RANDOM:DON'T WORRY {ENCOURAGEMENT FROM A CREDIBLE SOURCE}

Pin It Now!

I read this today and shared it on Facebook...

Perfect timing for me to hear!

How encouraging it is to know that God's got it! I know some of you might be thinking..

"Well, things sure don't seem like God's got it!"

I understand those thoughts! What helps me is to remind myself that this book "The BIBLE" is a credible source and the promises in this book are true!

I am personally in a decision making process and I know that worry and doubt will only cloud my thinking and cause my decisions to be tainted with doubt.

The song "Don't worry, Be Happy" is coming to mind right now

*humming: dooooo do do do do do do do do do do do..DON'T WORRY!*

heehee!

SIDE NOTE-

1-Remember the POP-IN regarding the Sponsor Switch-a-Roo (HERE)?

Check it out and email me if you are interested...It's FREE!!

(I like FREE)



I worked hard on that clean kitchen!



2-Check out my VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY EVER!!! (HERE)

I LOVE the item up for grabs! I want it for myself (Just sayin)

Anywho, I hope that the word of encouragement brought some happy to your day!

Keep Singing,

(dooooo do do do do do do do do do do do..DON'T WORRY!*)

THANKFUL THOUGHTS: {LIFE} THE BALANCING ACT {ORGANIZATION:POST 2}

Pin It Now!

Have you ever been there...trying to balance out every area of your life so that priorities stay "in check" and every piece of you has to be chopped up into ITTY BITTY pieces so that everyone can be happy and everything can get done...and done right?!?
Trying to live organized in life and home is so challenging!

Exhausting just thinking about it!

*I NEED A NAP*

I have been there and continue to BE THERE over and over again!

I am so thankful for the freedom to CHOOSE to be balanced. Now, by no means am I an expert, but I am living out this endeavor and it's been a trial and error journey every step of the way!

I try to stick with this little formula:

1ST:GOD

2ND:ME

3RD:SPOUSE

4TH:FAMILY

5TH:MINISTRY/HELPS

6TH:EVERYTHING ELSE

TAKE NOTE: This is not a list of importance but a rank of investment.

EVERY layer is IMPORTANT! 

Now, I know everyone has their own formula but I'll explain mine for clarification.

1-GOD:

Why? Because for me, my faith in Him sustains me! He keeps me SANE! I struggle with keeping Him first more often than not, BUT when I am successful, there is so much peace in my heart, mind and home! By keeping God first, that keeps ME, technically first as well!

2-ME:

Some of us wives and moms have two view points on this.  Either you are thinking

A-" What? I am first, NOT second---"

OR

B-" Girl, I put myself last---Family ALWAYS First!" 

I have learned that If I don't have "ME TIME", then I will usually crumble under the pressure! 

Investing in yourself first makes your investment everywhere else of better quality, don't you think?

There IS two sides of this coin, though...

I ADORE my newest outlet, blogging, but have quickly followed the advise of other veteran bloggers to be consistent AND be balanced! Don't let this (or whatever you are "into" ) consume all of your time or energy! It's hard for me because I love it SO STINKIN' MUCH, but I love my fam MORE!

3-SPOUSE:

Honestly, most people put their spouse AFTER the children.  Why is it that we take our spouses for granted?  I FAIL ALL THE TIME in this area.  However, I have committed to be with my man til death do us part...my kids will grow up and leave me! SAD, but true! Therefore, shouldn't we work hard to keep the fire kindled and burning in our marriage? 

AND IT IS HARD WORK SOMETIMES... 

Just sayin'...

4-FAMILY:

It seems weird to put the very breath that you breath, your family, fourth on ANY list! I mean, really? I am not saying that the importance of family is fourth, what I mean is that all of the first three on the list make the family BETTER! I will say it again...This is not a  list of importance but a rank of investment.  Each layer makes the next layer even better.

5-MINISTRY/HELPS:

I am super involved in my church and PHEW...IT CAN GET HECTIC! I love everything that I get to do, REALLY, but (you knew there would be a "BUT" didn't you?) I know that this cannot take precedence over any of the above! The top four layers must overflow into this part of our lives so that it can actually be effective in other's lives! I have, at times, stepped away from areas for a season to readjust, and even recently had to reduce some time spent in ministry.  I don't like to say "stepped down",  just "stepped away".   It takes a wise person to know when enough is enough and things must get realigned!  I have ALWAYS had a hard time saying "NO" to anyone, and I don't think that is totally a BAD THING.  I was talking with a close and dear friend the other day about this, and like she said..."I am in a season of ,"YES"...but within my capacity"! That's the key!!!

6-EVERYTHING ELSE:

Yep, this is where the rest of it falls...

This post is really not to "rant" about how I have it all under control by following this little method. TRUST ME! That's not me! I am working this out on a daily basis! I merely shoot for this...it's the goal and goals are good, agreed?

Like I mentioned earlier...I am so thankful for the freedom to CHOOSE to be balanced.

Let me know how you keep your life "in check"!

Thinking thankful thoughts,

Linked up:

THANKFUL THOUGHTS: BE FILLED WITH HOPE

Pin It Now!

What is it about life that steals away our ability to be thankful? 

Am I crazy, or does it get harder and harder sometimes to look past the obstacles

and constant road blocks that interfere with what we believe is the best plan for our lives? I know personally, in my family, this has been an obstacle! Financial struggles, physical

issues, employment roadblocks, loss of loved ones...just to name a few,

 have visited us within the past 5 years!

Yesterday morning, while encouraging a friend, I realized that the one thing that I am the most thankful for lately is 

"HOPE"

...even when it is hard, when it's uncomfortable and when it is inconvenient!

Feeling like we have been "dealt a bad hand in life" is normal, 

but believing that it can or will never change is only setting this situation in stone. 

 We must always have HOPE!

The man upstairs, you know

 ..."God",

He knows all things past, present and future and he knows what our future holds and yes, not all of our futures will have our 

names in lights, 

pockets overflowing with money, 

or even a life of complete health, 

but greatness isn't about the things that we have here on Earth. Greatness is about the legacy you leave behind when you have left this Earth!

I was moved with this thought...

Even Jesus expressed hope... 

...even in his last hour! He prayed "Lord, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me!"

I mean, really, we know that Jesus knew it wasn't possible and he had embraced his fate, but he demonstrated an example for the world in that simple prayer...

ALWAYS HAVE HOPE AND BELIEVE! 

It wasn't a happy ending to his prayer. As we all know, he died, and it was brutal, but his purpose was far reaching than a momentary unanswered prayer. 

What if God the Father had answered Jesus' prayer?

That would not be a good ending for us.

When we have expressed hope and then lost it because things didn't change, examine yourself and ask God to show you what you might need to change. That's what I do! Let's face it peeps, we all need some work, eh? 

Embrace HIS will for your life...whatever that purpose is...with peace of mind and contentment...

BUT ALWAYS BE FILLED WITH HOPE, even until the end!

Praise the LORD,

for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.

He kept me safe when my city was under attack. In panic I cried out,

“I am cut off from the LORD!”

But you heard my cry for mercy

and answered my call for help.

Psalms 31.21-22 (NLT)

My thankful thoughts;)

 WHAT ARE YOU MOST THANKFUL FOR THIS WEEK?