Advice I've enjoyed...

I've been reading a book the past 6 months or so called Baby Wise. I've learned so much through it that I wanted to share a few great things that have really spoke to me.

*Great marriages produce great parents.

*A healthy husband-wife relationship is essential to the emotional health of children in the home. When there is harmony in the marriage, there is an infused stability within the family. A strong marriage provides a haven of security for children as they grow in the nurturing process. Healthy, loving marriages create a sense of certainty for children.

*Insecurity is fostered by what is not taking place between couples as much as what is taking place.

*To improve the quality of the parent-child relationship, parents first must continue to evaluate the quality of their relationship with each other. Weak marriages do not build strong families nor do they infuse security into the hearts of children.

*The best years of parenting flow out of the best years of marriage. Protect it!

*Responsible parents are their children's teachers.

*Have fun along the way, but never at the expense of needed leadership.

*Life doesn't stop once you have a baby.

*Date your spouse.

*Continue those loving gestures you enjoyed before the baby came along.

*Invite friends over for food and fellowship.

*Resolve to be your child's parent, NOT a peer.

Emy. One month!

Emersyn Lynne

My hope is that as I grow more into His image, I can relay that security to my daughter. I want her value to come from Him, not from tallying her accomplishments next to someone else's. I want her to rejoice in who she is, not stress over who she isn't.

Excellence

Strive for excellence! I've always felt this necessary, but recently I've really felt the Lord pressing the issue in my heart. To me, this starts in the small things. The things others really may never know about our lives. Then that in turn flows into all the other parts of our lives. Who are we when no one is looking?

"In everything set an example by doing what is good. In your teaching so integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about you." Titus 2:7

I want every part of my life to reflect Jesus. Do I have a long way to go? Yes. But consistently looking at my own life and asking Him to change the things I know I can't on my own is where I like to hang out. I don't want to get to the end of this thing and be sorry that there were things in my life that were just mediocre. I want excellence in all that I do!

The way I see it

"Focusing on yourself will never reveal your purpose."

What a great reminder!

Me, today.

If through the Spirit of God we have an unmeasurable power, why are our lives controlled by fear and insecurity?

This question caused me to stop, sit, and think. Which then led to the question, am I ineffective? Insecure? Scared? And the reality is, yes...I have the tendency to sometimes be all three. By nature I'm aggressive. I want to excel. Average isn't good enough. In the times I'm experiencing ineffectiveness, or insecurity it's very frustrating. And very discouraging. The more I think about it and experience it, the more I understand that He truly is strong in my weakness. I understand what it means to live by the Spirit. I've taken the words of Paul today and found comfort. Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. So, this is me boasting, recognizing I am nothing and I owe Him everything. What a good day.

Note Taken...

Sometimes as I go through my journal I'm shocked at some of my thoughts. Some make me laugh, some make me sad, some I have no clue what was going through my head that day. When I put them together, it's fun.

We are called to live in anticipation.

People change. The smell of fall is comforting.

The fast lane isn't fast enough.

We're all in the process of dying.

God has given you dreams- chase them.

Wedding veils were cool in 1986.

Lack of belief is simply lack of understanding.

The least dependant you are on someone, the better!

I don't want all the answers.

Never be intimidated.

Humans have a knack for screwing things up.

Welcome to existence.

London is beautiful.

Desperation and instability is NOT attractive, girls. Get a grip.

Hearts need a lot of time to heal.

Ministry is hard.

McDonald's fries are the best.

The most growth I do is by listening to others.

Boldness should be a goal. Life is one big decision.

In love is either the best, or worst place to be.

Fail. And get back up. Every time.

If you have to ask if it makes you look fat, chances are the answer is yes.

EVERYONE desires authenticity.

A changed life should move you to tears.

Obama is not the Antichrist. Everyone chill.

Finding the love of your life is an achievement. Treat it like one.

If you order from an infomercial, you're an idiot.

Unconditional love is easy to say, but I'm finding one of the hardest things I'll ever attempt to do.

Buy me a bag of sunflower seeds and you're my hero.

Change brings growth.

I take the ones I love for granted. I hate this about myself. Must change.

Snuggies? Really?

Life is funny. We're too serious about it sometimes.