming out of it. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Phillipians 4:19 (Jesus supplies all our needs)

March 10th- Make a lepruchan hat out of a paper plate and construction paper. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Genesis 1:14 (the day God made seasons like Spring)

March 11th- Make another paper chain counting down the days til spring.

*Bible verse of the day- Proverbs 16:15 (God's favor is like Spring)

March 12th- Make a shamrock man. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Hebrews 13:8 (Jesus is consistent)

March 13th- Make St. Patrick's Day Trail Mix (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Genesis 1:1 (God created all of this)

March 14th- Make treat bags for the kids to take to school with them on St. Patrick's Day

*Bible verse of the day- Psalms 119:105 (the importance of reading God's Word)

March 15th- Make a shamrock banner with construction paper to decorate for St. Patrick's Day (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Hebrews 4:12 (the importance of God's Word)

March 16th- Wear Green for school and sing the Leprachaun song! (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (the importance of God's Word)

March 17th-  Do the Green Scavenger hunt and make sure you wear green again today so you don't get pinched! (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- James 1:22 (the importance of God's Word)

March 18th- Make handprint lady bugs out of construction paper. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Psalms 119:9 (the importance of God's Word)

March 19th- Color paper plate flowers. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Isaiah 40:8 (the importance of the Word of God)

March 20th- Make a flower card with construction paper. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Luke 11:28 (importance of the Word of God)

March 21st- Make a paper chain counting down the days until Easter. 

*Bible verse of the day- Psalms 18:30 (the importance of the Word of God)

March 22nd- Make a paper easter wreath for the front door. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 7:24 (importance of the Word of God)

March 23rd- Cut out paper easter eggs and decorate them with crayons. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 24:35 (importance of the Word of God)

March 24th- Watch a cartoon or movie about Easter. 

*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 20:17-19 (learning about what Easter means)

March 25th- Make a handprint Easter prayer (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Mark 8:31 (learning about what Easter means)

March 26th- Make paper plate bunny rabbits. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 27:33-34 (the importance of Easter)

March 27th- Make an Easter egg garland to decorate the house with. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 27:35-37 (the importance of Easter)

March 28th- Make a paper bunny hiding in the grass with construction paper. (LINK HERE) 

*Bible verse of the day- Mark 15:29-32 (learning about the importance of Easter)

March 29th- Make treat bags for the kids to take to school for Easter. 

*Bible verse of the day- Luke 23:26-31 (learning about the importance of Easter)

March 30th- Make a paper white cross, write 'sins' on it in pencil, color the cross with brown showing how Jesus dying on the cross washed our sins away. 

*Bible verse of the day- John 19:5-6 (learning about the imporance of Easter)

March 31st- Color easter eggs.

*Bible verse of the day- Luke 23:44-47 (the importance of Easter)